Chapter 80 — You’ve Been Hugging for Four Minutes
Xu Nianshen shook his head helplessly—there really was no way to deal with her.
“Alright, let’s hurry and go. If you keep talking, the staff might not be able to handle it,” Lin Yuejiu said.
“Okay,” she shrugged in concession.
Just as they were about to leave, Lin Yuejiu stopped again. “Wait… did we forget something?”
“You mean the task card?”
“Yes, we haven’t found it yet.”
“Then let’s start looking now.”
Lin Yuejiu looked at the staff member in front of her and smiled. “Sorry, uncle, I might have to move your hat a little. Hope you don’t mind.”
She suspected the task card might be hidden in the hat, so she lifted it. Xu Nianshen checked the staff pockets. Each time they passed someone, they politely said, “Sorry, excuse me.”
Finally, at the last staff member, they found the task card. Together they said, “Thank you, uncle. Thank you for your hard work. Bye-bye!”
They took the task card and continued on.
The remaining staff muttered, “…It’s not our fault—they made the first move. We didn’t do anything.”
The card read: “When you see the next ghost, hug your boyfriend/girlfriend for two minutes.”
Xu Nianshen raised an eyebrow, thinking this part of the task was actually quite nice. Maybe they could come back here next time.
“Let’s hurry,” Lin Yuejiu walked a few steps ahead. “By the way, since the last task is done, can we let go of hands now?”
“Do you feel uncomfortable?” he asked.
“A little, but it’s warm. My palm is sweating; I’m afraid I’ll make your hand dirty.”
Xu Nianshen noticed it too and released her hand. The warmth faded, leaving a cool touch.
Lin Yuejiu breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She had never held hands with anyone, especially not fingers interlaced like this, and now they had held hands for so long. She could still feel the warmth radiating from his palm, the subtle friction of his fingers brushing hers every now and then—tingly and ticklish.
They reached the next door and slowly pushed it open. A ghost swooped down from the ceiling, landing right in front of them. Lin Yuejiu’s eyes widened at the terrifying face—but before she could react, she was pulled into a warm embrace and held tightly.
Blinking, she realized her chin rested on his shoulder. His black, tousled hair brushed gently against her cheek, like someone softly caressing her face. They were so close that she could smell the faint fragrance of his clothes and even hear his steady heartbeat, strong and rhythmic. Lin Yuejiu felt a calm she had never experienced before, and… a sense of safety.
All of it from him.
She slowly raised her hands to hug his waist. They were pressed close together, and she nuzzled against his shoulder slightly.
Xu Nianshen’s body tensed for a moment. His Adam’s apple moved as he tightened his hold.
His chin rested on her shoulder, slightly behind, and the warm breath from his nose brushed her exposed skin, causing a small shiver.
After some time, she softly asked, “Has two minutes passed?”
Xu Nianshen hadn’t replied yet when the ghost-actor staff, watching them, held up a watch and said teasingly, “Time’s up. You’ve been hugging for four minutes.”
Xu Nianshen: “…”
The thought of hugging again before letting her go vanished instantly.
“Xu Nianshen?” Lin Yuejiu called, still holding him.
Though begrudgingly, Xu Nianshen finally let go.
“Let’s go to the next door.”
“Mm.”
The ghost-actor staff obediently opened the door for them, handing over the task card they had been holding before letting them pass.
As the two walked away, the staff member recalled the slightly annoyed glance from earlier. Expressionless on the outside, he thought to himself, If I ever agree to do this kind of task again, I’m a fool.
Watching couples, seeing them hug, feeding on their affection—then opening doors and handing out task cards afterward? No matter how much they paid next time, he wouldn’t do it again.
“Does the task card say anything?” Xu Nianshen asked.
“It just says the answer will be revealed at the next door,” Lin Yuejiu replied.
“Then let’s hurry.”
At the next door, they looked around but found no hints.
“What exactly is this task?” Lin Yuejiu murmured.
Xu Nianshen thought for a moment. “Since there’s no hint, whatever we need to do will probably reveal itself soon.”
No sooner had he spoken than a vague, indistinct figure rushed toward them. Before Lin Yuejiu could react, Xu Nianshen’s quick reflexes pulled her into his arms. The figure didn’t aim directly at them but brushed past, deliberately bumping Xu Nianshen’s back and tripping him slightly. Xu Nianshen stabilized himself just in time, placing a hand behind Lin Yuejiu’s head.
They both fell to the ground, Lin Yuejiu beneath, Xu Nianshen on top.
Blinking, Lin Yuejiu looked up at his face and instinctively asked, “You’re okay, right?”
“I’m fine. And you? Did you hit anything?”
Lin Yuejiu shook her head. “What was that thing just now?”
“Not sure, didn’t see clearly. Probably something the staff arranged.”
She suddenly laughed. “They really know how to add new tricks. Don’t you think?”
Xu Nianshen, one hand on the floor and the other protecting her head, smiled. “Yeah, a haunted house adventure doing everything we hadn’t done before—like forcing couples to get closer, all in one go.”
Lin Yuejiu looked at him with interest. “Is there anything you’ve wanted to do with me but haven’t yet? Let me count: holding hands, interlaced fingers, hugging, wall slam—no, floor slam. Seems we’ve done all of that. What’s left?”
Xu Nianshen’s dark eyes met hers, reading the innocent curiosity in them. A small curve lifted his lips. “There’s one thing left.”
“What’s left?” she asked instinctively.
Suddenly, Xu Nianshen leaned down, bringing his face close to hers.
Seeing his suddenly close face, Lin Yuejiu held her breath. She felt the warm touch on her forehead. Raising her eyes, she could only see his Adam’s apple and the strong line of his jaw.
Xu Nianshen placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“A kiss was left,” he said.
Lin Yuejiu felt her entire body tingle, the spot he kissed burning with heat. Her heartbeat raced, her chest fluttering wildly.
Seeing her ears flush, Xu Nianshen’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Ready to get up?”
Only then did Lin Yuejiu realize how intimate their position had been—him on top, her below.
Xu Nianshen stood first, then helped her up. As they straightened, they noticed some of the staff watching from their posts.
They saw all of that just now?
…Oh, no.
