The Assassin's Enemy Lover

570 “What sound? I heard nothing.”

In the eerie silence, a low scratching sound was particularly audible but could be ignored with the brain coming up with excuses like it’s probably a cleaning robot or maybe the air conditioning system.

A fearless person would persist in this line of thinking but these two had their own weaknesses as everybody does. After hearing that sound for the fourth time they could no longer ignore it. “Saozi, did you hear that?” asked Yi Youxi but Zi Han was the worst person to be in this kind of situation with. Why? It was because he denied it. He denied it vehemently and made it seem like Yi Youxi was the one hearing things.

“What sound? I heard nothing,” he said and Yi Youxi suddenly felt even more frightened.

“Ah saozi, can’t you hear it?” he asked again as his steps halted.

Zi Han rubbed his thumb trying to suppress the anxiety in his heart. He could feel like someone or something was watching him but when he turned to face in that direction he couldn’t see anything.

The two continued to walk but the sound followed them. The pair simultaneously turned their heads in time to see a fleeting shadow in the distance.

Zi Han suddenly dared to walk over. That’s because he truly believed there was no such thing as a ghost operating under the light. It had to be someone messing with them.

Of course, this was what he told himself when the lights were still on but when they went off, shit got real so fast.

“AAAAHHHH! Han-ge, where are you?” cried Yi Youxi frozen in place like a lamppost.

.....

Zi Han was able to think fast and yelled, “Lights on,” and the lights did flicker but they didn’t turn on completely before it went dark.

This time they saw a figure underneath a black cloth walking slowly in the flickering lights. Zi Han abandoned all his bravery and muttered, “Shit shit shit,” while running off.

Yi Youxi was so frightened that he stood there his limbs stiff like a corpse as he stared blankly in the direction he last saw the dark figure before the lights went off. Zi Han suddenly realised that Yi Youxi wasn’t following behind him.

He retraced his steps and grabbed Yi Youxi’s arm before running towards that door. The door that had been open just now suddenly closed shut trapping the two of them in the haunted wine cellar.

He commanded the door to open but it didn’t even barge. Zi Han called out to Yi Youxi standing beside him saying, “Youxi, how do we open this damn door?”

“You, you have to override the automatic doors by using the manual switch,” he said and Zi Han’s face turned pale. Why? It was because Yi Youxi’s voice wasn’t coming from where he was standing but from where they were standing before.

Zi Han had no idea how they got out of there. All he knew was that he was holding Yi Youxi’s hand and running up the stairs only stopping until they entered the kitchen.

The two of them were panting heavily their souls flown off to who knows where. Yi Youxi sat down on the floor pushing back his damp hair from his forehead that was sticking to it from the sweat.

“What happened?” asked Yi Chen with great concern as he held both of Zi Han’s shoulders holding him up.

Zi Han couldn’t speak for a while his body trembling slightly. “What is it, Han Han? What could possibly scare you in a house full of people?” asked Yeoh Jun unable to figure out why these two were so flustered. There was no report of an intrusion so what could possibly scare them?

“We... we saw a ghost in the wine cellar,” said Yi Youxi unable to bear it anymore. His father who was done washing his hands from dealing with the pork loin walked over to him and helped him up.

“There is no such thing as a ghost and even if there is there can’t be any in the house. Mum made sure to consult a feng shui master before picking this location to build the house,” said uncle Lin while slicing the brisket into thin pieces.

“But uncle, we saw it and it locked us in the wine cellar. If you don’t believe us then go check,” said Yi Youxi. Yi Zhen did believe that they saw something, the real issue though was whether it was a real ghost or something else.

“I will go check it out,” said Yi Zhen while Yi Chen wiped the sweat off of Zi Han’s forehead and cheeks with a look of concern in his eyes.

He could tell that if they didn’t give him an explanation tonight, Zi Han might not sleep at all. “Are you okay?” he asked and Zi Han nodded his head but his face was saying otherwise. His complexion was still pale and his nerves tense while looking back just in case the ghost followed him.

“Are you sure I should leave you alone here?” he asked and Zi Han nodded his head but wouldn’t let go of his clothes that he was clutching tightly contradicting himself.

“Do you want to come with me?” asked Yi Chen while glancing at the fingernails that had turned white from clutching too tight. Zi Han didn’t reply immediately and kept clutching at his clothes so he said, “I will protect you.”

This time Zi Han’s eyes which seemed lifeless and sullen turned lively as he licked his dry lips. At first, it was just Yi Zhen and Yi Chen who were going to go but because the others loved gossip they followed after them leaving uncle Lin alone in the kitchen. He wanted to come too but someone had to stay behind and finish the work and they all nominated him.

The group of six rushed over to the wine cellar with Zi Han and Yi Youxi right at the back. Yi Chen who should have been in the forefront was also at the back of the pack because he had to appease Zi Han. His sweetheart wouldn’t let him go thus they could only walk together hand in hand.