Chapter 205: New Year's Eve
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
"Trust your own intuition," Lin Tingyu's words came through the phone.
The air outside the window was extremely cold, and the heating in the room condensed into a white fog on the window. When Ruan Yesheng listened to her voice, it was as if there was a layer of gentle mist between them.
"There are only two possible outcomes," Lin Tingyu said. "Either nothing happens, or something does. Of course, it's great if nothing happens, but if something does happen, then your suspicion will have its value."
She then added, "I'm coming right now. No matter what happens or what you see, don't leave the house."
“…I understand, thank you.” Ruan Yesheng was deeply moved. She walked to the sofa and sat down, saying sincerely, “I’m really happy that you could come. But it’s so late and so cold, and it’s New Year’s Eve, I…I’m so embarrassed. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
"I don't find it troublesome. Don't feel guilty, just treat me to a meal later." The sound of Lin Tingyu gently closing the door could be faintly heard on the phone. She must have already left home and was on her way to Ruan Yesheng.
“Okay, wherever you want to eat is fine,” Ruan Yesheng said softly.
“If you’re nervous, you don’t have to hang up. I’m wearing headphones,” Lin Tingyu said clearly. “You have another phone, so you can use the one you don’t use often to stay on the line with me. That way, if someone calls you, the line won’t be busy.”
Ruan Yesheng was thinking the same thing, and quickly said, "I'll call you from a different phone."
After hanging up, she picked up another phone and dialed Lin Tingyu's number again, leaving the first phone aside.
Lin Tingyu said, "I've shared my location with you. Check the messages and you'll know where I am."
Ruan Yesheng also put on earphones and checked the message on the other phone. Lin Tingyu’s location was in her residential complex with Lin Tingshuang. This place wasn't very far from Ruan Yesheng’s home by car, but also not near. Even on New Year’s Eve with smooth roads, it would still take some time.
Lin Tingyu drove the car out of the underground parking garage, saying as she drove, "I've driven out. Do you want to drink something, watch the Spring Festival Gala? If anything happens, call me.”
Ruan Yesheng felt her comfort and knew she was afraid she would feel bored. She said, “I’m already watching the Gala.”
“Do you think this year’s Gala is good?”
"I didn't watch it much earlier, I was busy cleaning." Ruan Yesheng gradually relaxed during the conversation. She hugged a cushion and found a comfortable position to curl up on the sofa.
"A’Shuang said the Spring Festival Gala wasn't very good," Lin Tingyu said. "But I think even if it wasn't good, it was still quite interesting."
Upon listening, Ruan Yesheng felt that Lin Tingyu seemed quite interested in many things. She observed people, objects, scenery, and small animals with great interest. Even when arguing or having conflicts with others, she maintained a nonchalant and enjoyable demeanor.
This was not the same as liking to watch excitement.
Ruan Yesheng couldn't quite describe the feeling. Since knowing Lin Tingyu, she always felt comfortable with her. Though there was always a faint layer of distance between them, tonight, she felt that faint distance had faded, and she had a dazed feeling of getting closer.
Especially now, Lin Tingyu chatted with her to ease the hard waiting time, letting her forget the tension for a while.
Ruan Yesheng curled up and chatted with Lin Tingyu from afar.
Lin Tingyu asked, “Do you always spend New Year alone?”
“…Yes.”
“A’Shuang and I always spent it together. A’Shuang’s wish is to travel with me during the New Year, but she's not in good health, so it has not been fulfilled yet. Traveling is too tiring, and I’m afraid that it will make her have an attack."
As they chatted, time slowly passed in the cold night.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Until Lin Tingyu said, “I’m at your building. There is indeed a person with an umbrella, but not on the chair. He changed position, under a tree. From upstairs, you cannot see that place.”
Ruan Yesheng tensed up again and asked, "Can you see that person's face?"
"It’s blocked by the umbrella. I can't see. I will take a photo for you. I can't get too close, so it will not be clear.”
Ruan Yesheng received the photo. A dark figure holding an umbrella, like a shadow ghost, standing under the tree. From the angle, the person faced Lin Tingyu when she took the photo, it was unclear whether he saw Lin Tingyu
"They probably knew I was watching."
Another photo came in; the tree looked empty now.
“Can you see where he went?” Ruan Yesheng felt a chill inside.
That person is definitely suspicious. So much time has passed and they haven't left, but they immediately fled when they noticed someone approaching. Perhaps they guessed that Ruan Yesheng had sent someone to investigate.
“Looks like toward the parking lot.” Lin Tingyu said. “Keep in contact. I will follow and see.”
"Don't go!" Ruan Yesheng stood up from the sofa, trembling, and said, "...Don't go, Tingyu!"
“I’m not very afraid.” Lin Tingyu said. “If I follow, maybe I can get more clues. You can't always be so scared. Now we only have some photos without faces, they're useless.”
“…Don’t go.” Ruan Yesheng was afraid she would continue walking forward: “There are even fewer people in the parking lot. I know you can fight, but the other party might…not be human. Don’t take the risk.”
The other side went silent.
“What are you saying?” Lin Tingyu’s voice was faint. “What do you mean not human?”
“It’s… not human, maybe something, or…a monster.” Ruan Yesheng’s teeth chattered uncontrollably. “This is just my guess, or imagination. I haven’t seen any evidence with my own eyes, but I just feel that it’s inhuman. A normal person wouldn’t stay there for so long in such cold conditions. This behavior is very abnormal, and beyond human.”
She was almost incoherent: "I'm not describing any movie, just don't go... don't let anything happen to you. I don't want anyone else around me to get hurt."
Lin Tingyu remained silent for the time being.
"Please believe me... I called you here, I can't let you get hurt." Ruan Yesheng almost pleaded with her: "Tonight, as long as we confirm that someone is indeed watching me and that I'm not hallucinating, we'll have the result we want. I'll be on guard, and we can discuss the rest when we meet."
After a moment, Lin Tingyu said, "Okay, I believe you. I won't follow, don't be afraid."
Ruan Yesheng breathed a sigh of relief.
When she heard Lin Tingyu say that she would follow alone, a chill ran down her spine to her tailbone, and for a moment she was even afraid that Lin Tingyu would die.
"It's so cold. Why don't you come up? I'll make you something hot to warm you up. What would you like to drink? Hot tea, milk, or hot cocoa?" Ruan Yesheng was both grateful and ashamed. She couldn't let Lin Tingyu travel so far and stand outside in the cold wind.
"No, thank you," Lin Tingyu said, "Don't open the door for others."
“…But you’re not just anyone,” Ruan Yesheng said. “You’re my friend, and besides, you helped me so much today.”
Upon hearing this, Lin Tingyu smiled gently.
"Thank you," Lin Tingyu said. "Today is special, since something strange has happened. It's best not to open the door. You need to get into this habit to stay safe."
Ruan Yesheng hesitated for a moment, then agreed: "...Okay, then you can go back now. Don't stay downstairs anymore. I know what to do next."
"I'll just look around the area a bit more and then leave. It won't be long, don't worry," Lin Tingyu said. "But I won't go to that parking lot."
"Can you not hang up the phone yet? Until you get on the car."
Lin Tingyu laughed and said, "Ruanruan, you're quite interesting too."
They stayed on call for a while. After making sure Lin Tingyu was safe in the car, Ruan Yesheng finally felt a bit relieved.
Lin Tingyu concluded by saying, "If you encounter anything you can't handle, just call me. Don't feel pressured. If it's inconvenient to talk, and the address is your home, just let it ring once and hang up. If you're on set or working, let it ring twice. Generally, our company will know your schedule. I'll come find you."
“That’s pretty good,” Ruan Yesheng said.
“If three rings, it means you and Xi Mo are together, and both in trouble.” Lin Tingyu said.
“Okay, I'll remember. Don’t tell Xi Mo about today. I don’t want her to worry.”
The call ended, and Lin Tingyu's voice disappeared from the phone. Ruan Yesheng checked the previous location records; Lin Tingyu hadn't turned them off, and the route showed she was driving home.
Ruan Yesheng breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, a long-suppressed chill and loneliness crept into her heart. She walked to the window and looked out again. There was nothing downstairs. She drew the curtains tightly, returned to the sofa, lay down, and covered herself with a pillow, as if building a temporary fortress for refuge.
The feeling of loneliness becomes more intense after someone who cares for you leaves.
Just like when the excitement ends, people feel a strange emptiness.
Especially after confirming that the person with the umbrella was indeed highly suspicious, a persistent fear lingered within. Danger came, then briefly disappeared; what's next?
Ruan Yesheng was in turmoil. She could no longer hear the sound from the television. The mental pressure seemed to have turned into a vague pain, constantly pressing on her body. She was forced to curl up even tighter, close her eyes, and hope that this long night would pass quickly.
During the day, she could meet Xi Mo.
Ruan Yesheng fell asleep with a mix of unease and anticipation. Perhaps due to the emotional torment and the long hours of working, she slept very soundly, as if trapped in a nightmare, her body covered in cold sweat.
In a daze, she thought she heard a knocking sound again.
Knock knock knock, knock knock knock.
Ruan Yesheng suddenly opened her eyes, and for a moment she almost thought she had fallen into a time loop. Why was someone knocking on her door again?
Knock knock knock.
Just when she thought she was hallucinating, the knocking sounded again, urgent yet restrained.
The phone screen lit up; a message had arrived. Ruan Yesheng got off the sofa, picked up her phone, and saw many missed calls and voice messages from Xi Mo, as well as a long list of different messages from Xi Mo, each from a different time period after she fell asleep.
"Can I come to your house tonight? You said we'd meet on the first day of the lunar new year, but I still want to come over tonight. I'll have Gu Qisong bring me over, nothing will happen."
"Yesheng, I just called you, but you didn't answer."
“Are you asleep? I'm sorry I contacted you so late, I had something to do earlier.”
“I saw something tonight. I miss you a little.”
"I feel like something is not right. We haven't been in touch much tonight; you haven't answered my calls or replied to my messages. This doesn't seem like your usual self. If it were before, you would have waited for me. I hope I'm not overthinking it."
“I don’t think this is normal. If you don’t contact me, I’ll come over and check on you.”
"I'm on my way to your house. Can you call me back when you see this message?"
The messages flashed by quickly before her eyes, and the knocking stopped. Ruan Yesheng's mind felt like it was about to explode. She grabbed her phone and ran to the entrance.
In the security camera footage from the entryway, Xi Mo was standing at the door, raising her hand as if to knock again, but then, seemingly afraid of disturbing others' rest by knocking too frequently, she lowered her hand and instead tried to make another phone call.
Just then, her phone vibrated. Ruan Yesheng's breathing tightened. As she answered the call, she unlocked the door.
Xi Mo stood at the door, and seeing the call connected, she visibly relaxed, whispering into the phone, "Yesheng, I'm at the door..."
The door opened, and she saw Ruan Yesheng, who was also holding a phone to her ear.
Xi Mo's words were cut off at the doorway.
Ruan Yesheng reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into the house. The door closed tightly behind them again.
Xi Mo led her inside, and before she could even stand properly, she hurriedly said, "What's wrong? I couldn't reach you, and I was very worried, so I came over."
Ruan Yesheng's throat choked, she could barely speak. Her hands gripped Xi Mo's coat, which felt as if it were covered in frost. Her body was wrapped in the marks left by the cold wind, and it was so cold to the touch.
"I'm sorry. I didn't keep my promise to you. I promised to come in the morning." Seeing that she didn't say anything, but just stared at her with reddened eyes, Xi Mo quickly explained, "Did I scare you? I sent you messages and called you before, but I didn't get a response. So I had to knock on the door. I didn't dare to call your name loudly, because I was afraid the neighbors would hear me."
Ruan Yesheng stared at her intently.
Xi Mo breathed a sigh of relief almost cautiously: "Thank goodness... you're alright."
Ruan Yesheng felt that all the tension, loneliness, horror, and exhaustion she had accumulated tonight had condensed into a tiny point at this moment, and finally burst out with every pore on her body.
After a night of rollercoaster ups and downs, she finally reached the end, and all her senses and emotions, which had been raging for so long, seemed to erupt at this moment.
Ruan Yesheng did not want to think anymore.
She reached out, cupped Xi Mo's cheeks, and kissed her with all her might.
Xi Mo was caught off guard by the kiss and was a little stunned. Ruan Yesheng's tongue licked open her lips, and she belatedly opened her mouth to meet Ruan Yesheng's tongue.
She had never experienced Ruan Yesheng like this before.
Too passionate, reckless.
Ruan Yesheng wrapped her arms around Xi Mo's neck, her lips parted slightly as she suppressed her breath and said, "Kiss me harder,okay?"
Upon hearing this, Xi Mo instinctively hugged her tightly, pressed her lips to hers, and tentatively asked, "... Isn't this be a bit too intense? It might make you feel uncomfortable."
"Do you even know what constitutes 'intense'?" Ruan Yesheng's eyes welled up with tears.
Xi Mo hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.
Ruan Yesheng murmured, "Follow me."
Xi Mo's breath hitched as Ruan Yesheng entangled with her once more.
A kiss so deep and unrestrained, unlike anything they’ve ever shared before.
Xi Mo's body, frozen by the cold wind, seemed to melt away from Ruan Yesheng's warmth. She felt hot all over, hugged Ruan Yesheng against the wall, lifted her up a little with both hands, and held her tightly in her arms.
She followed Ruan Yesheng's rhythm and deepened the kiss.
Author’s Note:
Happy Lantern Festival
