The school day had finally ended, and the familiar bell rang out through the building, signaling freedom. Students poured out of classrooms and down stairwells, laughter and chatter filling the halls as they rushed to meet friends, catch buses, or simply escape the rigid structure of the week. Lockers were slammed shut, teachers called out half-hearted reminders, and the campus slowly began to empty as the weekend beckoned.
Yang Jun, however, lingered.
When Zhao Kai had asked earlier why he was not heading out with them as usual, Yang Jun had simply shrugged and said he had a few activities to wrap up. It was an excuse that sounded reasonable enough to avoid suspicion. He even waved them off with practiced ease, watching as they disappeared down the hall.
But the truth was that Yang Jun
