Chapter 194: Speech

Chapter 194: Speech

Excuse me? Hello? Wake up!

Yibei suddenly woke up amidst a soft call and sat up straight when a familiar face came into view.

It was the girl from before, in the study room.

Shit, I need to put this knife away before I scare her.

He hurriedly looked around for his kitchen knife, only for him to notice that his guitar bag was zipped shut. Even his laptop and headphones were still inside his bag.

Everything he had just experienced was like a nightmare as if nothing had happened.

Something must have been haunting me right before I even entered this room, then.

Just as he was in deep thought, a slender white hand waved in front of his eyes.

Hello? Are you okay? Youve been making strange noises in your sleep, and I wanted to wake you up. Do you need to go to the nurse, orno, its the anniversary; I dont think theyre available?

Sorry! he interrupted. What time is it now?

The girl was slightly startled by his outburst and replied shakily, It should be almost half past five.

Hearing this, he immediately grabbed the guitar bag and dashed out of self-study, passing through the corridor like a gust of wind.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the corridor, Lin Yiqi breathed out a sigh of relief, watching him dash to the other side of campus.

Fortunately, the urban legend in his body remained dormant.

I resolved a crisis, she thought. Hopefully, I wont ever bump into him again.

Backstage, Zhang Yijing paced back and forth and looked out the window, watching as the sun sank into the horizon.

Tap, tap, tap, tap

A rush of footsteps soon came into the hearing. Turning his head, he saw a familiar figure rushing towards him backstage, and the suns flaming rays fell upon him like a majestic cape flying behind him.

For some reason, he was almost moved to tears upon seeing Yibei, and he yelled out, Where were you? Do you know how much I have suffered because of you?

Ah, sorry, something came up, and I was delayed Am I too late?

Youre too late! he cried out. Its too late; I cant have them coordinate the lighting and the music anymore, and

And because of you, I have to give a speech in your stead! A boy came out of nowhere and scoffed. You both owe me a big favour. Its not easy coming up with a speech in just an hour.

Zhang Yijing crept closer towards Yibei and whispered to him, You see, hes the person replacing you later for your speech, but if youre ready, I can try and put you back on.

Zhang Yijing scurried away to the organisers, and the boy rolled his eyes, saying, And why were you late? If anything goes wrong during the speech, Ill have both of you paying me back.

Yibei had originally wanted to let him give his speech, but his tone was way too unfriendly!

Can I ask what the title of your speech is?

And why do you want to know?

Oh, uh, I heard of you a long time ago, and I like your writing style. Maybe itll be better than my sob story.

Hah! You have good taste, the boy nodded. Its [How College Students Should Start a Business]! Interesting, right?

Right.

Then tell me! What do you like about my writing?

? I havent even heard or seen your speeches! I was just trying to be friendly!

Oh, your writing is certainly interesting, Yibei forced out. Youll surely get the crowd going with your speech. This must mean that you started your own business, right?

Well, yes! Let me tell you, the planning stage is almost over, and as soon as we enter the market, well be listed on the GEM in less than a year! I got connections, so no matter what, well appear at the top!

Absolutely not.

Yibei thought that this guy should not be allowed to give a speech after their short conversation, and he needed to take over.

As he spoke, he suddenly saw a wisp of smoke rising from his hair, and he stopped immediately.

He was very familiar with what the smoke was, and it sent him straight back to his laboratory.

Yibei glanced at Professor Ma and sighed, Well, you can teach me another day. You know whats about to happen.

Professor Mas lips parted slightly, and he wordlessly stepped aside to let him go.

Lu Yibei, wait!

What?

Ill drive you! Professor Ma called out. Ive seen you and your night sickness before, and, well, I think my car can give you some cover! Y-youre a girl, so

Yibei couldnt help but feel moved and nodded: Ill leave it to you. Take me somewhere where nobody is around.

Professor Ma hurriedly waved him over towards the parking lot.

He sat in Professor Mas car, and as soon as they left, the two forces in his body began to gain momentum.

His heart beat wildly against his chest, but it seemed to beat more violently compared to last time. The beasts within him struck fiercely, sending waves of heat and cold throughout his body.

His eyes were also scorching as if to fight off the coldness.

In an instant, his blood ignited, and his blood vessels shone with a golden light.

Ack! Ugh

His body began to twitch violently, and painful moans escaped his lips.

Hearing the unusual noises in the backseat and noticing that the car was unusually hot, Professor Ma glanced backwards before turning on the radio to the maximum.

He didnt want anyone to misunderstand the situation. He is a gentleman who is not going to take advantage of his own student, who was moaning and groaning in his backseat.

Ah! It hurts. Stop.

A soft cry drowned out the loud music, and Professor Mas grip on the wheel became tighter.

I need to clear the dashcams footage after this, or my wife will kill me.

They soon drove out of campus onto a shortcut, and the surroundings turned barren in the mountainous region of Huacheng.

Driving on the bumpy mountain road, the view ahead suddenly opened up into an abandoned quarry with piles of sand and gravel by a river.

They gradually slowed down, and before Professor Ma could stop the car, Lu Yibei unlocked the door and leapt out onto the sand; his foot instantly turned the sand into a shimmering crystal as he plunged into the river.

Sizzle!

A sheet of bubbles rose up as if the water were boiling.

Glancing into the backseat, he could see that the seat was burnt out in the shape of a tiny girl and felt worried.

I need to send this to the workshop before my wife finds out.

A few minutes later, Professor Ma sat beside the girl on a huge rock by the river. The two held cooked fish in their hands and an alluring aroma wafted in the air.

Youre going to enter the bamboo scrolls? He asked quizzically. Should I enter too?

Its not as dangerous as you think. Im fine on my own, the girl said, eating.

Oh, it actually tastes pretty good.

Is there anything I can do to help?

Probably not.

If anything, Id rather you go home early.

W-well, I can help you look over the bamboo scrolls. What if some creature appears and takes the scrolls away?

Before Yibei could answer, she could feel something change: the bamboo scrolls unfurled without her knowing, and an unsettling aura filled the air, swallowing the surrounding moonlight like a vortex.