He walked out easily, not encountering the slightest abnormality within the first ten meters. Brian Carter grew increasingly delighted, but after another ten meters, his thoughts suddenly shifted—from simple restlessness to the previous forceful compulsion.

Brian Carter shuddered, his expression turning grim.

He tried to resist the compulsion in his mind, but eventually slumped and walked back.

He could suppress it, but with so many people around, letting everyone see his strange behavior would definitely attract attention. He was still concerned about that.

And as he followed the compulsion back, the forceful control suddenly vanished, reverting to the previous restlessness. Brian Carter was so frustrated he could cough up blood.

Was he supposed to stay by this cashier girl's side forever?

……

“Old Carter, where did you go off to again? Damn, weren’t you supposed to be studying hard?”

“Got something to do, can’t talk right now.”

……

Half an hour later, walking along a snow-covered road, Brian Carter was helplessly talking on the phone with Eric Sullivan. A dozen meters ahead of him was the cashier girl from the supermarket.

Unfortunately, after multiple attempts over the past half hour, Brian Carter was now certain that as soon as he tried to move away from the girl, that strange compulsion would forcibly steer his will and make him walk back. With so many people around, it was hard to resist, so he could only linger near the girl. As long as he stayed close, the compulsion would revert to that restless fluctuation.

In fact, after being affected by that thing in his mind again and again for half an hour, Brian Carter’s heart gradually became excited. It was a subtle change—he felt as if his body was being infected beyond his control, and sometimes he’d suddenly feel an urge to pounce and end that life.

This realization shocked him into full alertness.

Now, the compulsion wasn’t forcibly controlling him anymore, but was instead subtly and slowly bewitching and influencing him.

This bewitchment didn’t cause him pain, but Brian Carter knew it was even more terrifying than forceful control, because you’d fall for it without even realizing it. Once infected, just looking at the other person would make an uncontrollable thrill of the hunt surge up inside.

Boiling a frog in warm water is indeed more terrifying than throwing it straight into boiling water.

This thing was truly sinister!

If not for his strong will, he’d probably have been controlled long ago.

Each time he felt that excitement, Brian Carter had to occasionally inflict pain on himself, hoping the pain would keep him clear-headed.

He was sure his thigh was already covered in bruises, maybe even torn and bloody in some places.

Another half hour later, his deskmate Eric Sullivan called him again. After all, it had been more than two hours since school let out in the afternoon, and even the first period of evening self-study was over.

Being absent for so long, especially after his earnest vow at noon, was bound to raise suspicions.

Brian Carter could only brush it off and then put away his phone.

As he put away his phone, Brian Carter suddenly pinched his thigh again. Damn, he was getting excited once more.

He was so excited he could barely resist pouncing to end that vibrant life, but he knew that was absolutely impossible. How could he do that in public? Even if the compulsion wanted him to kill, couldn’t it at least give him more time? Like, wait until they reached a secluded place—at least then he could act. But like this, it was just too twisted.

If his rebirth really was connected to that compulsion, he’d be full of gratitude for it, but right now, there was no way he could help it hunt down such an innocent life in public.

“Lucy, have you noticed? That guy is still following us.”

“Who?”

“Playing dumb? That handsome guy behind us! Tsk, he’s so good-looking. He’s been following us from the supermarket all the way here—he must have a crush on you and wants to pursue you. But he’s so funny, seems like he doesn’t have the guts to come up and talk.”

“Oh, shut up. As if.”

……

Brian Carter was struggling to suppress his involuntary excitement, while a dozen meters ahead, one of the two girls glanced back, then quickly turned and whispered to her companion with a giggle, making the other girl blush slightly.

Brian Carter, who had been following behind all this time, was indeed quite conspicuous—tall and handsome, he stood out in a crowd, hard not to notice. If he’d just brushed past, he might have left a fleeting impression, but after lingering around the supermarket for a while, mostly near the cashier, and then following them after they got off work, it was hard to ignore.

Blushing, the taller and more elegant Lucy glared at her companion and whispered, “You silly girl, getting so excited—don’t tell me you’re the one with a crush.”

“Please, I know my place. He’s definitely not following me—he hasn’t even looked at me directly. Besides, standing next to a beauty like you, who would chase after me?” The other girl pouted, a hint of grievance in her eyes. She was rather ordinary-looking, with a decent figure, but overall just an average girl. Compared to Lucy Harris beside her, the difference was obvious.