Here's an extra chapter because you guys seem to really like this one.
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Tang Ning was stunned.
This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
What did Ji Lianyun mean by this? Were they both in arranged marriages for their own reasons? How did they suddenly bring up falling in love at first sight?
And isn't falling in love at first sight just superficial attraction?
Staring into Ji Lianyun's deep, affectionate eyes, Tang Ning felt too comfortable.
He had actually encountered many people who fell in love with him at first sight, and those people seemed to have unusually high expectations of him, always imagining him to be shining brightly in other areas just like his appearance.
But Tang Ning knew that, apart from his looks, he was truly worthless.
Those who approached him were all too extreme, either too excellent, making Tang Ning feel inferior, or too abnormal, making Tang Ning avoid them.
Tang Ning looked timidly at Ji Lianyun. He knew he was a very strange person, so strange that he was too suitable for building intimate relationships with others.
How should he say it? He seemed to be best at silently loving someone, keeping that love hidden in his heart, just like he initially felt towards the gentle Ji Lianyun, although he also knew whether it was love or just a filtered version of Ji Lianyun in the dangerous alternate world.
But he thought, in this alternate world, he really did love Ji Lianyun.
He could also sense that Ji Lianyun seemed to like him too. He was willing to keep their relationship in the blurry state of liking, like slightly intoxicated wine, where waking up sober would bring a new day.
This kind of love really needed to be clarified.
But using such affectionate eyes, such affectionate tone...
The overwhelming love suddenly became sharp-edged, revealing its edge, making Tang Ning instinctively want to retreat. If this were the real world, he should skillfully say—
"Thank you very much for your affection, but I'm not currently looking for a relationship. I want to focus on my career, and the company doesn't allow office romances. I'm really sorry."
However, Ji Lianyun was his talisman in this game instance.
"Oh, I see." Tang Ning whispered softly in reply.
Ji Lianyun smiled gently, as if fulfilling his wish with the confession he had just made. He gently touched the wound on Tang Ning's neck, leaving a terrifying red mark on his snowy white neck, like a delicate white cat wearing a red collar.
Tang Ning frowned. The wound hurt even with just a slight touch, causing his eyes to well up with tears.
Originally intending to retract his hand immediately, Ji Lianyun's palm ended up on Tang Ning's cheek, catching the tear drop formed from the mist in his hand.
The crystal-clear tear droplets splattered into even smaller water droplets, seemingly ringing a clear and melodious chime in Ji Lianyun's heart.
It was quite captivating.
Ji Lianyun regained his composure once again.
The person in his arms always gave him a sense of elusiveness, as if slipping away from him in the next second, even though they were already in his embrace, even though they had become intimate, they were still fragile to the point where they could slip away at any moment.
When this person furrowed their brows, especially when tears welled up in their eyes, and the warm tears landed in his palm, their physical contact elicited a response, making Ji Lianyun feel like he was truly touching the other person.
There was still a lingering sting on his earlobe from where Tang Ning had bitten him.
Ji Lianyun hadn't revealed what he had felt when Tang Ning bit him, but in that moment, he felt a surge of emotions, as if everything was falling apart. He could see various emotions swirling in those transparent black eyes, and he even felt like leaning in to lick those eyes that looked so captivating.
Ji Lianyun withdrew his hand, suppressing those troubling thoughts. He took a deep breath and asked the question he was most concerned about: "Why did you try to hang yourself just now? Did something happen that made you want to end it all?"
Hang himself?
Tang Ning looked around at the other players, wanting to know what had just happened. However, all the players who met his gaze quickly averted their eyes.
Feeling a bit bewildered, Tang Ning turned back and realized that when he looked at someone, Ji Lianyun followed his gaze to that person as well.
"I didn't want to hang myself. I saw a ghost," Tang Ning said, his voice still trembling at the mention of the word. Fear, like a cobweb, enveloped him, but leaning against Ji Lianyun gave him a sense of security. "The ghost was trying to hang me."
As Tang Ning spoke, he glanced at the surrounding players once again. Finally, one of them spoke up: "We didn't see any ghost. We only saw you trying to hang yourself, and we tried to stop you."
Upon hearing this, Tang Ning suddenly understood. He must have encountered a ghost's illusion, similar to hitting a ghost wall. If Ji Lianyun hadn't saved him, he would have met the same fate as Han Yunian.
So, was Tang Xianheng's death also the result of encountering a ghost's illusion?
If so, why did Tang Xianheng prepare himself, dressing in burial clothes and arranging his marriage, as if he had foreseen his own death? Why did he specifically instruct his descendants to bury his body within seven days?
It was as if he had prepared for his death as if he had foreseen it long ago.
Tang Ning pondered for a moment, but his mind was too exhausted to think clearly. He closed his eyes and leaned against Ji Lianyun's chest. Ji Lianyun held him and whispered softly, "Don't worry, I'll be with you."
With Ji Lianyun's reassuring promise, Tang Ning did feel a sense of relief. Ji Lianyun continued, expressing his concern: "You should go back and rest now. Tonight, we'll keep vigil."
By now, the incense in the mourning hall had burned out, leaving only Ji Lianyun, who knew whether someone was human or ghost, to restrain the spirits. However, when Ji Lianyun said this, no player dared to voice any objections.
Supported by Ji Lianyun, Tang Ning rose to his feet. Both of them were in a weakened state, and Tang Ning worried that if they walked back alone, they might encounter another ghost wall. If Ji Lianyun passed out again, he wouldn't have the strength to escape.
[System, what time is it now?]
Tang Ning intended to check his phone, but it had run out of battery and shut down.
[It's midnight.]
Indeed, hitting a ghost wall had consumed a lot of time.
Tang Ning extended his fingers toward Ji Lianyun's lips and whispered softly, "Can you lick it—"
Before he could finish explaining the somewhat peculiar request, Ji Lianyun's pale lips parted and enveloped his fingertip.
The movement was so swift that it felt almost intoxicating.
Tang Ning felt as though Ji Lianyun had sucked away all of his senses. Ji Lianyun only held onto one of his knuckles, but his scalding tongue briefly brushed against Tang Ning's fingertip.
"Tsk," Tang Ning's skin flushed with a sickly hue as he trembled, retracting his hand. He slumped into Ji Lianyun's embrace. Compared to Tang Ning's miserable state, Ji Lianyun's face displayed a rare hint of color.
He held onto the limp Tang Ning.
His new bride nestled in his arms, filled with trust, her breaths sweet and cloying, like threads of honey, tempting Ji Lianyun to taste a bit.
Even her fingertips were sweet.
What about other places?
"Take me to bed quickly," Tang Ning frowned, now completely unable to stand. He was tired, hungry, and exhausted. Dinner must have gone cold by now, he thought. "I'm hungry."
Ji Lianyun's Adam's apple bobbed, indicating his own hunger.
Supporting Tang Ning, Ji Lianyun led him to their resting room. Their room was actually quite far from the mourning hall, and if they had encountered a ghost wall, they would have reached it long ago.
Ji Lianyun turned on the light. The room's light bulb was quite old, casting a dim glow similar to candlelight. It flickered intermittently, resembling the stability of a candle flame.
In the dim room, cold food lay on the table. Ji Lianyun suggested reheating it, but Tang Ning had no energy left. Fearful of encountering spirits if he left Ji Lianyun's side, he weakly leaned against him, barely conscious as he watched Ji Lianyun heat up the food.
"Who made this dish?" Tang Ning heard Ji Lianyun ask.
"The one who's currently sick made it," Tang Ning replied softly.
"I want to make you a new one. Is that okay?" Ji Lianyun asked.
Tang Ning weakly shook his head. He was really tired, exhausted, and just wanted to eat a hot meal and go to sleep.
Seeing Tang Ning in this state, Ji Lianyun fell silent for a moment. He carefully scooped up the steaming food and began feeding Tang Ning, who struggled to keep his eyes open. Each bite of the meal was chewed slowly. Sometimes Tang Ning seemed on the verge of falling asleep, his head nodding, only to suddenly wake up and resume chewing slowly.
The meal cooked by the ghost groom was indeed delicious. Even after reheating, it tasted better than some meticulously prepared dishes.
Tang Ning rested his head on Ji Lianyun's shoulder, eating with his eyes closed. Naturally, he noticed Ji Lianyun's infatuated gaze fixed on him.
The usually gentlemanly Ji Lianyun lowered his gaze, focusing on Tang Ning's lips, his teeth, his tongue.
"Water," Tang Ning murmured softly, still keeping his eyes closed.
Ji Lianyun scooped up some soup with a spoon and tenderly brought it to Tang Ning's lips.
Tang Ning's soft lips took hold of the spoon, sipping the soup like a kitten lapping up thirst-quenching water.
So obedient.
His tongue licked his lips, and Tang Ning fluttered his eyelids, drowsily looking at the compliant Ji Lianyun. "More..."
Ji Lianyun's heart followed suit.
He scooped up another spoonful and brought it to Tang Ning's lips again. Tang Ning, who relied on him even for drinking water, took it slowly, softly, savoring each sip, his small face flushing slightly.
After finishing this sip, Tang Ning's stomach was now seventy percent full. He could still eat more, but more than eating, he wanted to sleep. So he whispered again, "Tired."
Ji Lianyun immediately set aside the bowl and chopsticks, helping Tang Ning lie down on the bed. He took off Tang Ning's shoes and socks, gently wiping his body with a towel of suitable temperature. When he saw the red marks on Tang Ning's knees, Ji Lianyun felt a pang of heartache.
He tried to move as gently as possible, not wanting to disturb Tang Ning on the bed. With the utmost tenderness, he applied medicine to every part of Tang Ning's body. Tang Ning frowned in his sleep, emitting a faint whimper.
Ji Lianyun sat by the bedside, watching Tang Ning sleep soundly. He couldn't help but stare, marveling at how perfectly suited Tang Ning was to him. There's an old saying about being afraid to hold something too tight for fear of breaking it, or to cherish it too much for fear of losing it. That's probably how he felt about Tang Ning.
He watched Tang Ning quietly for a long time.
Finally, Ji Lianyun resisted the urge to lower his head and gently kissed the sleeping Tang Ning.
His lips pressed softly against Tang Ning's tender lips.