The Protagonist and the Villain Both Kissed Me [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 37

A sudden, alluring voice broke the silence of the empty room. Su Xi stood frozen before the control panel. The voice was familiar, yet it sounded different deeper, more resonant than he remembered.

He blinked dazedly and turned toward the merman leaning against the edge of the pool. “Mephisto?”

Mephisto’s silky golden hair cascaded over the edge of the stone. He looked up at Su Xi, whose pupils were hazy and unfocused. A faint, inscrutable smile played on the merman’s lips. “Yes,” he murmured. “I am here.”

Silence stretched across the vast containment room, broken only by the gentle lapping of water and the sound of their shallow breaths intertwining.

“Come here,” Mephisto continued. “I have something to tell you.”

Su Xi didn’t take offense at the commanding tone. Without hesitation, he walked toward the pool. Memories of being dragged into the water the day before flashed through his mind, and a phantom chill seemed to crawl up from the soles of his feet.

He knelt obediently by the water. He allowed Mephisto’s cool hand to pull back his hood, exposing his face. As those slender fingers brushed against the delicate skin of his cheek, Su Xi instinctively leaned into the touch, craving more.

The ‘illness’ was acting up again…

“Darling, do you like pearls?” Mephisto felt the man’s intentional leaning, watching as Su Xi nuzzled into his palm like a pet seeking favor. Mephisto’s heart, usually as still as a frozen lake, began to thud violently. He let out a soft chuckle. “Is your body still uncomfortable?”

For reasons Su Xi couldn’t explain, he didn’t pull away. Long, cool fingers slid across his lips, down his neck, and finally rested on the fragile dip of his collarbone. The skin beneath those fingers trembled.

“Yes…” Su Xi bit his lip, his gaze meeting those mesmerizing emerald eyes. “I feel… miserable.”

He reached out and unfastened his black cloak, dropping it onto the floor. He moved closer to the merman, nearly stepping into the water, but his wrist was caught in a firm grip.

Meeting Su Xi’s startled eyes, Mephisto shook his head. “You are sick. You cannot afford to catch another chill.”

“But I’m in pain…” At some point, the feverish pallor on Su Xi’s face had been replaced by a deep flush. Even the corners of his eyes were stained a rosy hue, making the faint tear-shaped mole beneath his eye stand out vividly. He tugged at his hand, trying to break free from the restraint.

Seeing that the man was clearly not in his right mind, Mephisto’s brow furrowed. “Be good. Stand up and go get some rest.”

Su Xi bit his lower lip hard, seemingly enduring a great deal of distress. After a long moment, he finally stood up and walked away like a soul-less husk. It wasn’t until he stepped out of the room that his self-awareness fully returned.

He had already walked quite a distance from the containment cell. Looking down at his clothes, he realized he had left his black cloak behind. How had he wandered out in such a daze?

Fortunately, the halls were empty at this hour. Su Xi hurried toward his lounge at top speed, only to run straight into Cui Yue.

Cui Yue was back in her uniform, her complexion recovered, certainly a far cry from her half-dead state yesterday. When she saw him, she stopped in surprise. “Who brought you here? How can you just wander around the Institute like this?”

Su Xi’s ID badge was pinned to his cloak, and underneath he wore only casual clothes. Since he usually entered containment zones alone, he would typically change into his lab coat inside. Currently, he was so short of breath from his condition that his tone was sharp: “Cui Yue, watch your attitude.”

Hearing that familiar voice, Cui Yue was stunned. She couldn’t believe that this exquisite, aristocratic-looking man who appeared slightly disheveled but possessed an undeniable aura was actually the Su Xi who never showed his face.

“Su Xi, how are you…” She hesitated, wanting to step forward, but something made her stop.

Su Xi never had a good relationship with her to begin with. Now, with no energy to waste on bickering, he quickened his pace and left her behind.

In a room lit only by a warm yellow desk lamp, Su Xi freshly showered curled up on the sofa. His brow was knit with exhaustion, and a faint, intoxicating fragrance emanated from him.

“Host, are you alright?” System 1368 asked with concern.

When Skin Hunger isn’t satiated, it leads to extreme anxiety and irritability. Hearing the System’s voice only made Su Xi more frustrated. He had tried to scrub the feeling away in the shower, but instead of relief, the backlog of sensory deprivation finally exploded.

He couldn’t go back to Mephisto. Xiao Yangyao was out on a mission. If he wanted relief now… he could only go to A04, the one who had indirectly caused him to fall into the water and get sick.

Su Xi wasn’t even sure how he made it to A04’s containment cell. All he knew was that the moment he stepped inside, he was ensnared by slick, cold tentacles.

The cold, slimy sensation against his skin wasn’t exactly pleasant, yet his frantic heart finally began to settle. He looked at the owner of the tentacles, A04. “I’ve spoken with the Director. I’ll be the one in charge of you from now on.”

A04 showed little emotion at the news, though he was internally shocked. Why is the Su Xi who usually fears my tentacles being so obedient today?

As A04 moved closer, Su Xi suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly. The man’s warm body wouldn’t stop trembling it was hard to tell if it was from distress or fear.

But Su Xi knew: it was stimulation. He rested his chin on the man’s shoulder, his lashes fluttering like butterfly wings.

“Hold me tighter,” he whispered.

A04, of course, wouldn’t refuse such an invitation. He wrapped his arms around Su Xi’s waist, teasing him: “Weren’t you threatening to put me in solitary yesterday? I thought you hated me.”

“I don’t.” Su Xi’s voice was muffled against him. He felt the inner turmoil gradually subsiding. As the sticky sensation of the tentacles brought him back to his senses, he gripped A04’s collar, his voice carrying a rare hint of vulnerability: “Just… hold me tighter.”

The room was silent save for their breathing. Once he felt centered, Su Xi let go and stepped back. He looked up at the man, who was rubbing his fingertips with a half-smile, and Su Xi’s heart skipped a beat.

“I’m leaving.” He practically fled the scene in a panic.

Back in the corridor, Su Xi tried to steady his racing heart. Suddenly, a familiar figure pressed up against his back. Before he could cry out, a hand clamped over his mouth and dragged him into a dark corner.

“Be quiet. Don’t move.” Warm breath tickled his sensitive earlobe.

Su Xi’s face flushed. His instinctive struggle was easily suppressed. He bit his lip and asked in confusion, “Why are you back?”

The man holding him from behind was indeed Xiao Yangyao, who was supposed to be away on a mission. It had only been a few days; he shouldn’t have been back so soon.

Wearing his tactical duty uniform, Xiao Yangyao’s tall, muscular build was on full display. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he remained silent for a moment before saying meaningfully, “Why aren’t you wearing your cloak today?”

Su Xi, who usually hid his face due to his ‘condition,’ now stood with a flushed face and eyes full of lingering emotion, having just rushed out of a containment cell in a panic…

It was impossible for Xiao Yangyao not to overthink. What exactly had happened while he was away?

“I just… forgot.” Su Xi didn’t even believe his own excuse, let alone Xiao Yangyao. The guard’s face darkened with irritation, and his grip on Su Xi’s arm tightened instinctively.

“Su Xi, you know what happens to people who lie to me.” Xiao Yangyao’s eyes grew cold. Just as he was about to say more, the device on his wrist flashed. He hesitated for a second before releasing his hold.

Su Xi didn’t try to run; he knew he was no match for a high-ranking guard like Xiao Yangyao. His lashes fluttered as he offered a placating explanation: “I wouldn’t lie to you. Why did you return so early?”

“Director Xu called me back for an emergency,” Xiao Yangyao said curtly.

“I see…” Su Xi mused. “Did he say what it was?”

“The test subjects in the Institute are acting abnormally,” Xiao Yangyao replied.

“Abnormally?” Su Xi thought back to the information System 1368 had given him. A sense of unease rose within him. He lowered his eyes to hide his thoughts. “Can I go with you?”

“It’s nothing major. I’ll be leaving once I’m briefed.” Xiao Yangyao reached out to touch Su Xi, then remembered the man’s condition. He hesitated for two seconds before withdrawing his hand.

Watching him walk away, Su Xi spoke to the System in his head: “Xiao Ba, if it weren’t a big deal, they wouldn’t have recalled him. But isn’t the disaster supposed to be a few days away? If the Institute staff noticed it this early, why aren’t they evacuating?”

“Host, it’s not like they can just leave whenever they want,” System 1368 replied cheerfully, as if it were sharing good news.

Outside the Director’s Office

Xiao Yangyao leaned against the wall with a grim expression, fiddling with his black ID card. The Director’s words echoed in his mind: many subjects were showing signs of extreme aggression and were repeatedly harming staff.

Some were even attempting to escape. Who was pulling the strings?

He caught a glimpse of a dark shadow it was Su Xi, now back in his black cloak. Su Xi walked quickly to him and grabbed his hand to pull him away. The cool touch of the silk glove made Xiao Yangyao freeze for a moment.

“Su Xi?” he asked, surprised.

“Don’t talk yet,” Su Xi whispered.

He pulled the man all the way into his private lounge before letting go. Su Xi threw back his hood and gasped for air. Despite the winter chill, he was breaking a sweat. “Xiao Yangyao, don’t leave. Please?”

“Hmm?” Xiao Yangyao hadn’t expected this. “Why are you saying this?”

“Those subjects… I know who’s behind the unrest.” Su Xi leaned over, grabbed a glass from the table, and downed half of it before continuing. “Something much worse is going to happen in a few days. Don’t leave. I’m… I’m scared.”

Inside the System space, 1368 watched Su Xi’s performance with its jaw dropped.