Chapter 585: A Thousand Times Over

    Shen Nianzu could literally envision what would happen if Jin Jiuchi’s identity as a nightmare creature was exposed—

    They would be horrified, yes. They would be horrified and appalled through and through. Not only with the prospect of a nightmare creature mingling among humans, but also with his and Jin Jiuchi’s romantic relationship. They might even assume that Shen Nianzu had been coerced or bewitched into it.

    No matter what it was, they would only expect the worst in Jin Jiuchi without taking into consideration his character, temperament, or his behavior so far.

    All because he was a nightmare creature.

    Because he was fundamentally different from them all.

    Shen Nianzu saw no way they could have accepted Jin Jiuchi into society. They would forever shun him, be wary of him, always watching for the day he would reveal his ’true color’ and turn against them.

    And Shen Nianzu couldn’t bring himself to blame them, really. It was only natural for them to react as such. Hadn’t he also done the same in the beginning? He could still remember his resolve when he first took Jin Jiuchi in. How certain he was that, at the first sign of aggression and hostility, he would eliminate this foolish, clingy nightmare creature without hesitation.

    But somewhere along the way, his mindset gradually changed. He tried and tried to resist, and yet he still found himself drawn to Jin Jiuchi’s orbit. He was swept up into Jin Jiuchi’s rhythm, and by the time he understood his own feelings, it was already too late. He had fallen hopeless in love.

    Pinching Jin Jiuchi’s cheek, he lamented with a sigh, "Maybe I’m really bewitched..."

    Jin Jiuchi, blinking innocently: ?

    Shen Nianzu kneaded his face while issuing a fierce warning, "You can’t let anyone know you’re a nightmare creature, understand?" When Jin Jiuchi opened his mouth to speak, Shen Nianzu beat him to it as if knowing what he wanted to say, "Of course, Xinxin is an exception! He is our teammate and I trust him not to speak carelessly." Jin Jiuchi made to speak, but once again Shen Nianzu interrupted him, "And that includes Noir. We never actually clarified anything to him, so he shouldn’t have known. Still, it’s better to be careful. I have a hunch that he’s already onto something."

    Jin Jiuchi tried to speak again for the third time, blurting out in a rush before Shen Nianzu preempted him once more. "What about Ying? Should we tell her? I mean, her alone." He hurried to add the last sentence upon seeing the frown between Shen Nianzu’s brows, but the lines did not ease.

    "... Let’s not," Shen Nianzu said after a long hesitation. "It would only put her in a difficult position."

    More than that, he was actually unsure if Ying would choose to side with them rather than her comrades. Rather than betting Jin Jiuchi’s future on another person, he would rather never take this risk in the first place.

    "If— I said if..." Shen Nianzu trailed off, gazing deeply into the man’s eyes as though wishing to peer into the soul within. "If given the choice, would you rather stay in the Nightmare Cycle instead?"

    As reluctant as he was to admit, Shen Nianzu was actually a little nervous as he waited for Jin Jiuchi’s answer. And that was because he knew that Jin Jiuchi was, in a way, similar to the Divine Oracle. Even until now, he had never quite fit in with this world. He was extreme, eccentric and lacked common sense. He would never be able to settle down and get a job. In the eyes of ordinary people, he was but a lunatic, perhaps with bipolar tendencies. He was more suited to stay in a mental hospital instead.

    Plus this world was mundane and peaceful, unlike the Cycles which could provide him with endless excitement and entertainment. Just like how humans would inherently choose to side with humans, would Jin Jiuchi also prefer to remain in the Nightmare Cycle, which was also his place of origin?

    Jin Jiuchi shot him a look that could be translated as ’Nian’er, you’re such an idiot but I adore you anyway’. In lieu of a direct answer, he asked, "Will you be there?"

    "Huh?" Taken aback, Shen Nianzu blurted out honestly, "Of course not."

    "Then, that’s it." He leaned in to brush the tip of their noses together, his eyes squinting into a careless yet charming smile. "You don’t need to ask anymore, Nian’er. Wherever you are, I will be there. I would choose you a thousand times over— in a heartbeat."

    Shen Nianzu’s throat tightened, his heart drumming frantically against his ribcage.

    At this moment, he seemed to realize why he fell so hard for this person. It was this frank and earnest demeanor, the way he never hid his feelings, that had Shen Nianzu feeling so extremely cherished, loved, and desired.

    Who wouldn’t get addicted to this kind of hot, intense and all-encompassing affection?

    "Hmm, are you moved, Nian’er? You are, aren’t you?" With a slightest tilt of his head, Jin Jiuchi nosed his way to the base of the jade doll’s ear, taking a deep whiff of the sweet and intoxicating scent exuded from his flushed skin. "I can smell it on you... so fragrant," he licked the corner of his lips with a roguish grin, his gaze smoldering and slightly drunken, as if he had just taken a sip of a high-quality liquor.

    Shen Nianzu felt his body warm up by the man’s blunt remark. He instinctively pushed Jin Jiuchi away to cover his embarrassment. "Get lost...!"

    He failed spectacularly, of course. Not only did Jin Jiuchi not budge a bit, he even took the opportunity to grab Shen Nianzu’s wrists and rolled over, pinning the jade doll beneath him before draping himself over like a huge, heavy, and overly warm blanket.

    "Now you won’t be able to escape from me, Nian’er!" he declared loudly.

    Shen Nianzu symbolically gave some struggles, but upon realizing he wouldn’t be able to break free, he simply gave up and resigned himself to being a human-shaped hug pillow.

    With a helpless sigh, he slid his slender arms around Jin Jiuchi’s broad shoulders, who was purring softly while sniffing his neck here and there like a wild animal inspecting its territory, playing with the soft strands of hair on the base of Jin Jiuchi’s neck.

    "Idiot," he scolded fondly. Who the hell wants to escape? I’m the one who can’t wait to tie you to myself.

    Jin Jiuchi retorted with a proud and arrogant tone. "So what? You’re the one who likes this idiot."

    Shen Nianzu was caught between laughter and exasperation. He simply had no idea how to deal with the man’s increasingly shameless behavior. In the end, he settled on kneading and pinching Jin Jiuchi’s ears, treating them like some sort of stress balls.

    A comfortable silence lingered in the air, dyed with a tinge of intimacy.

    "Okay," Shen Nianzu exhaled softly, as if releasing the last bit of his hesitation. His gaze steadied with resolve. "Let’s enter that Cycle and find a way to deal with the Nightmare once and for all."