Bai Lixin walked to the window, and when he saw the masked people gathering in the courtyard, he quietly hid his body behind the curtains.
His gaze moved upward, and he noticed that the once-open gate was now securely shut.
Outside the door, the chaotic sounds of footsteps and occasional commotion from the hall reached him.
“Find him, we must find him.”
“The night is still long, don’t rush and take it slow.”
“A hunter must catch the prey for it to be fresh and juicy.”
Bai Lixin checked the system time.
It was currently 8:15 PM, and there were still several hours until 2 AM stipulated by the black furry monster.
After patiently waiting for a while, the masked people in the courtyard gradually decreased. On the contrary, the sounds in the corridor became noisier again from the initial silence.
When most of the people in the courtyard had left, Bai Lixin took out an invisibility card from his backpack, activated it, and slipped out through the window.
The four-story height posed no challenge for Bai Lixin, especially considering the unconventional structure of the Fei family mansion. With balconies and decorations extending from the aged outer walls, climbing was quite easy for him.
Utilizing railings and protrusions, he swiftly climbed down and landed securely on the solid marble floor.
Not far from him, there were several masked men who were still looking for him. They looked left and right, not even sparing the bushes.
Bai Lixin nonchalantly brushed past them, unseen. The masked people would not know that the prey they were looking for not only did not escape, but was also right next to them.
In the distance, yet so close—unseen.
A bit frustrating, isn’t it?
Now, an invisibility card only lasted for three minutes. Bai Lixin glanced toward the entrance; six or seven masked people formed a barrier in front of the iron gate, seemingly awaiting the prey to walk into their trap.
Before the invisibility card wore off, Bai Lixin glanced at the entrance and slipped into a narrow gap in the courtyard corner.
As he entered the darkness, the invisibility card’s effect ended.
He stood in the darkness and focused on what lay ahead. This pathway wasn’t the same as Fei Yino’s; it was the backdoor route that Aunt Zhang had mentioned.
He had guessed the meaning of Aunt Zhang’s hesitant words when she left. The woman probably couldn’t bear seeing him treated as prey and secretly pointed him in a direction, hoping he could escape.
The road ahead was dark, and at the end you can vaguely see a small metal door of a different color.
Afraid of being spotted by the eyes outside, Bai Lixin didn’t use a flashlight. Instead, he moved forward in the dark.
He walked forward holding the wall with his palms, feeling the damp and rough texture of the wall on his fingertips.
He moved cautiously.
It was not out of fear of being discovered, but since the beginning of this hunting game, he always felt a pair of eyes spying on him in the dark.
Whether it was when he was hiding on the fourth floor, landed in the courtyard, or now walked through this narrow alley, that sense of being watched never vanished.
Like a maggot clinging to a bone, like a shadow following his form.
He also tried to find the source of this line of sight, but for some reason, when he caught the line of sight just a second ago, the line of sight immediately moved its position.
It seems to come from all directions.
He walked forward in silence.
S419M urgently called out in his mind, [Lord Host, some masked people have discovered this alley and are almost at the entrance. You’re wearing white clothes which makes you stand out in the dark. If they stand at the alley entrance, they’ll definitely notice you immediately!]
Bai Lixin narrowed his eyes slightly and was about to take out another invisibility card from his backpack when a shadow suddenly jumped out of the darkness.
He didn’t even see where that shadow emerged from; it just appeared in front of him without warning and in an instant, pressed him against the wall with its robust body.
His hands were now against the cold wall, and just when his nose was also about to touch it, another palm with a white glove appeared, separating his face from the chilly wall. Although he didn’t touch the wall, his nose unexpectedly pressed onto the back of the hand.
The firm male body pressed closely from behind, leaving no gaps.
Ahead was the hard wall, and there was no way to retreat.
Bai Lixin was sandwiched between like a cream-filled biscuit.
“Don’t be afraid.” A familiar, deep voice whispered gently in his ear.
The next moment, footsteps echoed at the alley entrance, followed by the man’s displeased shout, “Don’t come in!”
The masked man who originally wanted to enter hesitated, then asked somewhat irritably, “Why can’t I come in?”
The masked man approached a bit more, and Bai Lixin’s body tensed slightly, and he could vaguely picture the man’s robust figure.
“It’s so narrow in here that I couldn’t move once I entered. Why are you coming in? Are you trying to create a stampede to crush me? Get out!” The man spoke coldly, his voice as cold as the snow in late December.
The masked man grunted, ”You could’ve just said that. Why shout? Who wants to squeeze in with you anyway? Hey, is the little prey in there?”
The man responded indifferently, “Of course not. If he were, could I let him escape?”
Masked man: “Then why should I still go in? I need to find the little prey too. Come on, buddy, get out, and let’s search together.”
The man’s distant and cold voice echoed again, “You go first. I’m stuck, I’ll get out when I break free.”
When the masked man heard that the prey he was looking for wasn’t inside, he abandoned the idea of entering the narrow alley. He just said, “Oh,” and didn’t insist further, “Alright, I’ll leave first. You figure out how to get out on your own.”
Before leaving, Bai Lixin heard the masked man whispering.
“I’m not saving him. One less person, one less competitor. With so many chasing the little prey, how long will it take before it’s my turn? It’s best if all competitors get stuck; then the little prey will be mine alone.”
The muttering gradually disappeared as the masked man retreated.
However, the man showed no intention of leaving.
His body pressed seamlessly against Bai Lixin’s back. Even through several layers of fabric, he still felt the young man’s firmness.
The man’s breathing suddenly became heavier in the darkness.
“You are… Mr. Dijia?” The person in front swayed, and a hesitant voice quietly came from the front.
The man’s breath became even heavier, and when he spoke, his voice carried a suppressed tone, “Yes, it’s me. Don’t move, we’re stuck.”
The young man’s body immediately froze.
Whether it was a coincidence or not, when he stopped moving, his hips happened to press against the man’s waist, inconveniently landing on the most unspeakable place.
“So, what do we do?” The young man’s voice sounded a bit flustered, and his body fidgeted due to the panic.
Dijia’s face hidden behind the mask twisted for a moment, and pressed his hand hard against the wall. If it weren’t for the cover of the glove, the young man would have undoubtedly seen that his palm had turned white from the pressure.
A wave of uncontrollable fire surged.
Dijia couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
It was so damn embarrassing, he just hoped the young man didn’t notice anything unusual about him.
Removing his hand from the wall, he held the young man’s waist to steady him, “Don’t move. The alley is too narrow. Stay quiet and listen to me carefully.”
As if comforted, the young man quieted down, not uttering a word.
Dijia took two deep breaths and waited until his emotions calmed down a bit before speaking slowly.
“I came here tonight to see how you were doing. Before reaching the Fei family gate, I noticed many cars coming in this direction.”
“Later, I found out there’s a banquet at the Fei family tonight. Though I didn’t receive an invitation, I entered without any hindrance.”
“Everything was normal initially, but when I entered the hall, a white mask appeared on my face at some point, and I couldn’t take it off.”
“The atmosphere in the hall was strange, and that’s when I realized something was wrong.”
“I waited in a corner until you appeared.”
“It wasn’t until Fei Taizong announced the game task that I understood what tonight’s banquet was about.”
“There is something weird about this house, and Fei Taizong is not normal. Don’t be afraid, I will protect you and take you out of here.”
Dijia spoke slowly, word by word. In the darkness, his eyes moved down and fell on the young man’s waist.
The young man wore the white suit he had bought for him yesterday. Although men’s suits usually lacked a cinched waist, when his eyes fell on the young man’s waist, he always felt it was slender and narrow, like a snake coiled around a tree.
Dijia’s throat felt dry, and he subconsciously shifted his hand up and down, feeling the young man’s tight waist line through the fabric.
After a couple of touches, he realized what he was doing.
Shaking his head a couple of times, the somewhat absent-minded man scolded himself in his mind.
What the hell is he doing now?!
What kind of occasion is this?!
Is he a pervert? He actually felt an impulse towards the young man in such a tense atmosphere, and in such a narrow alley.
He deserved to die.
What difference is there between him now and those masked people treating the young man as prey?!
Dijia took a deep breath, and exerted effort to pull back, finally freeing his body stuck to the wall.
The young man who was freed kept his hands against the wall and gasped, his chest rising and falling violently, as if he had experienced considerable fear.
The more Dijia looked, the more he felt like scum.
Bai Lixin must be terrified now, and he had just…
‘Oh Dijia, Dijia.
Where did your teachings of benevolence and morality go?
You’re truly a beast.’
“Are you okay?” Dijia awkwardly asked.
The young man didn’t respond, only breathing heavily like a fish washed ashore by waves, mouth wide open.
S419M’s mood was complicated: [Lord Host, you… what is wrong?]
Bai Lixin’s eyes reddened, and he snarled: [I didn’t play enough! When we get out of here, I’ll make sure to find a dark corner to do it again.]
S419M: […]
‘I often feel inferior because I’m not perverted enough.’
Two minutes later, Bai Lixin returned to normal. In the narrow alley that could only accommodate one person, he turned to look at the man behind him.
The man’s face also wore a white mask. It had a simple expressionless face, different from the obvious malice of the others.
His tall and straight figure stood in front of Bai Lixin, completely blending into his shadow.
“Thank you for coming to save me.” The young man smiled at Dijia. “I didn’t misjudge you, you’re a good person.”
Dijia, the good person, subtly covered his front with his clothes. “Ahem, you’re welcome.”
Feeling guilty!
Bai Lixin pointed to the depths of the dark alley, “There’s a small door there. We can leave the Fei family from there. But even after leaving through the small door, I can’t leave; I have other things to do.”
“As you said earlier, this house is strange. You’re an ordinary person, this isn’t something you can control. After leaving through the small door, you can safely retreat…”
“Don’t say such nonsense. Aren’t you an ordinary person too?” Dijia interrupted Bai Lixin, “Regardless of what you want to do, I won’t stand by idly.”
Bai Lixin: “But this might cost you your life.”
Bai Lixin noticed that the mask on the man’s face that was previously devoid of expression, now had a frown. Dijia spoke, “If it costs me my life, wouldn’t it cost you yours too? However you look at it, you’re in more danger. The target is not me, but you.”
After saying this, Dijia suddenly felt a sense of horror.
He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t come tonight. The young man would have faced these trash alone.
How helpless and frightened would he have been?
He didn’t regret being in the midst of this supernatural event at this moment, instead, he was somewhat glad he came here tonight and provided protection to the young man.
The young man was like a defenseless flower; without his protection, anyone could pluck it.
He was too tempting and too fragile.
The young man’s eyes reddened, and his lips trembled slightly. “Mr. Dijia, why are you so good to me? I don’t deserve it, I’m just…”
Dijia’s blood surged, “Who said you don’t deserve it? I say you do. Ignore what others say. In my eyes, you deserve the best in the world. Stop talking, let’s go.”
For some reason, he couldn’t stand seeing the young man wearing such a self-deprecating expression. Every time the young man belittled himself, he felt like a big hand was gripping at his heart so tightly that it hurt.
S419M hummed disdainfully: [Heh, this damn sour smell.]
…
Five minutes later, the two reached the end and found the back door that Aunt Zhang had mentioned.
The back door was slightly ajar, a rusty little iron door that could be better described as a “dog door” than a back door.
This door was small, just under a meter in height, with an arched shape that could open to either side. It looked like a door made for dogs.
Bai Lixin and Dijia looked at each other and had no choice but to reluctantly bend down and get out of the dog door.
There was a winding path outside, and in the distance were expensive landscaping areas such as artificial rockeries.
There were no streetlights on this path, and the surroundings were dark and silent, with only the sound of rustling leaves and the alternating breaths of the two.
Due to the eerie quietness, Dijia couldn’t help but lower his voice when he spoke, “We’re out. What did you say you were going to do?”
Bai Lixin pulled up the map from his mind, “Go somewhere.”
Seeing Bai Lixin about to leave, Dijia quickly caught up, “I’m coming with you.”
This time Bai Lixin didn’t refuse, and just whispered, “Watch your step.”
Dijia instantly felt relieved, and was quite pleased with the young man’s caring words.
The little black monster only said he couldn’t leave the Fei family’s range. Although they had now left the house, they hadn’t completely left the Fei family’s domain.
The two walked quietly on the small path, and Dijia’s voice came again, “From the tone of Fei Taizong and the other guests, it seems that this is not the first time for this kind of gathering today.”
His voice was flat, and there was no expression on his mask, making it hard to decipher his meaning.
Bai Lixin said softly, “Yes, it’s not the first.”
Dijia clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve.
‘Fei Taizong, damn it!
The mother deserved to die too!
No wonder Bai Lixin always belittles himself and kept people at a distance. With such family members pushing him into the fire pit, if it were someone else facing these situations, they would only be more desperate than the young man.’
‘He lives in this mansion and leads a life that is enviable in the eyes of others, but there is no way out.
His own mother ignored him, and Fei Taizong, who should have been family, led him into the abyss.’
‘This world hurt him so much that he no longer had anyone he could trust.
The world is so big, but there is no place for him.
The only person he can trust is himself.’
Dijia felt a pang of heartache, and some words slipped out unintentionally.
“Do you want to come to the Di family with me?”
The young man stopped in his tracks, looking at him with surprise, “What do you mean?”
Dijia: “Leave the Fei family and come with me to the Di family.”
“You’re probably still a student, right? You can finish your studies, and be under my protection. You’re already eighteen; the issue of guardianship is not a problem, and the household registration is even less of a problem. As long as you want, I can use connections to find a community to accept your household registration, and make you the head of the household. You can completely break away from the Fei family, cut ties with the past, and start a new life.”
The young man’s eyes were very bright, shimmering with a dazzling light even in this darkness.
He blinked, opened and closed his mouth, and after a moment, he spoke somewhat dryly, “Do you know what you’re saying?”
“I’m a person, not an inanimate object placed there.”
“Once you accept me, you will be responsible for me for a long time. I not only have no money right now but also have a bunch of troubles behind me. You saw the dark creature outside the window that day, and today you also encountered masked people. Besides, my existence is a stain for you, and anyone can use me to attack you.”
“You will be embarrassed by this.”
“I know you’re a good person, and I appreciate your willingness to help me, but don’t make jokes like this. You’d better not touch a hot potato like me. We live in two completely different worlds. Your world is full of brightness and a future, while my world is a mess. I don’t want to repay your kindness with harm.”
The young man’s voice was low and gentle, but the words were decisive.
Seeing the young man about to turn around, Dijia reached out and pressed his hand on Bai Lixin’s shoulder, “I’m not afraid of trouble.”
“Didn’t you say yesterday that you have nowhere to escape?”
“This is not a rash statement, it’s a carefully considered solution after thinking all night since returning yesterday.”
“I, Dijia, always stand by my words. If I say something, it’s not just said casually.”
