“Quan Quan — Dang Rui –“
Within the empty, mossy Baiying Academy, the sound of a bell marking the end of the exam period rose up.
A few scattered students began to appear in the deserted Teaching Building, and the quiet campus grew lively once more. Even the distant Guidance Office could faintly hear their laughter and playful shouts.
“Su JMB, just like I’ve told you before, when I was seven or eight years old, I lived at the local Fuer Institute.”
Meng Huange stood in front of the Guidance Office doors, watching the students streaming in and out of the Teaching Building, and spoke with a gentle laugh—
“In that place, I saw all sorts of people. Some were simple, some reserved, some wild, some timid. Almost everyone’s character could be described in just a word or two, and almost everyone was summed up by a rough, teasing nickname.”
“Troublemaker, echo bug, egomaniac, Student King… Just hearing those names, you can picture the matching faces in your mind.”
“But at the same time, I gradually understood that those were just attitudes people put on in response to certain people or events. No matter how quiet a person was, once their bottom line was crossed, they’d fight back fiercely. Even the most arrogant person would soften their edge in the face of someone stronger. There’s no one in this world who can be represented by a single label. Human beings are far more complicated than that.”
“…That makes sense.”
Gazing into Meng Huange’s clear, tranquil eyes, Su Wanli took the report book from her and silently let out a breath.
It was as if she could faintly sense what Meng Huange was about to say, but that was something she would never admit to herself.
“Forgive me, Miss Su, if I’m being rude.”
Meng Huange drew her gaze away from the Teaching Building, then turned back to Su Wanli and gave her a respectful nod—
“Before I came to the Sujia, I did a thorough investigation on you. I wanted to know what kind of person I’d be serving in the future, what sort of temperament you had, so I could act in line with your expectations.”
“However, whether it was online or in real life, everyone around you, without exception, gave overwhelmingly negative evaluations. Arrogant, domineering, self-centered, willful—you name it, every bad word could be used on you.”
“But in my own eyes, you seem completely different from what they say.”
“Not the same at all…”
Su Wanli let out a long breath, curled up half her mouth in a smirk, and cocked her head at Meng Huange.
“Hah, even I think their descriptions are spot-on. But since you say the person you see is nothing like what you’ve heard, why don’t you tell me what’s so different?”
“Well, if you really go over everything that’s happened in the past few days…”
Meng Huange lightly tilted her chin up, looking toward the sky—
“It does seem like what they said isn’t wrong. You really are that kind of person.”
“…You!”
Su Wanli had expected that after all the setup, Meng Huange would finally say something nice, like ‘Miss Su is actually a good person, she just puts on an act because of her circumstances’ or something. But after all that, the conclusion was that she really was that bad?
Looking at Su Wanli’s gritted-teeth expression, Meng Huange smiled and tilted her head—
“From an objective perspective, you’re not the ‘good kid’ in the eyes of the world. Your emotions are unstable, your grades are terrible, your tone is harsh, you often act on impulse without a second thought. The only things people might envy are your delicate looks and your powerful family backing.”
“What the—?”
Is this a heartfelt confession? Sure, what she said is true, and that’s what most people think, but has anyone ever actually said it all to her face, without pulling any punches?
Su Wanli’s eyes widened as she excitedly raised a finger, pointing it at Meng Huange’s nose, her voice going slightly shrill—
“Meng Huange, you actually have the nerve to say this kind of thing right in front of me! Do you think you’re so useful that I wouldn’t dare kick you out of the Sujia?”
“No, Miss Su, what I just said was purely from an objective angle. There are always many ways to interpret things.”
Meng Huange smiled as she shrugged her shoulders, then walked to Su Wanli’s side, pressing her left hand to her chest and reaching her right hand toward Su Wanli—
“In my view, none of those negative descriptions fit. You’re someone who loves and hates sincerely, straightforward by nature, but simply unable to say many things directly due to external circumstances. That’s all. You’re a good kid.”
…Wait, no, no, what is this? Is she suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or something?
I mean, I’ve done so many terrible things! From taking your precious keepsake, to catching you naked in my room, to almost dumping a vase full of water on your lap, and countless other outrageous stunts!
Even the System has called me the most naturally evil villain in history—how can you still smile at me and say these things so calmly!?
If she was just making up excuses to praise me, that’d be one thing, but to actually call me a ‘good kid’… it’s just, just unbelievable!
Su Wanli quickly turned around, facing away from Meng Huange, patting her flushed cheeks, then coughed twice to compose herself.
“Ahem, if that’s how you want to interpret it, suit yourself. I really don’t care about your personal psychological world.”
“Is that so?”
Meng Huange gently sighed, then bent down and casually picked up an Egg Stone from the ground.
“But, Miss Su, if we can’t reach an agreement on this, maybe there’ll be some disagreements between us in the future.”
Meng Huange walked to Su Wanli’s side, weighing the Egg Stone in her hand in front of her.
“Just as I see it, you’re not at all the notorious villain others believe you to be. Similarly, I hope that, in your heart, I’m not just another perfect, obedient good student, a forever well-behaved kid, but someone who truly understands you and can actually help you.”
“Do you remember what I said to you the first time we met? As long as you’re willing to accept my existence, I’ll become your most reliable Strategist, your best Tool, and your strongest backing.”
As she spoke, Meng Huange aimed the Egg Stone at the Jade Ornament on the Guidance Office wall.
“So, Miss Su, next time you have a wish you want fulfilled, I hope you’ll pull me out of the classroom immediately, instead of waiting for me to come over on my own.”
A vague sense of foreboding rose up in Su Wanli’s heart.
“Wait, wait, what are you trying to do, Meng—”
“Watch this—”
Before Su Wanli could finish, Meng Huange flicked her wrist. The Egg Stone in her hand sliced through the air in a perfect arc and smashed precisely into the Jade Ornament on the Guidance Office wall.
With a crisp, clear sound, the ornament instantly shattered into several pieces, accompanied by the startled shout of the Director.
“Hmm, the angle was a bit off. That could have hurt someone if it had gone differently.”
While Su Wanli stood stunned, Meng Huange quietly murmured, then patted her own chest and reached out her hand to Su Wanli once more.
The smile on her lips was just as wild and untamed as Su Wanli’s.
“Sorry, Miss Su, I didn’t consult you before acting. But I figure, besides those cheating students, you must also despise that Director who’s let things slide for years and still puts on such a pompous front, don’t you?”
“Anyway, it’s getting a bit crowded here. Let’s leave for now, Miss Su. The Surveillance Camera at the entrance changes angles every thirty seconds. If we can make it to the corner of the Teaching Building within sixteen seconds, he won’t have any evidence to identify us.”
Meng Huange pointed at the Surveillance Camera by the Guidance Office entrance, then stepped forward and took Su Wanli’s hand, asking with a light, playful tone—
“So, I wonder—right now, are you feeling just a little bit happier?”
“——My dear Miss Su.”
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