Taming the Fierce Hound | Chapter 12 | Waiting in the Dark | Novela.app

The casual remark Zong Yan had dropped was like a latent bomb planted within the confines of the bathroom. Si Jiang stood frozen for a long while, descending into a fit of madness before suddenly falling deathly still. He bent down neurotically, shielding the candle’s flame with both hands. "Don't make a scene, don't make a scene," he muttered to himself. "The candle almost blew out." "Calm down, Si Jiang. Be a good boy." He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and immediately recoiled, his gaze shrinking away. "What am I supposed to do now? Oh, I’ve finished my bath, I still need to use the toilet." Clutching the small red stool, Si Jiang retreated into his cubicle. He squatted awkwardly, leaning half his body weight against the stool for support. One minute passed... then two... Si Jiang realized he couldn't go. Why couldn't he go? He was supposed to use the toilet. "Si Jiang, have you lost even your basic functions of excretion?" "So, you can become even more of a useless waste." "What if you wake up from a nap and find you’ve lost control of yourself? Heavens, what would people think of you?" "That woman will definitely look at you like you're literal trash." Si Jiang hissed a low rebuke, his lips trembling. "Shut up." "Why should I shut up? Am I not telling the truth?" "Si Jiang, you—" "Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Just shut up!" Si Jiang covered his ears and squeezed his eyes shut. "Si Jiang, don't listen to him. It’s an auditory hallucination. The doctor said these voices are fake. Don't pay them any mind." It was a hallucination brought on by psychological trauma. As long as he ignored it and didn't think about it, it would disappear on its own. That was what the doctor had said. The voice in his ear laughed mockingly, drifting and erratic, like some malevolent entity lingering nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to seize his soul. "Si Jiang, you're filthy anyway. Why don't we go to the bottom of the ocean together?" "Si Jiang..." Si Jiang pressed his lips thin. Clutching the red stool, he crawled away from that space and hid under the sink. He moved just far enough that the collar around his neck began to tug. The tension brought a faint sensation of suffocation, but at this moment, the asphyxiation—which would normally be unbearable—was the very reality Si Jiang craved most. Yes, he was currently being held captive by Zong Yan. Zong Yan gave him water; she gave him a stool. This meant he wasn't injured internally. He was normal. The hallucinations were lying to him. Therefore, he wouldn't lose control of himself, and he certainly wouldn't be snatched away by a phantom. Si Jiang rested his chin against the collar, forcing himself to think calmly. Zong Yan was real, so what she said must also be real. What did she mean by saying he had nowhere to go back to? Had Zong Yan seen news about his parents? Had something really happened to them? How was that possible? Those two were people who prioritized their own interests and personal safety above all else. Even if half the world died off, they would still be fine. Then why would Zong Yan say such a thing? *Crch. Crch. Crch.* He bit his fingernails until they were stained with blood. Si Jiang’s eyes darted around anxiously. What if those two really were dead? Though they had rarely cared for or looked after him since he was a child, he had never considered disowning them. Because to his younger self, his family was his entire world. If his parents were dead... If they were dead, then no one was coming to save him. Fear suddenly gripped him. He curled his body tight, peering warily at his surroundings. In that case, who else could open this box? Who else would come to his rescue? He was going to be thrown into the sea by the kidnappers. "Hehehehe, that's right." "Your parents are dead. They don't want you anymore, Si Jiang." "You'll stay in the box with me forever, and finally sink to the bottom of the ocean." No. He didn't want to be trapped in a box. Someone, please save him. It was so dark inside. So dark, and so small. As he lay there, slowly, slowly, it felt as if he were turning into a stiff corpse inside a crate. The candle went out again. He tucked himself deeper into the corner. When would Zong Yan come? What if Zong Yan forgot about him and never came back? *Si Jiang, you can't just wait. You have to save yourself.* The doctor had said he already possessed the ability to save himself. He crawled out from under the sink, stretching his hands forward with all his might until he finally touched the door. The distance was enough! Si Jiang was overjoyed. He fumbled for the handle and soon felt the cold metal. It was indeed the doorknob. He could get out! He pressed down, but it wouldn't budge. *Click. Click.* No matter which way he turned it, the handle remained fixed. The door was locked from the outside. A string in his mind that had been pulled taut for far too long suddenly snapped. He couldn't get out. He would be trapped in the box forever. *** In the middle of the night, Zong Yan was jolted awake by a series of rapid thuds. She instinctively reached for the scissors beside her. Only after confirming the sound was coming from the secret room did she relax slightly. What was that man doing? Frowning, Zong Yan put on her shoes and walked toward the back. The door was vibrating. It wasn't an earthquake. Zong Yan pressed her hand against the door. Someone inside was banging their head against it, over and over, like a malfunctioning clock. She threw the door open. The person inside lost his balance as his momentum met empty air. Jerked back by the collar, he tumbled backward. Zong Yan lit a candle. Looking down at Si Jiang, who was propping himself up on his hands, she asked, "What's wrong?" Si Jiang’s pupils were unfocused, his eyes darting wildly as if he had lost his mind. Zong Yan knelt. She had intended to slap him to bring him to his senses, but the news reports and data she had read flashed through her mind. Ultimately, she softened her touch, reaching out instead to feel the bruise on his forehead. "Si Jiang, it's me." "Ah." Si Jiang’s mouth moved soundlessly. "Aren't you afraid of knocking yourself stupid?" "I..." He glanced to the side, as if finally confirming that this wasn't just another voice. Suddenly, he reached out and grabbed Zong Yan’s arm. "Are... are you here to save me?" "I've been kidnapped. Can you help me?" The gaze he directed at her was exceptionally pure and clean, like a precious gemstone. Zong Yan irrelevantly recalled the comments from the girls in her class and was momentarily speechless. "..." With an expression like that... had Si Jiang actually gone mad? Seeing her silence, Si Jiang hurriedly leaned toward her ear and whispered, "I know it's dangerous here. There are two men outside, and they're very strong. If you can't save me right now, could you... could you..." "Could I what?" "Could you come and check on me secretly every now and then? It's so dark in the box. I'm scared." Zong Yan narrowed her eyes, trying to find any trace of acting on the man's face. She failed. The man seemed to have truly undergone a psychological regression to his childhood. She had to admit, this version of Si Jiang was much more tolerable than the adult one. Pitiful, as if she were his only lifeline—as if he would die without her. And so, Zong Yan nodded. "I can." "Really!" Si Jiang’s mouth fell open, a mix of surprise and worry on his face. "Then... then how often will you come to see me?" Zong Yan pondered for a moment before saying, "Hold out your hands." "Okay." Si Jiang obediently held out both hands. "Hold this candle, and it won't feel dark. At most, one hour after it goes out, I will come." "Okay!" He cradled the candle as if it were a priceless treasure. "You have to keep your word." "I never lie." "Then I believe you. I'll wait for you. You have to remember that I'm waiting for you." --- | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 心理退行 | Psychological regression | A defense mechanism where an individual reverts to an earlier stage of development. | | 感官剥夺 | Sensory deprivation | The deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses. | | 暗室 | Darkroom / Secret chamber | Refers to the confined, lightless space Si Jiang is kept in. | | 司氏集团 | Si Group / Si Corporation | The business empire owned by Si Jiang's family. | | 箱子 | The box | A recurring trauma trigger for Si Jiang related to his past kidnapping. |