Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Yun Youyou wrapped both arms around the figure, but she could barely reach all the way around. Besides, why did the person under her touch feel so firm?
How strange.
Confused, Yun Youyou released one hand and pulled down the black cloth covering her eyes.
Before her vision could even adjust, she found herself staring directly into Ji Lin’s indifferent face.
Looking to the side, she saw the Vampire also staring intently at her, not even blinking.
Yun Youyou: …
She looked down and realized her left arm was around Ji Lin’s waist, while her right arm was wrapped around the Vampire’s waist.
How offensive!
Yun Youyou quickly retracted her claws, apologizing profusely.
“Sorry, sorry! My mistake!”
The crowd of onlookers behind them didn’t dare say a word, all of them hiding in the shadows with wide eyes, eagerly soaking up the drama.
This was so spicy!
Just as Yun Youyou let go, the Vampire pressed her hand back into place.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind your hand being there.”
How bold!
Yun Youyou: … This doesn’t seem quite right.
The onlookers behind them: !!! So exciting! We love this!
On the other side, Ji Lin calmly brushed the Vampire’s hand away.
“She minds.”
Wang Yuanyou cheered wildly from the shadows: Yes! That’s it! Do exactly that!
Yun Youyou quickly pulled both of her hands back.
The Vampire glared coldly at Ji Lin.
He wants Yun Youyou all to himself!
Yun Youyou also stole a few glances at Ji Lin.
He wants the Vampire all to himself! He must be jealous!
The two of them were thinking of completely different things, yet their thoughts were similar to a certain extent.
Yun Youyou secretly observed Ji Lin and the Vampire.
Sure enough, the two of them were back to staring deeply into each other’s eyes.
Yun Youyou took a few steps back knowingly.
“Um, I won’t disturb you two. The lotus flowers in the pond have been blooming quite nicely lately; why don’t you go take a look together?”
Ji Lin: Who would want to go flower-watching with this inexplicable man?
The Vampire: Who would want to go flower-watching with this arrogant man?
They gave each other a look of mutual disdain, then turned and walked away in two completely different directions.
For a moment, Yun Youyou couldn’t figure out what these two men were thinking.
What exactly was their relationship?
Yun Youyou beckoned Wang Yuanyou over.
“Don’t you think Ji Lin seems a bit… different toward that Vampire?”
Wang Yuanyou immediately replied, “Of course he is!”
Yun Youyou winked at Wang Yuanyou gossipingly.
“Then, is the relationship between them a bit unusual?”
Wang Yuanyou said without hesitation, “Naturally, it’s unusual!”
They were love rivals!
How could that relationship be anything but unusual? It was practically an irreconcilable feud.
Suddenly hearing such a huge piece of gossip, Yun Youyou was shocked to her core.
She hadn’t expected them to truly have a special relationship.
Yun Youyou and Wang Yuanyou were talking completely past each other, yet somehow their conversation managed to align.
Even if Wang Yuanyou racked his brain, he would never have imagined that Yun Youyou would misunderstand the relationship between Ji Lin and the Vampire in that way.
On the way back, Tao Jinran suddenly sighed.
“Seeing two handsome guys standing together is really a treat for the eyes. I really want to tie them both together.”
Yun Youyou shared the sentiment.
“Maybe they really will be tied together in the future.”
Tao Jinran thought Yun Youyou was joking and laughed. “Then you’d better tie me in there too. I want to snuggle up with handsome guys!”
After returning to the Bedchamber.
Wang Yuanyou and Tao Jinran went to the Imperial Kitchen to find something to eat.
Yun Youyou stayed in the Bedchamber alone.
She reclined on the chaise longue, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the wardrobe from her dream last night.
There couldn’t really be a Secret Passage in this wardrobe, could there?
It was impossible. Yesterday was just a dream; how could it be real?
Despite her doubts, Yun Youyou walked over to the wardrobe door.
She pulled it open and tapped on the back panel.
There really seemed to be… a door.
Yun Youyou pried the wooden panel open, and sure enough, a pitch-black Secret Passage lay behind it.
She found a candle outside, lifted the hem of her skirt, and stepped into the Secret Passage.
The dark tunnel looked exactly like the one in her dream from the night before.
Could she have had a prophetic dream?
The Secret Passage was dug very deep; even with the light of the candle, she couldn’t see the end.
Halfway through, Yun Youyou spotted a small door.
She pulled it open with a forceful tug.
A wave of hazy steam rushed out at her.
Hearing the movement behind him, Lan Changqi turned his head to look at Yun Youyou.
Yun Youyou hadn’t expected Doctor Lan to be taking a bath!
“So sorry! My bad!”
Yun Youyou slammed the door shut with a loud *bang* and fled as if her life depended on it.
Lan Changqi watched her frantic, retreating figure and gave a gentle smile.
After shutting the door, Yun Youyou continued forward.
That scared the life out of her. It seemed she really shouldn’t just open doors in this Secret Passage at random.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been walking, but her candle had already burned down halfway.
Dripping wax solidified on the ground.
The faint sound of water echoed from a distance.
Could this Secret Passage lead to some kind of hidden paradise?
Yun Youyou quickened her pace, but what she saw was no paradise-it was a living hell.
Mountains of corpses were piled haphazardly together. The stench of rotting flesh and the metallic tang of blood were nauseating.
Looking closer, she could see plump, white maggots crawling all over the putrid meat.
In the center was a massive pool filled with dark red blood.
Even as a ghost, the sight made Yun Youyou’s skin crawl.
*Gag…*
What on earth was this?
Amidst the foul odor of decay, there was also a peculiar yet familiar fragrance, a mix of sweet and stinking.
Yun Youyou decided she probably wouldn’t want to eat for the next week.
Covering her nose, she turned to leave immediately.
The fragrance in the air suddenly grew intense.
Caught off guard, Yun Youyou accidentally inhaled a bit of it.
She suddenly felt incredibly drowsy, so tired she couldn’t even keep her eyes open.
She had barely taken a single step when her legs gave out, and she collapsed softly onto the ground.
“Youyou? Youyou?”
Tao Jinran had brought some bird’s nest cakes for Yun Youyou to try.
She called out several times, but no one answered.
Tao Jinran circled the Bedchamber several times but couldn’t find any sign of Yun Youyou.
Where could she have gone?
Tao Jinran turned and saw the open wardrobe door.
“Youyou must have changed clothes and gone out to play. That scatterbrain even forgot to close the wardrobe door.”
Tao Jinran stuffed a bird’s nest cake into her mouth and, without looking, casually pulled the wardrobe door shut.
As soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Wang Yuanyou.
“Have you seen Youyou?”
Wang Yuanyou shook his head. “Isn’t she inside?”
Tao Jinran frowned. “Strange. Then where did she go?”
The two of them searched for a long time but couldn’t find the missing Yun Youyou.
Wang Yuanyou sat down under a tree.
“Could it be that the NPCs went to a meeting?”
Tao Jinran asked, “Do NPCs even need to have meetings?”
Given Yun Youyou’s level of slacking off at work, she was actually worried the girl might get fired.
“Have you seen His Majesty today?”
Tao Jinran stopped a passing Young Eunuch.