Chapter 71: Look at Me, Donât Think of Anything Else
“That was just ’emergency evasive action’!” Lin Siwu argued righteously, though his voice was still weak. “Now… now that the horror movie is over…” He trailed off, cautiously scooting another half-inch away.
Jiang Qing was amused by the contrast in his behavior before and after the film. “So, now that it’s over, youâre turning your back on me and pretending you don’t know me?”
Lin Siwuâs face flushed a deep crimson. He stammered, “IâI didn’t… it was the pressure of the situation…” He looked down and toyed with his fingers, his voice growing smaller and smaller. “Qing-ge, youâre not angry, are you?”
“Not really,” Jiang Qing said leisurely, reaching out to poke his forehead. “I just think you two brothers are quite interesting.”
He paused, remembering how Lin Siyuâs hand had gone from stiff to quietly squeezing his back. His smile deepened. “In the end, you had to rely on me, an ‘outsider,’ to stabilize the morale.”
Hearing the word “outsider,” Lin Siwu immediately looked up and said hurriedly, “Qing-ge, how are you an outsider! You… you are my…” He caught himself for a second. “You are a very important friend to both me and my brother.”
He spoke very earnestly, his eyes bright.
Jiang Qing was just about to say something when the lights overhead flickered violently and thenâ
Snap!
Everything went dark.
The entire living room was instantly swallowed by thick darkness. The heavy curtains, which had been drawn earlier to set the mood for the movie, blocked out all external light.
“W-What happened?”
“Don’t panic, itâs probably just a tripped breaker,” Jiang Qingâs voice rang out in the dark.
“Where is the electrical box? Iâll go take a look.”
“……I… Iâll lead you there.”
Jiang Qing turned on his phoneâs flashlight and followed Lin Siwu step by step. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt like Lin Siwu was shaking.
He instinctively gave the boy a reassuring pat.
The beam of the phone light cut through the darkness, casting a swaying circle of light on the corridor walls.
Lin Siwuâs fingers unconsciously gripped Jiang Qingâs sleeve. Jiang Qing could feel the body pressed against his arm trembling slightly.
“Itâs just a power outage.” Jiang Qing slowed his pace. “The storm probably caused some instability in the lines or tripped the main switch. We just need to check it.”
“Mm…” Lin Siwu answered in a small voice, but his tone was still tight. His gaze swept warily over the shifting shadows at the edge of the light. “Qing-ge… do you think… could that movie just now… have attracted something?”
His voice got quieter as he spoke, until it was almost a whisper.
Jiang Qing was caught between laughter and tears. He followed the dim light to look at Lin Siwuâs pale face and eyes full of unease.
“Stop scaring yourself.”
“Movies are movies, reality is reality. Where would all these ghosts come from? Besides, do you think theyâre that idle? Ghosts have their own business to attend to. What benefit would there be in scaring a top-tier tenor like you?”
“Furthermore, with me by your side, what are you afraid of? If a ghost comes, Iâll block it for you. So stop worrying, okay?”
The body beneath his palm was still tense, but his touch and words seemed to soothe the fine tremors slightly.
“The electrical box is right next to the storage room up ahead.” Lin Siwu pointed toward a half-open door at the end of the hallway. His voice was steadier than before, but he still stayed glued to Jiang Qingâs side.
The two reached the storage room door. Jiang Qing pushed it open and shone the flashlight on the wall. A gray distribution box was embedded there.
Just as he was about to step forward and inspect it, a brilliant flash of lightning streaked past the window, its deathly white glare piercing the corridor for a split second. Immediately following it wasâ
BOOM!!!
A clap of thunder exploded almost right against the roof, making their eardrums tingle.
Lin Siwuâs entire body suddenly jolted violently. He froze in place, his arms locking onto Jiang Qingâs arm with a death grip.
“Whatâs wrong?” Jiang Qing keenly sensed that Lin Siwuâs current state was very wrong.
Lin Siwuâs voice was muffled against Jiang Qingâs shoulder. “…So loud… itâs fine… itâs nothing…”
Jiang Qing was being held incredibly tight. With every roll of thunder, the other manâs heart seemed ready to leap out and merge with his own blood, telegraphing every ounce of unease and panic.
This reaction…
Jiang Qingâs heart sank. He turned around, wrapping one arm firmly around Lin Siwuâs trembling body while his other hand reached up to gently cover the ear closest to him.
“Itâs okay, Iâm here.” His voice rose, seemingly cutting through the clamor of the thunderstorm. “Itâs just thunder; it can’t hurt us. We are safe.”
“Iâm right here.”
Jiang Qing felt Lin Siwuâs body as rigid as a stone. His breathing was fast and shallow, as if he might suffocate at any moment.
“Lin Siwu, listen to me.” He pulled back slightly, cupping the boyâs cold, sweat-dampened cheeks in his hands, forcing him to meet his gaze in the dim light. Lin Siwuâs eyes were unfocused.
“Look at me, don’t think of anything else.” Jiang Qing used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears seeping from the corners of his eyes. “Deep breaths with me. Breathe in… take it slow… yes, deeper… then, breathe out…”
He led Lin Siwu through the exercise, patiently repeating it over and over. Initially, Lin Siwuâs breathing remained chaotic, but as he focused on Jiang Qingâs steady rhythm and unwavering gaze, his ragged gasps gradually synchronized.
The thunder continued to rumble.
“Very good, just like that.” Jiang Qing encouraged him in a low voice, his thumb soothingly stroking his cheek. “Tell me, what do you feel right now? Are my hands warm or cold?”
“…Warm.” Lin Siwuâs voice was hoarse, but he could finally form a sentence.
“And the floor? Is what youâre standing on hard or soft?”
“Hard… itâs hard.”
Lin Siwuâs trembling gradually subsided. Though his body was still tense, the sense of near-total breakdown was receding.
Jiang Qing had some suspicions in his heart. He maintained this protective posture until Lin Siwuâs breathing completely leveled out and his grip on Jiang Qingâs clothes loosened.
“Better now?” Jiang Qing asked, releasing his hold on the boyâs face, though his arm still hovered around him to provide support.
Lin Siwu nodded, leaning his forehead against Jiang Qingâs shoulder as if drained of strength. “…Much better. Iâm sorry, Qing-ge, I…”
“No need to apologize,” Jiang Qing interrupted. “Everyone has something theyâre afraid of. Don’t they?”
Lin Siwuâs body stiffened for a moment. He remained silent for a while before letting out a muffled “Mm.”
Suddenly, he remembered something and grabbed Jiang Qingâs sleeve in a panic.
“Ge… my brother… heâs also afraid of thunder.” He repeated, “More than me… maybe even…”
He couldn’t finish, but Jiang Qing instantly understood the meaning behind those unsaid words.
Lin Siyu was currently all alone…
“The electrical box.” Jiang Qing didn’t hesitate any longer, leading Lin Siwu quickly to the distribution board. He found the main switchâsure enough, it had tripped.
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