Zian Hausi had reached a conclusion.
A very important conclusion.
A very serious conclusion.
Her life was not peaceful.
She sat on the sofa again.
Same position.
Same tea.
Same attempt at pretending everything was fine.
Status report:
Shadow = talking now.
Fiang Sheng = observing too much.
Sterling = still alive (unfortunately loud).
Pause.
Main issue: Fiang Sheng.
She took a slow sip.
Why is he still looking.
From the hallway—
"THE CAT FOLLOWED ME INTO THE BATHROOM."
Zian didn't react.
Ignore external nonsense.
"…Lock the door," she said calmly.
Sterling appeared.
"…IT OPENED THE DOOR."
Zian blinked.
That cat is evolving.
Huo Lou walked in, laughing already.
"…It pushed it. You didn't close it properly."
Sterling pointed at the cat.
"…IT HAS INTENTIONS."
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
Sterling froze.
"…WAIT—YOU AGREE?"
Zian sipped her tea.
"…It intends to exist."
Huo Lou burst out laughing.
Sterling sat down in defeat.
"…I live with monsters."
Zian leaned back.
Correct.
Silence.
Peace.
Calm.
For exactly—
Three seconds.
Then—
There it is.
Zian felt it instantly.
Not the shadow.
Something else.
A gaze.
Focused.
She turned her head slowly.
Fiang Sheng.
Again.
Looking at her.
Zian stared at him.
"…This is now a routine," she said.
Sterling sat up.
"…ROUND FOUR."
Huo Lou whispered,
"…He's not even hiding it anymore…"
Fiang Sheng didn't look away.
"…You reacted faster this time," he said.
Zian blinked.
We are analyzing reactions now.
"…Yes," she replied.
"…You already expected it," he added.
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
Pause.
Pattern recognition.
Fiang Sheng stepped closer again.
"…You always notice first."
Zian tilted her head slightly.
"…Yes."
Pause.
"…That means it's connected to you," he said.
Silence.
Zian blinked.
Accurate.
But—
Irrelevant to him.
"…Incorrect," she said.
"…It is observing everything."
Fiang Sheng shook his head slightly.
"…No."
Silence.
Zian narrowed her eyes slightly.
Explain.
"…It watches you," he said.
Pause.
Confirmed again.
Zian's mind started connecting faster.
Why.
Why me.
Before she could answer—
Sterling stood up suddenly.
"NEW THEORY."
Zian closed her eyes.
No.
"…No," she said.
Sterling ignored her.
"…WHAT IF YOU ARE THE MAIN CHARACTER."
Silence.
Huo Lou laughed.
"…That explains everything."
Zian blinked.
That explains nothing.
"…Incorrect," she said.
I am just unlucky.
Fiang Sheng almost smiled again.
Zian noticed.
He is smiling more.
Pause.
This is escalating.
Then—
The air changed.
Heavier.
Colder.
Zian stood up instantly.
Now.
The shadow appeared again.
But this time—
Not outside.
Not far.
Right in the room.
Closer than before.
Clearer than before.
Everyone froze.
Sterling slowly grabbed a pillow again.
"…I am emotionally ready."
Zian ignored him.
Focus.
The shadow flickered.
Then spoke.
"…Closer…"
Zian's eyes sharpened.
It's stronger.
"…What do you want," she asked calmly.
The shadow moved.
Toward—
Fiang Sheng.
Zian stepped in front of him instantly.
Again.
Without hesitation.
Without thinking.
Blocking.
Silence.
Fiang Sheng froze.
Again.
The shadow paused.
"…You… protect…"
Zian didn't move.
"…Yes."
Pause.
Always.
"…Why…" the shadow asked.
Zian paused.
Why again.
Her thoughts slowed.
Because I don't want them hurt.
She looked at it.
"…Because it's necessary," she said.
The shadow flickered violently.
"…Danger… grows…"
Zian tilted her head slightly.
"…Then grow faster," she replied.
Sterling whispered,
"…SHE IS CHALLENGING IT."
Huo Lou whispered back,
"…WHY IS SHE LIKE THIS."
The shadow moved closer—
Almost touching—
Then—
It stopped.
Completely still.
"…You… change… things…"
Zian didn't respond.
Not important.
Then—
The shadow shifted direction.
Again.
Toward—
Fiang Sheng.
Zian stepped forward again.
Closer this time.
Completely in front of him.
Blocking everything.
Silence.
Fiang Sheng looked at her.
She didn't hesitate.
Again.
The shadow flickered—
Then—
Vanished.
Gone.
Completely.
Silence filled the room.
Sterling dropped the pillow.
"…I survived again."
Huo Lou exhaled.
"…That's becoming a habit."
Zian turned away.
Temporary peace.
But Fiang Sheng—
Didn't move.
He was still looking at her.
Different now.
Not just observing.
Understanding.
"…You always step in front," he said quietly.
Zian blinked.
We are repeating this.
"…Yes," she replied.
Pause.
"…You don't even think about it," he added.
Zian paused.
…
That was true.
She didn't think.
She just—
Did it.
"…Correct," she said.
Silence.
Then—
"…Why me," he asked.
Zian froze internally.
…That question.
Her thoughts stopped for a second.
Why him.
Pause.
Because he was there.
Because it targeted him.
Because…
She looked away.
"…Closest target," she said.
Sterling whispered,
"…That sounded fake."
Zian blinked.
It was logical.
But Fiang Sheng—
Didn't argue.
He just nodded slowly.
He understood.
Again.
And that—
Was the problem.
Because now—
He didn't just see her actions.
He understood her intentions.
Even the ones she didn't say.
Zian sat down again.
Picked up her tea.
Conclusion:
Shadow = increasing threat.
Fiang Sheng = increasing understanding.
Me = losing peace.
Pause.
This is not efficient.
She took a long sip.
But inside—
Something small shifted again.
Because this time—
When she looked at him—
He didn't look away.
And she—
Didn't immediately look away either.
Pause.
This is bad.
Very bad.
Outside—
The shadow didn't return.
Because it had already seen enough.
For now.
And whatever it was planning—
Would come soon.
And when it did—
It wouldn't just test Zian.
It would test both of them.
Together. 😈🔥