Chapter 3

——

—

Outside, the courtyard was quiet, the usual chatter of students dimmed by the building walls.

"You have that, right?" he said, his eyes sharp, almost dangerous, and fixed on her.

Xin-ye blinked. "What??"

"The pendant," he said calmly.

"What pendant??" she asked, keeping her voice steady, trying to mask her nervousness.

Lu Jing smirked faintly. "The key. The reason I came here."

Xin-ye frowned. "Key??"

Lu Jing's lips curved into a small smirk.

"You might not know this yet," he said slowly, his eyes drifting toward her neck, "but that pendant isn't just a pendant."

He paused for a moment, then added casually,

"And I want it."

Xin-ye raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed now.

"How do you know about this pendant?" she asked. "And why do you sound like you know so much about it?"

Lu Jing didn't answer her question.

Instead, he lifted his hand slightly and snapped his fingers.

Before Xin-ye could react, something strange happened.

The pendant she had carefully hidden under her shirt suddenly slipped out on its own, the chain shifting until the pendant rested visibly against her chest.

Xin-ye's eyes widened.

"What- wait... what just happened?" she stammered, instinctively touching the pendant. "How did you-"

But Lu Jing wasn't looking at her face.

His gaze was completely fixed on the pendant.

Slowly, he stepped closer.

Xin-ye felt a strange tension in the air, but before she could step back, Lu Jing reached out and touched the pendant.

The reaction was instant.

A sharp force burst out from the pendant.

Thud.

Lu Jing was violently pushed backward, as if an invisible wall had struck him.

Xin-ye also felt the shockwave and stumbled back a step, nearly losing her balance, but the impact on Lu Jing was far stronger.

He slid a short distance across the ground before catching himself.

For a moment, everything was silent.

Lu Jing straightened up slowly, his expression darkening.

"So," he said coldly, brushing the dust from his sleeve, "the pendant has already chosen a human as its guardian."

He looked at her again, irritation clear in his eyes.

"Seriously?"

Xin-ye stared at him, completely confused and now irritated as well.

She walked toward him quickly.

"Okay, what the hell is going on?" she burst out. "First of all, who are you? And how do you know so much about this pendant? What was that just now? What do you mean by key? And what the hell is a guardian?"

She didn't even pause for breath.

"Can you please say one thing that actually makes sense?!"

She crossed her arms impatiently.

"Speak!"

Lu Jing rubbed the back of his hand where the pendant’s force had pushed him away.

Then he looked at Xin-ye again, clearly irritated.

“So noisy,” he muttered under his breath.

He turned around as if the conversation was already over.

“Let’s meet tonight.”

And just like that, he started walking away.

Xin-ye stood there for a second, stunned by how casually he said it.

Then her annoyance took over.

“Hey! Stop right there!” she shouted, hurrying after him.

Lu Jing didn’t stop.

Xin-ye caught up to him and stepped in front of his path.

“Why would I meet you tonight?” she demanded. “And why are you suddenly leaving like this? A minute ago you were acting so confident with that snap thing—”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Now you’re just running away like a coward.”

Lu Jing stopped.

Slowly, he turned towards her.

“Coward?” he repeated, raising an eyebrow.

For a moment he simply stared at her, as if trying to decide whether to laugh or be annoyed.

“Seriously?” he said.

His gaze dropped briefly to the pendant around her neck before returning to her face.

“Who do you think you are?” he continued calmly. “You’re just a human who happened to get hold of a pendant you don’t even understand.”

His tone sharpened slightly.

“And you’re calling me a coward?”

Xin-ye clenched her fists, her temper rising.

“I don’t care about any of that,” she shot back. “I want answers. Right now.”

Lu Jing held her gaze for a moment.

Then he shrugged lightly.

“And I want that pendant,” he replied just as bluntly.

His eyes flickered toward the necklace again.

“By hook or by crook.”

Xin-ye frowned.

“That’s exactly why we should meet tonight.” —Lu Jing

Xin-ye scoffed.

“And you think I’ll just do whatever you say?” she said, making a face.

“Not happening.”

She turned around as if the conversation was over and started walking away.

But as she walked, the irritation on her face slowly faded.

In its place, a faint uneasiness settled in.

Her mind replayed everything that had just happened—the snap of Lu Jing’s fingers, the pendant revealing itself, the strange force that pushed him back… and the way he talked about keys and guardians as if it was all completely normal.

Xin-ye exhaled slowly.

That guy isn’t normal…

And the more she thought about it, the more one thing became clear.

This pendant isn’t normal either.

A slight chill ran down her spine.

Right now, there was only one person she wanted to talk to about this.

Lin.

——

—

A few minutes later, Xin-ye found herself standing outside Lin’s classroom.

She glanced through the door. Lin was inside, sitting at his desk while the teacher explained something on the board. The class was completely silent.

Xin-ye hesitated.

Should I call him… or wait?

Before she could decide—

“BOO!”

“AHH—!”

Xin-ye jumped back in shock.

She turned around quickly and saw Ximi standing there, laughing uncontrollably.

“Wow!” Ximi said between laughs. “That was unexpected. You actually got scared!”

Xin-ye pressed her hand against her chest, still trying to calm her racing heart.

“Are you crazy?!” she complained. “Why would you do that?!”

Ximi wiped the corner of her eye dramatically. “Relax. I only said boo. I didn’t summon a ghost.”

Inside the classroom, Lin briefly looked toward the door after hearing the noise.

He noticed Xin-ye and Ximi standing outside but since the lesson was still going on, he simply looked away and focused back on the board.

Meanwhile, Ximi linked her arm with Xin-ye’s.

“Come on,” she said. “Our class is starting soon.”

As they started walking down the corridor, Ximi suddenly narrowed her eyes at her.

“And by the way,” she added, “why did you leave me alone in the library earlier?”

Xin-ye blinked.

“Oh… that…”

She had almost forgotten about that.

For a moment, she opened her mouth to explain.

“Ximi, I—”

Then Lin’s warning suddenly flashed in her mind.

Don’t tell anyone about the pendant.

Xin-ye stopped mid-sentence.

“Okay fine,” she said quickly, forcing a casual tone. “I got distracted and left. Sorry.”

Ximi looked at her suspiciously.

“That’s it?” she said. “You just left?”

Xin-ye shrugged awkwardly. “Yeah…”

Ximi studied her face for a moment.

Then she sighed.

“You’re terrible,” she muttered, but there was no real anger in her voice.

Xin-ye smiled slightly, relieved that Ximi didn’t push the topic further.

But Ximi suddenly leaned closer to her face.

“Xin-ye,” she said slowly, narrowing her eyes again, “you’re hiding something.”

Xin-ye froze.

“What? No I’m not.”

“You are,” Ximi said confidently. “I’ve known you for years. Your face literally screams I’m hiding something right now.”

Xin-ye quickly looked away.

“I’m just not feeling well today,” she said.

Ximi immediately stopped walking.

“Wait—are you sick?” she asked, touching Xin-ye’s forehead dramatically. “Do you have a fever? Should I carry you to the nurse’s office?”

Xin-ye pushed her hand away.

“I’m fine!”

Ximi laughed.

“Relax, drama queen. I was joking.”

They continued walking toward their classroom.

The hallway slowly filled with the sound of students returning after the break.

When they finally entered the classroom, Xin-ye’s eyes instinctively moved toward the back rows.

Lu Jing was sitting at his desk.

Completely calm.

Completely normal.

As if nothing strange had happened earlier.

He was quietly writing something in his notebook, his expression unreadable.

Xin-ye frowned slightly.

How can he act like nothing happened…?

She walked to her seat beside Ximi and sat down slowly.

Her fingers picked up her pen.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She stared blankly at her notebook while her mind replayed everything from earlier.

The snap of Lu Jing’s fingers.

The pendant revealing itself.

And his words.

“The key. The reason I came here.”

Xin-ye tightened her grip on the pen.

What exactly is this pendant…?

—

-

After School

After school, Xin-ye and Lin walked back home together.

The evening sky was slowly turning orange, but Xin-ye was unusually quiet the entire way. Normally she would be talking about random things, complaining about school, or teasing Lin.

Today, she didn’t say much.

Lin noticed.

He glanced at her a few times before finally asking,

“Is everything okay?”

Xin-ye forced a small smile.

“Yeah… why?”

Lin raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been quiet since afternoon. That’s suspicious.”

Xin-ye looked down at the ground while walking. For a moment, she thought about lying.

But she trusted Lin more than anyone.

She stopped walking.

“Lin… something weird happened today.”

Lin immediately turned serious. “What happened?”

Xin-ye took a deep breath and told him everything.

About the library.

About Lu Jing snapping his fingers.

About the pendant suddenly appearing over her shirt.

About the strange force that pushed him back when he touched it.

And about what he said.

By the time she finished, they had already reached home.

Lin stood there quietly for a moment.

He was definitely scared.

But he didn’t want Xin-ye to panic even more.

So instead of showing fear—

he started scolding her.

“You should take that thing off immediately,” he said firmly.

Xin-ye frowned.

“Relax, it’s just a pendant.”

“Just a pendant?” Lin repeated. “A guy who can snap his fingers and move things called it a key, Xin-ye!”

He pointed at her neck.

“Take it off. Right now.”

Xin-ye hesitated.

But seeing how serious Lin looked, she finally reached for the pendant.

“Fine.”

She tried to remove it.

But the clasp wouldn’t open.

She tried again.

Nothing.

Her expression slowly changed.

“Wait… that’s weird.”

Lin stepped closer. “Let me try.”

He tried unclasping it himself.

Still nothing.

They tried different ways.

Pulling.

Twisting.

Checking the clasp.

Even trying to slide it over her head.

But the pendant didn’t move at all.

It was as if it had become part of her.

After several attempts, both of them stopped.

The room suddenly felt colder.

“That’s… not what I wanted...,” Xin-ye whispered.

Lin ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.

“So he said he’ll meet you tonight?”

Xin-ye nodded slowly.

“Yeah… but he didn’t say where. And obviously I’m not meeting someone like him at night.”

She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the pendant.

Earlier she had thought it would make life exciting.

Something like a fantasy story.

Now it felt more like danger.

Lin leaned against the wall, lost in thought.

“So what now?”

Xin-ye looked at herself in the mirror.

The pendant rested quietly against her collarbone.

“I… don’t know.”

Before either of them could say anything else—

their mother’s voice echoed from downstairs.

“Xin-ye! Lin! Come down right now!”

The siblings exchanged looks.

Lin whispered, “Should we tell Mom?”

Xin-ye immediately shook her head.

“Mom? No way. She’ll panic.”

Their mother shouted again.

“Are you two deaf?! Come down!”

They sighed and went downstairs.

When they reached the living room, they saw a woman sitting on the sofa.

Their mother smiled brightly.

“There you are! Come greet my best friend.”

Xin-ye and Lin politely greeted the woman.

Their mom looked excited.

“We were best friends in school. We just met again after so many years!”

The woman smiled warmly.

And just then—

someone else walked into the room.

A tall boy.

Lin barely paid attention.

To him, it was just some random guy.

But Xin-ye froze.

Her heart nearly stopped.

No way…

The woman spoke happily.

“And this is my son.”

She turned toward him.

“Lu Jing.”

Xin-ye felt like the floor disappeared under her feet.

Their mom laughed while observing him.

“He really has good genes. The height, the looks, everything.”

Lu Jing politely greeted Xin-ye’s mother.

But then—

he looked straight at Xin-ye.

And smirked.

Xin-ye immediately pinched Lin’s arm.

“Ow!” Lin whispered. “What was that for?!”

She leaned closer and whispered,

“That’s him.”

Lin blinked.

“What—”

Then he understood.

His eyes widened slightly.

Meanwhile their mom said happily,

“Why don’t you kids go upstairs and talk? We haven’t met in years, so we want to catch up.”

None of the three argued.

They quietly went upstairs.

Lin’s Room

As soon as they entered Lin’s room, Lin shut the door.

The air immediately felt tense.

He turned toward Lu Jing.

Before he could say anything—

Xin-ye spoke first.

“So this is what you meant by let’s meet tonight?”

Lu Jing leaned casually against the wall.

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

He nodded.

Lin stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Xin-ye.

“What do you want?”

Lu Jing answered calmly.

“The pendant she’s wearing.”

Lin’s expression hardened.

“For what?”

Lu Jing shrugged.

“That’s none of your business.”

Before Lin could respond—

something strange happened.

One second Lu Jing was standing near the door.

The next second—

he wasn’t there anymore.

Lin’s eyes widened.

“What the—”

And then he saw him.

Lu Jing was now standing directly in front of Xin-ye.

“So,” he said softly, his eyes fixed on the pendant.

“Are you going to give it to me yourself…”

Xin-ye crossed her arms.

“Or what?”

Lu Jing’s smirk deepened.

“Or…”

He snapped his fingers lightly.

Xin-ye turned toward Lin.

“Lin—”

But Lin wasn’t there anymore.

The spot where he had been standing a second ago was now empty.

Xin-ye’s voice trembled.

“Where… is he?”

Lu Jing looked at her calmly.

“It’s simple.”

His gaze shifted to the pendant again.

“It's either your brother…”

He paused.

“…or the pendant.”

“Bring him back right now!” Xin-ye’s voice trembled. The fear in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Lu Jing looked completely calm.

“First… the pendant.”

Xin-ye clenched her fists. “I—, I tried taking it off but I couldn’t!” Her breathing had become uneven. “Now bring him back!”

Lu Jing tilted his head slightly, as if studying her reaction.

“That’s because,” he said casually, “once it chooses its guardian… taking it off becomes almost impossible.”

Xin-ye froze.

“What…?” she whispered.

Lu Jing’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “But I do know a way.”

For a moment, hope flashed across her face—but it disappeared just as quickly when she remembered Lin was still gone.

Her voice shook. “Bring him back first… then do whatever you want.”

Lu Jing looked at her carefully.

“Are you sure?”

Xin-ye hesitated for only a second before nodding.

“Yes.”

Lu Jing’s smirk slowly widened.

“Good,” he said quietly.

And in the next moment—

— End of Chapter Three —

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