It took Zhao Mingyue half a second of hesitation before she suddenly remembered something. When she had left earlier, she looked back and happened to see Li Nan’s figure. At the time, she hadn’t paid much attention, only thinking about leaving quickly.
The key point was that Li Nan had been staring at Lu Liangting, not her. That was very strange. Li Nan’s target should have been herself, so why would he set his sights on Lu Liangting?
“You mean, Li Nan?”
“It’s him.”
“But why? Why would he target Lu Liangting…” Zhao Mingyue suddenly paused. “Because of me?”
She wasn’t a fool. She couldn’t possibly fail to notice what kind of intentions Li Nan harbored towards her. The reason she had maintained a neither-close-nor-distant relationship was mostly out of helplessness. He had always put on a pleasant face and never confessed. She couldn’t just bluntly say, “I don’t like you, stay away from me.”
What Zhao Mingyue truly hadn’t expected was that he could endure for so long, only deciding to make a move today.
However, the Li Nan of today was clearly no longer the Li Nan she once knew.
And the reason Li Nan was targeting Lu Liangting now was likely because Lu Liangting had been too close to her just a moment ago.
That was the only reason Zhao Mingyue could think of.
It wasn’t because she was thick-skinned or narcissistic. It was mainly because Lu Liangting and Li Nan genuinely had no conflicts. These two hadn’t exchanged more than half a sentence in class.
Bai Yu didn’t answer. She actually hoped this Li Nan could put in some effort and finish off Lu Liangting this afternoon. That would save a lot of trouble. Although she knew in her heart that a small fry trying to kill the Male Lead was astronomically difficult… but what if?
Come to think of it, it was indeed very strange.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Li Nan was a subordinate of some Game Participant. If that was the case, Li Nan’s target should be Zhao Mingyue, yet this person had run off to kill Lu Liangting.
If the one behind him found out, wouldn’t that person deal with him personally?
Nothing was impossible in this world. Bai Yu felt the most likely scenario was that Li Nan had made the decision himself, without informing the person behind him.
“Bai Yu, what should we do?”
“We wait for the result.”
“This… alright.” Zhao Mingyue nodded, neither refuting nor dragging Bai Yu to go save him.
She had no strength. Her greatest reliance was Bai Yu. If she didn’t listen to Bai Yu at a time like this, who else would she listen to? Acting on her own would only get both herself and Bai Yu killed.
If she had the power herself, it would be a different story. Lu Liangting had brought her so many meals, after all. She would at least lend him a hand.
“Um, can I send a message to Lu Liangting? Just to warn him.”
“Don’t do that either. Don’t interfere. Let them resolve it themselves.”
“Got it.”
Throughout the entire noon, right until two o’clock when she left for school, Zhao Mingyue suppressed the thoughts in her heart. After washing the lunch box clean, she returned to school.
Regarding this point, even Bai Yu wanted to praise her.
What Bai Yu feared most was Zhao Mingyue developing a case of foolish naivety at a critical moment—failing to do what needed to be done, yet stubbornly pushing forward with what shouldn’t be done.
That kind of flaw could truly get people killed.
Fortunately, Zhao Mingyue could take advice and wouldn’t act foolishly.
It was precisely because Zhao Mingyue was so obedient that Bai Yu actually felt the tiniest, most minuscule twinge of guilt in her heart.
She could, of course, go save Lu Liangting. The reason she didn’t was absolutely not fear of danger; it was simply that she wanted Lu Liangting dead.
“That… Mingyue.”
Just as she returned to her seat, Zhao Mingyue heard Bai Yu’s voice.
“Ah? What is it? Is it about Li Nan?”
“I, cough… be careful when you go back tonight. Whether Lu Liangting dies or not, Li Nan will definitely make a move against you tonight.”
“Mm, I understand.”
Though she said that, Zhao Mingyue still found it somewhat strange.
It wasn’t the situation that was strange, but rather Bai Yu’s tone and attitude. The problem was, she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was odd for a moment. It was the first time she had heard Bai Yu use this kind of tone.
As class was about to start, Lu Liangting appeared at the classroom door. Far from being killed, there wasn’t even a single wound on his body.
Aside from a visible sense of dejection, there was nothing amiss about him.
·
·
A black, spindle-shaped earring shimmered with a deep, dark purple under the sunlight. Lips red as blood, eyeliner drawn to the most perfect curve—one stroke more would be too much, one stroke less would lose that soul-snatching allure.
Bang!
Li Nan slammed heavily into the wall. His chin was severely deformed, two teeth flew out, and he vomited a mouthful of blood, sprawling on the ground like a dog.
“I told you, didn’t I? Your target is Zhao Mingyue. Lu Liangting—when the time comes for you to deal with him, I will naturally tell you. Until then, you are not to touch a single hair on his head.”
Her eyes were filled with flirtatious disgust. Teacher Chen crossed her arms over her chest.
“It was my mistake, Master. Please forgive me…” Li Nan scrambled up and knelt on the ground, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Then, into his line of sight appeared a foot clad in a tall black boot.
On the front of this boot was a small patch of dark red blood—Li Nan’s own blood.
“Lick it clean.”
“Yes… yes…”
A moment later, Li Nan turned and left. Before leaving, his heart was filled with extreme unwillingness, but he still didn’t dare ask that question.
‘Why not kill Lu Liangting?’
·
·
“Lu Liangting, why, why…”
Zhao Mingyue was like this, and his Master was the same. Li Nan couldn’t understand.
What exactly did Lu Liangting have that made him so special?
Night. It was already eleven o’clock.
The afternoon had been uneventful, as if things had returned to normal. The first thing Zhao Mingyue did after school was go home, pack her things, grab a meal, then rush to the convenience store for work. She got off at ten-fifty and headed home.
What would happen tonight, she didn’t know.
There was no quest, but it might be even more dangerous than a quest.
The female ghost on the fifth floor. And the mysterious Li Nan.
Sunshine Apartment. Fourth floor corridor.
“Eleven-thirty…”
Lu Liangting put away his mobile phone and looked up at the pitch-black fifth floor, which resembled an abyss.
He closed his eyes, his back to the staircase, one hand gripping the railing tightly.
“One, two, three, four… thirteen…”
The moment he counted the thirteenth step, Lu Liangting abruptly opened his eyes.
He had already arrived at the fifth floor. In his vision, apart from darkness, there was a layer of red filter.
At this time, the Spirit Fire hadn’t ignited yet, and the faces carved into the walls hadn’t appeared.
With no obstructions along the way, Lu Liangting arrived at the door of Room 506. He fished a key out of his pocket. After tearing the seal strip off the door, he inserted the key into the lock and turned it gently.
Click!
The door opened. Behind it, the female ghost stood silently. The bloody nails on both hands nearly dragged on the ground. Her face, melted by fire, was terrifying in the extreme.
“I said within one week, I would help you find your child. The time isn’t up yet. I haven’t broken the agreement.”
Lu Liangting took a deep breath. “What I promised you, I will definitely do. I never break my word.”
“If you kill me, even your last hope is gone. As long as you help me with this favor today, I will find both of your children for you.”
“I want you to help me find someone. No, a ghost…”
At the same time, outside Sunshine Apartment.
“Mingyue, wait for me…”
Under his hood, Li Nan revealed a cruel smile.
He walked past a streetlamp. Under the light’s glow, two shadows were clearly visible on him.
On his back, something was clinging.
·
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