What Can Ex-Boyfriends Like You Do Besides Hold Him Back?

In all his life, Yu Fengyi had never been yelled at, let alone kicked in the chest.

His body went weightless as he flew backward, hit the corridor wall, and slowly slid down. The pain in his spine reached his brain, but he still had not processed what had happened.

"Jian Ran, you-"

Jian Ran had already stepped out of the room. Under the dim light, his fingers rapidly formed hand seals as he ran forward. "You what? Get back in the room and stay there!"

Strangely, before he had finished speaking, he surged into the wind, and the sinister chill rapidly dissipated as though it had been forced back.

Yu Fengyi turned his head in a daze, his gaze following Jian Ran's slender figure. He could clearly see a blurry mass of white mist before him, dodging this way and that as though someone were controlling it.

"Still not getting back inside?"

Another icy voice rang out, drawing Yu Fengyi's attention away. He looked toward its source and saw Lu Yanting leaning against the doorframe, his brows slightly raised and his gaze cold.

"This is between me and Jian Ran. It has nothing to do with you!"

Yu Fengyi forced himself to his feet, concealing his disheveled state. He was about to chase after Jian Ran when Lu Yanting flashed in front of him. "What can ex-boyfriends like you do besides hold him back?!"

"Ex-boyfriend?!" Yu Fengyi's brows knitted tightly. "I'm the only boyfriend Jian Ran has ever had, and I'm not some ex."

"I'm his current boyfriend!"

Lu Yanting curled his lips. "If you're his current boyfriend, why haven't you cleared up a single one of the rumors attacking Jian Ran online?"

"I..." Yu Fengyi's expression changed, and his embarrassment turned to anger. "Move! I have nothing to say to you!"

For some reason, Lu Yanting, who had been dead set on blocking his way just a moment ago, suddenly stepped aside with an inscrutable smile. "Don't regret going after him."

"Heh. No need for you to worry."

Yu Fengyi strode after him, only to discover that Jian Ran was no longer in the corridor. He glanced toward the stairwell. The dark, dim surroundings were deathly silent.

"Where did he go?!"

He muttered to himself and turned back in confusion. Lu Yanting, who had been standing by the door, had also vanished without a sound.

"What's going on?!"

Of course, Yu Fengyi could not turn back now, or he would look like a coward. After all, hiding in the room like a turtle would only invite Lu Yanting's mockery.

Jian Ran would have even more reason to waver.

With that thought, he silently descended the stairs and entered the lobby.

It was still deserted, but there was something indescribably eerie about his surroundings.

Yu Fengyi frowned and carefully recalled how the place had looked when he first arrived. The next second, astonishment appeared on his face.

The lobby had been renovated. Although the work was simple and rough, retaining its original appearance, it had at least been cleaned. The furnishings should not have been covered in dust...

Yet everything around him now looked as though it had been left untouched for ages, with no one tidying or cleaning it at all. A thick layer of pale dust covered the tables and sofas, illuminated by the moonlight streaming in, as though a layer of silver frost had settled over them.

Sensing that something was wrong, Yu Fengyi hurried toward the entrance, intending to push the door open and shout,

"Jian Ran, get the hell out here!"

He could not have taken that kick for nothing. At the very least, there had to be an explanation.

Such as love turning into hate...

The more frightened he became, the more his thoughts ran wild.

He unconsciously pushed open the entrance door and raised his eyes, about to step outside. But at the sight before him, his entire body froze in place. His scalp prickled uncontrollably, and a scream caught in his throat.

Only then did Yu Fengyi learn that true terror left him unable to make a sound. His legs felt as though they had been filled with lead, utterly unable to move,

leaving him forced to stare at those... paper figures not far away,

while their hollow, lightless black eyes stared fixedly at him,

giving him the impression that they were about to pounce on him and tear into him,

a spine-chilling sight.

Taking today off. I'll make up for it tomorrow.