"Hey, look! A beauty just walked into our class," Male Classmate A said.

"Yeah, so gorgeous and elegant," Female Classmate A added.

"Seems like a sophomore senior," Female Classmate B chimed in.

"Heh, let me fill you in. This senior’s Yeping, the Education Department’s flower. One of our campus’s top ten beauties. Of course she’s stunning!" Male Classmate B declared proudly.

"Oh? How do you know so much?" Male Classmate C asked.

"Before enrolling, I’d already scoped out every pretty girl here," Male Classmate B boasted.

I was napping with my head on the desk.

Xiaopang rapped his knuckles on my table. "Hey! Xiaobai, wake up! A beauty’s here—check her out!"

"Pfft, none of our business. Scram—don’t bother me," I mumbled, still slumped over, waving him off.

"Whoa, Xiaobai, Jianwen—look! She’s coming this way. Must be here for me," Xiaopang ignored me, slapping Zhao Jianwen’s shoulder while still drumming on my desk.

"I’ll kill you, you fat bastard!" I shot up, slapped him hard, and spat right in his face.

"Cough—cough! Xiaobai, watch your image!" Xiaopang’s head was pinned to the desk, but he kept yapping.

Just as we wrestled, a woman appeared beside me. "Excuse me, junior—can we chat outside?"

"Uh…" Xiaopang fell silent. He must’ve thought, *Not for me?!*

"Huh?" I turned. The Education Department’s flower lived up to the hype. Black stockings, a long dress, heels that made her taller than me. Her natural raven hair would make any woman jealous. Classical beauty, queenly aura—no wonder she’s a top ten campus beauty. Elegant and stunning.

"Senior, are you talking to me?" I asked.

"Yes. Junior, come chat outside," Yeping smiled slightly, repeating herself.

"Why not here?" A few days ago, I’d have followed her like a puppy. But after Wuxiaowu tricked me the other day—never trust a pretty face. Once bitten, twice shy.

"I’m your senior! How dare you talk to me like this?" Her words sounded angry, but her smile stayed soft.

*Tough customer.*

"Yeah, Xiaobai! How can you speak to a senior like that?" Xiaopang glared at me. Wait—the whole class was staring. Guys wore expressions like Xiaopang’s; girls whispered. Right, a campus beauty in our class.

I just wanted to stay low-key.

"Sorry, senior. Got carried away. Can’t we talk here?" I backed down. Better not anger the crowd.

"Don’t you remember me?" Yeping leaned closer, bending down to whisper to me seated.

"Nope," I shot back instantly.

"Think harder," she chuckled.

"No need. I know one senior—don’t recall a second."

"Really don’t remember?"

"I told you—" Wait! That voice… familiar. From my first day at the apartment. When Wuxiaowu knocked on my door, her friend called from the stairs: "Hey, Wuxiaowu! Are you coming or not?" That commanding, mature tone—now softened. No wonder I didn’t recognize it.

*Wuxiaowu’s friend!*

"It’s you?!" I pointed at Yeping. *A monster’s friend! Why’s she here? To silence me? Or just human? Maybe another monster like Wuxiaowu!* What now?

Yeping suddenly leaned in, whispering in my ear.

"Wow! Wow~" The watching girls gasped.

"Ahhh, my goddess!" Male Classmate C wailed.

"Damn it, Xiaobai, traitor!" Xiaopang yelled.

The move looked intimate—a campus beauty and a dead-fish-eyed guy. Big contrast. Too stimulating for teens.

But only I knew the danger and helplessness.

"Brat, say another word and I’ll kill you," Yeping hissed in my ear.

I followed her out of class. Behind us, girls gossiped and guys like Xiaopang roared.

"Senior, where are we going?" I trailed cautiously behind her.

"Sky Terrace," she said coolly, not turning back.

"Why there?"

"Shut up and follow," she snapped over her shoulder.

"…" Speechless. The moment we left class and hit empty halls, she flipped her attitude.

*Bang!* She slammed the Sky Terrace door open. "You—over here!"

Yeping yanked me to a corner, pinning me against the wall.

"Where’s that bastard Wuxiaowu?" She glared, voice harsh.

"No idea."

"You don’t know?" she snarled.

"Seriously, no."

"Lying? She visited you, vanished the next day. Nowhere in the Southern District. And you survived Number Five? Suspicious." She grabbed my throat.

"Cough—what’s Number Five?" I was clueless.

"You know what she is," Yeping released me, smirking wickedly.

"Huh?! You’re one of those monsters too?" I gasped, stepping back.

"Heh, ‘I’? It’s ‘we’," Yeping said.

"You—what? Man-eating monster?!" Cold sweat drenched me. I’d suspected it, but hearing it confirmed shocked me.

"Man-eating? Nah. Lamb, pork, beef work fine. Just need more to feel full," she grinned evilly.

"Then why attack me that day? If you don’t eat people, why did Wuxiaowu try to kill me?" I roared, feeling utterly cheated.

"Yelling at me?" She punched my gut.

"Fuck! Damn you!" I doubled over, clutching my stomach against the wall.

"Heh, brave kid. No one’s talked to me like that in ages," Yeping said.

"Who do you think you are?" Hurt but cornered—I couldn’t back down. I’m a guy.

"Fair warning: weak Mimics like you are in grave danger now," Yeping stated.

"Mimic? Danger? What’s going on?" I asked.

"Heh, danger? Enjoy it yourself," she sneered maliciously, then turned to leave.

"Wait! Explain first!" I lunged, reaching for her.

Yeping spun aside just as I touched her, then punched my gut again.

"Shit!" I crumpled to my knees, watching her walk away.

*Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~* The class bell rang.

Why are all women so strong and scheming now? That woman’s probably a monster too. What danger was she talking about? Ugh, got punched twice for nothing. Sigh… back to class.