Lucian saw his own reflection on the marble wall.
Now he looks like his teenage self, with black hair, green eyes, wearing student-like clothes, and always with a bit of arrogance and pampered looks. When Lucian saw himself trapped here, his first reaction was no longer fear - he just wondered how he was pulled in.
This place looked a bit like the liberal arts college they had attended for two years before entering the Sanctuary. The trees on both sides of the corridor were in full bloom, with beautiful purple and white flowers that were so beautiful that they made people's hearts flutter. Lucian walked along the corridor, and finally, he saw Wade at the other end of the corridor.
Lucian slowed down his pace.
That was what Wade looked like when he was a teenager. Black hair, red eyes, gloomy and elegant.
He heard Lucian's footsteps and turned to look at him. This glance made Lucian panic, and also reminded him of the various memories that happened in Wade's spiritual world. Lucian called him softly for some purpose that he himself did not know.
Young Wade continued to look at him and did not come over.
That quiet look made Lucian feel uneasy. He turned around and pretended to leave, but he saw from the corner of his eye that Wade didn't move either. Finally, he turned around and walked towards Wade.
As Lucian walked towards Wade, he felt like he was going crazy, but he did it. He approached the young Wade with more caution than he could imagine, and whispered in his ear, "What are you doing?"
Wade didn't say.
Lucian felt the feeling of exhaustion in his heart getting worse. He just stood there stupidly without saying anything. After a long while, he said, "Were you looking at me just now?"
Vader still said nothing.
It was not until Wade grabbed his hand that Lucian felt that his life was finally back on track. He had struggled desperately in the previous dreams, but this time he unexpectedly did not want to resist.
He let Vader grab his wrist, thinking he was going to press him against a wall, but then Vader's fingers passed through his and intertwined theirs.
"you… "
At that moment, the feeling that surged up from the tip of his heart was even more numbing and soft than being penetrated, making Lucian forget about other actions for a moment.
He led him, just holding his hand, and walked along the corridor with blooming trees on both sides.
Didn't stop.
…
When Lucian woke up from his dream the next day, he curled up on the bed in a daze.
He didn't expect that this time, the Wade in the spiritual world would just hold his hand... and walk with him in that flower-filled corridor for an entire night
“…” Lucian covered his face with his hands, “You must be joking.”
He came downstairs and heard about a missing person who had gone missing last night while eating breakfast at a cafe. The protagonist of this missing person was the woman who had a conflict with Alman before. Lucian blinked while holding his coffee, knowing that this must be the scapegoat found by "Esther".
It was almost time to continue the investigation. After finishing his coffee, Lucian wanted to go back to the apartment, but he saw the carriage of "Ester" downstairs.
At that moment, Lucian actually felt a little flustered, which was rare.
Wade stuck his head out of the car window to look at him. Lu Xi paused for a moment and said, "Good morning?"
Wade knocked on the car window and motioned for him to get in.
People on the roadside looked at the young man who got into the noble carriage. After Lucian got in, the carriage started moving. He thought that today should be the time when "Shirelle went to look for the missing woman", so he said: "Master Wade, where are you going to take me today?"
"Music shop."
Lucian: ?
The place that Wade took him to was indeed a famous musical instrument store in the city. Even a single string was too expensive for an ordinary person to afford. Lucian was a little shocked when he saw this luxuriously decorated place. He said to Wade, "Don't forget, we are now playing the roles of Shirelle and Esther..."
"We are lovers, and other than that, it's all trivial matters," Wade said. "You said you wanted a new harp. I thought of it when we were having dinner yesterday."
"When did I ever say..."
Lucian didn't remember saying it, but he did say it when he revealed that he had returned and was caught by Wade to play the piano for him.
But it was impossible for him to remember this matter. He said this a few months ago, just out of an unintentional joke.
That's all.
He sat next to Vader, watching Vader order the harps to be pushed up and introduced one by one. Lucian was yawning when he heard Vader ask him, "What do you think?"
“They’re all pretty much the same.”
"Yes, you used the best harp in the kingdom."
Lucian: ?
Wade wouldn't really want to buy him a piano, would he
Opposite the piano shop was the antique shop. After coming out of the piano shop, the two of them went into the antique shop. Lucian immediately saw the harp displayed in the crystal display cabinet, which seemed to be the treasure of the shop.
That violin was really beautiful. Lucian's eyes lit up after just one glance, so Wade asked him, "Do you want it?"
"What do you want?" Lucian sighed, "It's all an illusion. It's fake even if you buy it."
Vader then stopped talking.
They wandered around here for the whole afternoon and were about to go home. Lucian got on the carriage but found that Wade had not returned yet. He asked the driver in the carriage, and the driver said, "The Marquis just went out."
What is he going out for
Lucian had a strange premonition in his heart. Not long after, he saw Wade coming back. He took a box from the waiter - the box was obviously too big to fit the harp.
Finally, Wade got on the carriage. As the carriage started moving, Lucian asked him, "What did you buy just now?"
Vader handed him the box.
Lucian looked at him suspiciously and opened the box. The first layer of the box was a ruby brooch. On the brooch, the gem was carved into the shape of a rose. Lucian found that there was something else on the lower layer, so he flipped down and asked, "Is this the gift that Esther gave to Cyril in the original plot?"
"No," he heard Vader say.
Lucian finally opened the next level.
"I bought it for you."
The second layer of the box was a crystal ornament. The crystal was carved with a curled-up cat. It had a bow around its neck and stared at Lucian with round eyes, looking very proud.
“When I first saw it, I thought it was a good fit.”
Lucian: …
"It's pretty good." He pretended to be relaxed and said, "It will be more beautiful if I wear it... But since I've left the dream, all these things are gone, right?"
"I heard about that antique harp three years ago. It has been well preserved and is now in the hands of a collector. I will buy it after I leave."
"… "
Lucian was completely speechless. Finally, he smiled and said, "I thought you had no interest in these antiques..."
Wade really had no interest in this collection, ever.
So why did he inquire about the harp three years ago
Lucian suddenly remembered that this time three years ago should have been when he framed Wade and had him exiled... before.
If he had not been exiled, in another month it would be Lucian’s birthday.
Lucian was completely trembling. He was taken back to the Marquis's mansion by Wade, and he couldn't help shaking his fingers during dinner. He was supposed to stay at the Marquis's house that night, and before going to bed, Wade cast the magic to dispel illusions on him.
"I won't do anything to you." Vader said, brushing his hair away with his hands and gently kissing his forehead, "Goodnight."
Lucian lowered his head, his eyelashes trembling. After a long while, he said sweetly, "Master Wade, I want to go to the art museum tomorrow."
"good."
Lucian raised his chin and smiled at him. His smile was ambiguous and a little tempting. Finally, when he let go of Wade's sleeve and was about to enter the room, he suddenly put his lips to Wade's ear and said to him softly: "Master Wade, are you sure you don't want to do it?"
"... Sleep well." Vader stroked the top of his head with his hand.
"You don't sleep with me, but you treat me so well, just like a couple... Master Wade, I can easily misunderstand that you are pursuing me." Lucian whispered in his ear, "I think you should sleep with me, it can make our relationship simpler, right? Otherwise, it's easy for me to misunderstand..."
"You have fallen in love with me."
Vader neither denied nor confirmed it.
He just said, "Good night."
…
The next few days were as peaceful as the past few days. Weide took Lucian to visit art galleries, took him to the mountains, attended high society banquets, or played chess with him in the mansion. Playing chess with Lucian was a very complicated task, because Lucian would always regret his moves in various ways when he was at a disadvantage.
They became like Esther and Shirelle, like a real couple - although that was not the case. Lucian was a little reserved in the first few days, but soon became more unbridled - he was almost unscrupulously testing Wade's bottom line. He even took the initiative to sit on Wade, kiss him, rub his body against him, or try to ask for love in various ways.
Wade accepted all of them, but never promised him once.
He could feel Lucian getting anxious. In the process, Lucian also found the connection between Alman and the woman's death, and even the inextricable connection between Alman and the hidden demons. He reported them to his superior according to the plot, and the superior decided to send someone to assassinate Alman on his birthday, and he was responsible for holding back Esther, after all, Esther and Alman were friends.
This pressure was enough to make Xi Ruier feel suffocated. The superior also instructed him to retreat after Alman died. As for Esther, the superior would also give a satisfactory answer that would be enough to fool Esther.
Lucian is not Shirelle, but he also found a similar pressure in his relationship with Wade. Shirelle stayed at Esther's house the day before her birthday. Lucian did the same for role-playing purposes. Before going to bed, Wade, who was sitting in the study, heard a knock on the door.
He opened the door and saw Lucian wearing only a shirt, with long smooth legs. He half-knelt in front of Wade, put his chin on Wade's thigh, and looked up at him: "I want to do it - use your magic for half an hour, okay?"
Wade used his fingers to push aside his hair, and used magic to return them to their original appearance as he wished. He looked at Lucian, but still only kissed him on the forehead and said, "Go to sleep."
"I want to do it, I want to do it now." Lucian gently rubbed his chin against him, his voice full of dissatisfaction and laziness, "You always do this, which makes me suspect that you have lost your physiological function - hurry up, half an hour is a bit short, but it's enough. You can solve it by yourself afterwards. If you feel tired, I can do it myself, although I haven't tried it..."
"Stop it, Lucian." Wade's voice became increasingly hoarse. "Sleep well."
Lucian looked up at him. Her watery eyes finally showed a hint of cold anger.
Then he sat up and hugged Vader's shoulders.
"What the hell are you thinking, Vader?" he said. "I've always said that our relationship doesn't have to be so complicated. It's too much work. It's too much trouble. If you want to sleep with me, then just sleep with me. Why all the gimmicks, or are you addicted to being Esther? Our relationship is simple, there's no need to complicate it, you... you're confusing me. It's terrible, it's like a mess. Let's just be simple, okay? You cum once, you feel good, and I feel good too. It's as simple as doing it, okay?"
He was still actively kissing Vader's neck and Adam's apple, trying to turn the plot to the direction he was good at. Until Vader clamped his shoulders and stopped his movements coldly and gently.
“… I didn’t confuse you.” He whispered, “You are pretending to be confused, Lucian.”
"… "
He heard Lucian trying to control his breathing, and he knew that his own breathing was the same.
One is suppressing emotions, the other is suppressing desires. Ironically, what they want from each other is contrary to what they are suppressing now.
"Sleep well." Wade stroked his long hair again. "I have roughly guessed how to decipher this dream."
"… "
"Tomorrow is Shirelle's birthday. On this day, Esther took him to the street to buy a ring." Wade whispered, "You can choose to act, or not. I give you this freedom."
Lucian gives lies, he gives freedom, it's that simple.
Lucian's breathing was still a little rapid, and he had his eyes closed when Wade picked him up. He did not force him, but lifted him up by the waist and put him back on the bed.
Before going to sleep, he placed a kiss on his forehead.
"Good night, Lucien."
…
"You want to pursue him?" The ghost hovered around Wade until late at night when Wade lifted the spell of silence. His tone was now more cold and warning than before: "Are you sure you want to do this? Look, you are so nice to him, but he looks like he is scared by you and resists you with all his heart... Do you think he is pitiful? Don't be silly, he just doesn't know your plan now. When he reacts, he will know what a good opportunity this is to use you."
"… "
"I've told you long ago that your lover is not a good kid - this may be biased. But I can see that what you want is definitely not the same thing as what he wants from you." The ghost's voice suddenly became tired, "I can see that you have had a lot of entanglements before, and your ending may not be good, just like..."
"Like Xi Ruier and you?"
"… "
"Lucian said that you never loved Shirelle, and Shirelle never loved you." Weed said, "And you used Alman's death to fool Shirelle. You knew that he would leave after completing the mission, but you customized a ring for him. You really wanted to let him go and send the ring to him, right? Unfortunately..."
Unfortunately, due to his feelings, Shirelle did not leave, and during the delay, he discovered the real demons.
"… "
The ghost smiled tiredly and stopped talking. Wade looked at the ceiling and suddenly smiled.
"Who can guess what Lucian is thinking?" he said. "He is a little liar."