Chapter 25: The Infirmary’s Secret

The bullying of Wang Fanran by Zhou Lin seemed to be an everyday occurrence, stirring no significant ripples.

Students in the class continued with their own activities, the noisy and bustling break time brimming with energy.

Perhaps it was Zhou Lin’s earlier threat of ‘see you at noon’ that kept Wang Fanran from his usual taunts toward Lin Qing. Instead, he sat alone at his desk, utterly silent.

His face was etched with anxiety, as if he genuinely feared a beating.

This, surprisingly, brought Lin Qing a sense of relief. Without Wang Fanran’s constant vexation, he would have more time and energy to focus on Su Yao.

While in the hospital, he had been the one to suggest that they act as strangers once they returned to school.

Yet, the thought of approaching her now filled him with a certain discomfort.

Still, to ignore the ominous red skull hovering above Su Yao’s head was an unbearable prospect for Lin Qing. It felt akin to a famished man, starved for days, gazing at a delicious feast before him—its aroma tantalizing—only to find it caged behind iron bars.

To reach the food, he would have to find a way to overcome the barrier.

As for *how* to overcome it, that required some serious thought.

As these thoughts swirled, Lin Qing quietly observed Su Yao’s retreating figure, unsure of his next move.

When Su Yao had wanted to approach him, it had been effortless, devoid of any complications.

Now that the roles were reversed, he found it incredibly challenging.

A thick, invisible wall seemed to stand between him and Su Yao, preventing even the slightest contact.

“Good news, everyone! The math teacher has a family emergency, so our next period is now PE!”

As Lin Qing wrestled with his thoughts, a student suddenly strode to the front of the classroom and announced, their face alight with such joy that they were on the verge of shouting, “Long live PE!”

Compared to a dull math lesson, a free-spirited PE class was undeniably superior.

This was the taste of freedom!

“Yes!”

“PE class? It’s been ages since we had one!”

“What incredible luck today! I’m going to buy a lottery ticket on the way home.”

“I hope the math teacher gets diarrhea and ends up hospitalized tomorrow!”

Upon hearing the news of the PE class, the other students in the class erupted in cheers. While some continued to chatter excitedly, the girls had already begun heading to the changing rooms to don their sports uniforms.

Su Yao, too, was swept away by a group of girls, all giggling and chattering as they hurried towards the changing rooms.

Their youthful, radiant beauty and lively charm drew the boys’ gazes repeatedly.

They seemed reluctant to tear their eyes away.

Su Yao, especially, positioned herself effortlessly at the center, her exceptional beauty shining even more brightly when contrasted with the girls around her.

Every subtle expression, every smile, was imbued with captivating charm.

Herm dark, luminous eyes seemed to hold a faint, ethereal smile; a mere glance was enough to make any man feel his soul being ensnared.

Lin Qing turned his head, watching Su Yao smile in the corridor through the transparent classroom window. He wasn’t fooled by her sweet demeanor; instead, he sternly cautioned himself.

‘I must be wary of Su Yao!’

‘This woman is a master of disguise.’

Having witnessed Su Yao’s madness firsthand, he found it chilling how seamlessly she now blended into the crowd, like a monster shedding its true form beneath a veneer of human skin.

Yet, once that monster grew hungry, it would cease its concealment.

Instead, it would unleash its razor-sharp claws, tearing through flesh, leaving a pervasive scent of blood in its wake.

“Su Yao is truly stunning; she’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen!”

“Tell me about it! It’s such a pity—she’s someone you can only admire from a distance, never approach.”

“She’s the only daughter of the Comet Group’s CEO; who would dare to get close to her? It’s surprising, though, that someone of her standing would attend a public high school like ours instead of a prestigious private academy.”

“How could we ever comprehend the minds of the wealthy? Best to just admire her from afar!”

After Su Yao and the other girls swiftly departed, Lin Qing withdrew his gaze, only to hear the regretful murmurs of two boys beside him.

They wore expressions of yearning for the unattainable, much like men suffering from heartbreak.

Witnessing this, Lin Qing was once again struck by Su Yao’s immense popularity, which far exceeded his expectations.

With her unparalleled family background, stunning looks, and exceptional talent, it was truly a pity that Su Yao possessed such a profoundly wicked nature.

****

A soft ‘buzz’ emanated.

As Lin Qing pondered Su Yao’s malevolent nature, Wang Fanran, his deskmate, suddenly rose. Clasping his phone with a nervous demeanor, he swiftly exited the classroom.

His forehead glistened with sweat, and his eyes darted nervously around the room.

He carried an air of mystery, his actions shrouded in secrecy.

What could possibly be on his phone?

Lin Qing merely cast a glance at Wang Fanran’s retreating back before dismissing the thought. Instead, he grabbed his sportswear and left the classroom, opting not to change with the other boys.

He harbored a strong dislike for exposing his body in front of others.

However, the school only provided changing rooms for girls; the boys typically changed in the classroom.

Changing anywhere else would only increase the likelihood of being caught. After much deliberation, Lin Qing could only think of one suitable location.

“Student, you’re back again? Is something wrong?”

The infirmary teacher, who vividly remembered the student who had convulsed and fainted, immediately spoke up upon seeing him approach with clothes in hand.

He rose swiftly, hurrying to the doorway to welcome Lin Qing into the infirmary.

“Teacher, I was hoping to change my clothes here. The classroom is too crowded.”

Lin Qing found the infirmary teacher’s enthusiasm a bit unsettling.

After all, he had arrived at the infirmary without any symptoms, simply to change clothes.

Surely, the infirmary teacher would be displeased by such a request!

“Oh, is that all? A trivial matter. Just pick any bed and draw the curtain.”

However, Lin Qing’s prediction proved false; the infirmary teacher’s warmth remained undiminished.

The teacher’s fervent gaze, filled with what seemed like a spring breeze of care, sent an unexpected shiver down Lin Qing’s spine.

He didn’t know the infirmary teacher, so why the sudden, intense kindness?

It felt profoundly strange.

‘Could the infirmary teacher be interested in men?’

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Lin Qing tightened his grip on his clothes, hesitating whether to remain and change.

After escaping his captivity, and before fully reintegrating into society, Lin Qing had undergone systematic training from the police.

It wasn’t anything extraordinary.

Merely practical life skills and an awareness of potential criminals.

Among these warnings was the crucial reminder that sexual predators could appear at any given moment.

They were not limited by gender.

“Student, please relax. I assure you, I mean no harm.”

Perhaps Lin Qing’s apprehension was too apparent, for the infirmary teacher, noticing it, quickly considered the possibility of misinterpretation related to criminal intent and waved his hands dismissively at him.

A helpless expression crossed his face, indicating that Lin Qing had misunderstood his good intentions.

However, a few words alone were insufficient to ease Lin Qing’s heightened vigilance.

In fact, he only grew more tense.

With a helpless smile, the infirmary teacher then leaned in closer to Lin Qing, uttering a few words in a hushed, mysterious tone that made him freeze on the spot.

“I know about you.”