Chapter 16: The Rain Will Not Last Forever, The Sun Will Come.

Sheng Ying picked out a sleep mask and came out to hurry the two of them.

“Jian Li, Sister, hurry up and choose one, we are starting soon!” Sheng Ying pulled Jian Li into the room, distributing the team positions. “I’ll go first, Jian Li, you follow behind me, and Shu Bei will go last.”

Jian Li casually grabbed a red sleep mask and looked back at Zhou Shu Bei, who was just a door away.

Although he had phrased it as a question, his tone was firm.

After adding a few more instructions, the sister handed the walkie-talkie to Jian Li, “Now put on the sleep mask. The person behind should put their hand on the shoulder of the person in front. Let’s go.”

With her vision blocked, other senses heightened. Jian Li could clearly feel the hand resting on her shoulder near her neck. If she lowered her chin, it would touch. The fragrance of sandalwood surrounded her from behind.

The walkie-talkie signaled that it was time to remove the sleep mask. The world was pitch dark except for the green candlelight in Sheng Ying’s hand.

Jian Li hadn’t played this game before and wasn’t sure where to begin. She followed Sheng Ying to check the information on the wall. As they were engrossed in reading, the wall’s whiteboard suddenly fell, and a terrifying, bloody ghost face appeared, accompanied by the sound of an electric baton.

“Ah!!!!”

Sheng Ying screamed near her ear. The candle fell to the ground, and she grabbed Jian Li’s arm, hiding behind her, her other hand reaching behind, “Shu Bei! Shu Bei!”

“I’m here,” Zhou Shu Bei’s voice was calm, showing no signs of being frightened.

The NPC in front continued to press the electric baton, producing menacing groans. The light from the baton was brighter than the candle. Jian Li saw a series of numbers etched on the wall.

Jian Li picked up the candle from the floor. There was only one number on this wall, so she went to the other side. Sheng Ying clung to her arm tightly.

“Walk slower, walk slower,” Sheng Ying’s head was buried against her back, eyes not daring to open.

Zhou Shu Bei smiled lightly, “Don’t delay Teacher Xiao Jian from solving the puzzle.”

The resistance on her arm disappeared. Jian Li turned around. In the dim light, Zhou Shu Bei was standing in the middle with his hands in his pockets. Sheng Ying was holding onto his clothes. As the candlelight illuminated him, he raised his brow slightly, “What?”

Jian Li shook her head, “There’s a bench over there.”

The room they were in now was an office, and there were two chairs by the side.

The fluorescent green light partially illuminated her outline, but there was no fear on her face. Zhou Shu Bei found this girl very interesting.

She might not know how to communicate with him, but her problem-solving skills were rational, calm, and logical. She was quiet and composed, yet unafraid. She was quick to grasp the rules of the game and had already cracked the door code.

When the password lock opened with a click, Sheng Ying gasped, “Jian Li, you’re amazing! I’ve never passed the first stage so quickly before.”

Sheng Ying really enjoyed being “carried” by the experienced one. She released Zhou Shu Bei and grabbed Jian Li’s arm, saying, “When I played before, it took at least twenty minutes to pass the first stage. Shu Bei just stood on the side, clearly knowing the answer but not moving. No wonder he still doesn’t have a girlfriend.”

“I’m still behind,” Zhou Shu Bei reminded Sheng Ying.

Sheng Ying looked at him with a “so what” expression, “That’s just how it is.”

Just as Zhou Shu Bei was about to speak, Jian Li gently said, “He probably wanted to make sure you had a good experience. If you solve the puzzle right away, there would be no challenge.”

Sheng Ying thought for a moment, “That’s true.” She turned to Zhou Shu Bei and apologized, “Sorry, I misunderstood you earlier. But seriously, you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“…”

“…”

Zhou Shu Bei was amused, “Alright, your candied hawthorn is gone.”

Sheng Ying protested, “What? That’s your compensation to me.”

“Because of your personal attack on me,” Zhou Shu Bei replied.

Sheng Ying: “I’m just telling the truth. You don’t have a girlfriend. Uncle Zhou is already preparing to introduce someone to you.”

“Thud.”

The candle in Jian Li’s hand slipped and rolled across the floor.

She crouched down to pick it up. Just as her fingers touched it, the sound of the electric baton and ghostly screams came from behind. Sheng Ying screamed, shouting “Run!” Jian Li didn’t have time to stand up before being pushed onto the ground by a panicked Sheng Ying. Her left hand scraped against the ground, and a sharp pain shot through it.

“Sheng Ying, watch it!”

Zhou Shu Bei’s voice was low as he grabbed Jian Li and pulled her up.

He was forceful, and Jian Li, distracted by her left hand, staggered forward two steps before crashing into his chest. The heat from his body radiated through his coat, and the faint scent of sandalwood lingered in the air.

Her bleeding left hand was held, and Jian Li heard him speak into the walkie-talkie, “Someone is injured, we’re pausing.”

Jian Li responded, “It’s fine. It’s just a scratch.”

Zhou Shu Bei glanced at her hand, almost entirely covered in blood, with droplets falling onto the ground. The air was thick with the scent of blood. He furrowed his brows, “Why are you pretending to be strong?”

His patience was running thin. He interrupted the walkie-talkie and said, “Confirming exit in the middle.”

From the escape room to the nearby hospital, Zhou Shu Bei didn’t speak a word.

“Your hand was lucky to come early, or it could have gotten infected.”

Inside the treatment room, the doctor, wearing a mask, was using a cotton swab dipped in iodine to clean the wound, exposing flesh as he scraped through, mixing blood with cement and gravel. It was a gruesome sight.

Sheng Ying bit her lip, her small face scrunched in pain. She wanted to turn her face away but was forced to look back by Zhou Shu Bei. His voice was low and emotionless, “This is your fault, watch.”

Sheng Ying’s eyes reddened, “I didn’t mean to.”

In Sheng Ying’s memory, Zhou Shu Bei had always smiled. No matter what she asked, he would smile and agree, even casually reasoning with her. He had never looked this serious before.

Sheng Ying realized he was truly angry, lowering her head, “Sorry, I know I was wrong.”

Zhou Shu Bei snorted, “Apologizing to me?”

Sheng Ying turned to Jian Li to apologize, and tears started to fall.

“It’s alright. I know you didn’t mean it,” Jian Li smiled and comforted her, “Stop crying.”

Her words made Sheng Ying’s already guilty heart swell, and she couldn’t hold back her tears. Zhou Shu Bei raised an eyebrow, handing her a tissue to wipe her tears. When he saw her blow a bubble of snot, he found it amusing, “Teacher Xiao Li didn’t cry, but you did.”

Zhou Shu Bei continued to wipe her tears, “Blow your nose yourself.”

Sheng Ying mumbled softly but obediently wiped her nose, “Shu Bei, why don’t you try being with Teacher Xiao Li?”

“…”

Jian Li’s heart skipped a beat, but she pretended not to hear and looked out the window, waiting for Zhou Shu Bei’s answer.

“What?”

Sheng Ying sniffed, “I used to think you weren’t fierce, but now I realize I was wrong. Anyway, you can’t find a girlfriend. Teacher Xiao Li is so nice. You should try to pursue her. She’s a good person, and she wouldn’t turn you down harshly. It’s better than going on blind dates. I heard Uncle Zhou wants to send you abroad for a matchmaker. What will happen to Cotton Candy if you leave?”

Zhou Shu Bei glanced at the person who was silently enduring the pain and not saying a word, her fingers pinched tightly and white as she fought the pain. Something inside him tightened.

He averted his gaze and smiled at Sheng Ying, “Focus on studying. Stop worrying about so many things.”

…

Jian Li’s wound was treated for a long time. The doctor carefully cleaned the gravel out of the wound, and after the iodine and alcohol cleansed it repeatedly, she had become numb to the pain. When the bandage was finally wrapped, Zhou Shu Bei came back in.

“Xiaoxiao left?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Zhou Shu Bei replied, “Just sent her off. Aunt Lan wanted me to say sorry to you.”

Liu Xinlan had a banquet in the evening, so she came to pick up Sheng Ying while passing by. Upon hearing that Jian Li was injured, she wanted to come and check on her, but Jian Li felt it was nothing serious and didn’t want to make it a big deal, so she politely declined.

“Thanks,” Jian Li said, now that it was late. She blinked, “I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Zhou Shu Bei smiled slightly, “Sure, but first, take this.”

He handed her a bag with a charged hand warmer and a scarf inside.

It was white and purple, with a fishnet knitting pattern.

“Why did you buy this?”

“Just randomly bought it. Thought you might need it,” Zhou Shu Bei said, lifting the curtain and quickly stepping down the stairs, “Wait here,

I’ll go pay the bill.”

Jian Li nodded, glancing down at the package in her hand, her thoughts wandering.