Why Are the Psychos Obsessed with a Mere NPC?
Chapter 19: F7

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: F7

"He didn’t decide to go after Jian Yu just because he overheard our conversation. We were merely the catalyst that spurred him to action."

Sheng Yue didn’t know if he’d smelled the scent on Jian Yu.

But he recognized the look in Ling Yanzhi’s eyes when he took an interest in someone.

"He might not like her that much, but if he has a visceral dislike for someone at first sight, he won’t even have the desire for a deeper conversation."

Sheng Yue could sense Ling Yanzhi’s desire for Jian Yu. It wasn’t profound, but it was obvious and glaring.

"No shit." Pei Yin’s temple throbbed with anger. "They’re already that clingy. I bet he wants to lick her feet."

Sheng Yue frowned. "Are you a pervert?"

Pei Yin: "???"

He took a deep breath. "He misled us on purpose. What, is he afraid we’ll try to steal her away?"

Sheng Yue glanced up. "He didn’t just mislead us. A few minutes after I carried Jian Yu out of the classroom, he was already stirring things up online, posting a bunch of inflammatory threads."

He reminded Pei Yin, "Remember the question he suddenly asked you last night? We use criminals scheduled for execution the next day for our experiments. It’s one thing if others don’t know, but there’s no way he doesn’t."

Sheng Yue crossed his arms, took two steps back, and leaned against the wall.

"He deliberately guided you to talk about the test subjects dying, using you to provoke Jian Yu. Once Jian Yu becomes afraid of you and me, he can step in and play the good guy."

His eyelids lowered. "What do you think he’s trying to do?"

’He wants to create the illusion that the outside world is dangerous and that only by Ling Yanzhi’s side is it truly safe.’

’The seven of them always uncontrollably fell for the same thing.’

’When it was something that could be shared, it didn’t hurt their brotherhood too much. But there was only one Jian Yu.’

’And Ling Yanzhi... he hated it most when others tried to take what was his.’

Pei Yin took off his shirt, cursing, "Selfish, sinister dog."

’Wait, why am I getting so angry?’

’It’s not like I plan on fighting Ling Yanzhi for her.’

He repeated it to himself over and over, a constant reminder.

Pei Yin glanced sideways and noticed a dejected aura emanating from Sheng Yue. "What’s wrong with you?"

"Why did she refund my money?" Sheng Yue hadn’t paid it much mind at first.

At least, when he received the refund notification, he had been indifferent.

"The inquiry fee. I transferred her one million Star Coins, and she sent it back."

Pei Yin said sarcastically, "Tsk, she won’t even take money? Then just keep sending it. Learn from Ling Gou and coax her into accepting it."

He snorted. "If we’re going to play, let’s play for keeps."

Pei Yin then turned around and anonymously sent all the information to Jian Yu.

He looked at the message Xi Yu had sent last night: Who sent her?

’No investigation? Fine, I don’t mind muddying the waters a little more.’

Pei Yin replied with a cold laugh: Who do you think sent her?

After a moment’s thought, Pei Yin tapped into the group chat. The others weren’t on Imperial Capital Star, but Duan Feiye was.

In terms of strength, Xi Yu was number one, but Duan Feiye’s cunning was in no way inferior to Ling Yanzhi’s.

Pei Yin didn’t want to fight over some woman; right now, he just wanted to see Ling Gou get screwed over and watch the dogs tear each other apart.

He sent a message to stir up trouble: Check the academy forums.

He got an instant reply.

Duan Feiye: Boring.

Pei Yin immediately shot back several links to the threads, complete with Ling Yanzhi’s full name, to see if he still found it boring.

Seeing no more messages from the other side, he closed his Star Brain in satisfaction.

’I can’t be the only one who’s bored.’

Sheng Yue raised his eyes slightly, his expression impassive. "What did you do?"

Pei Yin stated, full of confidence, "Called for backup."

’He came running to me first thing in the morning. Wasn’t it because he wanted me on his side and to pull in a few more people to go against Ling Gou?’

Sheng Yue understood what kind of person Ling Yanzhi was.

Similarly, Pei Yin knew what Sheng Yue was thinking like the back of his hand.

’Putting on that aloof act, needing someone else to give him a push.’

Unfortunately, while they understood their brother, they couldn’t figure out Jian Yu’s plans.

Even before receiving the files Pei Yin had sent anonymously, Jian Yu had already guessed some of it.

After reading the files, she actually felt relieved.

’Experimenting on criminals... there’s nothing scary about that.’

’I’m a soothing antidote for the Threshold Devouring Period. The fact that Ling Yanzhi wants to possess me all to himself proves I’m useful.’

’It’s better that the brothers aren’t on the same page. If they were all in agreement, that’s when Jian Yu would really have to worry.’

’Run, or stay?’

For a social phobic, staying inside Villa No. 6 without going out was actually something she enjoyed.

Even without Ling Yanzhi fanning the flames, Jian Yu would have been targeted anyway.

Once her special constitution was discovered, she would inevitably be dissected for research.

’There was no role for her in the plot. Maybe it wasn’t because the "passerby" character was too marginal, but because the original owner croaked not long after appearing.’

Jian Yu knew that even if she died, she could be revived in the real world.

She wasn’t afraid of death. Her only worry was dying too horribly, too painfully, or without even being in control of her own death.

’I have to figure out what’s going on with my body before anyone else does.’ Jian Yu took off her wristband and sniffed at her wrist.

Still no scent.

She tried searching online but couldn’t find any relevant information.

’A cold, clear fragrance... is it like plum blossoms? Or orchids?’

Jian Yu erased all her tracks, turned off the Star Core Terminal, and turned her gaze to the neatly arranged books in the study.

She put her wristband back on, stood up, and touched the bookshelf, when a sudden chill ran down her spine.

She casually took down a book, nonchalantly flipping through it while observing her surroundings from the corner of her eye.

There was clearly nothing there, yet she couldn’t shake the hair-raising feeling of being watched.

’But this is Ling Yanzhi’s territory. Who would dare enter? Who *could* enter?’

Remembering that she still had administrative access to the villa, Jian Yu quietly pulled up the security feeds, and her unease lessened slightly.

She opened the book, but after only two pages, she couldn’t focus anymore.

The feeling of being watched grew more and more distinct, more intense.

’Is Ling Yanzhi back?’

The fact that those posts were all deleted automatically at the same time was a program Ling Yanzhi had set up.

’Does he know I used the Star Core Terminal and is trying to scare me on purpose?’

Jian Yu whipped her head around. Outside the window, the garden was fragrant and the sun was bright.

’How can it be so creepy?’

She wasn’t a particularly timid person, but when she sensed that damp, viscous, and sinister aura, an uncontrollable chill seeped into her heart.

"I’m a little thirsty." Jian Yu pretended to rub her eyes, put the book down, and calmly walked out.

She had to fight the desperate urge to overact her casual exit.

Once she reached her bedroom door, she darted inside, quickly activated the emergency defenses, and sent a distress message to Ling Yanzhi.

A moment later, a rustling, watery sound started up from outside.

It sounded like some viscous liquid being torn apart and pulled back together, contracting with a wet SQUELCH before shivering and cracking apart again.

Jian Yu’s breathing quickened as she stared warily at the silver-gleaming door.

The sound continued, but when she looked down at the security feed from outside the door, there was nothing there.

Jian Yu wondered, ’Is there something wrong with my Star Brain? Or is the signal being jammed?’

Just as she was thinking this, a thick black mass appeared on the security feed.

Its form twisted and fractured, as if torn apart by an invisible hand, its body splitting to extrude soft, limp things.

Dripping and sticky, it slithered across the wall, leaving a faint, wet trail and an icy, dead silence in its wake.