Help me… This time, it really seems like no one can save me.
This thought had barely flashed through her mind when Bai Linlin was dragged along, stumbling the entire way.
The sky outside had already turned completely dark. Only a few lonely street lamps were lit.
They arrived in front of an old-looking annex building.
The sign read “Hot Spring Inn · Storage Room.”
It seemed to be behind the hot spring inn, a place used for storing miscellaneous items.
Xiran pulled out a key, unlocked an inconspicuous small iron door, and inside was pitch black.
She shoved Bai Linlin inside.
“Ouch!”
Bai Linlin landed hard on her butt, slamming onto the cold concrete floor.
The pain nearly brought tears to her eyes.
But she couldn’t afford to worry about that right now.
The door slammed shut behind her with a click, cutting off the last traces of outside light and sound.
The storage room smelled of dust and mold. Only a small high window let in a faint, blurry moonlight, barely enough to make out Xiran’s approaching silhouette.
I’m finished. I’m really going to be locked up and killed this time!
Xiran is definitely the type who would rather destroy what she can’t have!
“What do I do? What do I do?!”
Bai Linlin scrambled backward on all fours until her back hit the cold shelves.
Xiran slowly approached and crouched down in front of her.
The moonlight happened to fall on the side of her face. Those pitch-black eyes stared straight at Bai Linlin, as if scrutinizing her—or confirming something.
That gaze sent chills down her spine, like it could pierce straight into her soul.
Then, without any warning, Xiran’s face suddenly drew close.
A kiss landed on her lips.
Bai Linlin’s entire body stiffened. Her mind went blank.
The sensation on her lips was cold yet soft.
What shocked her even more was that this body… felt completely familiar with it.
There was no resistance, no surprise.
Even the racing heartbeat felt like habitual tension rather than the flutter of first contact.
It was as if such kisses were as ordinary as a daily greeting.
This realization sent a chill through Bai Linlin’s heart.
Just what kind of twisted relationship did the original owner have with Xiran?
The kiss continued.
At first it was just pressing together.
Then Xiran began gently sucking on her lower lip.
Bai Linlin passively endured it, her mind in chaos—thinking about how to escape, how unreliable Ruan Yuan was, whether Jiang Niaoniao would come looking…
But soon, the kiss changed flavor.
It was no longer a seemingly gentle touch.
Xiran’s force suddenly intensified, as if she wanted to suck Bai Linlin’s lips into her own mouth.
Their teeth clashed, causing a sting of pain.
Immediately after, a wet, slippery tongue forcefully pried open her teeth and plunged inside, ravaging her mouth wantonly.
“Mmph…!”
Bai Linlin let out a distressed whimper. She tried to turn her head away, but Xiran’s hand firmly pinned the back of her head in place.
This wasn’t a kiss.
It was more like a possessive devouring meant to declare ownership.
The metallic taste of blood spread between their lips and teeth.
She didn’t know whose lip had been bitten.
The air grew thin.
Oxygen in her lungs was rapidly depleted, and her vision began to darken.
Just as she felt she was about to pass out from suffocation, her survival instinct exploded.
“Get away—!”
She used every ounce of strength in her body to shove hard at Xiran’s shoulders with both hands.
Xiran, clearly unprepared for the sudden resistance, was pushed back and released her grip.
“Ha… Ha—!”
Bai Linlin gasped desperately for air.
Her mouth was filled with a rusty, bloody taste, and her lips burned painfully.
Xiran slowly wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
Under the moonlight, a dark smear was visible on her skin.
She looked at the terrified Bai Linlin, her voice soft yet carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
“Linlin is becoming more and more disobedient… It seems I’ve been too gentle with you recently?”
No good. I can’t just sit here and wait for death!
Bai Linlin’s mind spun at high speed.
Is there anything I can use? Weapon? Tool?
Her gaze fell on the schoolbag that had been flung aside.
Right! The schoolbag!
Maybe the original owner’s bag has something inside?
Pepper spray? Even a pen would work!
The desire to survive overpowered her fear of Xiran.
She practically rolled and crawled over to the bag, frantically yanking at the zipper.
The zipper seemed stuck. It only opened halfway.
At that moment—
Poof!
A fluffy, warm little bundle suddenly burst out from the opening and lightly landed beside her leg.
Bai Linlin jumped in fright, then focused her eyes.
It was… a fox?
It was very small, about the size of a kitten.
It had fluffy pink fur that looked strikingly conspicuous even in the dim light.
It had a pair of round amber eyes.
At the moment, it was quietly looking up at Bai Linlin.
Bai Linlin remembered now—this was the pink fox pet called A’Li that the original owner kept!
It had actually been hiding in the schoolbag this whole time?
But there was no time to be shocked!
Xiran had already stood up again. Her shadow loomed over them.
Her hand reached out, her target clear—not the face, but the buttons on Bai Linlin’s uniform blouse.
“It seems I need to help you with a more profound ‘recollection.’”
Xiran’s voice sounded right beside her ear.
Bai Linlin felt her blood run cold. Her fingers clutched the rough fabric of the schoolbag futilely.
Just as Xiran’s fingers were about to touch her collar—
Grrr—!!!
A low growl full of warning suddenly rang out.
It was the little pink fox, A’Li.
At some point it had positioned itself protectively in front of Bai Linlin.
The fur on its back was slightly raised, its tiny body tense.
Facing the approaching Xiran, it bared its sharp little teeth and let out a continuous, threatening growl from its throat.
Xiran’s movements stopped.
She lowered her head and looked at this small creature that had suddenly appeared and dared to block her path.
A trace of surprise flashed in her black eyes for the first time, only to be quickly replaced by an even deeper coldness.
“Heh… Little guy, you want to get in the way too?”
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