Culprits

Jiang Shen stirred from her sleep, feeling numbness in her arms. She yawned and rubbed the sleep off her eyes.

"Did I sleep for too long?" Her voice was as quiet as a whisper, practically as light as a feather, but Qing Yao still heard it.

His eyes were on his phone, busy browsing on the internet. "No. I just didn't want to wake you up."

"Did you find the culprit?"

She stretched her limbs and felt her bones creak like an old person.

"I did." Qing Yao held out his phone to her, which Jiang Shen received. "There are three of them. Two guys and a girl. They're all part of the STEM department."

Jiang Shen swiped through the profiles that had been saved as screenshots on his phone. Her eyes trailed over the information they had.

"Can you send them to me?"

"Sure."

Jiang Shen returned the phone and pulled out her own. While she waited for the pictures to be sent, Qing Yao coughed.

"What's wrong?"

He felt a bit hesitant to say it, but he couldn't keep it from her even if he tried. The guilt would eat him alive. And even if he did keep it from her, she would've found out with her abilities.

"I need to tell you something."

"Yeah?"

"You might be wondering why the rumor blew up in the first place—"

"Not really. I mean, there are bad people in school waiting to see me fall. It's just that the opportunity came when I was preoccupied with the student union."

"Regardless of that, it has something to do with me." Qing Yao's eyes were full of conviction.

"Really? How so?"

Jiang Shen had never felt that Qing Yao would be a target as her weakness. Mostly because it was hard to find a fault in him and he acted so aloof and serious there was practically nothing to exploit.

A sense of intrigue filled her.

"These two students have been blackmailing me two weeks before exam week."

"And you think it's your fault?"

Qing Yao nodded. After all, he knew well what type of person Jiang Shen was. She had always preferred to solve her problems herself, not unless it required the help of others.

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why?"

"I meant, why do you feel like you've done something wrong? Granted, you did delay the time you could've told me but — it was going to happen sooner or later. A heads up would've been nice.

Besides, this is the first time our roles have been reversed. It feels nice," She let out a giggle as she sipped her tea.

Unlike Qing Yao, Jiang Shen would often make mistakes in front of him, leading to endless apologies that could almost pile up to a mountain.

"I'm sorry."

Qing Yao hung his head low, his mood turned gloomy as he pursed his lips. Sometimes he knew that he took her

kindness for granted.

If it wasn't for the fact that she had feelings for him, no doubt he would've been beaten up already.

Jiang Shen shook her head. "There's nothing to apologize for. In any case, I don't really care whether you told me or not. But I do thank you for telling me the culprits. Now I can confidently salvage my reputation at the morning ceremony."

There would be a fierce debate when the time comes.

Qing Yao wanted to make it up to her, but deep down he knew it wasn't because he was acting out of sincerity, but rather for himself.

Selfish, was what Jiang Shen came to realize about Qing Yao. A little enlightenment and a series of unfortunate events had led her to open her eyes about what kind of person he truly was.

He was friendly and kind, but in the end all of the things he did was for himself. It didn't matter that she liked him or if she had a special place in his heart. In the end, the one who triumphs is himself.

So why should she continue to waste her time with someone who could only reciprocate feelings through words, but not actions?

Jiang Shen gazed deeply at Qing Yao's expression, her doe eyes could practically see through his body language.

Not wanting to waste any more time, she checked the time on her wrist, and stood up. "As a token of appreciation i'll pay for our drinks. Thanks for helping me out. I have to leave now, bye."

Qing Yao watched as she disappeared from his view, his features had become blank to the point that he himself felt his heart at a loss. But it was too late — for she had already let go.

Jiang Shen rode her bike up until the intersection where the road would take her to the east side of the city. Her bike had been parked on the sidewalk as she sat down on a bench deep in thought.

She knew long ago how Qing Yao had felt for her. But she still persisted in wanting to be by his side because she believe that no matter how much time passes, she could win his heart.

Turns out it was a pretty naive idea, it was so stupid that she wanted to bash her head against the tree beside her for thinking like a kid.

It wasn't like she needed someone's attention. She could live by herself. With no one but herself to rely on. Who needed love when she could focus on studying?

She fiddled with her earlobe and suddenly felt the stress of everything pile up on her shoulders, weighing down her already exhausted body.

When was the last time she had a good night's sleep? she wondered. And when was the last time she didn't need to cling to reality by relying on instruments?

Jiang Shen looked down at her clammy hands as she felt her stomach churn uncomfortably. Sometimes the symptoms came so suddenly it felt like she had been hit with a truck.

When she felt like crying, she could feel a shadow loom above her as she hugged her stomach. The tears that threatened to spill out stopped when she heard a melodious voice.