18 Lullaby

It was as if the heavy, pitch-black curtain at the exit of a haunted house had been suddenly flung open. Ning Zhixia seemed a little dazed, “Were you behind me?”

The streetlight cast a pale halo, stretching the shadows of the three of them. Audro turned his body to glance behind, answering slowly, “Yeah.”

The pink-and-white box in his hand was a pastry bag from the nearby cake shop, bulging as if it might burst at any moment.

In Yucheng, every well-known dessert bag seemed to have already become one of his fashion accessories, and Ning Zhixia had long grown used to it.

Moonlight and the spring breeze swayed together among the tree shadows. Spring was the season of budding growth, yet the plants under the flower trellis drooped listlessly, only a few tips of leaves unfurling beneath the window, shimmering faintly in the shifting light.

Having recovered from her fright, Ning Zhixia thought it was a fortunate coincidence to meet at this hour, and upon regaining her composure, invited Audro home.

To her surprise, he agreed with unusual alacrity.

“Meow-ow—meow-ow—”

The fat orange tabby let out a plaintive, melodious cry from behind the railing. Qu Banqing squatted down and opened the pet carrier.

The big orange cat, fresh from surgery, squeezed out and gave its plump body a shake, squinting as it sniffed at the curious little brothers who approached.

It’s said that tomcats become clingy after being neutered. Qu Banqing reached out a finger to tentatively tap its head. The fat orange abruptly turned, bristling its whiskers and hissing in annoyance.

Qu Banqing grumbled indignantly, “No more canned food for you!”

The fat orange, however, butted that finger with its head, rubbing twice. Then, as a pair of long legs passed by, it twitched its tail and trailed after, purring ingratiatingly in a high-pitched, fawning tone.

Audro promptly claimed the comfortable lounge chair, head inclined as he tapped at his tablet, his peripheral vision following the figure rummaging everywhere for snacks.

Back in familiar territory, Ning Zhixia regained her vigor, a tuft of hair on her head sticking up from her earlier mad sprint, swaying like a little seedling with every movement.

The household snacks had been almost entirely scavenged by the little fox. Qu Banqing glanced at Ning Zhixia, then toward the lounge chair, and simply said, “I’ll go make something to eat.”

“Hmm? No need to go to all that trouble.” Ning Zhixia paused, seeing his socially anxious expression, and tugged on Qu Banqing’s arm, “Let’s just eat snacks together. I can introduce you two.”

“No, no, he’s too cool for me,” Qu Banqing muttered, eyeing the silver-haired man in the room, retreating straight into the kitchen, clutching the doorframe and mumbling, “I’ll go fry up some chicken nuggets. Won’t be long.”

“…?”

Baffled, Ning Zhixia could only gather up a few boxes of filled cookies, stack them on the small coffee table, and roll it over beside the lounge chair.

“Milk flavor, want some?” Ning Zhixia pulled out a slender cookie stick and waved it in front of Audro.

Those pale eyes left the screen. Audro turned his head and leaned in toward the young man, his aura cool and fresh, like mint leaves chilled in ice, drifting close.

Just as Ning Zhixia was lost in thought, Audro parted his lips slightly and bit down on the cookie stick, snatching it away from his fingers.

The sweet flavor was always uplifting. Audro had barely chewed before another cookie stick was proffered to his lips, queued up.

Ning Zhixia seemed to find this endlessly amusing, his voice a little excited, “I think I just saw your fangs.”

Audro cocked his head, raising an eyebrow slightly.

“But I have them too!” Ning Zhixia opened wide, revealing a neat row of teeth, each side adorned with a not especially sharp little canine. He pointed, mumbling, “See? Ah—”

Back when he spent summers at his grandpa’s place, the old men playing cards would say these “ghost teeth” were unlucky. His grandfather would get so mad he’d march over and berate those gossiping busybodies.

Audro leaned over, opened his mouth as well, and revealed two rows of teeth nearly indistinguishable from human—except for four sharp, shark-like fangs flashing coldly. His beautiful pale eyes narrowed with a hint of smugness—

Victory.

Ning Zhixia’s pupils contracted sharply—

Defeat.

Audro seemed to relish the young man’s response, closing his mouth in satisfaction and resuming his crisp, crunchy chewing of the cookie sticks.

Ning Zhixia massaged his aching jaw, pouring some icy cola over his “baby teeth” in a gesture of self-mockery.

These past few days, he hadn’t slept well. He drooped his head and stifled a yawn.

A finger reached over, tapping lightly beneath his eyes.

Caught off guard by the chill, Ning Zhixia looked up into those pale blue, emotionless eyes and wondered, “What are you doing?”

Audro formed a circle with his fingers, framing Ning Zhixia’s eyes, his usually cool voice laced with clear amusement, “Panda.”

“Hmph.”

Ning Zhixia brushed his hand away, popped a cookie stick into his own mouth, and muttered gloomily, “I’ve just been sleeping late. I’ll be fine in a few days.”

Audro propped his chin, gazing at him for a while, then flicked the stray tuft of hair atop his head and nudged the tablet closer.

Ning Zhixia glanced down. The screen showed a cheerful yellow sponge happily flipping burgers.

He fell silent, resigned to the not-so-enthusiastic invitation to watch cartoons together.

Night fell, and soon rain began to pour again. Raindrops drummed on the eaves and splashed onto the ground, attracting a gathering of neutered tomcats to watch the rain.

Qu Banqing munched on a chicken nugget, “See, see? A heavy rain to mourn your departed manhood.”

The cats: “…”

“Here—your umbrella from last time.”

When Audro made to leave, Ning Zhixia pulled the umbrella from a wide-mouthed vase and handed it to him.

As the door opened, moist air drifted inside with the wind. Audro opened the umbrella and stepped into the fine rain, glancing back once.

Ning Zhixia, holding the fat orange, waved its paw in farewell, “Bye-bye, be careful on your way.”

The fat orange licked its lips wistfully. “Meow~”

Audro, as if hearing something especially novel, raised the umbrella, nodded, and strode off with his pink-and-white box.

The black umbrella shimmered under the streetlight as he crossed the deserted street, his unhurried steps splashing through a puddle before gradually coming to a halt.

A few meters ahead, a humanoid shadow stood unmoving at the corner of the alley, grinning wide and crescent-shaped, as though acknowledging some unspoken law.

Audro walked past it without a glance, a taunting lilt in his cold voice. “You picked the wrong target, fools.”

*

“Goodnight…”

Ning Zhixia clutched his pillow, crowding Qu Banqing’s doorway, whining pitifully, “Buddy, can’t I really sleep with you?”

“No way. I grind my teeth and snore. What if you kick me off the bed?” Qu Banqing was especially stubborn tonight, insisting Ning Zhixia sleep on his own like an adult, and mercilessly shoved him back to his own room.

Ning Zhixia curled into bed, cocooning himself tight, every edge of the blanket tucked in so snugly not even his toes poked out, as if he’d woven the world’s most indestructible magic barrier.

From the hall, Qu Banqing called, “You set?”

Ning Zhixia pouted, nodding, “Yeah.”

“Goodnight, brat.”

With a snap, Qu Banqing switched off the light and closed the door.

The last sliver of light was swallowed by the pitch-black corridor. Ning Zhixia pressed his head to the door, his soft hair falling into his eyes, obscuring any expression.

After a while, Qu Banqing turned away, muttering under his breath, “A good night’s sleep and you’ll see—there’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Mmm…”

Ning Zhixia, his nose and mouth buried under the covers, exhaled quietly. Most of the time, horror films didn’t faze him, but when alone, all sorts of odd thoughts would swirl through his mind.

To prevent his imagination from running wild, he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to summon sleep. If he was to dream of something inhuman, he would at least prefer something cute, like a little fox.

As he drifted, a faint, gentle melody seemed to swirl in his mind, soothing the taut strings of his nerves. Fatigue rolled over him like waves, and his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

At some point, the glass door to the balcony slid open. The night breeze wafted in, heavy with rain, and silver-grey hair swayed softly just inside.

The one who had left returned, long legs folded as he sat on the window seat overflowing with stuffed animals. His lips parted and closed, and an ethereal tune—gentle as the softest brushstroke—painted sweet dreams into the darkness.

The figure in bed lay with eyes shut, arms thrown above his head in surrender. Perhaps it was too warm; the cocoon unraveled, the thin blanket kicked askew, leaving just enough to cover his gently rising belly.

The mattress dipped at the edge. Audro braced himself with a hand beside him, and in the shifting light of passing car headlights, studied the faint shadows beneath his sleeping eyes.

Creatures of fairy tales are not gentle or harmless. Their power spares them the need to seduce, coming instead as harbingers of terror and despair—pirates of slaughter, lost sailors, princes and nobles in search of treasure… No soul ever finds rest in the melodies of the mist. Lungs aflame with icy water, the sea’s surface stained with the brightest, deepest reds, shattered bodies carried off to the ocean’s burial grounds.

It was a game to relieve boredom, the purest malice from the abyss.

An unfamiliar, soft tune—hardly enough to claim the soul of the one before him, but enough to keep the commotion outside at bay.

Audro’s fingers gently traced the sleeping youth’s brows and eyes, tender as a lover sharing a pillow, though there was no longing in his deepening gaze.

It was as if he were simply observing an amusing little fish, wagging its tail in fascination. His hand slid down, pressing close to the warm chest.

Beneath two ribs, that heart beat steadily under his palm, a spark of interest lighting his pale eyes.

After a long while, the sleeper shivered uncomfortably.

Audro, a little dissatisfied, withdrew his hand, poking the soft flesh of the cheek with cold fingers. The sleeping youth offered no reaction, so he pressed again, this time at the tender corner of his lips.

Warm breaths brushed his fingertips. Audro tilted his head, emboldened, pressing again and again, until the dreamer grumbled and suddenly bit down.

Ning Zhixia sucked as if on a popsicle, but found it tasteless. He frowned, pushing the intrusive object away with his tongue.

Soft, warm sensation swept over him. Audro gave a quiet “ah,” abruptly pulling his finger free.

Outside, the fighting noises died away, and flickering shadows retreated swiftly in the moonlight.

Audro paid it no mind, gaze fixed on the water sheen lingering on his finger. Suddenly, he brought it to his lips, and with a flash of crimson tongue, traced the shallow bite mark.

After a moment, the door opened a crack. A long, mechanical tail hooked the fallen blanket from the floor and drew it back over the bed.

Audro glanced up, meeting the gaze peering through the crack. He pressed a finger to his lips.

The door closed softly once more.