Lin Gaoshan had been eyeing Xia Miao with increasing wariness lately. He had long suspected there was something unusual about her, which was why he had tried to rally others to probe her secrets. But just as he had enlisted Ding Renlu’s help, the man had agreed to collaborate—only to vanish without a trace.
Ding Renlu must have met with foul play.
Xia Miao was far more terrifying than he had imagined. How had she even detected Ding Renlu’s involvement and his own intentions to act against her, striking first before they could move?
The more Lin Gaoshan observed her, the more inscrutable she became. He had once considered approaching her with friendly overtures, but now it was clear—Xia Miao was cunning, and she would never reveal her hand easily.
But he couldn’t afford to wait. Lin Gaoshan was drowning in gambling debts, and he desperately needed to secure an inhibitor. In the past, he had barely scraped through the game by sheer luck, but his survival was no longer guaranteed.
Just staying alive had drained him of all his energy—how could he possibly spare any effort to hunt for inhibitors?
Fortunately, he had received a tip: among this batch of players, someone possessed a unique ability. He was convinced that person was Xia Miao. To achieve his goal, he had to find a way to seize whatever special power she harbored.
His gaze drifted forward again, fixating on the girl ahead.
Xia Miao had brought Fang Keai a pile of snacks. Patting her friend’s shoulder, she offered warm consolation, "Don’t be sad. Out with the old, in with the new—you’ll definitely meet someone better!"
Fang Keai remained despondent. Her unrequited crush had ended before it could even blossom, leaving her heartbroken. Still, she was grateful for her friend’s comfort.
"Miao, thank you," Fang Keai said, her eyes red-rimmed with emotion. "If it weren’t for you, I don’t know how I’d get through this."
Xia Miao smiled generously. "We’re desk mates, and we’re friends. Of course I’d stick by you at a time like this!"
Fang Keai sniffled. "Miao, you’re such a good person."
Xia Miao privately agreed—she was, indeed, a saint. But this was the first time someone had openly acknowledged it. Feeling smug, she dug into her backpack and pulled out another heap of snacks, spreading them across the desk and pushing them toward Fang Keai.
"Eat more sweets. It’ll cheer you up!"
Later, during P.E. class, Xia Miao was tasked with collecting the equipment. Dressed in her gym clothes, she carried a bag of volleyballs toward the storage room. Fang Keai had wanted to help, but she had other obligations, so Xia Miao assured her she could manage alone.
Kneeling to organize the gear, Xia Miao suddenly heard the door slam shut behind her, plunging the room into darkness.
The storage room’s lightbulb had been broken for ages, never repaired. A flicker of flame sputtered to life, casting a dim glow.
A man stood there, his face hidden behind a crude cardboard mask, an old oil lamp dangling from his hand—likely scavenged from some forgotten corner.
He stepped closer, his voice raspy. "Xia Miao, don’t be nervous. Cooperate, and I won’t hurt you."
Xia Miao stood. "Lin Gaoshan, what do you want?"
The man stiffened, then yanked off the makeshift mask, revealing Lin Gaoshan’s prematurely aged face. "How did you recognize me?"
"Just like that."
Lin Gaoshan’s expression darkened. He had hoped the disguise would intimidate her, but she had seen right through it. Abandoning the act, he let his menacing demeanor take over.
"Xia Miao, we’re both smart people. No need for games." He fought to keep his voice steady. "I told you—if we work together, we can survive this hellhole. I know where to find inhibitors. Partner with me, and you won’t regret it."
Xia Miao blinked. "Then tell me—where is this so-called inhibitor?"
Lin Gaoshan chuckled. "If I just handed that over, I’d be useless to you, wouldn’t I? Xia Miao, team up with me. I know more than you think."
Even now, Xia Miao showed no fear. Crossing her arms, she smirked. "Then give me something worthwhile to prove you’re not lying."
Lin Gaoshan hesitated, grudgingly conceding her point. "If we capture a monster and bring it out, SU will reward us with more wealth than we could spend in a lifetime."
Xia Miao’s brows twitched. "You mentioned before that the creatures here are valuable."
"Of course! Do you have any idea how significant their existence is? They should be lifeless, yet they persist in this world. In a way, they’ve achieved immortality!"
His eyes gleamed with fervor. "Xia Miao, you must have some method of controlling the Slayer, right? I know where the inhibitor is. Lure him there, and I’ll use it to immobilize him. He’s the perfect specimen—we can’t miss this chance!"
Xia Miao smiled. "Don’t lie to me. If the inhibitor were as miraculous as you claim, how could you possibly know its location? I don’t deal with frauds."
"I’m not a fraud! The inhibitor is behind the school cafeteria—" Lin Gaoshan caught himself, his face twisting. "Xia Miao, you weren’t planning to cooperate at all! You were fishing for information!"
Xia Miao: "Not at all. You’re misunderstanding."
Her eyes darted around, assessing the room. The door was blocked by Lin Gaoshan—no escape there. The window was a possibility, but she wasn’t sure if it would budge.
Lin Gaoshan let out a bitter laugh. "I knew you wouldn’t play along. Fine. I’ll just extract your secrets another way."
He tossed something into the oil lamp, sparking a small flare. A pungent odor thickened in the air as he pulled a gas mask from his bag and strapped it on.
Xia Miao’s head swam, her vision blurring.
Lin Gaoshan advanced slowly. "This place used to be an SU research base. I’ve found all sorts of useful things here."
Like the chemical compound burning in his lamp—just a trace was enough to paralyze a person’s nerves.
"Honestly, you’re quite pretty. In a place like this, you’ve probably never known a man’s touch, have you? Don’t worry—I’ll record everything. You’ll have a choice: either confess your secret, or let the whole world enjoy the footage."
Xia Miao’s hand groped behind her weakly. "Come closer… I’ll tell you my secret."
Lin Gaoshan thought she was finally scared and eagerly stepped forward.
Suddenly, Xia Miao grabbed a dumbbell and smashed it hard against Lin Gaoshan's head.
