Bewitchment

Chi Li had been worn out by Si Jinyan until deep into the night. His mind was hazy, teetering on the edge of sleep. Before his energy had recovered, he seemed to suddenly realize something and abruptly opened his eyes. Everything around him was pitch-black.

After taking two seconds to collect himself, Chi Li realized he was not lying in bed, but inside the "nest" Si Jinyan had built.

Si Jinyan was nowhere to be seen in the nest either. Chi Li froze for a moment, an inexplicable sense of unease rising in his heart.

Chi Li walked outside just as Si Jinyan opened the bedroom door and came in. Chi Li inexplicably felt relieved. He stopped and asked, "Where did you go?"

After hearing the message someone had just delivered, Si Jinyan had been frantic with worry. Yet when he saw Chi Li and heard the dependence in his voice, his heart still softened. His tail moved first, unable to resist curling around Chi Li's ankle.

Si Jinyan leaned against Chi Li clingily, but what he said made Chi Li's heart lurch. "Something happened."

Si Jinyan said, "The people we sent over... at 4:05 today... just now, all their signals suddenly vanished. We can't contact them."

Chi Li's sleepiness instantly disappeared. He pressed a hand against Si Jinyan's shoulder and stared into his eyes in disbelief. "All of them?!"

Si Jinyan straightened up, his fish tail brushing Chi Li's calf. Then he opened the wardrobe and took out some clothes, his tone certain. "Yes. I'm going to the communications room now. Rest a little longer."

Chi Li said, "I'm going with you."

Si Jinyan did not refuse.

Dawn had yet to break, but this news made it impossible for any of them to remain at ease. Quite a few