Nan Dongye unreasonably tossed that eerie club application form, leaving me on pins and needles all afternoon in class. I dreaded the rightful owner barging in any second. But Xu Lingzhu’s motives were utterly baffling—what hidden truth was I missing?

The dismissal bell rang, and I bolted out of the classroom in a flash. Only Nan Dongye knew why I avoided that enchanting figure every Evergreen Academy student dreamed of. Yet she acted like everything was fine. Seriously, when crunch time hit, none of my so-called comrades were useful—just a bunch of gloating freeloaders!

Since yesterday’s “crime scene” was near the spiral staircase on the third floor, I avoided the quickest exit like a venomous snake. Instead, I took the long path to the student activity center on the other side. It wound through the central plaza and past countless club rooms, but at least it was quiet.

“Ugh!”

A muffled groan followed by books scattering everywhere. Rushing down too fast, I slammed into someone rounding the corner.

“You—huh?”

“Sorry! Uh… Lian? What are you doing here?”

After helping gather the books, I stared in shock at the petite girl sitting on the floor. I never expected to bump into Ouyang Lian here. Her expression shifted from anger to deep resentment.

“That’s my line! This spot’s closer to the middle school wing!” She held out a small hand.

What? Did she expect her big brother to carry her up after a fall? From this angle, I glimpsed something beneath her skirt—a view that defied physics and wouldn’t make Newton rage-quit. I froze instinctively for a split second.

Annoyed, Ouyang Lian waved her arm wildly, making the view even clearer. “Hey! What are you waiting for? Forget being my brother—even a gentleman would help a lady he knocked over!”

“Blue-and-white stripes. Surprisingly plain.”

Ouyang Lian froze, then lowered her head slightly. Her face flushed crimson, steam practically rising off it. She clutched her plaid skirt and shrieked, “W-w-w-what were you looking at?!”

I scratched my head. “Panties. Not looking would’ve been ruder.”

My blunt words only deepened her shame. “Pervert! Beast! Scum! Disgusting brother-complex freak!”

Compared to being called a flesh toilet, this was child’s play. I struck my childhood “absolute defense” pose. “Ineffective!”

After grumbling a while, she calmed down, pouting like a model student. “Pull me up already!”

“Seriously, not even sparing your sister? No wonder Sister Xiaoyu dislikes you!” she huffed, brushing off her skirt and backing away with her books.

If only Jiang Xiaoyu actually disliked me—it’d be a miracle. I shrugged. “It’s just underwear. I’ve seen it tons at home. I know your measurements by heart—you just never noticed. Someone plays games in outfits way too skimpy and moves way too wildly.”

“Wh-what?!” Ouyang Lian scowled in outrage. “You monster! I’m telling Mom!”

“Mom’d just sigh and say sibling squabbles like this don’t matter.” I muttered dryly—last time, I was the one complaining after humiliation. I was numb to this stuff. If only Sister Xixi would tone it down, I’d thank the heavens.

Ouyang Lian’s face scrunched up. “Y-yeah… that does sound like her…”

“Enough. I’m leaving.”

“Leaving? Just like that?” She stared, incredulous.

“What else do you want?”

I studied her curiously. Same plain outfit as always—pure and innocent on the surface, but rotten inside when you cut her open.

“Walk me home! I’ve got tons of game guides to finish!”

I pursed my lips. “No way. Your place is miles from mine. Xiaoyu’ll scold me if I’m late.”

“You heartless traitor!” She struck a damsel-in-distress pose—I’d recommend her to Nan Dongye’s drama club if I could.

“Just walk me home! It won’t cost you anything!”

“Nope. You just want me stuck there for dinner, then sleeping over, so I’ll naturally grind your games all night.”

“Guh… N-no, I don’t!” Guilty, she tugged my bike. “At least to the bus stop!”

I sighed and nodded helplessly.

“Oh, that lunatic messaged me again today.”

I blinked blankly. “Which one?”

“The Gomoku player!”

“Ah, her… huh?”

A lightning bolt struck my mind. No way… it couldn’t be…

“What’d she say?”

Ouyang Lian sat sideways on the bike’s back seat, one arm looped around my waist, the other fiddling with her phone. “Hmm, she said, ‘A promise is a promise, even if shady. You’re mine now.’ Ew… total creep.”

I slammed the brakes. Ouyang Lian’s head cracked against my back, and she yelped in pain.

“What was that for?!”

I turned, dead serious. “Show me that email. Now.”

She’d never seen me like this. Blinking, she handed over her phone obediently.

I reread the suspicious email. Buried after endless blanks was a tiny, deadly line:

“To Mr. Despair—or rather… Miss Flawless Flower? Eager to meet again.”

The first name was my infamous ID in Desecration. The second…

Everything clicked. My VR terminal was technically Ouyang Lian’s, using her email. No wonder this challenge landed here.

But… why Xu Lingzhu? Damn it! How did she know?!

Pale, I stared at Evergreen Academy under the setting sun. Absurdity washed over me. Things just got messier. The Student Council President might not know about yesterday’s bathroom encounter with a guy—but she knew other secrets…