Stargazy Pie.
At the sight of those words, Charlotte, being British, shuddered involuntarily. Her mind flashed back to those sardines from days past, their eyes wide open in death.
[Um... never mind...]
Charlotte simply couldn’t bring herself to type “Okay.” Stargazy pie was utterly repulsive to her, both mentally and physically.
[Oh]
Lin Zhong’s reply was just one word. It seemed... tinged with disappointment.
[Um, Lin Zhong, why don’t you let others know how strong you are? You should know that in others’ eyes, you...]
Charlotte couldn’t bear to type the rest. Those words were undoubtedly insults to Lin Zhong. She truly didn’t understand. Why had Lin Zhong stepped up to crush those rumor-spreaders? Why did he keep enduring those malicious lies?
[Because I can’t say.]
Five simple words. Five words that left Charlotte racking her brain for an answer she couldn’t find.
Can’t say? Why?
[Don’t ask anymore. What happened in today’s Dungeon Instance must stay secret. Absolutely no third person can know.]
Lin Zhong didn’t wait for Charlotte’s reply. He closed the White Reaper student account.
“Don’t go there anymore.”
Ning Bixuan’s cheek pressed against Lin Zhong’s face. She hadn’t seen the chat, but when he pulled out his phone, she already knew the reason.
Photos. Photos he refused to let others see.
“Mm.”
“Mm, let’s eat.”
Ning Bixuan returned to her usual smile and released her tight embrace on Lin Zhong. She had no intention of letting Su Han, who was about to emerge with dishes, throw pots and pans at him.
“Mm!”
[Your friend Lin Zhong (White Reaper) has gone offline.]
The sudden notification gave Charlotte a trace of disappointment. She’d already typed her message but couldn’t muster the courage to hit send.
[Shall we start a Club? Together.]
Clubs. First-years could usually join one. But Charlotte, not particularly strong, couldn’t find a suitable Club.
Clubs in various Academies were nothing like ordinary school interest groups. They resembled guilds in online games. Starting a Club required paying credits, a minimum member count, and a club advisor.
Charlotte had planned to save up for this fee. Today’s earnings covered it and left plenty extra.
When thinking of starting a Club, Lin Zhong was her first choice. She believed with him, the Club would be solid.
But after seeing his answer to that question, she hesitated again.
Because I can’t say.
She desperately wanted to know the details, to understand Lin Zhong. Sadly, she probably couldn’t find the real answers now.
[Send?]
On the untouched screen, this text interrupted Charlotte’s thoughts.
[10, 9, 8...]
The countdown, accompanied by a beeping sound, urged Charlotte lying on her bed. She gritted her teeth and pressed “Yes.”
The text appeared on the chat screen. But there was no waiting for a reply; Lin Zhong’s dark avatar confirmed his status.
Sleep.
Charlotte sank into her soft pillow. But the flutter in her heart meant she wouldn’t sleep tonight.
“Beep!”
Her tightly gripped phone vibrated slightly. A lock screen message caught her eye.
[Lin Zhong (White Reaper): Okay]
“Yes!”
Charlotte hurriedly sat up, unlocked her phone, and tapped Lin Zhong’s avatar in friends list.
Her clear emerald eyes carefully checked the message. No matter how many times she confirmed, it still showed that word.
Okay.
But Lin Zhong’s avatar only lit up for seconds before going dark again.
“Dear, what’s up?”
Su Han watched Lin Zhong with his phone. She didn’t know what he’d done. She just noticed he seemed quite happy?
“Nothing much. Just some info about today’s Dungeon Instance.”
Lin Zhong closed the White Reaper account and exited the Student Handbook app.
“Sooo, don’t go anymore. Your body is far more fragile than others’.”
Su Han stared at Lin Zhong. He wore only pajamas, his fair skin and crimson eyes clearly visible.
“No problem without sunlight.”
Sunlight was practically Lin Zhong’s natural enemy. Bright lights were the same.
“Honestly.”
Su Han took a bite of rice, pouting at Lin Zhong. She knew him well. Once he set his mind on something, it was nearly impossible to stop him.
But if possible, she truly didn’t want him touching these dangerous things.
“Xiao Zhong, listen to Mom. Don’t do anything reckless, okay?”
Ning Bixuan looked at Lin Zhong with concern. Perhaps their protectiveness was too strong. In his first year at Fool, Lin Zhong could only sneak into Dungeon Instances.
To Ning Bixuan’s mixed amusement and exasperation, because of this, Fool rose from last to first among all Academies.
Her son had become the chief ‘Joker,’ representing Fool’s glory, for this very reason.
Though this meant a lot to Fool, if she could redo it, she’d rather not have this ‘Joker.’
As they wished, they transferred credits earned by Su Han from Dungeon Instances or those Ning Bixuan obtained through her position to Lin Zhong’s account.
“Mm, I know, Mom.”
Sorry, Mom.
Though he said that, Lin Zhong still wanted to continue. Dungeon Instances were not just a vent for him, but also a glory, and more...
The only path to revenge.
As Lin Zhong lowered his head, a flash of killing intent crossed his crimson eyes.
[When? Now? Can I register a Club via the phone app? Which teacher should I ask to be the club advisor?]
Lin Zhong’s phone vibrated noticeably. He hurriedly picked it up from the table.
“Someone for you?”
Su Han asked, watching his phone. But anyone could see a flicker of something unusual in her eyes.
“Nothing. Probably just spam. I’ll delete those apps later.”
Lin Zhong hurriedly opened his phone and set Charlotte’s messages to Do Not Disturb.
“Oh.”
Su Han believed him and stopped caring. But Ning Bixuan’s eyes remained fixed on Lin Zhong.
She knew that while Su Han cooked, Lin Zhong had indeed been messaging someone.
[Eat first. We’ll talk about anything later!!!]
