On Monday, when Chu Yang walked into the classroom, she noticed that the black mist around Chen Xixi had grown darker. Chu Yang frowned slightly, but soon resumed her normal expression. This bit of darkness isn't enough to kill anyone.
On the other side, at the police station, "It can be deduced that the perpetrator is an adult male. His methods are decisive and efficient - likely a butcher or possibly a doctor, but not certain. He is around 176cm tall and his appearance is probably average - the kind of person you wouldn't normally notice in a crowd..."
Chi Yan was somewhat distracted here because he hadn't been in contact with Chu Yang for a while. Suddenly, Wei Feng next to him said, "Haven't you heard about that recent serial murder case in this city? I heard they found five female university students either in a lake or a reservoir - it's really frightening!"
"Why are you scared, you're a guy?"
"I'm worried on behalf of all the ladies. And since he targets women, how do you know he won't change his mind and go after men too?"
Chi Yan took out his phone and sent Chu Yang a message: "Have you heard about the recent serial killings? Be careful and stay safe."
Chu Yang replied with a "1".
Chi Yan looked at the single "1" reply over and over, wondering what it meant.
He asked Wei Feng next to him, "What does 1 stand for?"
Wei Feng was puzzled, "What 1? One tree? One flower?"
Chi Yan: "Just the number 1."
Wei Feng: "Let me see."
Chi Yan didn't show him.
Wei Feng: "Well, 1 is a number word, but nowadays many people use it casually to mean 'I know', 'okay', 'agree', and so on."
Chi Yan nodded in understanding: "1."
Wei Feng: "...Bro Chi Yan is being weird lately."
The main reason Chu Yang gave such a simple reply to Chi Yan was because she was doing listening exercises on her phone when his message suddenly popped up. She quickly replied with a 1.
Of course she knew about the serial killings, but that wasn't any of her business. She believed in minding her own matters.
The next day, when Chu Yang entered the classroom, she noticed the black mist around Chen Xixi had grown even thicker, comparable to Xu Zhao previously!
Chu Yang's expression was solemn. Although Chen Xixi was sometimes sarcastic towards her, she was definitely not a bad person. She was just jealous of Chu Yang for always placing second after her.
Apparently Chen Xixi studied very hard for every exam, always vowing to beat Chu Yang's scores, but she never managed to. Chen Xixi was quite popular in class - she often did work for the class and cared a lot about collective honors. Whenever their class won Best Class awards, it was partly due to Chen Xixi's contributions.
It's just that there were many excellent students, but only one could be the most excellent. Academically, Chu Yang was still the best, so of course Chen Xixi felt imbalanced inside. But there was no solution to her imbalance, she could only occasionally make snide remarks out of impulse.
Every class had quotas for students from poor families, but actually many students in their class came from well-off families. By comparison, Chu Yang's family was considered poor, but she didn't apply for the quota since she could earn money herself. To the wealthy students or middle-class families, she was seen as impoverished.
Chu Yang didn't apply for the quota, but some wanted it - who doesn't like extra money?
Back then, Chen Xixi said: "An Hui, your family drives a BMW. Why are you applying as an impoverished student? Is your family poorer than Chu Yang's? Look at your shoes and look at hers."
At the time, Chu Yang thought: ...What's wrong with 50 yuan shoes?
An Hui: "But there's a quota, and Chu Yang's not applying anyway."
Chen Xixi: "I'll make her apply right now, but you can't. Your family is so rich yet you still covet this few thousand yuan - aren't you shameless?"
An Hui: "...Fine, fine. Who doesn't want more money? I won't apply then, give it to Chu Yang."
In the end, Chu Yang was "forced" to apply and now had a monthly subsidy in her meal card.
So although Chen Xixi was sometimes sarcastic to her, Chu Yang didn't take it to heart. Compared to Lin Shu Shu, Chen Xixi was still better.
Chu Yang observed Chen Xixi for a while before deciding to talk to her after school.
During break time, Chu Yang overheard Chen Xixi saying she was going shopping tomorrow, then karaoke with friends at night, and might come back to school late.
Chu Yang suddenly interjected: "I suggest you don't go."
Chen Xixi was startled and turned around to see Chu Yang. "You're cursing me again? Hmph, I'll have you know I have a protective charm, I'm not afraid."
Chen Xixi took out a charm from her pocket and waved it at Chu Yang.
Jin Yang knew when Chu Yang said such things, it usually meant something serious would happen. She quickly added: "I suggest you don't go either. Listen to my Chu Yang."
Chen Xixi rolled her eyes. "Jin Yang, you're just Chu Yang's lapdog! You agree with everything she says!"
Jin Yang didn't feel unhappy at all. "That's because everything my Chu Yang says is true, so of course I listen!"
Chen Xixi: "I'm going no matter what. It's none of your business where I go. I'm going, I'm going!"
Chu Yang was very serious. "Even if it costs you your life?"
Chen Xixi looked into Chu Yang's pitch-black pupils and felt somewhat uneasy inside. "What lose my life? I'm just going out with friends to play. Chu Yang, why are you being so mystical? Are you a fortune teller?"
Seeing she was determined to go, Chu Yang said: "Forget it, just be careful. Don't go into any alleys."
There was no point advising someone who wouldn't listen.
Jin Yang: "Be extra careful, don't stay out too late. Avoid alleys."
Chen Xixi felt strange. "Why are you two suddenly concerned about me? Weirdos."
Although she found it odd, it didn't stop Chen Xixi from wanting to go out and play. What danger could there be in broad daylight? They must be teasing her.
That night, Chu Yang called Chi Yan on WeChat. Upon seeing the incoming call, Chi Yan almost dropped his phone. It slipped from his hand which he barely blocked, and it bounced twice before he grabbed it again.
Wei Feng beside him was stunned by the sequence of events. "Bro Chi, nice reflexes!"
Chi Yan ignored him and tapped Accept. "Hello? It's me."
Chu Yang: "Can you help me with something?"
Chi Yan: "Tell me."
Chu Yang explained the situation, "...I suspect tomorrow night, that person will be the serial killer."
Chi Yan was very serious. "I see. I'll handle it, leave it to me. You don't need to worry."
Chu Yang: "Thanks, I'm counting on you."
Chi Yan: "Mm." Then silence.
Chu Yang was about to hang up when Chi Yan suddenly spoke again. "Have you...considered it yet?"
Ah...this... Chu Yang felt a bit guilty. She actually hadn't thought much about it recently, being busy with studies and preparing for a competition that Professor Li told her about.
Chu Yang: "I'll give you my answer after resolving this incident."
"Okay." Chi Yan's heart thumped rapidly. Since she didn't reject him outright, there was still hope!
After hanging up, Chu Yang sighed. She definitely wasn't leading him on, but when she first transmigrated, her mindset was that chasing men couldn't compare to chasing money...
