422: 8.22 You're The First

8.22 You're The First

Lu Yizhou did not even need to consider it for more than one second. Compared to searching for his lover, these two women could just drop dead for all he cared. If they still had not finished when he returned later, then he might sneak in to take a look.  2

Firmly holding the Invisibility Cloak around himself, Lu Yizhou made his way to the stairs. His boots made soft clicking sounds against the wooden floor, almost inaudible if one did not pay attention to it. 

'Daddy, are we going to search for Mommy now?'

Lu Yizhou hummed in affirmation. He stopped at the base of the stairs and looked up. Maybe it was just his imagination but there seemed to be faint mist floating around the floor, making the surroundings all the more mystifying. He hoped that he would be able to find her, or at least found out something about her tonight. He took a few steadying breaths to steel himself and started to climb.

On his shoulder, Ozzie suddenly sneezed.

'Are you cold?' Lu Yizhou asked.

'No, Daddy," she sniffled and snuggled closer to him. Her whiskers twitched adorably. 'It's the dust. There is so much dust here meow...'

Lu Yizhou halted on his tracks in the middle of the staircase and looked around. Ozzie was right. The steps beneath his feet were carpeted and it was dark brown in color. All the more reason for Lu Yizhou to easily discern how thick the dust was. White granules of dirt stuck to every inch of the surface, Lu Yizhou almost thought that the carpet was gray in color at first! Even the second floor's staircase did not look this dusty. It was as if… nobody had ever stepped here again for years.

His brows knitted, puzzled. How could that be? Baines had said that the fourth floor was Miss' sleeping quarters. Even if his lover had stayed on this floor during the time she was sick, it was not like Baines or her parents or even the previous batch of doctors wouldn't even come up to visit her, right? So how could the stairs be this dirty? 

Carrying the doubt with him, Lu Yizhou continued to make his way up to the fourth floor. From the blueprints 666 had provided, he knew that the whole floor had been transformed into one huge quarter belonging to the Miss. The inside of the room would then be divided into different areas according to the Miss' preference. So far, Lu Yizhou only knew that there was a bedroom, bathroom, reading room and a small greenhouse. Hence, as soon as Lu Yizhou came up, what greeted him was a dark hallway that led directly to the closed double door. 

It was so cold here, he noticed, even colder than the lower floor. Every breath he exhaled had turned into white mist before they vanished into thin air. Fortunately, he had Ozzie, this furry scarf and little heater, wrapped around his neck tightly to disperse the chill.

'Do you sense your Mommy?'

'Hmm…' Ozzie stretched out her neck to sniff around. 'Her scent is indeed stronger here meow, but I can't pinpoint her location for certain. Oh no, I am getting confused! It's like she is everywhere on this floor!'

Lu Yizhou nodded and treaded forward carefully. Step by step, making sure that he wouldn't draw any attention and keeping his ears open at the same time. 

On his left was a long window that gave a glimpse to the darkness outside whereas on his right… was a solid wall decorated with three oil paintings.

Lu Yizhou was not an art enthusiast but he could tell that the painting was most likely created by the same person. The color scheme that dominated them was black and red, and the image was completely abstract. Lu Yizhou spared a few seconds to scrutinize the first one and gradually made out tons of thin skeleton-like figures lining up on the ground, kneeling and worshipping a burning red sun. The sun was made of two splashes of black and red swirling together in a form of whirlpool. The longer you looked, the dizzier you would feel… as if your mind was steadily being sucked into the picture.

Lu Yizhou squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. He couldn't help but scoff. He must have been too influenced by this bizarre game setting to picture something like that. He let out a sigh and dragged his gaze away from the painting. His peripheral vision caught sight of his own reflection on the glass window, white and lanky—

Lu Yizhou's eyes quietly widened. No, he was currently using Invisibility Cloak, how could there be a reflection?!

Breath stuck in his throat, Lu Yizhou swiveled sharply to see nothing but empty air behind him. His heart thundered madly in his chest as he surveyed the surroundings intently. What the fuck was that?! A hallucination…? A glance back to the glass window told him that the reflection he had seen earlier was no more. He let out a heavy sigh. Seriously, the longer he stayed in this world, the more he felt like he was going crazy.

Cold breeze caressed the bare skin of his calf, sending shivers down his spine. 'Did you see something?'

Ozzie had been tense ever since. Her ears perked up in alert. 'I don't see anything but Daddy… I have a bad feeling… Mommy is indeed here, but there's also someone else. I have never sensed something like this before meow…'

Someone else? Lu Yizhou frowned. Who else would be on this floor other than his lover? 

[666: Host, your Invisibility Cloak will expire in two minutes!]

Lu Yizhou inhaled sharply. He couldn't afford to get distracted any longer. Firmly keeping his eyes on the door in front of him, Lu Yizhou marched forward and pressed his ear there. He could hear the faint sound of piano in the air, playing a melancholic melody that was the perfect addition to the haunting atmosphere. 

He reached out and knocked three times gently. "Excuse me, milady. I am Irene, the doctor your father has hired to check on you. May I come in?"

The piano music stopped. Lu Yizhou waited two seconds… five seconds… there was no answer.

"Milady…?"

The door suddenly gave a resounding click and creaked open. And from the little crack, a draft of cold air burst out, so cold it was like what they opened was a freezer. Lu Yizhou and Ozzie shared a glance. This must be a permission to enter, right? 

Lu Yizhou peeked in through the small gap and could see nothing but darkness. Sighing, he could only resign to his fate and pull the door open. In an instant, he coughed due to the amount of dust that flew to his face. 

His gaze instantly landed on a huge piano in the middle of the spacious space, illuminated by the faint ray of moonlight that sprinkled in through the floor to ceiling window. It must be from that window that Lu Yizhou saw the small pallid face staring at him outside the manor. 

Lu Yizhou took a few seconds to take in the scene in front of him. Judging from the large couches, low table, a few pots of withering plants that had become black in color and the lavish decorations, he guessed that this was the living area used to receive visitors.

But there was just one problem. One grave problem he failed to to take into account.

Every piece of furniture was covered in white cloth. Cobwebs hung on the ceiling and the dust on the floor was so thick that just the slightest breeze of air could make them fly up like a mini storm. A large rat dashed past the corner, carrying with it a grasshopper whose legs were dragging on the floor.

This might be the Miss' living quarters. But it also had not been used for a long time — years. 

"Hmm-mmm…" A soft humming sounded from the side, almost making Lu Yizhou jump in shock.

He turned his neck slowly to see a little girl staring at him from where she was standing at the corner. She was no more than ten years old, wearing a beautiful white lace dress. Her golden eyes shone amidst the dark. That face— Lu Yizhou's breath stilled. That face was unmistakably the child version of his lover! 

"You're here to heal me?" she asked in a childish voice.

"Yes and no," Lu Yizhou slowly kneeled down so they were on the same eye level. He was so transfixed on the girl that he did not realize that there were still a few seconds left until his skill would cool down, but still the little girl could see him. "I am also here to accompany you. What's your name, Little Miss?"

The little girl cocked her head to the side and gave a little smile. "I am Ella. You're the first person who doesn't run away after seeing me."

Lu Yizhou blinked. "Why should I?"

Ella lifted one shoulder in an awkward shrug. She then gestured to her feet. Only then did Lu Yizhou notice that they did not quite touch the ground, floating in midair a few centimeters above. "Because I am already dead."

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[[Player Irene has successfully triggered a side quest: Strike a conversation with the hidden Young Miss Ella. Side quest completed. Please check the reward in your inbox!]]

[[Main team quest: Find out what happened to the Knox Family ten years ago. Progress: 22/100%]]

[[Side quest[2/?]: Gain Master Knox's trust. Progress: 250/10000]]

[[Side quest[4/?]: Play Young Miss Ella's favorite song.]]

[[Side quest[5/?]: Revive the Miss of Knox Family.]] 

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