Chapter 11: What the Hell? My Thigh Got Expelled at the Start Because of Me!

“Linlin, you’re here…”

Xiran’s voice echoed softly through the empty stairwell.

She stood on the landing, her pitch-black eyes gazing downward with an expressionless face.

Bai Linlin froze in place. 

Only one thought remained in her mind.

I’m finished.

Her body reacted before her consciousness could, beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

This body’s fear of the name “Xiran” had already seeped deep into her bones.

What do I do? What do I do?

Why am I here?

Right, I came looking for Jiang Niaoniao to talk… about that failed “plan.”

But can I even mention that?

Saying it would probably get me killed!

But… if Jiang Niaoniao comes back from the bathroom and bumps into Xiran here, the situation would be even more catastrophic.

Two people secretly colluding getting caught red-handed would be like a self-destructing truck.

Her mind was in complete chaos when the schoolbag on her back suddenly shifted.

A schoolbag?

When did I start carrying one?

What’s inside it?

No, this isn’t the time to think about that!

Xiran started walking down the stairs.

One step at a time.

The sound of leather shoes striking the concrete steps was exceptionally clear in the silence.

The pressure drew closer with every footstep.

Bai Linlin’s breathing grew rapid. The string in her mind stretched to its limit before snapping with a pop at some critical point.

A self-destructive impulse, mixed with the deepest lingering desire from this body’s original owner, burst from her lips.

“Xiran! I… I won’t bully you anymore!”

The words had barely left her mouth before Bai Linlin herself was stunned.

What am I saying?!

The effect was immediate.

Xiran halted her steps.

It felt as if every sound had suddenly vanished from the stairwell, and even the air had stopped circulating.

An invisible, icy pressure filled the space. The temperature seemed to drop several degrees.

Bai Linlin could even see her own exhaled breath forming faint white mist.

Xiran lifted her head.

Her expression showed little change, but those eyes… were black enough to swallow light itself.

“Heh…”

A faint laugh escaped her throat.

It wasn’t a joyful sound, but the cold huff one makes upon hearing something absurd.

She continued downward. Her pace wasn’t fast this time, yet it carried an irresistible oppressive force as she approached Bai Linlin.

Bai Linlin wanted to back away, but her legs felt filled with lead. She couldn’t move an inch.

Xiran extended her hand. Ice-cold fingers gently stroked Bai Linlin’s cheek.

The motion was almost gentle, yet it raised goosebumps all over Bai Linlin’s body.

“Haha…”

Xiran laughed again. Her fingertips slid slowly across Bai Linlin’s cheek.

“Linlin is still so forgetful.”

She leaned closer. Her breath brushed Bai Linlin’s ear as her voice dropped low, every word crystal clear.

“It seems I need to make Linlin… remember properly.”

Before the words fully faded, the hand caressing her face tightened abruptly, clamping onto Bai Linlin’s wrist.

The grip was incredibly strong—nothing like what her fragile appearance suggested.

“Ah!”

Bai Linlin cried out in pain as she was yanked forward with a stumble.

Xiran didn’t waste words. She turned and dragged her along the stairs.

Bai Linlin struggled futilely, but the other girl’s hand was like an iron clamp. Her meager strength was no more effective than an ant trying to topple a tree.

Hey!

Sister Ruan Yuan!

Where are you?!

Didn’t you promise to protect me?!

Where’s the promised Level 22 big shot?!

Why did you disconnect right at the start?!

Bai Linlin screamed frantically in her heart, nearly bursting into tears.

Is this what a Level 22 difficulty instance looks like?

Getting dragged away by the yandere boss for some “reminiscing” right from the opening?

She was dragged along, stumbling and staggering.

In the midst of her struggles, the friend message icon at the edge of her vision flashed wildly.

It was Ruan Yuan!

A lifeline in despair!

Bai Linlin poured all her willpower into opening it.

Ruan Yuan’s messages popped up one after another like cannon fire:

[Linlin! Where are you?!]

[Huge problem! I don’t know how, but I ended up possessing a girl also named “Ruan Yuan”!]

[But that’s not the worst of it! As soon as I arrived, I found out that “I” had been expelled from St. Maryanna Girls’ Academy for violently abusing a girl named Yuan Yiyi!]

[I just investigated a bit… It seems a girl who shares your current name, also called “Bai Linlin,” was the one who reported me!]

“Fuck!!!”

After reading the messages, Bai Linlin let out a mental wail of utter collapse.

It was over.

Everything was finished.

Her only thigh, her Level 22 guardian deity, had her account in this instance expelled right at the start—because of “her own” report!

What kind of hellish opening was this!

Where was the promised protection?!

Where was the “it’s just a little troublesome”?!

Xiran noticed her distraction and the sudden wave of despair. She turned her head back, her black hair sliding over her shoulder.

Seeing Bai Linlin’s instantly ashen face, the icy curve at the corner of her mouth seemed to deepen slightly.

“Remembered something, Linlin?”

She asked softly. Her grip on the wrist didn’t loosen in the slightest.

“It’s okay. We have all the time in the world… to remember slowly.”

She said nothing more and forcefully pulled Bai Linlin toward the door leading to the lower floor.

Behind that door was a dimly lit corridor that looked like a mouth waiting to devour its prey.

Bai Linlin looked back desperately toward the direction where Jiang Niaoniao had disappeared.

Help me… This time, it really seems like no one can save me.