“This is… my girl… girlfriend… Su Yao…”

By the time Su Yao sat down beside Lin Qing, he was facing the gazes of Wu Gang and Wang Lingling. Fighting down his fear, Lin Qing knew he had to introduce her himself.

But when he got to the words “my girlfriend,” Lin Qing felt like his mouth was glued shut. It was unbelievably uncomfortable.

He’d rather stay single for the rest of his life than have a girlfriend like Su Yao!!!

But if he wanted the plan to work, he had to say it.

He hadn’t even called Su Yao’s number yet, and she’d suddenly appeared right in front of him—but this wasn’t all that different from what Lin Qing had planned.

To draw the murderous nurse’s attention, Lin Qing needed to act lovey-dovey with another woman.

That was the only way to set Li Mei’s murderous switch off.

Su Yao was the perfect choice.

And he could take advantage of her interest in him. Once Li Mei noticed them at the hospital, Su Yao would eventually leave and head home. Then, at night, he and Li Mei could face off.

“Face off” wasn’t quite right. It was more of a game of chase.

“Hello, I’m Su Yao. My boyfriend’s a little shy, but he’s actually a really cute person.”

Unlike Lin Qing, Su Yao didn’t hesitate at all. She smiled as she spoke, and with her striking looks, it was easy to like her.

There were all kinds of pretty. Su Yao’s looks leaned toward the seductive, but her clear, fawn-like eyes softened her beauty, giving her an air of innocence.

When Wang Lingling heard that Su Yao and Lin Qing were dating, she’d just sat back down beside her boyfriend. Like Wu Gang before her, she stared in surprise, her eyes widening before she could stop herself.

It wasn’t that she thought poorly of Lin Qing, but it was hard to imagine a girl as beautiful as Su Yao with him.

“Haha! You’ve got a girlfriend that gorgeous and you’ve been keeping her under wraps? You’ve got some tricks up your sleeve!”

While Wang Lingling was still wondering about it, Wu Gang quietly tugged at her sleeve, then laughed and spoke up to keep the conversation from dying.

Wu Gang was curious about how the two of them had gotten together too, but nothing was impossible. Maybe Su Yao had fallen for Lin Qing’s inner beauty!

“So you’re saying I’m not pretty enough?”

After Wu Gang finished speaking, Wang Lingling caught on and put on an angry face as she said this.

With a speed that left no time to react, she lifted her spoon and shoved a huge mouthful of rice straight into Wu Gang’s mouth.

The rice was so colorful that it was impossible to say what color it even was anymore. The moment it landed in Wu Gang’s mouth, his soul slipped into a temporary slumber.

Who was he? Where was he? What was he supposed to do…?

“What did you want to see me about?”

As Wang Lingling fed Wu Gang, Su Yao kept smiling. Then she glanced at the phone in Lin Qing’s hand and asked curiously, “What did you want to see me about?”

It was hard to imagine what could make someone who was so afraid he’d checked himself into the hospital work up the courage to call.

She’d thought Lin Qing would just tear up the phone number she’d given him!

Su Yao had come over for a simple reason: she wanted Lin Qing to get used to having her around, so he wouldn’t get so worked up when they were together at school that he ended up back in the hospital.

That would be a waste of time.

Her new toy seemed pretty interesting, but if it wasted too much of her precious time, her interest would fade fast.

Besides, the hospital was quite interesting, and she didn’t want to miss the good show that was about to begin.

“I’m… playing a game…”

Su Yao’s question caught Lin Qing off guard. His whole body tensed up, and he stammered out an answer without admitting anything.

Lin Qing wasn’t surprised that Su Yao was so perceptive.

He’d expected this much.

With ten white skulls, Su Yao had terrifying potential. She was a genius among geniuses.

So she hadn’t just noticed Nurse Li Mei’s odd behavior at first glance. She’d also pieced together the fact that he’d been about to call her number from a few tiny clues, and reached the right conclusion.

Being with Su Yao was like walking straight into a dragon’s lair. One careless move, and he could die there.

Lin Qing even wondered if Su Yao had figured out his plan.

She didn’t have all the clues yet, but if he stayed here, it was only a matter of time before she worked it out…

Whatever. It didn’t matter!

Things had come this far. Even if Su Yao found out, so what? As long as he could save Wu Gang, that was enough!

He couldn’t just stand by and watch Wu Gang die.

“All right. I guess that game’s more interesting than I am. But it’s lunchtime now, so come eat!”

Su Yao glanced at the phone in Lin Qing’s hand again, and the corner of her mouth lifted. Then she spoke in a thoroughly perfunctory tone as she untied the cloth wrapping around her lunchbox, revealing one corner of it.

Like the enormous heart-shaped bento Wang Lingling had prepared for Wu Gang, the lunch Su Yao had brought was a generous portion.

And the exquisite purple wooden lunchbox looked expensive all on its own.

It reminded Lin Qing of what his deskmate, Wang Fanran, had told him: Su Yao came from a prominent family and was the only daughter of a major domestic conglomerate.

But just as Su Yao was unwrapping the cloth, Lin Qing suddenly raised a hand to stop her.

He was still afraid of Su Yao, so he didn’t move too close. He simply lifted one hand into the air, drawing her attention.

“Let’s not eat here. We’ll go to the hospital cafeteria.”

If it weren’t for the plan, Lin Qing would never have gotten this close to Su Yao. There was no time to waste now. He had to make sure Nurse Li Mei saw him acting close with Su Yao.

That would make Li Mei want to kill him.

Staying in the hospital room wouldn’t bring Li Mei here, and it would mean spending even more time with Su Yao.

The thought made Lin Qing feel awful. He wanted to get it all over with as soon as possible.

“Okay, whatever you say~”

Su Yao nodded obediently, without the slightest hesitation, at Lin Qing’s sudden request.

She was the picture of an obedient girlfriend.

Seeing this, Wu Gang—who had only just regained his senses—felt a pang of envy. If only his girlfriend were this obedient!

Then he could stop her from making more dark cuisine, and his stomach might get a little kindness for once.

But Lin Qing, the person involved, knew Su Yao never did things by the book.

Her obedient manner was just a disguise, as if she were waiting for something to happen.

Like a little demon who enjoyed watching people suffer, she created all kinds of misfortune just to amuse herself.

Thinking this, Lin Qing said nothing more. He got out of bed, put on his shoes, and led Su Yao toward the hospital cafeteria.

Su Yao followed close behind, carrying her lunchbox like a meek, put-upon wife. She drew plenty of eyes along the way, and a few young men looked ready to offer her a hand.

But when Su Yao noticed the men around them getting restless, she didn’t want anyone else interfering.

So she quickly caught up and slipped her arm through Lin Qing’s. A faint, elegant fragrance drifted over, and her ample chest pressed firmly against his arm. Lin Qing’s first instinct was to push her away.

Unfortunately…

Su Yao excelled in both the scholarly and martial arts. Years of training had made Lin Qing feel like he was trying to push a mountain. No matter how hard he tried, she didn’t budge an inch.

“Stop struggling. She’s here.”

Su Yao had her own way of dealing with Lin Qing’s resistance. She said just one simple sentence, and he immediately settled down.

…