She had no time to deal with Shen Mosi now.
“What are you dawdling for? Move aside.”
Qi Dong suddenly stepped closer, trying to push Xunian, but Xunian, holding Shen Mosi, dodged away with her.
Shen Mosi’s eyes darkened as she stared at Qi Dong with a tempestuous gaze from within Xunian’s arms.
Qi Dong, having missed her target, awkwardly stepped inside, followed closely by Yuan Shen, who was bound together with her.
She looked up and saw the corpse.
“Ah!”
She stumbled backward and fell into Yuan Shen’s arms, both of them shocked, frozen in place without knowing what to do.
“Zhang… Zhang San?!”
Qi Ye cried out in alarm.
Their companion had died just like that, taking their secret with them.
Leaning weakly against Yuan Shen behind her, Qi Dong’s clever eyes sparkled with cruelty beneath a smile.
Some secrets are better left known by fewer people.
Yuan Shen’s expression softened with pity as he pulled Qi Dong back to the side, unwilling to approach the body.
Qi Ye stepped inside and immediately spotted Zhang San’s corpse, retreating in fear. “Zhang San… how did he die?”
No one else dared to approach. Xunian gently patted the person in her arms, and only then did Shen Mosi reluctantly emerge from her embrace.
Xunian stepped forward to take a closer look at the body.
The corpse was dressed neatly but in a bizarre death pose, a faint smile on the face—unnatural, as if killed by some strange force rather than a person.
Yuan Shen and Qi Dong exchanged a glance, understanding each other’s meaning. Yuan Shen addressed the group.
“Actually… last night we heard the door of the room next door opening more than once. It’s Zhang San’s room.”
“What door opening?”
Ran Feng, arriving late, pushed open the door and walked in under everyone’s watchful eyes.
“Why are you all looking at me?” he asked in confusion.
“Zhang San is dead.”
“He’s dead?” Ran Feng finally saw the corpse but showed no surprise, only sighing, “Well, that’s a good thing.”
“Do you suspect me?” Ran Feng looked incredulous. “On what grounds?”
Everyone knew why—Ran Feng had clashed with Zhang San the day before, and since they were bound together, it would be all too convenient for him to harm Zhang San.
Yuan Shen pressed on, eyes sharp as he stared into Ran Feng’s. “Where were you last night? Why were the chains on your hands undone?”
Under the intense questioning, Ran Feng reluctantly explained to prove his innocence.
“We were chased by a ghost yesterday. When we escaped to the dorm, we found pliers and used them to unlock the chains between us. After that, he went out and didn’t come back.”
Qi Dong, leaning weakly against Yuan Shen, added softly, “Last night, we heard more than one door opening. If I’m not mistaken, it was three times.”
“If Zhang San left and was killed without returning, how do you explain the other two times the door opened?” Yuan Shen pressed.
Ran Feng frowned, surprised they had noticed so much. Words caught in his throat.
He took a deep breath to steady himself and then said,
“To be honest, I did go out last night because I saw a golden-haired woman hurrying along. It looked really strange, so I quietly followed her after opening the door.”
Golden-haired woman!
Xunian’s expression shifted briefly, her ears perked as she listened intently.
“But,” Ran Feng shifted his tone, “when I came back, I saw Qi Ye lurking outside.”
Qi Ye’s eyes darted nervously. “Feng, don’t say things you don’t know. I… didn’t go out last night…”
He looked terribly guilty.
Everyone’s gaze fixed on Qi Ye, waiting for an explanation.
Qi Ye opened his mouth but said nothing.
“Why are you so concerned about noises outside the door? How do you even know the door next door opened several times?”
Shen Mosi suddenly spoke.
Her words shifted suspicion onto Yuan Shen and Qi Dong. Xunian noticed and looked at her, receiving a sweet smile in return.
Ran Feng suddenly understood and relaxed. “So you’re accusing me of killing Zhang San and trying to frame me?”
“He’s our companion. Why would we kill him? But you, a stranger we just met, want to take charge and say you’ll lead us through this…”
Qi Dong’s eyes blazed with anger as she pointed at Ran Feng, ready to curse.
She was a completely different person from the fragile one leaning weakly on Yuan Shen moments ago.
Yuan Shen tugged at her and gestured toward the time—less than two minutes before class started.
“It’s time for class. Let’s talk after.”
Qi Dong snorted coldly, shrugged off his hand, and stomped toward her seat.
Yuan Shen was a little annoyed but followed after her.
The group returned to their seats from the day before, waiting for class to begin.
Qi Ye was shaken by their sharp exchanges and only now realized how wise Xunian was not to join Ran Feng’s team.
He deeply regretted not stubbornly sticking by Xunian’s side. That way, Ran Feng wouldn’t have used him as a scapegoat repeatedly.
Qi Ye understood everything but was too timid to resist, powerless to face the situation and forced to endure the bullying.
His mood complicated, he glanced toward Xunian and Shen Mosi, who were whispering quietly.
Leaning close, Shen Mosi softly asked,
“Desk mate, who do you think is lying?”
Xunian met her gaze and answered calmly,
“All of them.”
Shen Mosi curved her elegant brows, a warm smile like spring sunshine blossoming at her lips, then asked again,
“Do you lie too?”
“Of course.”
Xunian spoke honestly, thinking Shen Mosi would probably dislike her for it. After all, no one likes lies.
“Then, was the ‘I hate you’ you said a lie?”
“No.”
Shen Mosi’s smile deepened.
“That’s the lie, isn’t it?”
Her eyes glimmered with a strange expression, as if looking at someone familiar, filled with a sick possessiveness.
“Liars… are very naughty.”
Xunian’s heart fluttered again.
Two completely different people—how could they feel so similar?
What exactly was Shen Mosi’s relationship with the Duke’s Daughter?
She didn’t know how to respond and suddenly noticed a shadow flashing past behind Shen Mosi’s back on the window.
In that instant, her blood seemed to freeze.
Her heartbeat in her chest surged rapidly, almost pounding out of her throat. All her previous assumptions shattered in that moment.
Outside the window, the golden-haired figure flickered by, long curls falling past the waist, the silhouette so familiar.
It was the Duke’s Daughter.
Without hesitation, Xunian stood and rushed outside in pursuit.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.