Jiang Ran bent down and searched under the dining table, then stood up and circled the chair, but she found nothing.
The half-eaten steamed bun had vanished as if into thin air, even though the dishes on the plate hadn’t decreased much.
The bun was really gone, not leaving even a single crumb behind.
With a dejected face, Jiang Ran sat back in her chair.
Her gaze eventually landed on Gu Ge, who was peeling fruit on the sofa.
‘Could it be?’
A suspicion rose in Jiang Ran’s heart.
‘…Could Gu Ge have done it?’
‘But why would she go after my half-bun?’
Jiang Ran stared intently at Gu Ge.
The cold blade circled the apple’s curve, and the peel fell away like a small snake in the opposite direction.
Gu Ge carved one V-shaped notch into the center of the apple and used the tip of the knife to bring a piece close to her lips.
Just as she was about to take a bite, she noticed Jiang Ran’s gaze out of the corner of her eye.
She turned the hand holding the fruit and pointed it toward the dazed Jiang Ran.
“Ran, do you want some?”
A lingering smile played at the corners of Gu Ge’s mouth.
Under the warm light, the fingers holding the apple looked hazy, and the piece of apple meat on the tip of the knife glowed with a faint translucence.
Jiang Ran’s stomach growled.
Just as she was about to reach out, her logic pulled her back from the edge, and she waved her hand.
“No, Sister Gu Ge, you eat it. I already had a lot of fruit at the hospital, so I don’t really want any.”
“Is that so?”
Gu Ge bit into the apple and continued to skillfully divide it with the small knife.
Her hands were very deft, and the knife constantly moved in various arcs to slice the fruit.
Watching her, Jiang Ran couldn’t help but notice how incredibly skilled Gu Ge was with a knife.
“Sister Gu Ge, you seem really good with a knife?”
The hand holding the knife paused slightly.
The refined expression on Gu Ge’s face fractured for a moment, like a black hole sucking people in.
Gu Ge slowly lowered the knife and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
With a half-smile, she spoke, “Ran, why do you ask that? Could it be… you’ve seen me use a knife before?”
“No.”
Jiang Ran bit her lower lip and tucked her hands behind her back, swaying her body slightly.
“I just saw how skilled you were at peeling that apple, so I was curious. Speaking of which… Sister Gu Ge, do you have something on your mind? You don’t seem very happy.”
“Something on my mind? You certainly know how to ask. However… there’s no harm in telling you…”
“Really?”
Jiang Ran looked up in surprise, then quickly suppressed the corners of her mouth when she realized she was losing her composure.
She was trying to fish for information right now; she couldn’t show any weakness.
Gu Ge picked up another apple, stood up, and placed it in Jiang Ran’s hands.
Jiang Ran held the apple with both hands, her gaze meeting Gu Ge’s beautiful eyes.
They were only one fist’s distance apart.
‘So close…’
Gu Ge blinked. Beneath her snowy skin, her blood vessels showed a faint pink hue, but Jiang Ran noticed something discordant on her cheek.
One patch of skin was exceptionally red, as if it would turn peach-pink with just a single pinch.
“Hmm? Is Ran the type to get shy when someone gets close?”
“No way! I’m super… super brave, okay? It’s just too hot in this room!”
“Is that really it?”
Gu Ge stood up straight, the fruit knife opening and closing in her hand.
“Regarding… your question from earlier, the answer is actually quite simple.”
“Is it? But I felt like Sister Gu Ge seemed to be in pain?”
“Really? The reason I play with knives like this is, of course… because I enjoy playing with them.”
Jiang Ran blinked.
‘That’s it? Why don’t I believe her?’
The last trace of warmth in the corners of Gu Ge’s eyes gradually cooled.
“As expected, I can’t fool you. Actually, there is another reason. In the place where I used to sleep, there were always strange noises in the middle of the night. So, while I still had the strength, I learned some things to protect myself.”
As she spoke, Gu Ge picked up the knife.
The small blade tumbled skillfully over her hand until she gripped the hilt tightly.
The sharp blade lunged toward Jiang Ran’s side like an arrow from a fully drawn bow.
The sound of breaking wind rang in Jiang Ran’s ears.
Her hands reflexively let go, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
The surface of the blade reflected Jiang Ran’s uneasy profile.
Gu Ge leaned down bit by bit, her soft, curly hair falling on both sides of Jiang Ran’s face.
In a low, ethereal voice, she exhaled softly and said, “Just like this. Well? Did I scare you?”
Jiang Ran looked up and noticed that Gu Ge’s expression had returned to a relaxed state, as if the strike she had just made never happened…
‘Is this really a Rank A observation subject?’
Jiang Ran thought of the evaluation in the **[Sick Love Manual]**.
Currently, the answer seemed to point to Gu Ge, and Gu Ge also gave her the feeling that she was hiding something.
It was just…
Was the task difficulty wrong?
This was Rank A.
According to the **[System]** description, there would be Rank S and Rank S+ targets in the future…
Jiang Ran swallowed and said in a voice that was almost trembling, “I wasn’t scared.”
“Is that so? Then shall we try it once more?”
Jiang Ran hurriedly waved her hands.
“No… No thanks, Sister Gu Ge. Speaking of which, I have one more thing to ask you. Did you see my half-eaten bun just now?”
Gu Ge stood up straight, sized up Jiang Ran’s expression, and scoffed.
“You mean that? I ate it. If you aren’t full, I have more buns at my place. Why don’t you come over to my house tonight and sit for a while, Ran?”
“Eh?”
Jiang Ran tilted her head.
“Why did you eat my bun? But it’s just half a bun, so never mind. I won’t go to your house.”
“Really? Aren’t you moving soon? Why not come over for a visit one last time?”
Jiang Ran took a half-step back.
At first, Gu Ge had been very resistant to her moving, but now she was supporting it?
Strange… it was very strange.
“It’s already very late. I think I’ll pass.”
“Is that so…”
Gu Ge shifted her posture.
“Then how about a photo? It wouldn’t be too much to ask you to take a photo with me, right?”
Jiang Ran bit her lip, trying hard not to break character.
“But I’m so tired and don’t want to move. Sister Gu Ge, you should find someone else. I have things to do tomorrow, so I need to rest early.”
Gu Ge looked up at Jiang Ran, who was waving at her.
She secretly clenched her palm and nodded.
“Fine… Ran, get some rest. I’ll head back now.”
Gu Ge patted Jiang Ran, picked up her bag, and pushed open the door.
Under Jiang Ran’s watchful gaze, she opened the door to her own room.
When the opposite door opened, Jiang Ran caught a glimpse and saw that the inside was quite tidy.
There was nothing strange; it looked like a very clean rental room.
The shoes on the rack were neatly arranged, and there was a wooden coat rack near the entrance.
Gu Ge gripped the door frame and turned around.
“Sweet dreams, Ran~”
Gu Ge waved like a gentle older sister from next door.
Every movement and gesture was perfect and flawless.
Jiang Ran waved back and then pulled her door shut.
Back in her room, Jiang Ran sat on her bed, feeling restless.
She felt as though Gu Ge’s gaze from earlier was meant to kill her.
It was like a doll that usually sat on a bookshelf suddenly turning its head to look at you in the middle of the night.
A sense of horror spread through her body.
Jiang Ran clutched her chest, the pain so sharp that no amount of rubbing could relieve it.
After suffering for a while, she pulled out her phone and composed a message to Su Nian.
“Um… I want to move. Do you have any recommendations?”
***
Inside the pristine apartment, the furniture was so clean it looked brand new.
Gu Ge kicked off her shoes, put on slippers, and took a carton of milk from the refrigerator.
She used scissors to snip off the top of the packaging and stuffed a handful of ice cubes inside.
Then, tilting the opening toward her, she raised her neck and took a greedy, heavy gulp.
Her blood cooled slightly under the stimulation of the icy milk, but the thumping of her heart was still clearly audible…
Looking back, she saw the moon hanging high in the sky.
She looked down and slowly unclenched her hand.
Lying in her palm was a bronze key, identical in style to the one Jiang Ran used to open her door.
Gu Ge’s eyes curved into crescents, and a sweet smile hooked the corners of her mouth, yet it was enough to make anyone feel a chill.
“I wonder what Ran’s sleeping posture looks like?”