The Red-robed BOSS Says I Killed Him - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

On the third day Li Shuheng moved into my place, he almost burned the kitchen down.

More accurately, he tried to cook and ended up burning a hole right through the pan.

By the time I rushed into the kitchen, the smoke had nearly blackened the ceiling light.

“Li Shuheng!”

“What are you doing?!”

He stood at the stove with a blank face, spatula in hand.

“Frying an egg.”

“This is frying an egg?”

“The steps match.”

I stared at the black lump in the pan that no longer resembled anything edible and took a deep breath.

“Get out.”

“I can learn.”

“I know you can learn.”

“But my kitchen can’t afford you learning.”

He didn’t budge.

“You’re mad?”

“No.”

“You are.”

I turned and glared at him.

And he actually copied the tone I used to use, adding calmly, “Your ears are red.”

I snatched the spatula away.

“Get out and wait.”

This time he listened, actually stepping outside the kitchen.

But he didn’t go far-he leaned against the doorframe and watched me.

I dealt with the ruined pan while being stared at so hard my scalp tingled.

“Can you not look at me like that?”

“Why?”

“It messes with my focus.”

“Oh.”

He answered.

Three seconds later, he asked, “Have you cooked for anyone else before?”

My hands paused.

“No.”

“Really?”

“If you want to ask something, just ask it.”

Li Shuheng went quiet for two seconds before he said softly, “I just want to know.”

“After you brought me out, did you ever have someone else around you?”

The oil in the pan crackled lightly.

I turned the heat down and looked back at him.

He was still standing in the doorway.

Broad shoulders, cold brows and eyes-yet when he asked that, there was an awkwardness he couldn’t hide.

Like he was obviously jealous, but didn’t know how to admit it.

I suddenly wanted to laugh.

“Li Shuheng.”

“Mm?”

“Are you checking up on me?”

“No.”

“Then what is it?”

“Risk assessment.”

“…”

I swear, I couldn’t with him.

“There was no one else.”

“Not before, not now, and in all probability, not later either.”

He asked, “Why ‘in all probability’?”

“Because if you still can’t learn to use the gas stove, I’m going to be angered to death by you.”

He looked at me for a few seconds, then actually gave a faint smile.

That smile was so much lighter than anything back in the Instance.

Like he had finally, truly come back to life.

When I set the fried egg and noodles on the table, he glanced at the plate first, then at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“If you’ve got something to say, say it.”

“I just… feel like this is kind of unreal.”

I sat down and tapped the rim of his bowl with my chopsticks.

“What about it is unreal?”

“You’re cooking for me.”

“You’re not satisfied?”

“I’m satisfied.”

“Then eat.”

He lowered his head and took a couple of bites, then spoke again out of nowhere.

“Luo Tinglan.”

“Yeah?”

“If, later on, I dream again-dream that I’m still in the Instance…”

“Will you think I’m annoying?”

My chest sank.

So it wasn’t that he suddenly felt insecure.

He’d been dreaming these past few days.

“You’ve been having nightmares?”

He didn’t look up-only gave a quiet “Mm.”

“What do you dream about?”

“I dream you don’t remember me again.”

“I dream I’m inside the door and you’re outside.”

“I dream you could soften just by looking at me… but in the end you still stab the knife in.”

His voice was calm.

The calmer it was, the worse it made me feel.

I set my chopsticks down and walked over.

“Li Shuheng.”

He looked up at me.

I bent and hugged him.

“Listen to me.”

“This is reality.”

“When you wake up, it’s me outside the door-not the System.”

“If you have nightmares, you can call me. If you lose it, you can call me. If you wake me up in the middle of the night, that’s fine too.”

“But there’s one thing.”

“What?”

“Don’t hold it in by yourself anymore.”

He froze for a couple seconds before his hand slowly came around to my waist.

“You’ll get sick of me.”

“Then I’ll be sick of you.”

“I’m not leaving.”

The room was silent.

So silent that all that remained was the ticking of the wall clock.

After a moment, I heard him say very softly,

“Okay.”

“This time, I believe you.”

That night, he really did have another nightmare.

At three in the morning, I was jolted awake by restrained, ragged breathing.

I switched on the bedside lamp and saw him sitting on the edge of the sofa bed, his forehead drenched in cold sweat, his fingers clenched so hard they were white.

“Li Shuheng.”

He looked up at me, his gaze still unfocused.

Like he couldn’t tell where he was yet.

I didn’t say much. I threw off the blanket, walked over, and took his hand.

“Look at me.”

“Where are we?”

Staring at me, he rasped, “Your place.”

“What time is it?”

“Three a.m.”

“What’s outside the door?”

“The hallway.”

“No inspections.”

“No inspections.”

“And no System.”

“…No System.”

His voice steadied little by little.

My heart, though, softened into a complete mess.

“Better?”

“Mm.”

“Then go back to sleep.”

He didn’t move.

“What is it?”

“Can you…”

He hesitated, like the request was too much.

“Stay with me for a bit?”

I looked at him and suddenly remembered the boy from years ago, strapped to a hospital bed.

Back then his mouth was the hardest-he could be in agony and still refuse to say it.

But as long as I sat beside him, he would quiet down.

I sighed and pulled him back onto the bed with me.

“Just for a bit.”

“Mm.”

“Let go of my hand.”

“No.”

“Li Shuheng.”

“You said you wouldn’t leave.”

That left me with nothing to say. In the end, I could only resign myself and lean in.

“Sleep.”

“I’m here.”

This time, he fell asleep fast.

But his hand never let go.