Chapter 13: Ge, I’m Scared — “Okay, I’m scared, Ge, hold me tighter”…
Jiang Yunian lowered his head and ate quietly, his movements refined, the tips of his ears tinged with a faint pink. Jiang Yan poked at the grains of rice with his chopsticks, his gaze sweeping covertly around their surroundings.
“Hey, look over there…”
“…Really so handsome! His side profile is amazing…”
“Wonder if he has a girlfriend.”
Whispers of excited female voices drifted vaguely from diagonally across.
Jiang Yan’s eyelids tightened coldly, then relaxed as if nothing had happened.
The cafeteria was noisy, and Jiang Yunian, completely unaware, was focused on tackling the ribs on his plate until the person opposite him suddenly stood up, prompting him to cast a blank glance.
“Hm?”
“There’s oil on the table.” Jiang Yan held his tray and moved naturally next to Jiang Yunian, their arms pressing tightly together.
In this position, his broad shoulders and long back perfectly blocked the line of sight from diagonally behind, like a wall, securely fencing Jiang Yunian by his side.
So crowded.
Jiang Yunian shrank slightly to the side.
“Ahhh, this one is also so handsome…”
“Eh? Why are they sitting together?!”
“Isn’t it better that they’re sitting together? Hehehe~~”
This time, it was hard for Jiang Yunian not to hear. He blushed quietly and buried his head very low, revealing only a soft hair whorl.
Jiang Yan looked at that hair whorl, the tip of his tongue pressing against the roof of his mouth. The chattering in the air seemed pushed far, far away.
At this moment, only this space he encircled was quiet, belonging only to him.
Jiang Yunian put down his chopsticks and suddenly remembered something, asking Jiang Yan what kind of movies he liked to watch.
Usually, couples only went to the cinema for dates.
Is Ge wanting to…
“Ge wants to ask me out for a movie?” Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow, rubbing his chin.
Jiang Yunian nodded, thinking he’d spare some time to watch a movie with him to keep him from overthinking.
Jiang Yan’s lips curved slightly. “I’ll listen to Ge. Whatever Ge loves to watch, I love to watch too.”
The ideal was beautiful, but reality was sloppy. When the agreed time came, the location was at his own home, using that ancient TV to play a disc bought from a street vendor—three for ten yuan.
Jiang Yan stared at those colorful plastic discs, the corner of his mouth twitching.
First date in my life… and it’s this perfunctory.
Lights off, Jiang Yan nestled into the sofa right next to Jiang Yunian, a thin blanket draped over them, wrapping the two firmly together. The sofa wasn’t small; there was plenty of room for three people, yet Jiang Yan stuck so close to him. Jiang Yunian asked, “Are you very cold?”
Jiang Yan blinked, his arm quietly passing behind Jiang Yunian’s neck, resting loosely on the back of the sofa. “I’m a little scared.”
The movie was a bundle gift from the newsstand vendor. Jiang Yunian had picked one at random, but unexpectedly hit the jackpot—the classic Japanese horror film, “Ju-on: The Grudge.”
The ominous intro music began. Jiang Yan’s knee pressed against his. Jiang Yunian moved unconsciously to the side, causing the edge of the blanket to slip down, so he sat back a little.
Jiang Yunian watched intently, gradually holding his breath during the eerie scene where Kayako crawled down the stairs.
His left shoulder suddenly sank, trembling along with the breath that came by his ear, damp and hot. “The layout of this house is so similar to here.”
“Where is it similar…” Jiang Yunian scanned the surroundings uneasily, not noticing the restless hand on his shoulder.
It slid down little by little, gently pinching Jiang Yunian’s wrist, the pad of the thumb grinding over the wrist bone again and again.
So thin.
The terrifying sound effects drifted in and out, bringing a bone-piercing chill. Jiang Yunian tensed his small face, furrowing his delicate brows, lips pressed tight.
Jiang Yan sensed his slightly trembling body and hooked his lips. Clearly scared stiff, yet still pretending to be calm. So cute.
He lifted his eyelids to glance at the TV. A horror movie from twenty years ago—only the sound effects could bluff people; it was too cliché for today.
Watching Ge’s reaction is more interesting.
“Bang!”
The grim sound effect suddenly turned shrill, and a pale face darted out on the screen. Jiang Yunian squeezed his eyes shut in fright, reflexively grabbing the hand next to him, gripping it tightly.
Seeing this reaction, Jiang Yan couldn’t hold back, a low laugh spilling from his throat.
Hearing him laugh, Jiang Yunian felt creeps in his heart. Who can laugh while watching a ghost movie? Too creepy…
He looked up in confusion, only to see Jiang Yan frowning deeply, lips trembling slightly. That abrupt laugh just now seemed like an illusion.
Jiang Yan gripped his hand back even harder, whispering, “So scary…”
Sure enough, it was an illusion.
He’s even trembling.
Also, when did his hand get over here? Jiang Yunian pulled out his hand, which had been pinched a bit painfully, and offered a symbolic comfort: “It’s all fake, nothing to be afraid of.”
Jiang Yan opened his eyes to look at him, his deep pupils holding a trace of suspicion. Jiang Yunian looked away guiltily, emboldening himself to continue watching.
Outside the window came the wailing of a wild cat like a baby crying. A ghostly figure flashed across the snowy screen.
“Ge, could there be one in this room too…” Jiang Yan suddenly lowered his voice.
“W-what are you saying… there are no ghosts in this world…”
Jiang Yunian refuted verbally, but his eyes darted quickly to the corner of the wall.
Jiang Yan stared at his red ear tips, eyes carrying a hint of mischief, and hooked his finger restlessly.
The plot became increasingly bizarre, and Jiang Yunian unconsciously pressed closer. Jiang Yan took the opportunity to wrap an arm around his waist, burying his head in the crook of his neck, the tip of his nose rubbing against the warm skin.
“?” Jiang Yunian felt ticklish from the rubbing and moved uncomfortably, only to find his hand was being gripped by the other person again at some point.
Caught red-handed, Jiang Yan just blinked, tightening his arm instead. “There’s a ghost.”
“Mn… don’t fuss…”
Jiang Yunian’s voice was muddled; he struggled but couldn’t break free.
Jiang Yan simply buried himself into the blanket on his chest like a rascal. After behaving for a while, taking advantage of his distraction, he started getting restless again, his palm rubbing slowly against his waist through the thin clothing.
So slender.
Can circle it with one hand.
At the climax, the sound effects made eardrums ache. Jiang Yunian subconsciously supported Jiang Yan’s back, chin resting on the top of his soft hair, daring not to open his eyes. Seeming to sense this, Jiang Yan rubbed his head against his chin, like soothing a startled animal.
“Ge, don’t be afraid.” Jiang Yan’s voice came from his chest, his breath scorching hot. “I’ll protect you.”
“I’m not… you just look after yourself first.” Jiang Yunian mumbled, but the hand pressing on his back tightened.
“Okay, I’m scared,” Jiang Yan buried himself in the crook of his neck, the corner of his mouth hooking up wickedly. “Ge, hold me tighter.”
Halfway through the progress bar, until the end credits rolled, Jiang Yan lay “obediently” in his arms, only occasionally revealing one eye, his gaze glued to Jiang Yunian’s tense jawline. Meanwhile, Jiang Yunian held on through the whole thing, his teeth chattering.
Fortunately, only this one was a horror movie.
Jiang Yunian caught his breath and pushed the person in his arms. “Alright.”
Jiang Yan took a deep breath at his neck and shoulder, greedy for that bit of warmth. His fingers lingered to pinch the soft flesh at the side of that slender waist before looking up, asking eagerly with his eyes if he could sleep with Ge tonight, looking like he had some PTSD.
That won’t do.
Jiang Yunian wasn’t bewitched by his pitiful look, hardening his heart to get up and return to his room.
Uncharacteristically, Jiang Yan didn’t pester him. Staring at his disappearing back, he pinched his fingertips where the body warmth still lingered.
Before sleeping, Jiang Yunian typed out a movie review of a full eight hundred words and posted it on Weibo. At the end, he added a comment: [Not recommended for people with too good hearing]
Just as the Weibo post went out, the little red dot lit up. LG had become his die-hard fan, moving at the slightest wind.
[Very scary? If Wifey is scared, you can hide in my arms (Hug)]
Through the internet cable, Jiang Yunian’s face felt a bit hot. He wasn’t Jiang Yan, burrowing into his brother’s arms when scared.
He was already a twenty-year-old adult.
Jiang Yunian didn’t want to show weakness in front of a girl, so he replied avoiding the heavy and dwelling on the light, not mentioning the fact that he was scared.
Turning off the phone, the bedroom plunged into darkness. The window was left open a crack for ventilation. In the moonless night, the wind floated in, carrying threads of chill.
Jiang Yunian closed his eyes to count sheep. Just as he felt a bit sleepy, it was weakened again. In his daze, a slight shaking sound came from the window lattice, not very loud. He turned over, back to the window, not paying much attention.
The noise stopped.
A moment later, with a “Clang!”, it shook even more violently!
The wind suddenly intensified, whistling in, blowing the curtains into a wild dance, shadows striking the wall like baring fangs and brandishing claws. A gloomy, cold aura quietly stuck to his exposed skin, chilly.
Jiang Yunian squeezed his eyes shut, unable to stop a shiver. Uncontrollably, the image of Kayako’s twisted crawling replayed in his brain. He shrank into the quilt, exposing only the tip of his nose.
Could it really be as Jiang Yan said…
No, no… it’s all fake!
Jiang Yunian chanted silently in his heart. But the wind sound became more and more shrill, mixed with a kind of… friction sound like fingernails scraping against glass, intermittent, making one’s scalp tingle.
Suddenly, a set of footsteps passed through the wind, making fine, fragmented sounds stepping on fallen leaves.
B-better close the window first…
In the darkness, he felt for his slippers. Just as his toes touched the ground, the curtain was lifted a corner by the wind, revealing a corner of the abandoned courtyard. Wooden planks cast blurry shadows under the moonlight, looking exactly like a female ghost grinning at him with a wide mouth.
Jiang Yunian’s heart almost jumped out of his throat. Patting his chest, he crept over on tiptoe.
The curtains kept rolling, shadows trembling chaotically, sparse light spots flashing past—it was terrifying. He held onto the window frame, glancing hurriedly. Outside was pitch black; apart from the “female ghost,” he couldn’t see anything clearly.
“Meow…”
A wild cat’s cry accompanied a nimble black shadow flashing past. Jiang Yunian breathed a sigh of relief; so it was a cat.
Outside the window was a small abandoned courtyard piled with quite a few miscellaneous wooden planks, rarely passed by people. It wasn’t strange for a cat to make a home there.
He calmed down, pulled the window shut tight, isolating the eerie wind outside. After doing this, the room instantly quieted down.
Finally can have a good sleep.
Lying back on the bed, he wrapped himself in the quilt leaving only the tip of his nose outside. Ensuring there were no more abnormalities, he closed his eyes with peace of mind.
A few seconds later…
“Bang!”
The window lattice made a loud noise, and a gust of demonic wind suddenly surged in!
Jiang Yunian jolted violently, turning his head trembling, and was instantly dumbfounded.
The window actually opened by itself!
A chill rushed from the soles of his feet straight to his forehead. Jiang Yunian’s jaw dropped in shock. By the time he reacted, he had already crawled out the door shivering, losing one slipper in the run, yet not forgetting to snatch his small pillow.
Outside the window, the person hiding behind the wooden planks leisurely turned off the electric fan and climbed in through the window next to it.
“Knock knock…”
“Ah Yan… are you asleep?”
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