"Tch..."

The woman kept her gaze lowered, lips pressed tight, flipping through the pages of her book with swift precision.

In seconds, she’d finished it.

The paper at the end curled slightly from the force of her turning.

She snapped the book shut with a sharp *SLAM*.

Motionless, she seemed lost in thought.

"Ms. Shanwu...?"

Yueci Porcelain called hesitantly to the woman leaning against the bookshelf, her expression unreadable.

At the sound, the woman lifted her head, revealing sharp features and striking eyes.

Her gaze met Yueci’s.

No wonder Yueci had hesitated to recognize her.

Her current look couldn’t be more different from her usual school style.

Where she wore gentle, scholarly outfits at school, now she radiated sharp edges.

A black leather jacket hugged her elegant curves; matching pants accentuated her long legs.

Her hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail—no gold-rimmed glasses in sight.

Shanwu Lingsheng looked utterly transformed: crisp, alert, formidable.

"Hm?"

"Yueci?"

Recognition flickered as she matched the voice to the face.

By then, her familiar schoolroom smile had already softened her features.

That same warm, gentle voice—though laced with hesitation—brought Yueci a flicker of comfort.

Yueci stepped closer, scanning the book titles and authors on the shelf.

Shanwu Lingsheng studied her profile, then smoothly slid her own book back into place.

"Here to buy books too, Yueci?"

Yueci nodded, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar titles and authors.

"What’s your favorite novel, Yueci?"

Shanwu Lingsheng broke the silence first.

Yueci rubbed her chin lightly. A difficult question.

"*Silent Currents* by Toya Ranpo..." she managed.

Shanwu Lingsheng’s eyebrows lifted in surprise, eyes glinting with interest.

"That’s quite old. Out of print for over a decade, if I recall..."

"I read it as a child," she added, a nostalgic smile touching her lips.

Yueci could only offer an awkward laugh.

She hadn’t wanted to pick such an old book—but she knew nothing newer.

*Silent Currents* was popular in her time.

Truthfully, it wasn’t even her favorite; she’d chosen it only because obscure titles might draw blank stares.

*Pfft...*

Shanwu Lingsheng stifled a laugh, seeing Yueci’s discomfort.

Yueci froze at the sound.

"No need to be embarrassed, Yueci," she said gently, her brown eyes reflecting Yueci’s image.

"My favorite book is ancient too... long out of print."

She tilted her head toward the ceiling, thoughtful.

"If the author were still alive..."

"I’d..."

Catching herself mid-thought, she cut off the sentence.

Her eyes crinkled warmly.

"Didn’t you mention writing novels too, Yueci?"

Yueci blinked, startled by the sudden topic shift. She nodded.

It had only been yesterday morning.

"There’s a major mystery-writing contest coming up. You should enter."

A strange light sparked in Shanwu Lingsheng’s eyes.

Yueci understood—she was a literature teacher, after all.

"The first prize is 200,000 yen," she added.

Yueci’s eyes widened. *That* generous?

Shanwu Lingsheng chuckled, her brown eyes gleaming.

"Maybe..."

"...someone’s hosting it just to find the perfect story?"

She covered her mouth, smiling.

"I’m not good enough..."

Yueci scratched her head awkwardly.

Her past writing was pure self-indulgence. Barely readable.

Emotional trash, really.

And after learning someone committed crimes *based* on her stories?

Writing felt impossible.

"How will you know unless you try?"

Seeing Yueci’s lack of enthusiasm, Shanwu Lingsheng didn’t push.

"Deadline’s next Sunday. If you change your mind, bring it to me."

Yueci nodded politely.

Shanwu Lingsheng checked her watch. Time was tight—she had other matters.

"I’ll go ahead, Yueci. Take your time."

Yueci nodded again.

Watching her leave, Yueci pondered the contest...

And failed.

No inspiration came. She’d disappoint Ms. Shanwu.

Glancing at Hiru Kawakami still absorbed in book-hunting, Yueci decided to pick one herself.

Then she remembered Shanwu Lingsheng’s sharp "*Tch*" from earlier.

She pulled down the book Shanwu had been reading.

It was written from a killer’s perspective.

Driven by rage after their loved one was brutally murdered—a killer who evaded justice by feigning insanity, hiding behind "reasonable doubt."

The protagonist took vengeance into their own hands.

The ending? Arrest. Conviction for murder.

*No wonder Ms. Shanwu disliked it.*

"Yueci..."

"Found one?"

Hiru Kawakami approached, holding a book, a rare soft smile on her lips.

Yueci grabbed the first title with a familiar author surname.

They headed to checkout.

After paying, Yueci turned to Hiru.

"Where to next...?"

Hiru opened her mouth—then her phone *dinged* sharply in her pocket.

She pulled it out, frowning at the screen.

Yueci watched the faint smile fade into her usual calm.

"Sorry, Yueci..."

"An emergency came up. I have to go."

Her voice grew quieter, weaker.

Yueci nodded understandingly.

Emergencies trumped dates.

Hiru hurried out, her face darkening with suppressed anger.

Her phone screen still glowed:

[***You two **, how *** dare you lie to me]

[***, just a tezhao student and you ** dare lay hands on my brother]

[******]

The taunting message ended with an address.

Sender: Gangmen Yanzuo.