It was yet another rainy day.
The atmosphere hung heavy with the weight of overcast skies, the air damp and saturated, carrying the blend of moist, earthy soil and the nostril-assaulting fragrance of lilies.
Fang Chen saw that his white shoes were splattered with mud as he cradled in his hands a kitten that had already stopped breathing. It was still so tiny and young, curled up with its body stiffened.
The younger him still had a hint of baby fat on his face, with dewdrops clinging to his eyelashes—whether they were from tears or raindrops remained unclear. His hair was lightly dampened by the rain, carrying a hint of moisture.
Out of nowhere, an umbrella appeared over his head.
Someone was sheltering him with an umbrella. As Fang Chen glanced upward, he saw a figure with black casual pants, a white blouse… and then, there was that rotting face.
The rain suddenly poured down heavily, pitter-pattering around. Fang Chen couldn’t hear any other sounds, only the rhythmic drumming of raindrops. Both of them were surrounded by rain on all sides, trapped within it. The man’s voice resonated clearly in Fang Chen’s ears as his lips moved.
“Fang Chen, don’t be afraid.”
…
“Ding-ling.”
Fang Chen jolted awake abruptly, a surge of awareness flooding back as he realized he was still in the hall. The bright lights dazzled his eyes as the man approached him slowly. He wanted to escape, but his legs wouldn’t respond, leaving him with no choice but to watch as Nie Shi approached closer and closer.
“Don’t be afraid,” Nie Shi reiterated as he crouched halfway down. “Don’t fear me.”
How could he not be afraid?
Fang Chen dared not blink, allowing the tears to blur his vision and provide a modicum of relief. This way, it offered him the small comfort of at least not seeing Nie Shi’s face.
Nie Shi softly caressed Fang Chen’s cheek. Contrary to his expectations, he found neither soft rot nor uneven texture; instead, Nie Shi’s palm was dry and ice-cold.
“What did you see?” Nie Shi asked, repeating, “Don’t fear me.”
This phrase was repeated way too often.
Fang Chen couldn’t ignore the chill on his face; tears trickled down his cheeks as he closed his eyes. Fear pulsated through every nerve of his, yet in his mind, flashed images entirely contrary to the terror. First, a plate of carrots and cucumber stir-fried rice; then, the whirring of a hairdryer accompanied by the touch of a hand on his head. And finally… looming over everything was that rotting face.
A strange feeling crept into Fang Chen’s heart. He opened his eyes, locking onto Nie Shi’s gaze. Nie Shi’s pupils resembled a black vortex, and the solitary glimmer within illuminated a reflection of Fang Chen. The bruises and blemishes on his body gradually faded, replaced by his original skin colour.
Instead of breathing a sigh of relief, Fang Chen felt an even greater sense of panic. Just what on earth is Nie Shi?!
One couldn’t blame Fang Chen for entertaining those thoughts; the timing of Nie Shi’s appearance was simply too coincidental. His subsequent actions further underscored this fact: he was protecting Fang Chen and harboured no ill intent towards him.
But why?
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Fang Chen’s head faintly throbbed, a shallow furrow etching between his eyebrows.
Nie Shi’s gaze shifted towards the stairwell entrance, where a black-and-white cat stood, its eyes adorned in copper-yellow, fixing a tilted stare upon them. Unnoticed by Fang Chen, Nie Shi casually brushed a fleeting look at it as if he hadn’t seen a thing, then smoothly turned his head.
The man’s cold aura caused Fang Chen to tremble involuntarily. He didn’t know from where he summoned the courage from, but he grabbed Nie Shi’s arm and questioned, “Why are you following me?”
As expected, silence was Nie Shi’s only response.
“Did I know you?” Fang Chen took a deep, chilling breath; his throat itched as if he wanted to cough.
Nie Shi pursed his lips and rested his head directly in the crook of Fang Chen’s neck. Fang Chen stiffened, terrified to death yet didn’t dare to push him away.
“Fang Chen,” Nie Shi softly uttered his name, each syllable painting a delicate brushstroke of intimacy and tender affection.
Fang Chen’s mind went blank; he couldn’t think of any response.
Yet, Nie Shi took advantage of the situation and inched closer. His short, coarse hair grazed Fang Chen’s neck as he gently blew air.
Fang Chen felt the urge to cry again, bewildered by receiving such affection from this mass of rotting flesh. Was he attempting to sidestep the questions by acting coy and endearing? Fang Chen didn’t mind having his questions unanswered, so could he please just keep his distance?
Certainly, even with ten times the guts, Fang Chen wouldn’t dare say such words. He could only nudge Nie Shi’s shoulder slightly. “I won’t ask anymore… Can you get up?”
Nie Shi complied and got up cooperatively.
Fang Chen still didn’t dare to look at Nie Shi, keeping his head lowered and exposing the fair nape of his neck. Although this act of his posed potential dangers, Fang Chen himself was not conscious of it, his gaze continuously fixated on the ground.
Nie Shi encircled his waist, and despite stiffening under his touch, Fang Chen still cooperated and didn’t push him away. The embrace was cold, but it lacked the desperation from moments ago. Nie Shi returned the dagger to him, carefully inserting it into the sheath strapped to Fang Chen’s waist.
“Fang Chen.” Nie Shi’s voice carried an inexplicable excitement as he bent down and planted another kiss on Fang Chen’s lips.
Tears swirled in Fang Chen’s eyes; he was at a loss. This mass of rotting flesh not only showed no intention of killing him, but also continued to protect him. Though he longed for answers, Fang Chen feared the horrifying truth he would receive. Different species had no future together. Fang Chen wanted to warn Nie Shi but feared that, feeling humiliated, Nie Shi might react angrily and literally bite his head off.
The cat at the stairwell entrance had vanished. Nie Shi held Fang Chen’s hand and walked out. Once his face was out of Fang Chen’s sight, Nie Shi reverted to his expressionless state. Passing the stairwell, he glanced upstairs, but quickly retracted his gaze.
Nie Shi pressed the elevator button, and only then did Fang Chen muster the courage to ask, “Where are we going?”
“Going back,” Nie Shi replied as he swayed their intertwined hands.
The rotting condition of his hands had noticeably improved. Fang Chen found it strange and still lacked the courage to look directly at Nie Shi’s face.
As they entered the elevator, Fang Chen, whose mind had been blank, suddenly remembered. “Fan Yingying, she…!” How could he have forgotten about her?
Silence enveloped the elevator.
Fang Chen couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Nie Shi. The angle offered only a profile view, unveiling the sharply defined contours of the man’s face. Below the cheekbones, a portion had succumbed to rot, but his original appearance was still clearly visible.
His heart skipped a beat for a moment, and Fang Chen quickly turned back his head, his hand reflexively clenched even tighter.
“You still fear me,” Nie Shi uttered, his voice carrying an unfathomable depth, making it impossible to discern any emotions. Then, he slowly released Fang Chen’s hand.
With the departure of the icy touch on his palm, Fang Chen subconsciously curled his fingers. Though the elevator doors opened, neither of them made a move.
“Are we not gonna find her…” Fang Chen had just spoken half a sentence when his chin was lifted. Nie Shi’s ice-cold lips pressed fiercely against his, planting a fiery and ruthless kiss. This time, the kiss wasn’t entirely cold; it carried a mix of burning pain and a metallic taste. Saliva blended together and was swallowed in unison. For a brief moment, Fang Chen thought: So, Nie Shi can bleed too, and the taste of his blood’s just like that of a human.
Panting sounds slipped into his ears, accompanied by the warmth of breaths. Nie Shi’s hands wandered over his body, holding him ever so tightly. Fang Chen’s hands were cold, but his body radiated scorching heat, searing into his heart. A soft whimper escaped from their intertwined lips as Fang Chen subtly moved his tongue. His lowered eyelashes cast a delicate shadow.
What exactly had he forgotten?
He wasn’t as terrified of Nie Shi as he thought, even after confirming that Nie Shi was the rotting man who often appeared at night…
Nie Shi covered Fang Chen’s eyes, withdrawing his tongue with reluctance and pecking at Fang Chen’s lips.
The night deepened.
The surroundings buzzed with clamour, under a cloudless sky. On the sports field, a group of children clad in red and white uniforms played, with Fang Chen among them.
Blurred faces swayed before Fang Chen as he searched for something, darting around until he collided with someone. His wrist was caught, and when he turned to look, he saw Nie Shi.
In his junior high school years, Nie Shi had a more towering figure than his peers. His face still resembled that of a lifeless person—void of any expression. However, there was a hint of innocence, making him appear even more youthful.
Fang Chen was pleasantly surprised. “As expected, it’s you!” he exclaimed, smiling. The carefree smile of youth radiated with dazzling hues in the realm of memory.
“Haaah, no wonder I thought you looked familiar. Do you still remember me?” Fang Chen pointed at himself, blinking his eyes.
Nie Shi released his grip, slightly turning his gaze away. “Mm.”
“Then who am I?”
A breeze swept through, causing the leaves to flutter.
Lifting his head, Nie Shi’s gaze still remained elusive, not landing on Fang Chen. “Fang Chen.”
…
Fang Chen didn’t know how he had fallen asleep; when he woke up again, it was already two hours later.
Qiao Ran was sitting in the corner of the sofa and hurriedly asked upon Fang Chen’s awakening, “Are you okay, Fang Chen-ge?”
Fang Chen, still not fully recovered from his dream, displayed a pallid complexion, his heart thumping forcefully, creating a dull ache in his chest.
He and Nie Shi knew each other!
They had known each other for a long time!
“They went to find that big sister.” Qiao Ran poured a glass of water for Fang Chen, his eyes exceptionally bright under the desk lamp. “Leaving the four of us here.”
Fang Chen noticed the couple lying on the bed.
“Are they asleep?” he asked in a hushed tone.
“Mm,” Qiao Ran said, “I don’t dare to sleep.” He looked at Fang Chen and nibbled on his lip. “Why did that big sister drag you out?”
Because something’s amiss with Nie Shi.
Fang Chen’s heart sank at the thought of Nie Shi, and he skipped the question, anxiously asking, “They… went looking with Nie Shi?”
“Mm.” Qiao Ran fiddled with the bolster in his hands. “You passed out, and he carried you back. Did something happen?”
Since they dared to go out with Nie Shi, it meant that the others hadn’t noticed anything unusual about him. Only he himself and Fan Yingying had realized it. Why’s that so?
“Fang Chen-ge.” Qiao Ran leaned his head on the bolster, tilting his head lightly. “Why did you go with that big sister? Acting alone is risky, you know.”
Fang Chen’s heart plummeted straight to the depths.
Yeah, why did he… go with Fan Yingying? Acting alone was clearly a dangerous choice.
Just then, the doorknob turned, and the couple lying on the bed woke up abruptly, pressing their heads and asking in a drowsy state, “What’s going on?”
Gao Cheng and Xie Ying entered first, and Nie Shi, who arrived last, closed the door behind them.
Nie Shi hung his head, seemingly deep in thought. From Fang Chen’s perspective, a streak of blue marked the corner of his eye, while a faint bruise adorned his neck.
The signs of rot were fading away more and more.
Dejected, Xie Ying slumped onto the sofa, her long hair hanging down and covering half of her face. “Couldn’t find her.”
“But we encountered two of those things again.” Gao Cheng grimaced. “How disgusting, I’m about to vomit my dinner.”
Fang Chen finally gathered the courage to face Nie Shi directly. Nie Shi’s eyes were pitch-black, and even the whites and a fleeting glint of light revealed nothing but an unfathomable depth, like an abyss of silence.
Fang Chen shivered, a tremor running through him, as he began to understand Nie Shi. Nie Shi’s harmlessness only revealed itself in the presence of Fang Chen. He wouldn’t harm Fang Chen—they had a history. But what about others?
Nie Shi cared not for whose life was lost; anyone’s death was inconsequential to him. His sole concern was protecting Fang Chen.
Real black-bellied ml
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
I’m a pretty much old driver, but I still don’t know what is black-bellied means 😶😶
It’s like nice personality outside and dark personality inside. As I understood