Astrology Hall with Flesh and Blood

Chapter 32

In the eyes of ghouls, what is the love of humans, who are their food? Is it a boring accompaniment to procreation, or a human farce full of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness? Yes, love. Countless people are driven mad by it, and countless people are heartbroken by it. But if you step out of the narrow circle of humanity and look at it coldly from the clouds, it is nothing more than a series of performances of "you love me, I love him, and he loves her."

Yes, ghouls stand high at the top of the food chain, above humans, that's what astrologers think.

However, when the girl's clear tears silently dripped into his palm, and his hand first burned and then cooled, the sails of his heart couldn't help but sway. In a daze, he returned to the past, recalling the first tear he held in his hand when he was still human.

The girl sat before him, recounting his heartlessness and infidelity. Tears streamed down her long, curled eyelashes, like scalding pearls, falling into the astrologer's hands. In that instant, the warmth of reality overlapped with that of thousands of years ago, and his palms, from that moment on, remained warm to this day.

“Li…” he uttered a single word, a word belonging to a woman whose name had been sealed away by history and should have been taboo.

Maya perked up her ears; she had never seen an astrologer so out of control before. She had only followed him for a hundred years, not long enough to know his past secrets. However, he immediately closed his lips, snapping out of his dazed state, and began to listen attentively, or pretending to listen attentively, to the girl's sobs.

"So, what would you like me to do for you?" He quickly put on the astrologer's mask, appearing calm, composed, and ruthless.

"I..." The girl bit down hard on the handkerchief in her mouth, looking hesitant and in pain, "I want to be with him, and never be separated from him!"

"Oh?" Whenever the astrologer's tone rose to this level, it meant his sharp retort, "Forever? What a vague concept. Just how far is forever?"

"Until the moment his body dies, or until your soul dissipates? Does 'forever' mean the moment humanity becomes extinct? Or the instant the solar system explodes? Or even..." His icy green eyes shot out two piercing beams of cold light, "even if the entire universe is reduced to ashes, turning into a thick soup of particles, will the two atoms from your and his bodies remain tightly bound together, endlessly floating and drifting in the vast and boundless space?"

The girl's mouth gaped open in horror, seemingly terrified by his frightening tone. "Don't make promises of 'forever' so easily, girl," the astrologer said with a sorrowful expression. "A promise is but a moment, but fulfilling it takes a lifetime or even longer."

"Well... can I put it another way?" The girl rallied her spirits and puffed out her chest. "I... I hope he can spend the rest of his life with me."

Seeing the astrologer nod slightly, she seemed greatly encouraged and raised her voice to continue:

"His eyes only see me, no other woman; his heart only thinks of me, of course, no other woman either." The girl was lost in her own dream world. "From now on: he is only allowed to be good to me; he must pamper me and not lie to me; he must keep every promise he makes to me; every word he says to me must be sincere. He is not allowed to lie to me or scold me, he must care for me; when others bully me, he must come to my aid immediately; when I am happy, he must be happy with me; when I am unhappy, he must cheer me up; he must always think I am the most beautiful; he must see me in his dreams; in his heart, there is only me..."

“It’s not difficult to fulfill your wish,” he waited quietly for her to finish reciting the classic line from “The Lion Roars” in one breath, “but have you considered his situation after you die?”

Volume 3 Hell Records: My Eyes Are Only on You (Part 4)

"Death?" she repeated subconsciously.

“If you die tomorrow, and he still has fifty or sixty years left to live,” a strange light flickered in the astrologer’s eyes, “in those long years, bound by your wishes, he will never be able to love any other woman, and will only be able to live a lonely life, passing his remaining years by recalling your voice and smile… Perhaps he should have had a happy and fulfilling family, but because of you, he will only be able to live in endless regret and memories until the end of time.” He sighed, seemingly speaking for no particular reason.

The girl paused for a moment, clearly not having considered that far ahead. "Why do I have to die tomorrow?" she asked, somewhat puzzled. "I've always been healthy, there are no hereditary diseases in my family, and my lifestyle is good. As long as I'm careful not to have any accidents, living to sixty or seventy shouldn't be a problem. By then, he'll be an old man, right?"

"You..." Maya, who had been listening in the whole time, could no longer hold back. She poked her head out from under the astrologer's coat and stared at her seriously. "Don't you know the rules of this astrology shop?"

After hearing Maya's explanation, the girl's mouth gaped open in horror, her pupils dilating rapidly. Rules—she never imagined the so-called "price" would be so high—her body and life! However, the demon of fear only occupied her mind for less than half a minute. After that, she opened her mouth with difficulty, as if she had made up her mind. "What if I say 'agree'? Even if I die, I want him to only think of me for the rest of his life, to die only calling my name; even if he meets many beautiful girls in his life, he will never truly love any of them. In his heart, there will always be the image of me, this long-dead woman, dancing gracefully—this deal buys his entire life, exchanging my mere life for it seems too cheap!" Her piercing gaze silently cut through the air before her. "Can you grant me this wish?"

A startling resemblance! For the first time, a fine layer of cold sweat broke out on the astrologer's back, sending shivers down his spine. It wasn't fear; in fact, nothing in this world could frighten him anymore. He simply saw time and space overlapping and repeating before him once more, the faces of two women gradually merging together, indistinguishable from one another. The only thing they shared was the vow uttered from their mouths: "Live on for me, gaze upon the boundless starry sky for me." From her lips came not only fragmented words, but also thick, sticky blood foam. "I cannot bear to be forgotten. If you do not die, I will live on forever." A farewell smile, blooming like a terrifying poppy, tragically beautiful. He held her, feeling her body gradually cool in his arms, the soft touch becoming as ethereal as air. "I will gain immortality in your memories."

Immortality, something coveted by countless emperors, generals, high-ranking officials, and even commoners throughout history, was obtained by him, a mere astrologer, in such an extraordinary way. From that moment on, he gained the ability to remain young and immortal, the corresponding price being the loss of his human identity and his sustenance from them. His clock stopped on the day she died, stingily halting its advance; all those he had loved, his relatives and friends, aged and decayed rapidly around him, pursued and driven away by the swift horse of death, falling into the dark underworld; that was thousands of years ago. Since then, he has wandered the earth like a ghost, drifting aimlessly, like a cloud scattered by the wind, without a fixed abode, traveling to all corners of the world—he is an observer of history, not by choice but out of powerlessness; with his icy green eyes, he has witnessed the deaths of tens of thousands of humans—and then, he has forgotten them all. His existence was aimless, half instinctual, half forced by necessity. His gaze traversed thousands of years, receiving the starlight emitted by the countless stars a thousand years ago. The starry sky had grown increasingly murky, no longer as clear as it once was, yet it remained beautiful. Whenever he looked up at those glittering stars, he seemed to hear her call from the distant heavens. At that moment, he would instinctively hug his arms tightly. In the unknown darkness, the astrologer stood alone on the high rooftop, shivering from the cold dew.

He would neither age nor die. What an enviable ability, yet it brought him only suffering. As long as he lived, he was forced to take the lives of others, drink their blood, and devour their flesh; as long as he didn't die, he could only yearn for her, reliving the pain and regret again and again, all for her—a woman who died thousands of years ago, a handful of earth and a wisp of dust thousands of years later. It was a prison of eternal life; as long as he couldn't break free, he would live for millennia, enduring the torment of "life," unable to find the peace of "death." Sometimes he couldn't help but ask himself:

"Does she really love me? Or does she hate me to the extreme?"

This is a question that no one is destined to answer, because the soil can only remain silent.

This is why Maya was so puzzled. After the girl expressed her wish, the astrologer's expression suddenly changed drastically. Completely unlike his usual carefree demeanor, he was now sweating profusely, veins bulging on his temples. His teeth were clenched so tightly they were grinding together, and his handsome face instantly became grotesque. Maya had thought he was starving and eager to force himself on Yan Qi, but instead, he simply kicked her out. This rude treatment of a customer not only violated the astrologer's usual business principles but also represented an unprecedented outburst beneath his gentle and gentlemanly facade. Before Maya could even cry out, the astrologer collapsed into his sleeping box.

The cramped, dark space of the wooden box seemed to give him a sense of security. After sealing the lock, he told Maya through the box that he was going to take a nap and that the astrology shop would be temporarily closed. It was clear that he had calmed down from the turmoil in his heart, and the emotional turmoil of the past was now behind him.

The next question is, where did Yan Qi go after leaving the astrology shop?

Volume 3 Hell Records: My Eyes Are Only on You (Part 5)

She wandered aimlessly through the bustling crowds, head bowed in dejection. Even if she mustered the courage to risk her life, would she still be unable to get the astrologer to grant her wish? She stopped in front of a transparent shop window and saw her reflection in the glass.

Those eyes, swollen like peaches, those lips, downturned with excessive sadness, and most importantly, that lifeless, stiff, and dull person—was that really her?

A melodious, tinkling tune drifted from behind the shop window. The glass door swung open, and a man stepped out, bumping into her unexpectedly. Reflexively, she quickly said, "Excuse me." The man's weary eyes furrowed as he secretly sized her up from beneath his brows, then suddenly spoke: "Buying a song?"

Before she could refuse, the man eagerly opened the door, a cunning glint in his eyes like a weasel's glare emanating from beneath his thick eyebrows, urging her to come in. While it's true that businessmen enjoy attracting customers, this enthusiasm seemed a bit excessive. However, Yan Qi had already lost all sense of judgment and mechanically followed him inside.

It was indeed a professional music store, with a dazzling array of albums, from currently popular Hong Kong and Taiwan singers to rock music from over a decade ago. Yan Qi wasn't a die-hard music fan; her knowledge of pop music was limited to what was most frequently and excessively covered in the mass media. If it weren't for Jay Chou's meteoric rise to fame, she wouldn't even know what R&P was. As for the many subgenres of rock music—psychedelic rock, folk rock, heavy metal, industrial sound, punk, and so on—she was completely ignorant. As the owner launched into a long, enthusiastic explanation of rock history, she could only listlessly think that the owner looked even worse than she did. His messy, bird's-nest-like hair, deeply sunken eye sockets, and dark circles under his eyes—one couldn't help but wonder if he'd suffered bruises from a beating—combined with skin as pale as white paint, made him look nothing like a respectable businessperson. The shopkeeper first chatted with her about a bunch of expensive original CDs and cheap bootleg CDs, during which he stole glances at her expression countless times. The flickering in his eyes could only be described as "weird." Finally, when he figured the time was right, he casually took a CD out of the shelf, clearly having planned it all along.

The record was quite strange. It was the first time Yan Qi had ever seen a black vinyl record with a blood-red back, without even a label.

“This is a demo of a new song recorded by a new band,” he practically shoved the record into her hands. “It’s a limited edition release in China, and I had a hard time getting my hands on it. Here you go!”

"It must be very valuable, right?" That was Yan Qi's first thought.

"No need for money!" As if afraid she would back down, the shopkeeper answered decisively, "Consider it fate... no, consider it compensation for bumping into you! Please accept it, don't be shy!"

"But... these old-fashioned records can only be played with a record player, right?" She hesitantly handed him the record, and the moment her hand touched his, the shopkeeper jerked violently as if he had been electrocuted, almost jumping high into the air.

"No, no, no!" he almost begged her. "Even if you can't let go, please accept it! Just don't let it get to me again...!"

He abruptly shut his mouth, realizing he had inadvertently let something slip. From then on, he kept his mouth shut, only resolutely expressing his determination to send out the record. His look of terror was something Yan Qi had rarely seen in her life, but she didn't pay much attention. If she had taken the boss's strangeness to heart, perhaps none of what followed would have happened.

Two days after Yan Qi disappeared, she calmly returned to her dormitory as if nothing had happened. Yan Wuyue quickly learned of this and rushed to her dormitory before the bell rang for the end of evening self-study. At first, she was worried that Yan Qi might do something foolish, but when she saw her chatting enthusiastically with her roommate, Yan Wuyue's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, immediately settled down.

At first glance, they seemed relaxed and cheerful, chatting animatedly about celebrity gossip and offering their opinions on the tangled web of love and desire in the entertainment industry. Thankfully, just like always, Yan Wuyue breathed a heavy sigh of relief, her tense facial muscles relaxing into a bright smile. Girls together, after all, talk about beauty and skincare, gossip about domestic and foreign celebrities, or even their classmates—everyone's a curious soul. Thankfully, they didn't seem to be talking about her senior and Yan Qi's affair; perhaps they were kept in the dark, and the truth was something Yan Qi had only told her. Yan Wuyue suddenly felt a heavy weight of trust and responsibility pressing down on her shoulders. "Don't worry!" she said confidently, patting her chest, her words brimming with confidence. "Thank you for your trust, I will definitely keep my mouth shut!"

The chatter instantly fell silent as the girls turned around in unison to scrutinize the intruder who had interrupted their conversation. Yan Wuyue's face flushed crimson. "How incredibly embarrassing!" she thought to herself, and she turned and ran. A panting voice came from behind her; it was Yan Qi, who had chased after her.

"They're gone already?" Yan Qi asked, slightly out of breath, clearly having gone through a difficult chase. "Did you need something, Wuyue?"

Nothing special, just came to see you… Yan Wuyue casually rambled on with a few meaningless words. The key was that it was best if Yan Qi was safe and sound. Being betrayed by her senior brother was indeed unfortunate, but Yan Wuyue didn't want Yan Qi to plunge herself into an even darker abyss for a moment's pleasure. Making a deal with the astrologer could indeed be a way to get revenge on her unfaithful senior brother, but what would be left after revenge? Yan Qi had already lost her love, and now she would have to offer her body and soul as payment to the astrologer. Seeing her innocent expression, Yan Wuyue couldn't bear to reopen her wounds and ask what had happened between her and her senior brother; she even couldn't help but wonder if the phone call that night was just a nightmare caused by lack of sleep? Kind and innocent Yan Qi, weak and helpless Yan Qi, even if she was wounded by love, would only hide in a corner and silently lick her wounds. How could she become as ugly as a demon, cursing the one she loved in a raging hell?

"I'm sorry." Yan Wuyue patted her shoulder, blurting out a sentence out of the blue, not caring whether the other person understood. It turned out I was wrong, a slight feeling of apology mixed with relief welled up in her heart. Yan Qi stood there silently, the darkness of the night swallowing all her expressions.

Volume 3 Hell Records: My Eyes Are Only on You (Part 6)

Time is the best healer. Even as Yan Wuyue climbed into bed, she was still worried about Yan Qi. "It's alright," she told herself repeatedly. Yan Qi was still young (actually, he was more than half a year older than her) and would definitely be able to withstand this blow. "Break up then," she thought, "there are plenty of fish in the sea." The old saying was true—without her senior brother, with her qualities, she wouldn't have trouble finding someone better! Thinking this, she couldn't help but glance at the empty bed opposite her. The lights were off, and the downstairs door was locked. The girl who had stayed there hadn't returned. Had she gone out to another hotel? She quickly woke Lin Na.

"Who cares about her mess?" Linna yawned repeatedly, her words filled with disgust. "She hasn't been seen since last night, who knows where she went!"

Could it be that she's going to pick a fight with Yan Qi? Judging from her appearance (her senior brother mentioned her name, but Yan Wuyue's damned memory had thrown it in the trash), that girl is a seasoned veteran with plenty of social experience; Yan Qi is no match for her. If that's the case, hmph…! Yan Wuyue clenched her fists, striking a powerful pose that would put even a bodybuilding champion to shame. "As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon can't defeat a local snake. Let this beautiful snake test my biceps!"

Lu Bing coughed on the bed, "Go to sleep! Talking in your sleep again, aren't you?!"

The next day, Saturday, was a beautiful, sunny day. Yan Wuyue, unusually, didn't sleep in. Clutching her schoolbag, she headed to the library to borrow books, intending to stop by the Silicon Valley restaurant for a dazzlingly luxurious breakfast—two egg pancakes, ten steamed dumplings, five chive and egg buns, five red bean paste buns, and a cup each of papaya-flavored and plain soy milk. A figure entirely in black swayed past the large glass window; it looked somewhat familiar. Yan Wuyue was taking a big gulp of soy milk when she nearly spat it out—

Isn't that an astrologer?

What is he doing at our school? A huge question mark hung over her head. Ignoring the fact that she hadn't finished her breakfast, Yan Wuyue rushed out and blocked his way.

The astrologer deliberately stood at an inconspicuous corner of the building, his all-black attire blending deeply into the sunlight's shadow. He showed no surprise at Yan Wuyue's sudden appearance—in fact, his handsome face, apart from his devilish smile, seemed never to have changed expression. So he raised his deathly pale face and offered Yan Wuyue a captivating smile:

"Oh my, isn't this the girl? Long time no see!"

"What do you mean, 'a long time'..." Yan Wuyue muttered, holding up five fingers, "It was just yesterday... no, at most two days ago!"

"Haven't you heard this old saying?" The astrologer suddenly brought his face very close, his soft breath blowing directly into Yan Wuyue's ear. "It's the saying, 'A day apart feels like three autumns.'"

"Eek! Eek! Eek!" In that instant, Yan Wuyue's face turned bright red, and she was so shocked that she couldn't utter a single word. This damned ghoul! In broad daylight, he dared to flirt with Yan Wuyue, a human woman! Did he have the guts of a bear or a leopard?! She didn't have the courage to look up at that handsome face with its bewitching smile, so she rudely asked:

"May I ask what brings you here, esteemed astrologer? If not, please allow me to take my leave."

Strangely enough, weren't you the one who rushed out to find me first? The astrologer chuckled inwardly, thankfully not uttering the words "How adorable!" aloud.

"Hmm," the astrologer smiled, "I won't be looking for you, please go ahead." That's good. If this ambiguity continued, her face would be red enough to boil an egg. Yan Wuyue consciously chose a path away from the astrologer, and was about to take a smug step when suddenly...?

"No!" She rushed back, her face contorted with a terrifying expression as if she wanted to devour him. "Then who are you going to talk business with? I'm warning you beforehand," she pointed a serious finger at the astrologer's nose, "you're not allowed to lay a hand on my classmate, no, you're not allowed to bite her, you hear me?"

The astrologer shrugged innocently. “I am a merchant who sells ‘dreams’ and ‘hopes.’ ‘Equivalent exchange’ is my consistent business principle.” Even the coldest pool could not match the depth of his icy green eyes. “Human beings are filled with hearts that are willing to give their lives to achieve ‘desires,’ and that is the source of my nourishment.”

After giving a polite bow, he slowly disappeared from Yan Wuyue's suspicious gaze and arrived at the agreed location. There, a girl was anxiously waiting for him.

“To be honest, I don’t really like dead people, especially those who have been dead for too long,” the astrologer frowned, making no attempt to hide his displeasure. “I like to drink piping hot blood, preferably the kind that sprays all over my face when I bite into it, sticky and thick—and then there’s the warm, delicate skin, with just the right elasticity, resilience, and chewiness. And if she were to look at me with those melancholic yet slightly intoxicated starry eyes, immersed in the dream I’ve created, moaning in a hazy voice in my ear, dying as if reaching an orgasm—becoming a part of my body—” he murmured exaggeratedly, “How wonderful that would be!”

"...So, are you going to eat it or not?" The girl listened patiently to his rambling, then coldly retorted, "It's a fair trade, isn't it? We agreed on that beforehand."

The astrologer glanced at her with infinite resentment, his face full of reluctance. In truth, if business hadn't been so bad, he wouldn't have resorted to such a drastic price cut, offering himself such harsh terms. Alas, since opening his business, he hadn't eaten many beautiful women, but had disposed of quite a few corpses—every time he was forced into it! His eyes were filled with tears of resentment (?), desperately suppressing his burgeoning appetite. He was always a picky eater; cold, lifeless skin was never his type, but with his stomach so empty, he had no choice but to temporarily fill his hunger. He lowered his head and lay on top of the dead girl, the tantalizing aroma of meat assaulting his dam of reason wave after wave—he finally couldn't resist any longer and opened his mouth wide to bite down.

"Eat, eat as much as you want." Immersed in the gruesome sounds of chewing, the girl uttered a sweet, almost intoxicating voice. A flush of satisfaction and hope danced on her youthful, beautiful face, appearing from afar like blood seeping from a wound. "After you've finished eating, don't forget your promise..."

Volume 3 Hell Records: My Eyes Are Only on You (Part 7)

This day must have been Yan Wuyue's unlucky day. Carrying a bag full of eight Yokomizo Seishi mystery novels, she had just stepped out of the library when two things she shouldn't have seen were forcibly shoved into her view. Two figures, nestled together, strolled beside the clear, circular pond in front of the library. One resembled a small bird, and the other, unsurprisingly, was the "relying person"—the one who nestled against the small bird.

Isn't that my senior brother and that girl? In broad daylight, the two of them are holding hands and being all lovey-dovey. Don't they find the bright sun above them an eyesore? Yan Wuyue frowned in disgust. The source of pollution is definitely K University!

Immersed in their own world, the two were clearly unprepared for this unexpected obstacle. Upon seeing this formidable figure approaching, the senior brother's face flushed red and then paled. Before he could even speak, Yan Wuyue gave them a fake smile, but instead of putting them at ease, the smile made them even more wary.

"What a coincidence, senior brother." Anyone with eyes could see that Ren Ming was still too young and didn't know how to hide her emotions at all. Her so-called "righteous indignation" was clearly revealed in her words. "So early, going on a spring outing with your sister-in-law?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "sister-in-law," clearly intending to embarrass them. Sure enough, the senior brother was extremely awkward, unsure whether to continue holding the girl's hand or let go. On the contrary, the girl was quite proactive, not only moving closer to the senior brother but also raising her eyes to glare at Yan Wuyue. Her gaze, emanating from beneath her delicate eyebrows, was so deep it seemed to draw her in.

Under the bright spring sun, she suddenly shivered and froze. By the time the two had already left the school gates, a cloud of doubt began to creep into her mind: Didn't they go to a hotel last night? How come they were back at school this morning, looking like they'd just left? However, she quickly came up with an answer: perhaps she slept in his dorm last night, or maybe they went back to school this morning to get something before leaving? Whatever the reason, those were minor matters! She had to hurry and check on Yan Qi! Clutching her heavy books, she rushed towards Yan Qi's dorm with a speed that would make even a university sprint champion gasp.

On this unfortunate, cursed morning, she was already destined by some unseen force to wander aimlessly without rest. Yan Qi's roommates, lying in bed, told her through the door that Yan Qi wasn't in the dorm, their playful complaints clearly indicating that Yan Wuyue had disturbed their peaceful sleep. Yan Wuyue politely apologized, but a sense of unease crept into her heart. To be honest, before receiving Yan Qi's midnight call, she thought she knew her well. Unlike Yan Wuyue, Yan Qi was a typical girl next door, simple and unpretentious, like a pearl subtly radiating a tiny glimmer of talent from her ordinariness. She was always quietly studying, and after getting into university, she had no hobbies other than watching television. Her cooking, sewing, and housework were all passable for a good wife and mother—she knew a few things, but wasn't an expert, enough to manage daily life—for example, Yan Wuyue had once asked her to sew the seams on her pants. Then again, Yan Wuyue's female friends had all received similar requests to some extent. Whether this highlights the exceptional abilities of a group of people or reflects a student's severe lack of traditional female worker education, the answer is self-evident—before university, she was a blank canvas, single-mindedly preparing to paint her "university" blueprint. Her relationship with her senior added a few touches of rosy hue. Her dream was to continue painting that rosy hue, her interests revolved around everything related to her senior, and she wanted to be with him, to grow old together, nothing more. She had never told anyone this small wish, yet Yan Wuyue clearly read it in the way she looked at him. Her eyes were only for him; at that moment, her gaze was more intense and resolute than ever before.

The deeper the love, the more intense the hatred. When her passionate love was easily turned to dust and lost, when all her efforts received no reward, the raging fire of her love instantly transformed into a hellish inferno, devouring her body and pure soul. Yes, Yan Qi seemed so normal. She smiled as before, her eyes widening slightly. Her senior brother's betrayal seemed to have no effect on her heart, only silently sinking into an endless abyss, sinking deeper and deeper… No, that's not right! She shouldn't be so calm. That composed Yan Qi was precisely the most abnormal. She buried her deepest hatred deep within, showing only an empty shell, a soulless shell. What kind of agonizing, convulsing soul was hidden behind that smiling face?

"I was too naive." Yan Wuyue mentally slapped herself, feeling ashamed of her impulsive actions. At this critical moment, a mature friend who knew when to stop should have quietly left her alone, ready to offer her a clean handkerchief if she cried, instead of acting like a shameless paparazzi, reporting the adulterous couple's every move. "It's good to be a little oblivious," Zheng Banqiao's wise words flashed through her mind. "This time, I'll just pretend I didn't see anything." She shrugged and listlessly returned to her dormitory.

Perhaps her decision was right. That evening, as she was engrossed in a mystery novel by Agatha Christie (the universally acknowledged Queen of Crime), the half-open dormitory door creaked open, revealing a gaunt and haggard face. It was Yan Qi, even thinner than yesterday, her cheeks deeply sunken from her high cheekbones, highlighting her large eyes—not just large, but with a frighteningly bright gleam. Yan Wuyue's heart ached. Yan Qi slowly pulled out a chair, sat down with equally slow movements, the whole process taking a full minute, before finally speaking, albeit slowly:

"I heard from them that you looked for me this morning?" Her head turned inch by inch, slowly focusing her gaze on Yan Wuyue's eyes, as if an invisible hand was manipulating this puppet named "Yan Qi." "Is there—something—to—do—you?"

Volume 3 Hell Records: My Eyes Are Only on You (Part 8)

Her voice was truly unusual. Was there something wrong with Yan Wuyue's hearing? Even when Yan Qi opened her mouth, she uttered each syllable clearly, enough to see every movement of her tongue muscles—it was like a slow-motion scene often used in movies. Yan Wuyue slapped her cheeks hard, trying to dispel the illusion. Yes, Yan Qi wasn't strange; she was just a little uneasy.

Thinking of what happened this morning, a displeased expression immediately settled on Yan Wuyue's delicate face. To avoid worrying her friend, she deliberately put on a cheerful voice, "I was originally planning to take you kite flying... You have no idea how spacious the lawn in front of the West District Library is!"

As she spoke, she kept glancing furtively at Yan Qi, afraid of giving herself away. In truth, she was the most outspoken person, unable to keep a secret. Even if she eloquently bragged to the heavens, her expression would still faithfully conform to her conscience. This time was no exception. A subtle glint flashed in Yan Qi's frighteningly large eyes, and in that instant, Yan Wuyue broke out in a cold sweat.

Yan Qi smiled, her tightly pursed lips curving upwards and outwards—two white front teeth peeked out from between her lips, gradually spreading out to form a standard smile revealing eight front teeth. She slowly straightened up, and without waiting for Yan Wuyue's greeting, she took slow, mechanical steps and swayed as she walked out.

Yan Wuyue's astonishment began with Yan Qi's visit and ended with the explosive news brought by Xiao Yu. Just before lights out, Xiao Yu, who hadn't been seen in a long time, skipped and jumped back into the dormitory, locking the door tightly as soon as she entered. Her eyes shone with excitement.

"Breaking news!" she gasped, clearly having climbed five flights of stairs without stopping to rest. "Do you know who I just bumped into?!"

The three curious girls, Lin Na, Lu Bing, and Yan Wuyue, shook their heads in unison, their movements as synchronized as during military training, and all three pairs of eyes were fixed on her mouth.

"I knew you wouldn't know." With the smug look of someone who had an exclusive scoop, Xiao Yu smiled mischievously and shouted with all her might, "Senior brother!" Her expression was astonished as if she had discovered a new continent. "They were actually kissing passionately downstairs! My God, my God, that's so exciting!" she exclaimed repeatedly, extremely excited. "With such bright lights and so many students coming and going, aren't they afraid!"

Yan Wuyue and the others frowned. They hadn't expected their senior to become so open so soon after starting work in Shanghai, imitating the fashionable people on the Bund and being affectionate in public—it might be commonplace on the Bund in Shanghai, but doing it right downstairs in the student dormitory was rather embarrassing. "No wonder he's a white-collar worker from the metropolis," Yan Wuyue muttered awkwardly, sounding a bit sour, "His style is just different from ours."

Xiao Yu's eyes widened. "What white-collar worker? Yan Wuyue, who are you talking about?" She paused, then calmly dropped a bombshell, "The one hugging my senior brother is Yan Qi!"

"What?!?!?!" Yan Wuyue was so shocked she almost jumped up. Xiao Yu revealed a smug smile, seemingly satisfied with the bombshell he had dropped. "It's Yan Qi! That's why I said this is big news!"

"My God..." Lu Bing muttered to herself as she quickly adjusted her glasses, "She... she's way too uninhibited..."

What on earth is going on? Have Yan Qi and her senior brother reconciled? A passionate kiss in front of so many aunties and classmates—this is completely unlike Yan Qi. From what Yan Wuyue knows, they are both the reserved type when it comes to emotions; in other words, they're prone to being secretly passionate. Openly displaying their relationship isn't their usual style. Of course, her senior brother, with his adult tendencies, might be a bit more open, but Yan Qi… she really can't understand her thinking! Yan Wuyue tugged at her hair in frustration. Even if her senior brother betrayed their love and openly brought that third party in to flaunt it, would Yan Qi still forgive him, accept him, and start over with him? The thought made her furious, partly because of Yan Qi's unprincipled tolerance, but mostly out of righteous indignation towards her senior brother. You shameless Xiao Lan! He was out shopping and having fun with that girl this morning, and then he was passionately kissing his ex-girlfriend this evening—fickle, two-timing! What kind of person is he! She was so angry she could have teeth. "Hmph, if my boyfriend ever treats me like that again, I'll give him a Pegasus Meteor Fist and make sure his face is bruised and his teeth are rolling on the ground!"

She defiantly waved her little fist at the nonexistent enemy in the air. Linna pressed her head down. "Isn't this good?" she said. "Originally, I thought..."

She paused meaningfully, and Yan Wuyue couldn't help but look up. "What did you think?"

Linna shook her head. "It's nothing—it seems the situation isn't what I imagined. I was just overthinking it."