Chapter 185 - 184: I Need You, Is This Reason Enough?

A moon-white uniform, cinched with a blue sash, and adorned with a blue-striped shoulder insignia.

The uniform, one that belonged exclusively to the Student Council President, quickly caught Jian Yu’s eye.

Jian Yu glanced to the side.

A tall, slender man with black hair and blue eyes stood quietly before a bookshelf.

Jian Yu paused for a moment, then nodded in greeting.

Silence was required in the library.

Sheng Yue’s brow twitched, and he gave a slight nod in return.

His profile was turned to Jian Yu, thin lips pressed into a firm line. He didn’t look like he wanted to talk.

And yet, the way his brow remained furrowed, the way his fingertips restlessly tapped the book’s spine—every subtle gesture betrayed a desperate, hidden urge to speak.

Yin Jiu let out a mental howl. ’You have to be shameless! My master!’

Sheng Yue’s fingers clenched, and his breath hitched.

A sudden, cold aura washed over her, and Jian Yu averted her gaze.

She wasn’t surprised to see Sheng Yue.

This was District 2, and Sheng Yue controlled all access to Library No. 2.

In other words, Sheng Yue knew the moment she’d stepped into the library.

But Jian Yu never expected that there would come a day when Sheng Yue would abuse his authority for personal reasons.

He’d only glanced at his Star Brain for a few seconds before a commotion started among the crowd outside.

At the same time, the library announced it was closing early.

Jian Yu stared at the now-dark electronic screen and disconnected.

She stood up and opened her mouth.

But seeing Sheng Yue’s cold expression, she closed it again and turned to leave.

A hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back.

Sheng Yue’s voice was hoarse. "Wait. I have something to say."

She was spun around, her back hitting the flat end panel of the first row of shelves.

They were mechanical shelves, and she could feel their metallic chill even through her clothes.

Jian Yu looked up, her gaze landing on the arm Sheng Yue had braced against the shelf.

’Pinning someone against a wall in the library?’

’Oh, that’s not the important part.’

’Uh, why isn’t he talking?’

Jian Yu composed herself and focused. "Um, President, you can go ahead. I’m listening."

Sheng Yue spoke, his voice taut with restraint. "According to regulations, I’ll be leading a group of students on a mission at the end of the month."

An unshakeable aloofness was etched into his features, and he radiated an air of indifference.

"I know, I’ve heard," Jian Yu said, staring unblinkingly at Sheng Yue’s face.

She pursed her lips in thought. "According to the rules, academy-issued missions are only for second-years. It’s not our turn yet as first-years."

Missions for new students only become available in the second semester.

"Healing-type Soul Beasts are the exception." Sheng Yue’s fingers undid a button on his uniform, revealing a small patch of pale skin.

The blue chain around his neck was an odd design, split into several segments with the ends disappearing into points on his shoulder, chest, and back.

The corners of his tightly pressed lips curved slightly downward.

After a moment of intense staring, Sheng Yue finally spoke. "The rewards are generous, and you only have to turn over forty percent of the resources you gather. The academy will provide all necessary supplies, and I and the other Awakeners will be there to protect you."

Jian Yu blinked, her gaze dropping. She didn’t dare look too closely.

’Seduction. This is definitely seduction.’

For the first time, Jian Yu was grateful for her long eyelashes, which could hide the expression in her eyes.

Otherwise, with her large, almond-shaped eyes, anyone could see right through to her lecherous heart—a heart that completely lacked the guts to act on its desires.

Sheng Yue thought she was going to refuse.

His fingers clenched. "Healing Soul Beasts are quite rare. The upperclassmen... they need you. Would you consider signing up?"

Jian Yu glanced up, her nose catching a faint scent of wine.

A slight hint of grape was mixed in with the delicate aroma.

Tracing the scent, Jian Yu realized it was coming from Sheng Yue himself.

’Liquid courage?’

Jian Yu kept her eyes downcast, surreptitiously sizing him up. "But I’m just a new student. The upperclassmen don’t know me, so why would they need me?"

Yin Jiu, playing wingman, chimed in: ’What she means, Master, is that your reason isn’t convincing enough!’

Yin Jiu laid out the truth: ’Master, you haven’t given most people the time of day for years. Showing up to invite her for the sake of the "upperclassmen" is going to sound totally fake to her!’

Yin Jiu urged him on: ’Repeat after me. You have to say exactly what I say this time! Please, Master.’

Sheng Yue’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he tried to ease his tension. ’Go on.’

Yin Jiu adopted a bashful tone. ’It’s not the upperclassmen who need you. It’s me. *I* need you. Okay?’

Sheng Yue closed his eyes, looking like he wanted to grind his molars to dust.

He let out a soft breath and opened his eyes. "It’s not the upperclassmen who need you. I need you."

Yin Jiu held its breath, screaming silently. ’!!!!’

Jian Yu’s heart couldn’t take it. Judging by his expression, she thought he was about to go on a murderous rampage.

Jian Yu’s mind was in a whirl. She wanted to go back and ask Ling Yanzhi and the others what they thought. "Let me think about it."

Sheng Yue’s lips formed a tight line.

Now that he’d said it, he felt a pang of shame, but it was overshadowed by the relief of having finally broken through his mental defenses.

"I want you to join. Is that reason enough?"

Sheng Yue leaned in, his tall frame pressing closer with restraint.

He met her gaze at close range.

Jian Yu’s gaze flitted about, at one moment tracing the chain down his chest, the next dropping as she pursed her lips to conceal her thoughts.

As she lifted her eyes to meet his, she finally realized that Sheng Yue was actually a little drunk.

A sheen of moisture glistened in his blue eyes, and the corners were tinged with a faint red, giving them a soft, captivating allure.

Jian Yu followed her heart. "So... I’ll go sign up later?"

Sheng Yue straightened up, and in an instant, all the warmth of his presence vanished.

He said, his pace unhurried, "I’ll sign you up."

Jian Yu stared, dumbfounded, at his ears. "Okay."

The fair skin of his ears was flushed a deep crimson, and the fuzzy beast ears of a snow leopard flickered faintly into view on his head.

Sheng Yue’s voice was still cool and detached, but he couldn’t hide the softness in his eyes. "Thank you."

The white figure vanished in a flash, hastily bumping into the verification terminal at the entrance on his way out.

Jian Yu arched her right eyebrow.

The gesture, on her usually docile face, briefly mirrored Ling Yanzhi’s cool handsomeness.

Remembering something, Jian Yu looked down and prepared to send a message to Si Xu.

Notifications from several people on her friends list kept popping up, and Jian Yu tapped the wrong name several times.

Xi Yu and Pei Yin were way too chatty.

Jian Yu created a group chat and added all of them.

’No one’s piping up?’

Jian Yu: 1

Pei Yin: Why’d you make a group chat? They don’t read group messages. They mute all of them. If you want to reach them, you have to call them one by one.

Si Xu: 1

Ling Yanzhi: ?

Xi Yu: Sweetie sweetie, 1111111

Jian Yu couldn’t help but smile.

...

Si Xu received Jian Yu’s private message. Though he didn’t understand why, he still went to find Xu Jianjuan.

The first thing he said upon meeting her sounded like something out of a historical drama, and his tone was not friendly.

"Human, tainted by a Soul Ghost Body. For what purpose do you seek me?"

The corner of Xu Jianjuan’s eye twitched.

She fought to hold back the thought that sprang to mind.

’What a poser! God, I hate guys who try to act all high and mighty.’

Xu Jianjuan knew that Si Xu and his friends wouldn’t help easily unless the matter was related to things like the Soul Ghost Body.

Xu Jianjuan offered a deadly smile and got straight to the point. "It’s like this, my esteemed Chief Si Xu. I’d like you to help me see if my memories have been tampered with by a Soul Ghost Body."