"Yo, Yuan bro, got yourself a girlfriend?"
The arrogant voice cut through the peaceful air. A smug-looking guy walked up with two "buddies" trailing behind, wrecking the nice vibe from just moments ago.
"Girlfriend...? We're not like that…"
Chen Fengling had her back to them, so she couldn't tell whether they were teasing or just making small talk. But when she heard the word "girlfriend," she flinched—like someone had just said out loud what she'd secretly been thinking.
"Hah, not yet, huh? Girl, don't be fooled by how proper he looks now—everyone knows he sneaks around here like some creepy stalker."
The three of them burst out laughing, loud enough to draw attention from everyone nearby.
Her face, which had just been smiling in a daze, suddenly went cold.
She knew that laugh too well. It was the same kind of mockery that always made people start avoiding her. It was the warning sign of loneliness and misery. She should've looked heartbroken, maybe a little afraid…
But instead, she bowed her head slightly, mumbling something under her breath. Her bangs dropped low, hiding her face. The mood turned. You could hear a pin drop.
Luo Yuan's expression darkened. He stepped forward, voice low but firm:"Ajie. This is between you and me. No need to drag other people into it. If you've got a problem, take it up with me."
Ajie's smirk froze. He hadn't expected such a direct response. This wasn't like the Yuan he was used to. Even the two guys behind him were caught off guard. As they moved to grab Yuan's collar, Chen Fengling suddenly stepped in, blocking their hand.
Ajie looked her over, surprise flashing in his eyes for a moment—but it quickly turned to provocation."Oho, standing up for him, huh? But listen, girl, he's not the good guy you think he is. Don't let him fool you."
Luo Yuan stepped in front of Fengling, breaking up the exchange."Ajie," he said coldly, "keep this up, and don't blame me for what happens next."
The tension spiked. Ajie's goons felt it too—the aura coming from this usually passive guy was like a lion ready to strike. Instinctively, they backed off a little.
"Tch. Fine. We'll settle this later."
They walked off, muttering about "showing off for a girl."
Luo Yuan turned to Chen Fengling, guilt in his eyes."Sorry about that. You didn't need to see that kind of thing."
She shook her head, still looking down."It's okay. I know you're not like that. They were just being stupid. But…"
She stepped past his protection, looked back, and smiled—bright and sincere.
"Wait here for a bit. There's something I need to take care of."
As she turned away, that smile vanished. Her face twisted, monstrous—just like the final night of the world that hadn't happened yet.
Luo Yuan stepped toward her, confused, but then heard her soft, eerie muttering.
It sounded like the hiss of a fuse on a bomb—or the prayer of a fanatic about to commit heresy.
"Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back. You have to wait for me, okay? Promise me… don't leave…"
With those words, she stepped through the gates and vanished.
Yuan watched her go, anxiety creeping in. Was it the rumors that upset her? Was she about to do something stupid? Either way, he couldn't just stay put.
After a moment of hesitation, he went after her.
The sky had darkened. At some point, the weather had turned—strong winds bent the willows sideways, and thick clouds swallowed the sunset, painting the sky in shades of black.
A storm was coming.
Ajie was sprinting down the school's streets, face pale with fear. Blood trailed from his limbs, leaving a vivid red streak behind.
His buddies were nowhere to be found. He was alone, running down an empty, unfamiliar street.
He kept glancing behind him, as if something terrible was on his heels.
"Damn it! Why won't this psycho give up?!"
Behind him, the girl in the white dress followed with a twisted smile—like a cat chasing a mouse.
He rounded a corner, aiming for the exit gate—but found a dead end instead.
He knew these paths. He'd lived here for a year. But now the layout made no sense, like he'd been dropped into some nightmare maze. The students, the teachers—everyone was gone. It was like stepping into another world.
He turned, despair setting in, just in time to see the monster behind him arrive.
She was holding a blood-stained dagger, one hand pressed to her face.
"When you said I was his girlfriend… I was actually kinda happy."
She stepped closer. Her eyes had turned chaotic, inhuman. Just looking at her made it hard to breathe.
"But I'm scared. So scared. What if things change between us? What if he doesn't treat me the same?"
"What if I become just another girl who liked him in a past life? What if I end up forgotten? That would make me so, so—so sad."
She smiled. Warm. Gentle. Like a neighbor's kid after you gave her candy. Ignore the setting, ignore the blood—and you might think it was sweet.
"But still, thank you. Really… thank you."
Ajie couldn't speak. She'd caught him six times already. Each time, she cut something off.
"But why did you treat him like that? He's a good person…"
"I didn't want to hurt anyone. I came here to stay calm. But I'm so angry. I can't hold it back."
She stepped closer, still smiling. He couldn't move.
"Why would you hurt him? Why would you defile my god? Why, why, why?"
Her voice was soft, sweet. But when she said that last "why," her head tilted—far too far. And more cuts appeared on her body, without explanation.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, big sis! I shouldn't have messed with your man! Please—spare me! Isn't this enough?!"
He babbled, raising his half-ruined arm to shield himself, eyes scanning the ground for a loose brick.
"Alright! I'll let you go," she said cheerfully. "He's probably waiting for me anyway~"
Shockingly, she turned away.
The strange pressure vanished.
Ajie leapt forward, brick in hand, and slammed it into the back of her head.
It hit. She dropped.
"Haha… what an idiot… I win…"
He panted, eyes roving over her body. The soft curves. The pale skin. Lust crept in.
"You cut me… You wanna play rough? Then let's really play. I bet that loser's never even touched you…"
He grinned—evil fully unmasked. Lightning lit up his face like a demon in a storm.
Thunder crashed. Rain poured down.
Luo Yuan was still searching for her, soaked to the bone. He'd tried calling—no answer.
Then he saw her, standing in front of a clothing store. At some point, she'd changed outfits. She held two bags, and when she saw him, she looked startled. She quickly hid one of the bags behind her back.
"You came out? I told you to wait…"
He handed her an umbrella, noticing her nervous expression and the brand-new clothes.
"It started raining, and you didn't have an umbrella. I got worried."
She blushed slightly, stepping closer when she saw how drenched he was.
"You're soaked. You'll catch a cold."
She pulled out a towel and gently dried his hair.
"I got scared. I was worried you'd do something reckless."
He looked her over, trying to see if she was hurt, but she just kept fussing over him like nothing was wrong.
"Come to my place tonight," she said. "I bought you some new clothes."
Back inside, she picked an outfit for him. Yuan noticed she didn't hesitate on size or style. Like she already knew everything about his body and tastes.
They walked under one umbrella through the rain, side by side. She didn't mind getting her new clothes wet. She even leaned into him from time to time, brushing against his chest.
It looked like a peaceful, romantic scene.
If you ignored the bag she'd hidden behind her back.
If you ignored the slow spread of red soaking through the bottom of it.