Pride aside, the gap in singing skills was still obvious—Bai Xiaonuo could tell.
But she wasn’t envious or resentful.
After all, she excelled in so many other areas.
If she were better even in her weaknesses, wouldn’t everyone else just be amateurs?
The classmates in the audience showed their respect as well.
They had just listened to Bai Xiaonuo’s “quirky singing,” and now Cheng Cheng was on stage with a refined, elegant piece—truly something that could please both the common crowd and the elite.
With everyone’s attention focused on Cheng Cheng’s singing, Bai Xiaonuo took the opportunity to pull out her phone…
Buzz buzz buzz!
As night approached, the girl sent more pictures.
Zero didn’t even need to look to know it was definitely another of her provocative shots.
But when she opened them, she noticed a big difference from before—the background was no longer a bed but a grassy field under the night sky.
The girl wasn’t stripped down to just underwear but was wearing a full set of gray-green camouflage fatigues.
Though her face was still hidden, the silhouette shaped by the tight camouflage was unmistakably Bai Xiaonuo’s true identity… or rather, her status.
Moreover, the photos showed that Bai Xiaonuo wasn’t alone on the grass.
Many other girls, also dressed in camouflage, were sitting together, apparently participating in some activity.
Bai Xiaonuo was in the middle of the group, and quietly—despite being surrounded by many girls—she loosened her collar to take pictures of Xueshan.
Under the bright white moonlight, the round snowy hill shimmered with soft moonbeams, glistening and moist.
【Zero: What are you all doing?】
Faced with the elder sister’s instinctive question, the girl sent three quick replies.
【Nono: Nothing.】
【Nono: Having a party.】
【Nono: A pure one, don’t overthink it.】
Zero rolled her eyes.
How could she possibly overthink it?
Did she really believe a bunch of college girls wearing military training uniforms were throwing a “silver party” on the grass?
Besides, that busty girl was so audacious—daring to do that kind of thing in front of classmates.
【Zero: So many classmates around, aren’t you afraid someone will catch you? Or that they’ll pin you down?】
【Nono: Not afraid, they’re not you.】
“?”
Zero instinctively typed back, 【What do you mean, I wouldn’t do that】, but then quietly deleted it because she suddenly remembered she actually had.
No choice but to helplessly reply: 【You really are a succubus.】
【Nono: Yup, I am a succubus. I told you last time.】
Indeed, Bai Xiaonuo had said so herself when she sent those photos a few days ago.
【You still have the nerve to say that,】 Zero typed as a warning, 【don’t keep bragging about your identity. If someone with ill intent finds out, and drags you back, you’ll regret it.】
【Nono: Hah, I’m not scared.】
Bai Xiaonuo thought to herself, I can see affection levels, so if I can replicate abilities from one kiss, it means they’re one of us.
【Nono: Enough talk, a female classmate is hitting on me, gotta go. You handle yourself.】
Then her avatar went dark.
Zero curled the corner of her mouth, thinking, If you want me to handle myself, fine, but am I being managed by you now?
Still, looking back at that photo just now—the moist moonlight, that unique setting—imagining herself in that scene was more thrilling than any picture before.
Hmm…
………
After Cheng Cheng finished her song, the classmates who followed were not as good—lacking both Bai Xiaonuo’s popularity and Cheng Cheng’s solid skills.
The audience’s attention gradually drifted away.
Around Bai Xiaonuo, a group of girls chatted with her.
“Bai Xiaonuo, how many animal friends do you have?”
“I don’t know, but friends are definitely better the more the merrier.”
“Bai Xiaonuo, which high school did you go to?”
“I went to Yecheng No.1 High School.”
“No way, that’s my alma mater. How come I don’t remember… shouldn’t be, you’re such a memorable girl—you should have been famous long ago.”
“…Maybe I wasn’t as big back then. I was pretty ordinary.”
“Oh, that explains it.”
Cheng Cheng wanted to talk to Bai Xiaonuo too, hoping she could say some good words to the cat, but there were too many people and she couldn’t get close.
Wuwu.
The first day of the new week of military training ended smoothly.
The next day, military training and psychological tests continued simultaneously.
“What do you see?”
“Um, a cat.”
“And this one?”
“A little dried fish.”
“This one?”
“A bell?”
“That’s enough, little sister.” Senior Zhang, acting as the psychologist, said to the shy but pretty girl in front of her, “Your mind is quite healthy, and… hmm, you still have a childlike innocence.”
Cheng Cheng’s face flushed bright red.
She thanked them quickly and hurried out.
At the stairs, she caught sight of a familiar figure.
That gloomy girl from yesterday… what was her name? Oh, right, Wang Meng. She was next.
“Chinese Department, Class Three,” Senior Luo glanced at the form, “Wang Meng, right?”
Wang Meng didn’t respond immediately, either daydreaming or lost in thought.
Senior Zhang gave her a gentle reminder, and she snapped back to attention.
“Yes.”
“Look at these images, what comes to mind?”
She took the Rorschach cards.
In the first chaotic shape, she saw a blood-stained utility knife.
“A crayon,” she said.
“And this one?”
In Wang Meng’s eyes, it was Bai Xiaonuo’s severed head, blood flowing endlessly.
“A red lantern.”
“Uh… and the last one?”
Bai Xiaonuo was tied to a cross, flames burning beneath her feet, like a hunted witch.
“Fireworks,” she answered.
The two senior part-time psychologists exchanged a glance. “Alright, you may go.”
Wang Meng walked to the door but didn’t leave immediately.
After a few seconds, she heard the people inside say:
“Seems there’s no major issue, just missing the New Year too much.”
“Uh, maybe missing their relatives.”
She overheard everything, her expression flickering.
Just then, she suddenly saw a small yet imposing figure carrying two bags of boxed meals approaching.
She quickly stepped aside to observe.
It was Bai Xiaonuo, bringing lunch purchased from the school’s finest Chinese restaurant, and she pushed open the door.
“Senior Zhang, Senior Luo, I brought lunch for you.”
The two seniors were slightly surprised, glanced behind the door, but saw no other test subjects.
“Is it lunch break already?”
“Yes, it is,” Bai Xiaonuo replied, closing the door behind her and setting the lunch on the table, “I figured you just arrived and might not know which places on campus serve good food, so I brought some for you.”
In truth, she wasn’t sure if it was lunch break yet.
There might still be one or two people left.
But it didn’t matter.
They could come in the afternoon too, no fixed schedule anyway.
Bringing lunch over was a rare opportunity she seized.
“You’re too kind, junior,” said Senior Zhang, who was hungry and sat down, “You mentioned yesterday you had questions for us?”
That’s why they were seniors—one meal and they already knew Bai Xiaonuo’s purpose.
“To ask for advice, really just to ask,” Bai Xiaonuo unusually modestly said, “It’s about dissociative identity disorder.”