I May Be Dumb, But Not an Idiot
Chapter 26: why is he STILL looking at me
Zian Hausi had upgraded her plan again.
Version 3.
More advanced.
More desperate.
Avoid people.
Avoid problems.
Avoid Sterling.
Avoid eye contact.
She sat on the sofa like a professional who had trained her entire life to do absolutely nothing, holding her tea like it was a sacred object that must not be disturbed under any circumstances, her posture perfect, her expression calm—
While her mind was running like a full investigation department.
Yesterday recap:
Jiang Nanshu = failed.
Parents = supportive.
Sterling = emotionally unstable.
Pause.
Fiang Sheng = ???
She took a slow sip.
That question mark is annoying.
From the hallway—
"THE CAT IS BACK AND IT LOOKS STRONGER."
Zian didn't react.
Ignore external noise.
"…It did not train overnight," she said calmly.
Sterling rushed in.
"…YOU DON'T KNOW THAT."
Zian opened one eye.
I know everything necessary.
"…It is a cat," she said.
Sterling pointed.
"…It blinked at me twice."
Zian blinked once.
"…I blinked once."
Sterling gasped.
"…YOU'RE ALL AGAINST ME."
Huo Lou walked in, laughing already.
"…No one is against you. You are against reality."
Zian nodded.
"…Correct."
Sterling dropped onto the sofa.
"…I need a new house."
Zian sipped her tea.
"…Denied."
This is my sofa.
Silence.
Peace.
Calm.
For exactly—
Four seconds.
Then—
There.
Zian's entire mind sharpened instantly.
That feeling again.
Clear.
Cold.
Watching.
Her eyes shifted slowly.
Across the room.
Fiang Sheng.
Standing there.
Looking at her.
Again.
Zian blinked once.
This is becoming a habit.
She looked away immediately.
Ignore.
Three seconds passed.
He is still looking.
Zian slowly turned her head back.
Still looking.
Zian stared at him.
"…Do you need something," she asked calmly.
Fiang Sheng replied immediately this time.
"…No."
Silence.
Zian blinked.
Then stop looking.
"…Then don't look," she said.
Sterling jumped up.
"…ROUND TWO."
Huo Lou covered her mouth.
Fiang Sheng tilted his head slightly.
"…You're very direct," he said.
Zian blinked.
Yes. That is efficient communication.
"…Yes," she replied.
Pause.
He stepped closer.
"…You weren't nervous yesterday."
Zian nodded.
"…There was nothing to be nervous about."
Situation was simple.
"…You were accused," he added.
Zian looked at him.
"…Incorrect accusation."
Pause.
Which makes it irrelevant.
Sterling whispered loudly,
"…She's too powerful."
Zian ignored him.
Fiang Sheng continued.
"…Most people would panic."
Zian tilted her head slightly.
"…Most people waste time."
Silence.
Huo Lou nodded slowly.
"…That is… true."
Sterling whispered,
"…I feel attacked."
Zian sipped her tea.
You should.
Fiang Sheng's gaze softened again.
"…You rely on logic," he said.
Zian nodded.
"…Yes."
Pause.
Finally someone understands basic thinking.
But this time—
He didn't stop there.
"…But you still helped them."
Zian froze internally.
…
Her thoughts paused for half a second.
That question again.
"…Yes," she said.
"…Why," he asked.
Zian looked at him.
Why.
Her mind started answering automatically.
Because they are here.
Because it's easier.
Because they would get hurt.
Pause.
Because…
She stopped that thought immediately.
Unnecessary.
"…No reason," she said.
Sterling gasped.
"…THAT'S THE MOST SUSPICIOUS ANSWER."
Zian blinked.
"…Correct."
Huo Lou laughed again.
But Fiang Sheng—
Didn't laugh.
He was watching her carefully.
He noticed.
Zian looked away.
He noticed something.
Her thoughts moved faster now.
He's analyzing.
He's observing patterns.
He's not distracted.
Pause.
That's dangerous.
But also—
Interesting.
Before she could continue thinking—
The air shifted.
Harder this time.
Zian's eyes sharpened instantly.
Again.
Window.
Shadow.
Closer.
Clearer.
Watching—
Fiang Sheng.
Zian froze internally.
Confirmed.
Target = him.
Her mind accelerated.
Why him.
Connection unknown.
Risk increasing.
She stood up immediately.
Everyone looked at her.
"…What happened," Huo Lou asked.
Zian didn't answer.
Think.
If it targets him…
Her eyes shifted toward Fiang Sheng.
He was still calm.
Still watching her.
"…You saw it," he said.
Zian paused.
He noticed again.
"…Yes," she replied.
Sterling grabbed a pillow.
"…I'M READY."
Zian looked at him.
"…You are not."
Huo Lou laughed again.
Fiang Sheng stepped closer to Zian.
"…Where is it," he asked.
Zian didn't point.
No need.
"…Watching," she said.
"…Who," he asked.
Zian looked at him directly.
"…You."
Silence.
Sterling slowly sat down.
"…I'm glad it's not me."
Zian nodded.
"…It has standards."
Huo Lou laughed again.
Fiang Sheng didn't react much.
Just—
"…Why," he asked.
Zian paused.
Good question.
No answer.
"…Unknown," she said.
The shadow flickered.
Closer.
Zian stepped forward slightly.
Enough.
"…Leave," she said quietly.
The shadow didn't move.
Sterling whispered,
"…It didn't listen…"
Zian sighed internally.
Of course it didn't.
"…Last warning," she said.
The shadow flickered again—
Then—
Vanished.
Gone.
Silence returned.
Sterling collapsed.
"…I survived."
Zian turned away.
Barely.
Fiang Sheng looked at her again.
"…You weren't afraid," he said.
Zian blinked.
We already discussed this.
"…No," she replied.
Pause.
He looked at her longer this time.
"…You stood in front of it," he said.
Zian paused.
Yes.
"…Yes," she said.
Silence.
Then—
"…You stood in front of me," he added.
Zian froze internally.
…
Her thoughts stopped.
For a full second.
That…
Pause.
Is true.
She looked away.
"…Positioning," she said.
Sterling whispered,
"…That was NOT positioning."
Huo Lou covered her mouth again.
Fiang Sheng didn't argue.
He just nodded slowly.
He understood again.
Zian noticed.
He always understands.
That—
Was rare.
Very rare.
She sat back down.
Picked up her tea again.
Conclusion:
Shadow = targeting him.
He = involved.
Me = still solving problems.
Pause.
And now…
She glanced at him for a second.
He noticed me.
He noticed everything.
And that—
Was how it started.
Not suddenly.
Not loudly.
But slowly.
Quietly.
Dangerously.
Because Fiang Sheng—
Was no longer just watching her.
He was seeing her.
And Zian—
Was starting to notice him too.
This is going to be annoying.
Outside—
The shadow didn't return immediately.
Because now—
Things were changing.
And whatever was coming next—
Would bring them closer.
Whether they wanted it—
Or not. 😈🔥