Reincarnated In a Cthulhu World And Everyone Is Obsessed With Me - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Roses – A heart full of fireflies, a belly full of glass.

“Wipe yourself.” A long-fingered hand held out a tissue, its corner embossed with the elegant script: Ruan Congyun.

Xia Mingyu’s long lashes fluttered. Through the gaps in his mask, he recognized the name immediately. He didn’t snub Ruan Congyun in front of the crowd; he was an adult who understood that power was the only real bargaining chip. Since he couldn’t challenge Ruan yet, there was no point in causing a scene.

He elegantly wiped the cream from his lips before looking up. Ruan Congyun wore a white mask with gold leaf and a matching white suit. It was frustrating to admit, but they looked incredibly coordinated—a “cruel” joke orchestrated by the Sanctuary’s choice of attire.

Xia Mingyu cursed the AI’s intentions internally but maintained a gentle smile. “Thank you for your kindness.”

Ruan’s presence instantly drew every eye in the room, making Xia Mingyu the co-center of attention. People whispered as the two most radiant figures stood together, looking as if they might unmask each other at any moment.

Ruan’s dark pupils tracked Xia Mingyu with the predatory gaze of a hunter eyeing a target’s throat. “How did you break the spiritual energy I left on you?” he asked with genuine interest.

Xia Mingyu crumpled the tissue into a ball and tossed it in a perfect arc into a nearby trash can. He smiled but said nothing. Why do people love bringing up unpleasant memories? Ah, he’s still holding a grudge.

Ruan let out a short laugh. “Fine, I won’t ask.” His gaze caught a familiar figure moving quickly through the garden outside the ballroom. A sense of mischief rose in him, and he extended a hand. “Sir, would you care for a dance?”

Xia Mingyu maintained his fake smile. “Apologies, I don’t know how to dance.” He picked up his plate, nodded politely, and walked away.

Ruan watched him go, noticing the colorful ribbon tying back the Guide’s hair. It was saturated with the scent of a Sentinel and mixed with the heavy scent of recent monster slaughter. Ruan correctly surmised that Xia Mingyu was the “mysterious hunter” everyone was talking about. He has talent and ambition. Sheikh’s intuition never fails.

…

Leaving the social hub, Xia Mingyu headed for the secluded gardens. To his surprise, there were real, fresh roses here, glistening with dew. With a plate in one hand and a wine glass in the other, he leaned down to catch their scent.

He smiled self-deprecatingly. No one else was here. To the socialites inside, a blooming flower couldn’t compete with the flirtatious glances exchanged behind masks. He set his plate on a bench and wandered through the flowers, enjoying the rare peace. Before the apocalypse, he had been a young nobleman; now, all that remained was his skin and his wits. Truth, love, and roses had all become luxuries.

After several glasses of different wines, he felt a bit tipsy. His mask hid his upper face and the slight flush around his eyes, but his “peach blossom” eyes remained strikingly vivid. The elaborate court suit didn’t overshadow him; it only highlighted his poise.

Sheikh saw him then.

Sheikh had been standing in the rose garden for a long time. Sensing Xia Mingyu’s approach, he held his breath. He hadn’t expected to actually cross paths with him tonight.

He had changed into a suit and wore a full-face mask. He had even taken Ruan’s advice and used a gene-altering injection to turn his eyes black. Per the Base’s request, he had brought two S-class stabilizers from the White Noise room, though they were hidden in the darkness by his control. He adjusted his gloves, a nervous habit he wasn’t even aware of.

Xia Mingyu rounded a wall of flowers and saw a stranger. From his angle, he only saw a silhouette in a low-key black suit. The man held a rose—not smelling it, just lifting the branch gently.

Black gloves and red roses. Coldness and beauty.

The man let go of the branch as Xia Mingyu approached. He looked up, his black eyes calm and silent behind the mask.

“Apologies, am I disturbing you?” Xia Mingyu asked, his lips still glistening from the red wine.

The man paused, then shook his head slightly. It was the first time Xia Mingyu had seen someone wearing a mask that covered their entire face. Between the all-black attire and the seclusion, Xia Mingyu briefly wondered if he was hallucinating a ghost. But ghosts didn’t have bodies that well-built. The thought made him chuckle.

“What are you laughing at?” the man asked. His voice was muffled by the mask, sounding deep and distorted.

Xia Mingyu momentarily thought of Sheikh, but dismissed it because of the black eyes. No one could replicate Sheikh’s signature blue-gold eyes, and Sheikh had no reason to hide. “I didn’t expect to meet anyone here. It’s an honor to enjoy the flowers with you, sir.”

A breeze blew through, carrying the scent of roses. Sheikh’s fingers curled slightly. He didn’t answer, turning his gaze back to the flowers to avoid looking at the Guide.

“Are you also a student at Dove Academy?” Xia Mingyu asked, curious about this mysterious man.

Sheikh didn’t want to lie, but he didn’t want to reveal himself either. “We will know each other in the future,” he said.

Xia Mingyu respected the mystery. “Then I look forward to the day we officially meet.” Perhaps it was the wine, but Xia Mingyu thought he saw a hint of a flush on the man’s ear where the mask didn’t reach—a stark contrast to his cold demeanor.

“So,” Xia Mingyu teased, “when we take off our masks, how will I recognize you? How will you recognize me?”

Sheikh looked at him deeply. “I will know it’s you.”

Xia Mingyu finished his wine, his eyes shimmering. “So certain? Even the Prince needed a glass slipper to find Cinderella. How will I know you after the clock strikes twelve?”

Sheikh remained silent, waiting.

“Let me recite a poem for you,” Xia Mingyu said softly. “I doubt many people remember it anymore. Let it be our… secret code.”

Sheikh nodded. Xia Mingyu’s voice, warmed by the wine, felt like red velvet against Sheikh’s heart:

“…A thing of light, swallowed by time and darkness. My fate is composed of fear, love, and futile struggle, The current carries it to a gentle abyss. The sea still gnaws at every moment of my sleep and waking. You stand in the labyrinth of time, yet you know nothing.”

Sheikh stared at him, his black eyes reflecting the star-like shine in Xia Mingyu’s gaze.

“Thank you for listening. It was a bit boring, wasn’t it?” Xia Mingyu laughed.

“Not boring,” Sheikh said softly. “I liked it very much.”

Xia Mingyu’s heart was still steeped in the art and literature of the old world, not just slaughter. This was his heart full of fireflies—a candle flickering in the wind that refused to go out.

“Thank you,” Xia Mingyu said sincerely. “You can keep your identity secret, but as a sign of my sincerity…” He moved to reach for his mask.

Sheikh froze. He was used to people looking at him as a statue or a god. But the man before him saw him only as a young man. Did Xia Mingyu understand the weight of unmasking here?

Xia Mingyu stopped himself just in time. “Apologies, I almost forgot… I meant to introduce myself properly. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Sheikh shook his head, showing he didn’t mind.

It was time for Xia Mingyu to leave for his shift at Paradise. After he disappeared into the garden, Sheikh remained standing among the roses.

Had the clock already struck twelve?