The dim light of the desk lamp cast long shadows across Lu Ningfei's study, where he sat hunched over a notebook.
He scribbled furiously, jotting down key details and timelines from the novel he had been transported into, trying to piece together a strategy to change the course of events.
"Day nine," he mumbled to himself, his pen scratching across the paper. "The acid rain should continue for one day more, but those red clouds… They're not supposed to be here. And what was that blood on the wall last night? None of this was in the original plot…"
"Oh and the possessed people today, they were not mentioned..."
He paused, tapping the pen against his lips as he considered his options.
"If the timeline's shifting, I'll need to adjust my plans. But how?"
His thoughts were abruptly cut off as the lights in the room flickered, plunging the flat into momentary darkness before the bulbs buzzed back to life. Lu Ningfei frowned, his hand tightening around the pen.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier, more oppressive, as if something unseen was closing in around him.
Then, without warning, the temperature dropped sharply, and a chill ran down his spine. The lights flickered again, and this time, they went out completely, leaving him in total darkness. He could hear the faint hum of the rain outside, but inside, there was an unnatural silence that set his nerves on edge.
Before he could react, a sudden gust of cold air swept through the room, and he felt something—or someone—brush against his back. The sensation was icy and unnatural, sending a jolt of adrenaline through him.
Instinctively, Lu Ningfei dropped to the floor, rolling away from the desk just as a shadowy figure lunged at him from behind.
The ghostly form passed through the space where he had been sitting, its movements swift and fluid, like a wisp of smoke in the wind. Lu Ningfei scrambled to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he faced the entity. It was a ghostly apparition, its features indistinct but vaguely humanoid, with a dark, shifting form that seemed to flicker in and out of existence.
"You've got to be kidding me," Lu Ningfei muttered under his breath, his heart racing as he sidestepped another attack from the ghostly figure. His waist collided with the edge of the table, the sharp pain grounding him in the moment. "A ghost? Now?"
The ghostly form lunged at him again, its movements growing more erratic as it attempted to strike him. Lu Ningfei dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack as the figure passed through the air where he had been standing.
"I don't have time for this!" he growled, ducking under a low swipe that sent a chill down his spine. He could feel the cold emanating from the ghostly figure, a bone-deep cold that seemed to sap the strength from his limbs.
He dogded a few more attacks of this ghostly body.
"Ah AHHAHAAHHHHHHH!!!"
Now it was practically frantical.
But despite the danger, he couldn't help but notice that the ghost was becoming less solid with each passing moment, its form flickering and growing more transparent.
Another attack came, and Lu Ningfei dodged again, this time with a little less grace as his foot caught on the edge of the rug, sending him stumbling. The ghostly figure swooped toward him, but it was slower this time, its movements sluggish and less coordinated.
"Getting weaker, huh?" Lu Ningfei panted, his breath coming in short gasps as he pushed himself back up. He quickly assessed the situation, realizing that the ghost's attacks were growing weaker the longer it remained in the physical world. "So I just need to stall…"
The ghost lunged again, its ethereal form barely missing him as Lu Ningfei dodged to the side. He gritted his teeth, feeling the strain in his muscles as he continued to evade the attacks. Each movement sent sharp pain through his body where he had already been struck.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, the ghost's form flickered one last time before it dissipated into the air, leaving behind nothing but a cold, empty silence.
Lu Ningfei slumped against the wall, his body trembling from the exertion. He was covered in sweat, his long hair tangled and disheveled from the struggle. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down as he wiped a hand across his forehead.
"Damn ghost," he muttered, reaching for the glass of water on his desk and taking a long drink. The cool liquid soothed his parched throat, but it did little to ease the frustration that simmered in his chest. "Of all the times for something like this to happen…"
He set the glass down and ran a hand through his hair, grimacing as he felt the knots and tangles.
"Great. Now I need to comb my hair again…"
But as he reached for the comb on his desk, a thought occurred to him, and he paused, his hand hovering in midair.
His gaze flicked toward the door to Si Qin's room, a frown creasing his brow. The entire time he had been fighting the ghost, Si Qin had been silent—unusually silent.
A feeling of unease settled over him as he rose from his chair and walked to Si Qin's door. He knocked lightly, calling out.
"Si Qin? Are you awake?"
There was no response. Lu Ningfei's frown deepened, and he knocked again, harder this time.
"Si Qin?"
Still nothing. His unease growing, Lu Ningfei reached into his pocket and pulled out a spare key. He unlocked the door and pushed it open, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him.
The room was in disarray, the bedclothes tangled and thrown to the floor, the curtains half-drawn and fluttering in the faint breeze from the window. But what caught his attention most was the figure lying by the bedside, half-hidden in the shadows.
"Si Qin!" Lu Ningfei exclaimed, rushing over to the younger man's side. Si Qin was lying on the floor, his head resting at an odd angle against the edge of the bed. There was a small cut on his forehead, the blood already beginning to dry, and his breathing was shallow and labored.
"Si Qin, wake up," Lu Ningfei said urgently, gently tapping his cheeks to rouse him. "Come on, Wake up."
Si Qin stirred at the touch, his eyes fluttering open. He looked up at Lu Ningfei, and for a moment, there was a flicker of relief in his gaze. But then the fear returned, and tears welled up in his eyes as he clung to Lu Ningfei's arm.
"Brother… I was attacked," Si Qin choked out between sobs, his voice trembling with fear. "I was sleeping, and then… something was there… I called for you, I shouted your name so many times, but you didn't come…"
Lu Ningfei's frown deepened as he listened to Si Qin's words. He hadn't heard a thing—no cries for help, no screams, nothing. It was as if Si Qin's voice had been silenced, blocked by some reason.
"I didn't hear you," Lu Ningfei said softly, his tone laced with concern. "But I'm here now. You're safe."
Si Qin nodded weakly, though the fear in his eyes didn't abate. "It was so scary… "
Lu Ningfei helped Si Qin to his feet and guided him back to the bed, laying him down gently.
"Rest," Lu Ningfei said, his voice calm and soothing. "I'll get some water for you. Just stay here."
But as he turned to leave, Si Qin's hand shot out, grabbing hold of his sleeve. "No… Don't leave me alone… I'll come with you."
Lu Ningfei hesitated, but seeing the desperation in Si Qin's eyes, he relented with a sigh. "All right. Come on."
He led Si Qin out of the bedroom and into the living room, where he gently guided him to the couch. "Sit here and try to relax. I'll get us some water."
Lu Ningfei watched him for a moment before heading to the kitchen.