Chapter 42 - Operation-Seducing Linfeng: The Date (VII)

A comfortable silence exist between the two of them.

Xiong Zhi was still holding Linfeng's hand and had no plan to let go. Linfeng was holding their stuff in his other hand. They were on their way towards the horror booth.

Of course, this move was on Xiong Zhi and Song Xuantin's planner. It was a simple plan. The girl will be afraid in the dark, ghosts, monster or whatever horror it was and hug the man out of fear. She can then hug the boy all the way. And the protectiveness of the boy will come out and the girl needs to capture it. Capture his heart. A perfect plan.

After paying the ticket, and putting their stuff in the counter, they entered the booth.

Inside the horror booth was a dark tunnel. The lights were far away from each other and was flickering. However it was enough to let them see the bloody decorations and small gaps enough for a person to hide.

Their walk was slow accompanied by a creepy music.

Suddenly a bloody man came out from the nearest small gap from them. He had a knife in his back. He blocked their way and cried.

"Help! Help!" But the two just passed him. No one was even startled .

In second gap, a girl with a long black hair covering her face and wearing a white bloody dress crawled out from the gap. She then reached out her pale bloody hands to touch them. She managed to caught Linfeng's feet. She crawled and tried to stand up with her hands using Linfeng as her stand.

Xiong Zhi narrowed her eyes as the ghost in bloody white hug Linfeng's knees. She then lowered her body and struggled to pull away the girl from Linfeng. Xiong Zhi glared at the ghost. Even she was a ghost, no touching Linfeng!

Linfeng on the other hand was amused. He waited for Xiong Zhi's screams and scared expression. But as usual she was quiet. He was startled a little of Xiong Zhi's action. Is she protecting him? He liked the idea. He could not help but smile.

However Xiong Zhi was having a dilemma. When she will be scared? She tried to be scared but its not scary. It just dark with men in costumes. She thought it will be scary. Does it mean she have to act scared? Then she needs timing. She looked ahead. Two meters away from them is a small gap. She readied herself to scream and yelped. When they were in front of the gap, a ruined bloody doll appeared suddenly. It had no eyes and it was singing with a mechanical voice.

Xiong Zhi looked at the abandoned doll and pitied it. She had no heart to be afraid of it. And scream to it. It was even blind. How sad. The doll might be offended.

'Sorry.  Doll .'

Xiong Zhi suddenly screamed and hug Linfeng's arm. Linfeng was startled at first because of her scream.

Then he put his hands to her face to cover her eyes. And hugged her back. He wasn't even aware of what he was doing.

Xiong Zhi, just enjoyed the warm embrace of Linfeng. They stayed like that for two minutes. After the creepy doll stopped singing. Linfeng lead the way to get out of the tunnel. Xiong Zhi was still clinging into his arm happily.

The dark tunnel, the bloody wall, and the creepy music was like heaven to her. She felt like she was in the majestic place strolling with Linfeng.  

She did not mind the ghosts and the monsters that suddenly came out from the gap trying to scare them. She even smiled a little at them and if she could she might probably greet them a 'good day!' Oh! She is really in good mood!

They were now at the last gap and after that turn they knew they were nearing at the end of the tunnel.

Suddenly, a bloody clown appeared wearing a horrendous big smile. Blood splattered in his ghastly face and colorful costume. He was carrying a knife. A soft, slow music accompanied him as he took a slow step towards them.

They stopped abruptly. Xiong Zhi felt Linfeng stiffened and his breathing stopped. Xiong Zhi looked at the clown and she tried to by passed him when she felt that the man she was holding was not moving. She turned to look at Linfeng who was still frozen on his spot. Linfeng stared blankly at the clown. His face was pale but look normal. He was just...cold.

"Linfeng? Are you okay?" Xiong Zhi tugged at Linfeng worriedly. The man was scaring her. Linfeng jolted awake and gulped. He look to Xiong Zhi and Xiong Zhi felt that Linfeng's hold on her hand tightened.

"I-its nothing..." He swallowed again and took a step forward. However the bloody clown blocked their way and smiled creepily.

Linfeng stiffened once again. Xiong Zhi could see how he was sweating so much. But his temperature was cold. Is he sick?

Her cold hand touched Linfeng's slender neck to check his temperature. Linfeng was startled by the sudden cold feeling in his neck. He shivered and let out a gasped. He quickly back away from that hand.

However, due to his shock, he out balanced and dragged Xiong Zhi along. He fell in his butt and Xiong Zhi landed in his lap. They look at each other, wide-eyed, both hearts stopped beating.

"...." Linfeng

"....." Xiong Zhi

"....." The clown

The clown practiced smile become stiff. How come the horror that he was waiting for was turn into a romance instead?

(A/N: duhhh...didn't you read the tag? It's romance! )

***[RR]: who you're talking too?***

(A/N: nothing...just read like you always do.)

***[RR]: so mean....you started it... You just pop out. Get out now! It's their good time!***

Xiong Zhi's face was very close to Linfeng. Though there was not enough light to illuminate them, it still not hinder the two too observe closely each other's features. For the first time, in both past and present, Xiong Zhi have a close look at Linfeng. As close as ten centimeters apart. She could see clearly how his dark orbs frozen with shocked, a undescribable glint past in his eyes, then recognition followed by embarrassment. She could see how his pale face transformed into darker shade. Probably red, Since Xiong Zhi could felt the sudden change of his temperature from cold to hot. Linfeng coughed and apologized .

"I-I'm deeply sorry young miss. I'm careless. Are you hurt?"

Xiong Zhi was still sitting on Linfeng's lap. She did not intend to stand up. Not after she found comfortable in her position. Besides, this was the first time she had close proximity with Linfeng. She would not lose this chance. Also....Xiong Zhi looked sharply at Linfeng. This guy returned to call her 'young miss' again.

Sensing that Xiong Zhi still not moving from his lap. He gently asked her.

"Did you receive shock young miss?" Why you are still not standing up?

"Yes. I did. I'm just calming myself." Let me just stay here for a while.

"Ohh..then let's get out of this tunnel to rest. We are near the exit anyway." Please stand up...

"I'm still shocked." Linfeng smell good...

She even sniffed his neck in a very close proximity. A little closer- like just two centimeter away- and she will be kissing his delicate neck.

Linfeng got goosebumps. His heart beat erratically.

'This had to be stopped!'

He then carried Xiong Zhi from his lap to his arm. Giving a glare at the clown who stand on their way, the forgotten clown quickly back away and even bowed to their direction. He just stand up straight after the couple was gone. Ahh! He thought he would have a good show!

Linfeng was nearing at the exit holding Xiong Zhi in his arms. Xiong Zhi did not complain or struggled out of Linfeng's hold. She was enjoying it. She circled her arms around Linfeng's neck. Oh! This day is her favorite day!

Then she remembered how Linfeng acted earlier.

"Linfeng, are you scared of clowns?" Xiong Zhi blurted out her guessed.

Linfeng stopped for a moment. Then he lowered his head trying to hide his face with a faint red of embarrassment. How could he answer that question. Isn't it a taboo for a man to admit their weakness in front of a girl? Especially if its mere as clowns.

When he was a child, he was exposed to dangerous things. Fights, weapons, bombs, everything that he need to learn to secure the safety of his masters. Then one day, a phycologists entered the training area. He would teach them how to fight hypnotism and also to found out their weakness. After many trials to determine his weakness, they already used height, knives, wild animals, insects, even ghosts and monstrous creatures, they haven't found his weakness or the thing he was afraid of. The truth is he was afraid a little, but did not show it. Until one trial, they locked him in a dark room, he saw a clown with bloody clothes holding a knife and murdering someone. He just found out later that it was a maniquen with red paint he was stabbing. But that time, as an eight year old child, to be with a same room with a heartless killer and witnessing a murder really scared him shitless and left him traumatized. But he was a trained child to not let his emotions resurfaced. Until the trial was done, he was silent. He did not even beg to let him out. He only endured silently. And he passed the trial with flying colors.

A tug in his clothes brought him back to the present.

Xiong Zhi's brow were furrowed deeply. Being close with Linfeng she saw how his eyes changed from shame to loneliness and an emotion she could not decipher. She felt she touched a memory that Linfeng did not want to remember. This brought a stabbed in her chest. There are many things she did not know about Linfeng. What color does he like? What is his ultimate wish? Nothing, she knew nothing. Another stabbed. However, she was determined to know it all.

Xiong Zhi reached out her hand and touched Linfeng's cheek. Her hand was cold but her gaze was warm.

"I'm here. I'll always stay by your side. If I can I'll promise to protect you. So what if your afraid of clown? This not make you a less man, but more human instead. I-i did not hate it. I love it. So don't be ashamed." Xiong Zhi said sincerely.

Her soft voice was a melodious tone in Linfeng's ears. Her words brought an incredible warmth in his heart. Again, the feeling like he was full and suffocated resurfaced. His breathing hitched. Her cold hand was burning in his system. He stared at those stary-eyes that was deep with emotions. For the first time, Linfeng boldly stared at Xiong Zhi. Examining her features, memorizing every detail of her face.

She was really beautiful. So beautiful that Linfeng wanted to keep her. To claim her. And be his.

If he could....if only ..

Tink tink tink

The two was startled by the sound .

"I think our time here is done." Linfeng said instead. He wanted to say something earlier. He was relieved he did not say it but at the same time he also felt lost. Like he lose a chance.

"En." Xiong Zhi's only reply.

They existed the tunnel. Xiong Zhi was put down and they get their stuff.