These Dangerous Girls Placed Me Into Jeopardy-Chapter 30Vol 2. : Lost, Yet Finding the Way

Next, I had to transfer to Line 4, ride it to Liuhe Road Station, then switch to Line 6 and get off at Jixi Garden Station in District Six. From there, I’d walk along Peace Street to Seaside Road, and after another ten minutes or so, I’d finally be home.

And I was barely a third of the way there.

Technically, once I entered District Six, I could get off at any station. I was familiar enough with the area to avoid getting lost. But getting off at Jixi Garden Station was the fastest route home.

Plus, there was a dessert shop nearby... To appease my sisters’ tempers, it would be a good idea to bring some sweets home.

Ah, wait. I didn’t have my wallet...

The last bit of spare change I had went toward buying the subway ticket, which was why I couldn’t even afford a bottle of water earlier.

It suddenly hit me just how inconvenient it was to walk around without a wallet or phone in modern society.

Damn it. I should have borrowed some money from Snowy... But then again, if I did that, she’d probably hand me that black card right away...

When we were at the department store using that black card, we attracted a lot of attention. Everywhere we went, people stared at us like we were some kind of rare spectacle. Especially the cashier — at first, he looked at us with suspicion, but once the card was successfully swiped, his attitude and expression did a complete 180.

Ah, the power of money and status...

Some people might enjoy being the center of attention like that, but I sure as hell didn’t. Being stared at didn’t make me feel good — it just made me uncomfortable.

But those people’s stares combined were nothing compared to Lan Hua’s.

Why the hell was she still staring at the back of my head like that? What was so fascinating about my back? Was she trying to use X-ray vision or something? Even if she could, I was just a guy — there wasn’t much to look at. Sure, I paid attention to my diet and health, but I didn’t work out regularly, so I didn’t exactly have ripped muscles or anything...

Hmm... Maybe I should start working out?

Losing to Lillian in terms of physical strength still bothered me.

If I’d been stronger back then, maybe I could’ve fought back. Maybe the outcome would’ve been different.

Running away all the time wasn’t a solution, and words alone couldn’t always solve problems... Maybe it was time for me to make some changes, to come up with better ways to deal with people.

Like Lan Hua, for example...

Even if I tried to escape, she would still somehow pop up out of nowhere and find me. I wouldn’t say I was completely trapped, but it was pretty damn close.

If she really harbored those kinds of feelings for me, it was better to make her give up sooner rather than later...

With that in mind, I stopped walking, my expression complicated. Without turning around, I said,

“Um...”

“Yes?”

She responded instantly, as though her ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) attention had never left me for even a second.

“No, never mind...”

I should probably wait for a better opportunity to talk to her about this. She hadn’t even confessed her feelings yet, so handing her a rejection letter out of nowhere would be a bit too self-centered.

While mentally rehearsing how to tactfully reject Lan Hua, I walked onto the train for Line 6.

There weren’t as many people on Line 6, as it headed to the outskirts of the city, and most passengers got off at earlier stations.

The carriage was nearly empty now, with plenty of vacant seats.

I randomly chose a seat and sat down, then waved to Lan Hua.

“Lan Hua, there’s a seat here.”

I called her over because I didn’t want her to sit across from me. If she did, she’d probably keep staring at me the whole ride. Lan Hua’s gaze still made me uncomfortable — that was something I just couldn’t get used to. If she sat beside me instead, at least her stare wouldn’t feel as piercing.

“Okay, I’m coming,” she said, hugging herself tightly as she walked over.

Because her shirt was still soaking wet, her white blouse had become somewhat see-through. Perhaps she was self-conscious about other men’s gazes, as she walked over with noticeable hesitation.

She sat down beside me but didn’t dare sit too close, leaving half a person’s width of space between us.

“Haaah...”

Maybe it was because I could finally sit down, but a wave of exhaustion hit me all at once, and I couldn’t help but let out a heavy sigh.

The moment Lan Hua heard me sigh, she immediately leaned closer, her face filled with concern.

“Ethan, are you okay? I pushed against your stomach pretty hard earlier... Did your wound reopen?”

“Huh? Oh, the wound... It’s fine. It’s almost healed now. It doesn’t really hurt anymore.”

Through the thin fabric of my shirt, I pressed my palm against my stomach. Even pressing down firmly, I didn’t feel any pain.

Kan Tsukiyo wasn’t lying when she said that a ghoul’s saliva had healing properties. In just one night, my abdominal wound had almost completely closed up.

Wait... How did Lan Hua know I had a wound on my stomach?

Now that I thought about it, she also knew I lived in District Six... Did she investigate me?

A chill ran down my spine as I realized just how much Lan Hua seemed to know about me. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread as my expression stiffened.

Lan Hua saw my tense expression and assumed I was still in pain, her face filling with even more worry.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I sighed because I ran out last night without telling my sisters and now my phone’s dead, so I can’t contact them. They’re probably worried sick...”

I kept my explanation brief, leaving out the part where Lan Hua herself was the main reason for my anxiety. There was no way I could say that to her face.

Lan Hua nodded, saying, “Oh, I see,” and then, as if pulling off a magic trick, she pulled out a canvas bag from somewhere.

From the bag, she took out a portable charger and handed it to me.

“I brought a power bank. Do you want to use it, Ethan?”

Oh, wow. This was like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man. I couldn’t believe she had a portable charger on her. That was way too convenient.

Wait... Did she always have a bag with her?

Ah, whatever. As long as I could charge my phone.

“Are you sure? But I’m using a Xiaomi phone. The charging cable is different from most others...”

“What a coincidence! I’m using a Xiaomi too. We even have the same model,” she said, holding up her phone for me to see.

Not only was it the same phone, but even the phone case was exactly the same...

A coincidence... right?

Looking at Lan Hua’s gentle, eager-to-please smile, a shiver ran down my spine. At the same time, a strange warmth filled my chest at being cared for... It was a bizarre, contradictory feeling.

Maybe... she was even more obsessive than I’d initially thought.

Afraid that my surprise would show, I simply nodded and said, “Thanks,” before plugging in the charger.

Lan Hua didn’t say another word. She just lowered her head and started fiddling with her phone.

Just moments ago, she was a total mess, ready to bare her chest and stomach without a second thought. But now she was suddenly acting all demure and reserved?

I really couldn’t figure out where her sense of shame began or ended.

Was it because she liked me that she was so willing to show me everything?

They say love can turn people into idiots. Has Lan Hua also become a love-obsessed fool?

I propped my cheek up with one hand, staring at the blindingly pink name hovering above her head. As I did, I started searching through my memories for anything related to Lan Hua.

What could have been the trigger for her falling for me? It couldn’t have been love at first sight, could it?

The more I thought about it, the fuzzier my mind became. My brain started shutting down, my vision blurred, and my eyelids grew heavy, refusing to stay open.

“Haaah... Haaah... Mmm...”

A massive yawn escaped me. Exhaustion and drowsiness washed over me like a tidal wave, and my eyelids kept drooping shut.

So sleepy... Ugh, and my phone just started charging too...

But whatever. We’re almost home anyway, so it doesn’t matter whether it’s charged or not, right?

No... I can’t stay awake... Why am I suddenly so sleepy...?

“Ethan? Ethan?”

I heard Lan Hua calling me. I shook my head, trying to clear the haze, but it didn’t help. My mind was too foggy. All I could manage to say was,

“Ah, sorry... Let me sleep for a bit... Just wake me up when we get to Jixi Garden Station...”

I couldn’t hold on any longer...

Just a little nap...

...

“We’re here, Ethan.”

“Oh... Oh?”

A gentle voice called me awake. It sounded so soft, so pleasant.

Lan Hua was smiling down at me. Why was her face so close...?

Wait... Where am I?

I was lying on her lap!

The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning, and I shot up so quickly that my forehead collided with hers.

Bang!

For some reason, she didn’t try to avoid me. The result was that our foreheads smacked together with a painful thud, and I felt a swelling lump start to form.

“Ow... That hurt...”

“Sorry! I was just so startled to see your face that close... I didn’t mean to...”

“Do I look that scary or something...? Hmph...”

“No, no, that’s not it. It’s just... I didn’t expect to wake up with your head on my lap...”

Wanting to change the subject, I quickly looked around the carriage for something else to talk about.

That’s when I realized the train was completely empty. We had ridden all the way to the last stop.

Ah, damn it. I only meant to nap for a bit, but I ended up sleeping through the whole ride...

“Uh, is this the last stop? Why didn’t you wake me up earlier?”

Lan Hua flinched at the scolding tone in my voice, looking downcast as she muttered,

“Well... You looked so peaceful while sleeping. You even started drooling a little... I just couldn’t bring myself to wake you up, so we ended up at the last station.”

“Huh?!”

Drooling?! I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth, but it was dry.

Huh? I didn’t drool?

Was she lying to me?

Weird...

“Aah... Well, whatever. This station isn’t too far from my house anyway. I just have to walk a few extra blocks. Let’s get off the train before it departs again.”

Once we exited the train and climbed back to street level, I found that the sky was already completely dark. It was probably around eight or nine o’clock by now.

Lan Hua remained quiet, shuffling along behind me with small, hesitant steps.

When we reached a crossroad, I scratched my head and pointed east.

“Well, I need to go this way... What about you, Lan Hua?”

Should I walk her home? Yeah... I probably should. It’s not right to let a girl walk home alone at night.

“Oh, then let’s part ways here. My house is just over there. That building right there, see? Hehe, actually, I only rode to the last stop to keep you company. You’re not mad at me, are you, Ethan?”

She was lying.

It was an obvious lie.

I had no idea where Lan Hua actually lived, but there was no way it was that nearby building.

She was probably saying that to avoid troubling me.

“Oh... Is that so? Well, I’m going now then.”

I deliberately phrased it as a question, hinting that I could still walk her home if she asked.

But she didn’t stop me. She just waved her hand stiffly and said goodbye.

“Goodbye, Ethan.”

“Ah... Ah, yeah. Goodbye...”

I awkwardly waved back, then turned and started walking away... but her gaze didn’t leave me.

She kept watching me.

Even after I’d walked quite a distance, I could still feel her eyes on my back, as if she would keep watching me even after I disappeared from sight.

Remembering that glaringly pink name tag, I couldn’t help but sigh.

The more you like me, the guiltier I feel toward you...

It almost made me want to kneel down and apologize.

“Tch...”

I gritted my teeth. Sometimes, it’s better to cut things off cleanly than to let them fester.

I made up my mind, spun around, and shouted her name.

“Lan Hua!”

I didn’t add “classmate” this time because what I was about to say had nothing to do with seeing her as a classmate.

“I... I’m really sorry! But I already have a girlfriend!”

First, give a reason.

“So, even if you like me, I can’t go out with you!”

Then, make a clean break.

“Really! I’m really, really sorry!”

After blurting out those words, I felt a weight lift off my chest.

I turned around, ready to walk away. But then, my newly heightened senses caught a faint sound coming from Lan Hua’s direction.

It sounded like... sobbing.

It probably... wasn’t my imagination.

But right now, I couldn’t go back and comfort her. This was the right thing to do.

Clenching my jaw, I forced myself to keep walking, leaving her behind.

I hope you can find someone who truly loves you...

And that person isn’t me.