Suddenly, Gao Yang felt a pang of sympathy. "It's not too late to see it now. The dress looks beautiful."

"It's not! The dress is all wrinkled!" His sister cried. "And my face is swollen! At night, my face is at its thinnest—perfect for this dress!"

A warmth spread through Gao Yang's heart as he reached out to pinch his sister's cheek. "You're beautiful no matter what."

"Even more beautiful than that girl you took to the hotel?"

"Yes, more beautiful."

"So, if both of us fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?"

Gao Yang froze. What a question… But knowing Qing Ling, she’d probably say, "Save your sister first; I want to swim a little longer."

"Of course, I'd save you!" Gao Yang answered.

"Good! You said it! Pinky promise!" His sister extended her pinky.

"Pinky promise."

...

At eight in the morning, at No. 15 Middle School in Shanqing District.

By the time Gao Yang arrived at the school gates with his backpack, morning self-study had already ended. As he pondered what excuse to give his teacher for being late, he spotted a familiar red sports car parked by the roadside.

A sudden sense of foreboding washed over him.

Sure enough, Wang Zikai was at the school gates, locked in a heated argument with the gym teacher, who was overseeing tardy students.

"I'm not dropping out! I want to go to school!" Wang Zikai shouted.

"Student, you've already withdrawn! Don't make trouble," the gym teacher responded, clearly uncomfortable, but also hesitant to be too stern since Wang Zikai was a wealthy second-generation.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Teacher, I've had an epiphany! I want to learn!"

"It's good that you've had a change of heart... But you'll need to go through the proper procedures to re-enroll."

"No! I love learning! Learning is the light that guides the way! I don't want to waste another second." Just as Wang Zikai was about to continue, he spotted Gao Yang approaching and immediately broke into a grin. "Brother!"

"I told you to stay home, didn't I?" Gao Yang frowned.

Wang Zikai was brimming with excitement. "I couldn't stay still! Just thinking about being part of the new human race makes me feel like I'm going to explode with excitement..."

"Keep your voice down." Gao Yang's face flushed with embarrassment. Qing Ling was right—this fool should have been dealt with sooner; otherwise, he'd only bring trouble.

"Hey, don’t you all have special abilities? Why don’t I have any? That’s not right. Aren't I supposed to be the chosen one?" Wang Zikai blinked expectantly. If he had a tail, it would be wagging by now.

"The power within you has only just awakened... Everything in this world takes time," Gao Yang made up on the spot.

"That makes sense!"

"By the way, didn’t you say you'd give me a mission tonight? Why don’t you give it to me early so I can complete it sooner?" Wang Zikai’s thoughts jumped around unpredictably.

"This mission... can only be done at night."

"Fine, fine." Wang Zikai slung an arm around Gao Yang’s shoulder. "Come on, let's go to class together."

...

By the end of the day, Gao Yang was nearly driven mad by Wang Zikai. He felt like he was raising a hyperactive husky. In the end, Gao Yang had no choice but to teach Wang Zikai a "cultivation method," instructing him to sit still and remain silent.

Sure enough, Wang Zikai sat in his seat without moving, fully immersed in his "training."

During the second night study session, Gao Yang went to the restroom. Just as he stepped out, Qing Ling cornered him. "Come with me to the rooftop."

The rooftop?

That didn’t sound like a good place.

Gao Yang followed Qing Ling up to the rooftop. With a quick glance back, she slammed the iron door shut with a decisive "bang." She looked around, confirming there was no one else.

"How’s your sister?" Qing Ling asked.

"She’s fine. It’s all sorted."

"Keep observing her. Some beasts are clever; they know how to disguise themselves," Qing Ling said.

"Okay." Gao Yang sighed inwardly. If only it were possible, he hoped his sister wasn’t a beast. But if she were, he prayed she’d be a lost one.

A gust of wind lifted Qing Ling’s long hair, tangling her gaze with it. "I know you’re close to Wang Zikai, but he’s a beast."

Gao Yang remained silent.

So, it had come to this, after all.

Dark clouds drifted across the sky, obscuring the moon. Standing in the shadows, Qing Ling’s expression was unreadable. Her voice, however, was firm and unyielding. "After night study ends, take him to a secluded place. I'll do the killing."

Gao Yang was silent for a moment before raising his head. "And if I refuse?"

Without hesitation, Qing Ling replied, "Then I’ll kill you both."