CHAPTER 14 — Setting the Trap
Zhang Xiao Qi didn't act immediately.
She returned to class, sat down, and opened her book.
Calm.
As if nothing had happened.
Because rushing was for people who didn't think ahead.
The classroom buzzed faintly with leftover excitement from the sports field incident.
"I heard she won't be attending classes for a few days…"
"That fall looked serious…"
"Who even bumped into her?"
Speculation. Assumptions. Noise.
Zhang Xiao Qi ignored all of it.
Because she already knew one thing—
it wasn't random.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the page.
Timing. Angle. Execution.
Too clean to be accidental. Too messy to be professional.
Someone was testing boundaries.
Expose them?
No.
Too simple.
Too boring.
Instead—
let them move again.
---
That afternoon, a message began to circulate quietly among a select group of students.
Unverified. Unconfirmed.
But convincing enough.
"Pei Ruoxi will still attend the academic evaluation tomorrow."
False.
Completely false.
But believable.
Because Pei Ruoxi was known for pushing herself beyond reason.
Zhang Xiao Qi leaned back in her chair, her gaze distant.
If you acted once… you'll act again.
People like that didn't stop halfway.
Across the room, Li Xinyue's gaze flickered briefly.
Not obvious.
But she had seen it.
And she was thinking.
Gu Yichen noticed it too.
"You're spreading something," he said quietly, glancing at Zhang Xiao Qi.
Not accusing. Curious.
Zhang Xiao Qi didn't look at him.
"Am I?"
He smiled faintly.
"You're not as passive as you pretend."
"And you're not as observant as you think."
That made him pause.
Just slightly.
Then his smile deepened.
"Now I'm more interested."
---
In the medical room, Pei Ruoxi sat quietly, her ankle elevated.
Still.
Composed.
Her phone lit up briefly.
She read the message once.
Then paused.
"So that's your move."
There was no surprise in her eyes.
Only recognition.
She didn't stop it.
Didn't correct it.
Instead, she placed her phone down gently.
Let's see who steps forward.
---
The next day, the academic building was unusually quiet.
Fewer students.
Less noise.
Which made every movement easier to notice.
Zhang Xiao Qi stood near the corridor, her posture relaxed.
Waiting.
Not obviously.
But deliberately.
Minutes passed.
Then—
footsteps.
Careful. Measured.
Someone trying not to be seen.
Zhang Xiao Qi's gaze shifted slightly, her attention sharpening.
There.
The footsteps slowed near the corner.
A hesitation.
Just for a second.
Enough.
The figure lingered, half-hidden, as if deciding whether to move forward.
Too cautious.
Too deliberate.
Zhang Xiao Qi took a single step forward.
The movement was small.
But it was enough.
The figure stiffened.
"…If you're going to do something," she said calmly, "you should at least learn how to hide better."
Silence.
Then slowly—
the person stepped out.
Su Melling.
Her expression was tight, her composure strained.
Zhang Xiao Qi studied her quietly.
"I didn't expect you," she said.
Not surprised.
Just… noting.
Su Melling's hands clenched slightly.
"You knew."
"I suspected. You confirmed it."
A flicker of emotion crossed Su Melling's face.
"I didn't mean to push her that hard."
There it was.
Not denial.
Not innocence.
Zhang Xiao Qi tilted her head slightly.
"Then why?"
Su Melling looked away briefly, her voice lowering.
"Because someone has to bring her down."
A pause.
"She has everything. And people like her don't even notice what they take from others."
Zhang Xiao Qi watched her in silence.
"So you decided to act."
"No one else would."
"Others would," Zhang Xiao Qi replied calmly. "They just wouldn't do it this badly."
That hit harder than anger.
Su Melling's expression tightened.
"You think you're better?"
"No."
A slight pause.
"I just don't make mistakes."
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
"…This is interesting."
Gu Yichen's voice broke through.
He stepped into view, clearly having watched enough.
His usual amusement was still there—but quieter now. Sharper.
"You set this up."
Zhang Xiao Qi didn't deny it.
"Yes."
His gaze shifted to Su Melling.
"And you walked right into it."
Su Melling's composure cracked further.
"I didn't plan this—"
"No," Zhang Xiao Qi interrupted calmly. "You reacted."
A pause.
"And that's why you lost."
She stepped closer.
Not threatening.
But controlled.
"You won't do this again."
It wasn't a question.
Su Melling didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
After a brief hesitation, she turned and walked away.
Her steps were quicker this time.
Less controlled.
Gu Yichen watched her leave, then looked back at Zhang Xiao Qi.
"You're colder than I thought."
"You're slower than I thought."
A brief pause.
Then he smiled again.
"Now I'm definitely not letting this go."
Zhang Xiao Qi didn't respond.
Because something didn't align.
Su Melling wasn't capable of executing the earlier move that cleanly.
Which meant—
she wasn't alone.
Zhang Xiao Qi's gaze shifted slightly down the corridor.
Someone else was watching.
Not visible.
Not obvious.
But there.
And that—
was far more interesting.