Alice Royal Academy Library. 2:00 PM.
Shen Qingyue sat in the corner, a book spread open in front of her. But she wasn’t reading it. Her mind was on other things.
Recently, that Senior Lin Xian’er kept coming to chat with her. After every conversation, she felt in a great mood. She didn’t know why.
As she was thinking, someone sat down across from her. She looked up.
Lin Xian’er.
“Daydreaming again?” Lin Xian’er smiled.
Shen Qingyue blushed. “N-no…”
Lin Xian’er blinked. “What are you thinking about? Tell me.”
Shen Qingyue lowered her head. “Nothing…”
Lin Xian’er looked at her, eyes gentle. “Qingyue, you know, every time I see you, I feel especially close to you.”
Shen Qingyue was stunned for a second. “Really?”
Lin Xian’er nodded. “Mm. Like… I’ve known you for a long time.”
She used a bit of her special ability. [Causality Weaving] — making Shen Qingyue feel a sense of “destiny.”
This was her SS-Rank ability. Through causality, she could change the connections between people by observing and influencing, not just altering relationships but even creating butterfly effects that changed the future. The world was so strange now — who knew if the butterfly effect from her ability had caused it?
Shen Qingyue felt a strange sensation in her heart. As if… she had really seen her somewhere before? But she couldn’t remember.
；———）.
She was about to say something when footsteps approached. Another person walked over.
Lin Mo.
Shen Qingyue’s heart raced.
Lin Xian’er’s eyes lit up.
Lin Mo saw the two of them and didn’t quite understand how they could be together. “Ah… you’re both here?”
Shen Qingyue blushed. “I… came to borrow a book. I happened to run into Senior Lin.”
Lin Mo nodded. “Oh. Well, you two keep chatting. I’ll just go borrow a book.” He was about to turn toward another bookshelf.
Lin Xian’er spoke up. “Lin Mo, since you’re here, why not sit for a while?”
Lin Mo turned back. Looked at her. He was a bit confused. If Shen Qingyue had called him, he’d think it was normal, but this Lin Xian’er had been popping up frequently ever since that elevator incident, even though they had no real connection.
“Huh?”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “I see you don’t have a book in hand. I borrowed a few pretty good ones. This one is called ‘Pretending to Be Hypnotized, the Yanderes Made Their Move on Me.’ I think it’s really good, but maybe guys would like it more. Do you think it’s interesting?”
Lin Mo scratched his head. “Actually, I’m here waiting for Zhang Yang. He said he wanted to borrow a book and told me to save seats first…”
Lin Xian’er laughed. “Then sit here. There are exactly three seats.” She pointed to the empty seat beside her.
Lin Mo hesitated.
Shen Qingyue kept her head down and said nothing. But her ears were red.
Lin Mo thought it over. Might as well sit. He was waiting for Zhang Yang anyway. He sat down.
Three people.
One table.
The atmosphere was subtle.
(; —…
Lin Xian’er laughed inwardly. ‘Perfect. Two targets, one shot.’
She looked at Shen Qingyue. “Qingyue, what have you been reading recently?”
Shen Qingyue turned the book over. A Brief History of Time.
Lin Xian’er blinked. “Wow, you’re reading this?”
Shen Qingyue nodded. “Mm… I’m a bit interested.”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “I have a few similar ones in my dorm. Would you like to borrow them?”
Shen Qingyue’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Of course.”
Lin Xian’er used a bit of her ability again, making Shen Qingyue feel — ‘This senior is really nice.’
(V *)…
Shen Qingyue’s affection points toward her increased by 1.
Lin Xian’er turned to Lin Mo. “Lin Mo, what about you? What do you like to read?”
Lin Mo thought for a moment. “Do comics count?”
Lin Xian’er laughed. “They count. I like reading comics too.”
Lin Mo was taken aback. “Really?”
“Mm. I’ve been reading Jujutsu Kaisen lately.”
Lin Mo’s eyes lit up. “I’m reading that too!”
Lin Xian’er blinked. “Then which character do you like?”
“Gojo Satoru, no question.”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “I like him too.”
She used a bit of her ability, making Lin Mo feel — ‘This senior is pretty easy to talk to.’
（寸.）.
Lin Mo’s affection points toward her increased by 1.
The two started chatting about the manga. Shen Qingyue listened on the sidelines, unable to join in. She felt a little… jealous?
(0’o)…
Lin Xian’er noticed. She turned to Shen Qingyue. “Qingyue, have you seen Jujutsu Kaisen?”
Shen Qingyue shook her head. “No…”
“Then you should watch it. There’s a character who resembles you a lot.”
Shen Qingyue was startled. “Who?”
“Nobara Kugisaki. Strong, gentle, with her own opinions.”
Shen Qingyue blushed. “I… I’m not like that…”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “You are. Really.”
She used a bit of her ability again, making Shen Qingyue feel — ‘This senior really gets me.’
（♥️*）
Shen Qingyue’s affection points toward her increased by another 1.
The three chatted on, the atmosphere becoming more harmonious. Lin Xian’er mentally scored herself.
Shen Qingyue: affection +2
Lin Mo: affection +1
Perfect.
Just then —
Another person walked over.
Su Qianqian.
Lin Xian’er narrowed her eyes.
Su Qing saw the three of them sitting together and was also confused. “You all…”
Lin Xian’er smiled. “Su Qianqian, are you here to borrow a book too?”
Su Qing looked at her, a hint of wariness in her eyes. “Mm… I came to find Qingyue.”
Shen Qingyue looked up. “Qianqian, why are you here?”
Su Qing walked over. “Nothing much, just wanted to ask what you’re having for dinner.” She said this as she sat down next to Lin Mo, directly across from Lin Xian’er.
Four people.
One table.
The atmosphere… even more subtle.
；一-一……
Lin Xian’er looked at Su Qing, thinking to herself: Su Qianqian. Shen Qingyue’s best friend. But was she a true best friend or a plastic bestie trying to steal Lin Mo away? (She didn’t know about Su Qing’s relationship with Lin Mo, assuming Su Qianqian wanted to make a move.)
Interesting. Very interesting. She felt that among these people, Su Qianqian was the most intriguing.
She smiled. “Su Qianqian, you and Qingyue have such a good relationship.”
٠٠]
Su Qing nodded.
“Mm, we’re best friends.”
٠٠]
Lin Xian’er blinked.
画
“And Lin Mo? Are you close with him too?”
Su Qing’s heart tightened.
٠٠]
But her expression remained calm.
٠٠]
“Mm, very close. The study representative, Shen Qingyue, and I were high school classmates. She helped me a lot before the Gaokao. I’m very grateful and admire Shen Qingyue.”
١٠٠
Lin Xian’er nodded.
١٠٠
“I see.”
٠٠]
She used a bit of her ability, wanting to see Su Qing’s reaction.
٠٠]
But strangely —
画
Su Qing seemed to have no reaction at all?
（； —-）⋯
٠٠]
Lin Xian’er frowned.
١٠٠
Her ability had very little effect on Su Qing? Why couldn’t she see Su Qianqian’s causal threads? Why?
She didn’t know that Su Qing’s heart only had Lin Mo. She had no intention of being “conquered” by anyone else. Or rather, besides Shen Qingyue, whom she barely considered a rival, all the other girls were just fixed spawns in her eyes, nobodies until Lin Mo showed interest. So Lin Xian’er’s ability hit her like a stone.
（♥️*）..
Lin Xian’er smiled. Interesting. Very interesting. This woman was more intriguing than she had imagined.
Su Qing was also observing Lin Xian’er. This woman… her gaze just now when she looked at Lin Mo was a bit off. And her look at herself was also off. She recalled that feeling of “someone behind her” at the milk tea shop entrance.
Could it be… her? She decided to probe.
“Senior Xian’er, do you often come to the library?”
Lin Xian’er nodded. “Mm, pretty often. It’s quiet here.”
Su Qing smiled. “Then we can come together from now on. Qingyue comes often too.”
Lin Xian’er blinked. “Sure.”
The two locked eyes, both smiling. But that smile… contained too many things.
（；—–）.
Lin Mo, completely oblivious beside them, was still thinking about the manga they had discussed earlier.
Shen Qingyue also didn’t notice. She just felt happy today. Senior Lin Xian’er was such a nice person. Lin Mo had come too. Qianqian had come too. How wonderful.
（。人。）.
Night.
Dormitory.
Lin Xian’er lay on her bed, recalling the day’s events.
Shen Qingyue: affection +2, good progress.
Lin Mo: affection +1, can continue.
Su Qianqian: ability ineffective? Interesting.
She thought it over and set a small goal for herself: first conquer Shen Qingyue, then use her to get close to Lin Mo. And then conquer the others simultaneously. As for Su Qianqian… that one would need to be studied slowly.
（♥️*）..
She turned over, in a good mood. Today’s harvest was not bad.
On the other side, Su Qing was also thinking about today’s events.
Lin Xian’er…
She was definitely up to something. But what did she want? To get close to Qingyue. To get close to Lin Mo. And also to her…
She recalled that look they exchanged. Lin Xian’er’s eyes were like she was looking at… prey?
；———）.
Su Qing shivered. No, she had to keep an eye on her. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Alice: 「Keep investigating Lin Xian’er for me. The more detailed, the better.」
Alice replied instantly: 「Okay.」
Su Qing put down her phone, suddenly feeling a chill on her back. Her disguise couldn’t have been seen through. Lin Mo, who had grown up with her, couldn’t even tell. No one else could. Then why did she feel like her body was completely exposed, seen through?
Lin Xian’er…