Chapter 22: The Lingering Thorns of Reality

Because only his left hand had been injured, Lin Qing’s daily life remained unaffected.

Upon returning home, he continued his usual routine, without any discernible change.

If one had to point out a difference…

Each morning, after waking, Lin Qing would first inspect the wound on his palm, checking for any signs of continued bleeding.

Should the injury worsen, another trip to the hospital would be necessary.

Fortunately, despite its depth, the wound had not deteriorated.

Only the pain intensified with time, a constant reminder of everything Lin Qing had endured.

The nurse murdered by the love poison, the relentlessly clinging Su Yao.

And that incredibly strange red skull.

They were like intertwined thorns, carpeting the path in his dreams last night, forcing Lin Qing to tread upon them barefoot, bleeding profusely yet unable to escape.

Mercifully, such nightmares did not persist.

Halfway through his dream, the familiar black-faced figure and the cage reappeared, a sight that, surprisingly, brought Lin Qing a sense of peace.

Upon waking, everything quickly dissipated.

He returned to reality.

It had been two days since he left the hospital. During this time, Lin Qing made a point to visit the police station, where he declined their offer of a public commendation from the school.

Instead, he simply collected the bonus and certificate before departing.

Formalism held little appeal for him.

He prioritized practicality.

With five thousand yuan now in his possession, he wouldn’t have to worry for the next few months.

At the very least, he wouldn’t go hungry.

Since the wound on his palm hadn’t worsened, it was time for him to return to school.

Though school wasn’t as idyllic and peaceful as one might imagine, Lin Qing didn’t particularly dislike attending classes.

The lively atmosphere of his classroom was something he cherished.

Moreover, he would be able to see Su Yao.

At the mere thought of Su Yao, Lin Qing felt his heart quicken. His expression grew excited, and his eyes, beneath his dark hair, sparkled incessantly.

Despite Lin Qing’s continued aversion to Su Yao, he was also intensely curious about her.

More precisely.

He was curious about the transformations of the skull hovering above her head.

Lin Qing had witnessed countless skulls floating above people’s heads, invariably white or black, without a single exception.

Yet, now, an exception had appeared!

It was akin to a perplexing anomaly emerging in a specialized field, always sparking unexpected interest and an ardent desire to unravel the mystery.

However, beyond Su Yao’s unique nature, there were other concerns.

Although she had failed to commit murder at the hospital, her actions had exposed her abnormality.

This abnormality was far from a compliment.

It was a derogatory term.

She exhibited a problem, yet could regain her sanity.

She could continue to feign normalcy.

However, even a rational madwoman remained a madwoman.

Becoming truly normal was impossible for her.

How long could Su Yao maintain her self-control?

And what changes would she undergo once she actually committed murder?

Such thoughts were too terrifying for Lin Qing to even contemplate. He could only strive with all his might to prevent Su Yao from killing.

If she tried to kill, he would obstruct her.

If he couldn’t stop her, then he would deal with the consequences.

“According to our reporter’s investigation, the number of missing children in our city has risen by double digits and continues to increase. The police have deployed additional…”

The sound of the television brought Lin Qing’s thoughts to a halt.

He watched the news broadcast. After quickly finishing his slice of bread, he immediately turned off the TV. It was time to go to school.

Lin Qing preferred to remain unnoticed, living a quiet campus life.

Yet, after being hospitalized due to a sudden seizure and collapse, he was now returning to school with his hand entirely swathed in bandages…

Surely, that would draw attention!

However, reflecting on his usual inconspicuousness in class, Lin Qing decided he was overthinking things.

At most, his bothersome deskmate would mock him.

As the thought of his deskmate, Wang Fanran, crossed his mind, Lin Qing, who had already left home, sighed inwardly. He then quickened his pace, soon arriving at the school’s main entrance.

It was peak time for students to arrive, and the school gate was naturally bustling. Upon seeing Lin Qing with his bandaged hand, most students merely glanced at him out of curiosity.

They then hurried along to their respective classrooms, not lingering.

Students continued to copy homework or chat with friends, unperturbed.

Everything was orderly.

Lin Qing quietly settled into his seat, observing the harmonious scene in the classroom, and his mood brightened considerably.

It was as if the wind had swept away the dark clouds, and sunlight once again bathed the earth.

Lin Qing’s body relaxed, and he leaned softly onto his desk, feeling utterly content.

“Su Yao, come look at this bracelet! Isn’t it pretty? I braided it myself~”

However, upon hearing Su Yao’s name, Lin Qing instantly sat upright.

He looked up at Su Yao, who had just entered the classroom. She was as beautiful as ever, her perfect proportions of a slender waist and long legs outlining a captivating silhouette that made it impossible to tear one’s gaze away.

Su Yao seemed like a born queen, automatically drawing everyone’s attention, arriving with an inherent aura of nobility.

Yet, for Lin Qing, his focus remained solely on the top of Su Yao’s head.

Among the ten skulls, the red one had not vanished; it still floated motionless in mid-air.

It stood in stark contrast to the other nine skulls, making its presence immediately obvious.

Nine days had passed, and the red skull remained. It seemed it would not disappear in the future either.

This only fueled his curiosity further.

“It’s very pretty.”

As Su Yao spoke, her attention was fixed on Lin Qing. Seeing his direct gaze, she gently blinked at him.

‘Lin Qing, that guy, went silent for two days, and now he’s suddenly back at school. What an unexpected surprise~’

Su Yao’s upturned lips and the playful blink confirmed her mischievous intent.

“Oh my god, is Goddess Su winking at me? My heart aches! This must be love!”

“You’re full of it! She was clearly looking at me!”

“For a moment there, I even thought about what to name our future children. Life is truly satisfying!”

“Boys are so disgusting, what are they even thinking?!”

Listening to the clamor around him, Lin Qing quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look at Su Yao any longer.

Beyond Su Yao’s own personality, as the subject of much class gossip, she was precisely the type to stir up trouble.

He was currently relieved that Su Yao hadn’t approached him directly, seemingly adhering to their agreement at the hospital.

Before seeing Su Yao, Lin Qing had worried she might act recklessly.

“Hehe, Su Yao is very pretty, isn’t she? But no matter how much you look, she’s not yours. Don’t dream about it.”

Just as Lin Qing was lost in these thoughts, a familiar voice suddenly echoed beside him.

Lin Qing instinctively frowned, realizing that while he might have dodged the trouble of Su Yao, he couldn’t escape his deskmate, Wang Fanran.