"Come?" Gao Yang panicked a bit. "Come for what?"
Qing Ling bent her legs and pressed down on Gao Yang. The moonlight highlighted her collarbones with a gleaming shimmer—dazzling and soul-stirring.
She let out a scornful laugh. "What else? Don't play innocent."
Gao Yang was dumbfounded.
Qing Ling didn't waste words. She brushed her hair aside and leaned toward Gao Yang's face.
"Wait a second!"
Gao Yang shouted. He wasn't exactly conservative and had watched his fair share of adult films, but this situation was escalating too fast—it felt like a trap.
"What now?"
"If I'm guilty, let the law punish me. Don't torment me like this…"
"You're awfully guarded," Qing Ling said.
Gao Yang thought: isn't that a normal reaction?
Three hours ago, he was nearly killed by his childhood best friend. Now, an unfamiliar beauty was suddenly throwing herself at him. He had every reason to think she might want to torture and kill him.
"Relax," Qing Ling's voice softened.
"..."
"If you really hate me, you can pretend it's someone else's face." She placed her hand on Gao Yang's chest and slowly moved downward.
"Let's… not. Why don't we start as friends..."
Suddenly, Qing Ling stopped.
Gao Yang was drenched in sweat, barely daring to breathe.
Qing Ling got out of bed and put her clothes back on. "Done."
Gao Yang was completely confused. As he sat up, he suddenly realized—there was a small, sharp knife hidden under his pillow.
Fully dressed, Qing Ling raised her hand slightly, and the knife flew back into her hand. Twisting her long fingers, the knife vanished in an instant.
"Were you trying to kill me just now?" Gao Yang asked, a bit shaken.
"That depends on you," Qing Ling said.
"What do you mean? If I'd given in to temptation and made a move on you, you'd have killed me?" Gao Yang guessed. "So this was a test, and I passed, so now you trust me?"
"Completely wrong." Qing Ling, with her back to him, tied up her ponytail. "If you didn't react at all, I'd have killed you."
"Why?"
"Beasts don't have real reproductive systems."
It suddenly clicked for Gao Yang. "So you were checking if I'm human!"
"Today, you encountered a Lust Beast."
"Lust Beast?"
"There are many types of beasts. Lust Beasts are just one kind. In short, they're cunning and good at disguise—indistinguishable from humans," Qing Ling said. "If you want to survive in this world, trust no one."
"Then how can I know you're human?" Gao Yang asked.
"Good, you're learning quickly," Qing Ling said, expressionless. "Confirming whether a woman is a beast is harder. You have to go all the way."
"Uh…"
Qing Ling tossed him a small bottle. "It's a special medicine. Use it, then dispose of it. Don't let anyone see it."
Gao Yang examined the small bottle. It looked like ordinary blue liquid—nothing special.
He hid it under the blanket. He still had a lot of questions for Qing Ling.
What exactly are beasts?
Why do they kill?
What kind of danger was he in now?
What's Qing Ling's power? She seemed way stronger than him.
How could he get stronger?
BANG!
The door suddenly burst open—his little sister barged in.
Gao Yang jumped up, shirtless. "It's not what you think!"
"What?" his sister asked, confused.
He turned back—Qing Ling had vanished. Only the swaying curtain and moonlight pouring into the room remained.
Seriously? That fast? In and out like the wind…
"Suspicious," his sister scanned him up and down, then smirked. "Bro, you weren't doing that, were you?"
"I wasn't! I swear! Don't say nonsense!" Gao Yang was on the verge of tears. "And next time, knock!"
"Got it!" She suddenly grinned and wrapped her arm around him. "Big bro, let's talk about something real quick."
"Say it."
She pulled out her phone. "Look at this lolita dress. Cute, right?"
"Sure…" Gao Yang caught on. "What do you want?"
"It's only 498! Super cheap! And if I buy it now, I save 198!"
"Not buying saves 498."
"My birthday is in eleven months!" She pouted. "Can't you treat it as an early birthday gift?"
"My death is in seventy years—can't you treat me as already dead?"
"You don't care about me! You don't love me! You're not worthy of being my brother!" she yelled. "I'll tell Mom and Dad you went out last night, came home covered in blood!"
"Alright, alright!" Gao Yang panicked. He sent her a few hundred from next month's living expenses. Better to keep the peace than save money.
"You're the best! Mwah~ I love you the most!"
His sister skipped away happily with the money.
Gao Yang sighed in relief as she closed the door behind her.
…
The special medicine Qing Ling gave him worked wonders. By the next morning, his wounds had nearly healed—just faint red marks remained, like bug bites.
After breakfast, he went to school.
In class, Li Weiwei's seat was empty.
Gao Yang felt an emptiness in his chest—a dull ache, like something had been carved out.
He recalled the twelve years they'd spent together: walking to and from school, eating together, doing homework, setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve, seeing her smile, cry, get angry… All those memories, shattered by the beast from last night.
He wished the creature was just a monster—something separate from the sweet human girl he'd known. But they were one and the same.
He couldn't accept it.
By the end of the first morning period, Li Weiwei's seat was still empty. Some girls started whispering—clearly, the news was spreading.
Gao Yang hadn't slept well and had too many questions for Qing Ling.
To his surprise, Qing Ling approached right after class and loudly confronted him in front of everyone. "Gao Yang, where's Li Weiwei?"
Gao Yang froze. What was this, a performance?
"No idea," he replied.
"No idea?! Weren't you with her yesterday?"
"Yeah, we went home separately at night…"
"Then why didn't she answer her phone, reply on Instagram, or come to class?" Qing Ling frowned and walked off, frustrated.
First period was math—and their math teacher was also the homeroom teacher.
He entered the classroom looking grim, placed the textbook on the podium, and adjusted his thick glasses.
"Before we begin, I need to tell you something."
"Li Weiwei… was murdered last night."
The class erupted.
"What?!"
Qing Ling jumped to her feet in shock.
Gao Yang was stunned, but also impressed: this girl's acting was Oscar-worthy.
She and Li Weiwei were close, so her reaction made sense. Meanwhile, Gao Yang realized his own lack of response was suspicious.
He quickly stood up too, feigning shock and disbelief. "Impossible! I saw her just yesterday afternoon!"
"She was attacked late at night, likely by a robber. Stabbed in the chest. Died instantly…" the teacher sighed. "That's all I know for now."
"No way! How could this happen?"
"She didn't deserve this…"
"The killer must get the death penalty!"
"Waaah…"
The boys who liked Li Weiwei were furious, and her close friends cried quietly.
"I know this is hard, and I'm also grieving," the teacher said.
"The police are doing everything they can. Justice will be served."
"Those who want to say goodbye can come with me to the funeral home tonight…"
"Now let's try to focus and continue class."
He opened the book, then remembered something. "Qing Ling, Gao Yang, come to my office."
Gao Yang tensed. "Why, teacher?"
"The police are here. Just answer a few questions."
Qing Ling, eyes red, ran out like she was eager to help. Gao Yang followed.
In the hallway, once they were alone, he caught up to her. "Let's get our story straight."
"What story?" Qing Ling turned, her face a mix of grief and anger.
"About Li Weiwei."
She paused, then grabbed his collar. "So you do know something! Did you kill her?"
"Huh?" Gao Yang was confused.
What was this now? Was she taking the acting too far?
"Enough with the drama!" Gao Yang said.
"Who's acting?!" Qing Ling glared. "You're suspicious as hell. Why didn't you walk her home last night? Why was she killed? I bet it was you!"
What?! This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
Was she turning him in to save herself?
"Say something! You liked her, didn't you? She rejected you, and you killed her in a rage, right?" Qing Ling accused him fiercely.
Gao Yang's brain worked overtime. There were only two possibilities:
1. This wasn't the same Qing Ling as last night—unlikely.
2. She was still acting, selling him out to protect herself. She did say not to trust anyone.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Gao Yang lowered his head and brushed past her. Silence was safer.
"Don't play dumb! I'll make sure the police investigate you! If you killed her, I'll never forgive you!" Qing Ling shouted as she stormed into the office.
Just as Gao Yang was about to enter, a tall man stopped him with an outstretched arm.
He looked up—it was a uniformed officer, around his thirties. Crew cut, square jaw, sharp eyes, seasoned and cold.
"You're… Officer Huang?"
"Heh, we meet again." Officer Huang smiled, but his eyes were icy.
Three nights ago, this man had shot a "crazy person" and "saved" Gao Yang. His name was Huang Qi—Officer Huang.
He patted Gao Yang on the shoulder. "You're coming with me to a different room."
Gao Yang's heart sank: it was the prisoner's dilemma.