Love, death, and false man

Chapter 26. Urban Legends
9/22—15:09
The second period in the afternoon.

Fang Yan didn't notice at all, probably because he and Xia Bing had been messing around with the projection dummy at the singularity yesterday, and his wounds had reopened.

Fortunately, it was just a tear in the elbow joint, so it's not a big problem. The school clinic can stitch it up.

Although Fang Yan insisted on going by himself, this class was taught by the homeroom teacher. Fortunately, Weng Qing, who was sitting to Fang Yan's right, had been there once before due to low blood sugar and knew the way, so Fang Yan asked Weng Qing to take him there.

However, Fang Yan didn't expect anything extraordinary to happen along the way, because this girl was always quite afraid of him.

The two walked along the garden path in the school. Once winter came, the seaside rarely saw the sun; it was always overcast, and the light was cold and harsh.

Fang Yan kept reading Weng Qing's thoughts. She took steps at a faster pace than Fang Yan, wanting only to finish this arduous task as soon as possible.

I don't know what you're afraid of; it's not like I'm going to eat you.

Xia Bing transferred 1,000 yuan to Fang Yan, but Fang Yan hadn't received it yet. He didn't know whether he should accept it or not, even though Xia Bing really didn't like men, but bro, you smell so good.

"I'd like to ask you something."

"Huh?" The sudden voice startled Weng Qing. "Go ahead and say it."

"If you really like a band, and one day a member of the band invites you to a live show and transfers you a thousand yuan, saying they'll reimburse all your expenses, would you accept it or not?"

This issue is urgent. The 25th is the day after tomorrow. The main problem is that the relationship is a bit delicate right now. She knows she has her own ideas, and if she doesn't accept them, wouldn't it make her seem like she has even more ideas, which would be very embarrassing?
"Where could such a good thing possibly be?"

Weng Qing felt that his question was strange, just like his personality.

But Fang Yan had already read the answer. If this happened to her, she would only turn from a fan to a hater of the band. She must have some ulterior motive. Not only would she not accept the invitation, she couldn't even go to the band.

This kid is precocious and has a high level of awareness of self-preservation.

Due to various experiences, Fang Yan had subconsciously come to believe that he was no longer a student, but was merely pretending to be one.

After hesitating for a moment, Fang Yan decided to return the transfer and sent a message.

Since they're willing to sacrifice themselves like brainless fanatics, then we must see it through to the end.

But I regretted it as soon as I sent it. Doesn't it feel a bit like sexual harassment?
Then I immediately clicked to retract the message.

Unexpectedly, Xia Bing was someone who replied to messages instantly.

[It's no use withdrawing it, I saw it.]

I was just kidding.

You could actually bring a friend along; that would feel more natural.

Fang Yan was stunned. Friend... it seemed that he didn't have such a thing. His gaze involuntarily turned to Weng Qing beside him. She looked like a well-behaved girl, and probably didn't care about rock and roll.

"Would you like to see a rock band live? I know the members of that band quite well, and I'm going to support them on the night of the 25th."

However, in Weng Qing's opinion, Fang Yan's move was a bit explosive, because it sounded like a date. Classmate, I've only said less than ten words to you, okay?

"I……"

"You misunderstood. I just felt awkward going alone, and I know you, who plays rock music, probably wouldn't like it either."

"That's right, not at all..."

"Wow, you really like it?"

Why does it feel like you're reading my mind?

Weng Qing found it particularly strange, but even if she was interested, she definitely wouldn't go with him. But then again, he did seem to know some untalented street thugs using rock music as an excuse, and the bands he wanted students to support were probably all obscure, low-tier bands.

Fang Yan realized there was no chance, but he still wanted to investigate the soda revolution. On a very depressing music app, Xia Bing's band homepage actually had over 300,000 followers. Was it really that popular? He wondered if they had hired people to boost their numbers.

Have you ever heard of the soda revolution?

"Nobody doesn't know that, right? Since you know people in bands, that should be common sense."

"That's amazing? Do you know someone named Xia Bing?" "I'm her number one fan, please. It's just that they've never toured before. Where they hold a live show is completely random. As soon as the news comes out, the venue is packed. There's no chance to see them live. I buy all their albums legally."

Weng Qing rolled her eyes. There was probably no one more handsome than Xia Bing in the world. She was almost turning him gay. The other members were all great too.

Fang Yan seemed thoughtful. Xia Bing had said that she was only influential within a small circle, which seemed to be too conservative. However, Weng Qing's reaction was clearly exaggerated and had a certain number of fans. If she became too famous or even broke out of her circle, it might affect the Salvation Army's work. Was this the reason that they didn't go on a tour to further increase their influence?

"If I told you that the person I know well who plays in a band is Xia Bing, would you go?"

Fang Yan also felt that going alone would be awkward, and since he didn't understand music, he would feel very bored sitting there.

"This is impossible."

"I have her WeChat account. I can't show you the chat history, but I can show you her Moments."

Fang Yan glanced at Weng Qing a few times.

"How did you get her V...?"

Weng Qing found it unbelievable; they were indeed some everyday photos she had never seen before. She wanted to take a closer look, but Fang Yan had already retrieved his phone.

"If you're not willing, then forget it, I'll find someone else."

"I'm willing. How much money do you want? I can give it to you."

"what?"

"I'm not kidding, I really want to see them in person."

"It's free... I just feel awkward going alone, so I should thank you for being willing to come with me."

"How did you two meet? I'm so curious!"

"I don't know how to say it, just calm down first."

We arrived at the school clinic.

The doctor quickly stitched up Fang Yan's wounds. He had many other wounds on his body, but the doctor didn't seem to care, as they were probably from a weapon-fighting knife. However, when he saw a completely healed scar on Fang Yan's shoulder, his eyes were filled with deep shock.

"How did you get this done?"

"Oh... I bumped into it by accident."

"Oh……"

The doctor didn't quite believe Fang Yan's explanation; it looked like a bullet hole, as if he had been hit by a bullet.

Weng Qing was completely absorbed in the excitement of going to see the Soda Revolution LIVE on the 25th and didn't pay any attention to the fact that she was scrolling through her phone.

"It's strange... Recently, there have been a lot of people with exaggerated injuries in high schools. It's not just No. 6 High School, but other high schools in Binhai City are the same. I find it very puzzling. Perhaps you can answer my question."

The middle-aged school doctor was quite perplexed.

"It's because of the ultimate level of despair."

Weng Qing suddenly blurted out.

"what?"

Fang Yan was deeply shocked.

"Uncle definitely doesn't know, how could you not know? There's a really popular urban legend lately, which, because of some anime fans, has been turned into a battle between Ultimate Level 5 espers. There's a mysterious website on the dark web with real-time information on all the students at Binhai High School, where netizens try to identify who's a fake, like a little game. If a student is suspected of being a fake too many times, the Ultimate Level 5 Despair will come after them, wiping them out completely, making them vanish from the face of the earth, and even causing the world to lose all memory of that person. But some people, after being suspected of being fakes, stubbornly survive and are called Ultimate Level 5 something, how interesting!"

Weng Qing found it very fun.

But Fang Yan couldn't laugh at all.

(End of this chapter)