Vol2 Chapter 42: I don’t like , Chu Zihang
The dragon let out a deep, resonant roar, spreading its black wings and rearing up on its forelegs. Its golden eyes contracted sharply, staring unblinkingly into the dark tunnel behind Bai Ci.
She turned to look. A girl in a white dress emerged from the shadows, her face lighting up with a smile as she saw Bai Ci.
“Good evening, Senior Sister Bai!”
Xia Mi greeted her, seemingly thrilled to see her here.
“Good evening,” Bai Ci replied, craning her neck to peer behind her. “Where’s Senior Brother Chu? Didn’t he come with you?”
“Nope, no idea where he went. Left me all alone.” Xia Mi’s expression turned mournful. “Men are such liars, Senior Sister. Now it’s just us two, huddling for warmth.”
“Not quite,” Bai Ci paused. “It’s more like two dragons and one human, right, Xia Mi?”
“Senior Sister, you’re sharp as ever,” Xia Mi chuckled lightly. Her clothes tore apart, shredded by scales and bone spikes. Her naked body gleamed with a metallic sheen, jagged bone protrusions jutting from her forehead and jaw, fingers now sharp claws, a slender, pointed tail swaying behind her. “When did you figure it out? I was planning to ambush you.”
She playfully stuck out her tongue.
“Don’t use such a cheeky tone for something like that…” Bai Ci exhaled, meeting her icy golden eyes. “The chips and cola this dragon gave me were recently made, meaning someone’s been taking care of it. When I arrived, it didn’t react much. It mentioned a ‘sister’—that’s you, isn’t it, Xia Mi?”
“Exactly. I’m Jörmungandr, the King of Earth and Mountains. This black dragon is my brother, Fenrir, the other half of the twin Kings of Earth and Mountains,” Xia Mi said. “Senior Sister, you’re kinda weird.”
“How so?”
“I imagined this meeting going many ways. Like, you’d be devastated to learn your dear junior sister is a Dragon King, then fight me with tragic resolve, battling until the skies darkened. Or you’d be furious, demanding why I deceived you, cutting ties and fighting to the death. But you’re so… calm.”
“Aren’t we friends?” Bai Ci smiled. “We’re going to the amusement park tomorrow, right? Don’t you like Senior Brother Chu?”
“Friends? Like? Haha, that’s hilarious!” Xia Mi burst out laughing. “I’m a Dragon King—Jörmungandr! How could I like a human? Do you think humans fall for chimpanzees?”
Bai Ci went quiet, then said, “Hard to say…”
Xia Mi froze.
“The first case of AIDS came from a chimpanzee, so… it’s not impossible, right?”
The air went silent for a few seconds…
“Senior Sister, you and Chu Zihang are kinda alike in a way. I’m talking about something serious, you get that? We’re mortal enemies—only one of us can survive, no mutual destruction,” Xia Mi sighed. “And it’s not liking—it’s pity. Pity, got it?”
“Pity?”
“Have you ever watched someone quietly in a crowd? Watched him shoot hoops alone, stand by a window for hours staring at the rain, stay late cleaning the classroom alone, practice piano alone. His life has no gossip, no spark—boring as hell. You think, God, I’d be depressed if I were him. Can’t he stop being so lonely? What’s with the cool guy act? Can’t he just smile or act silly without dying?”
Xia Mi paused, her voice softening.
“But you realize you don’t hate him, because you’re like him… watching through the crowd, observer and observed, the same. Maybe it’s loneliness. Doesn’t the Academy always talk about Blood Grief? Our Blood Grief doesn’t lose to you hybrids.”
She smiled, her tone distant and lofty.
“I’ve tried it,” Bai Ci said, looking at her. “Watching him sweep the classroom alone, sit on the rooftop staring at stars, huddle in an internet café chair playing StarCraft, chasing a girl for years and years. His life’s just as dull, no gossip, no highlights—so pathetic you wanna kick his butt.”
Xia Mi froze again. Oh, she’d almost forgotten—this senior sister was the type to sneak into Shilan High to spy on someone.
“You like Chu Zihang,” Bai Ci said with certainty.
“I don’t.”
A king shouldn’t be burdened by something as trivial as love.
Xia Mi tilted her head high, proud as a monarch surveying her subjects.
Every gesture, every word to Chu Zihang was merely a king’s benevolence to a pitiful boy—not something as shallow and crude as “love.”
“You do.”
“I don’t.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Senior Sister, you’re annoying,” Xia Mi glared. “Forget me—don’t you like Lu Mingfei?”
“I do, but not in that way,” Bai Ci replied.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I’m not lying. We’re like brothers.”
“You’re totally lying.”
“Believe what you want.” Bai Ci didn’t want to argue anymore.
Xia Mi suddenly covered her mouth, laughing. “Senior Sister, you’re so interesting. You’ve guessed my identity, yet you’re joking with me. You’re adorably foolish.”
“Because you’re Xia Mi.”
“No, I’m Jörmungandr now.”
“Xia Mi sounds better.”
“It’s not about what sounds better! I’m a Dragon King!”
“So what?”
“Senior Sister, is something wrong with you?”
“Nope, my health check says I’m fine.”
Xia Mi covered her eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled.
“Senior Sister, it’s easy to see why you’d call me a friend—you’re lonely too. Any warmth is enough, no matter who it’s from, good or bad. But I’m different. I know Jörmungandr isn’t like the humans around me. In this world, I can’t truly trust anyone except Fenrir. Any dragon could betray me, just like we betrayed Nidhogg back then. I can only choose to stick with him, no matter the means or cost. In our long lives, we only have each other. That’s the only way I feel safe.”
“If Chu Zihang were here, would you kill him?”
“I would.” She smiled, eyes narrowing. “I don’t have time for silly love games.”
Would she…?
She wasn’t sure. When she said “I would,” her voice trembled. Every subtle expression betrayed her, screaming that she wouldn’t, screaming about the boy she loved.
Closing her eyes might let her forget it all—forget those genuine emotions.
She truly believed she didn’t like that boy named Chu Zihang.
“This game of playing house ends here, Senior Sister.”