Ch56 - Sha, Sha, Sha

Nan Zhou looked at Xie Xiangyu’s hand that was extended to him. Under the light of the crescent moon, the slender wrist bones and clean nails easily gave people a good feeling. Nan Zhou thought, ‘It doesn’t look as good as Brother Fang’s hands.’

He didn’t try to receive or understand this unexplained goodness. In fact, the restrained enthusiasm in Xie Xiangyu’s eyes made him feel uncomfortable. He wondered, “Why should I be your teammate?” 

Xie Xiangyu held his hand out persistently as he faced Nan Zhou. “Because you need companions. There are Jiang Fang and Li Yinhang but who really knows what you are? They only know that you are a good teammate and helper. Do they know your actual identity? You will always need to disguise yourself in front of them. In front of me, you don’t need to do so. I appreciate you. You might not believe me when I say this but in my mind, you are near perfect—”

Xie Xiangyu’s speech sped up. His cheeks were slightly red and his heartbeat was much faster than before. Based on his various physical reactions, Nan Zhou believed that these words were completely true.

Nan Zhou listened to all his persuasive words and nodded in a trance. “…Yes.”

Xie Xiangyu saw that Nan Zhou didn’t reject him and showed a happy expression as he reached out his hand again. There was arrogant confidence in his eyes. “Jiang Fang has no way to satisfy everything about you. I can do it.” 

Nan Zhou steadily grabbed his hand. “You mentioned Brother Fang and it reminded me of something.”

Before Xie Xiangyu could react, the hand that was held was twisted to the side with a dull, bone-cracking sound.

Nan Zhou moved his other hand and formed a fist. Without hesitation, he aimed his fist at the handsome and astonished face of the man in front of him. Xie Xiangyu staggered and hit the barbed wire of the rooftop.

Nan Zhou had controlled his strength to within a very small range out of worry that he would lose the points in front of him. He shook his hand and gave a brief reason for his punch. “You hurt Brother Fang.”

You know, Brother Fang’s shoulders were reddened by him.

After hitting Xie Xiangyu, Nan Zhou’s purpose for going to this meeting had been achieved. It was a bit cold. Nan Zhou turned around and planned to go back downstairs. Just then, Nanji Star, who was inside his hood, woke up and drowsily poked out his head. Then he saw Xie Xiangyu’s face clearly. He jumped out onto Nan Zhou’s shoulder and screamed at Xie Xiangyu, the squirrel fur blowing up.

Nan Zhou was a bit surprised and turned to ask him, “What is it?”

Nanji Star just stared at Xie Xiangyu, showing an animal’s full vigilance. 

Xie Xiangyu finally recovered his vision from the darkness in front of his eyes. He swallowed the blood in his mouth, wiped the blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth and sighed with a smile, “It hurts.”

He looked up at Nan Zhou and grabbed the barbed wire, the wire sinking into his fingertips. “I know that you still hate me.”

Nan Zhou had wanted to leave but once he heard Xie Xiangyu’s remark, he couldn’t help looking back.

Xie Xiangyu pressed his tongue against the injured area. He saw Nan Zhou’s face and his blood boiled again. “Still, you have to believe that I am the first person to study you seriously. I know how lonely you are so I thought of a way to help you out. It failed once but not anymore. I can probably guess what you want. Follow me. As long as we win the game, my wish will be fulfilled and yours can also—” 

Nan Zhou observed this person carefully.

…He still couldn’t see the reason.

“I’m sorry.” He interrupted Xie Xiangyu’s remarks. “…Do I know you?”

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Xie Xiangyu’s voice abruptly stopped. 

Rjc Itbe yilcxfv ktfc tf rjk atlr qfgrbc ogffhf lc qijmf klat j vlryfilfnlcu fzqgfrrlbc. Rjc Itbe vlvc’a ilxf atf qfgrbc lc ogbca bo tlw jcv kjrc’a gfjiis lcafgfrafv lc Wlf Wljcuse’r lvfcalas. Lf pera jrxfv mjrejiis yea tf vlvc’a xcbk tbk ibcu Wlf Wljcuse kbeiv wjlcajlc atlr vewyobecvfv rajaf.

…It was cold.

Nan Zhou wrapped Jiang Fang’s coat tighter around himself. “I’m going back.”

Xie Xiangyu’s chest moved up and down violently and he cried out, “Wait!” 

Nan Zhou turned around again, his expression asking what else this person wanted.

Xie Xiangyu’s expression was tense. The red marks on his face and the thin blood streaks at the corners of his mouth were clearly visible. Nan Zhou could see that he seemed very angry. Thinking about it carefully, he hadn’t seemed so angry just now when he was punched.

Xie Xiangyu’s voice tried to maintain its calm despite being on the verge of collapse. “You don’t remember… who I am?”

Nan Zhou, “?” 

He wondered sincerely, “Why should I remember who you are?”

Xie Xiangyu sucked in a breath and pointed at Nan Zhou. His wrist trembled slightly. “Why did you… why did you come to this meeting? Have you forgotten the past? Have you forgotten who you are?”

Nan Zhou admitted it. “I remember the past. I went to this appointment because of the two words you left me.”

“Then why don’t you remember me?” 

Nan Zhou, “…Are you important?”

“—Huh?!”

Xie Xiangyu almost couldn’t catch his breath. The confident and arrogant smile was completely cracked. He thought about Nan Zhou rejecting him or even angrily choking him because of his past actions. Xie Xiangyu was even ready to be killed by this person. The one thing he hadn’t expected was for Nan Zhou to completely forget him.

“You don’t remember me?” He clenched his fists. “How can you not remember me?” 

His tone grew more heated. “The first time we met in the instance, in the corridor of the camping club, didn’t you notice I was hiding in the stairwell?”

At that time, Xie Xiangyu had murmured to the air with a smile. “I guess you know I am here.”

He really thought Nan Zhou had seen him from 100 meters away and recognized him. It was just out of fear of his identity being leaked that Nan Zhou pretended not to capture the shadow he left behind when he turned into the stairwell. This was why Xie Xiangyu didn’t show up easily in front of Nan Zhou. He waited for the right timing while going to find Sun Guojing’s trio of fools to cooperate with. Yet if Nan Zhou didn’t recognize him, what was the point of him hiding these days? Was he just doing a funny one-man clown show?!

However, Nan Zhou’s words ruthlessly broke his last fantasy. 

Out of respect, Nan Zhou carefully recalled what happened that day. On that day, Brother Fang entered the camping club to inquire about Xie Xiangyu. Meanwhile, he and Yinhang stayed in the corridor.

He had indeed been looking in the direction of the stairwell but it was because he saw a beautiful dragonfly stopped on the top of a tree beside the building. He couldn’t help looking at it a few more times.

The situation was cleared up. Nan Zhou asked, “Did you hide in the stairwell of that building?”

Nan Zhou felt that he was telling the truth. Unexpectedly, Xie Xiangyu’s body trembled even more severely after hearing his words. Xie Xiangyu seemed to have suffered a great blow and his eyes were red with anger. 

Nan Zhou, “……” He should leave.

This person was strange. He was about to leave for the Nth time when he heard Xie Xiangyu’s frustrated voice. “I killed you!”

Nan Zhou’s steps finally stopped. He looked back and studied Xie Xiangyu’s appearance carefully. Perhaps it was due to his previous self-confidence but Nan Zhou not knowing him was too devastating. The emotional difference before and after made Xie Xiangyu’s eyes shimmer with anger.

After some effort, Nan Zhou finally matched this face with one deep in his memories. Ah. No wonder why this person was familiar. He answered casually, “Relax. You aren’t the only one.” 

Xie Xiangyu completely lost his poise. He couldn’t help his hands trembling at Nan Zhou’s breezy words.

Nan Zhou remembered another important thing. “Are you going to tell Brother Fang and Yinhang about my identity?”

Xie Xiangyu choked up with anger. “If I wanted to say it then I would’ve said it early on! I want you to follow me willingly. What is the advantage for me if they know?!”

“Oh, that’s right.” 

“That’s good.”

“Goodbye.”

It had to be said that the system was very accurate when estimating Nan Zhou’s taunting value at close to full marks.

Xie Xiangyu’s head was buzzing with anger due to Nan Zhou and he slammed his hands against the barbed wire in a frustrated manner. “I don’t want to see you again for the rest of my life!” 

Nan Zhou ignored him. He stepped through the iron door of the roof, held the wall and headed downstairs. The sensor lights on the stairs at the top of the building to the rooftop were broken. No one had come to repair them yet.

After turning around the nearest corner of the stairs, Nan Zhou was about to step down when he felt an unusually cold and ominous air. In the corridor, a person was hidden somewhere near the door of the stairwell.

Nan Zhou continued to go down. The moment his foot reached the next flight of stairs, he suddenly pulled away and quickly stepped back! Nan Zhou turned around completely and couldn’t help being shocked. He didn’t know when but a ghostly tall figure had silently flashed out of its hiding place and stood behind him!

In the dark corridor, he accurately captured the man’s neckline. He was about to grab the opponent’s neck but his wrist was restrained in advance. Thus, he could only rush forward and smash this person against the ground. The person’s spine collided with the hard ground and there was a dull noise. 

Even so, the man’s waist strength was amazing and his long legs exerted strength. Nan Zhou’s knees that he wanted to press to the man’s lower abdomen were pushed away and he rolled to the side, directly placing Nan Zhou under him.

Due to the violent movement, the front of the opponent’s shirt was torn open, revealing a large, sturdy and powerful chest. Nan Zhou’s actions paused. He smelled the faint, refreshing scent of grapefruit.

Just as the edge of the playing card in his hand was about to cut Nan Zhou’s throat, Jiang Fang also recognized the identity of the person in front of him. His movement missed and the playing card was immediately placed in the warehouse. Therefore, only his half pinched fingers fell on Nan Zhou’s neck.

Nan Zhou’s neck was slightly raised by him, exposing his most vulnerable part. However, Nan Zhou didn’t resist any longer. 

The burning flames in Jiang Fang’s eyes went out and turned into a soft mist. Jiang Fang opened his mouth. “I thought it was…” Xie Xiangyu.

“I thought it was…” A new monster in the instance.

Jiang Fang got up and half kneeled, holding out a hand to Nan Zhou. Nan Zhou gave this person his hand.

Jiang Fang said, “You don’t sleep enough.” 

Nan Zhou was a bit unconvinced. “You too.”

Then he asked again, “Did you know I went out?”

“Yes, I knew when you got up. I was concerned about what you were going to do so I followed.”

Nan Zhou pursed his lips. “Did you hear… anything?” 

Jiang Fang smiled. “I was standing a bit far away. I only heard what sounded like him crying. I thought he was coming down first.”

Both men had a guilty conscience and were speechless for a moment.

Jiang Fang straightened his messy collar. He thought of the hideous scars covered under the soft pajamas and Jiang Fang’s heart softened. He was the first to suggest, “Go back?”

Nan Zhou nodded. “Let’s go.” 

Nan Zhou thought that perhaps he shouldn’t ask Jiang Fang why he was holding a deadly playing card and waiting here quietly for Xie Xiangyu. Thus, he didn’t ask much.

Nan Zhou felt like he saw a different Brother Fang today. Still… the feeling of being unconditionally protected and favored by others was rare. He didn’t hate it. It was precisely due to this that some things were more difficult to declare.

Nan Zhou put his hand into his pocket, silently gripping and hiding his own secret carefully in his hand. Hiding inside was the structural drawing of the East Fifth Building that he had torn out. In the lower right corner of the image was Xie Xiangyu’s phone number. There were also two words written in beautiful, obscure characters.

—Eternal Day.