Tang Ning's mind went blank, his body covered in a cold sweat, heart pounding so fast it felt like it might leap out of his chest, consumed by immense fear.
A sly smile slowly crept across Song Lin Su's lips as he revealed it to Tang Ning.
"Ah!!!"
Tang Ning couldn't help but scream, clutching the bedding tightly, desperately shrinking into the corner.
In his view, Song Lin Su, who had been standing at the bedside, suddenly appeared in Tang Ning's own bed. Song Lin Su lay straight across from Tang Ning, staring at him with a puzzled gaze, as if everything that had just happened was Tang Ning's imagination.
Was it an illusion?
Or was he just dreaming moments ago?
Tang Ning gripped his hair tightly, chest heaving violently. As he pondered what was happening, he suddenly heard a faint knocking sound coming from the corridor outside.
It wasn't his dorm being knocked on.
It sounded more like the next room.
"Classmates of Room 302, are you all asleep?" A hoarse voice echoed in the silent night, slightly eerie in tone.
Tang Ning was puzzled, recalling someone mentioning in the group chat that there would be room checks at night. However, even if they were asleep, why would someone specifically knock and ask if everyone was asleep? Those truly asleep couldn't answer this question.
Just as Tang Ning was confused, the gentle knocking gradually intensified, changing from "tap, tap, tap" to "thud, thud, thud."
"Classmates of Room 302, are you really all asleep?" The voice asked again, hauntingly.
Still, no one answered.
"No, someone must not be asleep." The voice self-answered, "I clearly heard someone screaming just now."
In that moment, Tang Ning widened his eyes, staring at Song Lin Su on the opposite bed. The only source of light in the darkness was the flashlight beam swaying in the corridor, casting an eerie light on Song Lin Su's face. In that mysterious glow, Song Lin Su's smile became even more chilling, resembling a vengeful ghost or perhaps, he was one.
"Thud, thud, thud."
The distinct knocking echoed again, but this time, it was on Tang Ning's dorm!
"Classmates of Room 303, are you asleep?" The voice whispered.
Tang Ning's throat was so dry he couldn't utter a word. His chest had no strength, only a sensation of intense soreness from the shock.
"Thud, thud, thud."
Tang Ning's body trembled uncontrollably.
"Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud."
Each knock seemed to hit Tang Ning's rapidly beating heart. It felt like his heart was about to jump out of his throat!
"Thud, thud, thud! Thud, thud, thud! Thud, thud, thud!"
Tang Ning tightly covered his mouth and nose, tears streaming down from the corners of his eyes.
Almost asleep! Almost asleep! Please, be asleep!!!
The thunderous knocking, akin to the door being smashed, nearly shattered Tang Ning's mental defenses. He curled up in bed, biting his palm to the point where only the pain could keep him aware of being alive.
Why aren't you asleep yet?! Why aren't you asleep?! If you don't fall asleep soon, you'll die!
You will die!
I will die!!!
I'm about to die!!!
The storm-like pounding on the door suddenly ceased. Heavy footsteps resumed in the corridor, but gradually faded away, sounding like they were heading to other dorms.
Did they leave?
Tang Ning slumped, completely drained. After narrowly escaping, his mind went blank.
"Thud, thump."
The silent room suddenly echoed with the sound of a water bottle rolling on the floor, clattering. The bottle kept rolling, reaching the corner of his bed, and then abruptly stopped.
In the dead quiet night where even the fall of a pin could be heard, this sudden sound of the water bottle was like a deafening roar.
Tang Ning blankly opened his eyes, seeing Song Lin Su on the opposite bed smiling brightly at him.
The glaring beam penetrated through the small window in the room door, casting on Tang Ning's blank face. Dark traces adorned the beautiful, moist black eyes, giving a slightly sickly beauty.
The reddened lips slightly parted.
The long neck was so white it dazzled, like a dying swan.
"Hehe, I heard the sound," that voice chuckled, and outside the door, the sound of keys jingling was heard, "I knew you weren't asleep! I'm coming in now!"
The key entered the lock.
It seemed to also pierce into Tang Ning's heart, crushing the last trace of hope.
Tang Ning lay motionless on the bed, hearing the simultaneous footsteps, one hurried, the other steady.
Were there two sets of footsteps? Or was one set stepping on the rhythm of his heartbeat?
Was he going to die?
"Why is it you?" that sharp voice exclaimed in surprise.
Then Tang Ning heard Qi Yun's cold and charming voice, "I got up to use the restroom."
"Oh." The voice was filled with disappointment.
The persistent beam continued to scatter in the room, seemingly wanting to discover something.
"Too bright," Qi Yun coldly said, "I'm going to sleep."
Reluctantly, the beam extinguished.
Creak.
The door closed again, and the footsteps continued to roam in the corridor.
Tang Ning lay on the bed, completely exhausted. He didn't even have the strength to open his eyes. Despite his body being drained to the extreme, his brain was unusually alert due to fear.
He heard the sound of flushing from the bathroom.
Then came Qi Yun's footsteps as he walked out of the bathroom.
Qi Yun.
Is Qi Yun about to return to bed?
No, no.
That presence outside is still wandering in the corridor. What if Song Lin Su makes another sound and attracts that monster? What should he do?!
Tang Ning's mind is filled with these terrifying speculations, to the point that when Qi Yun turns to leave, Tang Ning's exhausted body suddenly erupts with the last bit of strength! He tightly grabs Qi Yun's clothes!
He clings so tightly, afraid that Qi Yun will shake him off in the next second.
In the darkness, Tang Ning can't see Qi Yun's face clearly, but he can be sure that Qi Yun has turned back, gazing at that face hidden by rich blackness. Tang Ning's lips tremble slightly.
Qi Yun must find him strange now.
Their relationship isn't that intimate.
And what he's about to say is too offensive.
But...
He feels like he's really about to die.
Perhaps he will be the first player in the entire game not to die from monsters, but killed by his own fear and anxiety.
Thinking about this, Tang Ning tries hard to control his voice, saying softly, humbly, full of supplication, "Don't go."
The air becomes silent, with only Tang Ning's disheveled breathing.
Qi Yun pulls away his clothes, turning to leave.
Tang Ning's palm suddenly empties, and his heart follows, feeling hollow.
He left. Once again, he's alone.
Why say "once again"?
If Mo Yunchu were here, it would be better.
Nothing to fear as long as he stays by Mo Yunchu's side.
Tang Ning thinks about Mo Yunchu while hating himself for thinking about Mo Yunchu. Before his nose starts to tingle, he forcefully bites his lower lip, suppressing the urge to cry fiercely, covering his head with the blanket.
What should he do? It seems like Mo Yunchu has spoiled him. So even if he encounters someone with a faint shadow of Mo Yunchu, the spoiled child would throw a tantrum, acting shamelessly to gain a bit of favor.
But that person isn't Mo Yunchu.
No one will protect him like Mo Yunchu did.
Realizing this, hot tears finally slide down Tang Ning's eyes silently. He cries without a sound, trembling like a stray cat unable to find its way home.
The bed suddenly sinks.
A blanket and a pillow land next to Tang Ning.
Tang Ning is stunned, vaguely seeing Qi Yun's silhouette in the darkness. Qi Yun is tall, standing there, even if everything is indistinct, an indescribable pressure emanates from him.
Although he has only seen Qi Yun a few times, Tang Ning can imagine his expression now. Probably indifferent, restrained, and aloof, gazing down at him with a cold, casual glance.
No, it shouldn't be described as a glance.
Just a casual look because his gaze is too cold. The person being seen is like being cut open by a scalpel, exposing the soul inside, helpless and bewildered.
—Qi Yun actually came.
Tang Ning cautiously shrinks himself into the bed. The dorm bed is narrow, even though Tang Ning has tried his best to give up the most space, it's still only enough for Qi Yun to lie down comfortably.
Qi Yun's shoulder touches Tang Ning's shoulder.
The iceberg-like Qi Yun has a warm body temperature that is completely inconsistent with his temperament. In the hot night, the heat coming from his shoulder makes Tang Ning's body tense.
It's very hot.
Tang Ning is wearing short sleeves, and unfortunately, so is Qi Yun.
The moment their skin touches, Tang Ning's shoulder feels like there's an electric current passing through. His skin is too delicate, as if it could melt with just a touch. Tang Ning timidly shivers his shoulders, trying hard to push himself against the wall.
However, the young figure lying beside him, tall and large, spreads out his limbs slightly, completely occupying the meager space that Tang Ning desperately gave up. It's not just this distance; the invisible body temperature and breath are relentlessly invading Tang Ning's personal space.
The hot air evaporates the faint fragrance from Qi Yun's body, making Tang Ning feel slightly intoxicated. In this stifling air, all Tang Ning can smell is this elusive scent, and his body is involuntarily immersed in this aroma.
The slender and inexperienced body pressed against the icy wall on one side and the warm skin on the other, in the cramped space quiet enough to hear each other's breaths, Tang Ning furrowed his handsome brows, falling into the dilemma of whether he would be able to sleep even less now.
In this misty fragrance, Tang Ning turned around, the thin blanket covering his body, outlining a beautiful curve. From the shoulders to the waist, the lines dipped down, reaching the valley, then sharply rising towards the hips.
A pale and slender hand silently appeared behind that waist.
Through the extremely close, almost touching distance, the fingers opened wide, measuring Tang Ning's waist.
Unaware, Tang Ning turned away from Qi Yun.
That hand moved upward bit by bit, tracing along each segment of the spine, controlling the delicate gaps as thin as cicada wings through a layer of thin fabric, finally resting on the snowy white nape.
"Are you all asleep, classmates?" A strange inquiry faintly came from a distance.
Tang Ning's scalp tingled, and he bit his lower lip, trying hard not to make a sound.
Strange.
Why would there be such an indescribable—
His forehead pressed against the cold wall, a faint blush appearing at the base of his ears. Tang Ning shamefully lowered his head, making an effort to shake off those miscellaneous thoughts, but his heart uncontrollably raced.
"Thud, thud, thud."
The heartbeat and the faint knocking in the corridor overlapped.
The delicate eyelashes couldn't help but tremble.
A sickly red crawled onto the snowy skin.
In the darkness, unseen by anyone, those slender fingers gently closed, making a restrained gesture—
As if catching a fledgling bird that fell onto a flowering tree.