Lin Fan's hand trembled against the wall, his breath hot with anger, his words still hanging heavy in the air.
Xiannu Mei tilted her head, her eyes wide and shimmering as though on the verge of tears. Her lips quivered just slightly, enough to look fragile, breakable.
"Jealous...?" she whispered softly, her voice laced with disbelief. "Lin Fan... do you really care that much?"
His jaw clenched tighter, but he didn't answer.
She let out a shaky breath, lowering her gaze. "All I ever wanted... was for you to notice me. To see me." Her fingers brushed against his sleeve, tentative, trembling. "When you ignore me... when you glare at me... it hurts, you know."
Lin Fan's anger faltered, replaced by something heavier—guilt.
Her lashes fluttered as she peeked up at him again, her expression so vulnerable it pierced straight through his chest. "I smiled at him because... I thought maybe I was being too annoying for you. That maybe... I wasn't enough to make you happy." Her voice cracked just right, raw and fragile, though deep inside, her thoughts were cold and calculating.
Hook, line, sinker. That's right—fall deeper. Obsess over me, Lin Fan.
Lin Fan's breath caught. He didn't know what to say. His fist loosened against the wall, the anger in his eyes softening into something he couldn't quite name.
"Xiannu..." he murmured, her name sticking to his tongue like a plea.
She smiled then—gentle, sweet, the kind of smile that could heal wounds and break hearts. "See? You do care." Her voice was so soft it was almost a lullaby. "Don't worry... I won't leave you, Lin Fan. Not now, not ever."
His chest tightened, his heart pounding erratically, torn between anger, shame, and something dangerously close to longing.
Xiannu, hiding her satisfaction behind that perfect smile, thought, Step three: he's going to be mine.
Lin Fan walked home with heavy steps, his hands buried in his pockets, his thoughts in turmoil.
The image of Xiannu Mei's teary eyes wouldn't leave him. Her trembling voice replayed again and again in his head—"All I ever wanted... was for you to notice me."
He clenched his fists, guilt coiling tight in his chest. He had cornered her, shouted at her, accused her. Yet instead of anger, she had responded with fragility, as though he'd been the one in the wrong all along.
Why do I feel like this? he thought bitterly. She drives me insane. She annoys me to no end. And yet... the thought of losing her—
He shook his head sharply, but it didn't help. He could no longer deny it. Somewhere along the way, his irritation had twisted into something darker, more desperate.
Obsession.
And once it had its claws in him, he couldn't back down.
Meanwhile, Xiannu Mei strolled casually toward her dorm, her steps light, her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
Her earlier display of trembling vulnerability was already gone, like a mask she had tossed aside. In its place lingered sharp calculation.
So easy, she thought, humming to herself. A little guilt, a little sweetness, and already he's hanging by my strings. Madam Wuxia was right—he'll chase me across worlds if I let him.
Her eyes glimmered in the fading sunlight, not with innocence, but with promise.
Fall in love with me, Lin Fan. Fall so deeply that when the knife twists, it will shatter your soul.
The corner of her lips curved, dimples flashing—not with playfulness this time, but with something far more dangerous.
"Step three," she whispered to herself. "Progress... perfect."
The quiet hum of the city filtered faintly through the window. Inside her dorm, Xiannu Mei sat cross-legged on her bed, a half-finished notebook sprawled open before her.
Her pencil tapped idly against the page where she had scrawled notes—observations of Lin Fan. His habits, his weaknesses, his reactions to every push and pull she had made so far.
"Too easy," she whispered, lips curving into a small smirk.
She leaned back against the wall, stretching lazily, her playful smile turning sharper in the dim light. So far, every step has gone perfectly. Irritation became awareness. Awareness became obsession. And soon... obsession will become love.
Her dimples deepened as she thought back to his expression in the alley—the fury, the jealousy, the desperation hidden beneath it all.
Madam Wuxia's instructions echoed in her mind: Make him love you.Then betray him.
Xiannu closed the notebook with a snap. "Don't worry, Madam. I'll make him fall so deeply no matter how much he 'hates' me he still longs to possess me, revenge or not"
She flicked off the light, the room plunging into shadow. Only the faint curve of her smile lingered in the darkness.
The Next School Day
Lin Fan arrived early again, his nerves taut, his eyes flicking instantly to the seat behind him.
Empty.
For a moment, unease coiled in his chest. But just as he was about to look away, the door slid open.
"Good morning, Lin Fan~"
Xiannu Mei strolled in, her hair catching the morning light, her smile radiant and carefree—as if yesterday's tears had never happened.
His breath hitched despite himself. Relief washed through him before he could stop it.
"Y-you're late," he muttered, trying to mask his reaction.
She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Oh? Were you worried about me?"
He stiffened, cheeks warming, and turned quickly back toward the board. "...Don't flatter yourself."
But he didn't notice her dimples deepen as she smiled at his back, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
Perfect. Step four begins today.
Class began as usual, but to Lin Fan it felt anything but. Every time the chalk scraped across the board, every time the teacher's voice droned on, he found his attention wandering—to the girl behind him.
Xiannu Mei didn't poke him today. She didn't whisper his name or drop her pencil just to make him pick it up. No, today she was quiet... too quiet.
And it was driving him insane.
Finally, when he could stand it no longer, he risked a glance back.
She caught his eye instantly, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "What is it?" she whispered, tilting her head sweetly.
He snapped his gaze forward, heat rushing to his ears. "N-nothing."
A second later, the eraser of her pencil tapped lightly against his back. Not poking this time—just one, soft tap.
"Lin Fan," she breathed, just loud enough for him to hear. "You really were worried about me, weren't you?"
"I wasn't," he hissed back, gripping his pen so tightly his knuckles turned white.
She giggled softly, the sound like bells. "Liar. You're easier to read than you think."
He didn't dare turn around, but his heart pounded against his ribs, the denial catching in his throat.
Later, as the class was dismissed for a short break, Xiannu leaned across his desk instead of walking out with the others. Her chin rested in her palms, her gaze fixed on him with unnerving intensity.
"Hey, Lin Fan," she said sweetly, "what would you do if I disappeared for real one day?"
His hand froze mid-note. "...Why are you asking something weird like that?"
She smiled, dimples deepening. "No reason. Just curious."
His chest tightened, the words striking him harder than he expected. He forced his tone into annoyance, but it came out shakier than he liked. "...You're impossible."
"Memorable," she corrected, straightening up and flashing him one last grin before slipping out the door with the other students.
Lin Fan sat frozen in his seat, staring at the empty doorway.
If she disappeared... The thought made his stomach twist. He didn't want to admit it, but the truth was clear: he couldn't stand the idea.
Behind the door, Xiannu Mei walked down the hall, humming to herself. Step four is working perfectly. His heart is already mine to play with.
The final bell rang, releasing the students into the evening. Lin Fan shoved his books into his bag with unusual haste. He told himself he just wanted to get home quickly—no reason at all to wait for anyone.
But as he walked through the gates, he spotted her.
Xiannu Mei stood under the shade of a tree, her phone pressed lazily to her ear, her laughter light and musical. Whoever she was talking to, she was smiling—genuine, bright, her dimples deep.
Lin Fan's chest tightened. Why does she always look like that when she's not looking at me?
As if sensing his gaze, she ended the call and slipped her phone into her pocket. Her eyes found his immediately.
"Lin Fan~," she called, walking over with a sway in her step. "You're heading home? Perfect! Let's walk together."
"I didn't say you could," he muttered, though his pace slowed just enough for her to fall in step beside him.
She tilted her head, watching him from the corner of her eye. "You're always so grumpy. People might think you don't like me."
"Because I don't," he snapped.
"Oh? Then why were you staring at me just now?" she teased, her voice honey-sweet.
Lin Fan stiffened. "...I wasn't."
"You were," she sang, dimples flashing. Then, her smile softened, her voice dropping low, almost sincere: "It's okay, you know. I like it when you look at me."
His steps faltered, the words striking deeper than they should have.
Xiannu brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze flicking briefly to the ground before back to him. "I don't really have anyone else here. Just you, Lin Fan. So... don't push me away, okay?"
Lin Fan's throat tightened. He wanted to deny her again, to scoff, to call her annoying—but the weight of her words sank into him, pulling at something fragile he didn't even realize was there.
By the time they reached the corner where their paths split, his heart was pounding. He watched her wave and walk toward her dorm, her figure glowing faintly in the setting sun.
Why does it feel like I'm the one being pulled along? he thought bitterly.
Meanwhile, Xiannu Mei's lips curled as she disappeared around the corner. That's right. One string tighter, one step closer. Fall harder, Lin Fan... fall so deep you'll never escape.