Chapter 87: Desperation?

“No, think about that after I’m safe.”

She shook her head, pushing the chaotic thoughts to the back of her mind.

Yu Qing was fully aware she didn’t have time to think deeply right now.

Taking advantage of the brief distraction among those people, she struggled to her feet, ignoring the ache all over her body and the cramps in her abdomen, and continued running toward the Staircase Gate that seemed impossibly far away.

However, her luck seemed to have run out.

“No way, why aren’t they leaving…”

Yu Qing crouched behind a bookshelf, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the people patrolling nearby.

As soon as the commotion subsided, they locked onto her area, as if they were certain she was here.

Yu Qing had almost been discovered several times.

Fortunately, this body was agile and flexible enough that she could squeeze into small spaces in almost impossible positions, dodging several searches.

The cost was that her body grew more and more exhausted, and the pain from her period became sharper.

Moreover, as their search grew more meticulous, it was only a matter of time before they reached her.

And the Staircase Gate was only a little over ten meters away!

“I can’t wait any longer!”

Yu Qing’s eyes hardened.

She reached for a book on the nearby shelf, then, across two rows of bookshelves, she hurled it with all her might toward the farthest shelf she could reach.

“Bang!”

The book flew in an arc, slamming into the target bookshelf and knocking several books to the ground with a loud crash.

The echo in the Library drew every eye immediately.

“Send one person to check it out. The rest, keep going as usual.”

Among the first group, a man who seemed to be the leader gave orders to the others.

Those who seemed to be from the Student Union gathered together, watching as bystanders.

At first, they had joined the search with the first group, but later, they didn’t even bother to pretend, clearly making it known they weren’t on the same side.

Unfortunately, even though the leader reacted quickly, he was still a step too late.

When Yu Qing threw the book, she was already preparing to escape.

As everyone’s attention shifted, she bolted.

By the time they realized what happened, she was only a step away from the Staircase Gate!

She was almost there!

But just as the path to escape was within reach, Yu Qing had no time to celebrate.

She saw the handle of the stairway door turn.

In the next moment, the door to hope turned into a gateway to hell.

At this moment, it was slowly opening toward her.

No! Bro! This can’t be right!

Yu Qing rapidly analyzed the situation and made a decision in an instant.

Before the door could fully open, she twisted her body, changing direction, and darted behind the Trash Bin beside the door, trying to use it as cover.

If she waited for whoever was behind the door to leave, she might find another chance to escape.

But she had already forgotten that her own footsteps during her desperate dash had alerted everyone searching for her.

She was exposed!

“There she is!”

The man who had been near Yu Qing, drawn by the sound, snapped to attention.

He spotted her as she tried to hide and shouted quietly to the others, charging toward her.

Almost at the same time, the group emerging from the opened door heard the commotion, turned toward the Trash Bin, and spotted the tip of Yu Qing’s hood.

“She’s here! Wearing a Grey Hoodie!”

They pointed and called out.

Surrounded from both sides!

The ones opening the door were the first group as well!

Yu Qing’s heart clenched, blood turning to ice.

She was like a hunted deer, trapped in the open.

Tall bookshelves flanked her on both sides, and the only passage was blocked at both ends.

Damn!

Yu Qing cursed inwardly.

Her body reacted before her mind, and she sprinted toward an empty area.

But where could she run this time?

Yu Qing’s mind raced, but her thoughts were a jumble.

Despair closed in once more, deeper and more suffocating than before.

Should she use Necklace Transformation?

If she could hide in a corner and transform, even if her clothes didn’t change, she’d be a different person.

They couldn’t possibly catch her then, right?

Yu Qing hesitated, despair rising within her.

Because now, she couldn’t even find a dead corner to hide in!

At a glance, four people were closing in on her from four directions!

Her desperate gaze swept the area, searching for any sign of hope.

Suddenly, her eyes locked onto an unremarkable room not far ahead to the right.

A sign hung on the door: “Restoration Materials Room—No Unauthorized Entry.”

The door looked old, the handle even rusted.

It was the only hope!

Even if it might be locked… as long as she could get inside!

Yu Qing didn’t hesitate any longer.

Summoning all her strength, she dashed for the door like an arrow.

But she didn’t consider that if she ended up alone inside, even if she transformed, would the people who saw her run in really not be suspicious?

But she had no strength left to think.

No matter the training, no matter how well she fit into Mei Xue’s body, no matter how perfectly or powerfully she acted, Yu Qing was still, at her core, an ordinary person who knew nothing and drifted through life.

What she’d accomplished was already the limit for someone like her.

“Catch her!”

The shouts behind her were close.

Yu Qing had no time left to hesitate!

Her hand gripped the cold, rusty door handle and twisted hard.

“Click.”

The door opened!

A scent of old paper, paste, and faint mildew wafted out.

At this moment, it was the sweetest fragrance in the world, a breath of hope named life.

Without thinking, Yu Qing slipped inside, turning to slam the door shut and lock it.

But a foot in a sneaker shot forward, jamming the door just in time!

“Trying to run?”

Outside, a man arrived, his face twisted in a cat-and-mouse grin.

As he spoke, he pushed against the door.

Yu Qing pressed with all her might, but compared to his strength, she was powerless.

The door was forced open bit by bit, and the Scarred Man’s face became clearer—

It was over…

This time, there was truly no escape.

Overwhelming fear and helplessness threatened to make Yu Qing give up.

However.

In that split second—

“Hey! What are you all doing?!”

A young male voice, filled with anger and confusion, suddenly rang out nearby.