In the large room, the cold and eerie light accentuated the eerie and terrifying atmosphere created by the mirrors.
Surrounded entirely by mirrors, the two stood in the middle, their reflections all around them. Rong Shu lay on Shen Huaixiu’s back, feeling that just navigating through this setup would be hard enough, not to mention the possibility of encountering something terrifying at any moment.
“If you’re scared, just close your eyes. We’ll be out soon.” Shen Huaixiu spoke with a calm and reliable tone, which, for some reason, made people feel a sense of security.
Rong Shu rested his chin on Shen Huaixiu’s shoulder and said, “I’ll help you watch the road too.”
Shen Huaixiu turned his head slightly to glance at the boy with drooping cat ears, “Not scared?”
“I’m not afraid of ghosts. It’s mainly the sudden shocks that scare people.”
Just as he finished speaking, the lights that had been on suddenly went out, and then it seemed like something started moving in the mirrors all around them.
Rong Shu took a breath, “See what I mean? Another jump scare.”
“Hmm, just close your eyes and count to one hundred. By the time you finish, we’ll be out.”
Listening to the way Shen Huaixiu spoke to him as if comforting a child, Rong Shu felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, “Then I’ll wait for you to take me out.”
Alpha’s five senses were exceptionally sharp, and while the reflections from the mirrors caused some interference, they couldn’t completely trap Shen Huaixiu.
By the time Rong Shu counted to ninety-nine, he heard Shen Huaixiu say, “Alright, open your eyes.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, four people dressed in red cloaks emerged from the side and separated the two, leading them into different rooms. At that moment, a mechanical voice sounded again: “Congratulations to both of you for passing the second test. However, the challenges from the sorcerer are not over. You must pass the third test within thirty minutes. You are a pair of deeply in love partners, but your lover has been cursed by the sorcerer. Please find him within the allotted time.”
As the prompt continued, Rong Shu was informed by an attendant that he was the Omega waiting for his beloved’s rescue. He needed to change into an extinct style of women’s clothing. If his lover could recognize him at a glance upon entering the room, they would successfully pass the game.
“Womenswear, really?” Rong Shu looked at the vintage women’s clothing from a bygone era being pushed towards him. The style, somewhat reminiscent of court attire, was something he’d only seen in history books. “Are you wearing this under your robes now?”
As he spoke, he reached out and lifted the red robes of one of the attendants.
Caught off guard, the two attendants failed to stop him in time. Rong Shu glanced at the identical red and blue Lolita dresses they were wearing underneath and blinked, “They’re actually quite pretty. Am I supposed to wear something like this too?”
There was an unmistakable hint of anticipation in his tone.
The attendants, who had expected him to resist, were surprised by his enthusiasm. “Aren’t you worried that he won’t recognize you when he comes in?”
They recalled how a couple had failed this stage yesterday because the Omega hadn’t been recognized by their partner, leaving the Omega in tears.
“Of course I’m worried!” Rong Shu stood up and began to sift through the clothes on the rack. “What do you think about this black one? Do you think it would look good on me? Do you think he’ll be amazed when he sees me dressed like this?”
The attendants thought to themselves: This isn’t quite the kind of worry we expected.
“You can give it a try. You’re so slender, with such long legs; you’ll definitely look great in it.”
“That’s perfect.” Rong Shu could barely contain his excitement as he imagined Shen Huaixiu’s reaction.
Meanwhile, next door, Shen Huaixiu was changing into a black court knight’s outfit under the guidance of the attendants. The tall and upright Alpha exuded an air of restraint and elegance that was hard to describe.
“You’re all set. They’re ready on the other side now. We wish you both success in the next challenge.”
Shen Huaixiu nodded at the attendant who lifted the curtain, “Thank you.”
Rong Shu sat between the attendants, all three of them concealed under red cloaks, with only the hems of their skirts peeking out in different colors.
From a glance, they all looked exactly the same.
As the draped curtain was lifted, a tall Alpha in a black knight’s uniform walked in. His aura was cold and sharp. His black eyes scanned the three figures in the room. The flickering candlelight reflected off the black scales that ran from the left side of his forehead, across the bridge of his nose, and down to the right side of his jaw, casting a dim, eerie glow.
“Please find your lover within three minutes. Failure to do so will result in failure. The timer starts now.” As Shen Huaixiu entered the room, the mechanical voice sounded again.
His gaze swept across the three figures seated before him. Based solely on their clothing, it was difficult to distinguish them. However, Shen Huaixiu suddenly reached out and took the hand of the one sitting in the middle—Rong Shu. “Xu Shu.”
The moment he called out the name, the attendants sitting beside Xu Shu stiffened instinctively. Then they quickly stood up and said, “Congratulations, you’ve passed this stage. May I ask how you figured it out?”
After all, the three were nearly identical except for the color of their skirts, and when sitting, even their heights were almost the same. The room was also dim, though that likely didn’t matter much to an Alpha.
Rong Shu, now having lifted the cloak from his head, also eagerly awaited the answer.
Shen Huaixiu looked him over from head to toe.
Seeing this, Rong Shu took a half step back, lifted the hem of his skirt, and twirled once in front of him. Then, with a slight bow, he performed a medieval-style curtsey. “How do I look?”
Shen Huaixiu’s dark eyes were intense, though something stirred within them. “Mm, beautiful.”
Beaming even more at the compliment, Rong Shu stepped closer and asked, “So how did you know it was me right away?”
Shen Huaixiu took his hand, the corner of his mouth lifting in a small smile. “Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.” Rong Shu nodded, and in the next second, the cat ears on his head were gently ruffled. Shen Huaixiu said, “Because you didn’t hide these well.”
Rong Shu’s cat ears were always sensitive, and being touched like this made him shiver involuntarily, his cheeks turning hot.
“I see,” Rong Shu muttered, a bit flustered.
“Congratulations on passing this stage. Please proceed to the next,” the attendant said with a smile, lifting the curtain as they watched the two leave.
“Next, you will face the fourth challenge: a compatibility test. Please enter separate rooms and answer the questions.” After the prompt, an attendant came forward and once again led them apart.
After Rong Shu was brought into a room, a writing board was placed in his hands. “A compatibility test? What’s the first question?”
The attendant raised a card. “You have one minute to answer each question. The first question is: Write down the other person’s favorite food. The timer starts now.”
Rong Shu thought for a moment. “Takoyaki.”
“The second question: Write down the thing that attracts you most about the other person. The timer starts now.”
Rong Shu wrote: “Kind-hearted + face.”
“Third question: Do you think the other person likes you? The timer starts now.”
Rong Shu answered confidently, “Of course they like me.”
“Great, the questioning is over,” the attendant said, then pulled out a pair of scissors from the side and handed them to Rong Shu. “Next, please enter the final room to rescue your lover.”
Holding the scissors, Rong Shu asked, “Can’t I see their answers first?”
“Sorry, you’ll only get to see each other’s answers after clearing the game.”
“I see.” Although a bit annoyed, Rong Shu figured they’d find out soon enough. So he wasn’t too impatient, gripping the scissors tightly as he exited the room. However, Shen Huaixiu was nowhere to be seen outside.
Thinking that the final challenge required him to rescue his lover, Rong Shu guessed that Shen Huaixiu must have been captured by now.
The thought of Shen Huaixiu waiting for him to rescue him made Rong Shu think this part of the game was brilliantly designed!
Entering the final room, he found five chairs arranged in the large space. Seated in each chair was a person dressed in a black cloak, all tied up with ropes, clearly waiting for Rong Shu to cut them free with the scissors.
The game was structured similarly to how Shen Huaixiu had found him earlier—he needed to identify Shen Huaixiu among the five cloaked individuals.
Suddenly, Rong Shu realized this room might not be so couple-friendly. If someone fails to identify their lover, they might leave the game arguing!
“You have three minutes to find your lover. If you fail, your lover will be imprisoned here forever by the sorcerer. Are you ready to face the final challenge from the sorcerer?”
“I’m ready.” Gripping the scissors, Rong Shu walked toward the five people.
In the dim light, all five were fully covered by their black cloaks, even their shoes were identical. They couldn’t speak, so he could only rely on his sight to make a guess.
Rong Shu walked from the first person to the last, then went back and forth again.
Finally, he stopped in front of the second-to-last person.
“Have you made your decision?” The prompt sounded just as Rong Shu lowered the scissors.
He snipped the ropes binding the person, then reached out to lift the cloak. When Shen Huaixiu’s face appeared, Rong Shu raised an eyebrow smugly, a look of triumph on his face as if to say, “See how good I am?”
“Congratulations on successfully completing the challenge. Please proceed to the exit to claim your reward. After passing the sorcerer’s test, you have demonstrated unparalleled compatibility and courage. We wish you a smooth journey of love, supporting each other always and forever. Farewell!”
After the mechanical voice faded, the door opened. Rong Shu smiled and leaned toward Shen Huaixiu, asking, “Aren’t you curious how I picked you out from the five people?”
Shen Huaixiu raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t it just a random guess?”
Rong Shu’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How could it be random? It was because of your legs—yours are definitely the longest.”
He laughed triumphantly. “Am I smart or what?”
“Mm,” Shen Huaixiu nodded and couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch the cat ears on Rong Shu’s head. “Very smart.”
As they exited, Rong Shu immediately ran to the staff and said, “I want to see the answer boards.”
The staff had already prepared both answer boards and smiled. “We were thinking of taking a picture for you to keep as a memento. You two really are in sync.”
Looking at Shen Huaixiu’s answer board, Rong Shu saw the answers: Takoyaki, cat ears, and “likes”.
When Rong Shu saw the last answer, he could hear his own heartbeat. Shen Huaixiu, noticing him staring at the boards, asked, “What’s wrong?”
Rong Shu turned his head, a smile in his eyes. “How were you so sure that I like you?”
Hearing the question, Shen Huaixiu’s heart fluttered slightly. He then smiled, pushing aside the top board to reveal Rong Shu’s answer beneath.
The words “Of course he likes me” caught his eye. Shen Huaixiu smiled and asked, “What about you? Why are you so confident?”
“Because I’m good-looking.” Rong Shu tilted his chin up slightly, brimming with confidence. Shen Huaixiu, seeing the playful look in his eyes, smiled and nodded lightly. “Good-looking and likable.”
Not expecting Shen Huaixiu to go along with him so easily, Rong Shu’s cheeks flushed, though he pretended to stay calm and nodded. “Exactly.”
“Congratulations on passing our escape room challenge! You can collect your prize over here,” a staff member said with a smile, leading the two over. As they handed out matching couple’s phones, Rong Shu curiously asked, “What’s the success rate for this escape room?”
“Since we opened this version yesterday, you two are the only ones who have passed. Not all couples are as in sync as you.”
Rong Shu blinked. “You don’t say that to every couple that passes, do you?”
“Of course not. We keep a record of everything,” the staff member replied earnestly.
Satisfied with the answer, Rong Shu smiled. “Alright, I’ll believe you for now. Which color do you like? I think the red and blue ones look pretty nice.”
“Red and blue have always made the perfect CP, so Shen Huaixiu and I are officially locked in,” Rong Shu declared with a grin.
“Whatever you say,” Shen Huaixiu replied.
“Then let’s go with these two colors.”
“You’ve got great taste! This red and blue set is a limited edition. It’s the only pair we have in the store.”
“Looks like they were custom-made just for us,” Rong Shu laughed, reaching out to take the phones from the staff. He opened the box and took out the red phone. “I’ll take the red one, and you get the blue. Let’s switch to these now.”
With such bright colors, no matter which one of them pulled out their phone in the future, it was bound to catch attention.
Rong Shu removed his SIM card and inserted it into the new phone, turning it on. “It looks pretty nice.”
“Of course! This is the C brand’s latest model. Since it’s a limited edition, it’s definitely worth every penny,” the staff member said.
While the staff was talking, Shen Huaixiu also inserted his SIM card into his new phone. Rong Shu peeked over with a bright smile, feeling incredibly pleased.
“Could I take a photo of you two to commemorate the occasion?” the staff member asked.
“Are you planning to display it here?” Rong Shu asked.
“If you don’t mind, yes,” the staff member replied.
Rong Shu poked Shen Huaixiu. “Do you mind?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Wow, what a coincidence—I don’t mind either.”
“Thank you both for cooperating! Could you stand over here next to the couple’s escape room sign? That would be perfect,” the staff member said, raising the camera. “Can you two get a little closer? Maybe something more intimate?”
Upon hearing this, Rong Shu wrapped his arm around Shen Huaixiu’s slender waist and leaned his face against Shen Huaixiu’s shoulder. He turned back to the staff with a playful smile. “Is this close enough?”
“Perfect! Hold still and smile.”
The photo quickly printed out from the camera, and Rong Shu leaned in to take a look. Both of them looked great, so he snapped a picture with his phone as a keepsake.
As they left the escape room, the staff huddled together. “Those two were just too adorable! That Alpha was so cold and cool, and the other one was sweet and beautiful.”
“Is the other one an Omega or an Alpha?”
“Probably an Omega, right? Only Omegas can look that good.”
“But are Omegas usually that tall?”
“Uh… maybe this one just happens to be tall!”
They had not only had a blast but also scored a set of phones, which made the day even better.
Rong Shu glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. “We need to hurry if we want to make it to the movie. I didn’t realize we spent so much time here.”
He had originally planned to have dinner after leaving the amusement park before going to the movie, but now it looked like dinner would have to wait.
“Let’s grab something to eat and take it into the movie,” Rong Shu said as he tugged on Shen Huaixiu’s sleeve, leading them out of the amusement park.
Shen Huaixiu, in turn, reached out and interlocked their fingers. The moment their hands clasped, Rong Shu felt a slight flutter in his chest, and a smile curled at his lips.
They took a taxi to the shopping district. After getting out, Rong Shu grinned and said, “Let’s buy two movie combos so we can get two of those limited-edition Minion cups.”
Clearly, he had planned everything in advance. Shen Huaixiu, feigning ignorance, asked, “Why do we need two?”
“Of course, one for you and one for me,” Rong Shu said, grinning at the thought of matching couple cups.
Shen Huaixiu met the boy’s expectant gaze and responded with a soft, “Mm.”
But he couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from curling up.
He slipped Rong Shu’s hand naturally into his coat pocket, and the two of them really did look like a couple.
The movie Rong Shu had chosen was a high school romance.
The reason was obvious enough, but when they found their seats, Rong Shu noticed the couple next to them kissing without a care for their surroundings. A hint of envy crept in.
He deliberately made a bit of noise, hoping to catch their attention, but they were too absorbed in each other to notice.
After sitting down, Rong Shu pouted. It’s not like he didn’t have someone to kiss! When he and Shen Huaixiu got together, they’d definitely be sweeter than that. Then they’d be the ones making others jealous!
With a huff, he took a big gulp of his soda, trying to suppress the bitter feeling in his chest.
Noticing how Rong Shu kept staring at the kissing couple, Shen Huaixiu cleared his throat and handed him some popcorn. “Don’t drink too much cold stuff. It’ll upset your stomach later.”
Rong Shu turned his head, grabbed a handful of popcorn, and muttered under his breath, “If they like kissing so much, why not go home or get a room? What’s the point of doing it in a movie theater?”
Shen Huaixiu couldn’t miss the jealousy in his tone. Smiling, he gently squeezed the hand he held in his palm. “Mm.”
Rong Shu, still fuming, stuffed more popcorn into his mouth. Fortunately, the movie soon started, and even the couple next to them had to pause for breath eventually.
The movie was, of course, a typical high school love story, progressing from innocent beginnings to the inevitable exploration of “intimacy.” When the male lead marked the other lead for the first time, Rong Shu couldn’t resist whispering to Shen Huaixiu, “Have you ever imagined marking someone?”
Shen Huaixiu’s ears tingled at the question, and he turned to look at the boy, clearly eager for an answer. “Have you?”
“Of course I have!” Rong Shu said confidently. As an Omega, how could he not fantasize about being marked? “It has to start with a wall slam and a confession, then end with a forceful temporary mark.”
Just picturing it and imagining Shen Huaixiu in that scenario made the whole idea even more thrilling.
“I’ve answered. Now it’s your turn!”
“As long as it’s what the person I like wants, I’m willing to do it all.”
Shen Huaixiu’s deep voice carried a subtle allure as he gazed into Rong Shu’s eyes, his words striking a chord like a carefully plucked string.
“You really are quite considerate, aren’t you?” Rong Shu tried to act nonchalant as he turned his head, but Shen Huaixiu’s words had left a tingling sensation all the way to his fingertips.
What did Shen Huaixiu mean by that? Was he hinting at something?
Because of those words, Rong Shu barely paid attention to the rest of the movie.
By the time they left the theater, it was already late afternoon. “Let’s go eat. I reserved a spot at the fountain square—outdoor barbecue and beer.”
“Pineapple beer?” Shen Huaixiu’s lips curled slightly as he remembered the pineapple beer Rong Shu had ordered last time.
“This time, we’re drinking real beer.”
Rong Shu decisively rejected the pineapple beer. On a night like this under the dark sky, not drinking real beer would be a disservice to his well-thought-out plans.
The fountain square wasn’t far from the shopping street, so they strolled over.
When they arrived at the reserved spot at the barbecue restaurant, the place was already filling up. Their table offered a perfect view of the fountain and fireworks show scheduled for 6 p.m.
This time, Rong Shu’s food order was fairly standard—nothing like skewers of kidney or lamb testicles. However, he did order a full dozen beers.
For someone who had never had alcohol before, twelve bottles were no small amount.
Yet Shen Huaixiu didn’t stop him. After Rong Shu finished his first bottle, his face flushed a rosy red, and his dark eyes sparkled. He tugged on Shen Huaixiu’s sleeve, grinning mischievously. “Hey, is your first kiss still intact?”
Shen Huaixiu’s gaze deepened as he looked at the boy, now showing signs of being tipsy, who had just asked him such a bold question.
“What about you? Is your first kiss still intact?”
“Hehe, I’m not telling you.” Rong Shu chuckled, taking another sip of beer before teasing further. “Just now in the cinema, weren’t you at least a little jealous of the couple in front of us kissing?”
Before Shen Huaixiu could respond, Rong Shu covered his flushed face with both hands. “I’m so jealous, jealous to death!”
“Bro, if he’s jealous, just kiss him already! What are you hesitating for?” A man from a nearby table overheard and called out to Shen Huaixiu with a laugh.
Shen Huaixiu shot him a cold glance and gently took Rong Shu’s hand. “Weren’t you saying you wanted to see the fountain fireworks? They’re about to start. Shall we go?”
“So soon?” Rong Shu lifted his head, casting a doubtful look toward the crowd already gathering near the fountain. He obediently let Shen Huaixiu guide him to his feet.
However, with the alcohol starting to take its toll, Rong Shu felt weak all over, draping himself over Shen Huaixiu like a boneless snake.
At exactly six o’clock, the fireworks burst into the sky, lighting up the night with dazzling displays.
Leaning against Shen Huaixiu, Rong Shu quietly took in the scene. The sounds of people cheering and screaming filled the air, but Rong Shu felt a little dizzy as if he were floating on clouds. Yet, he was also immensely happy because Shen Huaixiu was right beside him.
His heart was racing much faster than usual. He knew it wasn’t just the alcohol—it was the uncontrollable urge to confess his feelings.
Gently tugging at Shen Huaixiu’s sleeve, Rong Shu raised his eyes to meet the other’s dark gaze. Those typically cold and stern eyes were softened by the warm glow of the fireworks.
Rong Shu straightened up slightly, leaned in, and gently kissed the corner of Shen Huaixiu’s lips. He saw the flash of surprise in Shen Huaixiu’s eyes, but despite the electric feeling spreading through him, he whispered softly, “Shen Huaixiu, I like you. The kind of like where I want to kiss you, mark you, and even have babies with you. If you like me too, then could you maybe kiss me…?”
His unfinished words disappeared as their lips met…
Author’s note:
Rong Shu: I’m officially in a relationship, hehe!
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