There was a haunted look on Wenzhi’s face.

A look that instantly put every nerve in Xinyuan’s body on alert.

He had come here intending to stay beside Wenzhi for a while. To help him out of this cramped motel.

To tell him he didn’t have to keep hiding like this anymore.

But this conversation wasn’t going the way Xinyuan expected.

Then again, Xinyuan knew he was slow when it came to emotions and social interaction.

It had never been hidden from him that Wenzhi wanted nothing to do with him.

But this felt... different.

Xinyuan didn’t know how to explain it.

It just did.

"You keep saying neither of us owes the other anything, Freckles," He shoved the access card back into his pocket before letting out a slow breath. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Instead of leaving like Wenzhi demanded, he simply walked back toward the bed and sat down.

That brought a frown to Wenzhi’s face. "I am going to hurt you, Shao Xinyuan."

"Hear me out, Lin Wenzhi." Xinyuan chuckled, a low, dry sound that lacked any real mirth. It was the sound of a man finally dropping a heavy mask.

"Do you remember Jia’ang City?" he tilted his head, holding Wenzhi’s gaze steadily. "You... the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen... you saved me. Relieved me. I decided you were mine right then and there, Lin Wenzhi,"

Wenzhi’s eyes widened suddenly. Like something finally clicked into place inside his head.

"What?" He burst into laughter.

"You...." He pressed a hand against his face, shoulders shaking. "You started imprinting on me the moment we met?!"

Xinyuan’s eyes brightened. A soft, almost dreamy smile appeared on his face.

And seeing that expression only made Wenzhi stare at him in utter disbelief before dropping his hand from his face. "You bastard."

Xinyuan smiled softly. "You know about that."

Wenzhi stormed toward the bed, yanking a gun from beneath the mattress and pointing it straight at Xinyuan.

Xinyuan raised both hands.

"So you’re telling me," Wenzhi said sharply, "that you’ve been imprinting on me since the moment we met?"

"I told you already," Xinyuan replied calmly. "I’m selfish."

His eyes tracked the movement of Wenzhi’s finger against the trigger.

But before Wenzhi could pull it, the gun was ripped from his grasp.

Wenzhi’s eyes widened as it floated upward toward the ceiling.

At the same moment, dark mist burst violently from Xinyuan’s body and wrapped around Wenzhi’s torso, trapping his arms against his sides.

Wenzhi let out a frustrated shout, struggling frantically.

Unfortunately, the more he moved, the tighter the mist constricted around him.

Xinyuan calmly rose to his feet and walked toward him with a small smile. "I think we should both calm down and talk this through."

He stopped directly in front of Wenzhi before leaning close enough for their breaths to mingle.

Wenzhi stopped struggling entirely, glaring at him furiously.

"The more you try to leave me," Xinyuan whispered, "the harder I’ll pull you back."

His red eye flickered darkly. "And the closer I’ll stay to you, Freckles."

Wenzhi breathed heavily.

He should have seen this coming. He really should have.

"You..." His voice tightened. "You almost killed Gu Luhan and those other guides after Jia’ang City—"

"It wasn’t my fault." Xinyuan answered so quickly it almost sounded defensive.

"I told you back then that they couldn’t give me what I wanted."

His gaze stayed locked on Wenzhi. "Besides, the doctors were the ones who kept bringing them to me. I didn’t kill them willingly."

Wenzhi stared at him in disbelief.

"I doubt they’ve figured out the imprint yet," Xinyuan continued thoughtfully. "But Doctor Bai might start suspecting soon."

His expression dimmed. "I’ve been avoiding the research facility and now, she wants to force me back to sleep or wipe my memory."

Wenzhi’s eyes narrowed.

"But we both know that won’t work." Xinyuan tilted his head. "Even if she wipes my memory, the imprint won’t disappear."

His voice lowered quietly. "I’ll still find you."

The dark mist around Wenzhi tightened faintly.

"Even if I don’t remember who you are."

A chill crawled down Wenzhi’s spine.

"And forcing me back to sleep..." Xinyuan continued softly, "that’s just her trying to separate us."

He smiled faintly. "I already told you what happens to people who try to do that."

His eyes sharpened. "Besides, she irritates me."

Wenzhi glared at him.

Xinyuan was insane. That much was obvious now.

But he hadn’t been this insane in the original novel.

Then again, this was no longer the original novel anymore.

"Let go of me."

Xinyuan studied him carefully. "Will you leave?"

"No," Wenzhi snapped. "Now let go of me."

The dark mist retreated back into Xinyuan’s body. And the moment it did, Wenzhi punched him hard across the face.

Xinyuan’s head snapped to the side from the impact. It probably hurt Wenzhi’s hand more than it hurt Xinyuan.

But strangely, Xinyuan felt satisfied by it.

Meanwhile, Wenzhi stormed toward the drawers, growling under his breath. "I am not your bitch."

"I... deserve that." Xinyuan slowly rubbed his cheek before turning to look at him, brows slightly raised.

Wenzhi rubbed his sore knuckles before opening the drawer and grabbing his cigarette pack. Only for it to suddenly float right out of his hand.

Wenzhi froze.

The cigarette pack drifted directly toward Xinyuan, who calmly caught it and shoved it into his pocket. "You need to stop smoking."

"It helps me think," Wenzhi snapped.

Xinyuan smiled faintly and walked toward him. "What exactly do you need to think about now?"

He stopped directly in front of Wenzhi again. "There’s no difference anymore now that you know what’s happening."

His gaze stayed steady. "Our compatibility is high. We’re a perfect match. Made for each other. We’re—"

"Don’t you dare say we’re married," Wenzhi cut in immediately.

Xinyuan laughed.

"I’m not trying to make you feel trapped. I’m simply telling you what it is."

Wenzhi scoffed loudly at that.

Suddenly, Xinyuan’s watch lit up.

A timer began counting down across the screen.

Xinyuan glanced at it briefly. "...Sixteen hours."

Then he looked back at Wenzhi. "Let’s go."

"What do you think is going on here?" Wenzhi stared at him like he had completely lost his mind. "I am not going anywhere with you, Shao Xinyuan."