An Ominous Premonition

“Luo Yao, I’ll always be with you. Through high school, through university, you’ll forever be the only man in my heart.”

At this moment, Luo Yao, feeling he had heard enough and with his stomach rumbling from hunger, simply walked off the rooftop, leaving Su Mengqi behind.

Su Mengqi, who had just been jolted awake by Luo Yao, once again sank into her own vivid imaginings.

Perhaps, for some, everything about their future is decided the moment they first meet.

****

Soon, after lunch, came the midday break.

However, as Luo Yao ate in the cafeteria, he attracted many strange glances from passersby.

Most of these looks were either filled with malice or the furtive gazes of a secret admirer.

In this school, the number of men who harbored feelings for Luo Yao was far from small.

Due to Su Mengqi, most people dared not utter a word to Luo Yao.

Initially, when Luo Yao had just transferred, he received numerous love letters.

However, once he started sitting with Su Mengqi, such occurrences virtually ceased.

Luo Yao knew that his current predicament was entirely Su Mengqi’s doing.

Yet, Luo Yao wasn’t angry.

He merely continued to eat the unappetizing lunch before him.

In this regard, the two worlds were quite similar: the food in some school cafeterias was simply terrible.

Having finished his simple lunch, Luo Yao returned to his classroom to begin his midday nap.

As for the afternoon, it was likely due to the earlier incident on the rooftop.

Su Mengqi didn’t bother Luo Yao much that afternoon.

She merely cast occasional flirtatious glances his way during class.

Thus, the afternoon passed pleasantly enough.

****

By the time school dismissed that afternoon, the school offered two types of courses.

Day students were free to leave at this time, while most boarding students were required to attend evening self-study sessions.

Luo Yao, having just packed his belongings, stepped out of the classroom.

Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of unease washed over him.

He pulled out his phone, opened it, and stared at the messages in his hand.

Normally, Luo Tingting would have already messaged him; it was an unspoken agreement between the siblings.

Given Luo Tingting’s personality, Luo Yao’s phone should have been vibrating incessantly by now.

However, their message history for today remained blank, stuck on yesterday’s exchanges, which gave Luo Yao a very ominous feeling.

Moreover, he had already felt a strong premonition of ill fortune that very morning.

Now, this premonition grew increasingly intense, causing Luo Yao’s heart to pound with restless anxiety.

“Luo Yao, shall we walk together?”

Just then, Su Mengqi suddenly appeared before Luo Yao.

She had been covertly observing him for quite some time.

Seeing that he remained motionless, she walked straight over and tugged at the corner of his sleeve.

“No, I’m going home by myself.”

As Luo Yao felt a flicker of confusion, he sensed his sleeve being tugged from behind.

Turning his head, he saw it was Su Mengqi.

Su Mengqi looked at Luo Yao with an innocent, harmless expression, as if assuring him of her benign nature and ability to protect him.

Honestly, Su Mengqi’s facial expressions were truly a rich tapestry of change.

Already knowing the outcome would be a rejection, Su Mengqi wasn’t overly disappointed.

She had already held hands with Luo Yao today, so she was quite content.

It would have been even better if she could have walked home with the man she loved.

Without waiting to hear what Su Mengqi was saying, Luo Yao quietly slipped away.

Once again, he left Su Mengqi alone.

Seeing Luo Yao depart, Su Mengqi made no attempt to stop him, for she was already quite satisfied with the day’s events.

As for future demands, those could wait until tomorrow.

****

With a trace of panic in his heart, Luo Yao boarded the subway train home.

Ignoring the strange glances from other women on the subway, Luo Yao hurriedly exited the station.

十八章Gazing at the residential complex before him, a flicker of hesitation stirred within Luo Yao.

While on the subway, Luo Yao had sent a simple ‘?’ to Luo Tingting via his phone.

Yet, even now, Luo Tingting had not replied, which only amplified the growing suspicion and panic Luo Yao already felt.

‘Why… why was something like this happening again?’

By now, Luo Yao stood before his home.

Staring at the security door, Luo Yao felt an urge to press his ear against it, to discern what was happening inside.

Earlier, while ascending the stairs, Luo Yao had called Luo Tingting several more times.

The calls had all gone unanswered, eventually leading to her phone being switched off.

Even then, Luo Yao switched contacts, repeatedly calling his mother or father, but their phones were also off, just like Luo Tingting’s.

‘What in the world was that girl doing?’

‘And what had happened to his mom and dad?’

For a fleeting moment, Luo Yao considered calling the police.

Though he didn’t know if it would help, he had a pervasive feeling that this was beyond his ability to resolve.

Gazing at the security door’s keyhole, Luo Yao pulled out his keys from his pocket.

He had just inserted it and begun to turn when—

—a tremendous force suddenly slammed into Luo Yao, sending him flying.

Due to the sheer momentum, Luo Yao crashed hard against the wall behind him.

As Luo Yao struggled to open his eyes, a pair of large hands, seemingly clad in black gloves, lunged at him.

Then… his body was suddenly seized, suspended in mid-air, and his eyes were covered.

It all happened too quickly.

Luo Yao then felt a dull ache on his head, followed by a swift descent into unconsciousness.

****

When Luo Yao next awoke, he faintly heard several people around him discussing something.

“Big Sister, this seems to be their son. He’s quite good-looking.”

Luo Yao didn’t know what obscured his vision, but he could only vaguely make out parts of their conversation.

Listening to their voices, Luo Yao realized they were several women.

What’s more… his arms and legs felt as though they were bound to a chair.

“He’s certainly handsome. How about we let the sisters have a bit of fun first?”

Just as the women paused in their conversation, Luo Yao felt something pinch his face.

The sensation was akin to a human hand.

At the same time, Luo Yao instinctively tried to resist, but the hand only seemed to grow more excited.

“Oh! He’s awake? Even better. Sleeping, he’s no different from a corpse. This way is much more interesting.”

“Don’t touch him yet. Given his looks, he’ll probably fetch a good price there.”

Just as that wicked hand was about to delve further beneath Luo Yao’s clothes, it was interrupted by another voice.

“Mm, alright.”

Upon hearing this, the hand prudently retracted.

“He really is good-looking, what a pity…”

Relying on his other senses, Luo Yao felt someone standing directly in front of him.

“What’s going on? Why are you doing this? Where are Luo Tingting and my parents?”

Luo Yao was utterly bewildered.

Though he couldn’t see the scene before him, his mouth remained unbound.

His instincts told him that the person standing before him was likely the ‘boss’ of those who had invaded his home.

“That, you’ll have to ask your parents when the time comes.”

The person whispered softly into Luo Yao’s ear.

Immediately after, Luo Yao felt his head grow heavy, and a profound drowsiness washed over him, invading his mind.

“Drag him away…”

Seeing the unconscious Luo Yao, the person standing before him chuckled, then waved a hand, directing the female thugs in front of them.