Chapter 10 : In the stranger’s gaze

Meng Yu ventured further into the forest, the cool night air brushing against his skin, creating a chill within him. The soft crunch of leaves underfoot seemed amplified, a constant reminder of his solitude. However, tonight, the forest appeared different—darker, more vibrant. The cherry blossoms surrounding him swayed gently in the breeze, their petals cascading like soft whispers, enhancing the haunting tranquility of the night.

In spite of the beauty enveloping him, Meng Yu couldn't dismiss the odd discomfort nibbling at him. His heart raced in his chest, restless and agitated. It wasn't the forest per se—he had traversed this path many times, the familiar route leading him to the river, where the blossoms flourished the most—but tonight, there was something in the atmosphere, something enticing him deeper into the heart of the woods. Something—or someone.

A faint aroma drifted toward him, subtle yet recognizable. It was the scent of wine, lush and intoxicating, blending with the earthy hint of rosewood. Meng Yu's steps faltered, his breath halting in his throat. He froze, paralyzed, as his heart skipped a beat. The fragrance—he recognized it, recognized it from the fleeting dreams that stalked his nights, the dreams that left him longing for something he couldn't fully grasp.

He had never encountered the individual who bore this scent, yet somehow, he was aware it was linked to his unease. His omega instincts surged—a primal compulsion to escape, to evade whatever peril may be lurking nearby. The scent was too potent, too dominating compared to his own. His body responded involuntarily, his limbs quaking with the instinct to flee.

Yet, there was a pull in his chest. Something that contradicted his instincts, that overpowered the fear surging through his veins. His curiosity, his yearning to understand, propelled him onward. The scent was luring him in, drawing him deeper into the forest.

With every step, the air thickened, charged with an almost electrifying resonance. The rustling of the leaves intensified, and the moonlight streamed through the trees, casting silvery rays onto the path ahead. The cherry blossoms surrounding him seemed to radiate in the night, their petals glistening like delicate stars, each one softly drifting to the ground as if responding to the unseen presence he was approaching.

And then, he spotted him.

There, by the riverbank, stood the stranger. His presence appeared to merge with the night itself, his black and white form striking against the gloom, yet so ethereal it almost seemed unreal. The man sat on the grass, his legs extended before him, the cherry blossoms around him bowing as if honoring his presence. It was as if the very atmosphere had altered, thickening with an ancient, invisible energy.

Meng Yu's breath caught in his throat. He couldn't avert his gaze. His heart raced, pounding in his chest as if it, too, were attracted to the stranger. The man appeared so… surreal, so breathtaking, that for a moment, Meng Yu questioned whether he was still dreaming.

Then, the stranger turned. His golden eyes caught the moonlight, glowing softly, dark as the void. They fixed onto Meng Yu's, and time seemed to elongate, each second stretching longer than the previous one. It was as though the world had halted, holding its breath for this moment, for this encounter.

"Are you finished staring? " The stranger's voice was deep, resonating through the night air. It sent a shiver down Meng Yu's spine, his skin tingling with an unusual mix of fear and something else—something perilous, something exhilarating.

Meng Yu's face blushed a deep red, his heart racing, his thoughts in disarray. He wasn't certain what to do, whether to flee or to speak. In the end, his legs felt immobilized, anchored to the ground. "I wasn't… I apologize," he stammered, his voice quiet, barely audible. He hastily bowed his head, his eyes tightly shut, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment. His hands shook at his sides, betraying the surge of emotions he could not fully contain.

The stranger's gentle chuckle reached his ears, a sound so smooth and warm that it sent a wave of unease through Meng Yu. "What brings you here? " His voice was rich, deep, almost melodic. It captivated Meng Yu, making him want to remain, to listen, to learn more. It caused him to forget his instincts, forget the warning his body was screaming.

"I… I intended to… thank you for our last encounter," Meng Yu said, his words stumbling, his heart fluttering in his chest as he spoke. He wasn't sure if the words conveyed anything, but they were all he could think of.

The stranger's expression softened for a moment, a flash of something indefinable in his eyes before he looked away, back toward the flowing river. His voice, when he spoke again, was softer, almost unfocused. "You shouldn't wander so far," he murmured. "There are many individuals like that in this world. Individuals who won't hesitate to claim you. "

Meng Yu's heart skipped a beat at the stranger's words, a chill trailing down his spine. "What do you mean? " he blurted out, his curiosity ignited, his mind racing. His omega instincts sensed the peril in those words, but something deeper within him urged him to stay, to comprehend.

"Why did you rescue me? " Meng Yu inquired before he could restrain himself, his voice barely above a murmur. It felt like an unanswerable question, one he had been carrying since their initial encounter, one he desperately needed to know the answer to.

The unknown person's stare became frosty and impossible to decipher. "Didn't you wish for me to rescue you? " His tone was straightforward, yet there was a sharpness in it that caused Meng Yu's heart to tighten. The atmosphere surrounding them appeared to grow denser, the night pausing in anticipation once more.

"No! " Meng Yu exclaimed, the words escaping him before he could hold them back. "I mean… no," he fumbled, his breath escaping in rapid, shallow gasps. His chest constricted, and he felt as though he couldn't catch his breath, his body betraying him with its quickened heartbeat. "I… I simply wanted to understand… why. "

The stranger appeared to ponder him for a prolonged moment, his golden eyes shimmering with something inscrutable. Then, his lips twisted into a subtle, nearly playful smile. "You remind me of someone," he spoke, his voice little more than a murmur, as if it were a secret he wasn't supposed to disclose.

"Who? " Meng Yu inquired eagerly, his heart racing in his chest, longing for an answer, for some clarity.

"That's not crucial," the stranger responded, his voice remote, abruptly ending the conversation as though it were a subject too perilous to explore. He rose to his feet, looming over Meng Yu with an air of finality, his figure shrouded in the darkness. "Go home," he instructed, his tone flat, though there was a trace of something deeper behind his words. "You're bothersome. "

Meng Yu's mouth fell open, shocked by the sudden rejection. He hadn't anticipated the stranger to turn away, to leave him there in the stillness of the night. The words caught in his throat, but before he could utter anything, the stranger had vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the faint aroma of wine and rosewood in the air, lingering like a memory.

Meng Yu remained frozen, gazing at the vacant space where the stranger had stood. His heart felt heavy, the pain of unexpressed thoughts occupying the emptiness left behind. Why did he keep vanishing like that? Why did he feel compelled to pursue him endlessly?

With a sigh, Meng Yu turned to depart, but the night had transformed. The cherry blossoms, the river's current, the distant resonance of the stranger's voice—all of it remained in his thoughts, filling him with a longing he couldn't identify, a desire he didn't comprehend.