Chapter 60: A Night of No Escape

“I’m coming in.”

With a low, polite voice, the doorknob turned, the door was easily opened, and a tall figure walked inside.

Although he had given a greeting before entering, Pei Liu hadn’t actually agreed.

Pei Liu froze on the spot, speechless.

But immediately after, Xie Wuyu’s behavior made him forget how to speak even more.

Right in front of him, Xie Wuyu naturally began to undress, as if preparing to take a bath as well.

Without the concealment of clothing, his sensual physique was fully revealed—abs, V-taper waist, leg muscles…

Pei Liu stared blankly. Wait, is this how a human should… look? No, he wasn’t human to begin with.

Pei Liu snapped out of his daze as if burned, hurriedly retracted his gaze, supported himself on the edge of the tub to rise quickly, and said: “I’m done washing, I’ll go out first!”

Fleeing, he tried to make room for Xie Wuyu, but because he rose too quickly, he slipped on the wet floor and nearly fell. Reflexively, he reached out blindly, wanting to grab something to steady himself. However, someone reacted faster than him, directly grabbing his arm with a tug and pulling him into his embrace.

Neither wore a stitch of clothing, facing each other in complete exposure, their skin pressing together without any barrier. Instantly, Pei Liu’s scalp went numb, his face burned, and his entire body tensed uncontrollably, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

He struggled, saying in a panic: “I-I’m going out…”

Xie Wuyu’s hand pressed against his lower back, not letting go, instead pressing him even closer into his embrace, and said in a deep voice: “I haven’t washed yet, stay with me and wash again?”

Even though it was a question, his actions made it clear it was a statement, leaving Pei Liu with no opportunity to refuse.

With a hook of his long fingers, the showerhead above released a warm stream of water, like a drizzle, pattering against their skin and instantly drenching them.

Pei Liu was forced to stay, taking a very meticulous shower with Xie Wuyu. Once the soap was rinsed off his body, Pei Liu finally couldn’t take it anymore, turned, and ran out, not even bothering to put on his clothes.

Xie Wuyu didn’t stop him this time, merely watching his face flush red all the way to his neck, even the skin over his shoulder blades tinged with a thin layer of pale pink, and couldn’t help but smile.

Outside came the sound of Pei Liu hurriedly dressing, muttering a few quiet curses at him, before slowly falling silent.

Inside the bathroom, only Xie Wuyu remained.

He turned off the shower and looked toward the bathtub. The water Pei Liu had just soaked in was still there; because he was too panicked, he had completely forgotten to drain it.

It was full and crystal clear, reflecting a shimmering luster under the light, just like Pei Liu’s delicate, warm-jade skin.

Xie Wuyu walked over, bent down, and reached toward the water surface, appearing as if he were about to pull the drain plug. In reality, his hand merely hovered lightly over the surface, scooping a small puddle of water into his palm.

Then, he lowered his head and took a sip, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

The water had no taste, but not being human, he could vaguely sense the lingering scent of Pei Liu—a very faint, sweet aroma.

Xie Wuyu gave a low chuckle, resting his fingers on the edge of the tub, gently stroking it.

Just now, Pei Liu’s hand had rested on this very spot, water droplets sliding down his wet fingers and leaving a damp trace.

***

When Xie Wuyu emerged from the bathroom, Pei Liu was already under the covers, curled up with his eyes closed, wearing an expression that said I’m very sleepy and already asleep, don’t disturb me.

But Xie Wuyu wasn’t an ordinary human. He didn’t need to approach closely to inspect; he could keenly perceive the other’s erratic heartbeat, his un-steady breathing, and his lowered, thick eyelashes trembling slightly in nervousness.

How could he not know he was merely pretending to sleep?

Xie Wuyu walked over, lifted the corner of the quilt, and grasped his slender, white ankle.

Pei Liu shivered reflexively, but he still didn’t open his eyes, continuing to pretend to sleep.

Xie Wuyu leaned forward, propping his knee on the edge of the bed in a half-kneeling posture, slowly climbing onto the mattress and drawing closer to Pei Liu, like a stalking beast of prey approaching its target step by step.

“It’s fine if you don’t open your eyes. Unless you refuse, I won’t stop.”

Xie Wuyu’s hand supported him beside the pillow, staring fixedly at Pei Liu’s face.

The last few words were clear and close to his ear, his warm breath falling on his skin, causing an itch.

In the next second, Pei Liu felt his earlobe touched by a soft wetness, sucked gently, slightly moist.

Pei Liu said nothing and didn’t shake his head, because he had no intention of refusing at all.

Later, his eyes lost focus, the corners of his eyes turned red, and he couldn’t control his tears from flowing.

He didn’t even know he was crying.

When he couldn’t bear it any longer, Pei Liu saw Xie Wuyu’s face. Dazed for a moment, he couldn’t help but kiss him—a very light, soft touch, like a tentative plea for mercy.

Xie Wuyu stopped instantly, but his gaze turned even darker, as if provoked by something, and instead of letting him off, he became even more relentless.

He kissed his wet eyelashes, licked away the tears rolling down from the corners of his eyes, consuming them all, offering tender comfort. But Pei Liu simply couldn’t be comforted by this.

By the end, Pei Liu couldn’t even remember when he had fallen asleep, or how he had been carried to the bathroom by Xie Wuyu to wash up. His entire body was limp, too exhausted to even open his eyes, lacking the strength to move a single finger.

***

By the next day, when Pei Liu woke up.

He tried to move and found his body clean and refreshed. Aside from his limbs being weak, he felt no discomfort. For a split second, he almost thought he had just had an indescribable, wet dream, but soon, he discovered the dense red marks on his skin.

He understood that Xie Wuyu must have wiped away his discomfort, just like his wounds. As for why these marks weren’t cleared away as well, the reason was obvious. Pei Liu could also understand; if it were him, he wouldn’t want the marks to disappear so quickly either.

In his mind, those scenes continuously played.

Pei Liu recalled a common saying: When a mature man falls in love, it’s like a house on fire—unstoppable. And Xie Wuyu was a thousand-year-old entity, let alone. He had experienced it firsthand, and he truly couldn’t handle it. Furthermore, Xie Wuyu possessed supernatural cheating abilities; clearing away all physical discomfort after it ended meant that no matter how frequent, it wasn’t a problem.

Pei Liu seemed to see a future where he would be exhausted to death.

While he lay on the bed like a salted fish, Xie Wuyu pushed open the bedroom door and walked in, asking with a smile: “Awake? Perfect timing, we can eat now.”

The moment the door opened, an enticing aroma drifted in.

Pei Liu was instantly hungry. He climbed out of bed, washed up quickly, and went to the dining room with Xie Wuyu to eat.

By the table, a small figure was already seated—it was Xiao Tian, looking obedient with her two chubby hands resting on her knees. When the adults weren’t there, she would just play with Da Huang and wouldn’t eat first.

After the TV drama wrapped up, Xiao Tian had naturally returned with them. However, Xie Wuyu didn’t like having anyone other than himself and Pei Liu in the house, staring at her coldly and exuding an oppressive aura.

Xiao Tian was so scared her calves trembled. Without a second thought, she also called Xie Wuyu “Dad.”

Xie Wuyu paused. Thinking of something, he bought the room next door and casually renovated it into a themed room the child loved, letting her live there and telling her not to come over unless necessary.

Xiao Tian opened the door and took a look. Her eyes lit up, her mouth open in a wide “Wow,” and she instantly fell in love with her new room. She nimbly moved in with Da Huang, refusing to be a third wheel, only coming over at mealtimes. If Pei Liu was free, they would piece together puzzles and play games.

Just like today.

“Dad, you’re so lazy,” Xiao Tian whispered with a giggle, chewing on her meat.

What could Pei Liu say? He could only silently accept the complaint. He had indeed slept in for a very long time, but whose fault was that?

Xie Wuyu cast a cool glance at Xiao Tian. Her ghostly instincts immediately sensed danger, her spectral form stiffening as she said loudly: “Dad has become very hardworking! I’m the lazy one, I’m a lazy pig!”

Pei Liu: “…”

Combining breakfast and lunch into one, Xie Wuyu had prepared a lavish spread, filling the table with Pei Liu’s favorite dishes, eating until Pei Liu’s stomach bulged.

Seeing Xie Wuyu about to serve him more food, he hurriedly shook his head: “I can’t eat anymore, I’m stuffed.”

Hearing this, Xie Wuyu suddenly curled his lips and smiled.

Pei Liu was bewildered: “What are you smiling at?”

Xie Wuyu: “You said the exact same thing last night.”

It took Pei Liu two seconds to realize the meaning behind his words. His ears instantly turned red, his gaze panicking as he instinctively looked at Xiao Tian. Fortunately, she was focusing entirely on battling a fragrant lamb chop and hadn’t heard a thing.

Pei Liu let out a throat-clearing cough to cover his embarrassment, and criticized with feigned composure: “Watch your language.”

Xie Wuyu smiled and nodded: “Okay.”

Since it was a holiday, after finishing lunch, Xiao Tian didn’t return to the room next door immediately, but stayed to watch TV with her two dads. Coincidentally, an amusement park promotional video came on.

Xiao Tian was in high spirits, looking at Pei Liu with pleading eyes: “Dad, I want to go play here, can I?”

This amusement park happened to be the one Pei Liu had visited while filming the dating show—a very famous place for couples to date and families to play.

Pei Liu felt there was no problem, except: “It’s a bit late today, let’s wait until tomorrow.”

Xiao Tian wagged her feet in anticipation, and Da Huang also lay on the carpet, watching the TV intently.

Xie Wuyu had no interest in this outing, preferring to stay alone with Pei Liu. But with Pei Liu coaxing him, he agreed reluctantly.

However, plans couldn’t keep up with changes. The amusement park trip wasn’t canceled, but the person accompanying Xiao Tian had changed.

While going out to buy snacks in the afternoon, they passed by a high school.

Xiao Tian suddenly stopped her chattering, staring blankly out the window.

Pei Liu noticed something was wrong: “What’s wrong?”

Xiao Tian’s tone was dazed, saying in disbelief: “I think… I saw my little brother?”

Pei Liu was surprised, also looking outside, instinctively searching for a two- or three-year-old child, but saw none: “Which one?”

Xie Wuyu pinched his chin, gently turning his head to the side, and said: “The one carrying the black backpack.”

Pei Liu was shocked. But that was a tall, sturdy high school boy who looked like an athlete…

Only then did he remember that Xiao Tian had been dead for over ten years; by now, her little brother indeed should be in high school.

When Xiao Tian first knocked on his door to claim him as her dad, she had deliberately played the pity card, but she basically hadn’t lied; every word was true. Her biological father had an affair, her mother remarried with her, and had a little brother with her stepfather. Afterward, her mother’s love transferred entirely to the brother. Because she forgot to turn off the heater once, and also forgot she was home, she had accidentally burned to death, and Da Huang had died trying to save her.

Perhaps because of her lingering attachments, Xiao Tian didn’t reincarnate after death, becoming the villa’s earthbound spirit, wandering day after day. Although her mother favored the brother and she had complained about it, the brother was only two years old, cute, and very clingy to his older sister. Even after she died, he could still see her ghost.

Xiao Tian often played with her brother. Gradually, her mother noticed something was wrong, even seeing her son pointing to empty space and calling “Sister” more than once, as if someone were standing there. Terrified, she immediately moved with her husband, but unexpectedly met with a car accident on the road and both passed away. The brother became an orphan, moved into an orphanage, until he was adopted by his current adoptive parents.

Xiao Tian watched her brother’s direction without blinking, not saying a word.

Pei Liu asked: “Do you want to get out of the car and take a closer look?”

Xiao Tian nodded, hopped out of the car, and walked toward her brother hesitantly, with Da Huang following her. Pei Liu and Xie Wuyu stood by the car to watch.

Xie Wuyu said nothing, but a wisp of black mist drifted from his side, merging into Xiao Tian and Da Huang’s bodies.

In the next second, Pei Liu discovered Xiao Tian’s figure became clearer, and her shadow appeared on the ground. When people passed her, they even glanced at her, appearing to think the child was very cute.

“Wow, you can do that? That’s pretty cool,” Pei Liu said in surprise, praising Xie Wuyu with a smile. He hadn’t expected him to help Xiao Tian.

Xie Wuyu’s expression remained unchanged: “This way she can bother someone else.”

Pei Liu laughed.

Xiao Tian finally dragged her feet and stopped in front of her brother. The other was much taller than her; she had to look up with great effort.

The tall boy was somewhat confused, looking down at her: “Little girl, are you lost? Where are your parents?”

His classmate beside him sidled up, asking curiously: “Is this your sister?”

“No!” Before the boy could speak, Xiao Tian retorted crisply, “I’m the older sister!”

Saying this, looking at her tall brother, she felt a sudden surge of sadness and couldn’t hold back, bursting into loud wails. Her adorable, tiny doll-like brother was gone! Her little brother, awoo wuwu!

The boy was completely dazed by her crying. The Shiba Inu, Da Huang, let out a bark, leaning in to nudge his leg. Looking at the little girl, then at the Shiba Inu, blurry memories rushed into his mind, and an incredible theory suddenly popped up.

He spoke in a daze: “…Sister?”

Xiao Tian sniffled and nodded in agreement.

The classmate was utterly baffled, and the boy couldn’t explain clearly either, simply taking Xiao Tian to a less crowded spot.

“Are you really… my sister?” the boy asked hesitantly.

Xiao Tian nodded without hesitation, wiping her tears with her chubby hands: “Of course I am, but you don’t look like my brother anymore; you’ve grown ugly.”

A sharp arrow shot through the boy’s chest, hurting terribly. No mistake, definitely his biological sister.

He carefully poked her cheek; it was soft and warm, just like a living person’s.

“…Have you reincarnated? You didn’t drink the Mengpo soup?”

Xiao Tian shook her head: “I’m a ghost.”

Then, she turned and pointed in a direction, showing off excitedly: “Those are the two dads I found! Aren’t they handsome? One of them is a great ghost, and one can eat ghosts—super awesome! The reason you can see me is also because of my Dad!”

The boy looked in the direction Xiao Tian pointed, discovering a black sedan parked across the street, and two tall men standing beside the car. Although they wore masks and their faces couldn’t be seen, their silhouettes made it obvious they were good-looking. People passing by were stealing glances.

A great ghost? Standing right under the hot sun like this—were ghosts nowadays so arrogant? And one that could eat ghosts—could they still get along harmoniously?

The boy was led over by Xiao Tian, greeting them reservedly.

Xie Wuyu didn’t say a word, directly handing him two amusement park passes: “She wants to go play at the amusement park. Accompany your sister tomorrow, you have time, right?”

The boy froze, nodding instinctively. The other’s aura was too strong; he didn’t dare make eye contact, let alone refuse. However, even if he had to choose himself, he wouldn’t refuse. He had always missed his sister, never expecting to have a chance to meet again in this lifetime.

Hearing this, Pei Liu also felt it was much more appropriate for Xiao Tian to go with her biological brother than with them, and she would definitely be very happy. Sure enough, Xiao Tian was already smiling, her eyes curved into crescents. She spent the entire day playing happily at the amusement park, chattering about her good mood after returning.

She sat on her brother’s shoulders, eating cotton candy and candied haws, demanding her grown-up brother call her sister. In the middle of it, she ran into a brat who wanted to snatch her toy. She had prepared to use her ghostly aura to scare him, but suddenly remembered—she had a brother, why not use him? Thus, she said arrogantly: “Just you wait, I’ll call my brother over to beat you up.”

The brat didn’t take it seriously, thinking he could beat up anyone. But when he saw the so-called “brother” was a big guy several times taller and stronger than him, he was completely dumbfounded. Without her brother even having to lift a hand, a glare was enough to make the brat cry for his mommy.

Pei Liu listened to her speak patiently, happy for her, and said she could go play with her brother again in the future if she wanted.

Xiao Tian smiled sweetly: “Little brother is great, but my favorite is still Dad! Dad, when you grow old and die, I’ll support you. After you die and become a ghost, I’ll also catch ghosts for you to eat!”

Pei Liu: “…” Truly filial.

But Xie Wuyu picked Xiao Tian up, tossed her aside, and said coldly: “None of your business. Who said he’s going to die?”

The first time he saw Xie Wuyu toss the child, Pei Liu would get nervous, but later he discovered Xiao Tian was perfectly fine and would even secretly make funny faces, so he stopped worrying.

He asked in confusion: “What does that mean? Don’t all humans die?”

He wasn’t very afraid of death. If he died, perhaps he could return to his own world, or turn into a ghost with Xie Wuyu, Xiao Tian, and Da Huang to keep him company.

But he forgot: if a person died without strong attachments or resentment, they wouldn’t linger in the human world, but would reincarnate. Therefore, if he died, it might mean parting. And even if he reincarnated, even if he still had the same soul, without shared memories, they wouldn’t be the same.

Xie Wuyu didn’t answer his question, merely saying, you won’t die.

Pei Liu couldn’t get an answer, so he temporarily put it aside, planning to ask next time.

Xie Wuyu told Xiao Tian to go back to the room next door.

At night, only Pei Liu and Xie Wuyu remained alone in the house.

After taking a shower, Pei Liu lay on his stomach on the bed playing with his phone, humming a cheerful tune, his voice clear and sweet. Because he was in his own bedroom, his posture on the bed was lazy and casual. When he rolled over, his shirt hem rolled up, but he didn’t care, revealing a section of fair waist.

Xie Wuyu walked over, rested one hand on the edge of the bed, bent down, and took the phone from his hand. Pei Liu’s gaze followed instinctively, turning his head to lock eyes with Xie Wuyu. Seeing his handsome, post-shower sensual appearance, he smiled, proactively leaned in, and kissed his lips.

Appetite and desire are human nature. Pei Liu was a visual creature, having impulses, and liked the feeling of being with Xie Wuyu. The air was lingering and warm, like melted honey, sticky and pulling.

Pei Liu eventually fell asleep from exhaustion. But Xie Wuyu remained energetic; sleep wasn’t necessary for him. He rested his chin on his hand, watching Pei Liu sleep, curling a strand of his hair around his finger to play with out of boredom.

He could tell that Pei Liu’s feelings toward him had changed a lot from his initial fear to his current growing affection.

But he wanted more than a little affection; how could that be enough?

Xie Wuyu held his slender ankle, lowered his head slightly, and pressed a gentle kiss on his instep.

The bright moonlight spilled inside, hazy like mist, reflecting on Xie Wuyu’s pale, handsome face. The corners of his mouth curled up, a faint hint of madness within his gentle smile.

He wanted him to only have him in his eyes.