Chapter 25

Chapter 25

"This is Teaching Building One East, mainly for teachers' offices, and the broadcasting station is also here..."

"Lin Xingshu! Hey, Lin Xingshu..."

Lin Xingshu was introducing Xie Guan to the campus, and passersby occasionally greeted him. Unlike their classmates, these students weren't overly enthusiastic about Xie Guan, which significantly brightened Lin Xingshu's somewhat gloomy mood.

He felt his confidence surge back.

"Class Monitor, you're really popular," Xie Guan murmured softly beside him. Lin Xingshu subtly curved his lips upward, then turned to him, feigning nonchalance.

"Not really. I've just been at this school for a few years, so I know a few people, that's all."

"Is that so?"

Xie Guan tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes curving into crescent moons as he smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"Then there must be many people at school who like the Class Monitor."

"I guess so. I occasionally get love letters, but at this crucial time, academics come first."

Xie Guan fell silent, lowering his gaze. Lin Xingshu, however, thought he had successfully put Xie Guan in his place, and a hint of smugness crept into his expression.

He completely failed to notice that Xie Guan's face had already clouded over, devoid of any trace of a smile. His dark eyes were filled with a deep gloom, and his hands, hanging at his sides, had unconsciously clenched into fists, veins bulging on their backs as if he were struggling to suppress something.

"Hey! Lin Xingshu!"

From a distance, a tall, burly young man jogged toward them—it was the physical education teacher. He smiled and clapped Lin Xingshu on the shoulder: "Just the person I needed!"

"Mr. Li, what can I do for you?"

"I'm off to a meeting, and I have to teach the freshmen next period. Can you help me move the badminton net from the equipment room to the field? Take this young man with you. I'll explain the situation to your homeroom teacher."

With that, he shoved the keys into Lin Xingshu's hand without waiting for an answer, then dashed off like a gust of wind, giving Lin Xingshu no chance to refuse.

"But... next period is Chinese class..."

"Go ahead, Class Monitor. You can show me around the equipment room while we're at it."

Lin Xingshu weighed the keys in his hand, hesitating for a moment. "Alright then, let's go. I'll show you around."

Anyway, he had already previewed the Chinese textbook content over the summer and memorized what needed to be memorized. He could just review the notes later. As for Xie Guan... who cares.

Didn't he say he was good at studying? Missing a mere ten-minute lesson shouldn't affect anything.

*Creak—*

*

The equipment room door creaked open, releasing a wave of damp, musty air. Lin Xingshu quickly covered his mouth and nose, but he still inhaled some dust and coughed a few times.

The equipment room was crammed with miscellaneous items, its small windows offering little ventilation. The dim, cramped space reeked of mildew, and sunlight streaming through the windows illuminated every speck of dust with stark clarity.

"Badminton net... badminton net... There! Xie Guan, give me a hand!"

Lin Xingshu searched around, covering his mouth and nose. The equipment room was truly overflowing. He stood on tiptoe, his gaze landing on the highest shelf.

He reached for the cardboard box on the shelf, completely unaware that the equipment room door had silently closed behind him, or that Xie Guan was now standing right behind him, his dark, heavy eyes fixed intently on Lin Xingshu's back. As his gaze fell upon the porcelain-white skin of Lin Xingshu's neck, his Adam's apple bobbed uneasily a few times.

"Okay, I'll help you."

Xie Guan smiled, his crimson tongue unconsciously licking his dry lips, leaving them glistening. This made his already exquisite face even more captivating.

"Xie Guan, what are you doing? Why aren't you coming over?"

Lin Xingshu's tone was a little impatient. Just as he was about to turn around, a cold touch suddenly pressed against his waist. His body stumbled involuntarily, and he looked down to see Xie Guan had wrapped his arms around him.

*His hands are so cold. Is that even a normal body temperature?*

Before he could think too much, Xie Guan tightened his grip around his waist and effortlessly lifted him. Lin Xingshu easily spotted the badminton net tucked away in the corner.

His eyes instantly lit up, and he quickly patted Xie Guan's arm: "It's right there! Higher, I can't reach!"

Xie Guan obediently lifted him higher. Lin Xingshu strained to hook the badminton net, his arms raised high. His school uniform stretched upward with his movement, revealing a small strip of pale, slender waist.

Xie Guan's breathing suddenly grew heavier, his gaze fixed intently on that exposed sliver of white waist. The desire in his eyes was almost overflowing. His hands restlessly slid lower, and without the barrier of clothing, he tightly gripped Lin Xingshu's waist.

Lin Xingshu didn't notice Xie Guan's actions. He struggled to pull the badminton net closer. "Xie Guan, hold me tight! I'm bringing the badminton net down!"

Xie Guan didn't respond. Lin Xingshu took a deep breath and lifted the badminton net. Just as he was about to lower it, he heard a startled gasp from Xie Guan behind him. The next second, he felt himself uncontrollably tipping backward.

*Thud—*

The net crashed to the ground, badminton shuttles scattering everywhere. The expected pain didn't come. Instead, Xie Guan's pained groan sounded in his ear. Lin Xingshu was a little dazed. He looked down and realized he was sprawled entirely on top of Xie Guan.

As soon as he processed the situation, he tried to get up, but Xie Guan, perhaps out of nervousness, held him tightly around the waist, showing no intention of letting go.

The two were pressed together in an extremely intimate position. He could even see the pores on Xie Guan's face with crystal clarity. The other's cold breath fanned his neck, and Lin Xingshu's face instantly flushed crimson.

Xie Guan also opened his eyes at that moment. As their gazes met, he suddenly remembered the boy from his dream.

He couldn't recall much else, but he remembered that the boy in his dream, like Xie Guan, had a pair of eyes as dark as ink.

"Class Monitor."

Xie Guan suddenly spoke, his hands slowly sliding under Lin Xingshu's shirt. His voice, laced with a smile, whispered in his ear:

"Your waist is so slender."

Lin Xingshu's body trembled abruptly, heat spreading from his earlobes. He angrily blurted out, "What are you talking about?! Let go! Ugh..."

Before he could finish, a sudden chill touched his neck. Before he could react, sudden darkness enveloped him. His body went limp, and Xie Guan immediately pulled him into his arms.

The warmth of Lin Xingshu's body was starkly at odds with his own cold temperature. Summer light streamed in through the skylight, falling upon the boy's fair face as he lay quietly in his arms, completely unconscious.

"Ah Shu... Ah Shu..."

Gazing at the person he had longed for day and night, Xie Guan could no longer restrain himself. The almost pathological love in his eyes was impossible to conceal. His breathing involuntarily quickened, and the hands holding Lin Xingshu gradually tightened, as if he wanted to merge with Lin Xingshu.

The unconscious boy frowned uneasily. Xie Guan's eyes gradually grew clouded, and his cold lips pressed against Lin Xingshu's face. Like handling an extremely precious treasure, his kisses were cautious, as if afraid of startling his beloved in his arms.

"I missed you so much, Ah Shu... You're still so adorable. Can I kiss you? You won't get mad, right? It's just a kiss..."

Xie Guan murmured, the area around his eyes flushed with an unnatural redness, and a look of infatuation appeared on his face. He carefully placed Lin Xingshu on the ground, then bent down and kissed him again.

He licked Lin Xingshu's cheek like an animal. Upon closer inspection, one could see tiny, soft barbs on his tongue. He frantically licked Lin Xingshu's cheeks, then moved to his lips, his eyes full of greed as he gazed at Lin Xingshu.

"Ugh..."

Lin Xingshu let out a pained groan, the spots Xie Guan had licked tinged with faint redness.

But such ambiguous sounds, to Xie Guan's ears, were no different from an arousal stimulant.

He grew even more excited, his hands uncontrollably moving to Lin Xingshu's neck. Gazing at that slender, delicate throat, the desire in his eyes burned hotter.

A neck so thin—with just the slightest pressure, he could easily snap it.

He slowly raised his head, fingers tightening bit by bit. Looming over Lin Xingshu, whose face was crimson with suffocation, his smile grew increasingly deranged, the corners of his lips nearly stretching to his ears.

Prey only loses all chance of escape when completely restrained.

If he wanted, he could easily break Lin Xingshu's neck right now. Then, like all his other prey, he would take Lin Xingshu back to his den.

He would bind Lin Xingshu tightly with his webs, but he wouldn’t devour him. Instead, he would carefully preserve Lin Xingshu's body, performing perfect embalming.

Then, as he did when feeding, he would drench Lin Xingshu entirely with his saliva, saturating him inside and out with his scent.

He wanted everyone to know: Lin Xingshu was his. They would be together for eternity, never to part again...

Xie Guan laughed wildly, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Lin Xingshu's face.

At this moment, Lin Xingshu's face was flushed red, his brows tightly furrowed. Tears uncontrollably welled in the corners of his eyes, clinging there, neither falling nor retreating.

The smile on Xie Guan's lips gradually faded, the madness in his eyes dissipating bit by bit, replaced by overwhelming panic.

"I can't... How could I do this...?"

Xie Guan frantically withdrew his hands, his eyes filled with confusion. He shook his head repeatedly, almost frantically:

"Sorry, sorry, sorry... Ah Shu... I'm sorry...!"

The moment Lin Xingshu's tears trailed down his cheeks, Xie Guan's body reacted before his mind could. He leaned down, lapping up Lin Xingshu's tears like an animal.

"No more, I won’t do this again... I just..."

Xie Guan fell silent, a flicker of struggle and pain flashing in his eyes, like an insect mired in a swamp, fighting desperately but unable to escape.

He truly didn’t want Lin Xingshu to leave him again. As a cold-blooded creature, instinct told him only corpses could stay by his side forever.

But when he saw the tears spilling from Lin Xingshu's eyes, his heart wrenched uncontrollably, throbbing in waves.

He couldn’t hurt Lin Xingshu. He refused to let Lin Xingshu become as cold as him. He wanted Lin Xingshu alive.

In agony, he covered his face, tears streaming uncontrollably, dripping between his fingers.

He had finally found his long-lost treasure, yet so many covetous rivals now surrounded it.

The way they looked at Lin Xingshu burned with desire, and he could only rely on his mind control to keep their gazes from lingering too long on Lin Xingshu...

The ability to manipulate minds...

Xie Guan froze, a sudden epiphany striking his mind. Then, his dull eyes abruptly ignited.

He slowly lowered his head, gazing at Lin Xingshu, unconscious on his lap. An eerie light gleamed in his eyes, and his face twisted into an unhinged grin once more.

He thought he knew what to do now.

"Ah Shu, I don’t want to do this either... But the way they look at you makes me so angry."

"Just look at me. Only me, okay?"

Xie Guan crooned sweetly, tightening his embrace around Lin Xingshu. He pressed his entire face against Lin Xingshu's cheek, nuzzling him like a cub. Yet those pitch-black eyes remained fixed on Lin Xingshu, the obsessive fixation in them utterly terrifying.

......

His head throbbed.

Lin Xingshu blearily opened his eyes to a harsh fluorescent glare. He lifted his heavy arm, trying to rub his eyes, but a pair of chill fingers suddenly gripped his wrist. A familiar voice sounded in his ear.

"Xing Shu, you're finally awake... I was so worried."

Lin Xingshu frowned, attempting to pull away, but the other only tightened his grip. Irritated, Lin Xingshu turned his head—only to see Xie Guan's face, creased with worry.

Glancing around, Lin Xingshu realized he was in the infirmary. His cheeks and neck pulsed with dull pain, and his mouth hurt as if pricked by needles.

"What... what happened to me? Why am I here?"

"You don’t remember?"

Xie Guan's eyes brimmed with worry. "We were moving things in the equipment room when you suddenly fainted. I couldn’t wake you no matter what, so I carried you here. The school doctor said it might’ve been heatstroke from the stuffy room."

"Oh..."

Lin Xingshu's brows twitched slightly. He did remember being in the equipment room before passing out, but he hadn’t felt it was particularly stuffy, nor had he experienced any discomfort beforehand.

Was it really heatstroke? Then why did his mouth and face hurt?

"Mm, don’t worry. The homeroom teacher knows already. He asked me to stay with you."

Lin Xingshu wasn’t really listening. As he turned his head, his gaze caught the glare off the infirmary’s glass door. When he saw his lips, his eyes froze.

His lips were inexplicably bitten, fresh bloodstains clearly visible. Not just that—his cheeks were flushed red, and his neck bore blotchy bruises.

"My neck—"

"Ah, it’s nothing. Just insect bites from the equipment room. The doctor already checked."

Lin Xingshu looked up, meeting Xie Guan's dark eyes. He was smiling, his already exquisite features eerily radiant. His lips were a deep red, swollen and split.

Like he’d been kissed raw.

Lin Xingshu narrowed his eyes, eyeing Xie Guan distrustfully.

"Xie Guan, you didn’t..."

He paused, warily beginning: "You didn’t beat me up in the equipment room and then pass it off as bug bites, did you?"

Bugs couldn’t leave marks like this—they looked more like slaps! And his neck too—the ghost of grip marks were barely visible!

Xie Guan must’ve done something terrible to him while he was unconscious!

"How could I?!"

Xie Guan gaped at him. "I’d never hit you!"

His expression shifted from shock to crestfallen, his head drooping. "I really didn’t. You’re the class monitor. If you still don’t believe me, I can have the doctor vouch for me—"

"...Never mind."

Lin Xingshu touched his face. The stinging didn’t feel like a slap. With no proof, if word got out, people might get the wrong idea.

"Xing Shu, you must believe me."

Xie Guan gripped his hand, his eyes burning with sincerity. Lin Xingshu’s mouth twisted, and he yanked his hand back.

"I believe you, but could you not call me 'Xing Shu'? Just call me Lin Xingshu."

"But it’s friendlier this way."

Lin Xingshu didn't respond. Truthfully, he didn’t want to be too close to Xie Guan. Xie Guan gave him the creeps.

The two left the infirmary and headed back to class. Lin Xingshu had been unconscious for over an hour, and it was already the extended recess.

*

Many students were chatting in the hallway or leaning against the railings, killing time staring outside. As Lin Xingshu and Xie Guan approached their classroom, footsteps came rushing up behind them, accompanied by a bright teenage voice.

"Brother Lin!"

Lin Xingshu turned around and saw a boy in a blue-and-white school uniform with a crew cut waving at him from a distance, a bright smile on his face. Unlike most of his peers, the boy had sharp, masculine features, his short haircut giving him a soldierly vibe.

"Xiao Lang! What’re you doing here?"

Lin Xingshu quickly walked forward, lighting up with a grin—a stark contrast to the indifference he had shown Xie Guan earlier. His easy smile made you want to get closer.

"I heard you fainted, so I went to the infirmary but didn’t find you. I came to your class to check on you. I’m glad you’re okay!"

The boy let out a booming laugh, but his dark eyes stayed glued on Lin Xingshu’s face. His ears slowly turned red, and he fidgeted with his hair, rubbing his earlobes as if afraid Lin Xingshu would notice his nervousness.

"By the way, Brother Lin, my older brother is coming home soon. Maybe our families can hang out then?"

"Eh? Your brother’s coming back from abroad? I thought he settled there!"

"Yeah, I’m not sure either. Dunno exactly, seems like something important brought him back..."

Before he could finish, the class bell rang. Kids started piling back into the classroom, and the boy had to leave. As he turned to go, he suddenly whipped around and called out loudly:

"Oh, Brother Lin! Meet me by the sycamore tree on the playground after school! I have something to tell you!"

With that, he grinned and left. Lin Xingshu had to stifle a laugh at his enthusiasm. Just as he was about to take his seat, he happened to catch Xie Guan staring.

Xie Guan’s dark eyes were hollow, devoid of any emotion, like murky pond water. The way he stared made Lin Xingshu’s skin crawl.

Before Lin Xingshu could say anything, Xie Guan cocked his head with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Who was that?" he asked softly. "Calling you 'Brother' and caring so much about you."

Lin Xingshu frowned, the smile fading from his face. He turned back to his desk and replied dismissively, "Just a kid from back home."

"What’s his name?"

Xie Guan pressed further. Lin Xingshu was getting annoyed. He snapped his book open and answered curtly, "Class is starting. Drop it and pay attention."

Xie Guan was strange—his words always left Lin Xingshu feeling unsettled.

Who Xu Lang was, what his name was—what did it matter to Xie Guan? The guy seemed weirdly obsessed with his business.

As a hometown buddy, Xu Lang was one of the few genuine friends Lin Xingshu had in this school. They had grown up together, with Xu Lang being just a year younger. Their parents were also very close.

He wasn’t about to tell Xie Guan any of this.

Xie Guan’s gaze lingered briefly on Lin Xingshu’s face before he slowly looked away.

His eyes lowered, a smile tugging at his mouth. His slender fingers rested on the textbook, idly tracing the pages, the pressure growing heavier with each pass. Soon, the fresh pages were getting shredded from his touch.

Even if Lin Xingshu refused to say, he already knew who that boy was.

He could never forget the days he spent with Lin Xingshu in the countryside—easy and fun. Back then, Lin Xingshu would seek him out every day to play, bringing all sorts of cool stuff he had never seen or used before. It made him happy.

But gradually, that happiness faded.

Lin Xingshu began visiting him less frequently—from daily to once every three days. He didn’t understand why. He thought Lin Xingshu was just busy, that’s why he kept missing their meetings.

He’d stand there like an idiot at their usual meeting spot day after day, waiting.

As a cold-blooded creature accustomed to lurking in the shadows, he despised the scorching heat. The August sun burned not just his skin but also his heart, leaving a dull ache.

His skin was fried to a crisp from the relentless sunlight, but he didn’t dare seek out Lin Xingshu, not wanting to bug him. Instead, he retreated to his dark nest at night, using his goo to patch himself up.

Then came the day when, after a full week without seeing Lin Xingshu, his anxiety grew unbearable. Worried something had happened, he was climbing the walls and finally gave in, sneaking to Lin Xingshu’s home.

He morphed back into a small spider and followed Lin Xingshu’s scent along the walls until he reached the windowsill.

There, through the mosquito net, he saw Lin Xingshu crushed out in bed, his breathing steady.

He could breathe again. It didn’t matter if they didn’t meet—Lin Xingshu’s safety was all that mattered.

Just as he was about to leave, a gust of wind lifted the mosquito net, revealing the scene inside. His body froze, his blood turning to ice. Even the blazing sun felt bitterly cold at that moment.

He would never forget what he saw.

On the small bed lay two boys of similar age. Lin Xingshu was fast asleep, oblivious to the crew-cut boy beside him, who was gazing at him with flushed cheeks. The boy then cautiously nestled into Lin Xingshu’s arms, pressing close to his chest.

When the boy looked up at Lin Xingshu’s face, the hungry look in his eyes was unmistakable.

In that instant, everything became clear. This was why Lin Xingshu had been skipping their meetings.

All those days of waiting meant nothing to Lin Xingshu. Or perhaps, to him, Xie Guan himself was utterly insignificant.

He branded that kid’s face into his brain, never to forget.

And now, three years later, that boy still had his sights set on Lin Xingshu. How sweet.

*Rip—*

The paper tore under his fingers without him realizing. Xie Guan paused, then slowly retracted his hand. His thick lashes veiled the seething jealousy in his eyes.

This afternoon, he would listen very carefully to what that boy had to say to Lin Xingshu.

It had better not be a confession.