Chapter 21: Reflections in Porcelain

The Tang Twins' beauty was unnatural—almost unsettling. Their porcelain skin, flawless and eerily smooth, had a strange sheen under the sunlight, almost as if they had been glazed like delicate porcelain dolls. Not a single mark or imperfection marred their features. Their dark, obsidian-like eyes reflected light in an unsettling way, making it difficult to tell where they were looking. Their lips, curved into slow, deliberate smiles, held no warmth—only something unreadable, something too calculated.

Even their posture felt… wrong.

Their lean, tall figures carried an elegance too precise, too poised, as if they had been sculpted into existence rather than born. The way they stood was perfectly mirrored—every shift of weight, every slight movement, as if bound by an invisible thread that pulled them together. Their long, black uniforms fit them like second skin, the fabric smooth and unwrinkled, untouched by the wind.

And yet, despite their identical nature, Yuxi noticed something—something so minute that an untrained eye would never catch it.

The first twin's right sleeve was slightly pushed up, revealing the faintest red mark near his wrist, almost like a fading scratch. The second twin, on the other hand, blinked just a fraction slower than his twin, as if his processing of the world lagged by half a second.

No one else would have seen it.

But Yuxi did.

Even though they looked identical to the point of impossibility, she could tell them apart.

And for some reason, that realization sent a shiver down her spine.

Their presence sucked the sound out of the air, muting even the distant murmurs of the students still gathered in curiosity.

Yuxi kept her face composed, her expression nothing more than polite curiosity, while inside, her mind was racing.

Qin Lei stood a few feet from her, his silver eyes unreadable, though Yuxi could sense something shifting in his stance—like a beast slowly awakening. Jiang Cheng and Lu Bei, usually filled with easy banter, had gone completely still, sharp tension replacing their usual carefree presence.

Even Su Ruoyan, who rarely showed any signs of discomfort, had tensed beside her, fingers curling slightly in an almost imperceptible reaction.

Yuxi exhaled slowly.

She wasn't the type to believe in ghosts or curses, but the Tang Twins certainly gave the impression of something… not quite human.

If Xuan were here, he would definitely call them vampires.

One of them—Tang Zhenyu the one with a red mark—took a step forward. The movement was disturbingly smooth, effortless, like gliding instead of walking. Half a second later, Tang Zhenqi mirrored him, the synchronization unsettlingly perfect. It was more than just identical twins moving alike—it was as if they were extensions of the same mind.

Yuxi remained still, observing.

Even though she could tell them apart, their mirroring was so precise that it felt rehearsed.

No—trained.

And Yuxi knew from experience—things done with intention were always dangerous.

"You must be Lin Yuxi."

The voice was smooth, melodic—almost too polite, like silk covering the edge of a blade. Tang Zhenyu was the one who spoke first, his lips curling slightly, as if he were entertained by a joke no one else could hear. His gaze, dark and unreadable, never wavered from hers.

Yuxi didn't let her posture change. She tilted her head just slightly, her tone light but detached. "I suppose I must be."

A soft chuckle came from beside him—Tang Zhenqi, his voice quieter but no less unsettling. It wasn't an open laugh, but a low, indulgent sound, the kind a cat might make before swiping at its prey just for fun.

"She's funny," Zhenqi mused, as if commenting on a painting rather than a person.

Zhenyu hummed in agreement, his gaze never leaving hers. "It's always nice when someone is aware of their existence."

Jiang Cheng shifted beside them, exhaling sharply. "What the hell does that even mean?"

The moment he spoke, the twins turned their heads toward him in perfect synchronization, their identical smiles widening just a fraction—too measured, too knowing. The movement was too smooth, too controlled, as if they had anticipated the question before it was even asked.

Jiang Cheng felt a shiver creep up his spine.

"It means," Zhenyu said lightly, "not everyone realizes when they're being watched."

The words slithered through the air like a whisper in a dark room, curling around Yuxi with unmistakable weight.

A warning.

Not veiled, not subtle. A warning just for her.

Yuxi's fingers twitched at her side. Not out of fear—but calculation.

They knew. They knew she had been digging into them.

And they wanted her to know that they knew.

Before anyone could respond, a fresh wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Yuxi tilted her head slightly, catching snippets of hushed conversations.

The investigation into Qiao Ling's death had begun in full force.

But something wasn't right.

She listened carefully, filtering through the tangled whispers floating between students.

"Did you hear? Her family was in deep debt… desperate to stay afloat."

"I heard they got involved with the wrong people… real monsters."

"They weren't just in debt—they were dealing in human trafficking."

Yuxi's fingers stilled.

Her eyes flickered toward the crowd, scanning the students' faces. There was no horror in their expressions. No fear of a killer lurking among them.

Instead, there was something colder.

A hint of grim satisfaction.

"She was involved in it too, you know," another voice muttered. "She wasn't just a victim—she was part of the trade."

Yuxi's breath slowed.

So that was it.

Qiao Ling had been afraid, yes. Terrified. But not just because of the Tang Twins.

Because she had already stepped too far into the darkness.

And when you walked too close to the abyss—

It swallowed you whole.

Qin Lei finally spoke, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd like a blade. "They found her body early this morning." His silver eyes locked onto the Tang Twins, his expression unreadable. "What do you know about it?"

The twins didn't respond immediately. Instead, Tang Zhenqi's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile, his head tilting just slightly, as if Qin Lei's words amused him.

"You assume we know something?" His voice was smooth, laced with mock curiosity, as if the very idea entertained him.

Qin Lei didn't blink. "I assume a lot of things."

Tang Zhenyu let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "How unfortunate. Accusations so early in the morning."

Yuxi didn't miss the way he said unfortunate—a playful lilt to his voice, like it was a joke only he understood.

Jiang Cheng, who had been watching them carefully, finally spoke, arms crossed over his chest. "Cut the act. You two move like you own this damn place, but the second someone dies, you expect us to believe you had nothing to do with it?"

Tang Zhenqi exhaled dramatically, almost lazily. "We barely knew dear Qiao Ling."

Dear.

He said it like it was a punchline. Like it was something dirty.

"But," Zhenyu added smoothly, as if continuing his twin's sentence, "we do know she made… unfortunate choices."

Lu Bei let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Just say she was a terrible person and move on."

Zhenyu chuckled, a soft, breathy sound. "Now, now. The dead can't defend themselves."

The way he said it—unbothered, faintly entertained—made Yuxi's skin prickle.

She had been observing them the entire time, cataloging their every shift, every flicker of amusement, every unspoken gesture between them.

And there it was again.

That unnatural synchronization. Like two reflections perfectly mirroring each other.

Yuxi's gaze sharpened, though her expression remained pleasantly curious with a smile. "Qiao Ling was working for someone. Who?"

A pause.

No hesitation. No surprise.

A deliberate, theatrical pause.

Then—

The twins turned to each other.

It was brief—barely a second—but something passed between them. A silent exchange so fluid it was almost scripted.

Like they were debating how much fun they wanted to have with this conversation.

Tang Zhenyu finally sighed dramatically, tilting his head. "Lin Yuxi, ever considered becoming an interrogator?"

Tang Zhenqi smirked. "Or a detective. You've got the mysterious aura for it."

Yuxi widened her eyes, feigning innocence. "Oh? Do I?"

Tang Zhenyu nodded sagely, completely ignoring the people around him. "Absolutely. The whole soft-spoken, delicate, I'm-too-innocent-for-this-world act—it's almost believable."

The air grew heavier with the weight of his words, his tone light yet unmistakably sharp—a razor wrapped in silk.

Yuxi's eyes widened slightly, just enough to play along, her lips curving into a soft pout. "Almost?" she said, pressing a hand to her chest with mock offense.

Tang Zhenqi chuckled, the sound low and indulgent. "We see through you, Lin Yuxi."

She smiled sweetly. "Well, that makes two of us."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "Enough with the flirting, can we get back to the dead girl?"

Lu Bei scoffed. "Good luck with that. These two would rather dance around a question than answer it."

Tang Zhenyu exhaled theatrically, looking at his twin. "Should we tell her?"

Tang Zhenqi tapped his chin in mock thought. "Hmm. Nah."

Yuxi blinked, tilting her head with a bright, unbothered expression. "That's fine..it will eventually come out."

Something flickered in their eyes—just for a second.

Before anyone could press further, the distant sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. The professors were arriving.

Tang Zhenyu let out an exaggerated sigh. "Ah, just when we were getting to the fun part."

Tang Zhenqi chuckled, his gaze lingering on Yuxi. "We'll continue this next time, Detective Lin."

And with that—

They turned. And walked away.

Not hurriedly. Not nervously.

Yuxi's smile lingered, soft and unreadable.

Fine. She'd play their game. For now.