Chapter 4: Has the Iron Tree Finally Bloomed?

Friday afternoon.

No classes.

Su Wan was waiting for someone at a café just off campus called Half a Day of Leisure. She sat by the window as sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling glass, casting a soft golden glow over her cream-colored cashmere sweater. In one hand, she held an exquisitely crafted silver spoon, idly stirring the latte before her with the elegance of someone playing a cello.

“I say, Miss Su, what exactly are you up to this time?”

A woman in a tailored business suit and high heels strode over and dropped into the seat opposite her without ceremony.

It was Lu Xingchen.

She and Su Wan had grown up together, and she was the only person who knew Su Wan’s true nature.

“What do you mean?” Su Wan continued stirring her coffee without even looking up.

“Cut the act.”

Lu Xingchen rolled her eyes.

“I’ve heard all about it. Lately you’ve been strutting around campus like a peacock in mating season, following that Computer Science girl everywhere. So? Is this one for real? Has the iron tree finally bloomed?”

Su Wan’s hand paused.

“She’s not an underclassman. We’re in the same year,” she corrected calmly. “And I’m not following her around. I’m… cultivating our relationship.”

“‘Cultivating your relationship?’”

Lu Xingchen let out a derisive laugh.

“From where I’m standing, it looks more like you want to swallow the poor girl whole. Seriously, tone down the way you look at her. I’ve already heard she’s so frightened she’s started taking detours to avoid you.”

For the first time, Su Wan lifted her head.

A shadow crossed her eyes.

“Am I really that obvious?”

“‘Obvious?’”

Lu Xingchen pointed at her own forehead.

“You’re one step away from tattooing ‘I want to lock you up’ across your face. Lin Shiyu’s just innocent. If she had a little more experience, she’d have reported you to the police for being a stalker by now.”

Su Wan pressed her lips together before tossing the spoon into her cup with an irritated clink.

“I can’t help it.”

“She’s too… pure.”

“I want to stain her.”

“And I want to hide her away where no one else can ever see her.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet the words carried a chill that could make anyone’s blood run cold.

Lu Xingchen sighed and rubbed her temples.

Ever since they were children, Su Wan had been a madwoman.

On the surface, she was radiant and impeccable.

Inside…

She had long since rotted.

Whenever Su Wan wanted something, she would stop at nothing to make it hers.

“Su Wan, I’m warning you.”

Lu Xingchen’s expression turned serious.

“You’d better take it easy this time. That Lin Shiyu may look soft, but there’s no guarantee she’s easy to manipulate. If you scare her off, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.”

“I know.”

Su Wan lowered her eyes.

“I’m restraining myself.”

“My ass, you are.”

Lu Xingchen didn’t let her get away with it.

“You’re just waiting for the perfect opportunity. Lulling her into dropping her guard… and then biting through her throat in one clean snap.”

“What a horrible way to put it.”

Su Wan shot her an annoyed glance.

“I’m telling the truth.”

Lu Xingchen took a sip of her coffee.

“Oh, right. Zhou Mo is Lin Shiyu’s roommate, isn’t she?”

Su Wan looked at her warily.

“What are you planning?”

“Nothing.”

A playful smile tugged at Lu Xingchen’s lips.

“I just think that big, goofy girl is kind of interesting. Since you’re busy winning over Lin Shiyu, I’ll help you out by taking care of her inner circle while I’m at it.”

“No need to thank me.”

Su Wan: “…”

For the first time, she found herself feeling a little sorry for the girl named Zhou Mo.

Being singled out by the venom-tongued queen that was Lu Xingchen…

She probably wasn’t far from being thoroughly toyed with.

“Anyway.”

Setting her coffee down, Lu Xingchen delivered her conclusion.

“If you don’t want to scare Lin Shiyu away, rein in those dark little thoughts of yours.”

“At least until you’ve won her over…”

“Try acting like a normal human being.”

Su Wan gazed through the window at a couple walking hand in hand.

Her eyes were unfathomably deep.

“I will.”

To make her completely mine…

I can keep pretending for as long as it takes.

Until the day she can no longer live without me.