And honestly… I froze too.
Like— what the hell am I supposed to do now? Smile? Wave? Pretend I didn't notice a hundred eyeballs stabbing me?
Anyone got a manual for this? No? Great.
It's funny though…
Back then, everyone stared at me too.
But that time they laughed.
And I cried.
I actually cried.
God, I can still remember it — head down, shaking like a kicked dog, tears dripping on the floor.
How pathetic was I?
No, really. How much?
I almost laughed just thinking about it.
Yeah… that was me.
The same idiot standing here now, except I don't cry anymore.
Now I just watch.
Then I heard it —
that fake whisper people do when they want everyone to listen.
Gasps. Half-choked words. That ugly mix of surprise and gossip all stabbing at once.
"Wait… isn't that him?"
"No way— he's alive?"
"I thought he died in there…"
Yeah. I heard every single one of them. Didn't even need to focus — they were loud enough to make sure I did.
And then someone pointed.
"That's Shen Yan, right? The Null Bloodline trash?"
There it was. My grand title.
Been a while since I heard it out loud — still sounds cheap.
I clicked my tongue and smirked at the ground.
"Guess ghosts get more love than the living," I muttered.
And then came them.
The two clowns I'd hoped got eaten.
"Well, well, who do we have here?"
And then I heard that voice — fake confidence, loud enough to trip over itself.
Didn't even need to look.
Only one idiot talked like that.
Bai Shou.
Still acting like his ego could tank a monster.
And the other one, Chi Yan — yeah, I could almost see that stupid grin without turning.
Two sounds I didn't miss. Two faces I didn't want to see.
"Didn't expect to see you walk out of the Zone," Chi Yan said, voice dripping smug. "What happened? Monsters got tired of your crying?"
Bai Shou laughed, running a hand through his hair like he thought someone cared.
"Or maybe he just hid again. Still good at that, right?"
They laughed.
It sounded exactly like I expected — stupid.
I looked at them, slow, a smile tugging at my mouth.
I looked at them, tilted my head, and smiled faintly.
"Wow," I said, slow and calm, "you two still talk like those side villains in a third-rate web novel."
They stared at me like the words had to walk a long road to reach whatever they use as a brain.
"What?"
"Yeah," I said, shrugging. "You know — 'well well,' 'look who's here,' all that garbage?
Man, do you guys rehearse that together or is it natural talent?"
A loud, dramatic cough came from the stage.
You know — the "everyone look at me" kind.
Made me want to sneeze out of spite..
"Students! Students, please settle down!"
Ah, the great principal himself — standing there, sweating through his cheap suit, gripping the mic like it was a lifeline of who will become the millionaire.
"Principal Wang," I whispered to myself.
"Damn. I was sure you were gonna die of old age before we came back. Life really surprises you."
Principal Wang stepped forward, smiling at me.
Not a warm smile — more like his lips were being glued into place while the rest of his face tried to run away.
His eyes told the truth, nervous and calculating.
He didn't look happy I was alive.
He looked like someone trying to remember if I owed him a money.
"Ah, Shen Yan… you… returned safely! Wonderful! We— we were all very worried!"
I tilted my head a little.
"…Really?" I asked. "Who's we?"
His smile twitched.
I just watched him.
Just watching.
He pretended he didn't hear my question.
Of course he did but obviously, he didn't answer me.
Just… smacked his hands together, loud and awkward, like noise could erase what I said — or what I am.
Fake cheer. Forced energy.
I could almost see the sweat trembling at the edge of his smile.
"Clearly there must have been an error during the ceremony."
He nodded so fast I thought his neck might snap.
"Yes, yes — the crystal must have malfunctioned. Shen Yan surviving the Forbidden Zone means his bloodline is… extraordinary. Very extraordinary. Rare."
He laughed.
I just stared at him.
What, my bloodline's a punchline now?
I didn't need Predator Sense to see it — he was pretending.
He cleared his throat too quick.
Maybe nervous. Maybe scared.
I couldn't tell.
He was smiling — wide, polite — but his eyes stayed closed the whole time.
Like he didn't want me to see what was behind them.
Honestly?
Made him look more stupid than calm.
"Come now! We'll re-evaluate him immediately! No need to worry!"
The crowd opened up when I walked forward — not politely, not scared.
Just curious.
They leaned back a little, not to give me space, but to see better.
Some of them were already smiling, like they were waiting for the punchline.
They wanted a show. They wanted me to fail again. They wanted something to laugh at on the way home.
I could hear it in their breath. That little excitement people get right before someone falls.
Good.
Let them watch.
I felt something loosen in my chest.
Not relief — just… space.
I went through hell in there. Days with no sleep.
Blood on my hands.
Voices in my head.
And what did they do?
So whatever they say now? Doesn't land.
Doesn't matter.
Doesn't reach me.
I heard Chi Yan behind me.
That stupid nasal laugh of his. The one he uses when he thinks he's clever.
"Yeah, this'll be good," he said.
Of course Bai Shou had to jump in. That guy would shove his head anywhere if it meant feeling important.
"Let's see what the Null brings this time," he said. "Maybe he'll break a new record. Disappointment speedrun."
I didn't turn. Didn't blink.
Their voices were just noise to me now — background, distant.
Like something I stopped caring about a long time ago.