Volume Two: The Stars Bloom Chapter One Hundred and One Volume Two Prologue

“Taking leave from school?”

The balding middle-aged man seated behind the redwood desk by the window paused in the middle of marking papers and turned to look at the student before him, a hint of puzzlement in his eyes.

“Yes, Teacher Xue. Something has come up recently, and I want to set aside some time to deal with it.”

The student nodded politely. With his neatly cropped black hair, wheat-colored skin, black backpack, and blue-and-white school uniform, he carried himself with a refined, scholarly air.

“Zhihao, if you have something to do, you can just ask for leave,” Teacher Xue said, adjusting his round spectacles. “Taking a leave of absence feels a little... like making a mountain out of a molehill, doesn’t it?”

“Teacher, this matter is rather complicated. It won’t be solved in just a day or two.” Zhang Zhihao smiled courteously. “I hope you can approve it.”

“I see...” Teacher Xue frowned. “Then when do you plan to start the leave? After all, the school has to review the application and go through a whole set of procedures.”

“The sooner the better, Teacher.” Zhang Zhihao nodded. “It’s quite urgent.”

“All right. Submit a written application to me later.” Teacher Xue paused, then said thoughtfully, “Oh, right, Zhihao, you still have to take part in tomorrow’s and the day after tomorrow’s midterm exams. You’re our class’s pride, after all.”

“Yes, I will.”

Zhang Zhihao took an envelope from his backpack and placed it on the desk. At the same time, he said, “I’ve prepared the written application for leave and the supporting documents as well. I hope you can spare a little time in your busy schedule to look them over.”

“My, my, as expected of Zhihao. You really are efficient,” Teacher Xue praised him without restraint. Just then, the phone beside him rang.

“Um...” Teacher Xue glanced at the caller ID, and a thought flashed through his mind. He was about to send the student away when Zhang Zhihao spoke first.

“Teacher, the sun is almost down. I should head back.”

“Good, good.” Teacher Xue nodded. After Zhang Zhihao had left the office, he picked up the phone and called the other party back.

“Hello, Old Wang? What do you need me for?”

“What? The matter next door?”

“It’s no big deal. Once I’m promoted to director, there’ll be plenty of good days ahead for you!”

“Don’t worry. As long as my class keeps hold of first place in the grade this time and pulls off a three-peat, the principal will naturally promote me!”

“Of course, why would I lie to you?”

“As for that crazy woman? Don’t worry, I’ll think of a way to deal with her.”

...

On the other side of the wall, Zhang Zhihao heard every word clearly. He naturally knew exactly what kind of person the teacher was; it was just inconvenient for a student to say so. Besides, there were more important things waiting for him right now.

...

At the school gate, a whistling figure paced back and forth as if waiting for someone.

His hair was dyed a pale blue-green. He stood close to six feet tall, his clothes somewhat disheveled, and there was a just-lit cigarette between his fingers. His face was full of cheerful ease.

Naturally, everyone else was the opposite. Passing students cast disgusted glances at this “thug” and took a wide detour around him, muttering about him as they went.

Li Qingchi, once a genius student and also a troublemaking street punk, was the sort of person whose every appearance spelled disaster. Wherever he went, trouble was sure to follow.

Strangely enough, he always managed to escape responsibility without leaving the slightest trace. Even when others recorded him on their phones, the footage would somehow be deleted without explanation, leaving those who tried to report him completely helpless. The local police station could do nothing with him, and whenever they tried to catch him, he would always retort:

“Where’s the physical evidence? What can witness testimony alone prove? You want to arrest someone without sufficient evidence? Be careful, I’ll sue you for unlawful enforcement!”

Over time, Li Qingchi became a legend in Xinhui Town, a figure of overwhelming notoriety. People reacted to him as though they had seen a ghost or a deity, keeping as far away from him as possible, fearing that if they got tangled up in something, they too would be unlucky.

Even the guards at the gate glanced at him from time to time. After all, within the school’s jurisdiction, such a dangerous man still had to be watched closely to prevent him from causing mischief.

“Tch. What’s with those looks?”

Li Qingchi snorted and turned his gaze to the other side of the school gate. At last, he saw that familiar figure. He crushed the cigarette under his shoe, then pulled a bottle of freshener from his pocket and sprayed himself hard.

“Brother!”

The figure ran over, waving one hand in the air.

“Oh... hello, little sister.” Seeing this, Li Qingchi quickly put the freshener away, then smiled at the twin-tailed youth before him—his younger sister, Li Xiangcao!

Her innocence, her playful and charming manner, her blushing cheeks, and though still young, her clear beauty and graceful bearing made her seem like a treasure from heaven.

“Huh? Why does it... smell like smoke?” Li Xiangcao frowned slightly as she came closer, covering her little nose.

“That?” Li Qingchi scratched his head. “Some old man just tossed a cigarette on the ground after smoking, and I accidentally stepped on it.”

“All right. Oh, by the way, Brother, why did you have time to come pick me up after school today?” Li Xiangcao blinked. She knew her brother was usually very busy; to run his family’s small company, he often had to go out and look for clients and business opportunities.

“As long as I want to pick you up, I can pick you up.” Li Qingchi smiled and glanced around before continuing, “Xiangcao, let’s talk as we walk. There are too many people at the school gate.”

It was right after school, and there really were quite a lot of people by the gate. His “thug” image would only drag his sister down, so changing places to talk would clearly be better.

“Okay!” Li Xiangcao nodded.

On the other side of the road, Zhang Zhihao watched the siblings walk away and smiled. Then he lowered his head and sent a text message.

Two seconds later, the phone chimed in response.

Zhang Zhihao opened the profile with the small red dot. The contact named Moon Shadow replied with a single line:

“Stay close to the suspect.”

...

“Xiangcao, give me your backpack.” Li Qingchi held out his hand. “Looks like it’s tiring to carry. Let me take it.”

“Oh, okay!” Li Xiangcao handed her Samsonite backpack to her brother. Speaking of which, this expensive international brand bag had been a birthday present from him last year. In the blink of an eye, nearly a year had passed.

“How have your studies been lately?” Li Qingchi slung the backpack over his right shoulder.

“Pretty good.” Li Xiangcao pouted slightly. “It’s just physics I don’t really get, like closed-loop Ohm’s law and Joule’s law...”

“No problem. I’ll teach you later.” Li Qingchi nodded.

“Great, and teach me the law of conservation of energy too!” Li Xiangcao smiled. “That won’t be too much trouble for you, will it?”

“Not at all. Tutoring my little sister is my honor as a brother.” Li Qingchi smiled. Then, all at once, his expression froze, and his gaze began to sweep around him. He noticed that the light nearby was gradually dimming.

“What is it, Brother?” Li Xiangcao looked up at him and saw that his eyes were full of caution.

“Xiangcao...” Li Qingchi frowned deeply. “What happens next may go beyond everything you believe this world to be. So...”

“Please close your eyes first.”