Chapter 116: The School Festival and Su Yao’s Intrigue

Lin Qing watched Su Yao’s reply, feeling a weight lift from his heart.

He had just assumed Su Yao would confront him, yet she had already known everything.

Considering this, Lin Qing recalled their cinema date planned for Saturday and immediately decided to confess fully.

Liu Ying was Xiao Fish.

Su Yao knew far more than he had ever imagined!

It seemed best to honestly explain everything.

However, there were still many things Su Yao remained unaware of.

Yet…

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Su Yao paid too much attention to Liu Ying.

Su Yao was not one to easily divide her focus.

Nor would she concern herself with inconsequential people.

For instance, there was Liu Hong, who relentlessly pursued Su Yao, yet she paid him no mind.

As Lin Qing pondered these thoughts, he looked down at the text on his phone screen. Su Yao had warned him to be careful.

No matter how he looked at it, something felt amiss.

Careful of what?

Would Liu Ying harm him?

Although the white skull above Liu Ying’s head had now multiplied to three, indicating a high probability of murder, Lin Qing could see more than just the number of skulls.

He could also discern their expressions.

When someone harbored murderous intent, the expressions on those skulls were enough to alert Lin Qing to impending danger.

However, Su Yao was unaware of his ability, nor had she uncovered any past murders committed by Liu Ying.

Thus, her warning to ‘be careful’ suggested a hidden meaning to Lin Qing.

‘Is Su Yao planning to kill someone again?’

Of course, perhaps he was overthinking things, but the incident served as a stark reminder to Lin Qing.

He needed to discreetly and cautiously observe Su Yao, ensuring he wouldn’t be deceived again as he had been last time.

Su Yao was like a cunning fox.

One careless step, and he might fall straight into her trap.

****

“Classmates, regarding the School Festival activity that our homeroom teacher mentioned earlier, please write down the theme you wish to propose. We will then filter out the most frequently suggested themes and proceed to a vote.”

Just as the second period was about to begin, the class monitor suddenly rose to speak.

After quickly delivering his message, he promptly sat back down, just before the teacher entered the classroom.

He held his textbook, an earnest expression on his face, as if the person who had just spoken was not him at all.

Upon hearing the class monitor’s words, the students, whose excitement had just settled, stirred once more. With fervent expressions, they pondered deeply, wondering what theme would be best for this year’s event.

Unlike last year’s rather meager School Festival, this year’s budget was ample. They could let their imaginations run wild.

They had to think carefully.

****

While Lin Qing mused over the School Festival activities, his phone suddenly vibrated, prompting him to quickly retrieve it to prevent any further noise from his pocket.

After illuminating the screen, Lin Qing saw that the message wasn’t from Su Yao this time.

It was from the group chat he had joined earlier.

[The Workers]

– Zhou Lin: Wang Jian, change your nickname in the group chat so we don’t get confused.

– Wang Jian: I already changed it, didn’t I!

– Liu Hong: Stop chattering, everyone! Quickly think of a good theme for this School Festival. We have strength in numbers, so our proposal will definitely be chosen as a candidate. Then, when it comes to voting, we just need to apply a little pressure.

– Zhou Lin: Huh? Brother Liu, have you changed your tune? You usually have no interest in the School Festival!

– Liu Hong: I still don’t have interest, but I plan to invite Xiao Fish to participate in the School Festival with me, to foster our relationship.

– Zhou Lin: …

– Wang Jian: …

Lin Qing observed the group chat, noting that Liu Hong and the others were also discussing the School Festival.

– Lin Qing: What is a School Festival?

Just as Zhou Lin was sending a meme about unrequited affection, Lin Qing’s sudden question silenced the group for over ten seconds.

This left Lin Qing feeling a little perplexed, wondering if he had asked a foolish question.

– Zhou Lin: Lin Qing, didn’t your old school have a School Festival before you transferred? Which mountain did you study in?

– Liu Hong: If you can’t speak properly, then shut up! Lin Qing just asked a question, why are you so talkative?

– Liu Hong: The School Festival is essentially a grand event for students, a stage for various classes or clubs to showcase themselves. Through themed activities, they can earn some revenue… because besides students from our school, people from outside the school can also be invited!

– Lin Qing: I see.

Upon hearing Liu Hong’s simple explanation, Lin Qing finally understood.

It sounded quite interesting.

As this was his first year of true freedom, and having never participated in a School Festival before, Lin Qing began to feel a sense of anticipation.

– Liu Hong: Now, back to business. Do any of you have good themes?

– Zhou Lin: Water balloon smashing! Ten yuan per smash!

– Wang Jian: Takoyaki stall! One yuan per takoyaki ball.

– Liu Hong: Have you two become completely obsessed with money???

While Liu Hong and the others discussed with fervent enthusiasm, Lin Qing quietly observed from the sidelines, not joining in. He genuinely couldn’t think of any good themes.

Having been confined for so many years, some of Lin Qing’s perceptions differed from those of ordinary people.

Take the School Festival, for instance; Zhou Lin couldn’t comprehend that Lin Qing didn’t even know what it was. It seemed there was still much he needed to learn!

As Lin Qing reflected on these thoughts, he watched Liu Hong and his friends teasing each other. He didn’t feel lonely being overlooked; instead, he found it rather amusing to simply watch.

– Liu Hong: Alright, let’s go with this one! The Macho Man Muscle Gym! You can take photos with muscular men, and special poses will cost extra… The muscular boys in our class can go shirtless, and those without muscles can just buy a muscle suit online to make do.

Liu Hong decided to make the final call in under three minutes.

His suggestion left Zhou Lin and Wang Jian utterly speechless.

It was glaringly obvious that Brother Liu simply wanted to use this opportunity to shamelessly flaunt his muscles, hoping to charm Xiao Fish when she visited the School Festival.

What a cunning man!

They absolutely could not bring themselves to write down such a cringeworthy proposal!

– Liu Hong: Zhou Lin, Wang Jian, if either of you tries to slack off and not write it, just wait and see how I’ll deal with you.

– Zhou Lin: [Old man on subway staring at phone face]

– Wang Jian: [Sycophants get nothing meme]

In response to Liu Hong’s warning, Zhou Lin and Wang Jian simply replied with memes, yet they reluctantly wrote down the proposal in the end.

When the votes were tallied that afternoon, the ‘Macho Man Muscle Gym’ idea was sure to be ridiculed!

Fortunately, it was an anonymous submission, so they wouldn’t have to show their faces!

Otherwise, they would rather die than write such a brain-dead suggestion.

Compared to the anguished expressions of Zhou Lin and Wang Jian, Lin Qing found the idea somewhat appealing. As a thin boy, he could wear a muscle suit instead of going shirtless.

However, just as Lin Qing was thinking this, another new message arrived from his friend.

– DevourYou~: Have you decided on a theme for the School Festival?

It was Su Yao.

Was Su Yao also interested in the School Festival?

– Lin Qing: No.

Despite having just written the large characters for ‘Macho Man Muscle Gym’ on a blank sheet of paper, Lin Qing instinctively replied with ‘no’ when he saw Su Yao’s message.

‘What theme does Su Yao want to organize?’

– DevourYou~: That’s great! I want to host a Cross-Dressing Cafe.

– Lin Qing: A Cross-Dressing Cafe?

– DevourYou~: It’s just a regular cafe selling coffee.

– Lin Qing: I didn’t miss the words ‘cross-dressing’.

Lin Qing looked at Su Yao’s reply, her attempt to playfully gloss over the details, and couldn’t help but smile. He truly found this side of Su Yao adorable.

However, Lin Qing quickly realized he was smiling and immediately composed himself.

He had to maintain self-control!

– DevourYou~: Alright, it’s a cafe where men and women swap clothes. I want to try wearing men’s clothing, and I also want to see how cute you look in women’s clothing, Lin Qing~

– Lin Qing: …

– DevourYou~: Do you agree?

– Lin Qing: Considering it.

Perhaps it was because he was texting on his phone, but Lin Qing’s reply carried a hint of playfulness.

He didn’t reply directly to Su Yao.

Yet, his pen, as if guided by Su Yao’s wishes, wrote down the words ‘Cross-Dressing Cafe’.

The paper that had previously borne ‘Macho Man Muscle Gym’ was now crumpled into a ball and shoved into the desk drawer, silently awaiting its fate to be discarded.

After class, suggestions began to pour in gradually.

By the time school was dismissed for lunch, most of the class had submitted their proposals. Only a few indecisive students remained, still struggling to make up their minds.

Finally, under the class monitor’s urging, they hastily scribbled down a random suggestion.

Their hearts filled with regret, wishing they had made their decisions earlier.

Damn it.

Accursed indecisiveness!

After collecting all the proposals, the class monitor immediately packed the papers into his backpack. He would organize them carefully at home, and then the voting would proceed that afternoon.

Liu Hong watched the class monitor’s retreating figure, backpack slung over his shoulders. His feet twitched, eager to chase after him and threaten him into prioritizing the Macho Man Muscle Gym!

But he couldn’t!

Because Su Yao had warned him.

‘Do not dare to disrupt fairness.’

Ugh.

He merely wanted to display his masculine, macho side in front of Xiao Fish.

Why was it so difficult?

Despite how unwilling Liu Hong was to accept Su Yao’s threat, he knew he had to obey.

Though it made him seem a little cowardly, Liu Hong considered himself a true man who knew when to yield and when to assert himself.

Someone as formidable as Su Yao, in ancient times, would possess the aura of an emperor! A supreme ruler!

She was an existence everyone looked up to.

Therefore, his capitulation was entirely reasonable.

As Liu Hong mentally concocted excuses for himself, he was about to ask Lin Qing if he was opening a Macho Man Muscle Gym, only to realize that Lin Qing had already left.

‘Why did he leave so quickly today?’

However, Lin Qing didn’t even know what a School Festival was, so he surely couldn’t have decided on a theme.

‘Such a person definitely wouldn’t write down the Macho Man Muscle Gym!’

Not finding Lin Qing, Liu Hong didn’t dwell on it. Instead, his heart swelled with joy, eager for the class monitor to announce the results that afternoon, confident that his proposal would receive everyone’s vote!

After Lin Qing left the school somewhat guiltily and quickly, he walked home with no regrets.

Though he couldn’t harbor romantic feelings for Su Yao, supporting her was certainly not a problem.

With these thoughts, Lin Qing’s steps became light, and he happily quickened his pace.

****

“If I were you, I wouldn’t want to lay a hand on him.”

Not far behind Lin Qing, a shifty-eyed man in an alley was about to give chase when a woman’s voice suddenly rang out.

When the man turned to look, Su Yao stood there with several bodyguards. As soon as she finished speaking, she immediately raised a hand and waved, and the bodyguards swiftly charged towards the man.

‘The Dark Covenant’s reach is far too extensive.’

‘Besides, Lin Qing wasn’t the one who killed Chen Sen!’

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