“Have you played Violent Motorcycle? The Flying Kick skill inside is really strong…”
“How did you change your ‘Q me’? Teach me…”
“I have a way to get Yellow Diamond for free. If you give me five yuan as a handling fee, I’ll teach you…”
Shen Yao covered his head, the chatter of his classmates pouring chaotically into his mind.
The Internet, this completely new thing, beneath its surface of drunken revelry, hid many terrors ordinary people could not have imagined.
Draped in sheepskin, it entered the daily lives of normal people openly, and the conflict and contradiction it brought was enough to make one’s spine tingle.
He might have to admit that the “strange” things Qiao Yunxue spoke of truly existed.
Strange beings were born from human fear, growing wildly through the spread of the Internet, and finally witnessed and encountered by ordinary people with spiritual sensitivity.
But…what did that have to do with him?
Wasn’t he supposed to be just an ordinary high school student?
Wasn’t he supposed to be an insignificant member of the masses?
Shen Yao, oh Shen Yao, didn’t you long to break free from mediocrity? So why are you afraid now that it’s come to this?
—
The blazing summer sun should have been loud—tireless cicadas, noisy human voices, and the constant blaring of car horns on the street.
This year, the Internet had silently seeped into the lives of ordinary people, quietly and secretly changing things.
Shen Yao and Qiao Yunxue’s relationship seemed to have reversed.
Shen Yao constantly felt the prickling gaze on his back, while Qiao Yunxue stared without hiding it—hot, fierce, and full of aggression, just like her decisively worldly personality.
This kind of shift should have been known only to those involved.
During the running exercise, Cheng Cheng took out the snow globe, wrapped it in her loose school uniform sleeve, and hurried toward Shen Yao’s class while no one was paying attention.
Since attendance wasn’t taken during running exercises, skipping was normal—even the honest Shen Yao did it.
Usually, at this time, they would secretly head to the rooftop to enjoy the breakfast Cheng Cheng’s mom had brought, a little ritual between these childhood friends.
But today, Cheng Cheng felt more uneasy than ever.
Her heart felt empty.
Maybe it was because she hadn’t spoken to Shen Yao since school ended yesterday? Maybe because she saw Shen Yao get out of Qiao Yunxue’s private car? Maybe because she hadn’t given him the gift she had prepared?
This uneasiness made her restless, reminding her of her parents and two older sisters.
Although her parents had never mentioned it in front of her, she knew they had always hoped for a boy.
Perhaps due to that unspoken regret in the family, Cheng Cheng naturally behaved more like a boy, as if doing so would make her parents happier—even though she knew they’d love her regardless.
Once a person labels themselves, it’s hard to remove that label alone.
To maintain her label, she played the role of “Cheng Cheng” all through elementary, middle, and high school—before her parents, teachers, and even Shen Yao.
By now, she had forgotten which was the real her: Cheng Cheng or Cheng Orange.
She walked against the crowd to the front of Shen Yao’s classroom, and, seeing him, subconsciously smiled.
She pressed herself against the window, wanting to startle him.
Bang bang bang.
She tapped lightly on the glass.
But Shen Yao didn’t seem to notice.
Was he thinking about something?
So deep in thought?
What could possibly trouble Shen Yao?
He seemed like someone who rarely made things difficult for himself…
She breathed onto the glass, fogging it up, then drew an angry face to express her displeasure at being ignored.
Just as Shen Yao was about to turn, a slender figure stepped between her and him.
The long red hair made it easy to recognize Qiao Yunxue.
They seemed to be speaking softly, muttering—she couldn’t hear.
She only saw Shen Yao’s solemn expression as he followed Qiao Yunxue out of the classroom toward the stairwell.
Along the way, Shen Yao didn’t even notice her waiting outside the window.
Cheng Cheng stared blankly at their backs, unable to recover for a long time.
—
“Do you still think I’m crazy?”
The students had all gone to the running exercise.
The stairwell was empty—perfect for a private conversation.
Shen Yao rubbed his temples.
“I…you…are not crazy.”
A glimmer shone in Qiao Yunxue’s eyes.
“Shen Yao, after seeing the real world, would you still want to stay here? Live out your days as a mediocre person?”
Shen Yao was calm.
“But what happened last night was too dangerous. I don’t know what would have happened if that phone call had continued. I still have my aunt. I don’t want her to be hurt.”
Qiao Yunxue hurriedly spoke.
“Shen Yao, I’ve searched for seven years. Only you can interact with the strange. Only you can help me! I can pay you, I can hire people to protect you!”
Shen Yao was silent.
Qiao Yunxue continued.
“Shen Yao, this world is a giant cage made of paper. Now you have the chance to pierce through it. Are you really willing to give up?”
Shen Yao remained silent.
His gaze was deep, as if his decision had already been made.
He didn’t like making decisions without careful thought. In a way, he was the complete opposite of Qiao Yunxue.
Maybe that’s why he was attracted to her.
Qiao Yunxue’s eyes dimmed.
She seemed to understand Shen Yao’s determination.
“Estelle.”
“Hm?”
“Estelle von Campbell. That’s the name on my passport.”
Shen Yao looked at her unusual red hair, as if something became clear.
“My mother was German. She passed away seven years ago.”
Shen Yao didn’t know why she suddenly mentioned her mother, so he simply waited quietly for her to continue.
“She was a gentle woman—never blamed others, always helped them. She deserved to live a hundred years more than anyone.”
Her eyes were full of longing.
“She died in that villa in Yaoguang City. The day after her death, I saw her standing by my bed, tucking me in and telling me to take care of myself. I cried, trying to hold onto her and keep her from leaving.”
“She told me, ‘Die Welt dort ist gefährlich.'”
“‘The world over there is dangerous.'”
“She said she’d only take me with her if I truly had nothing left. She asked if I had nothing.”
“I hesitated then, and because of that brief hesitation, I parted with her forever.”
“For the next seven years, I went mad searching for a way to see her again, trying anything to meet ghosts. People called me crazy, insane, a drug addict. I didn’t care. Everything I did was just to see her once more.”
Shen Yao asked,
“And after you saw her? What did you want to do? Did you really have nothing?”
Qiao Yunxue didn’t answer. She only looked at him with stubborn eyes.
The answer was already obvious.
“Shen Yao, I beg you, lend me your strength. Please?”
Shen Yao took a deep breath.
“I want to think about it. Give me a day.”
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