Cursed Mansion [Completed]

10. A race against time...

yibo's plan to explore the west wing has been interrupted by lord wei ying. meanwhile, every second counting makes the search for ziyi uncertain...

yibo and zhan have just been interrupted by a knock at his bedroom door as they both are studying the secret map to the west wing.

"it's lord wei ying, zhan! he can't find us here secretly planning to infiltrate the west wing!" said yibo.

zhan looks just as alarmed as yibo.

"quick, hide!" said yibo.

he quickly pull zhan to his feet and towards the cupboard in the corner of his room.

"what are you doing??" asked zhan.

"hiding you, of course. here, you can stay inconspicuous in my closet." said yibo.

"yibo...!" said zhan.

"lord wei ying will question your presence here! he will wonder what you're doing here! plus, i'm not sure i can cook up any excuse that will properly explain your presence!" said yibo.

he quickly thrust zhan into the closet with the map.

"i'll try not to make him tarry." said yibo.

he look into zhan's wide eyes and resist the urge to kiss him.

'pardon me, zhan.' thinks yibo.

he take a deep breath to gather momentum before he go to open the door.

'i must try not to act suspicious. i'm bad enough at pretending.' thinks yibo.

the knock at the door sounds again.

"yibo? are you asleep??" asked wei ying.

"just a second now and i'll open the door!" said yibo.

he open the door.

"lord wei ying!" said yibo.

"yibo..." said wei ying.

yibo stare at him in shock surprise.

"you don't look... well. you look very pale and gaunt. are you feeling alright?" asked yibo.

lord wei ying stares back at him with intense, distressed eyes.

"can i come in?" asked wei ying.

"of course." said yibo.

he allow lord wei ying into his room and close the door. lord wei ying stands in the center of the room taking in everything. yibo's eyes automatically dart warily towards his closet where zhan is secretly hiding.

'i hope zhan stays quite. i will try to get lord wei ying sooner out of here. i wonder why he wants to talk to me now, especially as it's already night. maybe, it's something important.' thinks yibo.

he go to stand facing lord wei ying. wei ying's face has a pallid outlook and he seems tormented within.

"i get the feeling you have something important to tell me. what is it?" asked yibo.

wei ying's eyes abruptly take a deep, intense depth before his hands suddenly grabs yibo and pull him to himself.

"lord wei ying...?" gasped yibo.

"yibo..." said wei ying.

his fingers gently feel yibo's face like valuable piece of breakable china.

'what is he doing...? and good grief, zhan must be watching...' thinks yibo.

"yibo, i'm in worse straits than i ever was before." said wei ying.

his dark eyes continue to roam yibo's facial features as his fingers.