Chapter 33: The Unlikely Peeping Tom

The girls’ changing room at the school is the only one available. Perhaps to protect the girls’ privacy, the area is very quiet, with only an unused classroom serving as storage. This convenient setup allows Lin Qing to easily find his way there without immediately being discovered.

However, in a place like a school where teenage hormones run high, male curiosity is inevitable. For instance, peeking at girls changing is not unheard of. Initially, the surveillance cameras installed nearby were repeatedly broken by lustful boys. Eventually, the school stopped installing cameras and instead used physical deterrents. Student council members patrol the area, and upon catching a peeping tom, they use sticks to ‘teach them a lesson.’ They also follow up with a school-wide reprimand, effectively causing social death for the culprit. Since a few bold students were caught, there haven’t been any peeping toms for a while. But now, there’s about to be a reluctant ‘peeping tom.’

Lin Qing approaches the door of the girls’ changing room. Seeing no one around, he knocks gently, not daring to open the door and enter.

Suddenly, the door opens, and Lin Qing is pulled inside. It happens so quickly that he doesn’t have time to react. He stumbles backward, his feet unsteady, until his back presses against a row of tall wardrobes.

‘You’re so late, I’ve been waiting for ages!’

Lin Qing recognizes who pulled him in and, sensing no danger, remains passive, leaning against the wardrobe without resisting. Seemingly pleased with his compliance, Su Yao, wearing a white blouse, props herself up against the wardrobe, her height difference causing her to look down at Lin Qing. This dominating stance pleases her immensely. However, her blouse is not properly buttoned, with a few buttons undone, revealing a deep, alluring cleavage. Up close, the sweet floral scent of her perfume seems to cloud one’s thoughts, turning the brain to mush.

Lin Qing’s mind goes blank, acting purely on instinct. Su Yao has no sense of personal boundaries, treating Lin Qing as if he were no stranger. Her body presses against his, as if trying to nestle his head against her chest. Lin Qing frowns, attempting to push her away, but his fingers brush against her soft skin, causing him to quickly withdraw his hand. Su Yao doesn’t mind his touch; instead, she presses even closer, a playful smirk on her lips and mischief in her eyes. Her breath is warm against his ear, causing a natural, heated response in his body.

Since meeting Su Yao at the hospital, Lin Qing has had a lingering question: Is she ill? Perhaps something like ‘skin hunger,’ a desire for constant physical contact. However, through daily observations, Su Yao interacts with others normally, maintaining a respectable distance and avoiding most direct contact. Despite her approachable demeanor, she keeps her interactions with others at arm’s length, neither too close nor too distant. Just as Lin Qing knows she’s putting on an act, this careful distance provides a convenient space for her to be herself.

But… Lin Qing wishes Su Yao would commit to her act, to fully embrace her disguise. He doesn’t want to be an exception or a special case, as the weight of such secrets can be dangerous. He hopes she won’t casually touch him or get too close.

‘Su Yao, just talk normally.’

Despite the physical contact, Lin Qing remains composed, quickly suppressing the initial heat it caused. He didn’t come here for any flirtation with Su Yao; he has other matters to discuss.

‘Lin Qing, have you never been in love? Or maybe you’ve never even held a girl’s hand? You’re so unromantic.’

Su Yao ignores his words, her smile never wavering. She takes his hand, pressing it firmly against the wardrobe, her long, slender fingers intertwining with his. She seems confident, almost as if she’s got him cornered.

‘What about Wu Gang? Was it your idea to have him teach at the school?’

Instead of continuing their banter, Lin Qing turns his head away, ready to get to the point. He needs more information.

‘Who else could it be but me?’

Su Yao chuckles, her other hand tracing a path up his chest, finally resting at his sharp jaw, forcibly turning his face back to hers. They lock eyes, studying each other’s expressions.

‘Why did you do it?’

‘Guess.’

‘…’

Trapped by Su Yao’s grip, Lin Qing knows his questions won’t be answered. Perhaps she anticipated this, taking the initiative to advance on him, forcing him to follow her lead.

‘I can’t guess.’

Lin Qing shakes his head, focusing intently on Su Yao. Through the gaps in her black hair, he can see her dark pupils, like a creature lurking in the shadows, secretly observing everything. This piques Su Yao’s curiosity, and she suddenly wants to see Lin Qing’s face.

‘Then keep guessing! But besides this, you must be curious about other things. Like, why I helped expose Li Weiqiang.’

A sudden thought sparks in Su Yao, and she becomes eager, knowing Lin Qing won’t agree. She plans to catch him off guard, lulling him into a false sense of security, only to strike when he least expects it.

‘I didn’t really have any specific purpose; I just…’

‘Beep beep beep.’

Before Su Yao can finish, an alarm suddenly blares. She frowns, annoyed by the interruption, wondering who could be causing such a disturbance. Since she arranged to meet Lin Qing, she made sure to have a discreet device that could detect anyone approaching, tucked away in her pocket. The moment someone triggers the infrared sensor, the alarm sounds immediately. But Su Yao isn’t pleased by this early warning. She was just about to pique Lin Qing’s interest, and with a little more time, she could have grabbed those bothersome strands of hair to see his face.

‘Someone’s coming.’

Su Yao eyes the door handle as it’s turned from the outside. Even though it’s locked, she isn’t worried about anyone barging in. But whoever is here at this time doesn’t seem like a student. Could it be an intruder? Thinking of this, Su Yao glances at Lin Qing, who is also technically an intruder, and a mischievous idea comes to mind. What if she screamed right now? What kind of chaos would that cause? It would be so entertaining.