There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 40.2

She suddenly thought that perhaps in her previous life, Huo Jingyan’s wish to become a teacher was partly because of Yan’an.

When she came back to her senses, Qin Ke saw Yan’an slip her hand from Huo Jingyan’s and walk to her side, smiling, “Of course not in the same city—if it weren’t for your cute student, I wouldn’t even be here to accompany you on your birthday.”

After speaking, Yan’an paused, looking at Qin Ke with smiling eyes.

“Your name is Qin Ke, right?”

Qin Ke nodded.

Then she saw Yan’an’s gaze fall somewhat subtly to her side—the young man hadn’t said a word since turning from Huo Jingyan, and was looking at Huo Jingyan with unspoken hostility in his eyes.

Yan’an looked for a few seconds, then leaned close to Qin Ke’s ear and asked with a smile in a low voice.

“Is this your little boyfriend?”

“…”

Qin Ke choked.

Yan’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but Huo Jun’s ears were very sharp.

Almost as soon as Yan’an’s words fell, on Qin Ke’s other side, the young man sneered.

“No,” he stared at the girl with dark and deep eyes, then after a few seconds, the young man lazily turned his gaze away and snorted, “Just a ‘mad dog’ without a chain.”

Yan’an was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted. She looked innocently at Qin Ke, then turned to Huo Jingyan.

Huo Jingyan looked at her helplessly.

“Ah,” Yan’an suddenly laughed, turning back, “You must be Huo Jun. I’ve heard a lot about you from your Teacher Huo.”

“…”

Huo Jun didn’t speak, coldly glancing at Huo Jingyan.

Yan’an didn’t mind and lightly clapped her hands.

“Since Qin Ke treated us to the concert—I’ll treat everyone to dinner tonight. You should have time to join us, right?”

Qin Ke was surprised and hesitated for a moment.

She initially wanted to refuse, but considering the day wasn’t over yet, she nodded in agreement after a few seconds.

“Thank you, Teacher’s girlfriend.”

“It’s only right, as a return gift,” Yan’an said, quite friendly but not at all off-putting. After getting Qin Ke’s answer, she looked towards Huo Jun on the other side, “What about you, Huo Jun?”

“…”

At first, Huo Jun didn’t speak, only looking at Qin Ke with a half-smile, his eyes somewhat cold and clear.

It wasn’t until the girl couldn’t bear it anymore and looked up at him helplessly that Huo Jun finally spoke.

“Of course I’ll go,” His eyes were deep, dark emotions churning, before turning into a thin, slightly cold smile. “How could a ‘mad dog’ leave on its own before dragging its prey back to its den by the neck?”

Qin Ke: “……”

Ooh.

Her neck felt cold.

…

In her previous life, Qin Ke had many guesses about Yan’an. Meeting her today, she found her to be gentle yet playful, elegant with a hint of liveliness—a perfect match for Huo Jingyan.

So when Yan’an said she wanted to treat them to dinner together, Qin Ke thought they’d go to a Western restaurant or something similar.

However.

A few dozen minutes later, she found herself standing bewildered in front of a hot pot restaurant.

Noticing Qin Ke’s daze, Yan’an blinked beside her and asked cautiously in a soft voice, “Does Xiao Ke not like hot pot?”

“…Ah, no, that’s not it,” Qin Ke came back to her senses and quickly explained, “I actually quite like it.”

“That’s good.”

Yan’an sighed in relief. After chatting along the way, she had become much more familiar with Qin Ke. She smoothly linked arms with Qin Ke and pulled her into the restaurant together.

It was the weekend, and the hot pot restaurant was crowded.

The four of them had to take a number and wait in line for a table.

They split into two pairs—Qin Ke and Yan’an became new friends, chatting enthusiastically, while Huo Jingyan and Huo Jun naturally became the two who were “abandoned.”

“Let’s stay away from these two stinky men.”

Yan’an laughed as she pulled Qin Ke away, sitting at the innermost small table.

Qin Ke genuinely liked her casual nature and didn’t refuse, sitting down with Yan’an.

“I heard Jingyan mention something about you two today,” Yan’an said.

Qin Ke was stunned and looked up at her, “Us?”

“Yes,” Yan’an smiled, poking her and then pointing at the young man not far away, “You and Huo Jun. I used to always hear Jingyan mention Huo Jun, and I know how difficult the young master of the Huo family can be—I once joked with Jingyan that if Huo Jun ever met someone he liked, he’d probably be even more terrifying.”

Qin Ke: “…”

Yan’an shrugged, joking, “Looks like my words came true, didn’t they?”

Qin Ke hesitated for a moment, but still defended Huo Jun.

“He’s actually not that bad, just… a bit obsessive.”

“Being obsessive is scary, you know, my little sister?” Yan’an said with a helpless smile, “I heard from Jingyan about what happened at school on Monday—you must have been quite frightened, right?”

Qin Ke hesitated for a moment.

Putting aside the sudden revelation of Huo Zhonglou’s identity, which had indeed given her a big shock…

“Actually, I’ve already,” Qin Ke smiled bashfully, “gotten a bit used to it.”

“Tsk, you’re really brave.”

Yan’an patted her shoulder, “When I heard about it from Jingyan, I already felt like I’d like you, and meeting you today confirms it—it’s really amazing, I liked you from the first glance, maybe it’s fate? Haha.”

“…”

Qin Ke felt a stir in her heart but didn’t say anything, only smiling gently.

After a moment, Yan’an sighed lightly, “Because I like you so much, I really can’t bear to see you jump into the fire pit that is the Huo family.”

“?”

Qin Ke looked up at her in surprise.

Yan’an: “But I suppose it’s too late for me to say this now, right?”

“Hm?”

“Jingyan said you and Huo Jun were just classmates, but from what I’ve seen today, it doesn’t seem that way.”

“…” Qin Ke remained silent, feeling guilty.

Yan’an smiled knowingly, pointing at her own lips, “When the concert just ended, Huo Jun’s lip was slightly split—did you bite him?”

“……”

With those words, Qin Ke’s face turned red.

Seeing her reaction, Yan’an sighed again.

“So you’ve already jumped in, and I can’t persuade you anymore. But I can see that he genuinely likes you—do you know what Jingyan said to stop Huo Jun when he went crazy on the rooftop that day?”

Qin Ke was stunned and looked up.

“Teacher Huo didn’t tell me.”

“Then I’ll tell you secretly, but don’t tattle to Jingyan, okay?” Yan’an smiled and said softly, “Jingyan asked him, ‘Even if you don’t consider yourself, do you want Qin Ke to bear the guilt of you killing someone for her for the rest of her life?'”

Qin Ke was shocked.

“In his heart, you’re much more important than himself,” Yan’an lightly patted her hand, “Being liked by such a madman, I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing for you?”

“…”

A few meters away.

Huo Jun frowned as he watched Yan’an holding Qin Ke’s hand. After staring for a few seconds, he turned to Huo Jingyan with an expressionless face.

“Can you keep your girlfriend away from Qin Ke? Is she naturally this friendly with everyone?”

Hearing this, Huo Jingyan paused.

A few seconds later, he turned back and gave Huo Jun a meaningful look.

Huo Jun’s face was cold, “What are you looking at me for?”

Huo Jingyan chuckled.

“Have you always been this possessive of Qin Ke?”

Huo Jun’s eyes flashed, but he didn’t speak.

“Your description of yourself is quite accurate, you’re really like a mad dog,” Huo Jingyan seemed to be in a good mood, even joking with Huo Jun, “Before, I thought Qin Ke was just afraid of you, but now…”

“Now what?”

Huo Jun glanced at him coldly, his tone impatient, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, not moving as he waited for the rest.

Huo Jingyan had long seen through this, and now didn’t bother to expose it, smiling as he said, “Who in their right mind would want to be liked by someone with such terrifying possessiveness? Now you can’t even stand her female friend touching her, what will you do in the future—lock her up at home where only you can see her, only you can touch her?”

“…”

Huo Jun’s temple twitched.

Although reluctant, he had to admit that Huo Jingyan’s words hit the mark.

“Don’t push her too hard,” Huo Jingyan turned to walk inside, “Unless you want to scare her away, or your madness reaches an uncontrollable point, making you lose her forever.”

“…!”

Huo Jun’s brows suddenly furrowed.

As soon as Huo Jingyan’s words fell, he felt a daze come over him. An indescribable pain and sense of despair suddenly swept through his heart, as if…

As if the outcome Huo Jingyan described had already happened.

Those fragmented images flashed before his eyes, like flowers in a mirror or the moon in water, so unreal they seemed like illusions, unable to leave any trace in his memory.

Only the last frame of the image froze.

Moonlight, floor-to-ceiling windows, cold floor, a vast room, an empty bed…

A thin blanket covering the girl’s body…

She silently gazed out the window, not making a sound.

Like a lifeless doll.

She turned her head back.

Those clear, black eyes he loved so much were empty and lightless.

[Kill me, Huo Zhonglou.]

“—!!”

Huo Jun’s body suddenly shook.

He instinctively stepped back half a step, all the illusions receding like a tide.

What covered his retina again was the bustling hot pot restaurant in front of him, lively and noisy, boiling with activity.

—

Everything was the exact opposite of the dream-like scene he had just experienced.

And at the end of his line of sight, the girl who had become a lifeless doll in his dream was now lowering her head, her long black hair falling from beside her ear.

She was saying something to Yan’an beside her, her pretty almond eyes curved in a soft arc.

So vivid and moving.

Huo Jun’s gaze slowly darkened.

—

He didn’t know what those despair-inducing images that had just flashed through his mind were.

Like a memory or… a dream.

If it was a dream.

It must have been his worst nightmare.