—

Wenren Lian's smile is gentle but not overly warm; even with such a question, it doesn't arouse dislike.

If Kuang Zheng is a mountain, Ge Zhu a clear breeze, then Wenren Lian is a cunning fox. He doesn't plan to start with his forte of Divination, nor does he observe covertly like Zhuo Zhongqiu; instead, he lays his curiosity out in the open, asking a question that's easy to answer, yet not so easy to answer.

Jiang Luo of course hasn't slept with Chi You.

This question actually has only one answer, and Wenren Lian himself knows it. Because in the stories Lu You and Ye Xun told, Jiang Luo only realized he loved Chi You after Chi You died.

When Chi You was alive, how could Jiang Luo have slept with Chi You?

But...

Jiang Luo props his chin, turning to look out the window.

Morning sunlight slants through the glass onto him, the years quiet and peaceful. A small sparrow suddenly flies in from outside, landing lightly on the windowsill beside Jiang Luo, its dark bean-like eyes watching him quietly.

Jiang Luo casually strokes the sparrow, looking at the golden auspicious qi in the air—under such feng shui treasure land, a ghost like Chi You cannot manifest no matter what.

So he boldly says: 'No.'

Wenren Lian's eyes curve, unsurprised, about to say something, but Jiang Luo says: 'But last night, I experienced sleep paralysis.'

The sparrow on the windowsill stares intently at Jiang Luo.

On Jiang Luo's lushly beautiful face, two peach-blossom-colored blushes gradually rise. From light to deep, like spreading ripples, moving. The sparrow's inorganic eyes reflect his face, capturing even the tremor of his lowered lashes without missing a single detail.

Jiang Luo's blushing face, however, brings an ominous premonition to those around him.

Sure enough, Jiang Luo awkwardly clears his throat a few times, 'I had a spring dream.'

Wenren Lian's eyes widen slightly in surprise.

Because Chi You is the bottom in The Evil Spirit, Jiang Luo naturally cast himself as the top. Even though his face looks more gorgeous than Chi You's, this doesn't affect his confidence.

Jiang Luo seems a bit shy, raising a hand to cover his face, black hair falling from both sides to veil his palm and face, he says slowly: 'In the dream, he was very proactive.'

Jiang Luo holds back laughter, in a sweet voice continues describing the body features of Chi You recorded in the book, 'I only just learned that on his waist and abdomen there are three small moles connected together.'

Since their last confrontation, Jiang Luo and Chi You have completely torn off all pretense.

Chi You wants to kill him when bored, wants to kill him when interested—simply a madman. Since the madman wants to kill him no matter what, to save his life Jiang Luo has no choice but to use any means necessary.

Right now he's gloatingly adding fuel to the fire, taking revenge for the last choking.

'I wonder if he'll get hurt,' Jiang Luo lowers his hand, worriedly says, his lowered lids almost sorrowful enough to weep, 'He's always like this... doing everything only thinking of making me happy, never thinking of himself.'

Those around: 'Hiss—'

They collectively sucked in a breath of cold air.

They are closer to Chi You than Jiang Luo; some of the boys had seen Chi You in the Fountain Pool behind the School, naturally knowing Chi You has that strange three-mole feature on his body.

Moles in different positions represent different meanings; in their eyes, the meaning of moles is no small matter, but the meaning of Chi You's three moles, they cannot read.

But Jiang Luo being able to state such an intimate feature of Chi You has already proven the truth of his words.

The group's expressions turned strange.

No matter how they listened, it sounded like Jiang Luo was the one on top.

Jiang Luo is having a great time making up stories about Chi You, secretly raising the corner of his mouth, but a glance from the corner of his eye meets the eyes of the little sparrow on the windowsill.

He pauses, gently reaches out to touch the sparrow; the sparrow quietly lets him pet it. Just as Jiang Luo is about to withdraw his hand, the sparrow suddenly pecks his finger pad, spreads its wings and flies away.

A needle-like sting flashes; Jiang Luo raises his hand to look—only a dot-like red mark remains on his finger pad, with a tiny rice-grain-sized drop of blood welling up.

He pulls out a tissue to wipe the blood, stares at the wound for half a minute, says: 'The little birds here are fierce.'

'Sleep paralysis, spring dream...' Wenren Lian slowly sits up, 'Truly beyond my expectations.'

After sighing for a while, Wenren Lian smiles: 'Jiang Luo, are you staying at the School tonight?'

Jiang Luo nods.

Students of their major actually must stay at School, but the original host found school life too crude, and because everyone in class was stronger than him, relying on his family background, he came late and left early, not taking school rules to heart.

Actually the school's rules aren't strict, but even the Zhuo Clan's eldest daughter Zhuo Zhongqiu obediently stays at school, normally not leaving unless on assignment. They don't stay because of rules, but because they can't bear to leave this feng shui treasure land.

Where vital energy and spiritual qi converge, faintly forming the effect of a Dragon Vein—who would leave when there's advantage to take?

Only the original host, that big fool, thought himself incredibly awesome, secretly looking down on the Zhuo Clan's eldest daughter Zhuo Zhongqiu.

Because Jiang Luo hasn't stayed at school for a long time, his dorm has long become a Storage Room. Wenren Lian explains, 'For now we'll arrange you in Chi You's room, do you mind?'

This is probably another test.

If Jiang Luo had lied, or if Jiang Luo killed Chi You, staying in a dead person's room would naturally feel scared and awkward, he'd rather not stay at school than go. But Jiang Luo gratefully says: 'I've long wanted to see his dorm.'

The school dorms are behind the teaching building; the eight people in this class occupy a large area. Walking over, Jiang Luo sees training grounds, meditation rooms, music classrooms, a Swimming Pool, a Fountain Pool, various sports fields.

Jiang Luo: ...

This is the 'crude' student life in the original host's memory?

Chi You's room is bigger than the students', after all Chi You is a teacher. Jiang Luo pushes the door open, feeling this room is too big.

He estimates it's about 180 square meters; for one person it would absolutely seem empty. Jiang Luo goes through every room; Lu You and Ye Xun accompany him, afraid he'll be moved by the scene.

Ye Xun says: 'If you don't want to stay here, you can stay with us.'

Jiang Luo asks: 'How big is your room?'

Lu You thinks for a moment, uncertainly: 'Fifty square meters?'

Jiang Luo instantly says: 'Never mind, I'll stay here.'

'Staying here is fine,' Ye Xun says lightly, 'but you'd better not hold out hope that Chi You will appear to see you. This is the School, no Evil Presence can come in or out; even if you stay here, you won't see Chi You.'

Jiang Luo shows a face of being seen through, his complexion suddenly turning pale.

Ye Xun with an expression of 'as expected,' 'We'll have someone clear out your old dorm in the next couple days; you can only stay here one night. Jiang Luo, the living and the dead walk different paths, you should wake up.'

Jiang Luo sits on the sofa, burying his head, shoulders trembling.

The others look at this scene with complicated expressions; Ge Zhu shakes his head, sighs, takes the lead in walking out, leaving the space for this pair of ill-fated lovers to have some quiet.

Wenren Lian walks out last, about to close the door, when he hears Jiang Luo quietly say: 'Wenren, can you give me a pack of cigarettes?'

Wenren Lian is startled, then smiles, turns back to the sofa, elegantly pulls a pack of lady cigarettes from his small bag and places them on the table, then takes out a delicate lighter engraved with rose thorns and sets it beside them, 'Smelled the smoke on me?'

Jiang Luo 'mm's.

Wenren Lian smiles again, tugs his shawl and turns, 'Jiang Luo, smoke less, okay?'

High heel sounds gradually recede, the door is closed.

Once sure everyone is far away, Jiang Luo lazily raises his head and leans on the sofa. He kicks off his shoes, stands and goes to the Bedroom, opens Chi You's wardrobe.

Chi You has only been dead a few days, the room is still clean everywhere. Chi You's clothes are all formal wear, surprisingly no casual styles. He finds a slightly larger new shirt, puts a song on his Mobile Phone, hums the tune into the bathroom.

Water sounds rise; half an hour later, Jiang Luo walks out of the bathroom with water dripping from his head.

He walks barefoot to the fridge, takes out an iced beer from inside, washes a glass, walks to the table and bites off the bottle cap with his teeth.

Jiang Luo's mood is good; the water droplets at the ends of his hair are absorbed by the gray towel draped around his neck. The shirt on his body is loose, covering past the top of his thighs.

A glass of iced beer after a shower is the best thing; Jiang Luo sighs contentedly, takes a cigarette from the pack while holding his glass, turns his head to light it, and slowly walks to the balcony.

The noon sunlight is bright, the clear wind blowing on his freshly washed body is extremely comfortable; Jiang Luo leans on the railing, contentedly exhaling a puff of smoke.

The hem of his shirt is lifted by the wind, then quickly falls. A sparrow lightly flies to a nearby treetop, looking down at Jiang Luo on the balcony.

Jiang Luo's damp black hair is caressed by sunlight, quickly drying through. Black hair is blown into disarray by the wind, two long legs slender and straight, brazenly displayed outside. He smokes one after another, quietly enjoying the scenery of the School.

The sparrow sees this scene clearly; its pupils are lightless and hollow, at first glance like a dead bird.

When Jiang Luo looks at beautiful scenery, his mood involuntarily improves; he watches the scenery all afternoon, his mood relaxed enough, then goes back to the room to catch up on sleep.

The academy's air is extremely fresh; Jiang Luo doesn't take long before sinking into deep sleep.

Night gradually deepens.

The sparrow on the tree spreads its wings and lands on the balcony, walks into the Bedroom, flaps its wings, and leaps onto the bed.

The sparrow spits a drop of blood from its beak onto Jiang Luo's brow.

The dark blood flashes with ominous light; Jiang Luo's brow furrows, pulled into a deeper layer of sleep.

...

Jiang Luo feels drenched in sweat.

Breathing becomes heavy and difficult, his whole body feels uncomfortable as if roasted by fire, his nose gradually smells a scorched scent.

Inhale, exhale.

Spirit gradually becomes clear, but the body feels pressed under a mountain, unable to move at all.

Damn.

Sleep paralysis.

Jiang Luo struggles to open his eyes; suddenly someone laughs by his ear. The moment this laugh sounds, the heavy pressure on his body instantly vanishes, and he snaps his eyes open.

Firelight fills his vision.

The room is on fire; the bed he's on is the worst-hit area.

Jiang Luo startles, instinctively tries to get up, but the next moment is violently yanked back onto the bed. He looks down at his body, seeing two iron chains firmly locked around his wrists.

Jiang Luo's face darkens as he raises his head to look at the other side.

Beside the desk sits a tall figure. That person elegantly holds a book, the corner of his mouth carrying a gentle, false smile, just like a gentleman. He wears a fitted, luxurious black Tuxedo, polished shoes, like the most proper and elegant member of high society, even a sought-after presence among the upper class.

He feels Jiang Luo's gaze, smiling places the book on his leg, slender hands gently resting on the book cover, says to Jiang Luo: 'Good evening.'

This is Chi You.

Jiang Luo looks at him with an uncertain expression.

The corner is dark, the entire room seems to have only the center where he lies surrounded by raging flames. Jiang Luo absolutely does not believe that Chi You, whose soul was shattered, can now appear before him in this form, nor does he believe Chi You can openly enter the School.

He tries to avoid the heat, letting his mind quickly calm. He soon notices something wrong—the desk in the daytime was clearly on the right side, but now it's on the left. He strains to look up at the window; outside the weather is gloomy and strange, terrifying like the Underworld, and the window lock is a left-hand opening.

Everything is the opposite of reality; Jiang Luo's expression gradually steadies. He looks at the figure at the desk, says with a half-smile: 'Is this Mirror or Dream Realm?'

Before Chi You can speak, he says to himself: 'I think it's the Dream Realm; you don't have the ability yet to pull me into Mirror at the School.'

'Right, Chi You?'

Chi You smiles, places the book on his leg onto the desk—the text on the book is also reversed.

The sound of leather shoes mingles with the sound of raging fire, composing a twisted, mad music. Chi You slowly walks to the bedside; the fire about to reach the bed surface illuminates his devastatingly handsome face, splitting his features into twisted patches of light and dark. Chi You laughs lightly, reaching out a hand from the darkness.

His hand clearly hasn't touched Jiang Luo, but Jiang Luo feels as if gripped around the neck by some invisible palm. He's forced to raise his head, like a dying swan with its neck seized, hair sliding down his back.

'As someone who liked you so much that even in death I want to take you with me—a secret, one-sided admirer,' the figure at the foot of the bed says with increasingly delighted tone, as if finding a new and interesting toy, full of interest, yet only making one's whole body feel chilled, 'I of course have to fulfill your wish.'

He lightly, rhythmically paces beside the bed unhurriedly, the sound of leather shoes like a death countdown.

The invisible hand on his neck vanishes; Jiang Luo crashes heavily onto the bed. He breathes heavily; a hand reaches from above his head, picking up a strand of his black hair.

Jiang Luo looks up; Chi You's face in the firelight is like a demon, he smiles and says: 'Sleep paralysis?'

The moment Chi You's words fall, Jiang Luo feels a heavy pressure descend; the fire suddenly leaps skyward, already burning to where he's lying.

Jiang Luo's nostrils are full of suffocating thick smoke and scorched smell; he hears the sound of his hair being burned, feels the intense pain spreading from his limbs to his whole body.

He can't move at all; the only thing he can move is his eyes. The intense pain of being burned by fire is like being in hell; Jiang Luo's teeth grind, staring fixedly at Chi You at the head of the bed.

Chi You smiles as he watches him, but the coldness beneath the smile is like a frozen cavern; shadows cover him, the jawline in the firelight and the ruthlessly curved corner of his mouth make one shiver.

Jiang Luo was burned to death.

After the intense pain, he opens his eyes once more.

Still the gloomy terrifying room, still the Dream Realm opposite to reality.

Jiang Luo expressionlessly flips off the bed, quickly walks to the fridge, takes out a bottle of beer and smashes it hard on the table corner, then takes the half sharp beer bottle and searches the entire room for the person.

Going room by room, until he reaches the bathroom, he's directly pressed into the bathtub by a person who suddenly appears behind him.

The bathtub that was just empty is now overflowing with water; the water is ice-cold and biting; Jiang Luo is pressed heavily by a hand, buried in the water.

'Looking for me?' Chi You's elegant voice rises above the water, he smiles, repeating the words Jiang Luo had said in the morning, 'That won't do, after all, in the Dream Realm, the proactive one is me.'