Chapter 2: The Sync Intensifies

Not daring to look too much at that cold, towering figure, Tara silently pulled her collar even higher. She shifted her gaze to Sean and waved a banner to cheer for him.

It didn't take long for the first half of the game to reach its end.

"Killian!"

Sean shouted, preparing to pass the ball to Killian for a perfect finish to the half.

Killian moved fluidly into position to receive the pass.

Suddenly, disaster struck.

By the time the crowd realized what happened, a player from the Finance team had committed a foul, slamming his elbow hard into Killian’s abdomen.

"Ugh!"

An agonizing pain surged without warning.

Down in the stands, Tara let out a muffled groan. Her eyes rolled back from the sheer force of the pain, and she blacked out.

When Tara woke up, she found herself lying in the university clinic.

"Tara!"

The moment she opened her eyes, Josie leaned over, looking like she was about to cry from relief and lingering fear.

"Thank heavens you're finally awake! You scared the life out of me!"

Before Tara could speak, a large, dry hand gently touched her cheek.

She looked up and met Sean’s worried, frowning face.

"You silly kid. If you couldn't handle the heat, why didn't you go take a break?"

"I..."

Sean interrupted her. "The doctor said you have a bit of heatstroke."

He pulled his hand away after checking her temperature. "Feeling better now? Are you thirsty? Want some water?"

Tara pursed her lips and shook her head.

She couldn't exactly explain that she had collapsed because she was synced with Killian.

Dear God, is this my punishment for forcibly kissing him? Tara felt like crying but had no tears.

"No, I'm fine."

Tara sat up and gripped Sean’s shoulders firmly, her expression dead serious.

"Sean, you shouldn't be here right now!"

Sean didn't understand. "Huh?"

Tara looked at him pleadingly. "What I mean is, I'm okay. You don't need to look after me. Your best friend Killian got hurt too, right? You should go check on him immediately!"

Sean was so frustrated he laughed. He reached out and lightly tapped Tara’s forehead.

"What are you talking about?"

"You're my sister. Who else would I look after?"

He rubbed her head gently. "Don't worry. With Killian’s physique, that tiny injury is child's play. He'll be fine."

Child's play my foot! He’s in so much pain I'm dying! Tara’s expression turned grim. She decided to be blunt.

"No, he's not fine at all! Sean, go take him to the hospital right now. If he won't cooperate, just knock him out and call an ambulance to haul him away!"

Ignoring the ache in her stomach, Tara pushed Sean out of the clinic.

A moment later, after successfully getting rid of him, only Tara and Josie remained.

"Tara, are you really okay?"

Josie looked at her with concern. "You look terrible. Should I take you to a real hospital off-campus?"

Tara shook her head. "I'm fine. I just need to rest."

Medical checks were useless. To solve the root of the problem, she had to deal with Killian.

She could only hope he would recover quickly.

But as it turned out, Killian was on a self-destructive streak.

The next morning, at the campus cafeteria.

"Tara, are you still hungry?"

Josie watched in confusion as Tara devoured a large bowl of wontons and then ordered two more to go.

Tara looked helpless. "I'm full."

But her stomach was hurting again.

And despite the food she’d just eaten, she felt hollow, as if she hadn't eaten at all.

It was obvious Killian was skipping breakfast again, causing his stomach to flare up.

Tara looked at the two bags of wontons in her hands, finally understanding the phrase "the servant is more worried than the master."

Twenty minutes later, at the Galaxy Game Studio on Jinjiang Road, in the Chief Planner’s office.

"Hey, stop working and eat."

Sean set one of the containers of wontons on Killian’s desk and pulled up a chair, sitting down with casual swagger.

His work interrupted, Killian looked down at the steaming, fragrant wontons.

"You went to Cafeteria Number One?"

The chefs at Evercrest’s first cafeteria were famous. You could tell their food just by the smell.

But it wasn't exactly close to this office.

"Nah, my sister had them sent over."

Sean tossed him a pair of chopsticks and teased, "She bought an extra one just for you because of me. No need to get emotional."

"Your sister?" Killian took the chopsticks, spinning them lazily between his long fingers. "Aren't you an only child?"

"Not my biological sister," Sean replied while opening his own container. "But there's no difference."

He looked up lazily. "It’s the girl who fainted yesterday."

"Since we're brothers, she’s basically your sister too."

He tapped the desk and added seriously, "I have to go out of town for a business trip. Keep an eye on Tara for me at school."

Killian’s fingers stilled. His dark eyes narrowed slightly.

"Heh."

It was a cold, short laugh.

Sean felt a chill and frowned. "You sly fox, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing."

Killian opened his container. He slammed his chopsticks down, impaling a wonton squarely. "I just think... these wontons look pretty good."

Clatter! In the art studio, Tara was putting the finishing touches on a painting when her fingers suddenly throbbed with pain. Her arms felt numb and achy.

Her brush slipped, ruining the entire piece.

Tara was stunned.

Then she realized this sudden pain was another sensation from the sync.

What the hell was Killian doing?

This painting was her assignment for Professor Hunter, due tomorrow!

Tara’s fingers trembled with anger.

But this was only the beginning.

At 5:30 PM.

Tara was eating in the cafeteria when her throat suddenly felt a sharp, smoky irritation.

By the time she realized Killian was smoking, she had already choked and spat out a mouthful of rice all over Josie’s face. She was "lectured" by Josie for a solid half-hour.

At 11:00 PM.

Tara was on her period. Her lower abdomen was cramping, and she was lying in bed trying to rest.

Suddenly, Killian decided to go on a drinking binge.

Tara was tortured by a spicy, dizzying sensation for hours, which only made her menstrual cramps worse. She didn't have a moment of peace all night.

At 6:00 AM the next day.

Tara was still asleep when she was jolted awake by a crushing sense of fatigue. Her chest felt tight, and she was struggling to breathe.

She guessed Killian was out for a morning run.

She tried to endure it, but she didn't expect him to keep going for nearly two hours without stopping.

Tara almost passed out from exhaustion.

When Killian finally finished his workout, Tara tried to close her eyes and go back to sleep. Suddenly, she let out a sharp cry and bolted upright in bed.

Josie was startled awake. She peered through the bed curtains with sleepy eyes. "What’s wrong, Tara?"

Cassie, in the opposite bed, was also woken up and grumbled, "What's with the screaming? You scared me!"

Only Daisy, in the next bed, remained fast asleep, her snoring steady and loud.

Tara’s teeth were chattering. After a long moment, she managed to say, "S-sorry. I had a nightmare."

In reality, Tara had been frozen awake.

Killian had just finished his workout and decided to take a cold shower.

And Tara had always been extremely sensitive to the cold.

Tara felt like she was going insane.

She couldn't just sit here and wait for death!

Killian’s habits and lifestyle were the polar opposite of hers.

If this continued, she really would lose her mind.

The sync couldn't be broken.

So, her only option now was to find a way to control Killian.

Thinking of this, Tara felt a surge of anxiety.

Aside from that one accidental kiss, she had never interacted with Killian. They were strangers. How on earth was she supposed to legitimately tell him what to do?