If every word in the world had an owner, then the exclusive word for the girl before me would undoubtedly be ‘perfection.’
Ye Siya, at just eighteen years old, was the first student in Xingjiang High School’s history to become President in her freshman year.
It was well-known that the Student Council President wielded power comparable to that of the school board, making the selection process incredibly stringent. Candidates needed to excel in every aspect.
Naturally, the benefits were numerous. Beyond the ability to freely allocate vast sums of wealth, simply stating one had served as Xingjiang High’s Student Council President guaranteed a warm welcome at any company after graduation, a testament to the position’s prestige.
Such a coveted role usually meant fierce competition. Yet, in the year Ye Siya emerged, her candidacy was approved by a unanimous vote.
Subsequent events only confirmed that Ye Siya lived up to all expectations, performing her duties as Student Council President flawlessly. Aside from a few personal whims, her overall conduct met, and even exceeded, the school board’s expectations, earning her their even greater trust.
However, Ye Siya’s background remained an enduring mystery. Some speculated she was a princess from another country, studying abroad in China, while others claimed she was the daughter of an ancient, reclusive noble family.
She herself never confirmed any of these rumors, but this did nothing to diminish her allure. Xingjiang High School boasted countless beautiful girls, and every male student harbored their own personal ranking, yet Ye Siya invariably claimed the top spot.
“Now then, let’s begin today’s meeting!” Ye Siya announced. “Xiaowu, please take your seat.”
Beside her, the loli in a school uniform nodded expressionlessly, then, as usual, settled into her customary spot at the round table.
Ye Dieyu. To be honest, Luo Tianchen knew little about her, only that she was a prodigious talent, a mere twelve years old.
Despite her delicate, doll-like cuteness, her classic ‘three-no’ personality made it difficult for anyone to converse with her for long. Perhaps only Ye Siya truly understood her meaning.
Unlike Yao Xinchang, she was a loli in the truest sense, and secretly commanded a fanbase no less fervent than Bingying’s. To those fans, Luo Tianchen had but one thing to say: ‘Officer, it’s these people right here.’ She served as the Secretary.
“He-yo!” Ye Siya declared, elegantly inscribing “The 564th Xingjiang High School Student Council Meeting” in bold characters on the whiteboard with a black marker. Her regal bearing was undeniable.
Standing at the front, she rested her hands on a pillar, a brilliant smile gracing her lips. “Our theme for today is… ‘A Journey with You’.”
“Huh?”
“First, I want to thank all of you for accompanying me through these wonderful three years of high school. Thank you for always tolerating my little whims and for managing this Student Council alongside me. Without you, I definitely wouldn’t have been able to be a good President.”
“W-wait a minute! Why are you suddenly getting so sentimental?!” Bingying exclaimed, looking utterly taken aback.
“Secondly, I wanted to say that meeting each other is destiny. Although we’ve only been together for three years, these have been an indispensable three years of my life. The college entrance exams are coming soon, and many of us will likely go our separate ways, won’t we? The thought of being forgotten by everyone makes me a little uneasy,” Ye Siya confessed, a hint of melancholy in her expression.
“N-no way! We’ll absolutely never forget you!” Bingying turned to look at the three of us, her eyes already welling up. “Right?”
“Don’t worry, President, how could I ever forget you?” Yang Mingzhi replied with his usual cheerful smile, uttering words that practically begged for a beating. “Only the girls I’ve slept with get forgotten, so you don’t need to worry.”
‘That’s a truly classic scumbag remark. But as long as the sentiment is there, it should be fine… probably.’
“I won’t forget,” Luo Tianchen stated simply. Such a concise declaration was enough; some things didn’t need elaborate words.
‘Had Luo Tianchen also been swayed by the atmosphere? His eyes felt as though some sand had gotten into them.’
“Mm.” The shortest response yet emerged.
“My apologies, my apologies. I’m just being a bit too melancholic,” Ye Siya said, her voice softening. “Everyone should be happy, really. It’s just that when I think this might be our last gathering, and we might never see each other again…”
“Honestly, P-President, why do you always say such sad things? You’re making me want to cry!” Bingying couldn’t hold it in any longer. With a sniffle, she burst into tears and threw herself into Ye Siya’s embrace, sobbing like a small child. Ye Siya gently patted her head, offering comfort.
‘…Luo Tianchen felt a pang of envy.’
“Wah! Me too!” Yang Mingzhi, standing nearby, made his move, feigning tears as he rushed towards the embracing pair, only to be promptly kicked to the ground by Bingying.
“Alright, alright,” Ye Siya chuckled. Once Bingying had finally calmed down, she continued, “Finally, to celebrate our three years together, I’ve decided we’re going to have a party!”
The others: “?”
“Aren’t you all delighted and surprised?”
‘No, I think we’re just startled.’
“Um, President, I’d like to ask when this party is scheduled?” Yang Mingzhi raised his hand to inquire.
“No need to worry! Xiaowu and I have been preparing for this for the past few nights, and everything was ready by last night. We can head to the party together right after this!”
‘So that’s it. No wonder the President and Ye Dieyu had been acting so mysterious these past few days. They were preparing for the party.’
“And the location?”
“The old classroom! I’ve already applied to the teachers for permission to use it.”
“Where did the money come from, then?”
“From the wealthy merchant we helped last time! He heard I wanted to throw a party and decided to sponsor us. Since it didn’t use school funds, I didn’t need to tell you!”
“I see, I understand now.” He nodded, indicating he had no further questions. “No problem at all.”
“There’s a huge problem, actually!” Bingying cried, exasperated. “As Student Council members, we’re not allowed to profit financially from our positions!”
“Hehe, it’s fine, it’s just a sponsorship from someone else,” Ye Siya waved off. “Besides, the school board won’t bother us over such a small matter. We’ve done so much for the school, after all.”
“What about our studies, then?”
“We’ve already asked the teachers for leave, so it’s fine.”
“Is it really okay to take leave just to throw a party?!”
“Relax, relax, Xiao Ying. You’re just too rigid, that’s why you can’t ever find a boyfriend!”
“?! Why are *you* saying that too?!”
“Let’s go, let’s go! Time to party!” Ye Siya declared, gently pushing Bingying out of the Student Council room.
“Oh-oh, party! Party! Party!” Yang Mingzhi led the charge, stirring up excitement.
‘Luo Tianchen sighed. ‘I knew it would come to this… But perhaps a little craziness now and then isn’t so bad, right?’
“Party! Party! Party!”
“Ah, ah, ah, I get it! Stop pushing me! I’ll walk by myself!”
“Party! Party! Party!”
This was enough. Luo Tianchen would bury those feelings deep in his heart and meet their conclusion with a smile.
“Party! Party! Party!”
For now, all they needed to do was laugh loudly, making it a testament to their three years together.
“Party! Party! Party!”
With this, they would draw a perfect close to their high school lives.
****
The five of them arrived together before the ancient teaching building. It was said to have been where the very first students of Xingjiang High School attended classes, preserved for its historical value. However, after the construction of new academic buildings, it was rarely used, serving primarily as a storage facility. It was truly impressive that Ye Siya had managed to secure permission to use it.
“Oh, where’s the key? Let me look… Ah, here it is!”
*Drip.*
A dripping sound seemed to echo from somewhere. Was it just a hallucination?
“And now, the moment to witness a miracle,” she announced, deliberately producing the antique bronze key and twirling it before their eyes. Involuntarily, they all held their breath, their moods inexplicably growing tense.
*Drip.*
“Ta-da!” She slowly inserted the key into the lock, turned it once to the right, and then pushed open the dust-laden wooden door.
“Yay! Party! Aren’t you surprised and thrilled?!” Ye Siya chirped, grinning at everyone and raising her hands. “Xiaowu and I spent days arranging this, so you absolutely must accept it with gratitude! Huh?”
*Drip.*
Ye Siya noticed it then—something felt wrong. Everyone’s expressions were far too astonished. And so, she turned around.
“No!” Luo Tianchen cried out, but it was already too late.
Ye Siya saw it: a naked girl, wrapped in red banners, suspended in mid-air. The girl’s head was bowed, her arms outstretched like Jesus nailed to a cross, and every inch of her exposed skin was covered in cuts, deep enough to reveal bone.
Blood traced the curves of her body, pooling at her pristine white toes, then dripping like an untightened faucet, little by little, staining the cake directly beneath her crimson. Multicolored balloons floated beside her, as if in mourning, or perhaps in praise.
*Drip.*
From that day forward, Luo Tianchen’s tranquil life as an ordinary high school student was utterly shattered.