Lu Zhi didn't know what was happening outside the Big Clock; he was busy escaping for his life.
Escaping the labyrinth formed by dark, walled buildings. Passing through alive meant graduation, the end of this hellish, round-the-clock training!
...
Outside the Big Clock, on a yacht, Hao Yunyi squatted before the projection, like a child who hadn't grown up, his hands resting on his knees. He was intently watching the four people escaping the maze, being pursued by the Kǒng Lóng Yǎn Shòu simulated by the Big Clock.
Hao Yunyi stared at Lu Zhi's profile as he ran, a flicker in his eyes. He frowned, touched his chin, and murmured in a daze, "Why do I always feel like... I've seen this before?"
Suddenly, the iron teeth circling the Big Clock stopped their rotation, and a shadow silently fell over Hao Yunyi. Startled, he spun around. It was Shen Qi, who had been missing for two full days. The feeling of falling into ice was familiar, brought by Shen Qi.
Hao Yunyi looked up. The dazzling sunlight obscured Shen Qi's expression. He felt that Shen Qi's aura was different from two days ago. "C-Chief, where have you been these past two days?"
Shen Qi looked down at him. For a fleeting moment, his cold gaze made Hao Yunyi feel utterly strange, but it quickly returned to its usual indifferent, apathetic look. His tone was lazy and casual, "Ah, I originally planned to visit the ruins he emerged from, but I had an unexpected gain."
Hao Yunyi subconsciously asked, "What gain?"
Shen Qi placed a hand to his lips, licked his tongue, and tilted his head, smiling exceptionally... dangerously. His usually clear voice was now laced with a touch of soft intimacy. "Just some, small memories."
Hao Yunyi's pupils contracted slightly. A long-forgotten memory surged into his mind, his heart uncontrollably racing. He trembled, unable to meet Shen Qi's gaze.
Danger...
And...
The fear of death.
"Time's up," Shen Qi snapped his fingers. The giant clock, fused with the mist, vanished with a pop.
Hao Yunyi: !!!
Hao Yunyi forgot his fear and quickly said, "Chief, those four are still inside!"
Shen Qi didn't even glance at Hao Yunyi, only stating, "I've taken them."
...
At this very moment, Lu Zhi and the other three were lying on the ground like exhausted salted fish, motionless.
Lu Zhi swore that if time could be reversed, he would never impulsively give a bad review to a reader, nor would he transmigrate into a book, nor would he have entered this special academy. He wouldn't be so utterly exhausted that his limbs wouldn't obey him, only wanting to close his eyes and sleep soundly.
"Congratulations to everyone for completing the physical training. The exit will open soon. Coach Xiao Lun looks forward to seeing you again," Xiao Lun said with a cute wink and disappeared with a pop.
Lu Zhi gazed hazily at the mist-shrouded sky, his chest heaving, his limbs spasming. After escaping the death labyrinth, his stamina had reached its limit. Moreover... he had been bitten by a Yǎn Shòu in the labyrinth, on his left abdomen, losing so much blood that he felt dizzy.
Hearing the announcement of completion, Lu Zhi relaxed completely. His lips parted slightly as he gasped for breath, slowly closing his eyes, wanting to rest.
Just then, the floor beneath him vanished. Lu Zhi clearly perceived the sudden emptiness around him. Wind brushed against his body, and he smelled the sea. His body plummeted abruptly, but he was too exhausted to do more than manage to crack open his eyelids. He vaguely saw clouds rapidly receding from his view, the wind whistling past his ears, the sky growing further away...
Lu Zhi's fingers twitched. His limbs were completely unresponsive. He decided... to give up.
Ah...
So tired...
No more struggling...
After all, falling into the sea wouldn't kill him. The school would surely send someone to rescue him, right?
Lu Zhi waited in the darkness for the inevitable pain of hitting the sea, but instead, he felt a pair of strong arms, and a cool embrace carrying a faint floral scent.
Who?
Lu Zhi struggled to lift an eyelid. The blurry but perfect jawline, the familiar eyes, made his heart skip a beat uncontrollably.
Was it his... god?
No, that's not right...
It was... Shen Qi.
Lu Zhi didn't know why he suddenly felt at ease, completely sinking into slumber.
Shen Qi looked down at Lu Zhi, who was in a semi-conscious state in his arms. He tightened his grip slightly and his gaze fell on Lu Zhi's hand covering his abdomen, his eyes darkening.
Five minutes later.
In the independent dormitory villa on campus.
Shen Qi sat on the edge of the bed, frowning and looking down at the handsome, refined face lying on his bed, buried in the pillow. He was lost in thought and confusion.
Why did he feel an impulse to bring back someone he had only recently met?
And to go as far as to place him on his own bed?
Was it because of those vague, fragmented memories from the ruins?
Shen Qi thought expressionlessly, his silver-grey eyes reflecting Lu Zhi's appearance. Lu Zhi's soft, slightly long black hair fanned out on the white pillow. His brow, usually furrowed, had relaxed in comfort, and his cheeks were flushed with a faint red, making him look incredibly... gentle and harmless.
Lu Zhi suddenly turned over, kicking away the blanket covering him. Half his face was buried in the pillow, his lips slightly parted, his tongue peeking out.
Shen Qi watched quietly, then suddenly raised his hand, his fingers sinking into the soft black hair. He gently squeezed his ear before resting his hand on Lu Zhi's fair cheek, stroking it tenderly.
So small, his hand could cover it completely.
Shen Qi thought, his fingers uncontrollably tracing Lu Zhi's brow bone, his high nose bridge, finally stopping at his half-closed lips.
The room was extremely quiet. The sound of Lu Zhi's slow, steady breathing could be heard.
Shen Qi's eyes darkened, his thumb gently pressing on the pale pink lips... so soft.
Ring ring ring...
The phone rang three times. Lu Zhi's eyelids twitched, but Shen Qi had already silenced it. The room returned to quiet.
He glanced at Lu Zhi, who was sleeping soundly again, then walked onto the balcony and answered Lu Zhi's phone. "Hello."
"Shen Qi?" Lu Chengxuan asked in surprise, then immediately asked, "Where's my brother?"
"Sleeping," Shen Qi said, gazing out at the soaring cloud whales over the sea, his silver-grey eyes betraying an unfathomable emotion.
Lu Chengxuan's voice deepened, "Explain yourself."
Shen Qi suddenly curled his lips into a smile completely contrary to his clear, cool demeanor, his tone drawn out, "What do you want me to explain?"
"Ah, I know. Your brother is in my bed, sleeping."
"Is that clear enough?"
There was a long silence from Lu Chengxuan's end, then he said coldly, "What do you mean?"
Shen Qi thought about Lu Zhi's attitude towards Lu Chengxuan, a flash of red light passing through his eyes, before finally saying, "Hanging up."
Regardless of what Lu Chengxuan thought, Shen Qi returned to the bedroom, tossed the phone onto the sofa, and walked into the bathroom.
The sound of water rushing into the drain filled the air. The half-length mirror reflected his impeccably sculpted physique. Water droplets slid down his V-lines, along his firm muscles, down his calves...
After a long while, a chilling, low laugh echoed from the bathroom.
"It seems... I've forgotten something very important..."