After The Flower Of The High Mountain Meets The Rough Man Ⅱ Chapter 10
by Volare## Chapter 10: The Haunted House: “Holding Hands, Hugging, Kissing?”…
Unlike those deeply in love, Ji Shen’s first feeling about the date three days away was not anticipation, but rather a sense of unknown confusion.
He lay on his bed, staring blankly at the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
What were they supposed to do that day?
If he wasn’t going to mess things up, shouldn’t he at least be told the itinerary in advance?
The night was thick.
The weather in S City was gradually turning cold, and the wind carried a biting chill.
Scattered stars dotted the night sky, but the moon was hidden beneath thick clouds.
Shen Jixun sat by the bay window, his head resting against the transparent glass. Beside him lay an open photo album and a nearly empty wine glass.
“Knock, knock—”
A light knock sounded on the room door.
“What is it?” Shen Jixun frowned, looking at the closed door.
Ji Shen quietly withdrew the hand he was about to use to open the door. He asked, “May I come in?”
Shen Jixun paused for a moment, closed the album, and then said, “Come in.”
Only then did Ji Shen open the door and poke half his head inside. “Ge, I have something I want to ask you.”
“What?” At this hour, Shen Jixun had assumed Ji Shen was already asleep.
Ji Shen took small steps toward Shen Jixun. “Ge, are you in a bad mood?”
Shen Jixun bent his legs slightly, lifted his chin, and said, “Sit.”
Ji Shen sat on the other side of the bay window. Shen Jixun picked up an empty wine glass and poured him a little wine.
Ji Shen quickly waved his hand. “I don’t drink, Ge.”
“Oh,” Shen Jixun replied, placing the glass aside. Then he asked, “What did you want to ask?”
Ji Shen let out an “awo” sound and quickly said, “Do we have an itinerary for our date on Wednesday?”
“Why?”
Ji Shen’s expression and tone were exceptionally serious. “I want to understand it beforehand and do my homework.”
Shen Jixun chuckled. He hugged his bent legs, resting the side of his face on his knee. His dark hair cascaded down like a waterfall. The alcohol had washed away the usual cold severity between his brows, and Ji Shen actually saw a hint of softness on his face.
“Will you mess it up?” Shen Jixun asked.
Ji Shen quickly and firmly shook his head. “I won’t.”
“Eating, shopping, holding hands, hugging, kissing?” Shen Jixun observed Ji Shen’s expression. By the time the last two words were spoken, Ji Shen’s face was completely flushed.
“Are those… our itinerary?” Ji Shen’s voice trembled slightly, his eyes bright yet confused. “But aren’t those things only real couples do?”
Shen Jixun laughed again, slowly nodding as if agreeing with him. “You’re right.”
“Eating, shopping, playing golf, horseback riding, an auction?” Shen Jixun then slowly listed.
Ji Shen heard him speak deliberately, word by word, and guessed that the arrangements were likely made on the fly. “Ge, you haven’t decided yet either?”
Shen Jixun let out a cold “Tch,” clearly displeased with Ji Shen’s merciless exposure of him.
Fortunately, Ji Shen seemed to know how to please his employer. He quickly said, “But how can we trouble the esteemed Employer with such a small matter?! How about I make the arrangements instead?”
“You?” Clearly, Shen Jixun didn’t believe Ji Shen could come up with any good plans.
Ji Shen smiled, showing a pair of canine teeth. “Ge, trust me just this once, okay?”
Shen Jixun stared at his face for a moment, then looked away, his tone flat. “Suit yourself.”
After saying that, he picked up his wine glass and took a sip.
“Ge, are you in a bad mood?” Always showing such a melancholic expression in the dead of night, completely unlike the usual Shen Jixun, Ji Shen wanted their relationship to become closer, so he showed concern.
But Shen Jixun didn’t seem to appreciate it. He asked, “Are you done talking, or are you not going back to sleep?”
Ji Shen cupped his face. “I was brought home by Ge for eight million yuan, after all. I should at least make you feel you got your money’s worth!”
Shen Jixun stared into his eyes, paused for two seconds, and then suddenly raised his hand and crooked his index finger at him.
Ji Shen had always felt that Shen Jixun was like a dangerous but beautiful butterfly. He knew approaching was risky, but he was always drawn in. He slowly moved closer to Shen Jixun.
Once Ji Shen was close, Shen Jixun raised his hand and tapped him on the head, saying coldly, “Go back to sleep.”
Ji Shen covered his head, retreating several steps. “Ge, why did you hit me again?”
Shen Jixun merely gave a cold snort and didn’t reply.
“Alright, I won’t bother you. Ge, don’t drink too much, and go to bed early.” Seeing that Shen Jixun didn’t seem interested in a deep conversation, Ji Shen wisely said goodnight and left.
*
The weather on Monday was excellent.
In the afternoon, Ji Shen went to a nearby library, planning to buy some new postgraduate entrance exam materials to take home.
“Is that Ji Shen?” After paying and leaving the library, Ji Shen was suddenly called out by a very soft male voice.
Ji Shen paused, turning around in confusion to look at the person behind him.
It was a man slightly shorter than Shen Jixun, with delicate features, wearing the bookstore’s uniform.
Seeing a faint red mole above the man’s eyebrow, Ji Shen immediately recalled his identity.
“Lu Xuran *Xuezhang*?” Ji Shen remembered this was a senior he had met in college when they volunteered together at the library.
Afterward, they kept in touch quite frequently, but their contact gradually faded after graduation.
“I didn’t think you’d still remember me,” Lu Xuran said with a gentle smile. “It’s been two years since graduation, this is the first time we’ve met, right?”
Ji Shen nodded. “Yes, I was quite busy with work afterward and didn’t have time to chat with everyone.”
Lu Xuran: “You look less busy now, though?”
Ji Shen scratched his head. “Yes, I don’t have work recently, so I’m quite free. But what about you? I haven’t seen you here before when I came. Did you just start working here?”
Lu Xuran: “Yes, I just started yesterday.”
“I remember you always working multiple jobs in college. Now that you have some free time, you should rest well.”
Ji Shen: “Yes, lately I’ve just been cooking at home and cleaning… I’m definitely not as busy.”
“Since it’s such a coincidence, let me treat you to a cup of coffee, the one from our bookstore,” Lu Xuran suggested.
Lu Xuran was a friend Ji Shen had a decent relationship with in college. He was about to agree, but he instinctively glanced at his watch and showed an apologetic expression. “Sorry, *Xuezhang*, I have to go back and cook.”
“How about I treat you to dinner outside instead?” Lu Xuran seemed reluctant for Ji Shen to leave just yet.
Ji Shen refused, saying, “Next time, *Xuezhang*. I’ll be coming to the bookstore often in the future.”
He waved at Lu Xuran and then quickly walked to the elevator.
This was a minor interlude for Ji Shen, and since it was just a casual friend from college, he didn’t mention the incident to Shen Jixun.
Two days passed quickly.
On Wednesday morning, Ji Shen woke up early to prepare breakfast for two and changed into his newly bought casual clothes: a black windbreaker and loose denim pants, making him look like a recent college graduate.
Shen Jixun drove, and Ji Shen sat beside him as they headed toward the first destination on Ji Shen’s itinerary.
In truth, when Shen Jixun saw the destination displayed as S City Haunted House Thrill Adventure, he already regretted handing the itinerary planning over to Ji Shen.
“Ge, I checked online, lots of couples go here! If we clear the challenge within the time limit, the venue gives couples double tickets to the amusement park,” Ji Shen quickly explained his reasoning when he saw Shen Jixun’s look of disgust at the upcoming destination.
Shen Jixun looked at him in disbelief. “We’re going to an amusement park too?”
“Yes, yes!” Ji Shen completely missed the resistance on Shen Jixun’s face. “Amusement parks are a must-do for couple dates! We can ride the roller coaster and the Ferris wheel…”
Shen Jixun was close to crushing the steering wheel in his hands.
“Ji Shen, are we children? Going to an amusement park for a date?”
Ji Shen: “Can’t adults go to an amusement park? That’s too tyrannical of age.”
Yet, Ji Shen’s innocent and confused expression left Shen Jixun unable to find anything to criticize.
He closed his eyes in exasperation, thinking that he only had himself to blame for trusting Ji Shen, actually believing he could come up with a decent date plan.
His original intention was to put on a show for his father, but Ji Shen seemed genuinely focused on having fun.
Once the car was parked, Ji Shen quickly got out, walked around to the other side, and opened the door for Shen Jixun. “Ge, let’s go!”
“I already found people online to team up with. There will be six of us in total,” Ji Shen extended his hand to Shen Jixun.
Shen Jixun wordlessly placed his hand on Ji Shen’s.
The entrance to the haunted house had a very sanity-draining style of decoration. The doorway looked like a giant abyss mouth, shrouded in dry ice. Standing in front of it, they could clearly hear the artificial sounds of excitement coming from inside.
Shen Jixun had absolutely no desire to step inside.
But Ji Shen seemed very excited.
He had mentioned in the car that this was his first time. Seeing the excited and surprised look on Ji Shen’s face, Shen Jixun finally compromised and walked in with him.
After registering at the front desk, the four teammates Ji Shen had found online arrived. The other four were two heterosexual couples.
It seemed everyone except Shen Jixun was full of curiosity about the unknown adventure ahead.
Ji Shen tugged on Shen Jixun’s sleeve and whispered, “Ge, I’ll protect you!”
Shen Jixun rolled his eyes, thinking, *Just make sure you protect yourself.*
After receiving the first mission card, the six people pushed open the door and walked into the haunted house.
It was indeed S City’s most famous adventure haunted house. The moment they stepped inside, a cold chill shot up from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads.
Shen Jixun maintained a cold expression, staring at the mission card in his hand—
[Find the Ghost Bride’s shoe and receive the next mission from her.]
Ji Shen finished reading his mission, then looked down at his own card. [Find the missing fragment of the bride’s photo and receive the next mission.]
“Are everyone’s missions different?” Ji Shen leaned over to look at the missions of the other four.
All six missions were different. They needed to complete their individual tasks within the time limit and then return to the starting point to regroup.
Ji Shen and Shen Jixun were assigned to the same area for their tasks.
“Great, Ge, I can help you find the shoe first,” Ji Shen proactively took Shen Jixun’s hand and pushed open a blood-stained wooden door.
Shen Jixun had no interest in this date activity, but he didn’t want to spoil Ji Shen’s fun. “I’ll find it myself.”
“Huh? Can you, Ge?” Ji Shen thought Shen Jixun wouldn’t willingly participate in the mission.
Shen Jixun ignored him, stepping forward with an expressionless face.
The sound effects inside were very realistic, sounding as if something was genuinely whispering in their ears.
Ji Shen quickly followed.
“Waaah—” An NPC with disheveled hair and a blood-covered face suddenly popped out from behind a tightly locked iron gate, shaking it violently.
Shen Jixun glanced at him and continued walking.
Ji Shen acted as if he hadn’t seen the NPC, chasing after Shen Jixun. “Ge, wait for me.”
NPC: ?