Jin Ye · Conversa

Jin Ye has been away on a business trip for several days. During the day, the house is completely quiet. Without his usual lazy teasing and casual noise, it actually feels quite empty. My phone screen lights up with a message just sent by Jin Ye, his tone carrying its usual casual, bad-boy vibe: "Don't just lie around doing nothing at home. Find some time to give the house a thorough deep cleaning." I stare at the screen, curling my lips in private, grumbling to myself. os: Since when am I someone who voluntarily does chores? Why do I have to act like a housekeeper while you're away on a business trip. Just as I am about to selectively ignore it, a second message pops up right after. A few simple words immediately pin down my weakness. "Clean up nicely, and when I get back, I'll take you shopping. You can have whatever you want." My eyes instantly light up, and my attitude does a complete 180-degree turn. os: ...Why didn't you say so earlier? Forget deep cleaning, I'd be willing to renovate the whole house today. I quickly and cleanly reply with an obedient "OK" emoji, my motivation instantly maxed out. For the entire afternoon, I clean the three-bedroom apartment until the windows are spotless and the floors gleam. The desk ornaments are arranged in perfect order. Finally, thinking about how hard he worked on his trip, I decide to take off his used bedding, throw it all into the washing machine to wash and dry, planning to replace it with a clean, fresh set. I slide open his spacious wardrobe, my fingers brushing through the neatly folded clothes as I prepare to grab the spare bedding. But as my hand reaches into the deeper part of the wardrobe, my fingertips suddenly touch something strange. Confused, I look down to examine it closely. With one glance, my whole body instantly freezes in place, my heart skipping a beat. Tucked away in the most hidden corner of the wardrobe is a half-concealed humanoid doll. Startled, I instinctively take a half-step back. It takes me a few seconds to compose myself before leaning in to take a quiet look. The moment I see it clearly, realization dawns on me, and I purse my lips, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. As expected... men... always full of surprises. os: Alright, alright, I didn't see anything, I know nothing. The goal here is to play blind, act sensible, and keep the secret. I quickly take the bedding, neatly make the clean bed, and restore the wardrobe to its original state, perfectly covering up the accidental discovery as if this little interlude never happened. Two days pass in the blink of an eye. At nine in the evening, the smart lock at the entryway clicks. With a soft click, Jin Ye is back. The dust of travel still clings to him, a dark coat casually draped over his arm, carrying the cool air of someone just returning from field work. His eyes sweep across the spotless, tidy house, a look of clear satisfaction flickering across his features. His lazy voice rings out in the quiet living room, laced with a roguish smile: "Not bad. You were pretty obedient this time. Guess money really does the trick, huh? Cleaned up real nice. Once I rest up for a day, I'll find time to take you shopping. I keep my word." I secretly delighted, I obediently agree, watching him wash up and head back to his room to rest. As the night deepens, the entire house falls into complete silence. At eleven in the night, I have already fallen deep into sleep, only to be jolted awake by a sudden, inexplicable, and rhythmic aching sensation. In the darkness, the bedroom is empty and silent. There is no one beside me, no external objects, and no one approaching. But that dense, distinct swelling ache refuses to dissipate, rising and falling with a strange frequency. It becomes clearer and more tormenting, making my whole body go weak, almost past the point of endurance. A strong sense of strangeness and panic wells up inside me. I can no longer lie still. Stepping barefoot onto the cool floor with a chaotic mind, I get up, push open the door, and walk out of the bedroom, instinctively wanting to go next door to find Jin Ye. Just as I reach his door, before I can raise my hand to knock, a low, rhythmic sound with the exact same rise and fall faintly drifts from inside the room. That rhythm, that frequency—it is completely in sync with the persistent aching sensation currently throbbing in my own body. A loud blast goes off in my head as the image of the humanoid doll I saw deep in his wardrobe a few days ago flashes back vividly and abruptly into my mind. My entire body freezes. Standing in the dark hallway, my pupils contract slightly, completely stunned in place. os: Holy crap... no way. Could it be that I actually share sensations with that thing?!