Xiao Chen opened his eyes, the sunlight from outside the window making him somewhat dizzy. He placed his hand on his forehead, his body feeling as if it had been crushed by a heavy weight. His waist ached and his back hurt. His neck was especially sore, and stiff from his tightened muscles.
Xiao Chen’s eyes flickered as he barely managed to prop himself up.
After getting out of bed, he went straight into the bathroom. But once he saw himself in the mirror, he jumped in fright. His swollen eyes were sunken in, but what made him unable to believe his sight were the scattered bruises, which were almost identical to kiss marks. He had just taken a glance, but he already appeared exhausted and hollowed.
He touched his neck, a little anxious.
His parents were executives at a foreign company, so they basically lived abroad. There was no one else in the house! He was certain that his parents hadn’t returned yet!
Then who was it? And not to mention, he hadn’t been the least bit aware when it all happened!
The doors and windows in the room were intact, and there were no traces of his stuff being overturned. There was nothing that was different than usual.
Wait! That’s not right!
Xiao Chen walked out of the room and smelled the faint aroma of food. His eyes widened, and he handily picked up a broom from beside him, changing into a defensive stance. He leaned against the wall and moved carefully into the kitchen, afraid that any sound would disturb the person in the kitchen.
However.
Xiao Chen looked around.
There was nobody.
He clenched the broom in his hand, his expression stiff, and even a little terrified.
The table was already set with many kinds of breakfast. There was bread, pho, and rice. Even a cup of milk was lovingly placed among the items. The milk was obviously freshly warmed, and still emitted heat. But he was unable to ignore the tender and beautiful rose arranged on the table.
Xiao Chen’s body slightly shook.
What does this mean? Does this mean that a stranger sneaked into his home while he was asleep, left dense kiss marks on his neck, and may have even done more?
And him! He didn’t know anything!
As Xiao Chen thought about it, he didn’t notice that the shadow under his feet was enveloped by a group of black shadows. That group of black shadows seemed extremely humanoid, and tightly embraced Xiao Chen in a gesture of absolute possession. At first glance, it was just like two people were inseparably entangled, even in death.
Senior!
His Senior!
The black shadow laughed silently.
Xiao Chen only returned to school at noon. When he suddenly fainted last time, it could be said that the students and teachers were very frightened. As the top student, he was brought up to be the focus and the face of the whole school. A lot of importance was attached to him, so he was allowed specifically to rest at home for a few more days.
After Xu Sheng’s case blew up, the school suppressed the news as soon as possible and hid the real reason for Xu Sheng’s suicide. It was passed off with a simple summary of depression and being bullied by classmates. The fact that Xu Sheng liked Xiao Chen was never included.
But that post about Xu Sheng was deleted by the school authorities a day after everything happened. The person who posted it also surfaced and was punished. However, the rest of Xu Sheng’s bullies were given nothing more than a lecture. They only stayed at home for a few days, later sending in a request for academic probation!
In order to protect the school’s reputation, no rumors were allowed to leak out.
And when Xiao Chen knew the results of the school’s handling of the bullies, he was so angry that his teeth itched! He immediately pulled people over to ask about the masterminds of the incident in the bathroom.
They were actually all Xu Sheng’s classmates! One was called Bai Qiaoqiao, and the other was called Wang Tong, who was actually Yellow Hair. He had bullied Xu Sheng in the cafeteria that day!
With Bai Qiaoqiao responsible for spreading word, Wang Tong led people to teach Xu Sheng a lesson in the bathroom.
Confucius once said: Repay enmity with good.
Who is joking, Confucius’s original words were: If you repay enmity with good, how then will you repay good? Repay good with good, and repay enmity with justice.
Xiao Chen knew that these things couldn’t be left alone!
But even when it was all revealed, the perpetrators did not pay a lot. They were lectured, fined, detained for a few days, and then returned to the campus to continue to bully others! And those who were bullied could only endure the humiliation and swallow their insults. They would perennially experience unbearable bullying. They couldn’t do anything as they were punched and kicked, slandered, ridiculed, and isolated! Because they understood that the more they fought back, the more terrifying the bullying would be! The result of this, with almost no exceptions, was that they were finally unable to withstand it, choosing instead to commit suicide.
Xu Sheng was not the first! And he will not be the last!
So, this matter must not be settled with just this!
Xiao Chen yawned, strolling on the sidewalk outside of school. The surrounding camphor trees cast mottled shadows. Beneath Xiao Chen’s feet, the dark mass slowly morphed into the shape of a heart. Wherever he went, the shadows became hearts. When he looked away, they even changed into flowers! A few tiny kittens observed the bizarre and strange shadows, and saw that Xiao Chen was in low spirits. They went up to play with him so he could cheer up.
If this startling occurrence met with anyone else, they would be scared out of their wits. Xiao Chen’s reaction was surprisingly calm.
He took deep breaths for two seconds, and his footsteps halted. He clenched his hands firmly as a bold idea formed in his mind. Probingly, he spoke towards the location of the trees’ shadow. “Who are you? Are you human?”
The shadow paused for a few moments, before transforming into a word, ‘No’.
Xiao Chen was slightly astonished, but afterwards, it became horror.
He hesitated as he thought of something. He continued to ask, “The breakfast in my house was made by you?”
‘En.’ This time, it replied very quickly.
Xiao Chen’s expression was somewhat weird. “The kiss marks on my neck are also from you?”
The trees’ shadows were restored to their normal speckled appearance. Just when Xiao Chen thought he wouldn’t receive a response, the shadows regrouped. ‘Yes, I like you. Behind you, there is a big heart. Two words, Xiao Chen, are written inside.’
Xiao Chen stopped talking, a bit speechless. Although he didn’t know what this guy wanted to do, he could be certain of one thing. This unknown entity did not carry animosity towards him.
Now that this was brought up, it was odd. Xiao Chen was not interested in the folktales of gods and monsters, but when such existences appeared next to him, he was not bewildered. Perhaps he was still afraid, but had a faint feeling of something else. A world like this might just be the true world.
How can there be policemen?
With his sharp eyes, Xiao Chen spotted yellow caution tape around the first year teaching building. It was clearly after school hours, but no one had left the classrooms. There was also a unit of police cars parked at the front, making people feel that something was wrong.
Is it for Xu Sheng?
Suspiciously, he was blocked by the security at the entrance. The security guard obviously recognized him, and said, “Wait for a while, child, don’t go into campus today!”
“What’s wrong? Uncle, what’s going on in school?”
The security guard was solemn as he put his mouth near Xiao Chen’s ear and whispered, “A girl jumped off the first year teaching building and committed suicide. The police are still investigating.” He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but the instant he told Xiao Chen this, he felt cold all over, leading him to shudder unconsciously.
In fact, in a place he couldn’t see, a black thing attached to him.
“A girl? What’s her name?”
If it was someone else, the security guard might not have answered, but Xiao Chen was really a lovely boy. When he noticed the security guard at school, he would warmly call ‘Uncle’, and he also looked very pleasing to the eye. Therefore, after the security cautiously checked that there was no one else around, he said in a low voice, “It seems to be a Bai Qiuqiu.”
“Bai Qiaoqiao.” Xiao Chen corrected him.
“Right, that’s the one, it’s this name. You know this student?” The security was a little amazed.
Xiao Chen shook his head. “I’m not familiar with her.” But his heart was a turbulence of waves, raging waves which pounded the banks. His heartbeat accelerated, so fast that he could almost hear the sound of the beating. Cold sweat came out involuntarily.
Did Bai Qiaoqiao commit suicide out of guilt?
No, that’s not possible!
Xiao Chen swiftly rejected this conjecture.
Why decide to commit suicide in school? And even choosing a place with many people! It was meant to be viewed by a crowd.
Xiao Chen frowned.
This was similar to a punishment, where everyone could see her miserable appearance!
A trailer for what was to come!
Xiao Chen kept staring at the shadow under his feet, a bold guess suddenly emerging in his mind. If there really were things in this world that could not be explained, then why couldn’t Xu Sheng return for revenge after death?
T/N: Hello readers! I was notified that several of the images in the previous two chapters were missing. In order to make up for this, I have worked hard and pushed this chapter out earlier. If you couldn’t see the pictures, I have attached them below!