Chapter 37: Prison of the Soul, Fear of Love
“Lu Jingheng! Are you out of your mind?!” Gu Yunsheng did a tactical lean back, dodging Lu Jingheng’s embrace which was like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. He pointed at the man’s nose in terror, looking as if Lu Jingheng might pull out a ring and kneel for a proposal in the next second. “In broad daylight, what… what are you doing?!”
Lu Jingheng was almost amused by his exaggerated reaction, but he suppressed his laughter and put on a look of deep affection, reciting in a theatrical tone: “Sheng, my love is like the surging waters of a river, endless and unstoppable, like the Yellow River in flood…”
“Blargh—” A dry-heave came from the crowd of onlookers. Someone shouted without fear of trouble, “Brother, these pick-up lines are too old-fashioned! Can’t you come up with something fresh?!”
Lu Jingheng’s old face flushed red. He gave the guy who ruined the mood a sharp glare, then turned to see Gu Yunsheng laughing so hard his tears were almost coming out.
“Hahaha… Lu Jingheng, you… can you not be so funny? Hahahaha…” Gu Yunsheng couldn’t straighten his back from laughing, pointing at Lu Jingheng intermittently.
Seeing him happy, the tension and unease in Lu Jingheng’s heart dissipated. He decided to let himself go completely, grabbing Gu Yunsheng’s hand and kneeling on one knee with deep affection, shouting at the top of his lungs: “I want a life in full bloom, like flying in the vast sky, like traveling through the boundless wilderness, possessing the power to break free from everything…”
Pfft— Gu Yunsheng almost spat out a mouthful of blood. What on earth was he singing! He laughed while trying hard to pry Lu Jingheng’s hand off. “Get up! It’s embarrassing!”
Lu Jingheng, however, was like a piece of sticky candy on the floor, refusing to get up no matter how Gu Yunsheng pulled. Instead, he sang more enthusiastically, even adding movements. His hilarious appearance made the crowd of onlookers laugh uncontrollably.
“Oh, I can’t take it. I’m going to die laughing. This guy is too funny!”
“Is confessing so competitive these days? This is a rare sight!”
“Look at them—both of them are drama queens. A perfect match!”
“I…” Gu Yunsheng felt uneasy from Lu Jingheng’s sudden intense gaze. Just as he was about to say something, Lu Jingheng suddenly let go of his shoulders, took a step back, and struck an extremely bizarre pose.
“Sheng, wait!” Lu Jingheng took a deep breath, his expression becoming serious. “You might not believe me if I just say it. To prove my sincerity, I’ve decided to let you feel it in my own way!”
Before Gu Yunsheng could react, a rhythmic music sound blasted from Lu Jingheng’s phone.
Dun! Dun-dun-dun! Dun-dun-dun-dun-dun!
Lu Jingheng began to move with the rhythm. His movements were stiff, like a robot in disrepair. He was actually doing the legendary… popping?!
While dancing, he rapped at the top of his lungs:
“Yo yo, Sheng, listen to me. My love for you is like a volcano erupting! You are my red rose, you are my moonlight. For you, I can give up the whole fish pond! My love is like this rhythm—never stopping, never backing down! Sheng, you are my only one, you are my miracle!”
Gu Yunsheng watched this scene in stunned silence, wondering if he was having a hallucination.
Who could tell him when this “Husky” of a Lu Jingheng learned this kind of “Smart-boy” dance? And rap? These lyrics were simply a live version of the “Earthy Love Quotes” collection!
The onlookers went completely wild. Screams, whistles, and the click of phone cameras were constant. This scene was livelier than a celebrity concert.
“My god! This rap is too catchy! I feel like my ears are pregnant!”
“Help! I’m moved by Young Master Lu’s deep affection! Gu Yunsheng, agree to him! Agree to him!”
However, as the object of the confession, Gu Yunsheng only wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
He covered his face, simply unable to look. He had only one thought: Lu Jingheng, wake up! I can’t bear to watch.
Gu Yunsheng’s fingers lightly pulled away from Lu Jingheng’s palm, as if peeling something off. He took half a step back, and it felt as if a ditch had formed between them.
The noise around them had nothing to do with them at this moment. Gu Yunsheng saw Lu Jingheng’s eyes instantly dim because of his movement, and his heart ached.
But Ling Xi’s face—that magnificent and fantastical yet painful world—and all the complex emotions coiling around him like thorns made it impossible to respond to Lu Jingheng.
He didn’t know why he transmigrated. With things as they were, how could he start a romance? Moreover, he believed transmigration wasn’t that simple. Everything in the book that didn’t match the original plot, and that Dr. Li in reality who looked so much like Xue Chenxi—could this really be a coincidence?
“Lu Jingheng…” Gu Yunsheng’s voice was very soft, as if afraid of disturbing something. Even he didn’t notice the exhaustion in his own voice. “You know, that matter isn’t simple.”
He didn’t say what matter it was, but Lu Jingheng understood. His heart felt as if it were squeezed by an invisible hand.
Four days ago, Gu Yunsheng had a high fever and constant nightmares. After recovering, he had lost a lot of weight. His jawline was more defined, his face pale, and a lingering gloom shrouded his brow. He was silent and moody, his eyes always carrying an indissoluble sadness and confusion, like a fish with nowhere to return to.
Lu Jingheng understood better than anyone, because he was the one who started all this.
He was the one who created that world in the book, and he was the one who pushed Gu Yunsheng into it.
“Sheng…” He wanted so much to hug Gu Yunsheng and tell him that he knew what he’d experienced, knew his helplessness and loneliness, and knew all his secrets.
“I’m sorry, I… can’t accept you right now.” Gu Yunsheng turned his head away, not daring to look into Lu Jingheng’s eyes for fear he wouldn’t be able to resist telling him everything.
“It’s okay. I’ll wait for you.” Lu Jingheng grabbed Gu Yunsheng’s hand, as if telling him he could help him escape that unbearable world in the book.
“But I don’t want to hold you back.” Gu Yunsheng interrupted him, his tone decisive. “Lu Jingheng, we… won’t have a result.”
The light sentence was like a knife stabbing into Lu Jingheng’s heart.
The surrounding sounds seemed to be sucked away. In Lu Jingheng’s eyes, only Gu Yunsheng’s retreating back remained.
The moment he turned, Gu Yunsheng tightly clutched the ring on his right index finger. That was his only connection… his only way out…
“Oh, young people these days are hard to understand. Such a nice boy…” An auntie holding a fluffy Pomeranian just started to speak when she was interrupted by a bark from the crowd.
“Woof!”
A Golden Retriever wagged its tail excitedly, pushed through the crowd, and ran to Lu Jingheng’s side, affectionately rubbing against his leg. Lu Jingheng leaned down and lightly patted the Golden Retriever’s head, whispering: “Lucky, be quiet.”
The Golden Retriever seemed to understand. It sat down obediently by his side, its big wet eyes staring curiously at Gu Yunsheng’s back, as if observing something on behalf of its master.
“Oh, isn’t this Xiao Lu’s baby, Lucky? Why is he so good today?” Seeing the Golden Retriever, the auntie with the Pomeranian immediately changed to a flattering smile and greeted Lu Jingheng warmly. “Xiao Lu, do you remember me? I live right below you. We met in the community garden last time, and you gave me a basket of strawberries.”
The auntie tried hard to wake Lu Jingheng’s memory. “Xiao Lu, are you here with Lucky to propose? These roses are so beautiful. Look at you—a talented young man—why do you like boys? My daughter graduated this year; she’s around your age. Should I introduce you?”
As she spoke, she pushed the Pomeranian in her arms toward Lu Jingheng. “Our Niuniu is very well-behaved too. She’s a perfect match for your Lucky!”
Lu Jingheng took a step back unnoticeably, dodging the auntie’s enthusiasm. He was crying out inwardly—he had just confessed to Gu Yunsheng, singing and dancing and making a fool of himself, and now this auntie was talking nonsense.
“Hey, let me tell you…” The Orange Cat Auntie lowered her voice and whispered into the Pomeranian Auntie’s ear, winking and gesturing while occasionally looking toward Gu Yunsheng. Her eyes were full of gossipy light.
Listening to the surrounding discussion, Lu Jingheng’s expression grew uglier.
He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Those biased and mocking whispers were like blades, heartlessly piercing his self-esteem. He tightened the leash on Lucky and ignored the burning, judgmental stares of the people around him as he stormed out.
Returning to his apartment, Gu Yunsheng collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Those curious, contemptuous, or regretful gazes were like shackles, imprisoning him in place, unable to move.
He naturally understood how much courage Lu Jingheng’s choice required, and knew how much pressure they would have to face.
But the transmigration experience was like a nightmare, leaving an indelible shadow in his heart, filling him with fear and doubt toward love.
And that King of the Deep Sea—that domineering yet gentle merman—was even more like a curse, tightly confining him in a prison of memories.
Buzz-buzz—
The vibration of the phone interrupted Gu Yunsheng’s thoughts. He grabbed the phone; an unknown number was flickering on the screen.
He hesitated for a few seconds before finally pressing the answer button.
“Mr. Gu Yunsheng, I hope you have been well, even if it is in this manner…” A low and magnetic male voice came from the other end of the phone, carrying a hint of a playful smile. “I know what you want, and I know what you can give me. As long as you agree to my conditions, I can help you return to the world you want to return to…”
The man on the other end deliberately dragged out the final syllable like a devil’s whisper, full of temptation and danger.
Gu Yunsheng’s fingers tightened on the phone, his knuckles turning white, and his breathing grew rapid.
He almost blurted out: “Who are you? What do you want?”
Translator’s Note: Talk about a cliffhanger! Who is on the phone? Is it someone from the book world, or another “slice” of a soul? The Golden Retriever’s name “Lucky” is quite ironic given the “social death” Lu Jingheng just experienced. Also, “Smart-boy” (杀马特 – Shamate) refers to a subculture in China known for exaggerated hair and fashion, often used as a joke for being “cringe.” Hang in there, Yunsheng!
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