Chapter 17

After the Chengkang Psychiatric Hospital incident, Xie Xue became a legendary teacher at the university.

After she returned to the lectern, not a single student was late or left early. Every class was packed to capacity, with students from other majors dropping in for fun, and even the senior heartthrob from the acting program drifted by to glance at her twice. Everyone wanted to see the legendary 'big koi fish' who had escaped from the clutches of a psychotic serial killer.

There were even more outrageous rumors, like if you printed out a photo of Xie Xue and hung it on your dorm room door, the whole room would pass all their exams.

But Xie Xue was unaware. She confidently believed the unprecedented popularity of her directing classes was entirely due to how fascinating her lectures were.

'Ah, I'm such a talented, miraculous educator,' Xie Xue said delightedly to He Yu, who had brought her the students' assignments. 'Oh, right, He Yu, are you feeling better? The university wants to give you an award. Even though your reckless act of charging into the fire isn't something to be emulated, the principal said your kind heart and bravery are commendable...'

He Yu smiled. 'Much better. That award is mainly for my parents to see.'

He Jiwei and Lv Zhiyu had learned about the incident, but upon hearing their son was largely unharmed, they hadn't even returned. Especially Lv Zhiyu. She often greeted guests with a smiling face, cracking jokes one after another. People who didn't know her well would think she was witty and valued family and life.

However, those like Xie Xue and Xie Qingcheng, who had known her for a long time, understood clearly: her humor was fake, her amiability was an act. For her, the business outside was naturally more important than an eldest son who had merely suffered some shock.

But at the same time, she had called the university, pressuring the board of directors to comfort He Yu properly.

In truth, He Yu didn't care at all about those icy accolades.

Xie Xue was momentarily at a loss for words. She felt He Yu was quite pitiful and didn't want to continue discussing the Heg Family's affairs. Hurriedly, she found another lighter topic. 'Um, well, speaking of which, the university has a festival fair this Friday. You've been through so much recently; this is a good chance to relax and have fun with your classmates. Do you want to come?'

'No, I have something on Friday.'

'Oh...' Xie Xue's face showed regret. 'What a shame. I was actually hoping you could keep me company.'

He Yu's previously absent-minded gaze settled on her face. 'You're going?'

'I have to go.' Xie Xue fished out a huge plush fox head from behind her desk, then rummaged around and pulled out a section of snow-white tail. 'Look.'

'What is this?'

'A nine-tailed fox costume head. The university arranged it. One teacher from each department has to dress up as a guide mascot. My luck is terrible. Not only was I drafted, but I also drew the most boring activity zone in the lottery.'

'...Other people, if they're too dumb, usually have pretty good luck. How come your luck is an E even with low IQ?' He Yu sighed, still asking, 'Where have you been exiled to?'

'Fantasy Island, the remodeled central lake.' Xie Xue's face fell, too lazy to bother with He Yu's sarcasm.

'That ghostly place called Fantasy Island is actually just a little useless island where students hung some string lights and projected a starry sky. It's no different from usual. And it's so far away... Sigh, they were going to cancel it this year, but the principal thought it was a traditional event, so they kept it...'

She threw the fox costume tail down dejectedly and slumped into her chair.

He Yu picked up the snow-white plush tail she had tossed on the desk, looked at it thoughtfully for a moment, and though he said nothing more, an idea formed in his mind.

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye.

The sweet, milky aroma of baked pastries wafted from the baking classroom.

He Yu opened the oven, lined the finished cake with clean parchment paper, and placed it in a box. Then he carefully tidied up the baking classroom he had borrowed for the auntie and walked out.

The festival fair was in full swing.

He Yu, who had said he was too busy to come, carried Xie Xue's favorite fresh cream mango mousse. With one hand in his pocket, he strolled leisurely around the campus.

He played a round of maze exploration, won a small dog plush toy—a white Samooye plush toy like a smiling angel, cradled in his arm, its chocolate-drop round eyes gazing at him darkly.

'Look!'

The young girls nearby covered their mouths with small fists, snippets of their conversation drifting into his ears.

'It's Senior He Yu! The senior who rescued the teacher from the fire... He's even more handsome in person than in photos...'

'What senior? You silly girl. He's a junior!! From Directing Class 1001!'

'Huh? He's so tall for a junior... Looks over 180 cm, no, feels almost 190...'

'I have a friend in their class. That girl said He Yu's family is super rich, he's handsome, and his grades are impeccable.'

'Isn't that just like Senior Wei Dongheng?'

'Come on, Wei Dongheng is a man with zero male virtue, his ambition higher than the sky, his person more delicate than a flower. You still call him senior? Might as well call him senior sister. Flaunting his family's wealth, acting all precious. Last week, the class beauty from Performance Class 5 confessed to him. You know what he said?'

'What?'

'—You? Have you looked in a mirror? Should I gift you a skincare set?'

'...'

'But He Yu is different. His temper is super gentle, ultra polite, he never raises his voice at people. Ah, this time he even risked his life to save Professor Xie. Where do you find a boy this good?'

Hearing them discuss him like this, He Yu smiled at them. The girls let out soft 'ah's, whispering 'he heard us,' and scattered shyly.

He Yu gently and elegantly withdrew his smile, his gaze turning deep and shadowy—

Xie Qingcheng really should hear this.

How could he be unlikable?

However, he had no interest whatsoever in these junior or senior sisters. Only that person...

was the only one he wanted.

Just then, his mobile phone vibrated twice in his pocket. He Yu took it out and looked:

'Boss He, you really want me to cut the rope bridge?'

The message was from a senior in the sophomore Outdoor Sports Club.

Fantasy Island was in the middle of Luzhou University's garden lake. At the island's center was their Outdoor Sports Club's campsite, usually managed by this senior.

He Yu replied: 'The rope bridge is old and poorly maintained. Keeping it is quite dangerous. Cutting it will make it easier for the principal to rebuild.'

Senior: 'But the principal just had workers maintain it at the start of the semester. Fantasy Island is assigned to our club for management. If it breaks within such a short time, our Outdoor Sports Club will have to pay for it. Even though it's just a small floating bridge, repairs would cost over 3000...'

After sending this message, the senior's phone suddenly made a crisp jingling sound.

'Alipay payment received—5000 yuan.'

Boss He's message followed closely: 'Please cut it thoroughly, Senior.'

Impoverished Senior: '...'

The capitalist's communication style was so simple and direct.

According to the guide map for the festival fair, the 'Nine-Tailed Fox' would wait for students at the duck boat dock, accompanying those who wanted to take a boat to Fantasy Island.

He Yu walked toward the lake shore piled with withered branches and fallen leaves. Sure enough, he saw Xie Xue in the nine-tailed fox costume waiting for students coming to board.

The white fox sat quietly in the boat, one of its nine tails even trailing into the lake water. With the gentle rocking of the boat, it rippled the water in widening circles.

He approached the white fox. The crushed leaves made faint creaking sounds underfoot. The nine-tailed fox mascot, lost in thought, didn't hear him until he stood right at the shore—

'Xie Xue.'

The nine-tailed fox paused, then turned its head from the duck boat.

He Yu smiled. 'Didn't expect me to come?'

He looked around again. 'You really were exiled to a remote spot. If I hadn't come, no one would bother checking in at this ghostly place, and you'd have to sit here dryly all day.'

The nine-tailed fox looked at him silently, seemingly not quite agreeing with his words.

'Who else do you think would come visit you? Your gege?'

'...'

He Yu said gently, 'Your gege is almost in menopause, being forced into late-life blind dates, getting so angry at young girls all day he needs to drink Taotai Oral Liquid to calm down. Probably doesn't have much energy to spare for you.'

Nine-tailed fox: '.............'

He Yu nimbly boarded the boat. 'Let's go. I'll keep you company. To Fantasy Island.'

Although it was the central lake, the campus lake wasn't that big. The duck boat rowed for less than two minutes before they reached the 'clod of dirt' Fantasy Island.

The island was exactly as desolate and rundown as one might expect: only a few strings of lights hung there for show, and the camping grounds were scattered with tent equipment beneath a thick layer of dust. The mosquitoes were insufferable this time of year, and The Organization — the Outdoor Sports Club — had yet to put on a single activity in the month since the semester began.

He Yu said, 'Taking care of your business. Where's the stamp?'

'...' The nine-tailed fox moved its head, indicating a direction.

He Yu looked at the other's getup and found it amusing again. 'Such a hot day, aren't you stuffy wearing that the whole time? Want me to take it off for you?'

Seeing him reach out, the nine-tailed fox coldly took a step back.

'...No?'

It nodded.

'...Ah, fine, then keep it on. Don't come crying to me if you overheat.'

The nine-tailed fox indifferently lowered its snow-white paw pads, making a gesture of crossing its arms.

He Yu looked at it. 'Not bad, pretty cute. Keep it up, don't move. Gege will give you full marks on the service form later.'

'...'

'Lead the way then.'

The stamping spot was at the center of Fantasy Island, where a simple small desk and chair were set up. The nine-tailed fox leaned silently against a tree, its head turned toward the distance.

After stamping, He Yu turned back, feeling both amused and thinking Xie Xue's headpiece must be quite heavy. And given his personality of liking to bully people, the more Xie Xue didn't want him to remove the headpiece, the more he wanted to take it off.

So, seeing the nine-tailed fox turn its face away, a sudden idea struck him. He walked over silently, got close, and abruptly raised his hand to snatch it off—

He laughed, saying, 'Xie Xue—'

'!!'

What was going on?!!

The person who had his headpiece suddenly removed, turning back with a head of messy hair—who was it if not Xie Xue? It was clearly Xie Qingcheng, his gaze dark and sinister!!

He Yu: '...'

Xie Qingcheng: '...'

Professor Xie's lips parted and closed, closed and parted, pressed tightly together for a long moment. Finally, he raised his hand and roughly swept his disheveled bangs back, his gaze stabbing at He Yu like a bayonet, the faint outline of snow-white teeth visible beneath his thin lips.

He said icily, 'Are you fucking sick?'

Seeing it was Xie Qingcheng, Boss He's expression darkened. 'No, why did you crawl into this rag doll and not tell me?'

Xie Qingcheng threw the headpiece into He Yu's arms and frowned as he climbed out of the rag doll. It was truly rare—the meticulous, immaculate elite Professor Xie—unimaginable that He Yu would ever see him crawling out of a toy with messy hair, looking disheveled.

'Why should I tell you? You've been talking nonsense the whole way. After stamping, you can get lost.'

He Yu stared at him unwillingly. 'Where's Xie Xue?'

'She thought it was too hot, asked me to substitute for her. ...Who's the one busy with blind dates all day and needs to drink Taotai Oral Liquid?'

'...'

He Yu met Xie Qingcheng's scalpel-sharp gaze, remembered what he had just said, and smiled. 'Don't take it to heart. Unintentional words.'

This was the first time they had met since parting at the police department. After the initial shock wore off, the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Especially for Xie Qingcheng. After splashing He Yu that day, he felt it actually hadn't been necessary. He was usually a very calm person, but that day the emotional pressure was too great, and He Yu had provoked him too accurately, causing him to lose his composure and argue with He Yu. Otherwise, given his personality, he really wouldn't have stooped to arguing with a boy thirteen years his junior.

Now that He Yu was apologizing to him, Xie Qingcheng's hand, which had been smoothing his messy hair, stopped. His tone softened slightly, breaking the eerie atmosphere. '...Forget it. Didn't you say you were busy today?'

'...Yeah. How did you know.'

'Xie Xue said she asked you. She originally intended to ask you to substitute for her. But you said you had something on and were busy, so she didn't have the nerve to bring it up again.'

'...'

He Yu fell silent for quite a while, not answering Xie Qingcheng. He just placed the headpiece and the Samooye plush toy aside, stood for a moment with his hand to his forehead digesting the situation, then turned his back and walked away, carrying the bag with the mango mousse.

'...I should have checked the almanac before leaving home today.'

However, when He Yu returned to the Fantasy Island dock with a sliver of hope, all he saw was the duck boat already docked triumphantly on the opposite shore. The small boat rocked back and forth, its golden beak seemingly stretched into a mocking curve under the distorted light of the water ripples.

Only then did he remember: to trap Xie Xue alone on the island for his confession, he had asked the senior to cut off all transportation after he boarded the island.

What was it called? Lifting a rock only to drop it on your own foot?

He Yu's brow twitched slightly.

'What's wrong?'

Footsteps sounded behind him. No need to turn around; the second furry, breathing primate on the island could only be Xie Qingcheng. Originally, his plan was for a lone man and woman alone on an island, perfect for a confession. Now, great—a lone man and man alone on an island, and with the man he hated most.

The more he thought about it, the heavier his resentment grew. He even felt a slight desire to handcuff Xie Qingcheng's hands behind his back, tie him to a tree in this wilderness, and torture him to death, torture him for a whole night, torture him until Xie Qingcheng's face turned pale, his body covered in grass scraps, passing out, dying. After all, no one else would come here. If he couldn't confess, personally finishing off this man would work too—just don't waste this carefully arranged no-man's-land.

Who told him to ruin his plans?

Xie Qingcheng had taken off the costume, making his whole figure appear tall, slender, and cool, his demeanor abruptly changed. When he walked to He Yu's side, He Yu seemed to catch that faint, elusive scent of cold medicine and disinfectant again.

He Yu couldn't stand this smell. Collecting himself, he suppressed that unrealistic criminal urge and turned his head back again:

'The boat, for some reason, went to the other side.'

'...Probably remote-controlled from the control room.' Xie Qingcheng's hands were in his pockets, his face expressionless as he thought for a moment. 'It's fine. There's still a floating bridge. Follow me.'

Five minutes later—

Xie Qingcheng silently looked at the simple rope bridge, most of its body already sunk into the lake, revealing an indescribably complex expression.

'The rope bridge is broken too.'

'Ah, truly unfortunate. Probably someone's prank.' He Yu pretended to be calm and composed on the surface, but inwardly he was gloomy—Yes, surprise? Unexpected? In a little while, you'll also discover there's no mobile phone signal.

He had originally planned to stay on this little island with Xie Xue until midnight. For this purpose, he had specifically managed to acquire an exam-style signal jammer.

No, it should be said it was even more powerful than the exam-style one, because he had reprogrammed that device himself.

He Yu was very capable in this area. When bored, to distract himself, he would concentrate intensely on studying computer system intrusion and information interference.

Program intrusion required racing against the opponent's firewall, competing skill for skill. It was very effective for him in diverting pain and curbing his illness. After practicing for so many years, the side effect was that he had accidentally become a terrifyingly top-tier hacker.

Of course, he wouldn't tell the senior that the jammer was his own setup. He only asked the senior to activate the device and guard the opposite shore, ensuring Xie Xue would have no one to call on for help, no ground to appeal to. If anyone tried to go to Fantasy Island, they were to say the activity was too boring and had been temporarily closed.

Originally, he considered this a flawless plan for a private confession.

For this, he had specifically instructed the senior:

'Remember to wait by the shore. Don't row the boat over until after midnight.'

'Okay, Boss He.'

'No matter how we call for help from the outside in the meantime, don't pay any attention to us. I want to act convincingly in front of her, otherwise she might get suspicious.'

'No problem, Boss He.'

Boss He now looked at Xie Qingcheng's slender, tall back and felt a slight headache: No problem? This problem was way too big...

—

'Wait, there's someone on the opposite shore.' Xie Qingcheng walked halfway around the clod-of-dirt Fantasy Island and spotted the senior guarding the opposite shore. 'I'll call him.'

'Calling him is useless.' He Yu sighed, clinging to a last shred of hope. 'Better let me do it.'

Xie Qingcheng: 'Why am I useless.'

'Respecting my elders, showing love for the young. Is that okay?'

He Yu was extremely annoyed now, too lazy to waste words on Xie Qingcheng. He focused on greeting his 'wingman' on the opposite shore.

Fifteen minutes later...

Young Master He, his mouth parched, leaned against a tree trunk.

Xie Qingcheng said coolly, 'Finished showing respect? Still have energy?'

Boys who had just reached adulthood had particularly high self-esteem and hated hearing others say they couldn't do something. But He Yu really couldn't explain. He simply turned to the other side of the tree, not wanting to see Xie Qingcheng, plucking a handful of knee-high foxtail grass and impatiently swatting at the surrounding mosquitoes.

He Yu stood for a while, growing more and more agitated. He threw the broken grass away and turned to walk into the woods.

Xie Qingcheng: 'Where are you going?'

The boy's voice was hoarse from shouting: '...I'm going to the campsite for some water.'

After walking some distance away, He Yu took out another mobile phone he had set up to be unaffected by the jamming, his face livid as he sent a message to the senior: 'There's been a slight mishap. Please let us leave.'

The senior replied quickly, not forgetting to flatter the capitalist: 'Not bad, Boss He! Acting very convincing! Even this message is part of the act, right?'

A few more seconds passed.

'Boss He, I remember. You told me before, no matter what you say, I can't let you come back. You can count on me. I'll come pick you up after midnight. If anyone else approaches Fantasy Island, I'll send them back too. Don't be nervous, enjoy your time together.'

He Yu: '...'

What was there to enjoy on this isolated island?

Enjoy Xie Qingcheng?

If killing weren't illegal, he could indeed handcuff Xie Qingcheng and throw him in the grass to 'enjoy' all night. Now, what was he supposed to enjoy?