Chapter 3: Received Jealous and Twisted Text Messages

She felt something lightly brush her cheek—itchy and strange.

Yue Yiyue frowned in dissatisfaction and waved her hand, only to touch a warm body. She also heard faint breathing near her ear.

After entering the School, her vision had suddenly gone black, and she had lost consciousness. She rubbed her aching head. How had she just fallen asleep here?

Her head throbbed. Hiss.

She should be doing the activity with Gu Nanqiu right now, then heading back.

Her mind was filled with inexplicable thoughts she had no time to sort out.

Because her hand rested on something warm, with even breathing near her ear.

After a light chuckle, a clear, pleasant female voice rang in Yue Yiyue’s ears: “If you’re awake, then get up, Yue. You can’t sleep here.”

Yue Yiyue’s foggy mind finally caught up. Two pieces of information: first, this voice was familiar to her ears; second, this person knew her.

She rubbed her eyes and carefully crawled out from the person’s embrace. Lowering her head, she saw an absolutely beautiful face right in front of her. In that instant, she panicked and didn’t know where to put her hands.

Her long, straight black hair draped casually over her shoulders. Her complexion was pale, but her pretty lips were pink and translucent, like bouncy jelly.

Her alluring peach-blossom eyes drew Yue Yiyue in most of all.

Noticing Yue Yiyue’s gaze, she smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.

In that moment, Yue Yiyue caught a faint whiff of osmanthus.

Sweet.

She barely needed to think; Yue Yiyue immediately recognized her.

Gu Nanqiu.

The Gu Nanqiu everyone adored.

It was summer, the weather somewhat muggy and hot. She wore a loose white T-shirt, jeans, and a pair of comfortable sneakers. Even simple clothes looked fashionable on her, like the styles Yue Yiyue had seen on LED screens.

From above, Yue Yiyue noticed her smooth, slender collarbone.

A tiny red mole sat there, perfectly eye-catching.

“How’d you end up spacing out like that?” The teasing voice dragged playfully, lingering strangely like lovers’ whispers.

At the thought, Yue Yiyue jolted back a step and bowed in apology. “Sorry, I was still groggy from sleep! Are you okay?”

The girl smiled and held out a hand. Yue Yiyue subconsciously took her hand to help her up—only to get pulled into a full hug by Gu Nanqiu. That faint osmanthus scent intensified.

Her soft body felt burning hot, making Yue Yiyue push back two steps.

“Long time no see. I missed you so much. You didn’t even tell me you were going on vacation this time. They kept lying, saying you’d abandoned me for good.” Gu Nanqiu gripped her hand, hooked her arm, and spoke intimately, like they were the closest of friends.

The overly intimate contact made Yue Yiyue uncomfortable. She tried to pull away, but her mind snapped a harsh command: ‘Accept.’

Her body instantly obeyed, and she stopped resisting so much.

She listened awkwardly as Gu Nanqiu chattered on. Yue Yiyue wondered: in the book, were they this close?

“What are you spacing out for? You seem strange today. What’s wrong?” Gu Nanqiu tilted her head at the dazed Yue Yiyue, her eyes holding a hint of scrutiny but mostly concern.

“You seem absent-minded today. What’s up?” Gu Nanqiu placed a hand on Yue Yiyue’s forehead, then quickly withdrew it. “No fever. Did something happen?”

The buzzing phone in her pocket interrupted Gu Nanqiu’s concern.

Both looked toward Yue Yiyue’s pants pocket. Gu Nanqiu stepped back considerately. “Take care of it first.”

This made Yue Yiyue’s impression of Gu Nanqiu soar. but seeing the messages made her hands and feet turn ice-cold.

“Why are you leaning so close to her?”

“This is cheating on me!”

“Baby, you can’t do this!”

“Baby, tell that disgusting bug to stay away. Why? Why? Why?????”

“She did it on purpose. She’s deliberately disgusting—disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! Baby, don’t be fooled. She’s just seducing you! Disgusting.”

“Baby, don’t you want to go back? Be good, and you’ll be sent back when the time comes.”

“What’s wrong?” Gu Nanqiu’s voice snapped Yue Yiyue back to reality. Tilting her head, she blinked curiously like a sly little forest deer. “Are they urging us to come up?”

Her voice pulled Yue Yiyue from the flood of texts. She muted her phone and forced a smile. “Just harassment.”

“Let’s go. We should head up too—can’t keep them waiting.”

Along the way, Gu Nanqiu chatted about her plans—like renting an apartment together for university or doing volunteer work to experience life.

Yue Yiyue responded now and then. But most of her attention stayed on those texts.

The messages had picked up since she’d arrived.

Yue Yiyue felt troubled.

But whoever sent them seemed to know how she could go back…

She figured she could keep ignoring them like before.

After all, ignoring them might get her sent back too.

“Would you live with me later? You’re the only one I know in that city.”

“Huh? Sure, okay. We’ll talk later.” Yue Yiyue hadn’t quite caught it but nodded anyway.

“Good, it’s settled then. Thanks—it’s great you’re back.”

The words felt odd, but Yue Yiyue didn’t dwell on them.

Gazing down the long corridor, she asked in confusion, “Do we normally have to walk this far to class?”

Her memories were fuzzy, but she recalled their classroom was on the fourth floor top—eight minutes at most. But today felt endless.

“Huh? Yeah, now that you mention it, it does.” Gu Nanqiu edged closer uneasily. “I heard the School has a Weird Tale during breaks.”

As she spoke, she lowered her voice and pressed against Yue Yiyue’s side. Her warm hand hooked Yue Yiyue’s; their smooth skin rubbed together, making Yue Yiyue uncomfortable.

For a second, something cold seemed to wrap her hand—but looking down, it was just Gu Nanqiu’s, with its silver bracelet.

“Someone might wander into the Inner School, get lost, and become ghost food.”

Yue Yiyue sighed in relief—this wasn’t in the book. “Maybe we just walked slower while chatting?”

Spotting the 4F sign, Yue Yiyue pointed. “See? We’re only on the fourth floor. No big deal. If you’re scared, I can walk you back later.”

Later…

Thinking ahead, Yue Yiyue’s head throbbed.

These classmates had no idea how reckless they were being.

She had to escape before then.

Looking at Gu Nanqiu—who was taller but now leaning weakly on her—Yue Yiyue decided to take her along when she escaped. With her protagonist halo, she’d be fine.

The others…

She’d persuade as many others as she could. If not, she’d just have to cry to their parents later.

After all, she could barely save herself—like a clay Buddha crossing a river.

Otherwise, why else would she be delivering takeout one minute and shrunk small, stuck in university here, the next?

“We’re here.” Yue Yiyue paused at the familiar window. Peering through, she saw people inside. “That story’s probably to scare off outsiders. Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

With that, Yue Yiyue pushed open the door. Two women and two men inside exclaimed one after another.

“Just a few days of break, and you’re unrecognizable!” an exaggerated voice boomed. The red-haired girl strode over boldly, hooked Yue Yiyue’s arm, and squeezed between them. “Long time no see. You finally came.”

Her bold move and bright red hair jogged Yue Yiyue’s memory: Zhang Yang.

“Wow, Gu Nanqiu, you showed! Last time meeting today—let’s make it epic.” The tall guy in a button-up and big glasses shoved the short one beside him. “Zhao Heyi, show the good stuff!”

“You came with Gu Nanqiu? So jealous. How’d you end up at the same school? You two always got along, but I didn’t expect this.” The small-eyed girl had stared at Gu Nanqiu since they entered, eyes glued. She was asking Yue Yiyue, but never glanced her way.

Only when Zhang Yang accidentally brushed Gu Nanqiu’s clothes did disgust flash in her peripheral glare.

Zhang Yang noticed right away. Tilting her head at the quiet beauty, she shot the small-eyed girl a provocative look. “Wang Xiaoyan, coming over?”

“Don’t crowd the door. Come in and shut it. Patrollers’ll drag you off if they catch you.” He lowered his voice dramatically, hamming it up.

“Wang Yong, that’s not scary—” Zhang Yang teased, then turned to Gu Nanqiu. “Come in. We’ve waited forever—thought you weren’t coming.”

Her tone was coquettish.

Ignored, Yue Yiyue quietly took a seat, propped her chin, and watched Gu Nanqiu smile like a spring breeze. Answering questions and catching Yue Yiyue’s probing gaze, she waved quietly.

But then a bird hopped onto the outside windowsill, stealing Yue Yiyue’s attention.

She turned and peered curiously at the odd little bird. It had a tuft of light blue feathers atop its head and purple-crystal eyes. It didn’t look ordinary; she had no idea what kind it was.

She stared a moment, reached out to poke it—but it just stood there blankly.

Soon bored with the dumb bird, Yue Yiyue looked away and mulled over the new info.

She and Gu Nanqiu normally got along well.

She’d have to keep up the good act with Gu Nanqiu so no one suspected the change.

Maintain relationships, then survive…

Recalling the one useful bit from the messy texts: ‘Be good here, and you can go back.’

She’d be good—as long as she could handle Aunt Zhang.

A flicker of doubt vanished quickly. Her mind shied from uncertainties, focusing only on what mattered to her.

Seeing no eyes on her, Gu Nanqiu lowered her gaze thoughtfully, then casually pulled her hand back.

She kept answering questions and asked about their breaks.

“I brought snacks to liven things up. What game today?”

Gu Nanqiu smiled brightly and asked amiably, but her gaze lingered on the withdrawn Yue Yiyue. Her eyes brimmed with scrutiny.

Everyone exchanged looks, staring openly at the girl in the center.

Their eyes burned with unrestrained greed and possessiveness as they chorused: “Tribute—”