SHEN JI YUN didn"t even glance at the screen that appeared in front of him. All his attention was focused on Luo Yan. Because the only time he could boldly stare at him was when Luo Yan was not looking back. The rabbit had a habit of looking straight into face of the person he was talking to. That"s why Shen Ji Yun did his best not to look at Luo Yan since he recognized him earlier.
After picking one of the choices presented by the King of Arcadia, it unexpectedly brought him to the blue door. He thought that by picking the second choice – a town from the long distant past – it would bring him to the purple door. Because he concluded, very naively, that the choices would follow the order in which the doors were presented. Since the purple door was the second one to the left, he thought that the second choice would lead him there.
The reason why he wanted to go the purple door was because it seemed like the rabbit liked that particular color. After all, his costume was filled with the color purple. He actually thought that Luo Yan would have the same reasoning, so he would also end up picking the second choice. That way, they could be in the same door and they could help each do the same task.
But now that he thought about it, his reasoning seemed to be a bit too childish. There"s no way the rabbit would base his choice on his favorite color. How could he match his sudden abnormal brainwave? If anyone knew about it, they"d definitely laugh at him. So, coming here, he didn"t have much hope that he would meet the rabbit. But who would have thought that they would really meet?
When he entered the blue door, the next moment he opened his eyes, he was already among people wearing the same black clothes as him. They were kneeling in front of a teenager in some kind of ancient clothing. After reading the rules, he immediately understood what was happening.
Behind each door was some kind of setting where the players needed to solve at least one mystery. They needed to act out a certain role while they"re at it. His was that of a dark guard responsible for protecting the crown prince. It was an easy role for him to play. He didn"t need to talk much, even half of his face was covered. Not to mention, he still could use the skills of the role he took over.
Shen Ji Yun decided that he would just solve one mystery and then get out. But who knew that following the crown prince to this banquet, from the place he was hiding, a figure cladded in red suddenly appeared in his sight.
At first glanced, the person wearing that beautiful red robe seemed to be a pet.i.te and slender girl. "Her" skin was as white as expensive porcelain. "Her" black hair was arranged in a complicated style that only added to "her" already overwhelming charm. "Her" lips were painted bright red by rouge, making it even more luscious. And those eyes, those pair of big peach blossom eyes. Those could only belong to one person.
Luo Yan. The silly rabbit.
He wouldn"t mistake those pair of peach blossom eyes for anyone else. Shen Ji Yun didn"t know what surprised him more. Seeing Luo Yan in the same door. Or seeing him wearing those kind of clothes.
A teenage boy wearing a robe obviously for women, there should be some kind of violation. But for some reason, there wasn"t. It just fit Luo Yan so perfectly that no one would even think that he"s actually a boy. It was because of that face. It was so beautiful that even if he wore a rag, he would still be as captivating.
Until he danced.
And Shen Ji Yun"s brain just stopped working. He felt like he just had been struck by lightning. He couldn"t move. It felt like he even stopped breathing. All he could do was watched. Watched Luo Yan"s every movement. His swift jumps, the fluttering of the sleeves of his robe, his flexible slim waist. Everything just attracted Shen Ji Yun.
Then he realized that he wasn"t the only one watching this scene. Even if he knew that most of these people were NPCs, he still felt uncomfortable. He didn"t want them to look at Luo Yan. He even had a feeling of wanting to gouge their eyes just to not let them see Luo Yan. And when he realized that one or two of these people might be a player, those dark emotions grew even more. He couldn"t wait to rush forward and just take Luo Yan away from here.
After that, the smoke happened. Because he was so affected by seeing Luo Yan danced, he wasn"t able to move fast enough. When he did, a dagger was already pierced on Luo Yan"s arm.
Seeing the rabbit hurt, he felt those dark emotions slowly turned into something murderous. He knew that this was only VR, but Shen Ji Yun still was enraged. Only then did he understand how important Luo Yan became to him. Because if not, then he wouldn"t be this affected.
What he couldn"t understand was why. Why Luo Yan could evoke this many emotions in him. Even now, Shen Ji Yun couldn"t look at him without his face heating up.
"Brother Ji Yun?" called Luo Yan"s voice. "Are you okay?"
Shen Ji Yun"s complicated thoughts ended because of that call. He took a deep breath and calmed himself, reigning in all his emotions. When he raised his head, no one could tell what he was thinking.
"I"m fine."
"Did you see the new notification?" Luo Yan asked because Shen Ji Yun looked like he didn"t.
Shen Ji Yun finally glanced at the screen in front of him.
[Mystery: What truly happened to the manor"s second young miss?]
He nodded.
Luo Yan raised one of his brows. Why did it feel like Shen Ji Yun only read the notification because he asked? He was about to say something when he was attacked by a bout of dizziness.
Shen Ji Yun looked at the rabbit"s furrowed brows. He seemed to be in pain. "What is it? Does it hurt?"
Luo Yan grimaced a bit. "Well, I seem to be poisoned."
That"s the only explanation he got why his HP was still decreasing despite his wound no longer bleeding. That dagger was definitely laced with poison. Just how unlucky could he get? Was this door the end of his lucky streak?
Shen Ji Yun"s worry only intensified when he heard that. He kneeled beside the bed and then held Luo Yan"s hand. "I"ll get that G.o.dly doctor so he could heal you."
Luo Yan looked down at his hand being engulfed in Shen Ji Yun"s wide palm. If it was usual, he probably would have already taken back his hand. He didn"t really like being touchy-feely with others, aside from his family, that is. But for some reason, he didn"t really hate the touch of Shen Ji Yun"s hand on his. Maybe because he was currently feeling weak.
"Wouldn"t he be busy healing Prince Lin Rong?"
"Then I"ll simply ask for an antidote."
"You"re sure he"ll give you one?"
"If not, then I"ll just steal one from him."
Luo Yan chuckled. "That"s a great plan."
Shen Ji Yun stared at that smile. It made the rabbit looked even more enchanting. He gazed away before those weird and unknown emotion started to swirl inside him again. "Try not to lose consciousness while I"m away. You might get accidentally kicked out if you do."
"I"ll try. And oh, Brother Ji Yun, could you find out what happened to that second young miss while you"re at it?"
Shen Ji Yun nodded and left the room.