Chapter 6: It Imperiously Wedged Itself, Bit by Bit, Into His Finger Gaps

Tao Xiu tried to pull his hand back from the unknown darkness, but couldn’t.

The incredibly cold, unknown creature rubbed and coiled around the back and palm of his hand, climbing towards his fingers, then forcing his five fingers open.

It imperiously wedged itself, bit by bit, into his finger gaps, tightly wrapping around his index finger.

The next second, the band-aid on his fingertip seemed to vanish instantly, and his hand almost instinctively trembled violently.

Then, Tao Xiu suddenly widened his eyes:

The cold creature seemed to be following its instincts, carefully licking the wound on his fingertip bit by bit, rubbing his fingerprints, as if devouring the fresh bead of blood from his fingertip.

After the blood bead was “eaten,” the creature seemed poised to drill completely into his body through that tiny wound to extract more…

A tingling, cool, itchy sensation spread from the wound throughout Tao Xiu’s body.

His body went limp, and he almost collapsed to the floor.

What was even more bizarre was that he didn’t feel afraid.

When he reacted, Tao Xiu slightly frowned. He bit his lip to steady himself and forcefully pulled his hand away.

The creature, whether from fear or understanding the young man’s unwillingness, slowly retreated.

He smoothly pulled his hand back, then decisively and forcefully closed the door.

Only then did he examine his hand: under the living room light, the band-aid on his index finger was indeed gone.

Strangely, the wound had also disappeared.

His index finger, which had a small wound, was now as smooth as before.

However, everywhere the creature had climbed, starting from his wrist, was without exception covered in thick or narrow dark red marks, exuding a rich, cold scent—as if some creature had possessively and deliberately left its mark.

The marks were incredibly prominent and definitely not attractive.

Tao Xiu twitched his lips, returned to the sofa, and called his doctor friend: “It’s like this, Qiao Zhi’an, could I trouble you to come over today? I don’t know what—”

At this point, he suddenly didn’t know how to describe it: should he say he was bitten, or gnawed on? But that thing didn’t bite or gnaw at him; it even “healed” his wound.

On the other hand, Qiao Zhi’an, hearing Tao Xiu’s words, immediately grew anxious: “Hello? Tao Xiu? Speak up. What’s wrong? I’m coming right over!”

Tao Xiu snapped back to attention and quickly said, “It’s fine, it’s fine. The specific situation isn’t easy to explain quickly.”

“Basically, I was licked by some unknown creature. I had a cut on my hand at the time, and I don’t know if it carries bacteria or viruses. I can’t conveniently go to the hospital for a check-up today, can you come over and help me draw some blood and send it for testing?”

Qiao Zhi’an, who had just gotten off work, almost swore: his wound had direct contact with an unknown creature’s saliva, and he still wasn’t rushing to the hospital?

What reason could possibly be more important than his life for not being able to leave the house?

But he also knew that Tao Xiu’s situation was very special.

Tao Xiu was different from everyone else.

So he sighed, resigned, and said, “Wait there, I’ll be right over. Don’t touch the wound.”

Completely unaware of his friend’s fluctuating emotions, Tao Xiu said, “Okay. Thank you.”

The call ended.

Tao Xiu looked thoughtfully at his marked right hand. His skin was very fair, making the marks even more striking.

The cold scent clinging to them still hadn’t dissipated.

Such terrifying marks really should warrant an immediate trip to the hospital, but for some inexplicable reason, his subconscious felt there was nothing wrong at all.

He even strangely felt that the unknown creature had no malice towards him.

It was just his intellect overriding his subconscious; he thought it best to get checked at the hospital just to be safe.

Unable to fully comprehend it, Tao Xiu simply stopped trying. He casually turned on the TV and waited for his friend to arrive.

…

Meanwhile, behind the utility room door, the unconscious dark blue tentacles surged wildly, quickly filling the entire room.

Three large dogs were squeezed into a corner, trembling.

In the Samoyed’s line of sight, its master’s index finger, which had recently fallen back into slumber on the bed, subtly twitched.

…

Tao Xiu was completely unaware of this, still watching TV.

Qiao Zhi’an arrived quickly, bringing both a medical kit and a toolbox.

The young master sat on the sofa, and upon seeing Tao Xiu’s right hand, he was stunned.

He simply grabbed the young man’s other wrist, intending to get up and leave, emphasizing again: “You should go to the hospital with me right now.”

“No, really.” Tao Xiu forcefully pulled him back down.

As if remembering something, he lowered his gaze and said, “Just listen to me first.”

Qiao Zhi’an paused, looking at his friend’s expression.

He reluctantly released his grip, pushed up the silver-rimmed glasses on his nose, and sighed, saying, “Speak.”

Tao Xiu then recounted the entire incident with the door.

After finishing, he mused for a moment, then added, “Now, my body feels completely fine. And, after contact with that creature, my wound healed. Qiao Zhi’an, within humanity’s current understanding of the world, does such a creature exist?”

Qiao Zhi’an thought for a moment and then confidently stated, “No.”

If it had, this world would have been thrown into chaos long ago, and capitalists in positions like his old man’s would have gone mad.

He paused, then, as if realizing something, his pupils constricted: “Are you saying—”

Tao Xiu nodded, quietly looking at the door: “What if, and I mean if, there are other existences like me in this world?”

Existences with abilities that the rules of this world cannot explain.

What if there were others besides him?

The question was, did the room’s owner secretly keep such an existence, or was the room’s owner such an existence?

Qiao Zhi’an looked at Tao Xiu’s beautiful face, tinged with a hint of happy expectation, and a sudden, inexplicable sense of panicked sadness welled up in his eyes.

He just had a strange feeling that one day, Tao Xiu would go very far away from him, to a place his understanding couldn’t even grasp.

Then Tao Xiu looked at him, his moss-green eyes beautiful and focused: “What do you think?”

His glasses flashed briefly, and Qiao Zhi’an’s sadness instantly vanished.

At least, for now, Tao Xiu was still here.

After a moment of silence, he raised an eyebrow and asked, “What do you want to do?”

Tao Xiu’s moss-green eyes curved, as if hiding tiny specks of starlight: “After finally possibly finding an existence with a similar situation to mine, I absolutely have to meet them.”

Qiao Zhi’an massaged his temples, a headache brewing.

He was about to try to use reason and logic to persuade him of how dangerous this was.

Still, Tao Xiu had already extended his other, unmarked arm, smiling faintly, and said, “Anyway, that’s the situation—the blood draw is all up to you.”

The smile momentarily dazed Qiao Zhi’an.

When he recovered, he twitched his lips in defeat and quietly opened the medical kit to begin drawing blood from the young man.

Tao Xiu was truly very much like a human.

His blood was no different from human blood.

Even his organs were the same.

So, of course, to see a doctor, one went to the hospital.

Tao Xiu used to tell him very proudly that he had worked extremely hard to mimic humans since childhood—imitating their bodies, behaviors, growth patterns, and life changes, enduring many hardships to become so similar, to form so many bonds and connections with everyone.

However, Qiao Zhi’an believed that Tao Xiu’s true nature was not born merely from so-called imitation.

To this day, he insists on treating Tao Xiu as his peer, a truly human being. He knew Tao Xiu would be happy about that.

Despite being distracted by various thoughts, Qiao Zhi’an performed the blood draw perfectly, causing Tao Xiu no pain at all.

It was quickly done, and to be safe, Qiao Zhi’an immediately returned to his department for testing.

Before saying goodbye, Tao Xiu remembered his Saturday appointment with his friend and said, “I still can’t go out tomorrow, so I can’t go to the bar. Why don’t you come to my place for a get-together? I’ll cook for you.”

Qiao Zhi’an looked refined and gentle, but now, looking at Tao Xiu, a roguish smile appeared on his handsome face. He said, “That sounds great.”

With that, he casually opened the door and left.

…

The next morning, Tao Xiu didn’t wait for Qiao Zhi’an; instead, the police arrived first.

The officer who had received him that day came to his door with the bag of gold and said, “Our investigation found that you are the legal owner of this bag of gold. Considering it might be risky for you to pick it up, we’ve delivered it.”

Tao Xiu’s eyes widened: “What?”

The police officer continued, “Congratulations, you’ve won a big prize.”

He pointed to the logo on the dog food bag in his hand: “This is a customer appreciation event from this company. To surprise customers, everything below the top layer is pure gold.”

“And there’s only one winner worldwide. You bought the winning one, young man, you have great luck!”

Tao Xiu was dumbfounded: This bag of gold must be worth almost a million. How could any company possibly hold such an event? He had opened the bag and looked inside that day; it was clearly dog food!

The police officer added, “As for your succulents, we checked the community surveillance. The wind was too strong that day, and your window screen was broken, which blew those succulents down. Luckily, a lawn was below, so no serious damage occurred.”

Tao Xiu was even more shocked: His balcony window screen had been perfectly fine! How could the wind possibly blow the succulents down…?

The police officer kindly patted his shoulder, dutifully educating him: “Young man, with so much gold, you need to protect your life and property, okay? Also, falling objects from height and damaged window screens are very dangerous. You need to pay attention in the future, understand?”

Tao Xiu’s mind was blank.

He dazedly accepted the bag of gold, said he would pay attention in the future, and thanked them profusely.

He felt as if the world wasn’t real until the police left.

Suddenly remembering something, he quickly ran to his bedroom balcony, then his pupils constricted: the window screen, which had been perfectly fine when he woke up, was now tattered and broken.

He quickly went forward and closed the window completely.

He returned to the living room, completely perplexed, then suddenly looked at the door, as if something occurred to him—could it be…

…

Meanwhile, behind the door, the sounds from outside were heard clearly.

The tall man stood by the door, his handsome face bearing its usual cold arrogance, but a faint thread of anticipation surfaced in his scarlet eyes.

He extended a pair of pale, powerful hands, about to grasp the doorknob.

The Samoyed happily pranced at his feet, delighted to be able to approach the young man.

Then, as if remembering something, it let out an “Awooo!” toward the man, seemingly expressing a question.

The man’s lips curled into an arrogant smile, tinged with a hint of triumph.

His voice was deep and pleasant: “Just some simple tricks of causality.”

His creations naturally came with their own cause and effect and logic.

Even if he didn’t understand many of the words in the conversation outside, he knew that he had perfectly bestowed that gold upon the little fellow.

He would surely be amazed and captivated by it.

His mood grew even more joyful.

He was about to open the door.

But then, the doorbell rang outside, and he heard the young man hurrying towards the main door in a panic.

The man’s brows furrowed in dissatisfaction, and his hand paused on the doorknob.

An annoying stranger had come to the home outside this door. And he smelled the scent of infatuation on that person…

Who was that annoying stranger infatuated with?

The darkness in the room suddenly paused…

…

Tao Xiu opened the main door, and Qiao Zhi’an appeared there, holding two expensive bottles of wine.

Qiao Zhi’an raised an eyebrow at him and smiled: “What’s wrong? You invited me, and you’re making that face when you see me?”

Tao Xiu pinched his brow and welcomed him in: “It’s not because of you.”

He skillfully took the wine from his friend’s hand, twitched his lips, and lamented, “You wouldn’t believe it, I’ve run into more strange things.”

…

In the blind spot of their vision, darkness seeped out from the crack in the door…