Xia Miao finally handed the photos she took with Lu Yan to Fang Keai. Fang Keai glanced at them and, finding nothing amiss, concluded that Xia Miao had completed today's task.
Xia Miao returned to the school building and walked a few steps down the hallway before turning around. The figure lurking around the corner immediately ducked behind the wall, as if that would hide the fact that he had been tailing her the entire way.
Pursing her lips, she eventually walked over and grabbed the "stalker's" hand. "Why have you been following me?"
Lu Yan stubbornly retorted, "I wasn’t following you. I was just walking around."
He never had anything serious to do—spending his days either fishing in the river, stealing bird eggs from trees, babbling nonsense with his inseparable brothers to pass the time, or uprooting flowers planted by the old gardener. Of course, he also didn’t shy away from more mischievous deeds, like hiding the head the Headless Woman had painstakingly found.
He was always bouncing around, wilder than a monkey.
But lately, he had developed a new hobby—sneaking after Xia Miao, observing her every move. It was a bit creepy, though he didn’t see it that way.
Xia Miao’s grip on his hand slowly shifted until he was the one holding hers. Strangely, seeing Lu Yan acting so awkward made her reluctant to let go.
She suddenly asked, "Lu Yan, do you have a phone?"
Lu Yan shook his head blankly.
Of course, someone as clueless as him wouldn’t own a phone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so bored that he resorted to bouncing around like a wild animal.
Xia Miao said, "Wait here for me."
Unable to leave the school, she couldn’t buy a new phone from an outside store. Instead, she strode into the classroom and stood imposingly at the podium.
"I’ll pay a hundred times the price. Who’s willing to sell me their phone?"
Xia Miao had told Lu Yan to wait for her, and true to his word, he obediently crouched behind the corner, occasionally peeking in the direction she had disappeared. When he didn’t see her, he withdrew his head and boredly scratched lines into the wall with his nails.
Gradually, the sound of commotion reached him, and he stretched his neck to look with his dull, lifeless eyes.
"Look, it’s Leng Yeting!"
"Oh my god, he’s so handsome!"
"Leng Yeting smiled!"
"This is the first time I’ve seen him smile at someone!"
The center of attention was a strikingly handsome boy with flawless features, though his demeanor was icy, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance. His gaze was equally cold—until it landed on the girl beside him.
Under the jealous glares of countless girls, Ruan Zhizhi shrank back, instinctively moving closer to Leng Yeting. She muttered under her breath, "Leng Yeting, I told you to stay away from me!"
Her pouty, flustered expression only made her appear even more adorable, enough to melt anyone’s heart.
Leng Yeting, in a rare good mood, replied quietly, "I already told you—you can’t get rid of me, little slave."
Ruan Zhizhi had only wanted to live quietly as an unnoticed student, but ever since she accidentally bumped into the school heartthrob in the cafeteria and spilled food on him, Leng Yeting had targeted her.
He claimed his clothes were too expensive for her to repay, so she had no choice but to become his "slave."
Her dream of staying invisible was shattered, and though she cursed Leng Yeting a thousand times in her heart, he had also saved her several times during past games. Unable to help herself, she stole glances at him.
He really was so good-looking.
No, no!
Ruan Zhizhi shook her head vigorously. This man was just a pretty face—she wouldn’t fall for him! She had to keep her distance!
"Ugh, what kind of trick did that girl use to catch Leng Yeting’s attention?"
"I’m so jealous. I wish I could be the one by his side."
"If only I could trade places with her!"
Ruan Zhizhi felt the weight of everyone’s envious stares. In the outside world, she had never been the center of attention like this, and it made her unbearably uncomfortable. Just then, her gaze was drawn to a girl walking toward them.
She had never seen this girl before—long black hair, snow-white skin, delicate features, and a slender frame. The arrogance radiating from her gave off an unapproachable vibe.
This girl clearly had a temper, but no one could deny she was stunning.
Sure enough, the murmurs around them shifted, and all eyes turned to the approaching girl. In an instant, she had replaced Ruan Zhizhi as the focus of attention.
Ruan Zhizhi instinctively looked at Leng Yeting and saw that he, too, was watching the girl. She pressed her lips together, unsure why her chest suddenly felt so tight.
The hallway wasn’t wide, and both sides were blocked by spectators crowding around Leng Yeting. Xia Miao needed to pass through, but with Leng Yeting and Ruan Zhizhi standing in the middle, she gave them a brief glance and tried to go around.
Then, someone in the crowd—perhaps Lin Gaoshan—bumped into her roughly.
Xia Miao stumbled, her shoulder colliding with Ruan Zhizhi.
Ruan Zhizhi let out a soft "Ah!"—a delicate sound that could soften even the coldest heart.
Leng Yeting quickly steadied her as she fell into his arms. "Are you okay?" he asked, concerned.
Ruan Zhizhi shook her head. "I’m fine," she whispered.
But her frown and uneasy expression said otherwise.
Leng Yeting turned to Xia Miao, his gaze frosty. "Apologize."
Xia Miao thought she spotted Lin Gaoshan in the crowd—she wasn’t sure if he was the one who had shoved her. Rubbing her shoulder, she looked back at Leng Yeting and Ruan Zhizhi. Since she had bumped into Ruan Zhizhi, she conceded, "Someone pushed me, so I accidentally hit you. Sorry."
Leng Yeting noticed Ruan Zhizhi still looked unsettled and scoffed. "Is that how you apologize? Where’s the sincerity?"
Leng Yeting was actually standing up for her?
Ruan Zhizhi’s heart raced, her cheeks flushing.
Xia Miao, never one to back down, crossed her arms and smirked. "Why don’t you show me how it’s done, then?"
Leng Yeting’s expression darkened. No one had ever dared to challenge him like this before.
As his gaze lingered on Xia Miao’s face, Ruan Zhizhi felt a pang of unease and instinctively tightened her grip on his arm.
Suddenly, a chorus of "Zhizhi! Zhizhi!" echoed from all directions.
Ruan Zhizhi looked around in confusion. "Who’s calling my name?"
The next second, a black tide of rats surged toward them. Screams erupted as everyone scrambled to flee in terror.
Ruan Zhizhi shrieked and buried herself in Leng Yeting’s chest as he quickly pulled her away, running with the panicked crowd.
Xia Miao stood still as the swarm of black rats, seemingly with a will of their own, avoided her position and scattered in pursuit of the fleeing crowd.
She tilted her head and glanced toward the corridor’s corner.
Behind it lurked a shadowy figure—a boy whose hands were clawing desperately at the wall, leaving deep, terrifying scratches with his nails. His lifeless eyes had narrowed into feline slits, the whites brimming with resentment while his pupils burned with fury.
The edges of his silhouette blurred under a rising haze of dark mist, making him look like a bristling beast ready to pounce and sink its teeth into its prey.
Xia Miao blinked and strode toward him. The closer she got, the more he shrank back.
By the time she reached him, he had curled into a ball in the corner, clutching the hood over his head, leaving only his back turned to her—like a rotting mushroom festering in the shadows.
Without hesitation, Xia Miao kicked him lightly. "What’s wrong with you?"
He stayed silent.
Xia Miao threatened, "I’ll deduct points, you know."
He muttered sullenly, "That guy..."
"Hmm?"
He forced out the words, "Was he... good-looking?"
Xia Miao paused, then suddenly said, "Are you jealous because I talked to another boy?"
Lu Yan snapped, "No!"
Xia Miao fell silent again.
Lu Yan’s fingers tightened around his hood, the fabric crumpling under his grip. Unable to bear the suffocating quiet any longer, he growled, "Fine, I’m pissed off! Deduct points if you want!"
The next second, someone suddenly flung themselves onto his back.
Lu Yan staggered forward but quickly steadied himself, catching the person before they could both tumble.
Then, in an instant, warm lips pressed against his neck.
"You’re adorable when you’re jealous. I love it—plus ten points!"
