TPPCGEM Chapter 31.1

Xia Zhinian: “??!”

What?

Xia Zhinian’s expression was bewildered.

Yan Ci raised his hand. The back of it was bright red, contrasting sharply with the pale skin on his wrist, making it look particularly striking.

A few traces of sorrow flitted across Yan Ci’s jade-like face, his eyebrows delicate and incredibly captivating. He spoke softly.

“It hurts.”

“Classmate Xia just said to come to you if it was serious. You’re responsible, and you wouldn’t deny it now, would you?”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian looked at the protagonist shou in front of him, who was so beautiful that he could barely conceal his sadness, and wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Was this still the black sesame dumpling?

Or was it some new type of dumpling skin?

“Does it… hurt?” he asked hesitantly, his voice small and his eyes round.

Yan Ci nodded. Xia Zhinian glanced at his still-red hand, thinking it was indeed his fault Yan Ci got burned. He bit his lip and suggested, “Should I… find someone to take you to the infirmary? Or the hospital?”

“Find someone?”

Yan Ci paused, his dark eyes staring straight at Xia Zhinian. He pulled his lips into a gentle smile. “Classmate Xia, how heartless of you. You caused this trouble, and now you want to leave me behind.”

His long eyelashes dropped slightly, and he looked down at Xia Zhinian, smiling good-naturedly.

“Classmate Xia, would you reconsider what you just said?”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian’s head felt like it was going to explode. He poked his finger at his clothes and, without a word, went with Yan Ci to the infirmary.

Fortunately, Yan Ci didn’t do anything else overwhelming. The on-duty doctor at the infirmary took a look and said it wasn’t serious, prescribing some medicine to apply.

Xia Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief. Yan Ci handed him one of the two boxes of medicine and a few candies from Old Qin.

Old Qin wasn’t there during the last self-study class, and the classroom was noisy and chaotic. Xia Zhinian noticed Chu Qingjian looking towards the front.

A girl at the door smiled at him and waved. Chu Qingjian saw the chaos in the classroom and, seeing that no one was in charge, casually walked out.

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian watched the protagonist gong leave with his girlfriend, feeling heartbroken as he watched their backs.

He had been worried that the plot would completely collapse, but today’s encounter with Qin Jin gave him a bit of hope.

But now…

He couldn’t just forcibly separate Chu Qingjian from his girlfriend.

Xia Zhinian sighed, looking miserable.

Zou Ziqian comforted him, “Don’t be too upset, deskmate. I never thought you’d succeed anyway.”

Xia Zhinian: “…”

Xia Zhinian looked at him gloomily.

Zou Ziqian laughed, “I think you and the class president make a good pair. The forum is buzzing with people shipping you two, saying they keep catching sweet moments of you together.”

“…”

Xia Zhinian rested his chin on the desk, “It’s complicated.”

Zou Ziqian asked curiously, “But where is the class president? Old Qin isn’t here, the class is in chaos, and no one’s managing it?”

Xia Zhinian glanced at Yan Ci’s seat, which was indeed empty. “Maybe he’s busy and will be late.”

“Buzz buzz.”

Just as he finished speaking, his phone buzzed on his desk. He pulled it out to see a message from an unknown contact:

[Young Master Xia, the final payment has been received. Per your instructions, Yan Ci has been locked in the underground activity room. It’s a secluded place; no one will find him. Rest assured, we’ll release him early in the morning and ensure it can’t be traced back to you.]

Xia Zhinian: “??”

“??!!!”

What?!

Xia Zhinian’s eyes widened, staring at the message, his mind recalling something.

In the original novel, it is mentioned that Xia Zhinian causes trouble for Yan Ci, locking him in an empty room, but Chu Qingjian coincidentally needs to see Yan Ci and quickly lets him out.

This incident barely caused any waves.

But now…

Xia Zhinian glanced towards Chu Qingjian’s empty seat and quickly called the protagonist gong, but no one answered.

…This was strange. He hadn’t locked anyone up, so who did, and why was it sent to his phone? Moreover, could Yan Ci, that black sesame dumpling, be locked up so easily?

Xia Zhinian was a bit anxious, his fingers fidgeting in his palm.

The protagonist shou…

Yan Ci was afraid of the dark.

The underground activity room had faulty wiring. If he was locked inside… Even if it’s unclear how fear of the dark and skin hunger are related, Yan Ci would have an attack in a completely dark place like a cellar.

Xia Zhinian bit his lip and tried calling Chu Qingjian again, but still no answer. Worried that Chu Qingjian might have blocked him, he had Zou Ziqian try calling.

Still no answer.

“What’s wrong, deskmate? Why are you in such a hurry?” Zou Ziqian asked in confusion.

Xia Zhinian glanced at the chaotic classroom without Yan Ci, bit his lip, and struggled mentally between going and not going.

According to the original plot, this was supposedly his doing. The message also claimed it was his doing. Following the original plot, sitting still would complete a part of the storyline without him doing anything.

But, but…

He looked down at the unopened burn ointment and the new candies on his desk.

He was swayed.

Although Yan Ci was a bit black-hearted, he hadn’t done anything terrible to him and just wanted to use him as a human medicine.

Xia Zhinian bit his finger, struggled momentarily, and then stood up and rushed out of the classroom.

“Hey, deskmate? Where are you going?”

Zou Ziqian called after him, but he didn’t respond. He ran downstairs, calling the number that had sent the message, but no one answered. Gritting his teeth, he ran to the underground activity room, panting and looking around.

The wiring was faulty, and the corridor was dark and silent, with several activity rooms lined up, all locked.

Xia Zhinian breathed heavily, his lungs hurting, and his chest felt filled with gravel. His lips were pale, and he pressed his ear to the door, hearing a faint sound, frowning and pressing closer.

“…Yan Ci?”

There was a low, muffled sound from inside as if something was being suppressed.

He’s here!

Xia Zhinian relaxed and looked at the locked door, estimating that he would have already if Yan Ci could have kicked it open. He glanced around and saw a small window above, raising his voice towards the inside.

“Wait for me.”

Because it was a basement, the windows were small and high, only for ventilation. He pushed open the opposite activity room door, dragged a table out, and placed it under the window.

Wobbling, he climbed up, tiptoeing to reach the window and tapping on it, his voice clear and urgent.

“Yan Ci? Are you okay? Open the window.”

The activity room was pitch black inside, and he couldn’t see anything. He turned on his phone’s flashlight, tiptoeing to look inside.

It was dim, the light casting a clear path. A boy stood in the farthest dark corner, half of his body in shadow, his shoulders and back straight.

“Bang!”

A fist hit a standing sandbag in front of him.

The well-insulated door and window muffled the sound. Xia Zhinian couldn’t hear it, only seeing the boy turn to look at him, his face hidden in the dark, but his white shirt gleamed in the light, looking cold and fierce.

Xia Zhinian: “?!”

Xia Zhinian’s expression was blank momentarily, a trace of confusion flashing in his amber eyes.

He thought Yan Ci might be huddled in a corner somewhere, but instead… he was hitting a punching bag.

Wow.

But considering Yan Ci’s hidden danger, it seemed pretty normal. Xia Zhinian patted the window.

“Yan Ci!”

In the darkness, Yan Ci felt numb all over. Without vision, his tactile sense became increasingly sensitive. The itch on his skin felt like tiny needles piercing his nerves, making him want to tear off that layer of skin.

He had patiently waited in the darkness.

Finally, he heard some noise and turned his head; the hostility that had run wild in the darkness gradually subsided but still carried a bit of coldness.

Yan Ci lowered his eyelids and slowly stepped into the light. He looked up at the small head sticking out of the tiny window and smiled slightly.

The little rice cake had come.

Xia Zhinian.

…Xia, Zhi, Nian.

He savored the name on his lips as if he wanted to chew it up and swallow it completely, a hint of pleasure rising in his heart. His smile widened.

Xia Zhinian: “?!”

What was the black sesame dumpling smiling about?

It was creepy.

Xia Zhinian saw him smiling eerily to himself. He shrank back, then popped his head out and patted the window.

Yan Ci smiled again, moved a table over, stepped on it to open the window, and the little rice cake appeared before him without any barrier.

“Yan Ci?”

Xia Zhinian checked his complexion, pursed his lips, his round eyes wide, and called him softly.

“Mm.”

Yan Ci responded lightly, handing him a metal sheet, his face pale, his voice weak and gentle, “Go open the door.”

Xia Zhinian: “?!”

A key?

There was a key?!

Xia Zhinian was stunned for a moment but didn’t ask, handed over the phone with the flashlight on, then jumped down the table to open the door. Only then did he realize it was a one-way lock, which could only be opened from one side.

The door creaked open, breaking the silence of the hallway. Dusty air wafted out, the room dimly lit by a bit of hidden light.

“Yan Ci?”

He stepped forward, his large almond eyes wide and a bit nervous, softly asking, “I can’t see you. Can you make some noise?”

“…Mm.”

A low, muffled sound came from nearby. Xia Zhinian’s vision was blurry, and suddenly, a tall figure unexpectedly fell straight onto him, pressing down heavily.

Xia Zhinian: “!!!!”

The tall figure, not a lightweight, toppled onto him, causing him to fall heavily.

“Ouch, it hurts.”

Xia Zhinian grimaced, his butt throbbing with pain, and there was still someone pressing down on him. Seeing no response from the other, he panicked, biting his lip and pushing him.

“Yan Ci, are you okay? Yan Ci?”

Had he fainted?

Yan Ci’s chin rested on his shoulder, and he responded with a low “mm,” then reached out to clasp the boy’s waist, his pitch-black eyes opening, his voice very light and weak.

“Classmate Xia, I don’t feel well.”

Xia Zhinian bit his lip, having run down, his rapid breathing making his throat dry and a bit hoarse, his voice unsure, “Then, how about going to a brighter place?”

“It’s okay, just give me a moment.”

Xia Zhinian breathed a sigh of relief, trying to push Yan Ci off. But the weight on him didn’t lessen. The arm around his waist tightened.

The phone had fallen to the ground, facing up, its flashlight covered, making everything dim again.

Xia Zhinian was tightly held, feeling the warm breaths on his neck, making a few hairs stand on end. Realizing something was wrong, his heart tightened, and he lifted his long eyelashes.

Yan Ci had one hand on the ground beside Xia Zhinian, the other around his waist, one knee between the boy’s legs, and leaned closer.

“Classmate Xia.”

Yan Ci’s pitch-black eyes stared at him, then moved a bit closer, his voice light, “I heard the person who locked the door say… young master Xia gave them ten thousand as a hard work fee.”

“Classmate Xia, is that true?”

Xia Zhinian was stunned, his amber eyes confused, then looked away.

He hadn’t done it, but according to the plot, it was him.

He lowered his eyes, his fingertips tightening, avoiding Yan Ci’s gaze, “So what if it was me… think whatever you want.”

Xia Zhinian wanted to stand up, but Yan Ci’s strength was frightening, easily holding him down, his deep eyes unreadable as he looked over.

Then he chuckled lightly, his voice low and slow, with a hint of doubt.

“Classmate Xia… doesn’t seem to want to be a good person.”

Xia Zhinian: “?!”

What did that mean?

Xia Zhinian’s alarm bells went off in his head, his scalp tingling, his body tense, and Yan Ci quickly noticed.

Yan Ci tilted his head, his fingertips slowly sliding over, clearly feeling the boy tremble momentarily, and he smiled.

“You’re nervous, right?”

The boy groaned, his almond eyes wide, his voice taut and precise, “No.”

Yan Ci ignored his stubbornness, his gaze assessing, “You fought with thugs to save Zhao Jingjing, didn’t want her to say anything, and hurried down to save me, breathing harder than during physical tests, and didn’t want to tell me.”

“…Why?”

Xia Zhinian, trapped in Yan Ci’s embrace, had nowhere to look away from the intense gaze. His heart pounded uncontrollably, echoing loudly in his ears.

Suddenly, he remembered Yan Ci’s earlier questioning tone, and something flashed in his mind. His amber eyes widened in astonishment, his clear voice rising slightly.

“You tricked me?!”

He already knew it wasn’t him.

Yan Ci’s lips curled up, and he patted the boy’s fluffy head, smiling faintly.

…The little rice cake had secrets.

He chuckled, “Just a casual question.”

–

Yan Ci didn’t push too hard, letting the boy support part of his weight as they went to the infirmary.

Only then did Xia Zhinian see the bloodstains on Yan Ci’s arm, long gashes that looked like they were from scratching too hard, leaving deep marks.

The infirmary doctor, who had seen them earlier in the morning for burn ointment, now looked at Yan Ci’s arm wrapped in bandages and then at the silent, fair-skinned boy beside him.

“Little classmate, don’t use your hands if you have a fight.”

Xia Zhinian: “?”

Huh?

Xia Zhinian was still caught up in his thoughts, considering whether the protagonist had noticed something unusual. Suddenly, being addressed brought him back, his round eyes filled with flickering light, his voice clear and innocent.

“It wasn’t me who scratched him.”

The black sesame dumpling did it himself.

The doctor looked at Yan Ci’s pale face, “Then what happened to him, looking so pale?”

Xia Zhinian glanced over. Although Yan Ci’s mind was sharp, and he had tricked him just now, being locked in the dark room had left him somewhat weak.

His face was pale, the fine scars at the corners of his eyes relaxed and spread, and he occasionally raised his hand to grasp his other wrist, clearly enduring something, but his expression remained calm.

Yan Ci smiled gently, avoiding the doctor’s hand and taking the bandages.

“I accidentally scratched myself.”

Xia Zhinian looked at the bloodstains on his arm, his fair face showing wide eyes, and he pursed his lips.

The black sesame dumpling was pretty ruthless to himself.