Chapter 19: Let’s Have Some Fun

The evening chill clung to the air, wrapping Royal Crest in a blanket of growing darkness. Shadows stretched across the courtyard as the last rays of sunlight faded into dusk. Lin Yuxi remained composed, but her thoughts churned beneath her calm exterior. Qiao Ling's panicked voice echoed in her mind.

"The twins… They'll kill me."

Despite her efforts, Yuxi couldn't extract more information from Qiao Ling. The girl had been too petrified to say another word, trembling like a trapped animal.

Qin Lei's voice cut through the silence with cool authority. "Enough. Get lost."

His sharp silver eyes bored into Qiao Ling, giving her no room to argue. Her legs nearly gave out beneath her as she stumbled backward, breathless and shaking.

Without another word, she turned and fled, her footsteps echoing in the stillness.

Jiang Cheng's voice followed her retreat. "She's running like she just saw a ghost."

Lu Bei chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched her disappear into the distance. "Well, maybe she did."

Yuxi let out a small sigh and turned to face Qin Lei, her expression still pleasant, though her thoughts were far from it. "I should've gotten the information I needed before she ran off."

Qin Lei's gaze was steady and unreadable, the silver of his eyes catching the dim light. He didn't respond immediately, but when he did, his words were deliberate.

"Stay away from the twins."

Yuxi raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "You know who they are?"

The air grew heavier, the silence stretching long enough to feel like a response in itself.

Jiang Cheng broke the tension with a low chuckle. "The twins? Yeah, you'd better stay miles away from them, little genius." His usually playful tone carried a hint of warning. "They're unpredictable—completely psychotic. Qiao Ling wasn't exaggerating when she said they'd kill her. This is Royal Crest, after all. Here, anything's possible."

The weight of his words settled on Yuxi, but she kept her smile intact, tilting her head thoughtfully. Inside, though, she was unimpressed.

Stay away? she thought. They dragged me into this mess first. I didn't even know they existed until now.

Qin Lei spoke again, softer this time, but no less serious. "Don't dig into this any further. Stay out of their sight."

For a brief moment, his eyes flickered with something unreadable. Inwardly, he knew it was already too late. They've noticed her.

Yuxi nodded, her voice light and sweet. "Thank you for the advice. And… for your help," she added, her tone polite but distant. Even though I didn't ask for it.

Qin Lei gave a slight nod, his face calm as ever, but his eyes followed her as she turned to leave.

Lu Bei couldn't help but grin. "Looks like you're really into her, boss," he teased, nudging Jiang Cheng. "Did you see how intense his eyes were just now?"

Qin Lei shot him a glare, but before he could respond, Jiang Cheng cut in, his smirk fading.

"This matter is serious," Jiang Cheng said, his voice thoughtful. "She's already caught their attention."

Qin Lei said nothing, his gaze lingering on the spot where Yuxi had disappeared.

The city skyline glittered in the distance as Yuxi stepped into her apartment. The soft hum of the air conditioner greeted her, and the familiar scent of freshly brewed tea lingered in the air.

Kai sat at the dining table, his laptop open, his fingers tapping rapidly across the keyboard. He glanced up as she entered.

"Anything new?" he asked, closing the screen.

Yuxi leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "The twins orchestrated everything," she said evenly. "They're known on campus—unpredictable, dangerous. I couldn't get much more out of Qiao Ling. She was too terrified to speak."

Kai's brow furrowed. "The twins?" His voice dropped a notch, eyes narrowing. "That's not good."

Yuxi nodded. "Be careful when you look into them. I want to know everything—without drawing attention."

Kai smirked. "When am I ever not careful?"

"Just be discreet," Yuxi said, turning toward her room. "I don't need more trouble."

Midnight at Royal Crest Girls' Dormitory.

Room 2066, second floor. The hallway lights flickered softly, casting uneven shadows across the doorframe, their hum the only sound breaking the heavy silence.

Inside, Qiao Ling lay curled beneath her blanket, her breathing ragged and shallow. Sleep had refused to come. Every creak, every whisper of wind outside sent her heart racing, each sound sharp and menacing in the darkness.

She couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching her.

Her eyes darted toward the door, her pulse quickening. The lock was secure. She had checked it twice.

Then she heard it—a soft creak, slow and deliberate.

The door opened without a sound.

A shadow slipped inside, moving with an unnatural grace. The air turned colder, the faint scent of something floral and cloyingly sweet filling the room like a toxic lullaby.

Qiao Ling shot upright, her eyes wide with panic.

Two figures stood at the foot of her bed. The twins.

Their matching features glowed faintly in the moonlight filtering through the curtains. One of them smiled, their expression almost childlike—yet it lacked any trace of innocence.

"Aww… did we scare you?" the first twin cooed, their voice soft and dripping with mock concern.

The second twin leaned in closer, their eyes glinting with cruel amusement. "We told you—there's no running from us."

Qiao Ling's back hit the wall, her breath coming in rapid, shallow gasps. "P-please… I didn't tell anyone anything!" she stammered, tears welling in her eyes.

The first twin chuckled darkly, their voice a low, ominous melody. "Oh, we know."

"But you've made such a mess," the second twin whispered, their voice a dangerous purr.

"And as you know…" The first twin's smile widened, their tone almost playful. "We don't like to keep messes around."

The air thickened with tension, the shadows pressing in closer.

A soft click echoed through the room.

The door locked behind them.

Qiao Ling's heart plummeted.

"Let's have a little fun, shall we?" they said in unison, their smiles stretching into something far too wide, far too wrong.