Live Action Murder Mystery

Chapter 30.1

(Gu Liang clenched his fist and swung it towards Yang Ye.)

Gu Liang’s brows knitted together, and undisguised revulsion appeared in his eyes again.

Second Martial Brother immediately exclaimed: “Right?! You find them disgusting too, don’t you, Beauty Yi!”

Gu Liang nodded his head absentmindedly in lieu of speaking.

Yang Ye, who was still supporting his arm, stiffened instantaneously.

However, Gu Liang did not notice his reaction due to the overwhelming exhaustion he felt, and the only thought occupying his mind was that he wanted to get some proper rest.

Thus, the moment Gu Liang returned to Master Hui’s guest room, he lied down and fell asleep.

By the time he woke up, it was already nearing evening.

Doctor Yu was calling him out to eat.

Thus, Gu Liang got out of bed, washed up and followed Doctor Yu to the main hall.

* * *

The rice and the sumptuous dishes were already on the table.

Gu Liang originally had no appetite, but upon seeing the colours of the dishes, the desire to eat immediately arose.

During the feast, Doctor Yu was the most animated and she chattered on without stopping.

From her mouth, Gu Liang learnt that the chicken was caught and killed by her, Second Martial Brother and Yang Ye, and the vegetables were also picked from the vegetable garden nearby. All the ingredients used were very fresh.

However, by virtue of the ancient background, they were limited in the seasonings they could use and they barely knew how to use the cooking implements that were provided. Hence, it was only through shared manual labour and copious amounts of time that they managed to cook up all these dishes.

Her words made Gu Liang feel a little embarrassed. “I’m the only one who went to sleep huh.”

The Second Martial Brother interrupted him, “You can’t say that. All of us knew that you went into the small black room and you definitely suffered no small amount of torment. If it weren’t for the evidence you found at the very end, I fear that I might have died for nothing. You deserve to rest.”

Gu Liang declined to comment, merely saying: “I’ll wash the dishes and clean up later.”

Doctor Yu asked: “Has your fever receded? If you’re still having a fever, you don’t have to force yourself. You can just hand the tasks to us.”

“I’m fine. I’m feeling much better after resting.”

After giving his assurances, Gu Liang looked towards Yang Ye who was sitting opposite of him.

From beginning to end, Yang Ye had kept his head down while he ate, and he did not make a single utterance.

This did not resemble how he usually conducted himself.

What’s the matter with him?

Gu Liang was somewhat puzzled.

After they were done with their meal, everyone was afraid that Gu Liang was still feeling discomforted so they stayed behind and helped him gather the cutlery on the table.

Once he washed the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen, Gu Liang went to the main hall to wipe down the table.

Then, he came to a realisation that Yang Ye had disappeared.

Gu Liang furrowed his eyebrows before he headed back to his room.

Since his head was still aching dully, Gu Liang chose to sit on the bed and lean against the wall to take a short nap.

Unknowingly, Gu Liang fell asleep for a brief period of time.

When he woke up this time around, his energy was finally taking a turn for the better.

However, the room was still empty because Yang Ye had yet to return.

Gu Liang did a simple face wash and mouth rinsing before he took off his wig and red robes. Following, he flipped through the shelves and found a clean Buddhist robe costume and changed into it.

Thus, wearing the greyish white Buddhist robes, Gu Liang went out of the door.

* * *

Now that the game had concluded, the players’ story cards were taken back by the men in black.

But thanks to the free exploration segment, the geographical terrain of Xiaoyao Sect was already burned into Gu Liang’s mind and he was capable of finding his way around even without the card’s assistance.

Eventually, Gu Liang found Yang Ye near the banks of the lake near the fake mountain.

The moonlight was just enough for him to see Yang Ye sitting on the rock by the lakeside as he gazed into the water. Where his thoughts were wandering to was unknown.

His stature was tall and straight; with the moonlight illuminating his Buddhist robe clad frame, it gave rise to an unexpected impression that he was sparse and broad-minded.

— Compared to the suit he wore at the start, his casual attire managed to make him look more pleasing to the eye.

Despite finding him, Gu Liang did not walk over, only choosing to stare at Yang Ye’s back figure silently.

Because he suddenly thought of a great deal of things.

First and foremost, due to the limited time they had to investigate the case, all of his energies were focused on the case details and he did not have the time to think about anything else.

But now he was starting to realise a lot of peculiar details concerning Yang Ye, and they were details he hadn’t considered carefully prior to this.

For example, when they were looking at those painting albums, the gaze that Yang Ye regarded him with harboured some searching intent.

In retrospect, that searching intent was not reserved for the case details alone but concerned the topic of homosexuality in general.

Take another instance for size: when he was changing his clothes in front of him in the previous scenario, or even when they were about to sleep in the same bed, his expression seemed a little strange like he was trying to avoid something.

Lastly, what of the tops and bottoms, how a person’s sexual inclination could change, Yang Ye’s in-depth comprehension of it…

Gu Liang came to a sudden epiphany— He’s gay?

Then, he understood. After Second Martial Brother had asked him that question, his own reaction was right under his eyes. Yang Ye must have thought that he found homosexuals disgusting.

Having understood the situation completely, Gu Liang allowed himself another moment to stand there silently before he strode over to Yang Ye.

He walked to Yang Ye’s side, sat down on a rock and stared at the lights and colours reflecting across the lake surface.

Without looking at Yang Ye, he asked in soft tones, “Angry?”

Yang Ye gave him a sidelong glance before he shook his head. “Why are you here? The nights are cold, you should be staying in the room.”

Gu Liang asked him: “What did you draw for the reward card today?”

Yang Ye faced forward and looked at the rocks by the shore. Belatedly, he replied: “I won’t tell you for the time being.”

Gu Liang stared at the moon shining in the lake, causing the silvery light to reflect back into his eyes.

After a short while, he uttered, “The card I drew allows me to choose a teammate for my next scenario.”

Yang Ye did not speak.

The wind suddenly kicked up and swept across the water surface, carrying some of the cold autumn air.

Gu Liang sneezed instantaneously.

“Hurry up and go back,” Yang Ye berated.

Turning his head sideways, Gu Liang finally looked at Yang Ye. “Go back with me. I have something to tell you.”

* * *

The bright moon was akin to frost at midnight.

Underneath the lantern lights, Yang Ye and Gu Liang sat together in front of the window.

They found a bottle of rice wine and followed the ancients in drinking the beverage warm.

But after drinking a mouthful, Gu Liang felt it burning his throat so he gave up on it and swapped it out with a cup of water that he had poured for himself.

Yang Ye, on the other hand, found it doable, and he drained his own cup slowly.

Half a beat later, Gu Liang opened his mouth to enquire: “You’re gay?”

Yang Ye eyed him. Although he did not reply, he had tacitly confirmed his statement.

Thus, Gu Liang continued to speak: “My father was gay.”

Hearing that, Yang Ye seemed to come to an understanding as he started to frown unconsciously.

“My father looked quite feminine; he was the sort who liked high heels. As for the other types of homosexuals, I have never associated with them. Therefore, I didn’t think about you in that direction when I first met you…”

Giving a pause, Gu Liang said: “Let’s go back to my father. He only married my mom under the constant urgings of the older generation for him to get married. After my mom gave birth to me, he took off by himself because he considered that a fulfilment of his duty to his older generation.”

The furrow of Yang Ye’s eyebrows became even tighter.

In contrast, Gu Liang was still indifferent in expression, as if he was talking about something that bore no relation to him. “In the beginning, he attempted to hide it but his brazenness eventually showed and he even cohabited with his boyfriend directly. My mom cried, kicked up a row, and mutilated herself, but it was of no use. In the end, she could only divorce him.”

Gu Liang raised his cup and took a drink before he continued: “And later, around my university years, there was an instance where I was taking the train back to my old home and I was sleeping in the lower bunk. The person on the upper bunk was a man and he climbed onto my bed in the middle of the night. Naturally, he didn’t manage to do anything because I promptly subdued him. Afterwards, I reported it to the police immediately.”

As Gu Liang was talking about these incidents, his eyes were constantly focused on the candle flame that was on the table.

It was only when he finished recollecting these two stories that he lifted his eyelids and met Yang Ye’s gaze.

“I apologise. When Second Martial Brother asked me that question today, I could only think of my father and that man on the train, who were both disgusting to me, hence my loathing expression. These are my private matters; I didn’t want to say them in front of everyone so I didn’t justify it.

“But I thought that you might be having misconceptions so I decided to explain it to you briefly. I will not, just on the basis of two human scums alone, attack your entire group. I don’t find homosexuals disgusting, and I don’t find you disgusting either.

“Besides, I feel that… the opinion that Second Martial Brother had, you don’t have to give it unwarranted attention.”

Gu Liang noted that despite saying all these, Yang Ye’s expression became grimmer instead.

Furthermore, the emotions and the scene that were occurring right now was genuinely, and exceedingly rare.

Typically, Yang Ye was the chatterer while Gu Liang would intermittently retort back at him sarcastically with a sentence or two.

In this instance, however, the one who had a lot to say became Gu Liang while Yang Ye remained silent throughout.

Gu Liang narrowed his eyes to glower at Yang Ye. He asked: “I’ve already explained it to you clearly, and you’re still angry?”

Yang Ye was angry. Of course, he was.

But the target of his ire had never been Gu Liang. The reason why he was in a bad mood and refused to speak was actually because he was feeling disappointed.

And currently, he was angry at Gu Liang’s brute of a father and that vulgar man on the train.

When he finished listening to Gu Liang retelling his story, Yang Ye felt his heart pulsing with pain like someone had cut him with a knife.

This sort of reaction was foreign to Yang Ye himself.

Simultaneously, he felt an intense surge of impulsive fury in his heart, a resentful grudge that was directed at those two people for Gu Liang’s sake.

Yang Ye drained a cup of the liquor balefully, suppressing his impulses with force. After a long time, he replied with the greatest amount of mildness he could currently manage. “I’m not angry. I never was. No matter what it was, the fact that you can tell me these, makes me feel… I don’t know how to describe it, but it’s probably gratitude. “

Gu Liang raised his eyebrows. “Gratitude?”

“Yes.” Yang Ye nodded and said smilingly, “This symbolises that you treat me as a friend. I’m very gratified.”

“Friend…” The corners of Gu Liang’s mouth slanted downwards and tossed out a line with some rue. “As people grow older, the friends that they make gradually decrease. If I met you in reality, we probably wouldn’t get along well. But in this sort of game… it’s luck I suppose.”

Yang Ye was displeased by that. “Why wouldn’t we get along in reality?”

Gu Liang shot him a look before he said indifferently, “Nothing really. I merely felt that you look like a rich second-generation with good family conditions; the sort of business elite who has never experienced bitterness and became a higher executive in your family-owned company after graduation. For all these reasons, you could live in a wilful, ostentatious and unconstrained manner, whereas I come from a different bracket of people.”

Yang Ye let out an irked bark of laughter. “Was your first impression of me that poor?”

Gu Liang returned a question: “Just tell me, were my assumptions about your identity correct?”

Helpless, Yang Ye set about correcting Gu Liang immediately. “Yes, yes, yes. You’re correct about the majority of it. But I’m not the ignorant and incompetent type of rich second-generation you’re thinking of. I’m exceedingly progressive!”

Gu Liang’s lips quirked up to form a superficial smile. “Mn. Your college entrance examinations score was… 669, it’s decent, but I didn’t say you were ignorant or incompetent either.”

Yang Ye followed up with another question: “Why are we part of two different worlds then?”

Gu Liang replied automatically: “The disparity between our social class, what else. We would refuse to look up to each other, there’s an innate estrangement in our hearts, which would make it difficult for us to become friends.”

Yang Ye knocked his index finger against the table. “You’re holding your prejudices against me.”

“I am,” Gu Liang agreed with a nod, “This is my problem. After experiencing bitter days, I’m naturally biased against people like you. But it ultimately stems from a jealous heart; on what basis are you allowed to reincarnate into a better life.”

— For these reasons, Yang Ye, I’m an abhorrent person in actuality.

Voice lowering, Yang Ye asked him: “What about now? Are you still biased?”

Gu Liang stiffened for a moment before he raised the cup of water in his hand. “With water replacing wine, I toast to a friend.”

And like a leaf that had been floating in mid-air for an awfully long time, it finally made landfall.

Yang Ye’s heart became steady and sure upon hearing those words.

* * *

After another long period of time.

Yawning, Gu Liang drank the remaining water in his cup at a leisurely pace, and suddenly noticed that Yang Ye seemed to be caught in a trance.

Gu Liang raised his hand and waved it in front of his eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing really.” Yang Ye came back to his senses and focused on Gu Liang. He made a belated realisation.

— Huh? Where did my beauty go? Where’s my long-haired and red-skirted great beauty? Why did he change to Buddhist robes?

Yang Ye asked him: “Where’s your skirt? Why are you wearing my clothes?”

Faintly, Gu Liang replied, “What do you mean your clothes? They’re costume props provided by the scenario.”

Conversation done, Gu Liang did not wait for Yang Ye’s subsequent reply before he stood up to go to the courtyard for a wash up. “Okay. Everything has been cleared up. It’s getting late, I’m going to sleep.”

Yang Ye stood up too. “Sure. I’ll make my bed on the floor.”

Gu Liang glanced at him from over his shoulder. “This is an ancient setting; with the simple and crude facilities, it means that the floors are particularly cold. We can continue with our previous sleeping arrangements.”

Yang Ye became a little confused. “You already know that I’m… and yet…?”

Gu Liang tossed him a strange look. All of a sudden, he asked: “Your sort… are called tops, right?”

Yang Ye was amused. “Yeah. I’m typically on top.”

Gu Liang asserted, “It won’t work then.”

Yang Ye: “Why wouldn’t it work?”

— Excuse me, what kind of misunderstanding are you having about homosexuality?

“Since you’re the top, you definitely like bottoms, no? And if we’re speaking about bottoms, it’s the… delicate, lovable and/or pretty sort of men? The likes of my dad, essentially. The ‘feminine’ ones, but not in a derogatory sense; that’s just a descriptor. Or perhaps it’s like… like the character played by Leslie Cheung in the movie ‘Farewell My Concubine’, who was peerlessly graceful and elegant. Either way, it’s definitely not what I am. That’s why I don’t particularly mind.”

With his explanation, Yang Ye understood. Gu Liang’s meaning was— even if I was bent, was part of your circles, I’m definitely a top. Our numbers don’t mesh, so how could we possibly spark off anything?

Yang Ye supported his forehead helplessly and then pinched the bridge of his nose. “Different people have different tastes. The type you’re referring to are the frail or feminine bottoms, but there are also people who like power bottoms and well-built ones…”

Gu Liang’s obsessive compulsion and desire for knowledge surged. “Why? If someone had a strong temperament or personality, why would they choose to become bottoms?”

Yang Ye: “……”

Frankly speaking, Yang Ye did not want to explain too much. Split between tears and laughter, he heaved out a sigh and lied down on the wooden bed. “Eh, it’s nothing. You’re right, what I like… is what you presume. Let’s sleep.”

At this present moment, the only assumption that Yang Ye had with regards to proletariats was that they had a very deep misconception about the homosexual community.

He did not know that the deeper, underlying reason behind Gu Liang’s thoughts was the feelings of inferiority buried in the marrows of his bones.

He did not believe that anyone could harbour good feelings for him.

* * *

Yang Ye slept on the inside while Gu Liang slept on the outside tonight.

Gu Liang closed his eyes. But after a long while, he heard Yang Ye say: “There’s still one more thing.”

“Mn, speak.”

“The reward card you talked about previously… Um, for the next script, bring me along. Let’s continue our happy cooperation.”

“Sure. But what if you end up being the detective while I draw the murderer, what do we do then?”

“We’ll wait and see then. The time to compare our intelligence quotients has come.”

“Sure, let’s wait and see.”

The candle flame was put out.

Yang Ye closed his eyes but he did not manage to fall asleep.

Whenever he closed his eyes, the image of a dim carriage would appear, and Gu Liang would be lying sideways in his lower bunk bed quietly, revealing a small section of his white and slender waist. Suddenly, a person came down from the upper bunk and his dark and moist hand would reach out, trying to touch that small and white waist.

He should not be imagining that incident in vivid details. The moment he thought about it, Yang Ye would feel restless and angry all over again.

Since Gu Liang slept for an entire afternoon, he did not have any immediate intention to sleep.

His eyes were half-lidded when he heard Yang Ye flip his body. Thus, he queried: “Not asleep yet?”

Yang Ye opened his eyes but he did not look towards Gu Liang.

He stared at the endless darkness instead. After a long, drawn-out silence, he abruptly asked: “Say… did you beat that person up? I can’t tell but, you seem to have some skills?”

Gu Liang said: “I started learning taekwondo in Junior High until I earned the black belt. I stopped when I was in my third year of Senior High, and I was out of practice by university. When I began working, I went to learn some boxing again due to the nature of my job.”

Yang Ye’s eyebrows arched up. “I really can’t tell. When Son Bai tried to stab you, you didn’t even dodge.”

“I know how to dodge, it’s just that you reacted faster.” Gu Liang said.

Yang Ye suddenly remembered the scar along Gu Liang’s wrist.

—Could it be that, it’s not a question of whether he knows how to dodge, but if there’s still a part of him that seeks death?

Yang Ye scrunched his eyebrows together.

Gu Liang was completely ignorant to his dilemma. “If you don’t believe me, should we compare notes tomorrow?”

In reply to that, Yang Ye let out an abrupt and deep laugh.

His laughter reverberated into the bed and the solid frame transmitted the sound, making Gu Liang feel as though his heart was trembling as well.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I’m laughing at how you’re showing off your skill with the axe before Lu Ban. You casually practiced in a training course, and you want to compare with me?”

“Aren’t you… a normal rich second-generation?”

“Before I went to university, I served in the military for two years.”

Oh. Then he really couldn’t compare.

“Additionally, I’m not considered a rich second-generation.”

“Oh?”

“It should be rich third-generation.”

“……”

Gu Liang closed his eyes again. If he had a choice, he would ignore him completely and utterly.

Yang Ye tossed out another question. “What about you? You said that the nature of your job… required you to learn boxing? What was your occupation exactly?”

“Dog-headed detective, keep guessing. I’m going to sleep. Good night.”

In the darkness of the night, Yang Ye murmured back in low tones.

“Mn… Good night.”

* * *

The morning of the next day, Gu Liang wanted to take a shower.

Although sleeping in the same bed with Yang Ye at close proximity did not bother him much, he felt that it was better to avoid anything that might give rise to something undesirable when it concerned showering.

Hence, in one of the rare occasions where Gu Liang woke up early, he went to the kitchen to boil some water. Then, with both hands, he carried the wooden cask full of hot water towards Yafang Ju.

When Yang Ye saw him, he naturally went up to him to help.

Hence, with the pair making two back and forth trips, the large wooden cask that was meant for bathing in the Yafang Ju was filled up, and it was enough for Gu Liang’s use.

Subsequently after, Yang Ye went back to the kitchen to make breakfast while Gu Liang pulled the screens in the Yafang Ju to a close. Taking off his clothes, he climbed into the wooden cask and started to bath.

The Yafang Ju was Beauty Yi’s bedroom; scents of rouge and powders saturated the air, the painting on the screen was that of two mandarins ducks with their necks intertwined, and the perfumed soap on the washbasin was also an ancient variant, which was sweetly-scented with Osmanthus flowers.

The cotton rose canopy hung down warmly, and incense smoke floated out from the beast-etched burners.

Everything about the room made Gu Liang feel incredibly uncomfortable, because it felt like he had really become a woman.

If he did not have to avoid Yang Ye while he showered, he would not have stepped into this room at all.

Rejection was written all over his body.

When Yang Ye went to call Gu Liang to eat, the large doors to the Yafang Ju was half-open, thus revealing a part of the screen.

Behind the painting of mandarin ducks on the screen, thin, continuous wisps of water vapour and the figure of Gu Liang’s back could be faintly perceived.

Yang Ye could essentially imagine how Gu Liang would look like when he was bathing— his back leaning against the wooden cask, eyes half-lidded, all indolent and scattered. His tea-coloured eyes would stare into the void as if he was in a trance, but it also exhibited the apathy he had towards this world.

Contrasting his indifferent gaze was the temperature of water and the voluptuous drawing on the screen.

In spite of the contradictions, it formed an alluring image like a soft shoot germinating between the cracks of ice on the snow-covered ground; or likened to a scarlet flower blooming in a deep, dark abyss.

Yang Ye remained still for a long time before he croaked out in a hoarse voice, “Are you done bathing?”

“I’m done. Give me a moment.”

A short while later, Gu Liang wore the Buddhist robes and walked out. Noticing the slight moisture on Yang Ye’s face, he asked: “You’re done bathing too?”

Yang Ye nodded. “Mn, once I was done with breakfast, I washed up in the lake.”

Gu Liang asked him: “Isn’t it cold?”

“Like I said, you’re pampered and delicate.” Yang Ye chuckled, “During my service in the military, I went into a lake even though it was winter.”

Gu Liang frowned and he was about to refute when Doctor Yu wandered over.

“Both of you are too slow. I came to take a look at your situation.”

“Huh? You’re wearing couple outfits!”

In the face of Doctor Yu, Yang Ye pretended to chide at her. “Don’t speak nonsense.”

“? Aren’t the two of you in that kind of relationship?” Doctor Yu’s expression was brimming with innocence.

Yang Ye, who was afraid of Gu Liang treating him awkwardly, knew that he had to correct Doctor Yu’s rotten perspective immediately. But before he could speak, the broadcast rang out without any prior warning.

“The script 《 Painted Skins · Long Lived 》has concluded. This time around, everyone has seven days of downtime. Everyone, please conserve your strength and store up your energy in anticipation of the next challenge.

“The following report is regarding an unexpected situation. The cast and crew from the scenario next door has met with an unexpected accident. The premise has been burnt down and it is incapable of subsisting players. Hence, there will be five players who will be moved to the current scenario premises. Everyone, please get along amicably and discuss the distribution of rooms in your residences. The five players will be arriving in an hour.

“Friendly reminder, both groups of players are not allowed to spoil the plot content of the scripts they had experienced before or reveal any clues, unwittingly or not. Offenders will be met with the death penalty.”

Set on fire? The scenario premises was completely burnt? The game had no choice but to stop halfway?

— it could be played like this?

This was the first reaction Gu Liang had after he heard the system report.

Doctor Yu placed both of her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “They’ll be here in an hour? Do we have to prepare breakfast for them?”

“En, we can prepare some good dishes and develop better relations.” Yang Ye said, “Although we can’t leak the plot, it’s still possible for us to make some discreet inquiries. What if there’s an old player who has a lot of information?”

“I’ll go and find Second Martial Brother now and ask him to make another pot of porridge.” Saying that, Doctor Yu ran off like a streak of smoke.

Meanwhile, Gu Liang’s stationary position caused Yang Ye to give him a scrutinising one-over.

Although his expression was chilly, Yang Ye could essentially guess his thoughts. “What are you planning? Let’s hear it?”

Gu Liang returned to his senses and stared into Yang Ye’s eyes.

It was unknown what he was thinking, but a faint smile lined his lips. In the end, he only asked: “What are we having for breakfast?”

T/N: When the author decides: “I live to the whims of word count”, featuring every chapter here after. Longer chapters will be split x.x