Chapter 1: The Setting Sun and the Unexpected Encounter

The setting sun cast an orange hue across half the sky.

After school, the streets buzzed with activity as students returned home in small groups.

“Hey, Bai Chen, want to play basketball tonight?”

Faced with his friend’s invitation, Bai Chen offered an awkward smile. “Sorry, man, I’ve got to work tonight. Maybe next time.”

“Working again? You’re a real go-getter.”

His friend made a quip and left with the others, leaving Bai Chen alone in the classroom.

Go-getter? More like a hardworking schmuck.

Most of the class thought he was a poor student from a struggling family, forced to work to support himself. Even the homeroom teacher had talked to Bai Chen about it.

In reality, Bai Chen saw himself no different from other teenagers. A typical 17-year-old sophomore, going to class when he should and enjoying his breaks when they came.

Packing up his books, Bai Chen left the classroom and saw his friend walking out with his girlfriend.

Bai Chen had never been lucky with girls, rarely speaking to any. As a teenager, he sometimes fantasized about what it would be like to be hit by a wave of good fortune.

“Hmph!”

As he passed by an alley, Bai Chen heard muffled grunts and soft sobs coming from inside.

Thinking it might be local hoodlums brawling, he hesitated, then quietly approached to see what was happening.

Several men, clearly thugs, were surrounding a girl. It was a textbook bullying scene.

Bai Chen recognized them; these lazy goons controlled the alley, forcing every student who took the shortcut to pay them an extortion fee.

The girl wore the same school uniform as Bai Chen, huddled against the wall like a cornered rabbit.

“Didn’t we say you’d be safe if you just paid up? You really think you can mess with us?”

One of the men grabbed her hair and forced her head up.

“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”

Her voice was thick with tears, and she couldn’t meet the thug’s eyes.

At this, the thug’s face darkened, seemingly ready to explode with anger.

“Sorry? Go ask around; everyone knows this alley belongs to us. No student can pass without paying up.”

“But, I really don’t have any money…”

“So, you want to take the easy way out, huh? You really don’t respect us.”

The thug gave her a rough shove, and she tumbled to the ground, crying out in pain.

Just as one of them was about to strike, another pulled him back. “Hey, don’t you think she’s pretty?”

“What?” The thug looked confused.

The other man leered, his eyes filled with lewd intentions. “If she can’t pay, she can always pay in kind.”

“Yeah, she’s pretty cute. Might as well take advantage.”

What the heck? This is getting out of hand.

Hidden in the corner, Bai Chen’s brows furrowed. He thought the girl would just get beaten up, but now things were spiraling in a disturbing direction.

Since he had seen it, Bai Chen felt he had to step in. He hated those who used brute force.

Thankfully, he had brought his phone to school today.

Bai Chen smirked, raising his phone and stepping out from his hiding spot.

Seeing someone with a phone, the thugs quickly became aggressive.

“Hey, who the hell are you?”

“Stay out of this, kid.”

“Keep filming, and I’ll smash your phone!”

Bai Chen remained unfazed, even zooming in on each of their faces.

“There are new security cameras around here. You’re committing a crime; if you want to avoid getting caught, you’d better run.”

The warning only enraged the thugs. One pulled out a folding knife.

“You’re pushing your luck!”

The thug lunged with the knife, but Bai Chen quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding a slash to his arm.

Taking advantage of the thug’s surprise, Bai Chen grabbed his knife arm, twisted it behind his back, and disarmed him.

“Are you leaving or not?”

“Okay, okay, we’re leaving! I’m sorry, we won’t do it again!”

“Five seconds to get out of here. Got it?”

“Yes, we understand!”

Bai Chen counted silently in his head. The thugs scurried away, disappearing from the alley in under five seconds.

After they left, Bai Chen approached the girl, who was now sitting up.

Her disheveled black hair partially hid her face, and through the strands, her dull eyes seemed like a lifeless sea. A small cut on her forehead was smeared with dirt.

“Are you okay?” Bai Chen asked, helping her up. “If you can walk, go home quickly. Don’t take shortcuts like this again. Running into thugs is bad enough, but you could lose your life before I even get here.”

“Thank you.”

The girl finally spoke, her voice surprisingly pleasant, like a tinkling bell.

She swept her hair back, revealing her face.

For a moment, Bai Chen was stunned.

The girl was quite cute, with delicate features. Despite the dirt, her skin was fair and charming. Such a pretty face, if only she smiled, she’d be a heartbreaker. Unfortunately, her lifeless eyes ruined the effect.

But it was those eyes that had captivated Bai Chen.

“What beautiful eyes…”

He quickly covered his mouth, hoping the emotionless girl hadn’t heard.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t shown much pain when the thugs were bullying her. Now, standing before Bai Chen, she seemed like a doll without feelings.

“Are you okay?” The doll-like girl tilted her head.

“Oh, I’m fine. You’re from Wind Chime Middle School too, right? What a coincidence, we’re classmates.” Bai Chen averted his gaze, snapping back to reality.

“I’m Mo Qiu.”

“I’m Bai Chen.”

Mo Qiu looked down. “You’re injured.”

“Ah?”

Bai Chen examined his hand, noticing a cut on his finger, oozing blood.

It must have been from the thug’s knife. Bai Chen had overestimated his reflexes, barely avoiding the cut.

The pain was manageable until he noticed the cut, then it began to sting.

“You should bandage that, or it might get infected.”

“It’s just a small cut, and there’s nowhere nearby to…”

Before Bai Chen could finish, Mo Qiu took his hand, placing the injured finger in her mouth.

Bai Chen’s eyes widened in surprise, frozen in place.

Her small, soft lips were warm and comforting, and he could feel her tongue gently wrapping around his finger.

Bai Chen pulled his hand back, a thread of saliva stretching between them.

“What are you doing?”

“Saliva is antiseptic. You got hurt because of me, so I wanted to repay you.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Well… how about I dedicate my life to you, taking care of you forever?”

“Are you serious?”

The girl’s expressionless face and flat tone made it impossible to tell if she was joking or sincere. This kind of luck, Bai Chen decided, was better left alone.

“I do good deeds without expecting anything in return. A simple ‘thank you’ is enough.”

“Thank you.”

You didn’t need to say it twice.

Bai Chen sighed, unable to read her.

“Go home quickly, the sun is about to set.”

“Okay.”

Bai Chen left first, or he’d be late for work.

Mo Qiu stood still, watching his figure until it disappeared down the street.

Several familiar shadows appeared behind her, the thugs returning.

Their faces showed no anger, only a devoted expression as they knelt before her.

“Master, was that good enough?”

“Yes, very good.”

Mo Qiu swept her hair back and sat on one of their backs, swinging her long legs.

If Bai Chen had looked closer, he might have seen the heart-shaped eyes of the thugs, but Mo Qiu wouldn’t give him the chance.

The expressionless girl finally showed a strange smile:

“Having a tool like you sure is convenient.”

This staged encounter had been perfect. The innocent boy was easy to manipulate.

Bai Chen’s reaction had been satisfying. She would gradually draw him in, making sure he only had room for her in his heart.

“Master, do you have any more orders?”

“Take off your pants and jog around Wanhua Square until it’s dark.”

“Understood!”

The thugs ran off into the sunset, their figures fading away. Mo Qiu’s hair danced in the sudden gust of wind. Looking up, the clear sky was gathering dark clouds.

“Bai Chen, Bai Chen, this time, let me, the villain, nurture you into a true hero.”

Using any means necessary, from seduction to threats, or even sleeping with him, she would foster a deep bond. Then, she would reveal the grand deception, showing him that it had all been a carefully crafted lie.