Chapter 35: Feelings and Ambushes
The girl known as Zhizi spoke, and suddenly, nearly everyone in the class was staring at Lu Liangting, as if they were seeing him for the first time. The words “black stockings” looped in their minds like a catchy jingle that just wouldn’t fade away.
Some of the more experienced male classmates silently gave him a thumbs up, whispering that Young Master Lu really knew how to play the game.
But aside from that…
Wow, I’m so jealous!
Zhizi’s looks were off the charts, especially with that high-and-mighty ice queen aura about her—she could easily score an eight or nine out of ten, at least! It was irresistible.
And then she dropped the bomb, looking at Lu Liangting with her frosty demeanor and bone-chilling gaze, saying something so contrasting: “Young Master, I’m wearing your favorite black stockings.” I mean, who could withstand that?
Lu Liangting was just a typical high school boy, and so were his classmates. They had never seen Zhizi be so direct.
Of course, Lu Liangting knew Zhizi all too well. This girl, two years older than him, really had him at a loss. At home, she was somewhat manageable, but at school and outside? Totally different ballgame.
She had this uncanny knack for putting him in awkward situations.
As for the black stockings…
He really wasn’t into them!
That was a first for him!
“Zhizi, I told you before…”
“Young Master, you did say to me not to expose your preferences in front of others, but I don’t think it’s shameful—it’s actually quite normal! At least it proves you’re a heterosexual male.”
Zhizi stepped a little closer, and there they were—black stockings peeking out from under her black-and-white lace trim skirt. She said it with a face devoid of any expression, her tone completely calm and serious.
Accepting the takeout box from her, Lu Liangting was at a loss for words.
“Zhizi, where’s your sister?”
“Rose is behind; she’s picking up some things for the lady on the way.”
Rose, Zhizi’s twin sister, was the complete opposite—she was the embodiment of the sweet, gentle older sister who always cared about others’ feelings. Lu Liangting really wished Rose was the one delivering his lunch, not Zhizi.
He had hinted to Rose in the morning, but who knew she’d get caught up in something along the way.
“Alright, you head back, and be careful on the road.”
“Thank you for your concern, Young Master. I’ll be careful.” Zhizi gave a slight bow. “Oh, by the way, my sister wanted me to tell you—be wary of any girl trying to get close to you, or you might end up in a heap of trouble.”
“I’m off now; take care of yourself, Young Master.”
As she stood up, Zhizi paused at the classroom door, deliberately stealing a glance inside, right in the direction of Zhao Mingyue.
She gazed deeply at Zhao Mingyue before turning away, her movements graceful and poised, just like a perfect maid should be.
Zhizi exited the school gates, turning heads left and right; one brave soul even approached her for her contact info, only to retreat in terror under the intensity of her gaze.
Outside the school gates, Rose was already waiting.
Rose looked almost identical to Zhizi, her outfit also similar—a black dress, black stockings, and knee-high boots.
The only difference was that Zhizi wore a high ponytail, while Rose had her hair styled in a scorpion tail braid.
“I told you, Zhizi, don’t go near Zhao Mingyue. She’s the female protagonist. I know you want to off her, but you need to know your limits and learn to back off.” Rose frowned, her amber eyes fixed on Zhizi’s utterly calm expression.
“Sigh, I kept telling you, but you wouldn’t listen. Now that you see it with your own eyes, you should believe me, right?”
“I told you, there’s a terrifying monster by Zhao Mingyue’s side.”
“Together, we don’t stand a chance against that monster.”
Zhizi didn’t respond as they walked out. It wasn’t until they reached a deserted path that she spoke up.
“Sister, we have no choice. The game officially started days ago. We arrived in this world early to look after us weaker ones, you know that.”
“We can only make Lu Liangting fall in love with us to escape this place. Didn’t you want to revive our mother? This is our only chance, and it’s our final hurdle.”
Rose gently placed her hands on Zhizi’s shoulders; Zhizi turned to meet her gaze.
“Zhizi, us being here at this point means we’ve had better luck than others, and luck doesn’t forever cling to just one person. Sooner or later, it will abandon us.”
“I want to revive our mother, and I know this is our last chance. Like I said, that’s why we should tread carefully and avoid provoking that monster!”
“Sis, you’ve been weak all these years.” Zhizi quipped, lips pursed.
“Weak? If I tell you that the monster next to Zhao Mingyue is the ‘Doctor’…”
The moment Rose said this, Zhizi’s pupils shrank slightly, “It’s… him?”
“Most likely her; I’m about eighty percent sure!”
Rose forced a smile. With their luck and prophetic abilities, she could somewhat guess who Zhao Mingyue’s sidekick was.
And it scared her. Really scared her.
Back then, she and Zhizi were nearly killed by that person; she lost two legs while Zhizi lost an arm.
At that moment, d*ath felt imminent, yet the ‘Doctor’ had surprisingly spared them.
She never expected that the notorious ‘Doctor’ would let them go.
“…”
“Zhizi, I understand you better than anyone else in this world. Besides the ‘Doctor’ issue, I want to tell you one more thing.”
“Making Lu Liangting love us is our task, but remember your identity. Don’t invest emotions in anyone else here; it could be fatal.”
Zhizi fell silent for a long time.
“I understand, Sister. I won’t trouble Zhao Mingyue; after all, Lu Liangting wouldn’t fall for her anyway. The game has just begun; he wouldn’t waver so soon, right?”
·
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“Here, take this and eat it. Just like before, I prepared it for you.”
On his way home after school, Lu Liangting handed the takeout box Zhizi had given him to Zhao Mingyue.
He knew Zhao Mingyue worked at the convenience store and barely had time for lunch, living off instant noodles and more instant noodles.
He’d worked there not too long ago and knew the deal, so he’d packed some extra today.
“Ah, thanks!” Zhao Mingyue, accustomed to it, happily accepted. “By the way, didn’t you quit there? Why are you still taking this route?”
“Just passing by. I wanted to check out Sunlight Apartments—hoping to see her again,” Lu Liangting said candidly, grinning.
“Wow, you’re really persistent…”
Lu Liangting just smiled and stayed quiet. Neither of them noticed a pair of eyes lurking behind them, fixated on them.
Li Nan had his hands in his pockets, crumpling a love letter into a tight ball.
On his back, a black shadow was slowly swirling.
