Car accident

Feng Ze was exceptional in every way.

Whenever they entered an escape room, he came up with the answer in twenty seconds at the shortest, fifty at the longest.

The sprawling horror escape room that should have taken five hours to solve had become child's play with Feng Ze around. Barely half an hour in, they were already close to finishing.

The group pressed on without a hitch, moving so fast that the NPCs couldn't even keep up, let alone scare them.

"This won't do!" Behind the surveillance monitors, the owner was frantic enough to tear out handfuls of hair. "Is this guy even human?? How does he know every answer?! I'm losing my mind! Won't I have to refund them when they come out???"

The staff were anxious too. "Why don't we trigger the solo route? If we let him keep solving things, they'll be out in less than five minutes!"

The owner said, "Do it, do it, do it!!"

A staff member pressed the button.

Beep-!

The escape room suddenly plunged into darkness. The iron door slammed shut with a clatter, and even the indicator lights went out.

Feng Ze, who had been standing by the door, instantly backed away. It had practically become a reflex by now: he grabbed Tao Zhiyan's collar again.

Tao Zhiyan, who was nearly strangled: "...!"

Feng Ze, what is wrong with you? I'm only a little shorter than you! Why do you keep grabbing my collar? Either get on with living or go die already!!

The walkie-talkie crackled, and a staff member's voice came through, calling Feng Ze out by name to complete a solo mission while everyone else stayed behind to solve the puzzle.

At those words, Feng Ze froze in place. He drew a deep breath, but even his exhale trembled.

In the darkness, Tao Zhiyan leaned closer to Feng Ze and called softly, "Young master."

Feng Ze swallowed. "Mm."

Tao Zhiyan tilted his head up slightly, his eyes smiling as he looked at Feng Ze. "Are you scared?"

Feng Ze said, "..."

After a few seconds of silence, Feng Ze still seemed unwilling to answer, so Tao Zhiyan prompted him softly, "If you're scared, I'll go with you."

President Feng pressed his lips together. He had his pride, too. After holding out this long, how could he admit he was scared?

When he didn't answer, Tao Zhiyan stopped asking and took half a step aside to let him pass.

Feng Ze suddenly caught his arm and gave a very quiet "Mm."

Tao Zhiyan pursed his lips. He had noticed ages ago that Feng Ze was scared, but hearing him admit it was still funny.

The seemingly formidable President Feng was actually afraid of horror escape rooms. How entertaining. He would have to come play with him more often!

Tao Zhiyan asked the staff if he could go with Feng Ze.

Naturally, the staff agreed. Perfect: they could get rid of the brave one and the clever one together.

The solo mission was to find some files hidden in the escape room.

Feng Ze didn't dare go, so Tao Zhiyan gave him his flashlight and went up to the third floor himself.

The third floor was an abandoned office with no lights and some deeply creepy furnishings: an electric chair, restraints, and a very large wardrobe.

Tao Zhiyan circled the wardrobe, then reached out and opened it.

A burly NPC was crammed inside, looking extremely uncomfortable.

The two stared at each other.

The NPC said, "..."

Tao Zhiyan said, "..."

Sorry to disturb you.

Tao Zhiyan closed the wardrobe door again.

The third floor was large, with plenty of offices. Tao Zhiyan didn't know which files they needed, so he gathered them all up.

Just as Tao Zhiyan was about to leave with the files, every cabinet on the third floor began making muffled banging noises at once.

From the sound of it, a chase sequence was coming.

Feng Ze was still downstairs. If a chase really started, it would definitely scare him.

Tao Zhiyan didn't linger. He hurried downstairs to find Feng Ze.

But Feng Ze, who had been waiting for him downstairs, was gone. Tao Zhiyan looked around in confusion. "Young master?"

"President Feng?"

Tao Zhiyan found it strange.

They had agreed that Feng Ze would wait by the stairs. Why had he disappeared?

"President Feng? Where are you?"

The building was empty. Forget Feng Ze-there wasn't even an NPC around.

Tao Zhiyan searched the corridors for quite a while, looking this way and that, before finally spotting a man at the far end of a hallway.

The man was huddled in a corner, wearing a blood-soaked hospital gown.

Unable to find Feng Ze, Tao Zhiyan decided to ask the NPC whether he had seen him. He walked over, tapped the man, and said, "Hello, have you-"

Before he could finish, the man abruptly turned and thrust his face right up to Tao Zhiyan's!

His mouth was split all the way to his ears, his face a bloody mess. His eyes rolled back as he let out a piercing scream!

Tao Zhiyan hadn't expected such dedication to the role. His heart practically stopped.

Then a huge wave of NPCs in hospital gowns poured down from the third floor, screaming as they raced toward Tao Zhiyan!

Tao Zhiyan's scalp prickled. He backed up half a step and hit the wall, his breath caught in his chest, then couldn't help shouting, "F-Feng Ze!!"

"Wait, hold on! Aren't you taking your jobs a little too seriously?!"

The moment he finished speaking, a room door burst open.

Feng Ze appeared from somewhere and ran straight toward Tao Zhiyan, grabbing him.

They had reached a dead end. There was nowhere to run.

Tao Zhiyan's mind went blank for a moment. He was still trying to figure out where to go when the man's body closed over him.

Feng Ze bowed his head slightly, sheltering Tao Zhiyan safely within his arms.

Tao Zhiyan looked up just in time to see the blood-smeared NPCs in hospital gowns lunging at them like mutant zombies.

"The files-!"

Tao Zhiyan drew a deep breath and instinctively clutched the front of Feng Ze's shirt.

Feng Ze shifted a little to the side and asked quietly, "Can you still see them?"

Those words sounded familiar. Tao Zhiyan seemed to have said them just last night.

Tao Zhiyan shook his head. "Not anymore."

Feng Ze had blocked them all from view.

The NPCs crowded around them. Though they wouldn't touch the players directly, they leaned close to their faces in all sorts of grotesque, terrifying poses.

Because of his childhood trauma, Feng Ze was still deeply afraid of the dark. He edged farther inward, bringing them even closer together.

The man was tall and well-built, and his warm palm rubbed the crown of Tao Zhiyan's head. It felt comforting.

Feng Ze's heart beat fast and strong, but he still stood in front of Tao Zhiyan.

The NPCs stayed behind them for about three or four minutes. Only when a bell rang did they wander back up to the third floor in twos and threes.

The ghost who had demanded the files was still yelling, fake blood spilling from his mouth whenever he raised his voice. "The files-! Wrong ones! Yellow-covers!"

Tao Zhiyan kept his eyes shut, clutching the files.

What an unusual way to give a hint!

Only after the NPCs left did Feng Ze speak. "They're gone."

Tao Zhiyan looked up at him. The man had turned his head toward the direction the NPCs had gone.

Feng Ze really did seem frightened. Sweat dripped from his black hair, slid along his jaw, and disappeared into his collar.

For no apparent reason, Tao Zhiyan's heart skipped a beat. He pressed his lips together and asked, "If you were scared, why did you come out?"

Feng Ze lowered his head at the question and met Tao Zhiyan's gaze.

Their position was rather intimate. Feng Ze's gaze darkened, slowly lowering to Tao Zhiyan's lips as he answered quietly, "I heard you call me."

Of course Tao Zhiyan could tell where he was looking. He licked his lips, and the answer stirred something in him. For some reason, he wanted to flirt a little.

With the back of his head against the wall, Tao Zhiyan lifted his chin slightly and narrowed his eyes. "I called, and you rushed right out to save me? Young master."

Faced with such blatant teasing, Feng Ze didn't shy away. Instead, he played along. "That's right. How about offering yourself to me in return, little butler?"

The words "little butler" hit Tao Zhiyan hard enough to make his breath catch. He looked a little dazed.

Seeing his expression, the man couldn't help chuckling.

The chest pressed close to Tao Zhiyan trembled slightly, and the teasing laughter reached his ears.

Wait, had his boy flirted him into submission again?

Tao Zhiyan pushed Feng Ze away, slipped free of his arms, and retorted, "In your dreams."

Then he hugged the files to his chest and ran back up to the third floor.

With the cleverest and bravest members sent away, the others took a whole hour to solve the remaining puzzles and get out.

After leaving the escape room, they sat on a bench to rest.

Feng Yan bought Bai Ruan a drink, then knelt on one knee in front of him and gently lifted his foot.

Bai Ruan had twisted his ankle during the game, and it hurt.

Eyes lowered, Feng Yan knelt before Bai Ruan and carefully removed his shoe and sock, gently massaging his foot with a pained expression. "Does it hurt here?"

"Hiss...!" Bai Ruan flinched. "Right there."

Their actions were so intimate that they drew plenty of stares. Some people even whispered that Feng Yan had no dignity, kneeling on the ground to massage another man's foot.

But Feng Yan didn't care what anyone said. He held an ice pack to Bai Ruan's ankle and gently massaged it, his eyes full of concern. "Why don't we skip tonight's fireworks? If you want to see them, I can bring you back once your ankle's better."

Bai Ruan shook his head. "Let's stay. I want to see them."

Feng Yan sighed, but didn't force his wishes on Bai Ruan. He simply knelt on the ground and continued gently massaging his foot.

Watching Feng Yan, Tao Zhiyan felt he had changed a great deal. It seemed he was genuinely trying to make up for what he had done.

The sky gradually darkened. The amusement park's fireworks show began at eight, and Feng Yan used the power of money to get them the best viewing spot.

Everyone was excited when the fireworks began. Quite a few girls took out their phones, ready to take pictures.

The clock struck eight.

A burst of fireworks exploded above the castle.

Then countless more shot into the sky.

"Wow! They're beautiful!"

"They're so pretty!! This trip was worth it!!"

Feng Yan looked at Bai Ruan beside him and drew him closer, then raised his head toward the fireworks. "I'm sorry."

Bai Ruan blinked. "What?"

"I'm sorry for everything I did to you..." Feng Yan's voice was soft. He didn't look at Bai Ruan, perhaps out of guilt, or perhaps because he didn't dare.

His voice was low, but his words still exploded beside Bai Ruan's ears like fireworks. "I know nothing I say will help. I've already hurt you."

"I'm so grateful you're willing to give me another chance. Thank you for not letting me lose you."

"I love you, Bai Ruan."

Boom-

The fireworks burst into a riot of colors.

Surrounded by the crowd, Feng Yan put his once-unspoken love into the clearest words he could.

After the fireworks show ended, everyone began heading toward the exit.

The crowd was thick and jostling. Afraid Bai Ruan would get shoved, Feng Yan kept an arm protectively around him.

When they reached a slightly less crowded spot, Bai Ruan suddenly stopped.

Gathering his courage, Bai Ruan kissed Feng Yan and looked at him with a smile. "Feng Yan, wait a moment."

"I've prepared a birthday present for you. I promise you'll never forget it."

Feng Yan's pupils contracted slightly. His heart raced, and his eyes gradually reddened with excitement.

...This was the first time Bai Ruan had kissed him of his own accord since their fight.

He reached up and touched his cheek.

Did this kiss... mean Bai Ruan had forgiven him?

Feng Yan's heart swelled until it felt ready to burst.

It was all right if he hadn't. At least, at least things were a little better than before!

That meant he still had a chance-a chance to truly keep Bai Ruan by his side!

A chance for them to start over.

"It's all right, Ruanruan." Even Feng Yan's voice trembled, and he couldn't suppress his smile. "I don't need a present."

"Yes, you do~" Bai Ruan smiled and covered his eyes with one hand. "Close your eyes. I'll get it for you."

"All right." Feng Yan's heart raced, and the corners of his mouth kept lifting. "My eyes are closed."

Bai Ruan watched Feng Yan. After a long moment, he suddenly let go, stepped back, and turned to run toward the roadside.

Behind him, an endless stream of cars sped past, moving so fast that they stirred a breeze and lifted the ends of Bai Ruan's hair.

"Feng Yan, open your eyes."

Feng Yan opened his eyes. Before the smile had fully faded from them, confusion crept into his expression.

"Feng Yan, you know I truly loved you once." Bai Ruan looked at him, studying the contours of his face as his gaze gradually turned cold. "However much I loved you then, that's how much I hate you now!"

"You say you love me?"

Bai Ruan stood beside the busy road, his figure blurred by the headlights. He asked, "Can love that comes too late still be called love?"

Feng Yan's breath caught, and his brows drew together slightly. As he looked at Bai Ruan, a sudden sense of dread rose in his chest.

"Feng Yan, I spent a long time thinking about what present to give you. Now I've decided."

Bai Ruan clenched his fists, recalling the past. "Every birthday you had before this, you forced me to go clubbing with you and keep those random people company."

"You had fun at the amusement park today, didn't you?" He lifted his head, looked at Feng Yan, and suddenly laughed. "Now it's my turn to have fun."

With that, Bai Ruan suddenly turned and ran into the road.

Not far away, a car blared its horn frantically.

Beep-! Beep, beep-!

The tires left skid marks as the driver braked, but the car still careened out of control, hurtling straight toward Bai Ruan!