Chapter 73: Lin Xian’er’s Probe

Su Qing had been in a bad mood for the past few days.

A very bad mood.

So bad that every time she saw Lin Xian’er, she wanted to bite her. She’d thought many times about just hypnotizing Lin Xian’er, brainwashing her, and stamping a permanent mark on her mind, but her last experience had taught her that if the target’s mental strength wasn’t weaker than hers, the effect would be negligible—or even backfire.

That only made Su Qing feel even more suffocated.

She still had to smile.

Still had to “be friends” with Lin Xian’er.

Still had to go shopping with her.

—

She sat on her bed, staring at her phone.

The screen showed Lin Xian’er’s profile picture.

A white cat, eyes half-closed, looking completely harmless.

Su Qing stared at that cat.

She felt like right now, she wanted to pluck every last hair off that cat.

Her phone buzzed.

Lin Xian’er: “Su Qianqian, do you have time tomorrow afternoon? Come to the library with me?”

Su Qing took a deep breath. Typed: “Sure.”

Sent.

She tossed the phone aside.

Lay down.

Stared at the ceiling.

Her mind was churning.

Lin Xian’er had stolen her credit.

Lin Mo thought Lin Xian’er was his life savior.

Lin Xian’er had leverage over her.

And she couldn’t say a word.

She rolled over.

Then she thought about that day when she’d given Lin Mo artificial respiration.

She sat up abruptly.

No.

What was she thinking?

She was angry!

Not reminiscing!

Her phone buzzed again.

She picked it up.

It wasn’t Lin Xian’er. It was Alice.

Alice: “I found something. Lin Xian’er, sophomore year, SS-Rank ability, exact type unknown. She has two teammates: Cheng Xue and Ye Ling, both A-Rank. The three of them are very close.”

Su Qing stared at the screen.

SS-Rank.

Three A-Ranks.

That lineup.

She gritted her teeth. Typed: “Keep digging. Find out what she really wants.”

Alice: “Got it.”

Su Qing put down her phone.

Lay down.

She began to think back over the events of the past few days, trying to sort them out.

Lin Xian’er.

What do you really want?

—

The next afternoon.

The library.

When Su Qing arrived, Lin Xian’er was already sitting there.

A seat by the window, two cups of coffee set on the table in front of her.

When she saw Su Qing, she smiled.

“You’re here?”

Su Qing walked over and sat down.

“You called me to the library just to drink coffee?”

Lin Xian’er laughed.

“Of course not. I borrowed a few books and wanted you to take a look at them.” She pushed the books over.

Su Qing looked down.

Psychology and Interpersonal Relationships

How to Make Others Like You

Subconscious Guidance in Social Interactions

Su Qing looked up at her.

“What are you reading these for?”

Lin Xian’er rested her chin on her hand.

“Learning. Interpersonal skills are important, didn’t you know?”

Su Qing didn’t answer.

Lin Xian’er continued.

“Also, I think the way you interact with people… is a little off.”

Su Qing’s heart tightened.

“What do you mean?”

Lin Xian’er looked at her.

“You’re too good to Shen Qingyue. So good it’s… a little abnormal.”

Su Qing’s heart skipped a beat.

“We’re best friends.”

Lin Xian’er smiled.

“Best friends? Then why are you so good to Lin Mo, too?”

Su Qing said nothing.

Lin Xian’er leaned in a little closer.

“That day at the hot spring, you could have just ignored him. He saw you naked—you should have been angry. But instead of getting angry, you covered for him and gave him artificial respiration.”

She looked into Su Qing’s eyes.

“That’s not something a best friend would do.”

Su Qing’s face went pale.

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

Lin Xian’er leaned back in her chair.

“Nothing. I just think you’re a pretty interesting person.” She picked up her coffee and took a sip.

“You know, I looked into your file.”

Su Qing’s heart raced.

“What?”

“Your file is very clean. So clean it’s almost suspicious.” Lin Xian’er set down her cup.

“Transferred in from outside, average grades, average family background, nothing special whatsoever.”

She looked at Su Qing.

“But I don’t think you’re average.”

Su Qing didn’t answer.

Lin Xian’er smiled.

“Don’t worry. I won’t keep investigating. Everyone has their secrets.”

She stood up.

“Come on, help me return these books.”

Su Qing stood up too.

Her mind was in chaos.

She looked into my file.

What does she know?

Or is she just testing me?

—

They walked toward the return counter.

Lin Xian’er walked beside her and suddenly spoke.

“Su Qianqian.”

“Mm?”

“You like Lin Mo, don’t you?”

Su Qing’s footsteps faltered for a moment.

“That’s none of your business.”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “That means you do.”

Su Qing didn’t reply.

Lin Xian’er went on.

“Liking someone is normal. But keeping it all hidden like this… isn’t it exhausting?”

Su Qing looked at her.

“What business is it of yours?”

Lin Xian’er blinked.

“None of my business. I just think you’re having a rough time.”

She walked up to the return counter, placed the books inside, then turned to face Su Qing.

“Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret.” She smiled. “We’re friends, after all.”

Su Qing stared at her.

That smile.

Gentle.

Harmless.

But she knew it was a trap.

—

That evening.

Fifth floor of the girls’ dormitory.

Room 510.

Lin Xian’er pushed the door open.

Cheng Xue was lying on her bed reading a book. Ye Ling was applying a face mask.

“Back?” Cheng Xue looked up. “How did it go today?”

Lin Xian’er lay down on her bed.

“Not bad. That Su Qianqian is getting more and more interesting.”

Ye Ling frowned. “Interesting how?”

Lin Xian’er thought for a moment.

“She likes Lin Mo. And she likes him deeply.”

Cheng Xue was stunned. “How do you know?”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “I tested her. She didn’t deny it.”

Ye Ling sat up. “So what are you going to do?”

Lin Xian’er looked at them both.

“I’ll leave her alone for now. She’s still useful.”

Cheng Xue leaned over. “Useful for what?”

Lin Xian’er blinked. “Haven’t you noticed? She’s very close to Shen Qingyue. Through her, I can get close to Shen Qingyue. And through Shen Qingyue, I can get close to Lin Mo.”

Ye Ling thought about it. “Then couldn’t you just get close to Lin Mo directly?”

Lin Xian’er smiled. “I could. But that would be too slow. And besides…” She paused.

“And besides, I always feel like that Lin Mo guy… is a little strange.”

Cheng Xue asked, “Strange how?”

Lin Xian’er shook her head. “I can’t put it into words. It’s just… my ability has a very weak effect on him.”

Ye Ling was taken aback. “Weak effect? Aren’t you SS-Rank?”

Lin Xian’er nodded. “Yeah. So it’s really strange.”

Cheng Xue considered it. “Could it be that he has an ability too?”

Lin Xian’er shook her head. “His file says 0.1, no ability.”

Ye Ling frowned. “Then what’s going on?”

Lin Xian’er didn’t answer.

She was thinking about the same question.

Her ability was SS-Rank.

It should have an extremely strong effect on ordinary people.

But Lin Mo… barely reacted at all.

—

Cheng Xue yawned. “Forget it. I don’t want to think about it. Anyway, keep at it. If you need a fight, call me.”

Ye Ling yawned too. “And if you need healing, call me.”

Lin Xian’er smiled and patted each of their heads.

“Okay. You two are my trump cards.”

She closed her eyes.

Her mind was still on today’s events.

Su Qianqian.

Lin Mo.

Shen Qingyue.

These three people…

What exactly is their connection?

—

Interesting.