The Fearful Encounter

“Hah… hah…”

After running for a long time, the girl gasped for breath, the cold air stabbing into her lungs like needles of ice.

The class monitor was nowhere to be seen.

She had reached the school gate, nearly exhausted. Recalling what had just happened, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of anguish.

But there was no other way. If she didn’t want to keep owing the monitor more and more debts of gratitude, and if she didn’t want to sink deeper into feelings she shouldn’t have, she had to do this.

Thinking this way, she tried to comfort herself.

‘It’s okay. Feelings like this always fade with distance. Besides, I’m not completely hopeless now. Even the seemingly unattainable college entrance exam is only half a year away.’

She was almost at the finish line…

No matter how distant she became, reuniting with her mother was still her greatest wish. With that thought, she finally calmed down. Her breathing steadied, and she walked out of the school gate.

School had been over for a while, so there was hardly anyone around. The setting sun had completely dipped below the horizon, leaving only a bloody remnant of clouds to provide the last light.

Night had fallen. Street lamps were lit along the dim road. In the distance, cars with headlights sped along the busy main road, the roar of engines echoing faintly.

The girl lowered her head, still mulling over how she would face Lin Ziyan when she got home, and how to deal with her foster parents. Just as she was about to cross the street and step onto the path leading home…

Her gaze inadvertently swept over a certain spot, and her body froze solid.

Her face turned pale, and her pink eyes quickly filled with terror. The figure standing under that dim streetlamp wasn’t a ghost, but to the girl, seeing her was more frightening than any ghost.

A tall silhouette, dazzling blonde hair, and those blue eyes that seemed to smile without smiling. No mistake—it was her…

Qin Haiyue.

And unfortunately, not only had she seen her, but the other had clearly noticed her too.

Those eyes narrowed dangerously into slits, and together with the smile on her face, they sent a wave of intense unease through the girl.

‘What’s going on? Did she deliberately wait for me at the school gate?’

Almost instinctively, she wanted to turn and flee. But her legs felt as heavy as lead; she couldn’t move a step. The girl could only watch helplessly as Qin Haiyue walked toward her with a light, brisk pace.

“Hey? Long time no see, you little bastard~”

Even though she spoke a contemptuous term, her expression was like that of someone meeting an old friend after a long time. But the girl felt no joy—only a chill that slowly crept from her spine up into her brain.

The extreme despair of yesterday had nearly driven her to the brink of death. However, after a day of rest, especially after what happened with the class monitor, she had shaken off that state. Now, she only felt fear toward Qin Haiyue.

“No… don’t come near me…” Finally snapping out of it, she took a step back and instinctively wanted to call for help. But a quick glance around confirmed it: the monitor hadn’t followed, and the security guard in the booth was away during the shift change dinner time. No one was there to help her.

She backed all the way into a small alley, her back pressing against the hard wall. There was no way to retreat further. Looking up at Qin Haiyue, her voice trembled.

“I’m… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

“Mean to what?”

“I… I had a fever this morning… My sister forced me to take leave… I really didn’t mean to stand you up… Please let me go…”

“Oh, so you remember about that appointment!”

“I… I…”

“What’s wrong? Weren’t you pretty tough yesterday? Begging to die, playing dumb, and putting on a show. Huh? Where’s your dear class monitor now? Why didn’t she come to protect you this time? Got tired of you and found a new lover, so she can’t be bothered with you anymore?”

Qin Haiyue’s words eroded the girl’s psychological defenses. As expected, after that outburst, Qin Haiyue could already see tears glistening in the girl’s eyes. A mist of water filled her eyes, as if it would turn into crystal tears and roll down her cheeks at any moment.

“No… that’s not it… The class monitor…”

“Oh? Then why aren’t you together after school if you’re so close?”

“I…”

“So she’s really tired of you, huh. Makes sense. She’s an outstanding student from a wealthy family. And you? You’ve never even met your biological father, abandoned by your mother in someone else’s home. If you ask me, a pheasant like you should stop trying to climb the high branches. See? You almost fell to your death~”

Every word from Qin Haiyue pierced the heart, and by sheer coincidence, she almost guessed the girl’s thoughts. In an instant, the tears the girl had been desperately holding back became uncontrollable, streaming down her face.

“Stop… don’t say anymore… wuwu… I… I need to go home… please let me go…”

Knowing it herself was one thing; having it sarcastically exposed by someone else was another. Normally, she could endure all that pain and injustice, silently and consciously distancing herself from the monitor. But once it was spoken aloud, everything—her pitiful origins of living under someone else’s roof, her own inner ugliness—was laid bare under the sun. She didn’t want to cry, but her tears had a mind of their own, just like always since she was a child.

‘Yes… someone like me… what right do I have to feel that way about the monitor…’

It hurt so much… so much… so much…

Her nose was sore. She lowered her head, not wanting the detestable Qin Haiyue to see her pathetic state. But even so, all her expressions were still easily observed by Qin Haiyue.

Qin Haiyue smiled with satisfaction. She was pleased with the girl’s reaction. But that was enough; she hadn’t come today just to mock her. She had something more important.

“You want to go home? What if I don’t agree?”

“Wu? You… you can’t do that… My family will call the police…”

“Are you sure? What if they don’t care whether you live or die?”

The girl fell silent. She knew the other was right. Last night, even with the terrible weather and her coming home so late, her foster parents hadn’t even tried to look for her. It wouldn’t have been hard, would it? Just call the teacher, and then follow the trail to find her at Liu Yinuo’s house.

But they didn’t. Even Liu Yinuo, the only one who seemed to care a little, had mocked her after opening the door, and today she had done something terrible to her…

Thinking of that possibility, thinking of why Qin Haiyue was so fearless, the girl couldn’t help but tremble.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing much. Just want to invite you to my place for a visit. Don’t worry, I won’t hit you, as long as you behave.”

Seeing that the girl was actually starting to hesitate, Qin Haiyue suddenly let out a cold laugh.

“Of course, you don’t have the right to refuse.”