image [https://img.wattpad.com/b471a7e619cff408b3f7e569679b148461112f52/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f6e4d6472386b4a4e384c38354e773d3d2d313335363234303636342e313830633430363564363231376330353232363237343935313933332e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Without thinking, Ningshun slipped off his black leather jacket and shook it out. Before Meilin could register what was happening, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Her breath hitched as he pulled her gently into his chest, his hand cradling the back of her head as he held her close, guiding her against his torso. His hold was firm yet gentle, as though he were protecting something fragile. She looked up at him, wide-eyed and trembling, but he did not meet her gaze just yet.

Instead, he lifted the jacket and draped it over both of them. His arm remained securely around her, the other holding the jacket in place, shielding her from the shadows and eerie surroundings.

Underneath its shelter, the world outside faded away, leaving only him. Her face, lit up by the faint glow of the ride's lights, tilted upward as she searched his eyes. He gazed down at her, his gaze soft yet burning with intensity, his lips parting slightly as if he wanted to say something but could not find the words.

"Don't look at them," he murmured finally, voice low and soothing. "Just... look at me."

Her lashes fluttered, her fear slowly easing as her focus shifted entirely to him. The steady rise and fall of his chest under her hands, the warmth of his arm around her, and the security of his jacket over them—it all felt safe, intimate, and tender.

"You're okay," Ningshun whispered, his eyes never leaving hers, as if silently willing her to believe it. "I've got you, Meilin."

Her body trembled in his embrace, but slowly, she relaxed into his arms, the tension slowly draining from her.

She stayed still, her trembling breaths gradually evening out as her cheek pressed against his chest. Beneath her ear, his heartbeat pounded steadily, a rhythmic lullaby that seemed to chase away the fear haunting her.

Her eyelids fluttered shut as the warmth of his embrace cocooned her. The chaos outside—phantoms and monsters—faded into the background. All she could focus on was that heartbeat, grounding her in the moment.

Ningshun, however, was far from calm. Feeling her against his chest sent his nerves into overdrive, every beat of his heart hammering louder in his ears, suspecting that she had already heard it as he fought the urge to pull away.

He shifted slightly, his arm tightening around her, holding her steady. His gaze darted to the side, as if he could will away his flustered state. 'Focus, Ningshun. She's scared—you're just helping her. That's all.'

His heartbeat beneath her ear comforted her, melting away her fear with each thrum of his heartbeat like a soothing melody that resonated deep within her. The haunting noises and flickering lights of the ride faded into nothingness, leaving only the gentle rise and fall of his breathing beneath her cheek.

But then Meilin's hand moved. Slowly, tentatively, it slid upward from his waist, brushing against the fabric of his shirt, feeling every curve of his abs along the way. It stopped just below his chest, and he shuddered. But when her fingers resumed their ascent, trailing upward over his chest, he froze.

A jolt of heat rushed through him, his breath catching in his throat. His grip on the jacket faltered for a moment as his jaw tightened. Her eyes were wide and innocent, unaware of the hurricane she had unleashed in him. She was not doing it on purpose—he knew that. But it did not make it any easier.

Her palm settled lightly over his chest, right next to her face, where his heart raced beneath her touch. He clenched his teeth, trying to ignore the fiery path her fingers had left behind. 'Calm down, calm down,' he chanted internally, though every nerve in his body jolted him.

Ningshun's gaze dropped to her hand, delicate and resting on his chest, its warmth spreading through the thin fabric of his shirt and setting his nerves on fire. His instincts screamed at him to move it—to yank it away before he lost whatever composure he had left. His fingers twitched, hovering above hers for a moment. But he fought against the urge with everything he had.

Slowly, hesitantly, his hand descended, brushing against hers. He rested his palm over her fingers, his heartbeat hammering beneath their joined hands. His fingers curved slightly, enclosing hers with tenderness.

Meilin felt his fingers shift, intertwining gently with hers, their warmth wrapping around her trembling hand like a shield. He took her breath away, and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. Slowly, she tilted her head back, peeking up at him from beneath the jacket's edge. Her wide, emotional eyes met his, whispering, "Thank you, Ningshun... truly."

Her words, so full of heartfelt emotion, struck something deep within him. His chest tightened, and a warmth that had nothing to do with their closeness spread through him. Without realizing it, his thumb began to trace delicate circles over her hand, his touch impossibly tender. The rhythmic motion sent a flutter racing through her chest, her pulse quickening under his quiet, unspoken care, and for a moment, the haunted mansion faded away.

His voice, tight with restraint, barely came out. "No problem... Meilin." He said her name with such intimacy and compassion. He shifted his gaze downward, finding hers without meaning to. Her hand rested lightly in his, so unassuming, yet it felt like it burned into his soul. His arm tightened around her slightly, the jacket still cloaking them. "Just... stay here," he whispered hoarsely, unable to fully meet her gaze. "Until it ends."

"But... I don't want it to end."

He met her eyes. "I thought you hated this ride."

She snuggled closer to his chest, murmuring, "Not if you're here with me... like this."

Ningshun's breath caught at her words, her soft murmur sending a flood of warmth through him that left him utterly defenseless. His heart raced, hammering in his chest like a wild drum, as if trying to break free. Her closeness—her trust, her vulnerability—was overwhelming, and he could not stop himself from glancing at her. The way she nestled into him, so at ease, so genuine, left him undone.

She had no idea what she was doing to him. Each word and gentle shift of her body against his, deepened the pull she had on his heart. His breathing grew uneven, his chest rising and falling faster. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. For the first time in a long time, Ningshun, who always had an answer, was utterly speechless.

When the ride finally slowed to a stop, the guy stationed at the exit leaned toward them, a grin on his face as he gestured toward the exit. "Alright, lovebirds, time to get up."

Still cloaked under his jacket, she stirred but did not move right away. He stiffened, every nerve in his body on edge, the guy's words only amplifying the irregular pounding of his heart. His breathing was ragged now, and he barely managed to stammer, "Y-Yeah, right. We're... we're going."

As Meilin finally shifted and the jacket slipped slightly, Ningshun let out a shaky breath, glad to be stepping off the ride—if only to calm the chaos she had unleashed within him.

He barely turned to avoid her gaze as he extended his hand and waited, only to feel no pressure against it. He cleared his throat, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before turning fully toward her, taking in the flush on her cheek. "Hey... you coming?" He curved his fingers, palm up.

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She gazed at him, wide-eyed, then gave a slight nod before her hand reached out. Her fingers lightly caressed his wrist, traveling up to his palm before grasping it, and he gently pulled her toward him.

Dusting herself off, she smiled at him and stammered, "I... I'll go take a look at the, uh... pictures! Catch you in a minute, alright?"

He stared at her, blinking as if shaken awake. "Yeah, you do that..."

"Uh, Ningshun?"

"Huh?"

"You'd have to let go of my hand first." She smiled, trying to free her hand from his grip.

He lowered his gaze to their joined hands, a rush of heat creeping up his neck and settling in his cheeks as he realized he had been holding her hand the whole time. Quickly, he released her. "I have a phone call to make. You go first."

Meilin nodded and hurried off, leaving him staring at her retreating figure. His eyes followed her, slowing as if trying to capture every detail. Slowly, almost involuntarily, his hand twitched, and he found himself curling his fingers in the same motion they had taken when her warmth had seeped into him, her hand fitting perfectly in his. The touch was still fresh in his mind—her hand so soft, so trusting in his.

He gave a shaky exhale as his heart tightened. It was as if her presence had never left, remaining in the empty space where her fingers had once rested. 'What... did I do?'

He could not help but lift his hand to his chest. His fingers flexed, half-expecting to feel her hand there again. He shifted his gaze back to her, unable to tear his eyes away as she stood there, absorbed in the pictures from the ride.

~*~

Meilin's breath caught in her throat as their photo loaded on the screen, as if the image had captured something more than she had imagined. In it, she had wrapped her arms around Ningshun's neck, holding him close while he gazed down at her with a soft, unreadable expression. Her heart fluttered as she studied the photo, the way they were positioned together—so close, so intimate—as if it spoke more than words ever could.

She bit her lip. The image felt too precious to leave behind.

Without a second thought, she asked the lady to print it out, secretly deciding to keep it for herself. She did not want anyone else to see it—not yet. Not until she had time to understand the feelings beating in her chest.

Lowering her face, a tender smile crept onto her lips, allowing the warmth of the moment to settle in her heart. 'Ningshun... you're so sweet.'

Just as the print was finalized, the sound of footsteps made her heart skip. She quickly reset the screen and tried to compose herself. But the coziness of the image—the memory of his gaze and their breaths mingling—remained imprinted in her heart. She turned to face Ningshun, now standing beside her, frozen.

His eyes narrowed as he scanned Kaili and Yuming's photo on the screen. His frown deepened when he caught Kaili's hand resting too inappropriately on Yuming, whose uncomfortable reaction only made it worse. "Kaili," he muttered through gritted teeth, stepping forward to shield her from the disappointment in his eyes.

But then, he glimpsed the photo of him and Meilin, where she embraced him. The way he stared at her in that moment, the close proximity, the intensity—it struck something deep within him.

He turned to her, who was gazing idly in another direction. 'Good. She didn't see this.' Clearing his throat, he called, "Hey, Meilin." As her attention shifted to him, he continued, "I'll catch up with you... Give me a minute."

She nodded and left. Once out of sight, he immediately turned to the saleswoman.

"I want this picture." He pointed to their photo. "And place it in this frame..." His finger shifted to a dark-brown frame. 'This one looks the sturdiest, and it has the color of...' A faint smile graced his lips.

The saleswoman nodded, surprised but polite. "Sure." She gazed at him with curiosity before setting to work, placing the picture in the photo frame. "This okay?"

Once Ningshun received the frame, his fingers caressed the glass, his gaze softening. He stroked the edges, memorizing the moment with a tender smile. "Yes, it's perfect."

She placed the photo frame in the box and closed it. "A present for your girlfriend?" she inquired, handing him the box inside a bag.

He stiffened, blinking. "No, we're just..." He let out a deep breath as the lady fell silent before straightening up and walking toward the exit.

However, in the midst of it all, his phone rang, freezing him in place. Picking it up, his eyes widened, and his hand trembled.

~*~

Meilin walked slowly, her thoughts swirling. She had not imagined that the fuzziness in her heart could feel so... natural.

'He's always there for me... He comforts me, makes me laugh...' Her lips curved into a wistful smile, and her steps faltered as her expression softened. 'But maybe... maybe I could be there for him, too. Maybe I could help him feel that he doesn't have to carry everything alone... that I'm here for him... that he doesn't have to be strong all the time.' She longed to see him smile again, truly smile—not just that faint, polite curve of his lips, but something real, something unguarded. 'I'll tell him. I'll let him know.'

Fast footsteps broke her thoughts. She turned, heart leaping as Ningshun jogged toward her, both urgent and hesitant.

"Meilin," he called as he stopped before her, his voice carrying guilt. "I... I really have to go."

Her heart sank, but she kept it from showing. "Oh," she said softly, her tone faltering. "Sure, I... I understand."

He met her gaze, his mint-green eyes conflicted, as though he wanted to say more but could not find the words. "I'm sorry. It's just... something important came up." He hesitated, then added in a quieter voice, "I'll make it up to you."

She nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "It's fine. Really."

But it was not fine. It was not that he was leaving; what hurt was the timing—that she had lost her chance to make him feel better.

She observed him stride away, her chest tensing as each step of his took him farther from her. Her gaze lowered, her shoulders sinking with her unsaid words. 'Why couldn't I say it?'

Her fists clenched at her sides, her chest aching as Ningshun disappeared into the crowd. Yet, even as he vanished from sight, his presence lingered—strong, steady, and unreachable.

For the first time, she felt how deeply she wanted to be by his side—not just when she needed him, but when he needed her, too.

As she stood there, lost in thought, Yuming's cheerful voice broke through. "Meilin! There you are!" The group hurried toward her, beaming with relief on their faces.

Meilin managed a small smile. "Hey. Ningshun had to leave early. Something came up."

Yuming frowned. "He left? That's too bad. I wanted to talk to him about..." She trailed off, her expression souring. "Actually, forget it."

Meilin raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"I'm mad at Kaili!" Yuming snapped, turning to face him, hands on her hips.

Meilin blinked. "Mad? Why?"

"He grabbed my..." Yuming whispered, then her voice rose, "in the haunted mansion!"

"It was an accident!" Kaili raised his hands in protest. "I swear! I panicked! You know how terrifying that horned thing was!"

Yuming glared. "Terrifying enough to lose your decency?"

As the group continued walking, the atmosphere between them tensed.

Yuming folded her arms, still fuming as she glared at Kaili. "You're lucky I haven't decked you yet."

"For the last time, I didn't mean to!" Kaili defended. "The thing jumped at me, and I—"

"Scared or not, you crossed a line!" Yuming snapped, her voice shaking with anger.

Meilin, walking behind them, monitored the exchange with unease as the group fell into an awkward silence. Searching for something to lift their spirits, she spotted the rollercoaster in the distance, twisting like a python.

"Let's go to the rollercoaster, guys!" Meilin's excitement broke through.

Everyone turned toward it, the looping tracks and riders' screams drawing their attention.

"You want to go on that?" Yuming asked, her tone lightening a little.

Meilin nodded. "Yeah. Let's do it."

The group exchanged glances before agreeing, and quickened their pace toward the ride.

On their way to the rollercoaster, they passed a small tent that could fit only a handful of people. A sign in front read: Fortune Telling with Angel Cards and Divine Crystals.

The tent opening revealed two people seated inside. The lady shuffling the cards wore a white, velvety dress and smiled as she spoke, as if speaking from her heart. Across from her sat another woman, her back turned to the team.

Meilin stopped in her tracks, as if spikes rooted her feet to the ground, making her unable to lift even a foot. No outside force held her still—only the intense gaze of the woman in white. Meilin could not bear to meet her eyes; even a single look thrown her way was enough to shudder her back, as if an icy grip clamped it.

Sick to her stomach, Meilin's breathing quickened as her gaze dipped to the table, where cards with drawings of angels lay. One card even depicted the 'Devil' as an angel, alongside the 'Death' card. She could have sworn she heard the woman say that the Death card was a good omen, signifying the end of a cycle and the welcoming of new beginnings, along with her claim that she channeled God and the angels for these 'divine' messages. A bitter taste formed in the back of her throat.

Somehow, in this trance, Meilin heard her name—muffled and static—but she remained in place. Her eyes narrowed, drawn into the little details she caught sight of, and her jaw dropped.

Dark creatures swirled around the women inside the tent, with claws and bony fingers.

Meilin's breath caught in her chest.

The shadowy figures turned, staring Meilin straight in the eyes with deep, hollow sockets before they vanished.

Unable to scream, Meilin's hands lost control and shook. Paralyzed to the core, a pout formed on her lips as she drifted into the embrace of fear.

"Meilin! Are you okay? Talk to me!"

Snapping back to reality, Meilin grounded herself, now glancing into Yuming's heartwarming, round eyes. "Yuming..." she whispered, her voice cracking. "I... I just..." She swallowed hard. 'It was just a hallucination... My mind is playing tricks on me. Yes, it's because of the Haunted Mansion. There's no way I just saw...' She paused, trying to steady her breath but failing. 'Demons.'