Chapter 19: Chen Zhiyan

Because she’d stayed up late last night, Hua Qi’an slept especially long today.

For some reason, she’d felt chills several times in the middle of the night, making her rest far from sound.

But luckily, at least that loathsome nightmare hadn’t clung to her.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been mere unrest.

Hua Qi’an had no desire to dwell on her repeated experiences of paralysis in sleep.

None held good memories.

Though she had no class this morning, Hua Qi’an felt utterly listless, sprawled in bed with zero urge to stir.

Because that afternoon, thanks to the elective, she’d be forced to face Lin Yanqiu again.

The mere thought stirred an inexpressible irritability in her chest.

What were her feelings toward Lin Yanqiu?

Hate? Definitely not.

After all, Lin Yanqiu had truly helped her in so many ways.

Her initial approach to Lin Yanqiu had carried less-than-honorable motives…

But to say she liked Lin Yanqiu…

Those debts she owed weren’t for show.

Perhaps her emotions toward Lin Yanqiu were far more tangled than that.

At least most of the time, what Hua Qi’an felt was a gnawing guilt, laced with inadequacy…

Especially after yesterday’s scolding in the hospital.

Imagining seeing Lin Yanqiu so soon in afternoon class…

Hua Qi’an’s stomach twisted anew.

Rustling sounds stirred in the dorm—likely her other roommates rousing.

After the Pen Fairy fiasco, they’d returned the table.

Though Hua Qi’an had lain in bed, she hadn’t dozed off right away, catching their return commotion and chatter.

The three seemed spooked, like they’d run back.

Racing down the hall at that hour—hardly civic-minded.

Probably Li Xiaozhen had spilled what she’d “seen” on the way, plunging them into panic, turning the pitch-black corridor into a haunt of suspicions.

Hua Qi’an quickly pieced it together.

Pity she held zero curiosity about what Li Xiaozhen had glimpsed.

Likely overthought nerves or a dull prank from the start.

That night, He Yi and Zhao Yingying had shoved beds together to share.

Scared to sleep alone…

Hua Qi’an had nearly laughed aloud from behind her curtain but kept it to silent chuckles.

Maybe Li Xiaozhen’s tale had stunned them; back in the room, they’d killed the lights and crashed immediately.

Assuming Hua Qi’an was already out.

And so it dragged to now.

Perhaps the nap had diluted those pre-sleep feelings.

Aside from the involved Li Xiaozhen, Zhao Yingying and He Yi seemed back to their usual pep.

Having crashed in one bed last night, they now chattered on seamlessly.

“…Afternoon starts electives, right?”

“Sigh, ugh—so annoying. Wonder what elective Chen Zhiyan picked…”

If Zhao Yingying could scout Chen Zhiyan’s choice ahead, she’d match it in a heartbeat.

Pity her self-styled “campus wire” lacked precog powers.

Last night’s scare had chilled her at the time, but recalling the “Pen Fairy’s” answer…

Zhao Yingying’s fear had ebbed considerably.

Li Xiaozhen had torched the ritual stuff anyway—what if it all fizzled out?

Any curse would hit harder on the hand-touched Hua Qi’an or the burner Li Xiaozhen.

Her odds? Slim.

The more she mulled, the sunnier her mood; she unlocked her phone for unread pings.

“What?!”

Her shrill cry pierced the dorm.

Even across the room, Li Xiaozhen stirred groggily, clueless.

“What…”

Last night’s ordeal had rocked Li Xiaozhen; she still looked dazed.

Zhao Yingying had already clambered down her ladder, grabbing paper and pen to jot notes.

“Fresh intel on my goddess—paid good money for this!”

“Chen Zhiyan picked Evidence Law—”

“She forget to register too?”

Her pen paused; she glanced at Hua Qi’an’s bunk.

Then tsked.

“Didn’t peg Xiao Qian for such luck—classmates with my goddess.”

She had no clue if Hua Qi’an was up but didn’t care.

Roused by the noise, Hua Qi’an sat up slowly, parting her curtain.

Blank-faced on the bed, she narrowed her eyes at Zhao Yingying.

Zhao Yingying hadn’t expected the move; their stares locked, awkwardness thick.

Hua Qi’an tilted her head.

“Hm? What about registering?”

“What’re you on about, Yingying?”

She cracked a grin, lips curving without warmth as she fixed on Zhao Yingying.

Zhao Yingying averted her eyes, guilt flickering.

“You didn’t sleep through and miss electives yesterday, did you?”

“Class starts afternoon—check your schedule.”

Hua Qi’an nodded thoughtfully.

“I see.”

“First I’ve heard of it~”

He Yi poked her head from her bunk to peek; Hua Qi’an curved her eyes at her in a smile.

Devoid of mirth.

He Yi ducked back.

“Xiao Qian, stay on top of class group messages from now on…”

Sighing inwardly, Hua Qi’an knew there was nothing left to say to these three; she swapped clothes and climbed down, heading to wash up and grab cafeteria food.

Scorch marks lingered on the bathroom floor from last night.

Hua Qi’an frowned in annoyance.

Dorm wouldn’t make her pay for that, would it?

She glanced up at her reflection.

No huge change from yesterday.

Hua Qi’an recalled the haunted house mirror once more.

“…”

Since returning from there—though she hated admitting it—she’d grown pricklier, patience fraying faster.

Rinsed and tidied, Hua Qi’an set off for the cafeteria.

The food wasn’t great, but the five-yuan two-meat-one-veg window was a steal.

She’d lived on it all freshman year; over time, even the lunch lady recognized her, slipping extras now and then.

Taste? Meh.

But for Hua Qi’an, food was food.

Queuing, she scanned idly around.

That’s when she spotted, in another line, a girl who clashed with the vibe.

Poised ramrod-straight, even waiting, gaze fixed ahead.

Old-money upbringing screamed from her.

Whispers rippled around her—like some campus celeb.

“Chen Zhiyan…?”

Hua Qi’an caught the name amid the murmurs.

Zhao Yingying’s goddess?

As if sensing eyes, the girl turned—meeting Hua Qi’an’s gaze dead-on.

Her eyes sparkled, features vivid and bright.

In that moment, they held only Hua Qi’an, glowing.

Hua Qi’an looked away, awkward.

She wanted zero ties to someone she disliked’s crush.

Her turn came; she nixed eating in, splurging an extra yuan to pack up and flee the cafeteria—and Chen Zhiyan.