Chapter 5
Puff—
The pull tab flipped into a casual curve, twisted left and right twice, completely detached from the can body, bringing up fine carbonated bubbles.
Xia Leyang tilted his head back to catch the chilled pull-tab can, gulping down several mouthfuls of cola. He exhaled a refreshing breath of cold air.
That’s more like it.
Why should he stay in that haunted house? He could have just stayed in a hotel.
Outside the hotel was a bustling street, with traffic flowing like shimmering neon lights, outlining the unique lines of the city. The irritation and unease brought about by staying in the haunted house had long since dissipated. Drinking cola, eating fried chicken, he felt as happy as a fairy.
In Rui City, Xia Leyang had no friends. Even if he had a few childhood playmates at the beginning, he couldn’t remember them, and they had lost contact long ago.
Initially, he didn’t want to confront his family and chose to stay in a hotel, purely provoked by Xia Tianshui’s indifferent attitude.
His only sister was supposed to be gentle and considerate, but Xia Tianshui was unrestrained and domineering. Fortunately, he grew up abroad; otherwise, who knows how he would have been bullied by Xia Tianshui.
Thinking about it now, it seemed like his sister really lacked the gentle and watery temperament.
Superstition was indeed easy to brainwash. Xia Leyang unconsciously remembered Shang Tingzhi’s “lacking X in fate” statement.
Thinking back carefully, he had confessed three times, and all of them ended in extremely tragic ways.
The first girl said she didn’t like anyone shorter than herself, so he worked hard to increase his height. Finally, he reached above 1.7 meters, but the girl had already grown to over 1.8 meters.
The second girl said she didn’t like anyone with lower grades than herself, so he studied hard and managed to get into a decent university. However, she went to Harvard.
The third girl said she didn’t like anyone better looking than herself, leaving him puzzled. He almost went bald thinking about shaving his head, but he eventually gave up.
Excluding these three people he actively pursued, there were people who confessed to him, both male and female, but he wasn’t interested in any of them. So, he remained a virgin.
Fortunately, the concept in China is relatively conservative, and no one would mock him. Anyway, he didn’t dare to tell his friends abroad.
After finishing the fried chicken and cola, Xia Leyang took a comfortable bath. The environment around the express hotel near the old city was not as good as at home, but it was still better than the eerie haunted house.
It was too late to make any more trouble today. Xia Leyang had already decided to return home early tomorrow, regardless of what his father said. He didn’t want to go back to the Gu family mansion.
Since Shang Tingzhi himself didn’t want him to stay there, why bother listening to his family?
Time passed unnoticed, and it was already past eleven. Xia Leyang, bored, watched TV for a while and gradually felt drowsy. He lay on the bed with the bedside lamp on, still dressed. However, just as he was about to enter dreamland, a call from Xia Guohua lifted him from the bed.
Is this “spiritual teacher” reporting him now?
Xia Leyang frowned as he looked at the phone screen, thinking it shouldn’t be that serious. He had just left the haunted house and had clearly greeted Shang Tingzhi.
However, Xia Guohua did come to find him because of Shang Tingzhi.
“Xiaole, Xiao Shang fell down the stairs and broke his leg. Come to the hospital.”
“What?”
The accident came too suddenly, and Xia Leyang didn’t have time to think much. He hurriedly rushed to the nearby People’s Hospital.
By the time he arrived, Shang Tingzhi had already undergone a full-body examination. However, it wasn’t as serious as Xia Guohua had claimed; he had only sprained his ankle, with a few additional soft tissue abrasions.
“I’m really fine.” Shang Tingzhi sat on a lounge chair in the lobby, trying to convince the people surrounding him, who were concerned and worried.
His own parents brought the driver and maid along, and surprisingly, Xia Leyang’s parents were also called. These two were well-known figures in the city, and the entourage included drivers, assistants, and bodyguards.
He had only twisted his foot, not even requiring hospitalization, let alone such a big fuss.
“Xiao Tang said you broke your leg, scared me.” Shang Jianye frowned.
Shang Tingzhi looked at Tang Fengyi expressionlessly. At the time, he had only said that he fell down the stairs and asked Tang Fengyi to pick him up and take him to the hospital. However, before Tang Fengyi could understand the situation, he reported it to Shang Tingzhi’s parents.
“What’s wrong with Yangyang? Didn’t you ask him to stay with you?” Ji Zhengfang said worriedly.
Both families knew about Shang Tingzhi’s peculiar habit, and this incident further proved that Shang Tingzhi couldn’t do without Xia Leyang.
“It has nothing to do with him; it was my own carelessness.” Shang Tingzhi said. Although he said so, he knew very well that he didn’t fall down the stairs due to carelessness; something pushed him from behind.
“I’ve already called him. Wait for him to come and see how I deal with him.” Xia Guohua said.
When Xia Leyang squeezed into the crowd, he happened to hear this sentence. His first reaction was to run away, but after some thought, he wondered, what did Shang Tingzhi’s fall have to do with him? Why should he run away?
“I’m right here. How are you going to deal with me?” Xia Leyang said confidently to his father.
“Why are you so disobedient?” Xia Guohua didn’t care about the many people around and sternly scolded, “This is a matter of life and death. Do you know that this will harm Xiao Shang?”
“I wonder why you all are so superstitious?” Xia Leyang was speechless. “He was already running a fever, not in good spirits, and it’s understandable that he tripped on the stairs.”
Xia Leyang hadn’t thought in the direction of supernatural beings. A strong man could make low-level mistakes when he got sick. He glanced at Shang Tingzhi’s leg; there was no cast, just a bit swollen on his right ankle. This didn’t look like a matter of life and death.
“Are you still shameless?” Ji Zhengfang complained. “Xiao Shang was running a fever, and you didn’t stay home to take care of him. Instead, you ran off to other places.”
“I…”
What Ji Zhengfang said had nothing to do with superstition, leaving Xia Leyang speechless. Fever could be a big or small issue, and indeed, leaving a patient alone at home was not very considerate.
However, on second thought, he and Shang Tingzhi weren’t close. How could he know that this person wouldn’t be able to manage stairs when he fell ill?
While Xia Guohua continued to criticize Xia Leyang for being unreasonable, Shang Tingzhi’s parents were trying to persuade, and Xia Leyang was both angry and aggrieved. In the end, it was Shang Tingzhi who interrupted the elders.
“I’m really fine. You can all go back and rest.”
“One last thing.” Xia Guohua said to the displeased Xia Leyang, “For these three months, you are not allowed to leave Xiao Shang’s side.”
After the elders finished their instructions, they left the hospital with their entourage. Xia Leyang was furious and wore a sour face as he stood at the hospital entrance, waiting for Tang Fengyi to drive over.
Shang Tingzhi’s foot injury wasn’t severe; he could still walk with some difficulty. However, at the hospital entrance, there were a few steps. When Tang Fengyi drove up, Xia Leyang showed no intention of helping Shang Tingzhi. He attempted to take a step down, but as his left foot left the ground, a sharp pain shot through his right ankle. His body became unstable, and he almost fell to the side.
Xia Leyang wasn’t heartless. Seeing Shang Tingzhi about to fall, without much thought, he quickly grabbed Shang Tingzhi’s body, allowing him to use him as a crutch.
However, he complained, “Can’t you be more careful? If anything happens to you, my parents will blame me.”
Shang Tingzhi didn’t respond. He draped one arm over Xia Leyang’s shoulder, and their bodies pressed tightly together.
Through the thin fabric, the warmth of their skin transmitted. For some reason, Xia Leyang’s hazy and feverish mind suddenly became clearer, and even the pain in his ankle eased a bit.
Xia Leyang opened the car door, and with an unsatisfied tone, he said to Shang Tingzhi, “Get in quickly.”
“Wait a moment.” Shang Tingzhi stood upright, facing Xia Leyang.
Seeing this posture, Xia Leyang guessed that Shang Tingzhi wanted to apologize or express gratitude. However, unexpectedly, without any warning, the person in front of him suddenly hugged him.
“What are you doing?” Xia Leyang placed his hands on Shang Tingzhi’s waist, trying to push him away. However, Shang Tingzhi was stronger, and despite Xia Leyang’s struggles, he remained firmly held in Shang Tingzhi’s embrace.
“Why are you acting crazy?” Xia Leyang asked again.
“It’s nothing.” Shang Tingzhi calmly released Xia Leyang, supported himself on the car door, and sat inside as if nothing had happened.
Xia Leyang, bewildered, got into the car. He thought he couldn’t understand the mindset of a charlatan.
The black sedan slowly moved forward along the road. Suddenly, Xia Leyang remembered that his belongings were still in the hotel. Looking at Shang Tingzhi beside him, he asked, “Do you have to stay in that haunted house?”
“That’s the safest place,” Shang Tingzhi replied.
Xia Leyang had a complex expression. “Your leg is injured, and it’s still safe there?”
Shang Tingzhi, rare without anger, ignored the sarcasm in Xia Leyang’s words and calmly said, “Only that haunted house can counteract the negative energy.”
“I don’t believe it.” Xia Leyang, tired of arguing, felt powerless. No matter what he said, he couldn’t make Shang Tingzhi understand. “Tonight, come with me to stay in a hotel. If something happens, I’ll obediently go back to the Gu’s Mansion with you, and I won’t say a word of nonsense.”
Shang Tingzhi hesitated for a moment and said, “It’s better not to.”
Xia Leyang, feeling drained, sneered, “Then, let’s go back with you. Don’t blame me for not believing in your nonsense.”
Shang Tingzhi originally didn’t care whether Xia Leyang was by his side or not. However, with the elders’ firm attitude, and Xia Leyang himself unable to resist, he had no reason to push him away. Moreover…
Just now, hugging him for a while, his body felt much more comfortable. It indicated that this young master did have some effect.
“Fine,” Shang Tingzhi agreed. “If staying with you can prevent accidents, then I’ll move out of the haunted house.”
He didn’t mention that there were indeed unclean things in that house.
“OK.” Xia Leyang didn’t believe anything would happen in a hotel. After getting through tonight, he could bid farewell to the haunted house. Although he still had to endure three months of living with Shang Tingzhi, it was better than being in the haunted house.
“By the way,” Xia Leyang suddenly thought that if he and Shang Tingzhi lived in separate rooms, who knows what might happen. So, he said, “Since your leg is not convenient, just stay with me in one room.”
Shang Tingzhi did not refuse, “Do you have a double room?”
Xia Leyang said, “A king-size bed.”
Shang Tingzhi didn’t say anything more. He had never liked sharing a room with anyone from childhood to adulthood. However, considering how comfortable it was when Xia Leyang held him earlier, he could reluctantly overcome this preference.
