Chapter 18: The Leakage of Medicine

By the time I returned to the dormitory, I had already cast aside the episode of impersonating the legendary thief. I changed out of that outfit and slipped into my regular school uniform. Seizing the moment when the room was empty, I quietly fished out a delicate little bottle from the depths of my backpack, inside which lay a mysterious pill rumored to grant extraordinary physical strength for a brief period.

The slanting rays of the setting sun filtered through the gap in the curtains, dappling my desk with light and shadow. I gently twisted open the cap; the pill shimmered faintly in the glow, like a miniature sun resting in my palm. My heartbeat quickened. After a moment’s hesitation, I slowly raised it to my lips, bracing myself for whatever unknown transformation might follow.

But just as the pill was about to touch my lips, the dormitory door was flung open with a bang. Heavy footsteps filled the room as my three roommates entered, their faces ashen and defeated, like soldiers returning from a lost battle. Not a word passed between them—they simply collapsed into their seats, exhausted.

A jolt of panic shot through me. Flustered, I shoved the bottle back into my pocket, feigning composure as I grabbed my uniform, hurriedly changing and announcing my intention to take a shower, hoping to mask my inner turmoil. However, Zhou Jie’s sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the bottle peeking out from the hem of my shirt as I brushed past her. Her gaze sharpened, and she immediately reached for my pocket.

Wang Qing, realizing what was happening, stepped forward too, her hand gripping my shoulder with surprising strength. The struggle between the three of us, bathed in the dim glow of the corridor outside, crackled with tension. Feng Danyan remained seated, her face blank and distant, as though the sudden commotion was shrouded in mist, just out of her grasp.

Half-pushed and half-dragged by the other two, I was escorted out of the room, through corridors mottled with shadow, until we reached a small, deserted alleyway. On either side, weathered stone walls rose up, tangled with creeping vines. Moonlight barely seeped through the gaps, casting shifting patterns of light and dark that lent the scene an air of mystery and unease.

At the dimly lit corner, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie flanked me like guards escorting a prisoner. Wang Qing’s eyes held a mixture of curiosity and severity, while Zhou Jie’s fingers clamped tightly on my pocket, the plastic of the bottle making a faint, distinct sound as it rubbed against her grip. In the distance, Feng Danyan’s figure blurred into the background, oblivious to the unfolding drama.

I struggled, trying to break free of their invisible shackles with words. “Listen, it’s not what you think! This is all a misunderstanding, just an experiment…” My voice echoed off the empty walls, but it seemed unable to penetrate the furrowed brows and suspicious gazes of my friends.

Seeing their steadfast disbelief, I made a desperate decision. As Wang Qing’s hand brushed the edge of the bottle cap, I summoned all my strength: my left hand struck her wrist, while my right seized Zhou Jie’s arm and twisted. To my surprise, both girls fell to the ground, thrown off balance.

The bottle slipped from Zhou Jie’s grasp, but I snatched it midair and, without a second thought, dashed back the way I had come, running as if my life depended on it. The last rays of the sun had faded; the corridor was cloaked in shadow. My footsteps rang out in the emptiness, each thud echoing my pounding heart. I knew that if they caught up, every secret I harbored would be laid bare.

I burst back into the dormitory, breathless, and collided straight into Feng Danyan’s wide, puzzled eyes—so innocent and uncomprehending. I had no time for explanations; I could only gasp, “Danyan, trust me, it’s not what you think,” before ducking into my bed, fumbling for my phone. The screen lit up, reflecting my anxious face.

Moments later, Wang Qing and Zhou Jie stormed in after me, their expressions dark and foreboding, clearly ready to unleash another round of questions. Yet Feng Danyan stood between us, her gaze as pure as water, silently shaking her head at them, as if to say, “Give her a chance to explain.”

I rapidly typed out a message on my phone, the glow of the screen flickering in the dim dorm room, weaving a web of explanations. Zhou Jie’s brow remained tightly knit, but Wang Qing’s anger gradually gave way to curiosity. Finally, when they finished reading my long explanation, their brows slowly unknotted, and the tension in the air at last began to dissipate.