𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑀𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑃𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑂𝑓 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝑒

Secrets and lies

Yibo started to miss Zhan as he watched the paintings. He knew Zhan might be working or at home, but he just wanted to wrap things up and run into his arms, knowing that he would get the love and comfort he had been yearning for for the past three years.

He felt safe in Zhan's arms.

If Yibo could describe Zhan for the whole day, he would. Even though he had only met him two days ago, he somehow felt like he trusted him more than anyone else.

His chocolate and light-brown eyes were Yibo's favourite to look at. He had a sharp jawline and looked even more handsome when his sleeves were rolled up and his shirt was slightly unbuttoned. He had a small mole underneath his lip.

Judging by his muscles, Yibo was sure that Zhan worked out at least twice a week. His body was in great shape, and even when he danced, he could move with so much flexibility.

Yibo really loved his dancing when he first saw him.

He really loved Zhan from his heart.

He knew he was clearly cheating on his wife by having an affair, but he didn't care much. He felt loved, and what else did he want?

It was the first time he had truly fallen in love, especially with someone as handsome as Zhan.

Well, to be honest, Yibo didn't know anything about Zhan. He didn't know whether he was single, taken, or married. He thought he would ask him when they met next because he didn't even know his full name, his age, or what he did for work.

But somehow, Zhan seemed to know much more about him.

Suddenly, Yibo thought about reading the letter again, just to make sure of the time.

There was only one minute left until ten.

He looked at the number written on the letter and suddenly froze.

The number had completely changed.

Before, it had been 1.

Now, it was 4.

Yibo started to panic.

He immediately ran towards his wife, wanting to explain the situation to her as quickly as possible.

But before he could reach her, a sudden blast of smoke filled the entire gallery, making it difficult for everyone to see what was happening.

People started panicking.

Yibo tried to find his wife through the smoke.

Just then, someone suddenly grabbed both him and his wife.

Yibo tried to fight back, but before he could do anything, he saw someone being attacked.

His eyes widened.

There was something strangely familiar about the person.

He tried to look closer, but before he could, someone forced something over his nose and mouth.

His vision became blurry.

His eyes grew heavy.

And soon, he lost consciousness.

When Yibo woke up, he immediately realised that he was in a completely different place.

It looked like a basement that hadn't been cleaned for a very long time.

As he looked around carefully, he realised it wasn't just an ordinary basement.

It looked like some kind of hidden base.

He looked beside him and saw his wife.

"Shan..."

He tried to wake her up, but she didn't respond.

He tried again.

"Shan! Wake up!"

After a while, she finally began to wake up.

She looked around in confusion before suddenly realising that both she and Yibo were tied up with ropes around their hands and legs.

"Yibo, what is this?" Shan said, her voice shaking. "Yibo, we need to get out of this shit. We have a son out there who is alone!"

"Yeah, I know that too. Do you think I forgot our son?" Yibo said angrily. "Thank God I made arrangements for where he would stay and what he would have, including money, so he can live safely in the future if something happens to us."

"What do you mean, 'if we're not alive'?" Shan asked, her voice breaking. "Yibo, we need to get out. We need to! I wanna see Taehyun. Please, Yibo, think of something!"

Yibo looked at her.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked her a question.

"Is there any connection between you and this case?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything!" Shan said, panicking.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Yibo asked angrily. "Those two people who died were literally your friends, and now we're here. What are you hiding, Shan? I want an answer!"

Shan looked down.

There was something in her expression.

Shame.

Guilt.

"Oh my God, Shan..." Yibo stared at her. "What did you or your family do that someone wants to kill us? Even though I'm a fucking police officer, I can't figure out what the hell is going on!"

He was desperate for answers.

If he knew what was happening, maybe he could think of a way out.

"And when I came to you panicking, it was because I suddenly thought about reading that card again," Yibo continued. "That's when I found out there were four deaths instead of one. It somehow changed like magic."

He stared at Shan.

"Do you know anyone who can do this kind of thing? Any kind of trick or something?"

"What... wh-what? I... I don't know. I don't know anyone!" Shan stammered. "Yibo, think of something. I want to see Taehyun."

She was terrified.

She couldn't stop thinking about her son and what might happen to him.

"Shan, I'm honestly asking you. Is there a connection? Because I don't know if our son is safe or not."

Yibo's voice became desperate.

"I beg you, Shan. For our son, you need to tell me what's going on."

He took a breath.

"First of all, I know the murderer doesn't use some kind of magic. Second, whoever is behind this is dangerous and knows exactly how to play with people."

Yibo looked at his wife.

Shan bit her lip, trying not to cry.

"Shan, you're still hiding something," Yibo said angrily.

"Yibo, all I want is to meet my son. Our son. God knows if I'm ever going to meet Taehyun again. Can't you understand? There is nothing you need to know! There's nothing! You will find nothing because I haven't done anything wrong!"

Shan's voice shook as she spoke.

Yibo simply stared at her.

He knew she was lying straight to his face.

And that was something he hated.

Suddenly...

A sound came from somewhere nearby.

Both of them froze.

Yibo slowly turned his head towards the sound.

And then...

Someone appeared.