“Qin Mengdie!” I shouted, but there was no response.
Had the SR organization already made their move? But there hadn’t been anyone around Qin Mengdie earlier!
Wait—Song Kexin! That new transfer student from Korea!
I had just left when I ran into her, and judging by her path, she was heading in the same direction as Qin Mengdie!
If there were SR members among the American transfer students, then it was possible they had also infiltrated the Korean ones!
Damn it! I’d underestimated the SR organization! Just because Song Kexin was pretty, I’d dismissed her outright!
If she was an assassin, things were about to get ugly!
“You’re still here?” Just as my nerves were at their peak, a female voice reached me. I looked up—it was Song Kexin!
My worry for Qin Mengdie had me on edge, so I grabbed Song Kexin by the shoulders and demanded, “Where’s Qin Mengdie?! What did you do to her?!”
“W-What are you talking about…?” Song Kexin’s face was a mix of fear and confusion.
Had I misjudged? Was Song Kexin really just an ordinary student? No—if she was a killer, she would have undergone rigorous training. She was probably trying to deceive me.
Frowning, I glared at her. “Stop pretending. Tell me, where is Qin Mengdie?!”
Seeing the hostility in my eyes, Song Kexin shrank back. “Y-You mean that girl in the restroom?”
“Restroom?” I froze.
As I loosened my grip, she continued, “Yeah, I just saw a really pretty girl in the restroom. I think it was the one you’re talking about.”
“Sorry!” I blurted out an apology.
Song Kexin smiled. “It’s fi—”
Before she could finish, I activated Spirit Fox Steps and flashed behind her, delivering a swift chop to her neck that knocked her unconscious.
Even though she seemed genuine, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that she was an SR operative. So, I had to incapacitate her first. If Qin Mengdie wasn’t in the restroom, then Song Kexin would be my only lead.
After propping her up against a tree, I rushed into the building.
Following the signs, I quickly found the restroom.
I knew it was the women’s restroom, but this wasn’t the time to care. Qin Mengdie’s safety was the priority, so I barged in without hesitation.
But Qin Mengdie wasn’t there. There wasn’t even a living soul inside!
Song Kexin was definitely suspicious! Just as I turned to leave, I heard the sound of a toilet flushing. Someone was here?!
Without delay, I spun around and marched toward the source of the noise.
Click! I yanked the stall door open.
And there was Qin Mengdie, hurriedly pulling up her pants.
Uh… Had I misunderstood something? But… damn, that was pale!
Swallowing hard, I averted my gaze. “Are you okay?”
Qin Mengdie finished adjusting her clothes, her face slightly flushed but her eyes locked onto me with an intensity that made me nervous.
So, I’d really misjudged Song Kexin. Qin Mengdie had just been using the restroom… All that panic for nothing!
“Pervert!” Qin Mengdie spat out the word, then walked to the sink to wash her hands.
I didn’t know what to say. This was so damn awkward! But hey, it was her fault for disappearing without a word!
…Okay, fine. It was my fault.
“I was just worried something happened to you. You get that, right?” I had to explain. Tang Shuyao already saw me as a creep—I couldn’t let Qin Mengdie think the same.
Qin Mengdie dried her hands, then looked straight at me and enunciated, “No.” With that, she turned and walked out of the restroom.
D*mn it! My image in her eyes was completely shattered! But then again… had I ever left a good impression on her? Probably not!
“Hey! Wait up!” By the time I snapped out of it, Qin Mengdie was already gone. I hurried after her.
“Hold on!” I called out, then rushed to the tree where Song Kexin was. Channeling my True Qi, I woke her up.
“Mmm… That hurts…” Song Kexin groaned, rubbing her neck as she opened her eyes.
Hearing that, I wanted to dig a hole and disappear.
I’d let my concern cloud my judgment. Not seeing Qin Mengdie had made me suspicious of an innocent girl. What a mess.
Now that I looked closely, Song Kexin’s hands were soft and delicate—definitely not those of a trained fighter. There was no killer’s aura around her, not even a trace of bloodlust. By all accounts, she couldn’t be an assassin. What the hell had I been thinking?
“Uh… S-Sorry about that!” I forced an awkward smile.
Song Kexin blinked, then said, “Oh, it’s not your fault. My condition must have acted up again. Thanks for helping me!”
Condition? What condition? Did she have some kind of illness that made her think this wasn’t my doing?
“N-No problem!” I replied, guilt gnawing at me.
Song Kexin steadied herself against the tree and stood up, glancing at Qin Mengdie behind me. “Is she your girlfriend? She’s really pretty. No wonder you were so worried.”
Girlfriend? That was a dangerous assumption. After what had just happened, Qin Mengdie was already pissed. Who knew how she’d take this?
To my surprise, Qin Mengdie stayed silent.
Song Kexin touched her forehead, then smiled at me. “Thanks for waking me up. I should go take my medicine now.” With a nod, she walked away.
Honestly, Song Kexin left me feeling torn. I was the one who knocked her out, yet she blamed it on her “condition” and even thanked me. The guilt was crushing.
Sighing, I turned to Qin Mengdie. “Let’s head back.”
“No.” Her voice was ice-cold.
I stiffened. Was she still mad? “I already apologized! What else do you want? It really was an accident!”
Qin Mengdie didn’t answer. Instead, she turned and walked back toward the building.
“Hey! Where are you going?!” I yelled after her.
She ignored me and disappeared inside.
What the hell? If she was angry, fine, but why go back in there?!
I chased after her. When I entered, I saw her not heading to the restroom but climbing the stairs.
“Hey! Are you even listening?! What are you doing?!” I called out, exasperated. What was her deal?
Qin Mengdie stopped, then turned to face me with a twisted smile, her eyes wide.
“Going to jump off the building!”
“Cut the crap! I said I didn’t mean it! Why would you—” I cut myself off, staring hard at her.
A terrifying realization hit me.
“Who the hell are you?!”
After spending so much time with Qin Mengdie, I knew she rarely smiled. And she was strong-willed—she wouldn’t threaten suicide over something like this.
A horrifying thought spread through my mind.
This… isn’t Qin Mengdie!