Chapter 11

The second room was much more spacious than the first. But dangling from the ceiling above their heads were numerous Barbie dolls wrapped in gauze that seemed to have been stained with red paint.

Toys originally full of childlike charm now appeared somewhat sinister under the eerie lighting and bizarre decoration.

Especially since—

The heads of these dolls had all been twisted into a bowed position, their large, empty eyes staring down at them without blinking.

Of course, if they were blinking, it would be a story for an entirely different channel.

A few of the dolls hung quite low. Jiang Mian could see them just by looking up. Someone like Chen Gu, however, had to duck his head to avoid walking straight into them.

This room had considerably more interactive objects. As Jiang Mian was flipping through a book, he noticed Chen Gu’s motion of ducking his head, and his mind wandered for a couple of seconds.

Come to think of it… Chen Gu and Chen Yishen were clearly twins, yet Chen Gu was taller than Chen Yishen by more than half a head.

The difficulty of this room was higher than the one outside. There were several boxes that needed combinations or keys, along with many possible clues for those combinations. So Jiang Mian took a moment to look around first.

As for the couple who truly couldn’t contribute much, they were already sitting in chairs playing a tabletop whack-a-mole game that Jiang Mian had pulled out of a drawer.

The cheerful yet low-quality music rang out in this somewhat eerie room. It didn’t dispel the creepiness at all—if anything, it added to the strangeness.

Jiang Mian wasn’t scared of these things. Neither was Chen Gu, whose artistic style was famously eerie. Zhou Yuhui, completely absorbed in the game, wasn’t scared either. But Chen Yishen rubbed his arms. He wanted to suggest they stop playing, yet seeing Zhou Yuhui’s delighted expression, he could only shrink back and shut his mouth, attempting to join Jiang Mian and Chen Gu to distract himself from the fear.

However, Jiang Mian and Chen Gu were each doing their own thing, with no interaction at all.

Speaking up now would just make him look incredibly dumb.

Chen Yishen felt like he was going to self-destruct.

Indeed, Jiang Mian and Chen Gu had zero communication, yet their brainwaves were mysteriously on the same frequency.

For instance, Jiang Mian thought these boxes and the lock on that display cabinet were interconnected. Chen Gu thought so too.

The two of them even simultaneously locked onto the same small box they considered the first one to open. It had a four-digit combination lock.

But the room initially offered nothing that could be linked to numbers.

They both tried counting the dolls—no use.

Chen Gu examined the box again. His gaze fell on the depiction of Satan on top. He tried “666,” and it unlocked.

The crisp sound of the box opening drew Jiang Mian’s attention.

Jiang Mian looked at Chen Gu just as Chen Gu’s gaze turned toward him.

In the dim light, Jiang Mian pressed his lips together slightly. His question hadn’t even left his mouth before Chen Gu explained it to him. “It’s got Satan drawn on it. In Western religious belief, ‘666’ represents the Devil, Satan, and the soul. It’s considered an unlucky number.”

Jiang Mian, who wasn’t well-versed in these cultural details, gave a soft “Oh.”

This escape room was indeed a bit too simple for the two of them.

Inside the opened box was a key. The key unlocked a fixed chest. Inside the chest was an embedded tablet displaying a question that required a password. The question read: “How many hands, how many feet, how many heads?”

Neither of them even needed to go look. One recited the numbers for the Barbie dolls; the other, for the broken sculptures outside. They solved it directly. Then the tablet started playing music. Likely some mechanism had been triggered, because the dolls hanging from the ceiling began bobbing up and down while the lights switched to the three primary colors—red, blue, and yellow. Chen Yishen screamed and latched tightly onto Zhou Yuhui.

Zhou Yuhui rolled her eyes even as she comforted him with a laugh.

The two being force-fed this public display of affection just happened to be standing together because of the puzzle. One had a calm expression; the other was idly fiddling with the leaves of a fake flower, looking utterly indifferent. It was as if they were in a completely different world.

But when the music and the rising-and-falling stopped, both of them simultaneously reached for the same doll.

Jiang Mian reacted a little slower. Chen Gu was faster than him, and also taller. He grabbed the doll first.

Jiang Mian, who had stood on tiptoe and stretched out his hand, was a step behind. His fingertips brushed against the heel of Chen Gu’s palm.

Chen Gu froze.

The solid sensation swept across his palm, then slipped down along his wrist.

It was heavy, yet also light. Like a feather carrying a trace of warmth, causing his entire body to tense up instantly.

The strength in Chen Gu’s hand unconsciously increased. The doll was yanked downward, and the key hidden above it fell to the floor with a crisp clatter.

Completely unaware, Jiang Mian bent down to pick it up, using the faint light to search for the small key.

Chen Gu slowly released his hand. His other hand moved to cover his own palm and wrist, meticulously tracing the spot Jiang Mian had just touched.

The light in the room had long since returned to its original state the moment the music stopped.

But the orange-yellow illumination was too weak. Here, everyone’s facial lines were blurred, as if overlain with an aged filter.

Chen Gu’s eyelashes drooped slightly, making the expression in his eyes even harder to decipher.

Jiang Mian picked up the key and stood. Seeing him still standing there motionless, he felt a bit puzzled but didn’t think too much of it. He simply took the key to open the cabinet.

However, this key wasn’t for the last cabinet.

Having recovered from his fright, Chen Yishen said, “Huh? Is there something else we haven’t found?”

Jiang Mian didn’t reply. He merely rapped his knuckles on the cabinet door. The muffled sound confirmed his speculations.

He got up and walked directly to the last door, unlocking it with the key.

As soon as the door opened, they were standing near the counter outside.

Seeing them come out, both the boss and boss lady, who hadn’t had a spare moment to check the surveillance, were stunned. “It hasn’t even been half an hour yet! You guys are that good?”

Chen Yishen finally puffed up with pride again. He let out a smug laugh and patted his chest. “My brother and my best buddy here are experts at this stuff! They’re super—awesome!”

Zhou Yuhui was unimpressed. “You didn’t contribute a thing the whole time besides screaming. What are you so proud of?”

Chen Gu, who hadn’t spoken since Jiang Mian’s touch, lifted his eyelids and glanced at Chen Yishen’s idiotically proud face. He lowered his gaze and said nothing.

The boss lady was fairly familiar with Jiang Mian—they’d met a few times, and Jiang Mian had helped her out once or twice. So she set aside her account book and came over to Jiang Mian, wanting to discuss with him what still needed improvement.

Jiang Mian patiently answered all her questions and even offered a few small suggestions.

By the time their enthusiastic discussion reached a stopping point, Jiang Mian finally noticed that Chen Gu had left at some unknown time.

Chen Yishen had gone to the boss to order specialty dishes for lunch. Zhou Yuhui hesitated, looking at Jiang Mian.

Jiang Mian read her expression. He stood up and put down his pen. “Auntie, I’ll come back later to help you write more.”

The boss lady replied, “Alright, no worries. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Jiang Mian followed Zhou Yuhui outside to the veranda. Zhou Yuhui thought for a moment. “Jiang Mian, don’t you think…”

“Yes.” Jiang Mian knew what she was going to say, so he nodded before she could finish organizing her words. “I noticed.”

Zhou Yuhui sighed. “What do we do now? To be honest, that big idiot Chen Yishen really likes this older brother of his. Ever since Chen Gu came back, he talks every day about how amazing his brother is.”

Even before Chen Gu returned, Chen Yishen had always bragged to everyone about having an older brother.

Zhou Yuhui continued, “I’ve heard Chen Yishen mention bits and pieces. I don’t know if you know. If you don’t, don’t say I told you.”

She lowered her voice. “Chen Yishen said that birth father of theirs is a bit of a bastard. I think Chen Gu must have suffered living with him, but…”

But that had nothing to do with Chen Yishen.

“I know.”

Jiang Mian’s tone was calm. “Even if you hadn’t come to me, I was planning to find a time to talk to him.”

Zhou Yuhui froze. “Who? Chen Yishen?”

Then she felt Jiang Mian wouldn’t do that. “You’re not planning to talk to Chen Gu, are you?!”

Jiang Mian didn’t deny it.

“No, Jiang Mian, that’s making yourself the villain here. What if you offend Chen Gu and he holds a grudge against you?” Zhou Yuhui grew anxious. “I feel like Chen Gu… he’s very different from Chen Yishen.”

Jiang Mian knew that, of course. “It’s fine. You and Chen Yishen just stay good together.”

He gave a faint, shallow smile. “Don’t overthink it. Don’t forget who my dad is.”

Zhou Yuhui opened her mouth. Jiang Mian patiently added another reassurance. “It’ll be fine.”

He had been meaning to talk to Chen Gu anyway.

It was just a shame there was no chance to do so during lunch. Then in the afternoon, Chen Yishen insisted on playing Ludo with them. The four of them played an upgraded version of Ludo for the entire afternoon. After that, the four of them had dinner together.

Jiang Mian waited and waited. Finally, night arrived. Under his hint, Zhou Yuhui managed with difficulty to drag Chen Yishen away.

He turned to look at Chen Gu, who had stood up and was leaning against the window railing, stretching his neck. Before he could even open his mouth, Chen Gu lazily spoke. “You have something to say to me.”

Jiang Mian paused briefly. “Mm.”

He didn’t deny it. After some deliberation, he said bluntly, “Chen Yishen really likes you as his older brother.”

Chen Gu seemed to pause for a moment. At any rate, he dropped his hands from his neck and rested his elbows on the railing, looking down at Jiang Mian, who was still seated at the table.

Jiang Mian wasn’t looking at him, only staring at the tea leaves floating in his bowl. “From the time I’ve known him, he’s always told me he has a twin brother. He’s also told everyone he knows. Even my dad has heard him bring it up.”

He said slowly, “You shouldn’t be like this.”

You shouldn’t let your past pain drive you to do things you’ll regret in the future.

Since you never had it before, then cherish it now.

Chen Gu didn’t answer right away.

The air conditioner inside the room had been running for a long time. Outside the window, the cicadas seemed as if they would never stop, each cry louder than the last.

Just as Jiang Mian thought Chen Gu wasn’t going to respond, Chen Gu spoke flatly. “I know.”

Jiang Mian paused. He turned his head and looked up at him.

Chen Gu had already straightened up from the railing and was walking past him to open the door and leave.

Jiang Mian instinctively stood up and followed.

Chen Gu’s hand rested on the handle. He looked at Jiang Mian, meeting his gaze. “What is it? Is there anything else you want to say to me?”

His tone was really the same as always, but Jiang Mian inexplicably felt a tightness in his chest. So Jiang Mian moved his lips and slowly asked, “Why did you have to do this?”

Hearing this, Chen Gu gave a soft, cold laugh.

It was an extremely complicated smile—as if mocking himself, as if finding release, and carrying a hint of… sadness that was impossible to understand.

Chen Gu said, “Who knows.”

He looked utterly indifferent. “I was bored, I guess.”

Before Jiang Mian could speak, Chen Gu waved at him. “Jiang Mian.”

His low, slightly hoarse voice seemed to merge with the cicadas’ cries outside the window. “Goodbye.”