Taboo

“Ring-ring-ring-ring-ring…” “Rustle, rustle…”

It was clearly just the early morning of a day off, yet with the ringing of the alarm, Ning Rou had already begun getting out of bed and packing her things to head out.

This was hardly like her. On a rest day, let alone early morning, even if it were high noon, the former Ning Rou would have stubbornly burrowed under her covers, unwilling to budge. But now, she would take the initiative to get up, dress herself meticulously, and hum a little tune as she headed out the door.

The reason behind this could be guessed without even thinking. It was because of the Professor.

Xiao Yuehua stared through the bed curtains with a gloomy expression, watching Ning Rou’s bustling figure. Nearly two weeks had passed since the Acting Grand Prix. During these two weeks, she had maintained a tacit understanding with the Professor to have no further contact, thinking that the passage of time could erase the unhealthy emotions that had sprouted because of him.

But… as she watched Ning Rou’s relationship with the Professor grow more harmonious and intimate over these two weeks, as she saw her mood getting better and better, and saw her irrepressible joy even when back at the dormitory… the shadows in Xiao Yuehua’s heart could only expand further.

Insomnia, oppression, a muddled daze.

During these agonizing days, if she so much as blinked, in that momentary darkness, the Professor’s shadow would emerge in her mind. The stiff Professor, the frowning Professor, the fragile Professor, and the Professor who grew bashful amidst her increasingly bold provocations.

He was fundamentally, completely, and absolutely unforgettable.

Xiao Yuehua realized it too late. Her current feelings for the Professor were no longer a matter of simple possessiveness… she had fallen into a whirlpool of love for him and could not extricate herself.

【It wasn’t supposed to be like this.】 Xiao Yuehua silently clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. 【The Professor clearly belongs only to me.】

She stared fixedly at the shower room, gazing through the crack in the door at the silhouette currently washing up. “Why did it turn out like this?” she murmured under her breath.

“Ning Rou, heading out so early?”

Having just stepped out of the shower room, the humming Ning Rou was startled by the sudden voice. She turned her head in a panic, only to find that her friend Yuehua had woken up at some unknown point, a pair of eyes gazing at her eerily through the bed curtains.

“Ye… yeah…” As if her entire body had been seen through, Ning Rou suddenly felt a strange sense of horror.

Forcing a smile, she lied to her friend once again. “Professor Lin Xue said she had something to discuss with me today. I have to head out early to avoid being late.”

“Is that so? To see the Professor…” Xiao Yuehua’s meaningful words caused Ning Rou to break out in a cold sweat. Just as she was wondering if Xiao Yuehua had realized something…

“Rustle, rustle…”

Xiao Yuehua got up herself and began to dress and wash up. “I happen to be heading to the library. It’s on your way, so let’s head out together.”

“Ah? O… okay.” Ning Rou reluctantly nodded in agreement. While she let out a sigh of relief, she couldn’t help but sigh with regret in her heart: 【If I’d known, I would have said I was going to the bakery… now I’ll have to take a huge detour before I can see the Professor. I’m definitely going to be late…】

“Alright Yuehua, we’ve reached the library, I’m heading off now!”

Exactly as Xiao Yuehua predicted, the moment the two arrived at the library entrance, Ning Rou waved hurriedly and ran off at a brisk pace. In reality, this place was very close to Professor Lin’s office; there was no need for Ning Rou to be so anxious.

Unless she was meeting a different Professor.

At that thought, Xiao Yuehua’s expression grew even gloomier, her heart filled with a sudden surge of irritability. Pushing the library doors open with force and swiping her card through the turnstile, every one of her footsteps seemed to carry an emotional weight.

Recalling Ning Rou’s increasingly brilliant smiles over the past two weeks, the fire in Xiao Yuehua’s heart burned hotter and hotter. She wandered aimlessly among the bookshelves, her gaze lacking any focus as she looked at the spines of the books.

【Liar… Liar!】

【They’ve only been in contact for two weeks… I was with the Professor for over a month!】

【But on what grounds? On what grounds is Ning Rou’s interaction with the Professor even more familiar than mine used to be?】

【Even though I did everything before—holding hands, dancing together, embracing, touching the Professor’s skin, feeling his abs and his back… clearly, all of the Professor’s firsts belong to me. Including his future first kiss, it should all be mine!】

Xiao Yuehua walked to a corner, hiding behind a dilapidated, neglected bookshelf. Her entire body trembled with jealousy and rage.

【On what grounds, Ning Rou? What right do you have to destroy my life…】

【I know you did it for my own good, but why? Why is it that after you drove me away from the Professor’s side, you took my place for yourself?】

【Why are you coveting my Professor?】

Xiao Yuehua gripped the old bookshelf in front of her with force. This ancient, wooden shelf tucked in the corner was utterly out of place with the library’s clean and tidy environment; even hidden in a corner, it was very conspicuous.

Perhaps the wood had rotted due to a lack of maintenance, for Xiao Yuehua’s nails actually sank deep into the wooden planks in her fury. The entire shelf let out a miserable creak.

【I only have the Professor… he is my only treasure… you’re even going to take this away? You call this being a friend?】

Xiao Yuehua’s outstretched hand trembled with even more force, her teeth chattering. But in the next moment…

Thwack.

From the gap between a book on the decrepit shelf, a worm-eaten, yellowed, ancient parchment booklet fell out, radiating a thick, eerie aura.

“This is…” Xiao Yuehua was stunned for a moment. She leaned down and picked up the parchment booklet.

The writing on it was crooked and squiggly—symbols resembling distorted tadpoles. Xiao Yuehua had never seen this script before. Yet, she could inexplicably recognize the meaning behind these words.

“Forbidden… Forbidden Spirit Arts?” “Why does that sound like I’ve heard it somewhere before?”

While Xiao Yuehua was lost in thought, the librarian’s voice suddenly came from behind her: “Student, have you picked out your books? I’ve seen you standing here all day.”

“All day? Isn’t it early morning…” Xiao Yuehua turned back with a frown, only to find the sunset outside the window was already turning red.

【How is that possible? Didn’t I just get here a moment ago? Shouldn’t it be morning?】

She spun back around abruptly. The old wooden bookshelf from moments ago was gone without a trace, vanished into thin air. Her pupils constricted instantly as she felt an absurd chill.

At the same time… “He-he-he-he-he-he-he…” A woman’s eerie, giggling laughter echoed in her ears.

When Xiao Yuehua returned to the dormitory, Ning Rou was already lying in bed. Seeing her enter looking lost and dejected, Ning Rou immediately spoke with concern:

“Yuehua, you didn’t soak in the library all day, did you? You look so pale, are you feeling unwell?”

Xiao Yuehua merely waved her hand and hurriedly climbed into her own bed. What happened today was far too bizarre; she needed time to process it.

With her back to Ning Rou, she slowly pulled that piece of parchment from her pocket. She had already tested it on the way back; she was the only one who could see this parchment.

Perhaps this was the opportunity Heaven had given her. The opportunity to take the Professor back.