CHAPTER 9 — Interest Is Dangerous
By the end of the presentation, nothing looked different.
The class resumed.
The teacher continued.
People took notes.
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But the atmosphere had changed.
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Zhang Xiao Qi could feel it without looking.
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The way conversations paused when she moved.
The way glances lingered a second too long.
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Not admiration.
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Interest.
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And interest—
Was far more dangerous.
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She returned to her seat and sat down, flipping open her book like nothing had happened.
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"…You're full of surprises."
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Gu Yichen's voice came from beside her.
Light.
Amused.
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Zhang Xiao Qi didn't look at him.
"…Are you disappointed?"
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"…On the contrary."
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A pause.
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"I like interesting things."
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She turned a page calmly.
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"…Then you should find a hobby."
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He laughed softly.
Not offended.
Not discouraged.
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"…You think I'm joking."
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Zhang Xiao Qi didn't respond.
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Because she already understood.
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He wasn't.
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The bell rang, signaling the end of class.
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Before anyone else could move—
Gu Yichen stood.
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Then—
He placed his hand lightly on Zhang Xiao Qi's desk.
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Blocking her path.
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Not forcefully.
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But intentionally.
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"…Have lunch with me."
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Not a question.
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An invitation disguised as one.
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The nearby students immediately went silent.
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Because this—
Was not normal.
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Zhang Xiao Qi finally looked up at him.
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"…No."
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Simple.
Clean.
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Rejection.
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— Reaction
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A few people inhaled sharply.
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Gu Yichen paused.
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Then—
Smiled.
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"…You're making this difficult."
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"…Then stop trying."
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She stood.
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He didn't move.
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"…I don't stop halfway," he said quietly.
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A pause.
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Zhang Xiao Qi met his gaze directly.
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"…Then you'll learn."
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Silence.
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For a second—
Neither stepped back.
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Then—
He moved.
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Just enough for her
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At the back—
observed the entire exchange.
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Calm.
Still.
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But his gaze—
Was sharper than before.
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"…You're attracting the wrong kind of attention," he thought.
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— Corridor
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Zhang Xiao Qi stepped into the hallway.
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Quiet.
Less crowded now.
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She walked without stopping.
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Until—
Footsteps approached from the opposite direction.
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Steady.
Measured.
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Familiar.
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She slowed.
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So did the other person.
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— Near Collision
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.
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They stopped just short of each other.
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Close.
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Closer than usual.
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For a moment—
Neither moved.
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More of a Silent Exchange
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"…You handled that well," Pei Ruoxi said.
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Calm.
Neutral.
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Zhang Xiao Qi smiled faintly.
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"…You were watching."
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"…I didn't need to."
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A pause.
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Their gazes held.
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Not hostile.
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Not friendly.
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Something else.
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Something deeper.
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"…You're moving faster now," Pei Ruoxi added.
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"…And you're not stopping me."
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Silence.
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A fraction of a second—
Too brief for anyone else to notice.
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Then—
"…I don't stop people from making choices."
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— Meaning
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Not approval.
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Not rejection.
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Just acknowledgment.
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Zhang Xiao Qi tilted her head slightly.
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Pei Ruoxi stepped forward.
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Passing her.
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Close enough—
That the air between them shifted.
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But still—
No contact.
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Never contact.
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"…Be careful," Pei Ruoxi said quietly.
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"…Of him."
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A pause.
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Zhang Xiao Qi didn't turn.
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"…I always am."
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From a distance—
Lu Zeyan watched.
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Both of them.
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His gaze unreadable.
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Because unlike everyone else—
He knew exactly what that moment meant.
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And exactly how dangerous it was becoming.
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Interest had been sparked.
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Lines had been crossed.
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And now—
The story wasn't just changing.
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It was accelerating.