# 21
Chapter 21 – I’m Sorry
Outside the corridor.
“I’m sorry, Qiye, I really am!” Li Yifei stood there, head lowered, apologizing non-stop. “I was too scared back then. I—I didn’t think, I just ran…
I left you and Jiang Qian behind and even got her…
I don’t expect you to forgive me, but we’re classmates. I still wanted to say sorry!
I’m sorry!”
He didn’t dare meet Lin Qiye’s eyes, yet every word rang sincere.
Only when he finished did Lin Qiye speak slowly.
“Running for your life when danger hits is human nature—nothing wrong with it.” Lin Qiye patted his shoulder. “And if it had been me, I’d have run even faster.”
Li Yifei: …
He scratched his head, as if remembering something. “Right, did you sign that confidentiality agreement too?”
Lin Qiye hesitated, then nodded.
Looks like Zhao Kongcheng hadn’t lied; they really don’t touch eyewitnesses. After Li Yifei escaped the monster that night, they’d found him and made him sign—only logical.
If Lin Qiye guessed right, Liu Yuan had signed the same thing.
He himself hadn’t signed yet, but it was only a matter of time. Admitting he hadn’t would only raise awkward questions.
“Even if they hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t breathe a word,” Li Yifei sighed. “That scene… I never want to recall it.
Break the agreement and you rot in jail—I’m not burying my own future.”
He draped his arms over the railing, gazing down at the lively campus, eyes shining with longing.
“Actually, I wish I could join them.”
Lin Qiye blinked. “You want to join them?”
“Yeah. When I signed, I asked—said I’d drop out on the spot. Too bad… they didn’t want me.”
“Why? Your grades are mediocre, but the sports college was about to take you as a special recruit.”
“Being some jock? Boring. No—being ordinary is boring.” Li Yifei’s eyes lit up.
“Join a secret, powerful group, fight hidden enemies of humanity, rack up feats no one knows—then one day when it all comes to light, the world will remember my name!”
His fists clenched. “That’s the dream of countless guys—that’s a life worth living!”
“You’re daydreaming.” Lin Qiye crushed the fantasy without mercy. “You might die on your first mission, torn into eight pieces by a monster, buried nameless in some mountain. Your parents might never even learn you’re dead; you’d just vanish alone.”
Li Yifei: “…”
“Qiye, your imagination’s disturbingly gory.”
“It’s not imagination.” Lin Qiye shook his head. “What you just described—that is.”
Li Yifei gave a resigned sigh. “Anyway, they rejected me, so no point dwelling. I’ll just carry the secret to my grave.”
“Mm.” Lin Qiye checked the time. “Back to class; it’s almost time.”
They returned. Lin Qiye could feel Li Yifei far more relaxed than before; the guilt over him and Jiang Qian had weighed heavily.
Same flight, yet Li Yifei and Liu Yuan had chosen differently.
Lin Qiye had no urge to hunt Liu Yuan down, but if chance served, he wouldn’t mind teaching him a lesson.
After classes ended, Lin Qiye slung his bag and headed home.
The deaths of Wang Shao and Jiang Qian had forced the school to cancel evening self-study; students were dismissed early.
What surprised him was Night Watch’s authority. Two student deaths should have meant police interviews for anyone last seen with them—like him and Li Yifei.
Yet two days had passed; no one had come.
Night Watch had clearly taken over, their clout enough to gag local law enforcement.
The sky darkened; a drizzle began.
Barely past six, yet daylight had vanished.
Lin Qiye frowned—no umbrella. He quickened his pace.
The rain strengthened; by the time he reached home he was drenched. But the moment the door opened, rich food aroma washed every foul mood away.
“Oh, Xiao Qi, child, you’re soaked!” His aunt, busy in the kitchen, hurried over.
“It came down hard; I forgot my umbrella.” He smiled.
“Then find shelter or call me to pick you up! What if you catch cold?” She feigned anger.
He chuckled, rubbing his head in silence.
“Go dry off. Oh, your teacher came by; I let him wait in your room.”
“Teacher?” Lin Qiye blinked.
“Your P.E. teacher. Said he needed you. Hurry—don’t keep him waiting.”
Towel in hand, Lin Qiye rubbed his hair in bewilderment.
What the heck? He’d transferred only days ago and hadn’t even had gym class—why would the teacher visit?
Unless…
A thought flashed; he dropped the towel and pushed into his room.
A familiar middle-aged man reclined in the chair, teacup in hand, smiling.
Lin Qiye frowned. “You? How did you find my home?”
Zhao Kongcheng lifted the Coat of Arms from the desk and waggled it. “After you ditched me that night, I got clever—slipped this into your pocket. It tracks.”
Lin Qiye locked the door and sat on the bed. “I told you—I’m not joining.”
“I know. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Then the confidentiality agreement?”
“Neither.” Zhao Kongcheng shook his head. “I reported you missing. Since I decided to let you go, I can’t make you sign—if they learn you’re alive, others will come knocking.
And they… won’t be as easy to shake off.”
Lin Qiye stared. “Then why…”
Zhao Kongcheng pulled a rolled parchment from his pocket, laid it on the desk, and unfurled it.
“Night Watch pay is better than you think. After all these years I’ve saved a bit.” He chattered while opening it.
When the parchment lay flat, Lin Qiye’s gaze sharpened.
Inside: a thick stack of cash.