Uzuki truly hadn’t expected that Hikita Shiori, who had dressed up as Nakajima Minako to scare her a few days earlier, would actually send her another message, and she felt a bit surprised.
A few seconds later, Hikita Shiori sent another message: “I’ve really reflected on my behavior from the other day. I’m sorry, Uzuki. No matter whether you choose to go to the old school building to rescue Aoi and the others, I hope you’ll do your best. It’s a shameless request, but I hope we can become friends from now on.”
Staring at the phone screen, the faint light illuminating Uzuki’s pale face, she typed out a line, deleted it, typed another line, and deleted it again.
In the end, she sent an emoji—a smiley face.
Now it was time to get ready to go. Even the wrongdoers deserved a chance at redemption. Besides, the “friend” that Uzuki had ignored for so long deserved a proper apology.
Uzuki saw Yu Qingxue knock on Gao Sijin’s door and then walk in: “Sijin, let’s go out to eat today!”
Gao Sijin glanced back at Yu Qingxue, then at Uzuki, instantly understood everything, and proceeded to shut down the computer and stand up. “Let’s go. It really has been a while since we ate out.”
Earlier in the day, Gao Sijin had been angry about those unreasonable parents bullying Uzuki, but now he appeared unusually calm, wearing his usual kind and gentle smile.
“I’m sorry…”
“What’s there to apologize for, Uzuki? Let’s go.”
Gao Sijin patted Uzuki’s head, as if petting a puppy that adored its master. Too bad Uzuki didn’t have a tail, or it would definitely be wagging nonstop.
They stepped out of the room, and Morgana was standing at the door: “Yu Qingxue, where are you going?”
“Just going out to eat. What are you so tense about?”
Facing Morgana’s questioning, Yu Qingxue immediately exuded a queenly aura, matching Morgana tit for tat.
“You aren’t planning to investigate that old school building, are you?”
“So what if we are? What if we aren’t?”
“If you’re going to a place like that, leave Lord Sijin behind. I don’t care if you and Uzuki go, but I must ensure Lord Sijin’s safety.” Morgana lifted the hem of her skirt, revealing long, shapely legs covered in fishnet stockings, with daggers strapped to them. “As far as I know, those high school girls weren’t just playing a prank; they really vanished. That old school building is dangerous.”
Meanwhile, Gao Sijin’s arm was tightly held by Emilia. The usually serene, Buddha-like Mumbai girl wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, which was actually a little scary.
“Let go of me, Emilia.” Gao Sijin tried to pull his arm free from her grasp, but it was useless. Her wheat-colored arms coiled around his like a python, refusing to loosen even a little.
“Lord Sijin, please don’t be reckless. If you go missing too, Young Lady Tsukiyuki will be angry.”
“Tch.” Yu Qingxue shrugged. “Fine, if that’s how it is, we won’t go to the old school building.”
Uzuki also hung her head low. Thinking it over, her request really was a bit too much. But suddenly, her vision went black—Yu Qingxue had covered her eyes. At the same time, she heard Yu Qingxue shout loudly: “Sijin, close your eyes quickly!”
While telling Gao Sijin to close his eyes, Morgana and Emilia also shut theirs immediately, realizing that Yu Qingxue very likely had a flashbang. If they took a flashbang head-on, not only temporary blindness and deafness, but even being knocked unconscious was possible.
To think, with Young Lady Tsukiyuki not home, Yu Qingxue would actually dare to act so brazenly.
No more than a second after they closed their eyes, Yu Qingxue whispered in their ears: “How could I use something like that against you? If I messed up and damaged your hearing, you’d end up in the hospital. You’re my dear sisters; how could I bear to hurt you?”
“What?!”
Morgana and Emilia opened their eyes and saw that Yu Qingxue had injected their arms with a syringe filled with anesthetic.
“Sleep for a bit, you two little ladies. Don’t worry, I won’t betray Young Lady Tsukiyuki. Exploring the old school building is purely for fun, absolutely no danger. After you wake up, remember to prepare a midnight snack for us tonight. I want dumplings stuffed with Boston lobster.”
“Yu Qingxue, how dare you—!”
“Good night~”
The two obstructing maids collapsed limply. Gao Sijin supported Emilia, and Yu Qingxue supported Morgana, settling them both on the sofa. Everything happened in the blink of an eye—Gao Sijin barely had time to react.
“So that’s settled?”
“I’m actually pretty strong.”
Yu Qingxue wore a light women’s suit, black jacket with a short skirt, making her look like a sharp, capable female secretary. Under her sleek black stockings were a pair of red high heels. Her high ponytail, reaching down to her waist, made her appear especially alluring and graceful.
“What’s in your bag?”
“Just some ghost-repelling tools.” Yu Qingxue smiled a bewitching smile, looking at Gao Sijin with deep meaning.
Uzuki held Gao Sijin’s hand, being careful.
The group took the elevator down to the underground parking garage.
It was eight in the evening. Yu Qingxue drove her silver BMW, racing through the streets of Tokyo. Young Lady Tsukiyuki would definitely find out about Yu Qingxue’s unilateral action against Morgana and Emilia through the cameras, but Yu Qingxue felt that with her explanation, Young Lady Tsukiyuki probably wouldn’t pursue the matter.
She was exceptionally forgiving. As long as Yu Qingxue didn’t make a move on Gao Sijin, anything would be pardoned.
“Qingxue, will it really be okay?”
“Heh, back when you first asked me to play League of Legends, you always asked me that same question. And what happened? Didn’t I always carry you, deadweight, and slaughter the whole match? Even if there really are ghosts and monsters in that old school building, in my eyes they’re nothing but sitting ducks. Don’t underestimate me. I, Yu Qingxue, am a fanatical, genuine, hardcore radical.”
Gao Sijin looked out the window. The normally orderly street buildings seemed distorted today.
Perhaps fate would have its way.
Uzuki leaned on Gao Sijin’s shoulder, trembling. Gao Sijin wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to calm her.
She was terrified, yet she wanted to save those who had once tormented her. Such behavior could be described as saintly.
But Gao Sijin never considered “saintly” a derogatory term. In the past, when reading Les Misérables, between Bishop Myriel—who represented forgiveness and kindness—and Inspector Javert—who represented justice and order—Gao Sijin had chosen the former as his pen name. That was his original answer.
This world ought to have love. In today’s materialistic age, people are already filled with the hostility of a fast-paced life.
But the problem was, as he grew older, Gao Sijin gradually realized that not all evil could be reformed by love. For a kind-hearted person, recognizing this inevitably brought pain, but only by overcoming that pain could one grow.
“Uzuki, we’re here.”
Kaijo High School was right before them. Due to its location, there were no pedestrians around at this hour. Uzuki stared at the school outside the window, her little face pale.
“This is your last chance. You can still change your mind,” Gao Sijin said softly to Uzuki.
“Qingxue, can we really come back safely?”
“Trust me, Uzuki.” Yu Qingxue pulled a tachi from the passenger seat and handed Gao Sijin a Glock pistol. “This time we’ve come prepared. Let those little ghosts see what we’re made of.”
