As soon as the elevator doors closed, Jiang Luo let out a breath.
But when he thought about how Chi You appeared in his illusion, his feelings became… complicated.
…What could he say?
Why was it Chi You?
Judging by Wenren Lian, Kuang Zheng, and Ye Xun’s experiences, this illusion clearly reflected the viewer’s psychological reactions.
Jiang Luo was beginning to doubt himself.
Could it be… he really held his deepest fear and desire toward Chi You?
Saying yes made his scalp tingle. But saying no—then why had he seen Chi You, wounded and on the verge of death?
Or… was he just a pervert, someone who liked seeing beautiful men like Chi You in such a dying, broken state?
…No way.
Jiang Luo couldn’t describe what he was feeling. Before he could sort it out, the elevator reached the eighteenth floor.
A new line of text appeared on the elevator door:
[Guest, please change into the outfit you selected from the first-floor mall.]
The black-haired beauty in the elevator raised an eyebrow and asked, “Now?”
The text slowly faded. The elevator had stopped, but the doors hadn’t opened—clearly waiting for Jiang Luo to change.
Jiang Luo took out the clothes from the shopping bag. Looking at the outfit—which was clearly expensive but had been sold to him for just 1,000 yuan—his earlier suspicion solidified.
Chi You’s so-called “mad pursuit”… could it mean he was sitting at the top floor, waiting for Jiang Luo to dress up and deliver himself like a gift?
The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed. Jiang Luo frowned, feeling distinctly annoyed.
He tossed the new clothes back into the bag, then decisively stripped off his top. His slender waist and pale back appeared in the view of the surveillance camera.
Jiang Luo sensed something. He turned his head slightly to look up, raising an eyebrow at the camera. Then, suddenly, he flung his shirt over it—blocking the prying eyes behind it.
“Crazy.”
He cursed under his breath, voice tinged with bafflement and irritation, and once again recalled the fact that he had actually seen Chi You in his hallucination.
With a dark expression, Jiang Luo quickly changed into the black suit he had purchased in the mall on the first floor.
Shirt, trousers, jacket — the suit was stylish and form-fitting, accentuating a slim waist and long legs. Jiang Luo stuffed his old clothes into the shopping bag, straightened his outfit in front of the elevator doors.
He tilted his neck back lazily to fix his hair and collar, then fastened the cufflinks on his sleeves. The cufflinks were rubies, gleaming brilliantly with his every wrist movement.
Once he finished adjusting everything, Jiang Luo admired himself briefly. The elevator doors finally opened, and a faint breeze lifted his hair.
Jiang Luo stepped out of the elevator. Before him was an open-air garden made entirely of glass on the eighteenth floor.
Unknowingly, night had fallen, pushing away the sunlight. The dim stars hung overhead, as if veiled by a layer of dust.
Straight ahead, a beautifully set dining table lit by candlelight and adorned with gourmet dishes sat at the center of the garden.
A man had already been seated at the table. He rested his arms on the tabletop, pale fingers interlaced beneath his chin. The candlelight flickered over his handsome features, dancing like a fish tail from his high nose bridge to the corners of his lips.
“We meet again,” Chi You wore matching ruby cufflinks, glinting with a striking red. He looked Jiang Luo up and down, a smile tugging at his lips as he drawled, “Jiang Luo.”
Outside the glass dome, the wind howled. The candle flames on the table wavered, yet didn’t go out. The man and this candlelit dinner looked like a count from a gothic tale, enough to captivate most people.
But beneath the perfect and charming façade lay something grotesque and terrifying.
Jiang Luo’s expression shifted slightly upon seeing Chi You again.
It felt like he’d just fantasized about this person — only to see the real deal right after — leaving Jiang Luo unable to fully unleash his irritation.
He took a subtle deep breath, narrowed his eyes slightly, lifted a corner of his lips, and elegantly walked over to the table. “Teacher Chi’s methods of courtship are truly eye-opening.”
The black-haired youth pulled out a chair. Upon seeing a richly fragrant bouquet of roses placed on the seat, he raised an eyebrow and gave an exaggerated “Wow,” glancing sideways at Chi You with a half-smile, bending down to pick up the bouquet.
His figure, wrapped in the black suit, bent into an elegant and beautiful arc. His long legs were straight, and the suit pants fit perfectly. His waist only dipped for a moment before he fluidly stood up straight, lowering his head to sniff the roses lightly.
Jiang Luo exuded charm in every movement — intentionally — as though competing with the malicious ghost to see whose presence was more commanding, more intoxicating. Though they bantered on the surface, sparks clashed beneath, subtle and intense.
As Jiang Luo hoped, the malicious ghost’s gaze locked firmly onto him.
The corners of the black-haired youth’s crimson lips deepened into a smile, half-hidden behind the fiery red roses. His black hair fell by his ears — black hair, pale skin, red roses — the vivid contrast in color made his already striking face seem as captivating and fragrant as a rose.
Just this sight alone was enough to make hearts race uncontrollably. But the next moment, the beautiful youth lifted his head from the bouquet with a frown, and tossed the roses onto the corner of the table like he was discarding garbage.
“The smell is too strong,” he said, sitting down with picky dissatisfaction as he glared at the well-dressed malicious ghost opposite him. “I don’t like it.”
Chi You glanced at the roses casually and looked up again, his interest undiminished. He studied Jiang Luo with a smirk. “You’re angry.”
Expressionless, Jiang Luo clapped. “Congratulations, Teacher Chi. Do you want a prize?”
His tone dripped with sarcasm, but the malicious ghost pretended not to notice. His fake gentlemanly demeanor barely masked the sly smile tugging at his lips. “What kind of prize?”
Jiang Luo gave him a speechless look, unable to believe how thick-skinned he was.
The malicious ghost waited expectantly.
Jiang Luo gave a cold, soundless chuckle. He slowly picked up his knife and fork and began slicing the steak. Under the table, his foot brushed against the malicious ghost’s calf.
A flash of surprise crossed Chi You’s eyes but he didn’t resist the human’s bold advance.
That foot crept upward slowly, from the calf to the knee, the pressure teasing through the fabric of his trousers. His tailored suit pants pulled slightly upward. The sensation was peculiar — even though Jiang Luo seemed nonchalant, his composed face focused on cutting and savoring his steak while secretly seducing beneath the table. The contrast was intoxicating — a kind of thrill Chi You couldn’t resist.
He glanced down. Jiang Luo’s leg had already slipped between his, inching toward his thigh.
The rose scent mingled with flirtation, enough to intoxicate the senses.
In such a moment, with his “lover” acting so boldly, how could the malicious ghost not react?
Even if he was a ghost — before he became one, he had been a man.
A man who had tasted Jiang Luo and wanted more.
Chi You smiled slightly, chin resting on his hands, outwardly the picture of decorum. No one looking from the outside would notice the sensual battle unfolding beneath the table.
As Jiang Luo’s foot reached a certain place and felt Chi You’s reaction, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. Then he abruptly tightened the muscles in his leg — and kicked forward hard.
He didn’t hold back at all — this kick would cripple any man if it landed. But just before impact, his ankle was caught by a slender, bony hand. The malicious ghost looked up at him, fingers gently caressing Jiang Luo’s ankle, chuckling lowly, “Why so passionate all of a sudden?”
Jiang Luo yanked his leg back forcefully, then hurled his knife and fork at the malicious ghost.
They sliced through the air like blades. Chi You tilted his head; the knife grazed a few strands of his hair and embedded deeply into the ground behind him.
“——Buzz.”
The upper half of the knife, embedded in the ground, trembled violently.
Jiang Luo got straight to the point. “This is the world after you’ve taken control of the metaphysics world, isn’t it?”
The malicious ghost didn’t deny it. He stood and walked toward the edge of the floor-to-ceiling window, and Jiang Luo rose to follow behind him.
Standing before the window, they looked out. The entire city had sunk into eerie calm.
Darkness swallowed everything like a beast, wrapping around the city like a vast net. Every household had shut their doors tight. Curtains and cracks were sealed, not letting even a sliver of light escape. In the wind, Jiang Luo couldn’t hear the crying of children or the chatter of roadside stalls.
No, it wasn’t that quiet either.
Because just as that thought crossed his mind, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from a nearby residential area.
“This is my world.”
The malicious ghost looked down with satisfaction. “The metaphysics world I despise will be under my rule. Anyone who stands in my way will die, one by one. ghosts rampage freely through human society—look at them. Aren’t they getting along splendidly?”
He continued, “I’ve said it before. A life that never changes is far too boring.”
“I’ll change that boredom.” He turned to Jiang Luo. “Don’t you think a change like this is something worth celebrating?”
Jiang Luo looked down with him.
On the streets, terrifying ghosts were greedily lurking by windows of unlucky victims—delivery ghosts, sales clerk ghosts, toilet ghosts… Danger lurked everywhere, and survival required a constant fight against threats.
Ghosts against ghosts, ghosts against humans, humans against humans. ghosts might wear human skins. Humans might wear ghost skins. Death, rebellion, and blood.
This was a world that allowed people to constantly brush the edge of life and death and feel the thrill.
Jiang Luo couldn’t deny it—this world of Chi You’s truly surprised him, excited him in a way nothing else could.
It made his soul tremble in fear—and desire.
“I actually really like this kind of change,” he said.
The malicious ghost said, “I knew you would.”
Chi You moved behind Jiang Luo, almost wrapping the entire man in his shadow. Malice seeped out, enclosing the black-haired youth. The malicious ghost grasped Jiang Luo’s hand, guiding him to appreciate this twisted and eerie world.
A deep, seductive voice murmured at his ear: “Unleash your evil thoughts. Become like me. Turn reality into this—how about it?”
Fall into h*ll—with me.
