Chapter 37: Seduction Part 2

Qinan City’s climate had stark temperature boundaries: summers roasted people alive, winters froze them into ice sculptures.

With temperatures dropping day by day, the biting cold winds slapped faces like rude backhands. During PE’s free activity time, everyone tacitly moved indoors—to classrooms or the gym.

Class One and Class Two had PE together. Song Lin argued with Wang Yizhou again, but this time it wasn’t about what ball to play.

Having finished believing in Western tarot, Wang Yizhou now turned to Eastern spirits and ghosts. He insisted on summoning Pen Immortal in an empty classroom at midnight and wanted to drag Song Lin and Tan Jing along for this sacred activity.

Song Lin thought Wang Yizhou sounded like a second-grader and was utterly speechless. He couldn’t help complaining to Tan Jing: “Jing Bro, don’t you think this guy’s lost his mind?”

“What lost his mind? I just want to do an experiment to see if it’s real,” Wang Yizhou argued righteously. “Young man, keep some curiosity, okay?”

Song Lin rolled his eyes in classic young-person fashion: “Please use that curiosity on something useful. The weather forecast said it’s snowing tonight. Won’t freeze you to death.”

“Not convenient today—another day works.” Wang Yizhou persisted, then pitifully turned to Tan Jing, clasping his hands like rubbing flies: “Jing Bro, pretty please.”

Tan Jing glanced at him: “Tonight it is.”

Wang Yizhou dramatically wiped fake tears: “As long as you agree, I’ll do anyth—huh?”

Halfway through his pitiful act, he suddenly realized and stared in disbelief: “You agreed?!”

Song Lin looked at Tan Jing incredulously too. Had his Jing Bro been body-snatched?

Tan Jing hummed affirmatively, casually saying, “If Song Lin won’t go, ask Zhou Yu. He’s a horror movie fan; he should be willing.”

Wang Yizhou was overjoyed: “Great! I’ll go find him now!”

He turned and smugly grinned at Song Lin: “See? My Jing Bro really dotes on me.”

Song Lin’s eye twitched. He didn’t want to talk to idiots.

Yeah, your Jing Bro “dotes” on you so much he’s turning you into wingman fodder.

Class One classroom.

He Siheng boredly leaned on his chair playing mobile games. It had been a while since he’d played ball, and his body felt restless.

But the scars on his hands hadn’t fully scabbed over; he didn’t want them cracking again, so he had to endure.

With the cold weather, Zhou Yu was lazy too, sprawled asleep on his desk.

Only a few scattered people remained in the classroom, making it feel empty and quiet.

Wang Yizhou burst into Class One like a whirlwind, heading straight for Zhou Yu and getting right to the point.

Just as Tan Jing had said, the horror aficionado Zhou Yu couldn’t refuse such an adventure and agreed immediately.

But after agreeing, he insisted on dragging He Siheng along too. He’d needed He Siheng for courage when watching horror movies before; naturally, this activity couldn’t lack him either.

Wang Yizhou figured the more the merrier and shouted toward He Siheng, who was playing on his phone: “He Siheng, you coming?”

He Siheng had overheard their conversation and felt indifferent about the activity. Getting caught by security as thieves and dinged was secondary; on such a cold night, why not stay home instead of freezing at school? What was wrong with that?

Without lifting his head, He Siheng said, “Not going.”

“Come on,” Zhou Yu hurried over, not daring to sit in Tan Jing’s seat. He plopped down at the desk in front of He Siheng. “The Class Monitor’s coming too. Join us.”

He Siheng’s fingers paused; he instantly lost points in the game.

Ignoring it, he looked up with complicated feelings: “Has he lost his mind?”

Facts proved Tan Jing was acting a bit off today.

After PE ended, He Siheng confirmed it with him and got an affirmative answer.

Tan Jing said lightly, “To build some courage.”

He Siheng tugged at his lips: “You sure it’s building courage and not shattering it?”

Someone who couldn’t sleep after horror movies was playing this game? This guy’s confidence in himself was something else.

Tan Jing glanced lightly at him: “Scared to come?”

He Siheng was speechless: “Not scared, just hate the cold.”

Tan Jing looked at him, eyes curving: “True. Snow tonight— it’ll be pretty cold. A warm bed’s safer.”

Though agreeing, He Siheng inexplicably heard mockery.

Like a cat with its tail stepped on and provoked, He Siheng’s competitive streak ignited. He gritted his teeth: “Fine, I’m in. Who’s afraid?”

Evening.

After evening self-study ended, classmates gradually packed up—some heading to dorms, others home—until only five remained.

Song Lin closed the classroom door and turned to see Wang Yizhou hugging his arms disdainfully: “Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”

Song Lin sneered: “Who do you think I’m here for?”

If he didn’t show today, the wooden wingman would turn into a third wheel, and there’d be hell to pay.

Each class defaulted to the last student leaving the classroom turning off the lights and locking the door, but forgetful students often overlooked the lights. So, after the security guard confirmed no students lingered, he pulled the main power switch for the teaching building. This also made things easier for them, avoiding the classroom surveillance.

All the lights went out, plunging the entire teaching building into silent darkness.

Zhou Yu asked quietly, “Can we start now?”

He Siheng just wanted to get it over with quickly. He set his phone screen to stay lit and tossed it on the desk. “Let’s start. How do we play?”

Wang Yizhou pulled out the props he’d prepared in advance. “One hand per person on this pen. Everyone asks one question they most want answered, and we’ll see what the Pen Immortal replies.”

After Wang Yizhou spoke, Song Lin and Zhou Yu gripped the pen, one in front of the other.

The pen was short and the hands many. He Siheng struggled to find a spot for half a day and couldn’t help complaining, “This pen’s so short with all these hands—how’s it supposed to fit? Might as well use a chopstick.”

Wang Yizhou was speechless. “Then wouldn’t it just be Chopstick Fairy?”

Song Lin burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.

Wang Yizhou scolded him again. “Be serious! This is a sacred ritual.”

Song Lin: “…”

Though He Siheng grumbled, he still placed his hand on the pen. The moment he did, Zhou Yu yelped, “Heng Bro, your hand’s freezing cold!”

Wang Yizhou, whose nerves were already taut, jumped at the shout. “Shh! Keep it down! Don’t summon the security guard.”

He Siheng was equally exasperated. “No kidding. It’s winter—hands get cold. What, you think I’m a hand warmer?”

Just as he finished speaking, the usually silent Tan Jing extended his hand last. His warm, dry palm directly covered the back of He Siheng’s icy hand, the temperature difference stark.

Meeting He Siheng’s eyes, Tan Jing smiled faintly. “Satisfied with this hand warmer?”

He Siheng: “…”

Wang Yizhou noticed Tan Jing had gripped He Siheng’s hand directly instead of the proper pen-holding position and reminded him, “Jing Bro, your hand isn’t supposed—”

Before he could finish, Song Lin knocked him on the head. “Why fuss so much? Hurry up!”

Wang Yizhou grumbled in dissatisfaction, “Why rush me!”

He hadn’t controlled his volume that time. His loud voice immediately caught the attention of the security guard patrolling downstairs.

The security guard shouted from below, “Any students up there?”

Zhou Yu sucked in a cold breath. “We’re done for. The security guard’s coming—what do we do?”

He Siheng rubbed his forehead. “What else? Run.”

Wang Yizhou protested, “My game hasn’t even started!”