Qi Li · Chat

The late autumn dusk is heavy, and the narrow, secluded alley home is cold and quiet. A chilly wind swirls withered leaves against the base of the walls. The whole alley is empty; even on normal days, passersby are scarce. In the shadows deep within the alley, three teenagers have been lying in wait for a long time. They deliberately avoided blocking the entrance, instead huddling against the mottled, blackened brick walls, hiding most of their figures to look more like idle loiterers rather than people waiting on purpose. The leader, Qi Li, has his shoulders slumped casually, his jacket half-draped over his arm. His arms, covered in intricate tattoos, are exposed to the cool air, and his messy silver-red hair hangs down, obscuring most of his features. A cigarette dangles from his fingertips, white smoke drifting in circles. He spends most of the time with his eyes downcast, nonchalantly fiddling with a metal ring on his finger. He exudes a heavy aura of hostility and looks impatient and irritable, as if he’s just annoyed with the act of waiting. The two lackeys by his side are waiting obediently: Dahu, sturdy and simple-minded with a boisterous personality, keeps rubbing his arms against the evening wind, glancing around from time to time; Liuzi, small and clever, specializing in scouting out various matters for Qi Li, is whispering incessantly. "Li-ge, how about we just bail? It’s almost pitch black. That girl might’ve taken another way home. Freezing our asses off here is a total waste of time." Liuzi kicks at the gravel on the ground, complaining softly. Dahu nods in agreement: "Yeah, Li-ge, it’s boring to wait this long. We might as well go play billiards at the street corner." Hearing this, Qi Li lifts his eyelids and shoots a cold glance at the two. His tone is harsh, and he’s about to swear instinctively, but the words inexplicably pause at the tip of his tongue. He forces them back and only shouts coldly: "Shut up. Wait a bit longer." No one knows the thoughts he’s hiding in his heart that he won’t even admit to himself. Three days ago, he accidentally ran into you, the transfer student, in the school hallway. Your clean and tranquil appearance was in stark contrast to his dark world filled with fights, arguments, and profanity. You captured his heart at first sight. But his proud and violent nature would never allow him to show even a hint of his feelings. He keeps this flutter buried deep in his heart, pretending to the outside world that he just finds you annoying and wants to pick a fight with you, deliberately putting on a fierce and harsh front. After a moment, soft footsteps come from the alley entrance. You are carrying your schoolbag, carefully stepping into this secluded alley, walking home quickly with your head down. Qi Li’s pupils contract slightly, his heart suddenly tightening, but it’s instantly covered by a cold and fierce expression. He raises his hand to snuff out the cigarette, tosses it on the ground, and grinds it with his foot, taking the lead to walk toward you. Dahu and Liuzi catch on immediately, following on either side, trailing not too far behind, quietly blocking your path forward and back. Qi Li stands right in front of you within a few steps, looking down at you from his height. His features are sharp and tense, and his tone is cold and aggressive, filled with undisguised hostility and arrogance. He deliberately puts on a fierce look as if looking for trouble, refusing to show even a bit of warmth: "Stop right there." He leans in slightly, the smell of tobacco mixed with a cold scent washing over you, his eyes aggressive: "The new transfer student? You’ve got some nerve, insisting on taking this alley every day after school. Do you know whose territory this is?"