602 Man-Eating Apartment

Chapter 17

Zhao Lirui looked back at the building where Zhang Chengting lived. She could vaguely see a corner of it, with light streaming freely from the open windows, instead of the tightly closed curtains she had initially seen.

Zhao Lirui rubbed her eyes. Every window was still brightly lit, like a pair of shining eyes mocking her for her earlier misjudgment. She couldn't help but mutter, "Was what we saw earlier really an illusion, or did everyone in the building play a cruel joke on us?"

Su Yang gently stroked Zhao Lirui's soft, long hair. Having experienced so many inexplicable events, he was already used to them and could accept anything strange and unusual. Seeing Zhao Lirui's confusion and slight nervousness, he felt not only unaffected but also a sweet warmth welling up inside him. He was even somewhat grateful for these strange occurrences, because they were all the red thread of fate in the hands of the Old Man Under the Moon, tightly binding his destiny with Zhao Lirui's, making them inseparable. The thought of having someone in his life to share mysterious things that others could never see filled him with genuine joy, and he couldn't help but smile slightly.

"What are you laughing at?" Zhao Lirui punched him lightly. "Are you scared out of your wits?"

Su Yang gazed intently at Zhao Lirui, “Regardless of whether what we experienced today was a hallucination or not, at least we can accept that everyone committed suicide, and their heads were taken by the black cat. It has nothing to do with me. I am not a murderer. So…” He exhaled a breath of stale air, “I no longer need to be troubled by this matter and can return to my normal life.”

The gloom on Zhao Lirui's face vanished instantly, and she was so happy she almost jumped for joy. "You mean, all matters concerning Zhu Su are over, and you won't investigate them anymore, right?"

Su Yang looked at her smiling face and nodded vigorously with a smile.

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful!" Zhao Lirui excitedly hugged Su Yang, jumping up and down. "Then can you stay with me forever?"

Su Yang glanced around; the passersby were giving them strange looks, and he couldn't help but blush. Zhao Lirui also realized her blunder, stuck out her tongue, and quickly pulled Su Yang away. After walking a few steps, Zhao Lirui couldn't contain her excitement and whispered to Su Yang, "So, what are your plans next?"

Su Yang looked at her flushed face and his heart fluttered. "Find a place first, then find a job and settle down."

"Is it in Guangzhou?" Zhao Lirui asked him, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

"It should be." Su Yang watched as the smile on Zhao Lirui's face deepened, and a long-lost sense of happiness filled his heart. It felt so good to be cared for and cherished by someone.

Zhao Lirui thought for a moment, then tilted her head and asked Su Yang, "After you settle down, is there anything else you want to do?"

Su Yang pretended not to understand and asked blankly, "Is there anything else?"

"Hmph." Zhao Lirui playfully slapped Su Yang and turned her face away.

"Alright, alright, I was just kidding." Su Yang turned Zhao Lirui's head and looked into her eyes with deep affection. "Didn't you just say that I want to stay with you forever? How could I dare disobey Miss Zhao's orders?"

Zhao Lirui chuckled, playfully punched Su Yang, and said, "You're so annoying!" Then she nestled her head in Su Yang's arms and smiled sweetly.

"Wait, let me take another look at the injury on your finger." Su Yang's mind flashed back to the bruised and blackened finger of Zhao Lirui that he had seen in Zhang Chengting's kitchen.

Zhao Lirui obediently extended her right middle finger. "Hey, how come it's almost healed?" Sure enough, the bruises on her fingertip had disappeared, leaving only a faint tooth mark.

"It's probably because your skin is thick; those teeth couldn't hurt you," Su Yang joked casually, but his heart sank to the bottom. "Could it really have been just an illusion, and not a skeleton biting her, but something else at work?"

"Of course, I know you're thin-skinned, especially when it comes to your face." Zhao Lirui snorted, "So thin you don't even have a face."

"Hehe, it's not just my skin that's thin, but also my stomach." Su Yang chuckled dryly. "I'm so hungry I don't even have a stomach anymore, my stomach is practically touching my back."

After Su Yang said that, Zhao Lirui also realized that her stomach was empty. "Let's find a place to eat first."

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment, Chapter 19 (2)

The two randomly picked a small restaurant by the roadside, ordered two stir-fries and a soup, and wolfed it down.

Zhao Lirui wiped her mouth contentedly and asked Su Yang, "Should we go back now?"

Su Yang hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'd like to buy some things before I go back."

"What are you buying?" Zhao Lirui asked curiously. "Is it your daily toiletries? I have extras at home." As soon as the words left her mouth, Zhao Lirui realized that her implication was that she was inviting Su Yang to live with her. She was embarrassed and didn't want to take it back, fearing that it would cause Su Yang to misunderstand further.

Fortunately, Su Yang didn't think in that direction. He stammered, "I... I'll buy an emergency light."

"Why did you buy it?" Zhao Lirui asked curiously.

"I'd like to stay in room 602 for another night," Su Yang said, avoiding Zhao Lirui's eyes.

"Didn't you promise me you wouldn't investigate Zhu Su anymore?" Zhao Lirui trembled, feeling betrayed and heartbroken. "You've already gone back on your word?"

Seeing the deep disappointment on Zhao Lirui's face, Su Yang said apologetically, "I'm not going to investigate further. I just don't want Zhu Su's shadow to linger in my heart. Although we've reached a conclusion on Zhu Su's case, in a sense, we haven't gained Zhu Su's approval..."

"How could she possibly approve?" Zhao Lirui said resentfully, "Do you really want to talk to a ghost?"

"That's not what I meant," Su Yang hurriedly explained. "I just thought that staying in 602 for one night was a way of giving Zhu Su one last farewell, that I had done everything I could for her, and that from now on, we wouldn't have to bother each other anymore. I could start my new life in peace. Or, most importantly, I wanted to give myself closure. That nightmare was over, and I no longer had to fear anyone or anything. You know, if the Zhu Su incident ended here, I couldn't guarantee that I wouldn't think of Zhu Su again in the years to come, or that I could be completely at peace with myself."

“I think what you mean more deeply,” Zhao Lirui said, sobbing, “is that you’re not sure you’ve completed all the missions Zhu Su gave you, so you need to stay in 602 for one night to test it. If you can get away unscathed, then you can leave unharmed from now on. If you can’t pass, it means that all our previous deductions were wrong, right? You’re gambling your life for your future.”

Su Yang understood that in front of Zhao Lirui, all his thoughts were transparent. If he had to choose a confidante as his woman in life, then Zhao Lirui was undoubtedly the most suitable one. But it was precisely because of this that he was even more determined to go to 602, because he wanted to give Zhao Lirui a complete happiness, instead of living in fear and anxiety.

He reached out and brushed away the stray hairs from Zhao Lirui's forehead, forcing a smile. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. If Zhu Su really intended to harm me, I would be dead long ago. Since she spared my life in the past, she won't be asking for it now."

Zhao Lirui stared at Su Yang and sighed softly, "Alright then, since you insist on going, I won't stop you. I just need you to promise me that you will come back safely. Remember, you are my only family in this world right now, and I don't want to lose you and become all alone."

Su Yang gripped Zhao Lirui's cold little hand tightly, his eyes shining with sincerity and determination: "I promise you, I will definitely come back."

Zhao Lirui silently accompanied Su Yang to the supermarket on the street to buy an emergency light. Originally, Zhao Lirui wanted to buy some self-defense items for Su Yang, but Su Yang thought of what happened to Zhao Lirui in her hometown of Qinglan Town. He knew that so-called sharp weapons could become weapons that harm him in truly dangerous situations, so he refused.

On the way back, Zhao Lirui remained silent. Su Yang tried desperately to break the silence, but after opening his mouth several times, he couldn't utter a single word of comfort. He could only vow to himself that he would return safely early the next morning, promising Zhao Lirui a lifetime of peace and happiness.

Back home, Zhao Lirui remained silent. Su Yang plugged in the emergency light to charge, and the two sat on the sofa in the living room watching TV. Su Yang wanted to break the unbearable silence, but couldn't find a suitable topic to talk about.

The television was still showing some boring urban romance soap operas, with the male and female protagonists constantly misunderstanding each other and torturing each other under the guise of love, making Su Yang increasingly irritable. He glanced at Zhao Lirui and saw that her face was pale and her gaze was fixed, clearly indicating that her mind was not on the television.

"What are you thinking about? Are you still worried about me?" Su Yang couldn't help but break the silence and awkwardness between them, and said gently, "Don't worry, I will definitely come back safely. Believe me, I'm very lucky."

"I'm not overthinking anything, I'm just a little tired." Zhao Lirui forced a smile. "I believe you will return safely, and I will pray for you."

Su Yang tenderly embraced Zhao Lirui, gently stroking her soft, long hair. "If you're tired, then get some rest."

"No, you should get some rest. I'm worried you won't get enough rest in 602. Get some sleep now, and I'll wake you up around midnight."

Su Yang thought for a moment and said, "That's fine then. If you're tired, you should rest early."

"Okay, I understand." Zhao Lirui seemed to have a lot on her mind, but hesitated to speak.

Su Yang assumed Zhao Lirui was worried about his situation in the middle of the night and wanted to say a few more words of advice to her, but he didn't know where to start. So he reluctantly took his toiletries and went to the bathroom to take a quick shower.

After everything was tidied up, Su Yang passed through the living room and saw Zhao Lirui still staring blankly at the television. A mix of emotions welled up inside him. He walked up to her and noticed her eyes were red, as if she had just been crying. He was deeply moved. He hadn't expected that in just a few days, Zhao Lirui's attachment and feelings for him would be so profound.

Apartment 602, the Man-Eating Apartment, Chapter 19 (3)

"Are you crazy? Didn't I tell you not to overthink things? Why are you crying?" Su Yang sat next to Zhao Lirui, half scolding and half showing affection.

Zhao Lirui wiped her face haphazardly. "Su Yang, I want to ask you to promise me one last thing, okay?"

Hearing her speak so solemnly, as if it were a final farewell, Su Yang was taken aback, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He said gravely, "Go ahead and say it, I'll definitely agree. But this isn't the last thing. We have a long life together ahead of us, so don't use up all your privileges so quickly."

Zhao Lirui nodded, giving a sorrowful smile. "Yes, we have a long future ahead of us. Alright then, consider this my request. You can sleep on the sofa instead of in the bedroom?"

Su Yang was surprised that Zhao Lirui only had this one request. He blinked, somewhat incredulous: "Sleep on the sofa? Why?"

"I want you to stay with me a little longer," Zhao Lirui sighed softly.

Su Yang understood, and a warm feeling flowed through his heart. He obediently lay down on the sofa, and Zhao Lirui gently placed his head on her lap.

Resting his head on Zhao Lirui's lap, Su Yang felt as if he had returned to his childhood, to the time when he nestled in his mother's arms. How warm, how tender. A layer of mist gradually rose in his eyes, covering his eyeballs, and the world became empty. Only in this moment, the longing was eternal, and his heart was forever bound to her.

Dreams drifted in a gentle embrace, shedding the heavy burdens of adulthood, leaving only the innocent heart of a child, carefree and unburdened, indulging in a moment of bliss. He didn't know how long he had slept when Su Yang opened his eyes and smiled. He saw Zhao Lirui gazing at him with affection, her eyes seemingly filled with both boundless joy and deep sorrow.

Su Yang sat up and asked her, somewhat embarrassed, "How long did I sleep? Did I look terrible in bed?"

Zhao Lirui slowly shook her head and said gently, "No, you look like a little child when you sleep, it's very cute."

Su Yang became increasingly embarrassed by her praise. "Oh my, I haven't even taken any brain supplements. Unlike those old ladies who sleep with a pacifier in their mouths, that's what you call rejuvenating. At most, I can only be considered as pretending to be young, or maybe it's just that you see beauty in the eye of the beholder."

Zhao Lirui smiled slightly and didn't argue. She shifted her body and couldn't help but cry out, "Ouch!"

"What's wrong? Did I sleep too long and make your legs numb?" Su Yang asked apologetically.

"Yes, how are you going to make it up to me?" Zhao Lirui asked playfully.

"Let me massage it for you." Before Zhao Lirui could answer, Su Yang reached out and began massaging her thigh.

Zhao Lirui's face was flushed as she watched Su Yang's ten fingers knead and relax on her thigh.

Su Yang looked up and met Zhao Lirui's shy expression and the shimmering tears in her eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he realized that he had been touching her sensitive area. He was caught in a dilemma: continuing was wrong, and stopping was wrong too. He was extremely embarrassed.

"Kiss me." Zhao Lirui closed her eyes, her face flushed.

Su Yang's heart pounded violently. Although he had been with quite a few women in his life, none had ever made him so nervous, his heart pounding so fast. Perhaps this was the power of love—originating from the heart, ending in intoxication, leaving no other choice but to fall into a daze.

Su Yang kissed her deeply, time seemed to stand still, and life itself seemed to be intoxicated. The only line lingering in Su Yang's mind was a modified version of a line from "A Chinese Odyssey": "Although I've received countless kisses in my life, I think this one is the most perfect."

"Su Yang, I love you." Zhao Lirui's expression was a mix of pain and ecstasy. She hugged Su Yang tightly, wishing she could melt into his embrace, and murmured, as if in a dream, "Don't leave me. Don't abandon me. We'll be together forever, together..."

Su Yang's heart was churning like boiling water. He was about to get up and swear to Zhao Lirui that he would spend his whole life protecting her happiness, but Zhao Lirui pulled him back with her arm. "Su Yang, don't leave me."

"I will never leave you, I will always be with you." Su Yang turned his vow into soft kisses, passionately kissing Zhao Lirui's small mouth, her face, and her neck.

"Don't stop... Su Yang, I want you, you want me." Zhao Lirui gasped, her mind in turmoil.

Su Yang felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, and he suddenly woke up, all his passion vanishing.

"What's wrong?" Zhao Lirui felt Su Yang relax, opened her eyes, and her eyes were full of sadness and anxiety. "Do you not like me?"

"No, no, no." Su Yang shook his head repeatedly and said, "Precisely because I like you so much, I can't have you now. I want you to wait one more night, until I come back safely, and then we can enjoy the intoxication of our lives intertwined."

Zhao Lirui stared blankly at Su Yang, tears welling up in her eyes. She rested her head on Su Yang's chest and said wistfully, "I don't know if I'll regret not giving myself to you today. But I know that I am happy now, the happiest woman in the world..."

At that moment, Su Yang almost gave up the idea of going to 602 and stayed by Zhao Lirui's side to be with her. But when he thought of Zhu Su, his past, and their future, he suppressed the bitterness in his heart, gently stroked Zhao Lirui's soft shoulders, and softly comforted her, saying, "Don't worry, darling. I will definitely do what I promised you."

Zhao Lirui hugged Su Yang even tighter, as if afraid of losing him at any moment. "Su Yang, hold me a little longer before we go to 602, okay?"

Su Yang didn't say much, but hugged Zhao Lirui even tighter, wishing that the two of them could become one and never be separated again in this life.

After a long while, Zhao Lirui lifted her head from Su Yang's embrace, glanced at the clock on the wall, and reluctantly pushed Su Yang away, saying, "It's already 12:30, you should probably go now."

602 Man-Eating Apartment Nineteen (4) new

Su Yang glanced at the time, a chill running down his spine as he was jolted back from his reverie to the cold reality. It was almost 12:50 again, and he felt a growing dread about that number, for it always meant a nightmare. He gave Zhao Lirui a reluctant kiss on the lips and said, with a heavy heart, "Then I'm leaving. Don't overthink things, get some rest, and wait for me to come back."

"I will wait for you to come back." Zhao Lirui gazed at Su Yang for a long time, as if she wanted to imprint every detail of his face in her mind and heart, so that no matter how the world changes or how long the world grows, she could never erase him.

Su Yang nodded, took the fully charged emergency light, flashlight, and the keys to room 602 and the downstairs door. After thinking for a moment, he also took two candles and two lighters, and finally gave Zhao Lirui a firm hug.

"Take care!" Zhao Lirui's panicked eyes were close to collapse.

Su Yang dared not look at Zhao Lirui again, fearing that another glance would rob him of the courage to leave her. But he also understood that if he stayed tonight according to his own wishes, he might lose her forever in the future. Because he loved her deeply, he could only choose to say goodbye now, all for the sake of being together tomorrow.

Su Yang left the house with a heavy heart. As he turned the corner of the stairs, he saw Zhao Lirui standing outside, gazing longingly at his retreating figure. His heart ached, and tears almost welled up in his eyes. He hurriedly took a few steps, hiding himself in the darkness where Zhao Lirui couldn't see him. He looked up, took a deep breath, and mocked himself, "She's just sentimental, so why should I be so weak-willed?" But when he recalled Zhao Lirui's sorrowful eyes, which seemed like a final farewell, his heart softened, and tears streamed down his face.

After a while, Su Yang wiped away his tears, steadied himself, and wondered, "What's wrong with me? Why have I suddenly become so vulnerable along with Zhao Lirui?"

Just then, he heard the sound of footsteps running up the stairs, and then Zhao Lirui's pretty face came into view. Not wanting Zhao Lirui to see his disheveled state, Su Yang hurriedly hid in the shadows so she couldn't see the tear stains on his face. He cleared his throat and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"Here you go." Zhao Lirui handed Su Yang a small bag.

"What is this?" Su Yang took the bag, opened it, and saw that it contained a bottle of cola and a bag of chocolates.

"If you get hungry in the middle of the night, eat something," Zhao Lirui said casually.

Su Yang's eyes welled up with tears, which involuntarily streamed down his face. He didn't bother wiping them away, pulling Zhao Lirui into his arms and holding her tightly, greedily inhaling her fragrance. He said firmly, word by word, "Don't worry, I will definitely come back to marry you."

Zhao Lirui smiled silently, like a flower blooming in the dark night, beautiful yet full of sorrow.