Lin Qing hadn't held back at all when dealing with Li Dong. As a result, the wound on his palm, which had almost healed, split open again.

Blood welled from the wound, quickly staining the bandage red.

But Lin Qing couldn't feel any pain at all right now.

He was in a state of excitement, and his body was automatically ignoring the pain.

The dopamine in his brain was working overtime, constantly tricking his body into thinking it was still fine.

“I was wrong. It was all my fault. Let me go. I shouldn't have attacked you... Sob, please let me go!”

Unlike the exhilarated Lin Qing, Li Dong felt as if his wrist had snapped.

The intense pain had him crying out, consumed with regret over ever provoking Lin Qing.

Lin Qing had broken his wrist so brutally, without even hesitating. He definitely wasn't normal!

Wang Fanran had practically talked him into it. Had he known all along how terrifying Lin Qing was?

Was that why he'd sent Li Dong over alone?

Only now did Li Dong, that shameless fence-sitter, finally realize the truth.

Though he'd only gotten half of it right.

Even Wang Fanran had no idea Lin Qing could be this terrifying.

But it was too late now.

There was nothing Li Dong could do, even if he regretted it.

That only made him stare at Lin Qing in even greater fear. Even when Li Weiqiang and the others had bullied him, he'd never been this scared.

He could sense that something was wrong with Lin Qing. It was as if Lin Qing really might kill him.

Without hesitation.

At the thought, Li Dong's legs trembled uncontrollably, and his face went as pale as paper.

At that moment, Li Dong wouldn't have hesitated to get down on his knees if Lin Qing had told him to.

When Lin Qing saw how spineless Li Dong was, the coldness in his eyes quickly faded. His reason returned, and he could no longer keep himself in that exhilarated state.

It was different.

Li Dong wasn't like them.

He was too weak to pose any threat.

Besides, Lin Qing had already escaped the cage. He wasn't bound anymore.

His memories of the past needed to be sealed away, not allowed to control his reason.

Or interfere with his life now.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through his palm, dispelling the last of Lin Qing's confusion and bringing him swiftly back to reality.

It hurt like hell.

“Don't blame everything on other people.”

Lin Qing had nothing more to say to the timid, cowardly Li Dong.

The story of the farmer and the snake had played out in real life. Even though Lin Qing had been the one to speak up and help Li Dong, he hadn't gotten so much as a thank-you—instead, he'd been met with a sharp blade.

It was true that Lin Qing hadn't helped Li Dong of his own free will. Certain conditions had been triggered, leaving his reason out of control as his emotions took over his body.

Still, someone like Li Dong was hard to set straight.

His way of thinking was already set. Correcting his course would take a great deal.

Lin Qing didn't have the energy to interfere in someone else's life.

He could barely take care of himself. How could he possibly worry about anyone else?

“Get lost!”

Maybe it was because the wound on his palm was bleeding, but Lin Qing was feeling that same light-headed, unsteady sensation he'd had at the hospital.

So he didn't bother arguing with Li Dong any further. He simply told him to leave.

He might have Li Dong cowed for now, but once Li Dong saw how weak Lin Qing was, he might get bold again.

Better not take that chance.

“Y-yes, yes! I'm leaving right now. I won't get in your way!”

When Li Dong heard Lin Qing's words, he looked as if he'd just been granted a new lease on life. His face lit up with excitement and relief, and he immediately staggered toward the door.

Just as Li Dong put his hand on the doorknob, Lin Qing's quiet voice drifted from behind him.

“Tell Wang Fanran to wait. I'm not letting him off this time.”

At the name Wang Fanran, Li Dong's body gave an involuntary shudder. He quickly turned the doorknob and hurried out of the locker room.

He didn't want to stay at this school any longer!!!

Unaware that a single look had scared Li Dong out of his wits, Lin Qing lowered his head after the locker-room door closed again.

He looked at his hand, still bleeding without pause, and tried to find some humor in it. Maybe he ought to go pray at a temple?

He'd been having one blood-soaked stroke of bad luck after another lately. If this kept up, he might actually bleed to death.

Clang!

As Lin Qing was thinking about all this, the metal locker door suddenly pushed open from the inside.

That made him remember Su Yao at once. It wasn't time to let his guard down yet.

Who knew if Su Yao might get excited at the sight of blood and do something out of character?

“I never would've guessed Li Dong would come after you with a knife!”

Su Yao stepped out of the locker with a light stride and a hint of delight on her face, as if what had just happened in the locker room had pleased her.

This different side of Lin Qing was even more to her taste.

Or perhaps seeing blood all over the place had gotten her worked up, too.

Her eyes, dark as obsidian, seemed to glitter.

She kept her gaze fixed on Lin Qing, amusement in her eyes, but didn't slow down. She quickly walked over and stopped beside him.

Lin Qing's wound was still bleeding nonstop. If they didn't stop it, he'd lose too much blood soon.

They needed to bandage it now. He couldn't keep bleeding.

Su Yao quickly crouched in front of Lin Qing. As he watched her warily, she smiled and raised one hand, showing him a roll of white bandage to prove she wasn't up to anything.

If Lin Qing didn't want to die, he'd better do as she said.

Otherwise, if he made her angry and she picked another toy, Lin Qing would die right here today.

Only...

A one-of-a-kind, precious toy was always so hard to let go of.

“You were so cool just now. I thought you'd stand there like an idiot and let him stab you.”

As Su Yao untied the old bandage on Lin Qing's hand and prepared to wrap it tightly with a new one, she even made time to chat with him. His face was deathly pale.

The wound in Lin Qing's palm was deep, and after it split open again, it was bleeding heavily.

Once she'd removed all the bandages, Su Yao looked at the gruesome wound in his palm, and the corners of her mouth immediately lifted.

It was a mark that belonged to her alone!

Just looking at it excited her!

She really wanted to do something...

But Su Yao didn't immediately wrap the new bandage around his hand. Taking advantage of how weak and helpless Lin Qing was, she quickly leaned toward him.

Without warning, she pressed her lips hard against his.

Her nimble tongue wandered restlessly.

Her ink-black eyes stared straight at Lin Qing, shining with excitement.

Lin Qing froze for a moment, then immediately raised a hand and shoved her away. But when he glared at Su Yao in anger, his expression suddenly changed to shock.

The red skull above Su Yao's head had changed!