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63. Mute Sound

The words she truly wanted to hear were spoken without hesitation, leaving Chen Shuyin feeling caught off guard, as if she had been set up.

She stood there in a daze for two seconds before turning her face away, tilting her chin up slightly. “As expected.”

“As expected?”

Pei Yu curled his lips into a faint smile. “Then I must have fallen right into your trap.”

“Oh, come on, you’re so annoying.” He went along with her response so naturally that it threw Chen Shuyin off balance.

She had thought he would hold back those words for seven years, that she would have to spend years making him yield to her. But now, it all seemed too easy, as if he had lured her into his own game.

“The fog seems to be getting thicker.”

She turned her head back. Initially, she could vaguely make out the outlines of trees, but now, everything had dissolved into a featureless maze, trapping them inside.

Pei Yu also sensed something was wrong. “I sent my location to the teacher when I heard your voice, but… it didn’t go through.”

“In a while, when it gets dark, even if the fog clears, it will be hard to find our way. Worse still, the fog might get even denser.”

Chen Shuyin rubbed her frozen hands together, a wave of unease rising in her chest.

“There’s only one option, then.”

“Either we get out before it gets dark, or we stay here, waiting indefinitely for rescue while facing life-threatening danger.” Pei Yu locked eyes with her and grabbed her hand firmly. “Do you trust me?”

Chen Shuyin hesitated. “If you found me, maybe they—”

“That’s because it’s me.” Pei Yu cut her off.

Chen Shuyin’s gaze flickered. She lowered her eyes, noticing the fresh cuts on the back of his hand, the blood not yet dried. “Are you okay?”

“This isn’t the time to talk about that. We need to move.”

Pei Yu decisively pulled her into his arms, half-holding her as they headed toward the thinner part of the fog.

Compared to waiting in place, this was a riskier choice—it could lead them even further off track. But leaning against him, Chen Shuyin felt no fear.

Both of them were still physically capable, and since they weren’t talking much, they managed to maintain their stamina even after walking for more than ten minutes.

The fog had visibly thinned, and the increased visibility meant they were close to the exit. The sounds of nature overlapped more distinctly in the air.

Chen Shuyin felt a surge of relief and quickened her pace.

“We must be close—I think I hear voices.”

Pei Yu’s expression changed abruptly. His sharp jawline tensed as he turned his head warily. “That’s not a person.”

Chen Shuyin’s blood ran cold. She stiffened, pressing herself closer to him.

He tightened his grip on her hand. “When I count to three, we run. Got it?”

She quickly nodded. As soon as he counted to three, she bolted.

Something burst out from the bushes behind them and began chasing.

Chen Shuyin’s heart pounded wildly. She didn’t dare to look back.

She ran until her mouth tasted of blood, unable to even close it properly, before Pei Yu finally pulled her to a stop, panting. “There’s an abandoned temple ahead. Let’s take a break inside.”

Chen Shuyin stood frozen, staring at the dilapidated building.

It was identical to the temple she had been in before.

Why, even with Pei Yu here, had she still ended up in front of it?

“What’s wrong?” Pei Yu tried to pull her forward, then turned back to check on her when she didn’t move. “Don’t be scared—it’s probably just a wild boar. We’ve already lost it.”

Chen Shuyin shook her head. “We can’t go in.”

Pei Yu didn’t question her immediately. Instead, he reasoned with her, “Look at the weather—it might start raining soon. If we keep going, it won’t be safe.”

“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t go in. If it rains, it’ll be even more dangerous inside.” Chen Shuyin’s voice was urgent, as if entering the temple was a matter of life and death.

“Alright, then we’ll stay here.” Pei Yu pulled off his backpack, stuffed everything into his pockets, and folded the bag over their heads for cover.

Just then, his eyes caught movement. A dark shadow flickered in the distance, creeping closer. “Shit.”

Without time to explain, he grabbed her wrist and sprinted into the temple. Once inside, he slammed a wooden door against the entrance, leaning his back against it to block it.

Chen Shuyin hadn’t expected to end up here after all. With the wild creature outside, she was powerless.

They had chosen a different path, yet somehow, it had led to the same ending.

Chen Shuyin looked up, confused. Pei Yu was focused on the outside, completely unaware of the impending danger.

The sound of something falling onto the roof echoed through the space.

“Can we outrun it if we run now?” Chen Shuyin grasped his sleeve.

“Of course. We just did.” Pei Yu hesitated. “But with the rain making the ground slippery, it’ll be harder.”

“You can run without me.”

Pei Yu frowned. “How could I possibly leave you behind?”

“I mean like before—you count to three, open the door, and run.” She reached for the door.

His cold gaze swept over her face, scrutinizing her. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

“We go together.”

“Chen Shuyin, you’re a terrible liar.”

Her throat tightened. “If we don’t run, we’ll be trapped when the building collapses.”

“I won’t let you get hurt.”

“Pei Yu!”

He was even more stubborn than she was.

She bit down on his arm, sinking her teeth into his flesh. Pei Yu winced in pain, his brows knotted, but he refused to let go.

“Are you an idiot?” She sobbed, hitting his chest.

Within minutes, the roof began to tremble. Pieces of wood crashed down, followed by torrents of rainwater.

Then, the temple’s support beams gave way.

Sensing it, Chen Shuyin instinctively shielded Pei Yu.

But the expected pain never came.

Instead, Pei Yu had pushed her into a safe gap, taking the hit himself.

With a loud thud, he collapsed on top of her.

“Pei Yu!”

Blood trickled down with the rain, turning the ground red.

Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

“I told you to go—why didn’t you listen? This was my burden to bear.”

Pei Yu cupped her face, his voice soft. “With me here, there’s no reason for you to suffer.”

She tried to move the debris off him, but it wouldn’t budge. His bleeding wouldn’t stop, and the storm showed no signs of letting up.

She was lost.

With trembling hands, she bandaged his wounds as best as she could and draped her jacket over him to keep him warm.

Pei Yu’s breath weakened. “If we don’t make it… will you hate me?”

She shook her head furiously. “You said you wouldn’t let anything happen to me—so stay with me! Listen, I’ll tell you a secret. In seven years, we get married. So you have to survive.”

“Really?” Pei Yu’s lips barely curled. “I’m so lucky.”

As his body grew colder, she turned to the temple’s statue and made a desperate wish.

If she could, she would trade ten years of her life to reset everything.

She couldn’t let Pei Yu die again.

Then, suddenly, she was outside the temple, watching everything unfold.

And she realized—Pei Yu had saved her all those years ago, not someone else.

Her whole world shattered.