Chapter 617: Miscalculation
Earth Tiger slowly stood up and stretched. He glanced at the darkening sky, then at the teleportation portal flickering in the distance, and let out a slow yawn.
He was about to leave directly when something suddenly occurred to him. Turning around, he walked into the building behind him and headed straight down the stairs.
Qi Xia was already asleep, his head resting on the table.
The candle on the table was nearly burned out, seemingly having granted him a good night's rest.
Earth Tiger looked at Qi Xia and shook his head slightly. Then he took off his oversized suit jacket and spread it on the floor nearby. Walking over, he called out softly, "Brother Yang?"
Qi Xia was sleeping deeply, appearing utterly exhausted.
"Brother Yang?"
Earth Tiger called out again, gently, but found that Qi Xia still showed no response. His brow remained furrowed, as if bearing immense pressure.
Earth Tiger decided not to disturb him further. He simply lifted Qi Xia's arm, draped it over his own shoulder, and picked him up. Carrying him to the spot where he had laid out the suit jacket, Earth Tiger gently laid him down flat.
"Sigh... Brother Yang..." Earth Tiger stood up and let out a sigh, muttering quietly, "Why do you have to push yourself so hard? When it's time to rest, just rest properly."
He knew that no one else would likely disturb him tonight. Whatever burdens Qi Xia carried, Earth Tiger only hoped he could rest well here in his domain.
Earth Tiger watched as Qi Xia's furrowed brow gradually relaxed. Reassured, he turned and headed back up the stairs.
He didn't notice that, in the dim candlelight, Qi Xia's sleeping expression was slowly growing uneasy.
Nor did he notice that a black thread had somehow been tied around Qi Xia's wrist, with the other end fastened to the base of the burning candle.
...
Qi Xia opened his eyes and found himself lying on the floor of his home. The floor was hard, digging painfully into his back.
He reached up and rubbed his head, feeling that his thoughts were in complete disarray.
The ceiling at home was completely cracked, with cobwebs hanging in the corners. He slowly sat up, trying to figure out what had happened.
"This is...?" He squinted, quickly trying to think, but felt as if his brain was completely blocked, every train of thought severed.
Qi Xia slowly stood up and scanned the room. His gaze stopped at the desk in this bedless room.
On the desk sat a photo frame.
He picked it up. It was a picture of himself and Yu Nian'an.
"An...?"
Qi Xia reached out and touched the figure in the frame, feeling that something was off.
"I'm home?"
When this thought surfaced, Qi Xia's expression instantly relaxed considerably.
No matter how many troubles a person had, as long as they could return home, all worries could dissolve into smoke.
"An...?"
Qi Xia pushed open the door and walked into the living room. The house was empty—not a soul in sight.
Yu Nian'an wasn't home. Where could she be?
Qi Xia searched the kitchen and the bathroom, but the rooms were indeed completely empty, with no sign of anyone. All he saw were dilapidated furniture, a dusty single-person sofa, and a floor that was completely cracked.
He turned his head to look out the window. The sky outside was blood-red, with a yellowish sun.
Qi Xia furrowed his brow and thought for a moment, then quickly relaxed again. If Yu Nian'an wasn't home, she was probably downstairs buying groceries.
As soon as this thought appeared, he felt a dizzy spell wash over him, as if his mind had fallen into utter chaos. He could only see the present, unable to recall previous events or guess what the future held.
He walked to the door of the house, about to open it and go find Yu Nian'an, when suddenly a strange wave of fear surged over him.
He felt that opening this door would lead him to encounter something extremely terrifying. After hesitating for a few seconds, he dumbly withdrew his hand.
What was outside the door?
Qi Xia's heartbeat involuntarily quickened. He slowly turned around and found Yu Nian'an standing right behind him, staring directly at him.
She was dressed in white, spotless, her long hair flowing behind her. At first glance, she appeared flawless.
"An...?" Qi Xia was startled, but quickly forced a smile. "You're home?"
"I am." Yu Nian'an nodded with a smile.
"But... I didn't see you?" Qi Xia's mind spun with another wave of dizziness.
"Because I've always been right behind you, so you couldn't see me," Yu Nian'an said with a smile.
"Behind me...?" Qi Xia nodded blankly. "Okay... that's... that's fine..."
"Xia, are you hungry?" Yu Nian'an asked. "Should I make you something to eat?"
Hearing this, Qi Xia's expression softened slightly, but he still felt a hint of confusion.
For some reason, within his limited memories, he felt that Yu Nian'an was always making him something to eat.
"An, I'm not hungry. Can we just talk?" Qi Xia asked, as if possessed.
"Talk...?"
After the words were spoken, Yu Nian'an also paused, then replied flatly, "No, no, Xia. I need to make you something to eat."
Qi Xia slowly furrowed his brow, feeling his mind becoming clearer. "Why...? I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat."
"No, you can't," Yu Nian'an said, her smile gone, her face expressionless. "Xia, I'm going to cook now. Guess what delicious food I'll make for you?"
"What the hell..."
Qi Xia's expression turned icy in an instant. He gradually realized how utterly strange all of this was.
Why, every time he met Yu Nian'an, was she always making him food?
Why was the room so dilapidated?
Why was dust everywhere?
Why was only Yu Nian'an spotless?
The thoughts he had lost seemed to be slowly gathering back.
"This isn't my home, and you're not Yu Nian'an..." Qi Xia's eyes suddenly regained their light. "Where is this?"
"Xia, what are you saying?"
"Who are you really?" Qi Xia asked coldly. "Why are you pretending to be Yu Nian'an?"
Yu Nian'an's face began to blur before Qi Xia's eyes. Her features became less and less distinct, until they disappeared entirely.
Now standing before Qi Xia was a person with no face at all.
Yet she was still speaking.
That smooth, blank face was still emitting sounds.
"Xia, do you know?" she said. "There are many paths in this world, and each person has their own road."
"Monster..." Qi Xia cursed through gritted teeth. "Are you still trying to deceive me with such a clumsy trick? Do you think that by sealing my thoughts, you can make me stop thinking?!"
Knock, knock, knock.
A faint knocking sound suddenly came from behind Qi Xia, making every hair on his body stand on end.
Before him stood a faceless Yu Nian'an. Behind him was the old wooden door—a door that, in his memory, had never been knocked on before.
Knock, knock, knock.