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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Ten
Song Bunan seemed to live in two worlds.
When awake, he did what he wanted to do, but in his dreams, he was often caught by good friends who shared their innermost thoughts with him. Sometimes, it felt as if he were working in a dream. He was favored by many lonely souls who had no one to remember them, treating him as a close confidant. He noted their needs and helped them find their pasts, burning away their futures. Many times, he felt lost, unsure whether he was dreaming or had returned to reality.
Now, he found himself in a dream, lying in darkness where there were no living beings—nothing at all. Just him. This scene was familiar; whenever he was hurt, he would be trapped in such a place, unable to see the way forward or move, waiting in the dark for the voice that could pierce through the gloom and set him free.
He had lost count of how many times he had come here since childhood; only those who called out to him could remember. The first time was when he was very small, lying here feeling helpless and desperate, with his parents and brother nowhere in sight, not even knowing who he was. In the darkness, he even fell asleep again, waking up still unable to see the light. Just as he was about to give up and sink into the darkness beneath him, he heard his mother’s voice calling out.
That call was like a lamp that dispelled all the darkness, transforming into his mother’s embrace—tight and secure.
On his journey of growing up, many had been that lamp for him, even strangers who cared about his life and wished for him to return to the world of the living. Having been saved so many times, he began to learn calmness in the dark, enjoying the silence while contemplating matters related to himself and others.
This time, his main thoughts revolved around reflecting on the invitation from Mighty Falcon and about someone named Xin Yi. To be honest, the reason for saving him wasn’t rooted in any camaraderie behind their teamwork; it was purely an inexplicable subjective will. He didn’t consider himself a good person; as long as he could finish what needed to be done smoothly and pocket the money before returning to interact joyfully with non-human entities, that was enough.
So when he blocked that knife for Xin Yi, all that filled his mind was that he must have been crazy; otherwise, why would he show such kindness to someone he had only recently met? Although he readily admitted that he didn’t want this strong man’s beautiful body to be harmed—despite the many marks left on it by his past—it just couldn’t happen on his watch.
What attracted him most about humans wasn’t their values or inner selves or even their appearances; it was only the perfect physique achieved through relentless effort that drew him in like a flame. He could never transform himself into such a figure in this lifetime, so when he saw others possessing it, he became particularly protective. Occasionally, in darker moments, he wondered if it would be possible to keep their bodies close by as art pieces that he could admire every day.
And Xin Yi struck right at that point in Song Bunan’s heart where admiration resided with his well-traveled yet still handsome appearance and flawless physique.
If Xin Yi knew the truth about his feelings, he would probably think of him as a pervert! Song Bunan thought with satisfaction. After all, who wouldn’t become a little obsessed when faced with something they loved?
He felt happy—happy for having protected such a beautiful body.
He also wondered if Xiao Mei had come and successfully blocked his brother’s relentless questioning. After being discharged from the hospital, he needed to find time to visit home; otherwise, if his brother dragged him back from his little nest again, it would surely end badly for him.
As the analysis reached this point, Song Bunan could vaguely feel a discomfort in his rear. Shaking his head to dispel the bad thoughts, he quickly redirected his attention back to Xin Yi. The uphill path had initially allowed him to enjoy the view of a beautiful backside, but suddenly, Xin Yi had moved behind him, leaving only countless fantasies in his mind. Unable to complain, he could only watch the rock on the mountain path, silently lamenting in his heart.
Unfortunately, this person despised his profession; if he liked it, they might have become friends.
Who would be the one to awaken this little treasure of his during this opportunity? Song Bunan began to seriously list names and contemplated giving this guiding light some rewards, perhaps a kiss on the cheek. If their relationship was good enough, he might even nibble a bit.
“...Song Bunan... we... are fine...” As he recalled whose face had the best taste from his previous nibbles, Song Bunan heard some unfamiliar static noise, like an old radio struggling to stay alive. Straining to discern the sound coming from behind him, accompanied by crackling electrical sounds and incomplete phrases, he finally managed to identify it as Xin Yi's voice.
“?!” This was unexpected. Surprised, Song Bunan silently retracted his earlier thoughts of rewarding this guiding light and decided to simply say thank you. He didn’t want Xin Yi to think he was a creep and distance himself; after all, he still hoped they could become familiar enough for some physical interaction.
However, what he didn’t anticipate was that Xin Yi’s voice did not transform into a guiding light. In fragments of speech, he saw a figure slowly emerging from the darkness, formed from thin mist—a faint silhouette walking toward him from a great distance. It wasn’t until it approached that he realized it was Xin Yi’s form.
The appearance of two or three new figures in quick succession left Song Bunan somewhat stunned. It wasn’t until the figure extended a hand that he realized he could move. Responding instinctively, he reached out his hand, and the figure guided him slowly into an uncharted darkness. After walking for what felt like an eternity, the figure dissipated like smoke, and the darkness beneath his feet vanished as he fell.
The sensation of weightlessness jolted him awake; when he suddenly opened his eyes, the brightness nearly blinded him. After struggling for a while to regain his vision, he realized that without his contact lenses, he couldn’t see who was standing beside him. They seemed oblivious to his situation as they huddled together, chatting away.
Fortunately, his hands were free to explore the thick bandages wrapped around his waist as he began to recall how large the wound had been that required such extensive wrapping. His throat felt parched and dry; the heat trapped under the blankets quickly made him sweat and left him in urgent need of water. He fumbled around what should have been the bedside table but accidentally knocked an unknown object onto the floor with a loud thud.
This was soon followed by Xiao Mei’s wailing, filled with insincere concern. Others in the room quickly gathered around him under Xiao Mei’s dramatic cries; familiar scents of traditional Chinese medicine wafted from Shui Su nearby—evidently having successfully intercepted his brother’s search.
“Stop howling; I’m thirsty,” he said quietly as Xiao Mei helped him sit up, trying not to strain his painfully dry throat. Leaning against Xiao Mei’s bony shoulder, Song Bunan finally felt a bit relieved; days of exhaustion were magnified at that moment as if he had run five kilometers with a heavy load. Sipping on warm water slowly, he asked Xiao Mei how she explained things to her brother.
A light but firm tap on his head made him look up at Xiao Mei’s displeased expression; without needing to guess, he knew she had spun another grand lie. “She said you went with me on a business trip to another city and would be gone for over ten days.”
Familiar words and tactics brought tears to Song Bunan's eyes as he lamented with a bitter face: “He asked me what we should do about things over there... couldn’t you come up with something closer?”
Xin Yi watched as Xiao Mei moved her jaw animatedly, gritting her teeth while pinching Song Bunan’s chin until their faces were almost touching. He heard her say: “You know I can tell the truth if I want to.”
"Thank you, Brother." Song Bunan didn't hesitate for a second, curling his lips into a flattering smile as he rested his head on Xiao Mei's hand, playfully rubbing his palm against her like a child seeking affection. The young man was clearly amused by this, pulling his hand back only to pinch Song Bunan's cheek, grumbling under his breath yet showing no real anger. The companions accompanying the young man stood nearby, watching the two with indulgent smiles, accustomed to their antics.
Sitting on the bed without his glasses, Xin Yi's gaze was somewhat hazy. Several times he caught Song Bunan glancing in his direction, and each time he squinted slightly before ultimately turning his attention back to Xiao Mei. The color of Song Bunan's eyes, reminiscent of an unseeing young beast, captivated him. He loved observing others' eyes; their beauty and fragility coexisted, easily shattered yet so worth losing oneself in before that moment came.
He particularly liked Song Bunan's eyes; under the light, they were dark and bright at once, like a deep pool embedded within. When he had fainted before Xin Yi, tears had glistened in those eyes, resembling a frozen flower that could be crushed with just a bit of force. Now, he could clearly see his own reflection in that clear water.
But he couldn't get close; the pool was surrounded by towering mountains. He felt like an eagle perched atop a peak, able only to gaze from afar and wonder whether that pool was sweet or bitter.
As he prepared to leave, he encountered a doctor coming in for a check-up. A more familiar colleague handed over some paperwork and rattled off a long list of precautions before seriously asking if he remembered them all. Xin Yi was puzzled and pointed to the person by the bed, indicating that they were the one taking care of Song Bunan. The doctor looked exasperated, snatching the clipboard and tossing his hair as he walked out, muttering, "Anyway, the captain said you're responsible for him while he's here."
"Oh, so you've already assigned someone!" Xiao Mei chimed in with a sly smile as she nudged Shui Su beside her. "In that case, we'll take our leave for now and come back tomorrow."
Without waiting for anyone's reaction, she grabbed Shui Su's hand and dashed out. Yes, dashed—like there was some great danger lurking in the hospital room that would devour them whole. Leaning against the bed with a cup of water in hand, Song Bunan wore an equally bewildered expression, clearly confused about why everyone had suddenly left him alone.
He remembered all the precautions; though somewhat reluctant, he was more than willing to take care of Song Bunan in light of those eyes.
"My injury isn't serious," Song Bunan said finally, his gaze still fixed on Xin Yi. His expression shifted back to one Xin Yi recognized well as he smiled cheerfully. "I think I can be discharged in two or three days. Do you know when they'll take out my stitches?"
"In half a month," Xin Yi replied without revealing his emotions to the person before him. He leaned forward slightly to take the cup.
The person who slowly propped himself up and lay back down let out a comfortable hum before bursting into laughter. Turning towards Xin Yi with an expression that could only be described as adorable, he said, "I promise I won't cause you any trouble these next few days."
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