Chapter 31: Would You Still Love Me If I Were Bald? (31)
The Wei Institute seemed to have restrained itself a little, but only just a little. Even now, he remained unwilling to give up, still peering into Bu Zhongyao’s life. Mentioning Wei Institute brought a dark expression to Bu Zhongyao’s face. “I’ve noticed before that my things in the dorm have been tampered with, and I’ve lost several pieces of my intimate clothing—only mine, none of my roommates’. He was definitely behind it.”
Even before PE class, when she had to change clothes in the locker room, Bu Zhongyao could feel the unsettling sensation of being watched. When Gu Yue found out, she confronted Wei Institute and scolded him, but clearly, he had no intention of stopping. Lately, Bu Zhongyao walked everywhere with Gu Yue, which at least kept her relatively safe.
Having listened to all this, Bai Yao finally had some understanding of Wei Institute’s character. After dinner, Bu Zhongyao and Gu Yue left the cafeteria hand in hand, seeking some privacy elsewhere. Bai Yao mulled things over for a moment, then looked down at her tray and saw it piled high with meat. She glanced at the person beside her. “Why did you give me all the meat?”
Shen Ji ate only vegetables and green peppers, leaning in toward Bai Yao, his smile pure and innocent. “I always give you the best.”
He was someone who couldn’t go without meat—in the past, even after he was full, he would still eye the meat left on Bai Yao’s plate. Now, he wouldn’t take a single bite for himself, giving all the meat to her. It was no small sacrifice.
A warm feeling spread through Bai Yao’s heart. She divided the meat and gave half back to him. “I can’t eat that much. You’re still growing—you should eat more.”
Shen Ji gazed longingly at the meat on the plate. He wanted to pick up his chopsticks, but restrained himself. He asked softly, “Yao Yao, can I come sleep with you again tonight?”
Bai Yao shot him a look.
He lowered his head, fiddling with his shirt hem and muttering, “I really can’t sleep without you.”
He was simply addicted—after the first time, he wanted it again and again. Shen Ji had always been indulgent and unrestrained, and Bai Yao always spoiled him. With her, he experienced the joy of being someone’s favorite. Every intimate act brought him a happiness far beyond mere physical pleasure.
Bai Yao calmly took a bite of meat. “You can—but only if you come to me clean.”
Shen Ji lifted his eyes, bright as the stars, more delighted than any time she’d ever fed him dried meat. “Yao Yao, I’ll make sure I’m squeaky clean!”
At night, ever since more and more people had gone missing, most didn’t dare to skip evening self-study. Those who attended were noticeably more focused. Bai Yao, unless she had other matters, would never skip out either. But tonight, she unexpectedly noticed that Lu Zhizhi, who usually sat at the back, was missing.
It was the first time Lu Zhizhi had skipped evening study.
Bai Yao twirled her pen thoughtfully.
The night was shrouded in clouds, the darkness oppressive.
Even though she’d already made up her mind, actually stepping into the building haunted by terrifying rumors made fear well up in Lu Zhizhi’s heart.
She whispered, “Will this really work? Song Ming from our class disappeared while searching for the art room.”
Wei Institute held a wooden stick for protection, unconcerned. “He used the wrong method. Of course he failed.”
Lu Zhizhi asked, “You know the right way?”
Wei Institute smiled. “My great-grandfather built this building. He left behind instructions for his descendants on how to have their wishes granted.”
Unfortunately, his great-grandfather died not long after the fire, leaving only a few things behind. But for what Wei Institute planned tonight, it was enough.
He had spread rumors about the art room for so long, luring greedy people to risk their lives. The missing people only confirmed his theory: to have the entity in the art room grant a wish, you had to use the proper method.
He pressed his hand to the object hidden in his pocket, then glanced at Lu Zhizhi, hiding the look of determination in his eyes.
When the art room finally appeared before them, Lu Zhizhi exclaimed in shock, “The art room really appeared!”
Her longing slowly overcame her fear. As long as she entered that room, she could change the atmosphere of the school so no student would ever suffer under bullies again. Yes, she didn’t care for gratitude—she only wanted everyone to have the happiness they deserved.
Nervously, Lu Zhizhi stepped forward and pushed open the door. In the next instant, she was struck hard on the back of the head and collapsed, unconscious, inside the art room.
Wei Institute tossed away the stick, unable to hide his excitement as he stepped into the room, his gaze feverish as he looked at the shadowy figure in the darkness. Without preamble, he declared, “I have brought you a sacrifice—please grant my wish!”
He was different from those reckless fools who came alone.
To have a wish granted by the entity, one had to pay a price. If you didn’t want to bear the consequences yourself, present a sacrifice instead.
That was why he had been contacting Lu Zhizhi recently. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have wasted another second on a girl with a savior complex.
The figure sat on the windowsill, seemingly chewing on something. At the word “sacrifice,” the head tilted. “Are you the descendant of Wei?”
Wei Institute answered immediately, “Yes, Wei Xie was my great-grandfather!”
The dark figure let out a laugh. “As I thought.”
Those words held some hidden meaning, but Wei Institute didn’t notice. He took a step forward, catching a whiff of milk-scented body wash. It must have been his imagination—why would the entity have just taken a bath?
Wei Institute spoke feverishly, “My wish is—”
“I refuse.”
Wei Institute was stunned. “What?”
The figure in the darkness chewed noisily, speaking unclearly, “I’m in a hurry. Leave.”
Wei Institute snapped out of it and yelled, “How can you refuse me? I brought you a sacrifice!”
“Your offering doesn’t interest me.”
Wei Institute clenched his fists. He couldn’t let his meticulous plan fail now—and most importantly, all his hopes rested here. He knew that without supernatural power, no one in reality would ever care for him.
He gritted his teeth. “I didn’t want to do this, but you forced me.”
He pulled from his pocket a wooden box sealed with a talisman. “Your heart is in my possession. If you don’t want to be annihilated, you’d better do as I say.”
The shadow fell silent.
Wei Institute knew his threat had worked. He almost wanted to praise his great-grandfather for risking his life to save this item from the fire—without it, he’d never have the chance to threaten a supernatural being. That was why, unlike everyone else, he could face the entity without fear.
“You know perfectly well what will happen if I crush what’s inside this box,” Wei Institute said arrogantly. “This school is your domain—everyone here is under your control. All you need to do is lift a finger and my wish will come true. Isn’t that easy for you?”
The shadow remained still. Wei Institute gripped the box tighter, his expression twisting. “What, you think I won’t do it? Your life and death are now in my—”
With a bang, he was struck hard on the back of the head. His body swayed and he collapsed to the floor.
The box fell to the ground, its contents spilling out.
A girl rushed over, crouching to pick up the object—a shriveled heart, so fragile it would turn to dust with the slightest pressure. She tossed aside her stick and cradled the heart in both hands as if it were the most delicate treasure, every muscle tense with care.
Wei Institute, dazed—likely concussed—didn’t get up for a long while. He stared at the girl in a school uniform and, in disbelief, called out a name: “Bai Yao…”
Bai Yao blew the dust from the heart, her hands steady as she stood, expressionless, looking down at him.
A plastic-wrapped piece of jerky, half-eaten, dropped to the floor with a soft thud.
The figure at the window was at a loss, silent for a long time before mumbling, “Yao…Yao Yao.”
Just like a child caught doing something wrong.