Chapter 27: There Is Already Someone in My Heart

The voice was unmistakably that of Bai Peiyu. Qiu Yiyao was startled, caught off guard.

Realizing she had been discovered, she knew it would be nearly impossible to slip out now. She turned around, shone her phone’s light onto Bai Peiyu, and demanded, "Are you genuinely ill? It’s one thing to follow me during the day, but you don’t even sleep at night? It’s truly bizarre. Exactly how much is my father paying you to be this dedicated?"

"Guess," Bai Peiyu replied, leaning against the wall with his eyes slightly narrowed. "Turn off the light. It’s blinding."

"Oh? So there are things you can't stand?"

Qiu Yiyao intentionally brought the phone closer, sneering, "Aren't you worried I might just dash for the door in the dark?"

"Why don't you try it?"

Bai Peiyu’s tone was thick with provocation.

Qiu Yiyao hesitated, glancing back toward the door. She had originally intended to sneak out to see if this town was truly different from any other in the dead of night. Now that she was caught by Bai Peiyu, she knew she couldn't outrun him—one look at those long legs told her he wouldn't be slow.

Qiu Yiyao’s mind raced, and she hit upon a plan. "How about we make a deal?"

"A deal?" Bai Peiyu seemed interested. "Let’s hear it."

Qiu Yiyao glanced toward the upstairs area, leaned in close, and whispered, "I’ll allow you to follow me, but you have to let me go out. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?"

"Otherwise, I’ll tell my father you tried to molest me."

Qiu Yiyao spoke with righteous indignation; she believed that no matter how muddled Qiu Shengming might be, he would surely trust his own daughter over someone who was merely staying with them.

Bai Peiyu laughed. "You’ll accuse me of that? Fine. Why don't we go let your uncle see for himself right now? Do you really think he’d believe you?"

Seeing his complete lack of concern, Qiu Yiyao’s confidence crumbled, and she resorted to playing the victim. She grabbed his arm and shook it. "Brother Yu, please, just have some pity on me. Ever since I got back, I’ve been going to bed early every night, and I haven't been out once. I’m about to go stir-crazy."

Her affected, whiny voice gave Bai Peiyu goosebumps. He pushed her hand away. "Don't try that routine. No means no. Get back to bed."

"Hmph, you stooge."

Qiu Yiyao gritted her teeth. As she turned to leave, she didn't forget to stomp hard on Bai Peiyu’s foot. A yelp of pain escaped him as he doubled over, clutching his foot.

"Hmph, that’s for bullying me."

"I have never met a woman as shameless and devious as you."

"So what? If you’re so capable, come and hit me."

Qiu Yiyao flicked on the room light and made a face at him. "Stooge, that’ll teach you to be so pushy."

The light from the doorway hit Bai Peiyu’s face. His brow suddenly furrowed as if he had seen something. A flash of ferocity crossed his face; he lunged into the room, grabbed Qiu Yiyao by the waist, and tackled her to the floor.

"Watch out!"

With a thud, the back of Qiu Yiyao’s head slammed against the floor. She clutched her head in agony. "Are you trying to murder me?"

Before the words had even left her lips, the weight on her lifted. She looked up to see Bai Peiyu’s back vanishing quickly through the doorway.

"What is wrong with you? What is the meaning of this?"

Qiu Yiyao squinted, rubbing her head for a long time until the pain subsided, though a large bump had risen on the back of her skull. She finally calmed down and lay face down on the bed. "Falling this hard—that definitely wasn't a hallucination, right? Bai Peiyu, you villain, I will make you pay for this. Let’s see if you dare bully me again."

It was already late, and having been on edge all day, Qiu Yiyao soon drifted off into a deep sleep.

When she woke the next morning, the sun was already high. Qiu Yiyao yawned and pushed open her door. Bai Peiyu was coming down the stairs, and their eyes met. The events of the night before immediately flooded back.

Qiu Yiyao pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Bai Peiyu, I haven't settled the score from last night yet. You tackled me out of nowhere and gave me a bump on my head. Well? How are you going to compensate me?"

Bai Peiyu looked at her with mockery. "I tackled you? Little girl, even if you like me, you shouldn't spread such wild rumors. If people heard that, they’d think I had no standards."

"You dare do it but not admit it? Look."

Qiu Yiyao turned around and reached up to touch the spot where the bump had been. "It was right..."

Strange. She felt the area twice, but where was the bump? Not only was it gone, but there wasn't even any lingering pain.

Seeing her standing there, stunned and silent, Bai Peiyu sneered, "It seems you like me so much that you’re having hallucinations?" He sighed deliberately. "You’re a step too late; my heart is already taken."

"Taken by your head, maybe."

Qiu Yiyao felt incredibly embarrassed. Of all the hallucinations she could have had, it had to be one involving this jerk. Being mocked for it now was truly humiliating.

"You’re both up? Come have breakfast." Qiu Shengming poked his head out of the kitchen with a smile.

"You guys eat. I have no appetite," Qiu Yiyao snapped. She retreated into her room and slammed the door shut.

A breeze drifted through the window, making the pink curtains dance like a butterfly. Qiu Yiyao opened her messaging app. No one had sent her anything; it was as if all her classmates and friends had vanished from her life.

Determined, she tapped into the class group chat and began to type. "Is anyone there? I have a life-or-death matter I need help with."

One minute, two minutes—after waiting for half an hour, still no one replied.

Looking at her full Wi-Fi signal, yet unable to find a single friend to confide in, Qiu Yiyao felt she had hit rock bottom. Just as she was sinking into despair, the face of the chestnut-haired woman flashed through her mind.

The scene by the river that day still made her shiver. Why had such a proud woman suddenly become so silent and timid? Was it because of her boyfriend’s abuse? Or was it because of what she had said?

Qiu Yiyao desperately wanted to find her and ask what her words had meant—who exactly was watching them? But Yue Li Town was not small, and finding someone was no easy task. Furthermore, she didn't even know the woman’s name.

Qiu Yiyao pulled at her hair in frustration. "If I had known, I never would have come. Why am I here suffering like this?"

If time could turn back, she would have returned to her carefree university life without hesitation. There were no chestnut-haired women there, no terrifying dreams, no horrific hallucinations, and no detestable guys like him. Everything was perfect.

"That's it! Why not just go back?"

Qiu Yiyao stood up, excited. She couldn't turn back time, but she could take a bus and leave this godforsaken place. The landslide incident had happened some time ago, and the train passing through Yue Li Town had long since resumed operation.

Qiu Yiyao grabbed her phone and backpack, opened her door, and peeked out cautiously. Seeing that the living room was empty, she let out a sigh of relief and bolted out the door.

When she arrived at the bus station, breathless, she looked up, and her heart instantly turned cold.