Mr. Lizard Outside the Window - Chapter 55
Chapter 55: Seven Days
The grand feast Banxia had envisioned didn't quite materialize.
She had tasted the sweetness of his lips, then looked up and seen the familiar dark gold in his eyes, his face both strange and familiar, a disconcerting juxtaposition.
Ling Dong sighed softly.
All his carefully constructed defenses, all his well-rehearsed arguments, crumbled under the gentle pressure of her lips.
His carefully cultivated restraint dissolved, leaving only the raw, undeniable truth of his desire.
How could a parched soul resist the lure of a cool spring?
How could a frozen body not yearn for the warmth of the sun?
He pulled her close, his arms tightening around her, holding her as if he might never let go.
Banxia's cheek rested against his smooth, cool skin, the familiar scent of him filling her senses.
He's back, she thought, a wave of relief washing over her. He's finally back.
And then, the warmth of his embrace vanished.
Banxia stumbled, catching herself on the piano.
A small black gecko lay on the piano lid, on its back, its white belly exposed, its tiny arms still outstretched in a gesture of embrace. It lay there for a moment, stunned, then rolled over and covered its face with its paws.
Banxia's heart sank. She mentally calculated the time that had passed since she had heard the piano music, the time it had taken her to come to his door.
Less than thirty minutes.
So, this was what he meant by his time growing shorter.
She stood there for a long moment, then gently picked him up and carried him back to her apartment.
She lay on the bed, Xiao Lian nestled against her collarbone, her hand gently stroking his back.
In the familiar comfort of her room, they were close again, their intimacy restored.
They talked, about his family, about the first time he had transformed, about the shrinking time, about the people in his life, about how he had learned to navigate this strange, new existence.
They talked about what they had done while they were apart, the silly things they had done, driven by their longing for each other.
They talked about how he had arrived at her window, injured and desperate, how he had risked everything to steal a shirt from her neighbor's windowsill.
"I was so relieved to finally have something to wear, besides that apron," he confessed. "I was so tired of… hiding."
Banxia chuckled. "It's my fault. I should have been more thoughtful," she said, secretly wondering when he had been wandering around her apartment in just an apron. What a missed opportunity, she thought.
Finally, they talked about the recent shedding incident, how his time in human form had been reduced to a mere twenty minutes.
Twenty minutes…
"I'll make you happy, so happy you'll forget everything else, and then I'll ask you again," she had joked earlier. That plan wasn't going to work.
In the quiet intimacy of her room, she finally asked the question that had been weighing on her heart. "When… is the next time?"
If his time was decreasing so rapidly, when would it run out completely?
The air in the room seemed to thicken, the light and cheerful atmosphere suddenly heavy with unspoken fear.
The warm yellow glow of the bedside lamp, the blue light of the electric kettle, the curtains swaying gently in the breeze, the cold air seeping in through the window, the clouds obscuring the moonlight…
"Seven days," Xiao Lian's low voice broke the silence. "I have… seven days left."
Seven days to become a monster, forever.
Or seven days to disappear completely.
The final judgment was coming.
He lay against her collarbone, her soft skin warm against his scales, the heat seeping into him, a comforting wave washing over his heart, a beacon of light in the vast darkness.
He felt like he was adrift at sea, the waves rising and falling, the world a vast, empty expanse, a single lighthouse in the distance, its steady beam guiding him home.
A warm hand gently stroked his back, and he heard her voice, soft and reassuring. "Seven days," she said.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here with you."
She hadn't said, "Only seven days." She hadn't said, "It'll be okay. It's not just seven days."
She had said, "We have seven days. I'll be with you."
I'll face it with you, Xiao Lian, she seemed to be saying. Whatever happens.
Ling Dong closed his eyes.
He had always been weak, afraid.
But she had given him strength, her warmth and light chasing away the shadows, giving him courage.
He could face the darkness now, the unknown, his eyes open, his heart steady.
"I'll sing you a song," he said. "A new one. It's called 'Chasing Fish'."
"Okay," she murmured. "I'm listening."
Outside, the winter night was cold, but inside, the warm glow of the lamp created a small haven, a safe space.
His low voice filled the room, the melody of the song, based on an ancient fairy tale, a love story between a mortal and a demon.
The verses were mournful, the chorus soaring, his voice a desperate cry, reaching out, grasping at fate, trying to tear through the mist, to find a way, a path forward.
His lonely song echoed in the darkness. And then, a soft violin melody joined in, a gentle accompaniment, a comforting presence, guiding him home.
Music was a language of its own.
And in this moment, their hearts overflowing with unspoken words, they communicated through the music, their souls resonating, their understanding deepening.
In the apartment across the hall, the online novelist, buried under a mountain of books and research materials, suddenly looked up, his face beaming. "What's that song? It's amazing! Inspiration! I have to write a story about a fox demon and a female cultivator! An ancient love story!"
Downstairs, the landlord's daughter, Lele, slept soundly, surrounded by picture books, her lips moving slightly, murmuring the words of some fantastical tale in her dreams.
In their small room, Banxia put down her violin and burrowed under the covers with Xiao Lian.
"I heard this song in class today. The professor played it for us," Banxia said. "It's electronic music, but the structure, the layering… it reminds me of Bach, my favorite."
She propped herself up on one elbow, holding the blanket up to create a small tent, a private space for them to share.
They lay there, like two children hiding in a secret fort, their heads close together, whispering secrets.
"And then, I realized… it was you singing! I was so surprised!"
"I was inspired by your performance at the finals," Xiao Lian confessed, a little shyly. "As I was arranging the music, I kept thinking about you, standing on stage, playing your violin. That's why I used… Bach's style, the counterpoint, the layering…"
"You used my favorite composer, and I played yours," Banxia said, looking at him, her chin resting on her hand. "When I played Mahler's 'Titan,' I could almost see you, a mysterious, handsome… spirit of the forest."
"You played 'Titan'? I wish I had heard it," he said, his voice filled with regret.
Talking about music, his eyes lit up, the dark gold flecks shimmering with excitement. He eagerly showed her the music production software on his phone, the green waveforms of his song displayed on the small screen.
"'Misty Forest' is actually inspired by Mahler," he said, turning to look at her, a hopeful glint in his eyes. "Can you… hear it?"
"Yes! The forest, the spirits, the mist…" Banxia nodded, leaning closer. "My favorite is 'Monster in the Rain.' I know what inspired that one."
She knew his secret.
Xiao Lian blushed, his cheeks burning. Thankfully, his skin was dark, and she couldn't see it.
He showed her his Red Orange and V-Station accounts, a little proudly, pointing to his new song on V-Station.
The song had a lot of plays, the comments overwhelmingly positive.
And his earnings were steadily increasing.
"You're such a genius, Xiao Lian! So many people love your music!" Banxia exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine admiration.
Xiao Lian's heart soared, the looming threat of his impending fate momentarily forgotten.
He regretted hiding his true identity from her. Talking about music with her, sharing his creations, was such a joy.
He had wasted so much precious time for such a foolish reason.
The earnings from V-Station were substantial, and if… if he wasn't around in seven days, he could leave his accounts to her.
He looked at her, his eyes soft, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
My music, my accounts, everything I have… it's all yours, Banxia, he thought.
When he talked about music, his eyes shone, his tiny claws moving excitedly on the screen, his usual shyness replaced by a confident energy.
Banxia watched him, her heart aching with a love so profound that it was almost painful.
He was so talented, so kind, so sweet, so… vulnerable.
Why? she wondered. Why would fate be so cruel?
He was planning to face this alone, she realized, curled up in his little terrarium, in the darkness, waiting for the end.
She reached out and gently took his tiny hand in hers.
He looked up at her, and she smiled, her lips brushing his.
I found you, Xiao Lian, she thought. We still have seven days.
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