Let's Have a Proper Talk

Watching Kushida Kikyo keep blowing up.

Shi Cheng remained calm, with no major emotional fluctuations.

After all, he had noticed long ago that something was off with her.

He just hadn't expected it to be this severe.

Oh, right.

There was something he really wanted to explain to Kushida Kikyo face-to-face.

Judging by the state you were showing right now.

I should be the dangerous one.

Don't go falsely accusing people!

Looking at the railing Kushida Kikyo was stomping on until it clanged loudly.

Shi Cheng felt sorry for it for one second.

Seeing how fluid her movements were.

She had probably been sick for a long time.

It really hadn't been easy for you.

Bearing it all alone.

But now it was fine.

Someone was there to bear it with you.

Seeing that Kushida Kikyo had excellent kicking strength.

Shi Cheng's eyes lit up slightly.

Could this be the legendary threefold boost from going dark?

If so.

Then he had really hit the jackpot.

Thinking of something pleasant, Shi Cheng couldn't hold it in.

He let out a sinister, "Heh heh heh."

Kushida Kikyo's pleased expression froze as she vented, and she immediately stopped.

She spun around and shouted furiously, "Who's there? Get the hell out here!"

Shi Cheng stood still. He didn't know how to roll, so Kushida Kikyo would have to demonstrate first.

Seeing no movement in the grove, Kushida Kikyo didn't think it was an illusion.

She immediately ran over to investigate.

As she got closer.

She quickly made out the figure hidden in the darkness.

"Why are you here?" Kushida Kikyo was surprised at first, then her face turned even colder than Horikita Suzune's.

"You heard everything, didn't you?"

"I heard it. So what?" Shi Cheng wanted to hear her brilliant opinion.

Kushida Kikyo took another step forward, coming right before him and raising her head.

At an extremely intimate distance, she still radiated an oppressive air. "If you dare tell anyone, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

Threatening him right away?

Although that was indeed a decent method.

Unfortunately, he responded to kindness, not force.

Shi Cheng provoked her. "Is that so? Then I'd like to know exactly how you plan to show no mercy."

"Tch." So she really could only use force?

Kushida Kikyo didn't actually think threats would work either.

But how would she know without trying?

Kushida Kikyo jumped back to open the distance, then raised her leg and aimed straight for Shi Cheng's head.

Even if it didn't kill him, it would at least make him lose his memory for a while.

That was what she thought, anyway.

He saw it.

Shi Cheng's eyes brightened.

The fierce attack had indeed come suddenly.

Unfortunately, it was useless against him.

Shi Cheng accurately caught her ankle.

She was a girl.

So what if she was three times stronger?

Did she really think she was a boy?

"What?!" Kushida Kikyo was shocked that he had actually reacted in time.

Before she could change moves.

Shi Cheng suddenly raised the hand gripping her ankle high.

"Ah!" Kushida Kikyo cried out in pain.

The corners of her mouth nearly stretched to the back of her head.

"Oh, oh, Kikyo, you're really flexible. You can even handle the splits," Shi Cheng teased.

"Damn it." Tears streamed from Kushida Kikyo's eyes, and all she could vaguely see was a hateful face.

Shi Cheng didn't continue making things difficult for her and decisively let go.

Kushida Kikyo, who still hadn't recovered, glared at him fiercely.

Don't think this means I'll forgive you.

You're dead.

Shi Cheng smiled.

How naive.

She still dared let her guard down at a time like this.

Shi Cheng delivered a straight kick, driving deep into Kushida Kikyo's abdomen.

Her entire body flew backward.

She rolled several times across the ground before stopping.

"Cough, cough." Kushida Kikyo, suffering severe internal injuries, struggled to get up. Wiping the crimson blood from the corner of her lips, she said, "If you've got the guts, kill me."

Shi Cheng smiled pleasantly. "How could I? We're classmates, after all."

Once Kushida Kikyo was certain Shi Cheng wouldn't attack again, she screamed madly, "I'll report you to the school! Just wait to be expelled!"

That line successfully made him laugh.

Shi Cheng looked down at her disheveled state.

"Look around. You picked this nice place yourself. Do you think you can just say whatever you want without proof?"

Kushida Kikyo snorted. "The injuries on my body are proof."

Shi Cheng shook his head. "Not enough. Otherwise, why do you think this school has so many cameras?"

Under her bewildered gaze, Shi Cheng told her the truth.

"In other words, as long as something happens outside the cameras' range, the school won't interfere."

Of course, all of that was only his guess, and he hadn't had time to verify it.

But it was definitely enough to bluff Kushida Kikyo.

"Damn it." Kushida Kikyo really believed him and angrily punched the ground.

Had she taken that beating for nothing?

Kushida Kikyo wasn't an irrational person.

The reason she had dared to fight Shi Cheng.

Was because she figured she couldn't lose either way.

But now.

She had suffered an utterly devastating loss.

"All right, let's talk about something else."

"What?" Kushida Kikyo frowned tightly. This guy wasn't about to demand medical expenses from her too, was he?

"You don't just hate Horikita because she refused to be friends with you, do you?" Shi Cheng felt there was another secret here, one that needed to be dug up.

"She didn't tell you?" Kushida Kikyo blurted out.

By the time she realized what she had said, it was already too late.

"Oh!" Shi Cheng's eyes lit up. There really was a surprise.

"So you two knew each other long ago, but Horikita doesn't remember you. Interesting."

It was too late to cover her mouth now. Kushida Kikyo said resentfully, "So what if we did!"

Shi Cheng stroked his chin, puzzled. "But that doesn't make sense. Didn't they say each school only admitted one student?"

Shi Cheng didn't think they could have met through some other channel.

So it could only have been in middle school or elementary school.

Elementary school was a little too far-fetched.

It was most likely middle school.

"How would I know what the hell is wrong with this school?" Kushida Kikyo felt thoroughly cheated.

They had said coming here would let her start a new life.

Yet on her first day here.

Her world had collapsed.

Not only was Horikita Suzune at this school, but she was even in the same class.

What kind of joke was this?!

Kushida Kikyo's face twisted viciously.

Shi Cheng admired the changes in her expression and taunted, "I'm really curious. What kind of dark history does Horikita have on you?"

"If you dare find out, I'll definitely kill you!" Kushida Kikyo threatened.

As if you'd let me go even now.

Shi Cheng crouched down before her and patted her cheek. "I was lying. I don't think Horikita knows anything at all. After all, she didn't even recognize you."

Shi Cheng said something that left her utterly dumbfounded.

Had it all been one-sided on her part?

Shi Cheng's hand slowly moved to the top of her head. While she was still confused, he forcefully pressed it down against the cold concrete.

Thud!

A nice sound indeed, from a nice head.

Kushida Kikyo clutched her forehead and rolled around, gritting her teeth in pain until she couldn't make a sound.

"Are you a little calmer now?"

Shi Cheng felt physical therapy would definitely be remarkably effective on her.

"Calmer." The intense pain temporarily forced Kushida Kikyo to submit.

Though she wasn't completely cured, she hadn't disappointed him either.

"All right, I'm leaving first." Shi Cheng nodded.

"Wait, you won't tell anyone, will you?" Seeing Shi Cheng about to leave, Kushida Kikyo struggled to force out a few words.

Shi Cheng didn't stop walking.

"What's in it for me?"