Chen Junnan followed Qiao Jiajin as they ran through the streets for a few more minutes, but the more he thought about it, the more something felt off.
“Old Qiao… you’re worried I can’t handle this alone, so you’ve been slowing down for me?” Chen Junnan asked, slightly annoyed.
“What? No…” Qiao Jiajin wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Junnanzai, don’t overthink it. I’m just naturally slow. Let’s keep going, don’t stop now.”
Unfortunately, Qiao Jiajin was terrible at lying, and Chen Junnan saw right through him.
“So that’s how it is…” His steps grew slower and slower until, after seven paces, he came to a complete stop.
“What do you mean, ‘So that’s how it is’?” Qiao Jiajin turned back and shouted. “Don’t stop, Junnanzai!”
“Because if I ran alone, I might give up at any moment… so you deliberately slowed down to stay with me…” Chen Junnan gave a bitter smile. “I knew something was off with your escape route—you’ve been sticking right by my side this whole damn time…”
“Uh, well…” Qiao Jiajin hadn’t figured out how to explain when he noticed the black threads behind Chen Junnan were now dangerously close. “Junnanzai! Move first! If you wanna yell at me, do it later! Time’s almost up—it’s about to end…”
Despite Qiao Jiajin’s reassurances, Chen Junnan noticed his legs were trembling.
He could have sprinted ahead, but he chose to hold himself back, matching Chen Junnan’s pace at the cost of his own stamina.
“Damn it, are you trying to piss me off?” Chen Junnan bent forward, hands on his knees, clearly furious. “What the hell happens if you die here?”
“No way, Junnanzai!” Qiao Jiajin forced a smile. “Neither of us is gonna die…”
He stepped forward and grabbed Chen Junnan’s arm again. “Trust me, we’re almost there!”
Chen Junnan felt Qiao Jiajin’s grip trembling and smirked coldly.
“You’re really gonna be the death of me…”
“Death of you?”
“Old Qiao! Just go!” Chen Junnan shoved his hand away. “I’m done. Pissed off. Not running anymore.”
Seeing Chen Junnan give up, Qiao Jiajin hesitated for a moment before stepping in front of him, bending his knees slightly.
“Junnanzai, I’ll carry you!” he said firmly. “If we don’t move now, it’ll be too late… we’ll both…”
“You won’t.” Chen Junnan straightened up and glanced back at the two slowly advancing black threads.
“Huh…?”
“Old Qiao, you’re not dying.” Chen Junnan smiled wearily. “I’ll take your death for you.”
Qiao Jiajin’s eyes widened. “No way… Junnanzai, why would you—”
Before he could finish, the black thread meant for him suddenly veered toward Chen Junnan.
The two threads stretched from the distance, converging toward Chen Junnan’s forehead.
The sky was filled with black threads, but Qiao Jiajin could only focus on these two—carrying the scent of death, they coiled around Chen Junnan like vultures circling their prey.
“See you later, Old Qiao.” Chen Junnan grinned as if death were as mundane as sleep. “After I die, tell Old Qi how cool I was…”
He cut himself off and shook his head. “Never mind. Just… that’s it.”
A wave of melancholy radiated from him, making Qiao Jiajin’s chest tighten.
Was he really going to watch another teammate die in front of him?
Because of this ridiculous black thread game…
“No.” Qiao Jiajin suddenly spoke, brows furrowed. “Junnanzai, I forbid it.”
“Forbid…?” Chen Junnan blinked.
“I forbid you to die for me.”
**DONG!!**
A loud bell tolled in the distance—not as deafening as Qi Xia’s voice, but still thunderous.
“Damn it!” Chen Junnan’s eyebrows twisted in frustration. “Old Qiao, are you insane?! You’re doing this again?!”
“Junnanzai, no cheating!” Qiao Jiajin said seriously. “My thread is mine! I grew up poor, so I don’t share what’s mine! You handle your own damn thread—don’t steal mine!”
“What the hell are you—”
Just as Chen Junnan was about to curse, one of the black threads, mere inches from his forehead, abruptly twisted away and shot toward Qiao Jiajin.
Seeing the thread coming for him, Qiao Jiajin turned and bolted.
“You son of a—” Chen Junnan was livid. He hadn’t wanted to run, but now, if he didn’t chase that thread, Qiao Jiajin would probably die.
He had to save him—but that meant chasing after him.
What kind of absurd situation was this?
“Junnanzai! Run!!” Qiao Jiajin yelled as he sprinted away with his thread. “Stop and you’ll die!!”
“I was already going to die!” Chen Junnan screamed back. “You used ‘Lawbreaker’ to ruin my ‘Scapegoat’ again! Do you even know how your damn ability works?!”
“I don’t care!!” Qiao Jiajin shouted. “If you want my black thread, come and get it!”
“I’ll get your ass!!” Chen Junnan cursed, but his heavy legs were already moving. “Old Qiao, wait—listen to me—”
“Come catch me!”
“You’re a damn lunatic!” Chen Junnan felt like his lungs were about to explode. “Running around like some giggling schoolgirl at sunset—what the hell am I chasing?!”
“Junnanzai! You sound way more energetic now! Great!” Qiao Jiajin called from the distance. “If you’re mad, come hit me!”
“Damn it, damn it, damn it!!” Chen Junnan clawed at his hair in frustration. “AAAAAHHH, OLD QIAO!! I told you, I’ll take your death! Stop making me run! I’m exhausted!!”
The moment he said it, the thread behind Qiao Jiajin turned again, arcing 180 degrees in the air before rushing back toward Chen Junnan.
“No cheating!!” Qiao Jiajin shouted over his shoulder.
“I’m taking it!”
“No!”
“I’m taking it!”
**”NO!”**
The black thread in the air wobbled violently like it was caught in a storm, zigzagging unpredictably.
“Junnanzai, watch out!!” Qiao Jiajin panicked. “Stop focusing on my thread—what about yours?!”
“You—” Chen Junnan turned and nearly jumped out of his skin—the thread behind him was almost touching his face. With a final burst of energy, he ducked and sprinted forward.
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