43 Work hard Zao Xing

Ye Delun woke up to the feeling of a hand running through his hair. He opened his eyes to see the familiar masked man. "Did you have a good sleep?" He asked. Ye Delun didn't answer, instead, he continued to stare at the man. Although Ye Delun couldn't see half of his facial features, there was no way that he wouldn't be able to tell that he was good-looking. A sharp even shaped chin. A strong, lean stature, and an eye-catching smile.

The man chuckled deeply. Ye Delun thought that not only was his face handsome, but his laugh was as well.

"As much as I would like you to continue looking at my face, there are things that we have to do today." He said with another broad smile on his face. He seemed especially happy at the moment.

Ye Delun came to and realized he was staring at Zao Xing's masked face. "Ah...sorry. I was distracted for a moment."

He laughed again, this time much more boisterous and warm. Ye Delun almost blanked out again.

"It's alright. I'm more than happy to be Master's eye-candy."

His statement caused Ye Delun to pause and made his ears warm.

'Why does that sound so weird?'

He felt something in his stomach tighten and the familiar sense of embarrassment rise his throat. He shook it off and brought his attention back to Zao Xing. "Why are you here?" He sat up and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

"I'm here to wish Master good luck." He pulled his hand away and placed them back at his side. Ye Delun let his eyes follow them. "Because of what happened this morning, things are going to get a little harder from here on."

He tossed the blankets off of him and stepped out of bed. His eyes watched the mirror to the side, he was once again in a taller, muscular, and overall more handsome form.

'Zao Xing probably wouldn't be too proud to have the real me as a master.'

Having an impressive person to serve compared to the wimpy small person he really was, was probably better.

"Seems like you have a lot of work."

Zao Xing stood up as well and grabbed the plate of freshly baked cookies sitting at the table to present to him. Ye Delun grabbed a couple to eat. "Don't worry. I can do all the work for you, you just have to play along."

"Why do I have to play along out there? Isn't that dangerous?"

"Because being out there is the safest. Yin Meng had already called out any possibility of anyone in the crowd being a murder. And there isn't anyone out there that can hurt you, it's just a place for you to stay so you won't get bored. Think of it like that."

Ye Delun thought back to all the times his suspicion bar had risen because of Yin Meng. "You say that, but he doesn't seem any less suspicious of me. He's always glaring..." Yin Meng has a very intimidating glare, it was only fair for Ye Delun to be intimidated as well.

"Well he isn't that far off, after all, I am Master's weapon. I'm the one who's doing the killings, but Master is just here because he can't leave otherwise." Zao Xing handed Ye Delun his handkerchief to wipe crumbs off of his face and passed him a cup of tea. "You don't need to worry, as long as I'm the Host, I won't let anyone hurt you." He reassured.

Ye Delun wiped off paused and looked back at the man. The room temperature tea felt warm going down his throat. "...Thank you."

Zao Xing paused for a moment, and silently watched Ye Delun, almost in surprise. But then he smiled warmly. "It's nothing, I'm just doing what's expected of me."

[The character 'Zao Xing' is feeling melancholic and reminded of the past!]

Ye Delun looked down at the message with squinted eyes before looking back up towards the smiling man. That smile on his face began to look more solemn every second.

Ye Delun didn't know much about Zao Xing. He only knew of the character traits the game gave him, and that he both liked and served him. In the story that he's in, the plot would be focused on Yang Lan, the female protagonist. But because of the error, he's seeing it through someone else's eyes.

In the original story, Ye Delun doubted that him being in a room with Zao Xing and the fact that Zao Xing liked him was known.

At first, he thought that he was put into the body of a normal capture target. But then he was the murderer, and then the master of the house, and then an innocent victim who's trapped in the house. He doesn't know what's going on, or what exactly he's supposed to do.

Ye Delun didn't really have the care to try and figure things out anymore...

His best bet to make it out of this story was to do what he does best; quietly play along.

"Alright then, I'll be leaving."

"Goodbye, have a good day."

'...It sounds like you're sending me to school...'

Ye Delun closed the door behind him and took a deep sigh. Being left in a room alone with that guy makes him feel very paranoid. Zao Xing himself was intimidating, but having a conversation with him makes him anxious.

Was he supposed to act lovingly to him? Does the original character know that Zao Xing likes him? Are they in a relationship? Is he doing things wrong?

He took a long breath and pressed his cool hands to his cheeks. Before looking back down at the message that appeared in front of him.

[The character 'Zao Xing' is trying his best to make you feel comfortable, but is too excited to stay calm!]

But what was he supposed to do when this is what Zao Xing is really thinking? What does that mean?

He came here to experience some terrifying situations, but instead, he's being chased after.

Why didn't his mother teach anything about how to deal with situations like this?

-

Zao Xing quietly watched the door close behind Ye Delun. He silently watched after him.

In that empty bedroom, silent laughter resonated. Zao Xing's quivering, gloved hand lifted to cover his mouth.

"Ahhh...."

Slowly, he moved his hands around the mask and slowly peeled it off.

"Calm down Zao Xing, Haha."

He covered his face with his hand and breathed deeply. In and out. In and out. He tried his best, and yet in his excitement, he couldn't get his breathing to even out. Through his fingers, the light from the lamps reflected through his watering eyes. They glinted brightly like pearls in water. Shining clear and translucent.

"We can get there, almost there."

Even though he continued to reassure himself, he seemed to break. "Ye Delun you..." He muttered so quietly he could barely hear it.

In front of him, a familiar-looking message appeared. A message from the system, who he, in particular, hadn't heard from in years.

[Ye Delun

Traits: Baby, Fearless, Taciturn

"My mom makes the best cookies, do you want one? Only the best for you."

A boy as ignorant as a deer fresh from the womb. Ye Delun was raised as mama's boy and is ignorant about all things that aren't thriller related. Although his 'fearless' behavior may seem charming, it becomes repetitive and has turned into nothing but straight dumb recklessness. But you seem to be entranced with his childish demeanor and naive self. Will the two of you be able to make it out of this trial together?]

[You've found a hidden capture target! Congratulations Zao Xing!]

[+5]

[The character 'Ye Delun' is feeling conflicted about your actions!]

[Work hard, Zao Xing!]