My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 145

A trembling, tearful voice laced with fear came from Xia An’ge, her face buried deep in Gu Zhinan’s neck. Helpless, Gu Zhinan supported the landlady’s soft and curvy body in his arms, it felt amazing to the touch, practically perfect.

He glanced at the direction where Xia An’ge had run from. The corridor was eerily quiet, the lights flickering on and off now and then. A door far down the hallway remained slightly open.

“It’s fake. You’re in a haunted house, remember?” Gu Zhinan gently reminded her in a soft voice, as if worried he might frighten her again.

“No! It was real! There were ghosts! They were smiling at me! And one of them only had half a body! Hurry, let’s run!” Xia An’ge sobbed as she clung tighter to Gu Zhinan, her arms wrapped firmly around his neck. Her shaky, tearful voice kept urging him to run.

“I can’t breathe! I’m suffocating here!” Gu Zhinan was stunned. Was the landlady planning to strangle him to death? “Cough, cough! I told you, they’re fake! Just actors in costumes! If you don’t let go, I really will turn into a ghost!”

His hands were full supporting her, leaving him unable to pry her arms from around his neck.

Xia An’ge loosened her grip slightly upon hearing him, but still held on tightly. She finally lifted her head; under the fisherman’s hat, her teary peach blossom eyes gazed at him, her voice trembling. “Really?”

Gu Zhinan never thought there’d be a day when he’d meet the landlady at eye level. He nodded, staring into those watery peach blossom eyes so close to his own. “Didn’t you watch Approaching Science as a kid? We have to believe in science! Science is amazing, you know?”

“But…” Xia An’ge still wanted to argue, but then realized that they’d been standing here for a while and no ghosts had come after them.

“No buts! Didn’t I tell you to yell ‘end game’ if you got too scared?” Gu Zhinan asked softly, his dark eyes meeting hers.

Xia An’ge pouted under her mask, her eyes full of grievance. The tears welled up again as she buried her face in Gu Zhinan’s neck, her voice soft and tearful. “I forgot…”

“……” Gu Zhinan was speechless. He could only silently hold her, murmuring gentle words of comfort.

Meanwhile, in the haunted house monitoring room, “So this guy ran straight from the first floor to the third? Without even picking up a map? He’s been wandering around for ten minutes?”

The other observer stared in disbelief at Old Lu.

Old Lu sighed and nodded. “He asked the doctor-actor on the first floor how to get upstairs. Once he knew his girlfriend went to find the key, he rushed straight up…”

“What is this, a damn hero rescue scene? Are we just sitting here eating dog food now?”

The observer was speechless. He’d been watching Xia An’ge the whole time, while the other monitored Gu Zhinan, splitting the work made it simple.

“Wait… what if he planned this whole thing to put on a show for his girlfriend?” Old Lu suddenly gasped, but the moment he said it, he realized it made no sense.

If it was planned, why wouldn’t he grab a map? Why waste time wandering? He could’ve just camped on the third floor waiting.

Yeah… He’s just a reckless fool!

The two discussed a bit more, then sighed.

“Let them finish up already! The game’s only been running for fifteen minutes and they’ve spent three of those hugging!”

The other observer rolled his eyes. What a situation.

Back on the third floor, the eerie atmosphere seemed to lift a little. Xia An’ge felt safer in Gu Zhinan’s arms, slowly calming down as he kept murmuring to her.

“Okay, can you get down now? My arms are going numb…” Gu Zhinan’s arms were starting to feel sore.

“Oh…” Xia An’ge lifted her head and met his gaze. He was holding her up; her arms circled his neck, and her legs were still wrapped around his waist. Their faces were mere inches apart!

The pose felt… strange.

Flustered, Xia An’ge quickly looked down and let go of his waist.

Gu Zhinan gently set her down, then shook out his arms and muttered, “Hello, Landlady… wow, you’re so light!”

Halfway through, he changed tone, just remembered he’d teased her about being thin earlier. If she’s this light and he still struggled carrying her, wouldn’t that mean he’s weak?

No way. No way he’d admit that.

But Xia An’ge wasn’t listening to his muttering. The moment her feet touched the ground, she clung to his arm tightly again. Her eyes were nervous, fearful, and a little shy, she’d just clung to him like that, after all.

Gu Zhinan froze. Even with sore arms, he could feel this, his heart skipped a beat. He chanted calming thoughts in his mind but sighed inwardly at the landlady’s complete lack of self-protection. She was too easy to take advantage of.

“If you’re scared… how did you plan to protect me?” He suddenly remembered her bold words from earlier. He almost laughed.

Xia An’ge didn’t respond, she just clung tighter. Gu Zhinan’s heart jolted. He quickly tried to pull away, and Xia An’ge blinked, confused. Before she could grab him again, he pulled off her mask.

“Wow… Landlady, your face is soaked with tears! Even your mask is wet, bet there’s snot too?”

His teasing made Xia An’ge flush bright red. Gritting her teeth, she dove into his chest, rubbing her face frantically against his clothes!

“Laugh! Laugh! Laugh again!” Her muffled voice came from his chest.

“…Sh*t…” Gu Zhinan froze. She’d even unzipped his jacket to rub against the cotton T-shirt underneath!

After thoroughly wiping her face, Xia An’ge looked refreshed. Her peach blossom eyes were still red but now glimmered with satisfaction. Her flushed cheeks only made her look cuter.

Gu Zhinan wanted to comment, her expression wasn’t that brave just now, but he silently pulled a fresh mask from his pocket and handed it to her. “Alright, I won’t laugh anymore. Here, put this on.”

“Oh…” Xia An’ge took it, eyeing him curiously. Why carry so many masks?

Once she put on the mask again, Gu Zhinan took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

“Wear this. Now let’s finish the game. We’ve been in here for almost twenty minutes.”

“Wait for me!” Xia An’ge hurriedly slipped her arms into the jacket. Seeing him about to walk away, she panicked, one sleeve still hanging loose as she ran after him, clutching his arm tightly, her peach blossom eyes full of anxiety.

Gu Zhinan sighed softly. “You wait here. I’ll go grab the key. Aren’t you scared of the ghosts in there?”

“I… I’m not scared anymore.” Xia An’ge was more afraid of being left alone.

Gu Zhinan could see it clearly. She hadn’t even finished putting her jacket on properly. He turned her toward him, patiently helping her adjust the jacket and zip it up.

Xia An’ge stared at him, stunned, her blushing earlobes turning even redder. Gu Zhinan’s jacket was way too big for her, making her look even more petite.

“I’m going with you!” Her eyes were still uneasy. Gu Zhinan nodded, and she immediately clung to his arm like a koala.

They headed to the room with the third key fragment. Xia An’ge was getting more anxious, gripping his arm tighter, so much that it hurt.

“It’s fake. Trust science,” Gu Zhinan whispered. She nodded hard but didn’t ease her grip.

At the door, she buried her face in his arm.

“Close your eyes and wait here for one minute?”

Xia An’ge shook her head frantically, but closed her eyes.

“…” If only you had this courage before you came in… Gu Zhinan thought.

He pried her hands off gently. Xia An’ge’s closed eyes twitched in panic, but then felt her left hand being gently held by his warm one.

“This way’s better. Just keep your eyes shut and hold my hand. I’ll lead you.” Gu Zhinan whispered. The little hand gripped his firmly, soft, cool and delicate.

“Hey, under the bed, I see you. Don’t move, thanks.”

As they entered, the lights flickered and the actor hiding under the bed started to crawl out, only for Gu Zhinan to grab a sheet and toss it over her.

“I’m in a hurry. Next time, okay?”

A flat, disheartened voice replied, not the child-like giggle from earlier.

“…” The actor stiffened and awkwardly crawled back under.

Gu Zhinan pulled Xia An’ge further in, another figure stirred, but he ignored it. He spotted a key fragment and a mini-map on the nightstand.

He grabbed both while smiling politely at the ghostly actress. “Nice acting! Five stars!”

The actress was stunned. Normally, people screamed at this moment, but Gu Zhinan simply smiled, princess-carried Xia An’ge, and strode out.

“See you!”

Xia An’ge squeaked in surprise, clutching his shirt tighter without daring to open her eyes.

“Alright, you can open them. We’re out.” Gu Zhinan gently set her down, and checked the mini-map. The exit was on the second-floor stair landing?

Seriously? These designers sure know how to play. No wonder the slit-mouthed woman had been guarding that corner.

Xia An’ge peeked, then grabbed Gu Zhinan’s arm and leaned close, looking at the map too. She gasped and quickly unzipped his jacket, pulling a key fragment from her hoodie.

“This.” She spoke softly.

Gu Zhinan blinked, surprised as he took it. “I thought you were too scared to search your own room! Not bad!”

Xia An’ge didn’t respond, she pinched the soft flesh of his arm instead.

“Ahh!” His scalp tingled. “Stop it or I’ll leave you here!”

Xia An’ge instantly hugged his arm tighter, looking up with pitiful peach blossom eyes.

“I was joking.” Gu Zhinan couldn’t stand that gaze, it was lethal. She still wouldn’t let go.

With all three fragments, Gu Zhinan assembled them into a key.

He grinned slyly. “If you’re done playing tourist, let’s get out and come back another time?”

“I want out! Never again!” Xia An’ge shook her head furiously, vowing never to enter another haunted house.

Gu Zhinan sighed, her clinging felt too sinful. Better to hold hands instead. He took her small hand while she clutched his arm with the other, eyes half-shut as she walked. They reached the stairs. Xia An’ge’s palm was sweaty, but the warmth calmed her.

At the second-floor landing, Gu Zhinan spotted the exit door, painted white with a small lock.

“Don’t come out. Next time, I swear. I’m in a hurry!”

The slit-mouthed woman inside twitched, but the earpiece crackled, “Forget it. Let this fool take his girlfriend and leave. We’re off soon anyway.”

“…Fine.” What could she say after that?

“Who’re you talking to?” Xia An’ge whispered nervously.

“No one.” At the door, Gu Zhinan unlocked the padlock with a click. He pushed the door open, bright hallway lights spilled in.

Xia An’ge thought the colored lights outside had never looked so lovely. But she still grabbed his hand again, she wanted to finish this path to the light holding Gu Zhinan’s hand.

Gu Zhinan said nothing. Her fear would fade with time. “Let’s go. Time to watch the fireworks.”

“Mm!” For once, Xia An’ge happily agreed.