It was already this late, and Han Jingjing still wasn't asleep? Were they all night owls?
Jiang Yue held his phone, unsure how to reply for a moment.
He had nothing to hide, but San Gou had caused him a mess. He'd planned to explain in person after school started what had happened when Han Jingjing sent those photos that afternoon.
But now that she'd messaged him, pretending he hadn't seen it wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be honest.
"Jiang Yue: I was just about to go to sleep! Something came up earlier, so I turned my phone off and didn't see your messages."
"Han Jingjing: What happened? Can I help? [Flexing muscles emoji]"
"Jiang Yue: It's nothing, everything's taken care of. By the way, Jingjing, it was my cousin who messaged you this afternoon. That brat stole my phone while I was washing dishes."
"Han Jingjing: Huh? So I've been exposed? [Shy emoji]"
"Jiang Yue: That kid's such a troublemaker."
"Han Jingjing: It's okay, everyone's got a few little brats in the family! Did your stinky little brother peek at my photos? [Smirking emoji]"
He hadn't just looked—he'd even made a few comments about them!
But Jiang Yue couldn't tell Han Jingjing that.
"Jiang Yue: He's only twelve, still in elementary school. He doesn't know anything."
"Han Jingjing: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. What about you? Did you look? [Shy emoji]"
"Jiang Yue: I did. That video really was taken at Tianlang Mountain."
"Han Jingjing: ..."
"Han Jingjing: I've got lots more exciting pictures here. Want to see them? [Cute emoji]"
"Jiang Yue: ..."
"Han Jingjing: Hehe, don't get the wrong idea! I mean pictures of Tianlang Mountain."
The conversation felt a little suggestive, but also a little awkward.
"Jiang Yue: By the way, Jingjing, what did you want when you tagged me in the group earlier?"
"Han Jingjing: Nothing, I just wanted to tag you! Oh, right, Top Student Brother, what do you think about the video?"
Jiang Yue hadn't said a word in the group. He'd tossed the question to Du Yifeng and let him take the spotlight.
Jiang Yue wanted to keep a low profile, but his top-student smarts and charm wouldn't let him.
Take Han Jingjing, for example. She hadn't managed to tag him in the group, but she'd still messaged him privately to press for an answer.
With Han Jingjing, things were different from how they were with Li Yue. They hadn't built the kind of familiarity and trust he had with his deskmate, so Jiang Yue wouldn't casually share his opinion.
"Jiang Yue: Why don't you tell me what you think first?"
"Han Jingjing: Honestly, I don't care at all! This world is so boring anyway. Maybe it'd be more fun if something interesting happened?"
It was a very chuunibyou answer, but it best reflected how most young people felt at the moment.
They were young and hadn't weathered any storms. How could they seriously consider the consequences of a crisis?
If something hadn't actually happened to them, it was hard for them to take it seriously.
"Jiang Yue: All right! Maybe what you're hoping for is about to happen?"
"Han Jingjing: Hehe, if tomorrow's the end of the world, I'm making a wish tonight: I'm giving away my seventeen-year-old first kiss! [Smitten emoji]"
"Jiang Yue: ..."
"Han Jingjing: Top Student Brother, you're my number-one target for making that wish come true!"
Maybe because it was so late, Han Jingjing's style had grown bolder and more daring.
Top student brothers were already a rare breed. Handsome top student brothers were practically on the verge of extinction. And Jiang Yue was the kind of handsome that would make even Heaven's Daddy jealous.
Han Jingjing had been itching to make a move for ages. She'd just been waiting for the right opportunity!
"Jiang Yue: Ahem, Jingjing, to be honest, I have bad breath."
"Han Jingjing: Hmph, liar! Everything about a top student brother smells nice! Just sitting there in the classroom, you make the whole place smell sweet. You attract bees and butterflies like crazy. You have no idea how many girls from all over school sneak peeks at you through our classroom windows every day."
"Jiang Yue: Um, Jingjing, my phone's almost out of battery. Let's talk another time."
"Han Jingjing: Don't go!"
"Han Jingjing: Top Student Brother, you're so mean! You were the one who wanted to see my photos, but you blamed it on your stinky little brother."
"Han Jingjing: Top Student Brother, I'm home alone, and I'm so lonely and scared. If you won't keep me company, I... I'll come to your house."
"Han Jingjing: I'm taking off my pajamas, okay? I've changed. Hmph! I'm heading out now. Let's see if you really have a stinky little brother!"
"Han Jingjing: Top Student Brother, if you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes! Hehe, you stinky brother, you must be dying for me to come over, right?"
His phone kept dinging. Jiang Yue was speechless, but he had no choice but to check it.
What?
Come to his house? Had Han Jingjing really thrown all caution to the wind tonight? In the middle of the night, she wanted to go to a boy's house?
"Jiang Yue: Jingjing, don't do anything reckless. It's pouring outside! Besides, it might not be safe out there right now."
"Han Jingjing: Hehe, I knew Top Student Brother cared about me. I won't come to your house if you don't want me to, but promise to let me treat you to a movie tomorrow."
"Jiang Yue: I really have something to do tomorrow."
"Han Jingjing: Then tell me what day you're free."
"Jiang Yue: Let's talk after school starts, okay?"
"Han Jingjing: If you take it back, you're a puppy. If you break your promise, you're a puppy too!"
"Jiang Yue: Deal. I really am going to sleep now. Good night."
"Han Jingjing: Wait a second."
Ding!
"Han Jingjing: [Picture]"
Jiang Yue thought it was a good-night sticker. He tapped it open and nearly dropped his jaw.
Han Jingjing had sent him a private photo that could easily get censored!
More precisely, it was an artistic side-view photo, only the style was especially daring and avant-garde.
In the photo, Han Jingjing had her arms wrapped around her knees and her head resting lightly on them. Her thighs pressed right against her chest.
That alone wouldn't have been enough to shock him. The problem was that Han Jingjing wasn't wearing any clothes in the picture.
That was right. She was completely naked, without so much as a scrap of fabric.
It was a side view, and none of the unmentionable parts were exposed, but he could still see the unmentionable curves pressed and slightly distorted by her knees.
At seventeen, her figure could easily rival those top actresses in the entertainment industry.
"Han Jingjing: Retracted a message."
"Han Jingjing: Top Student Brother, it's your loss if you didn't save it! Good night, mwah. Sweet dreams! [Cute cute emoji]"
"The end of the world might really be coming, so Top Student Brother, you'd better take it seriously. Also, you have to become the Demon King and protect me!"
"Han Jingjing: Mm-hmm, one last thing, I promise! If the world really ends, Top Student Brother, I'm going to sleep with you before I die! [Fighting emoji]"
This little temptress!
In the middle of the night, she'd been flirting so boldly and brazenly.
Jiang Yue's impression of Han Jingjing had been turned on its head once again. Compared to her, he wondered if he was even the same age as his classmates.
At least Han Jingjing was the only little temptress in the whole class.
If there'd been a few more like her, Jiang Yue would've worried he couldn't keep up nutritionally.
He plugged in his phone and picked up a book from the bedside table.
He'd be lying if he said Han Jingjing's photo hadn't affected him at all.
But it wasn't enough to keep him awake.
After all, what he'd experienced over the past two days—especially his midnight pursuit of the Year Eater—had been much more intense.
After thinking it over for a while, Jiang Yue put down his phone and turned off the light.
Jiang Yue was also exceptionally good at falling asleep.
Of course, he had his grandfather to thank for that.
When Jiang Yue was four or five, his grandfather taught him a set of breathing exercises, along with a few techniques that helped him fall asleep.
Whether lying down, sitting, or even standing, Jiang Yue could fall asleep whenever he wanted.
He didn't know how long he'd been asleep when, all of a sudden, the dream turned pitch-black again. Raindrops began pattering, and a gloomy, icy wind came rushing in.
A desperate woman, her breathing short and hurried...
That cold hand once again settled against Jiang Yue's face.
Ah!
Jiang Yue jolted awake again!
The blankets were warm, but when he reached up to touch his cheek, he felt that familiar damp, clammy coldness.
He sat dazedly at the head of the bed for a while, then his phone alarm went off.
He got up at six every morning, whether it was a school day or a holiday. That was Jiang Yue's unbreakable routine.
"No, I can't keep waiting around like this. If Mother is trying to tell me something through the dream, won't I miss my chance if I keep being so passive?"
He suddenly thought of the Year Eater from yesterday, and of its miraculous Year Eater Skill.
Maybe he could use the Year Eater to learn more about this dream?
After washing up, Jiang Yue decided to go home first, then head to the police station to see Officer Han.
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