Chapter 34: A Predatory Gaze

“Don’t make a sound.”

Su Yao’s mischievous intentions were swiftly thwarted. The moment Lin Qing heard the doorknob rattling from outside, he didn’t allow himself to remain entangled with her. Instead, he seized her wrist, completely reversing their dynamic.

With a swift motion, Lin Qing flung open an empty wardrobe. He then unceremoniously shoved Su Yao inside.

Su Yao’s gaze met his, her eyes wide and wet, resembling those of a frightened fawn. Her innocent, pitiful expression was utterly endearing.

Lin Qing’s hand, still resting on the wardrobe door, hesitated for a fleeting moment. Then, without a flicker of doubt, he swiftly slammed it shut.

It was direct.

It was decisive.

The world fell silent.

Originally, Lin Qing had intended to feign submission, hoping to extract some information from Su Yao.

Unfortunately.

However, it quickly became evident that his plan was naive; Su Yao was far from an easy opponent.

He had gained nothing.

Given this, there was no point in lingering further. It was best to leave immediately.

As for why he had shoved Su Yao into the wardrobe, rather than hiding himself to avoid the impending visitor… Lin Qing watched the persistent turning of the doorknob, a chilling glint in his eyes beneath his dark hair.

The reason was simple: the person at the door was not a girl.

It was a man.

Someone Lin Qing knew.

For a long time, Lin Qing had believed that by simply ignoring things, he could avert most troubles.

Yet, he had forgotten.

Some troubles, rather than vanishing when avoided, only festered and grew larger.

Just like his troublesome deskmate.

Wang Fanran’s unusual behavior throughout the morning, the frequent, malevolent glances he cast, had not escaped Lin Qing’s notice.

Lin Qing had merely feigned ignorance, all to preserve the fragile peace of his daily routine.

He had no desire for his campus life to descend into chaos.

However, Wang Fanran was pushing too far, continuously overstepping his boundaries.

What fresh trouble had he concocted this time?

Regardless of what it was, Lin Qing was no longer prepared to ignore it. He intended to retaliate.

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Lin Qing reached out and placed his hand on the doorknob. With a soft click, he disengaged the lock.

Then, as a precaution, Lin Qing swiftly stepped back.

Moments later, the doorknob twisted once more, and the door swung open from the outside.

A faint creak echoed as the changing room door opened wide.

“It’s you?”

However, seeing the figure silhouetted in the doorway, Lin Qing’s voice was tinged with confusion.

He had expected his deskmate, Wang Fanran, but why was Li Dong standing there?

After the incident of Li Dong being beaten had escalated, he had taken a leave of absence from school.

Yet, here he was.

Lin Qing’s confusion, however, remained unanswered. His gaze fell upon the craft knife clutched tightly in Li Dong’s hand. With just a moment’s thought, the entire situation clicked into place.

That villainous Wang Fanran. To deal with him, he resorted to using another as his pawn.

And now, brandishing a knife? Was he not afraid of the consequences?

Li Dong still appeared timid and cowering, utterly lacking the courage one would expect from someone brandishing a weapon.

He was nothing more than a puppet!

As Lin Qing stared at Li Dong and the knife in his grip, unwanted memories surged for the third time, assaulting his mind.

It was as if something seized his limbs, forced his head up, then pried open his eyes, compelling him to witness those unbearable and horrifying scenes.

The basement, scattered limbs, a duel, cowardly cries…

Scene after scene flashed before his eyes.

The sudden onslaught of these fragmented memories made the veins in Lin Qing’s temples throb violently. An ineffable hatred surged within him, threatening to consume him.

He clenched his teeth so tightly they audibly ground together, exerting immense force.

His head bowed, his arms, clenched into fists, trembled imperceptibly. It was a clear manifestation of extreme emotional agitation.

His suppressed rage was nearing its breaking point.

No!

This was a school.

He couldn’t.

He wouldn’t allow it.

He had to think of his normal life, of the tranquil campus he desired.

He could not afford to make a mistake here.

“Lin Qing, it’s all because of you that I got beaten by Li Weiqiang! Do you actually think speaking up this time was saving me? No, it wasn’t… it was merely your own self-serving delusion!”

Li Dong’s hand, clutching the craft knife, trembled violently. Yet, as soon as the words left his lips, it miraculously steadied.

Even though Wang Fanran had coached him on what to say, articulating the words fully made Li Dong feel their profound truth.

The thought of Li Weiqiang’s return to school, and the inevitable torment he would face, made Li Dong’s grip on the knife tighten further.

He lifted his head, his gaze burning with fury as he stared at Lin Qing. It was as if the slender boy before him embodied all the bullies who had ever tormented him.

Lin Qing looked even frailer than he was, utterly powerless. Even he could easily overpower him!

Wang Fanran was right!

Lin Qing wasn’t attempting to save him at all. Instead, he was merely creating an opportunity to relish an even more brutal display of bullying.

An opportunity for school delinquents to brutalize the weak.

“After this, Li Weiqiang will beat me again, and it will be even more merciless!”

As he spoke, Li Dong’s voice rose in pitch, and the knife in his hand was brandished higher still.

It pointed directly at Lin Qing.

The piercing sound failed to capture Lin Qing’s attention. He remained with his head bowed, appearing utterly distracted, without even the slightest inclination to glance at Li Dong.

Lin Qing might have been uninterested, but that didn’t mean others weren’t.

Su Yao pressed her hands against the wardrobe door, peering out through a narrow, rectangular vent. Her beautiful red lips curved upward, finding the unfolding drama immensely entertaining.

What would happen next?

Although Li Dong had been severely bullied before, he possessed a normal physique, with his height and weight well within average.

Lin Qing’s slender frame, however, presented a stark contrast.

By all appearances, he couldn’t possibly win!

Especially with a weapon in his opponent’s hand.

Even if it was merely a craft knife.

A sharpened blade, however, was exceptionally keen. Carelessness would undoubtedly lead to regret.

So, what would Lin Qing do?

Things were growing increasingly interesting.

She yearned to shove open the bothersome door and fully observe this two-person drama.

“Lin Qing, you hypocrite, you shouldn’t even be allowed in this school!”

Lin Qing’s prolonged silence only fueled Li Dong’s anger, emboldening him further.

As he spoke, he took a step forward, and the knife in his hand entered Lin Qing’s field of vision.

At that precise moment, Lin Qing’s tightly clenched jaw relaxed, and the tremor in his arms ceased.

It was as if everything had returned to normal, but the moment he lifted his head, his eyes blazed with a fierce, wolf-like intensity.

Even his dark hair couldn’t conceal it, causing Li Dong to freeze in shock when their gazes locked.

Then, Lin Qing moved!

Despite Lin Qing’s slender build, his speed was anything but slow. He lunged forward, closing the distance to Li Dong in an instant, and directly seized the hand clutching the knife by the wrist.

His grip was like an iron vice, clamping down on Li Dong’s hand and eliciting a pained grimace.

Lin Qing, however, was far from finished. He raised his foot and delivered a brutal kick to Li Dong’s ankle.

The sheer force of the impact made Li Dong shriek in agony. His body involuntarily crumpled downwards, and in the same swift motion, Lin Qing twisted back the wrist still clutching the knife.

A faint ‘snap’ echoed.

The sound of bone fracturing.

“I’m sorry, I was wrong, please let me go, it hurts so much! Ah, I was wrong.”

An immense wave of pain washed over him, making tears and snot stream from Li Dong’s face. He shrieked his pleas for mercy, desperate to regain his freedom.

Lin Qing, however, listened with chilling indifference, showing no sign of releasing his grip.

He gazed at the wailing Li Dong, his eyes glacial as he spoke.

“Save you? Self-serving delusion? What exactly are you, to be worth such an effort from me?”