Chapter 23 : Side Story: The Flower of Decay

Li Xiaowan once watched a movie.

She’d forgotten its name, but it told a story from a war-torn era.

An officer from the invading nation violated a girl from the defeated country. Yet, as they spent time together, he grew drawn to her.

Whether it was Stockholm syndrome or something else, the girl, in a baffling twist like some absurd romance, fell for the officer too.

A relationship born with thorns and barbs was doomed to a tragic end. Despite their attempts to mend the rotten start with romantic gestures, tragedy caught up.

Li Xiaowan still remembered the scene that haunted her.

A city in ruins, bullets flying. Two people, set on destruction from the start, embraced, their eyes filled with love and hate.

This random afternoon movie pierced her heart unexpectedly, making her cover her flushed cheeks, giggling foolishly.

In a broken world, possessing an incomplete version of each other—what a thrilling thing…

…

“Senpai~ Are you zoning out? What’re you thinking about?”

Entering a private theater, Li Xiaowan glanced at Yang Xinwei, who was frowning and scanning the room. She squinted, hugged his arm, and cooed like a kitten.

“Let go.”

Yang Xinwei said coldly, pulling away.

“You know how many hidden cameras these places have? I’m not starring in some local candid flick.”

“Wow, as expected of Yang-senpai, who’s always guiding our candid shots~ So experienced~”

Her words made his expression colder.

“This is private, so I’ll let it slide. Say that baseless crap again, and we’re done.”

He held out his hand.

“Phone.”

“Sure~”

Li Xiaowan grinned, handing over her pink-cased phone.

Senpai was always cautious. Even agreeing to meet privately, he’d check for recording devices.

So cute, right?

“…” Yang Xinwei fiddled with her phone, checking a few things, then handed it back.

“Change the lockscreen.”

“Eh~ But I love this group photo~”

Li Xiaowan pouted.

“I said change it. You deaf?”

Seeing his rare irritability, Li Xiaowan tilted her head with a faint smile.

“Okay~”

Only I get to see this side of Senpai.

The thought grew, sending shivers of excitement through her.

Not Ye Qingshu or any other girl—they’ve never seen this raw, unfiltered Senpai, showing his true self only to me, emotions just for me, a Senpai who’s mine alone…

“So, why’d you drag me here?”

Yang Xinwei sat on the sofa, asking coldly.

“Nothing much. Just thought, since you got into high school, we should celebrate!”

Like a docile kitten, Li Xiaowan plopped beside him, leaning close, her soft voice tickling his ear.

“It’s been a while since we hung out, right?”

“…” Pulling back slightly, Yang Xinwei grabbed the remote and browsed movies.

“Even with high school, there’s class assignments and other hassles. I’m still busy,” he said flatly. “Plus, I’m done with exams, but you’re up next. As a middle school exam candidate, you’re not studying during break and instead drag me out?”

“Are you worried about me, Senpai?” Li Xiaowan’s eyes sparkled.

“Hm?” Yang Xinwei’s lip twitched, glancing at her.

“If you want to think that, fine.”

“I knew it! You care about me!”

Li Xiaowan hugged his arm, pointing at the movie he picked. “Senpai, I wanna watch that one…”

“Pick it yourself.”

Frowning, he handed her the remote and checked his watch.

“It’s only two… Why’d you book such a long session?”

“Eh~ It’s rare we get time alone. I wanted it to last longer~”

…

In a pool of blood, Li Xiaowan leaned against the wall, her silent eyes fixed on the sky.

Why did she suddenly recall her third year?

That time she believed Yang Xinwei still held a place for her in his heart.

Evening birds returned to their forest, the shouts of sports clubs and chattering classmates heading home mixed with occasional laughter and playful scuffles.

When she first met Yang Xinwei, she was a plain first-year. Shy and introverted, she barely spoke to anyone, naturally friendless in class.

Unlike Ye Qingshu, blessed with enviable looks and a bubbly personality, Li Xiaowan was a nobody, destined to bury herself in dark books and movies, living in a corner no one understood.

Until that day, hiding at the corridor’s end, eating bread on the floor.

She wanted to eat on the rooftop, but Ye Qingshu and her childhood friends had claimed it. Li Xiaowan lacked the courage to intrude on such a vibrant space.

Lunch is lunch anywhere.

Nibbling in the corner, she heard a curse and a heavy thud.

Hesitating whether to flee, she stood and bumped into a boy heading upstairs, smoking.

Cigarette smoke curled. Tears welled as she panicked.

She ducked her head, pretending to see nothing, stuffing bread into her mouth.

“…Hey, don’t play dumb. You saw everything, didn’t you?”

His teasing voice exploded in her ears, making her drop the bread.

“N-No, I-I…” Li Xiaowan stammered, nearly crying. “I won’t tell anyone…”

“No one’d believe you anyway.”

His casual tone made her bury her head deeper.

“…First-year, right?”

“Huh? Yeah…”

“Class Three?”

“Y-Yes…”

“You know a Ye Qingshu in your class?”

“Yeah, the girl who topped the entrance exam, vice-class president. Everyone knows her.”

“Oh~”

Yang Xinwei propped his chin, sizing her up.

“Am I a tiger or something? Why won’t you look at me?”

“I-I…” Li Xiaowan nearly cried.

“I’m scared.”

“What’s to be scared of? Look at me.”

He reached out, lifting her face in an intimate gesture, forcing her to meet his gaze.

“You’re kinda cute.”

Cute?

Yang Xinwei, the most popular guy among girls, called me cute?

Plain old me… cute?

Her heart pounded, nerves threatening to burst from her chest. Her cheeks burned, tears brimming.

“Wanna hang with us?”

“Huh?”

“Our tennis group. You first-years don’t know about it?”

“T-The one with all the cool seniors, the one everyone talks about!”

“Wow, you’re so hyped. Didn’t expect that from you~”

His teasing made her duck her head in shame again.

“But you’re not wrong. The one everyone talks about. Wanna join?”

“Me… too?”

“Of course.”

Li Xiaowan looked into his eyes.

At that moment, they reflected only her.

“You’d be the first from first-year. So, accept my invite?”

He added, as if recalling something, “But if you join, you might need to help with some small stuff—don’t worry, it’s easy.”

She wasn’t stupid. She didn’t fully believe him.

But.

The rooftop door opened, Ye Qingshu’s laughter mixing with two boys’ voices, too loud, making her corner feel even more cramped.

His sincere smile, even if just bait to keep her quiet, was, in that moment, focused solely on her.

Unbidden, she thought of that movie’s start.

A meeting born of ugly desire.

…

“Since it began with brutal pleasure, how could it not end in brutality?”

Looking up, Li Xiaowan stared at the boy blocking the setting sun.

He really could read minds.

Struggling to rise, pain forced her back down.

“How could a rotten land bloom the understanding you crave?”

He waved her phone, flashing a clear smile.

“All it can grow is a poisonous flower of decay.”

If Yang Xinwei’s inviting smile was a devil’s temptation from hell,

This boy’s merciless, unsympathetic grin

Was surely the mockery of a Demon King.