Crimson Chambers Part 7

The stranger's face was covered with the moist dust from the rag and had become twenty shades darker than his original complexion. All compassion and kindness seemed to fade and there only remained an expression of dismay on his face. The stranger's hazel eyes were filled with fury, which was frightening. Kind of like a sea, which seems harmless until waves crash upon its surface.

"What is this?" He questioned to break the awkward silence.

"Uh... I honestly don't know. I am good for nothing." He muttered as he bowed his head, avoiding eye contact.

"He is! He is a good for nothing indeed!" Bo Jian exclaimed from behind.

"Yeah, you can say that. Now, will you please excuse me?" Yu Han brushed past Bo Jian ran upstairs. Shortly after, they saw the door being banged and heard the locks click.

"I did not mean to offend him." The stranger said.

"Don't worry sir. He is a tough nut to crack. Right now, if my intuition is correct, he is watching food vlogs on YouTube." Bo Jian looked back towards the door.

The stranger walked towards the staircase, where Bo Jian was standing. "Can I go upstairs?" His voice manifested guilt. "I want to apologize to him."

"Your wish is my command sir!" Bo Jian exclaimed, startling the stranger.

The stranger walked past Bo Jian, climbing the stairs in order to reach to the room. He stood in front of the oak wood door and stared at it with a blank face, unable to contemplate anything. The slivers of wood emerging from the old door seemed to attack his conscience and his mind was blank, his body paralyzed. Somehow, he managed to muster up his courage and forced his hand to knock on the door. A chill ran down his spine, as he noticed the door was not locked.

'Should I go in?' He swallowed a lump in his throat as he nudged the door.

"May I come in?" The stranger muttered as he shifted his gaze down to the floor, noticing the mess upon the creaking wood floor. There were countless papers scrambled around. Thick papers, blotting papers, brown envelopes, lined papers and some costly paper cut outs lying around.

"What is all this paper for?" His voice trembled as he forced himself to look up.

Yu Han's face seemed to drown in despair but his deep, brown eyes seemed full of hope. A beautiful manifestation of irony that the stranger couldn't stop looking at. For some reason, there was an unnatural glow on Yu Han's face and he seemed like an angel. The stranger tilted his head towards the side to see the source of the glow. It was the laptop screen, blasting with full brightness. He was startled.

'So this was the reason.'

"What are you doing here?" Sam questioned in anger, forcing him back to reality.

"I... uh... wanted to apologize." He stuttered.

"You don't have to apologize to this lowly being, sir." Sam got up from his chair and proceeded with a slow stride towards the stranger, who stood by the bed.

The stranger continued staring at Yu Han who seemed like a judge coming forth to announce his judgement regarding his crime. The stern expression of his face and the intent gaze made his face sweat. Within no time, he saw his death standing firmly in front of him. " I am really sorry, your honour!" He exclaimed as he fell down on Yu Han's feet.

Yu Han stepped away. "What is he doing?" He questioned to Bo Jian, who was standing by the door. Bo Jian said nothing, but shrugged to confirm his lack of knowledge.

Yu Han moved the papers aside and sat on the floor. The stranger heard the crumpling of papers and looked up. Both their eyes met and they felt an intangible spark tingling their nerves and senses.

Yu Han noticed something peculiar about the stranger's eyes. The longer you stared at them, the more you realise that there is a sadness that is ready to engulf you. His melancholic, intent gaze could send chills down one's spine.

"What are you both doing?" Bo Jian questioned, as the atmosphere became awkward.

"Uh... I was... forget it." Yu Han struggled to get up and was half standing but right then, he stepped on a piece of glossy paper and fell down, this time right on the stranger. The stranger yelled out loud.

"I think I should just leave." Bo Jian ran down the stairs as fast as he could.

It was quite natural for him to run. After all, any normal person would flinch at that sight. Only fudanshis could find it exciting and there was no way he was one. Yu Han had fallen in the direction opposite to that of the stranger and his face rested on the stranger's back while the stranger's face was under his abdomen, potraying an image that was not suitable for innocent minds.

"Get off me right now!" The stranger's voice seemed asphyxiated.