Mi He couldn’t figure it out at all, and thought to herself: Or maybe this Little Cute One has a kind of charm I haven’t discovered yet?
Aier stood in place, watching the shadow left by Mi Rong as she departed, her tall figure and crisp steps, that fleeting, subtle anticipation in her eyes, just like the glimpse Yu’er had caught before…
She really… looks like a lively version of Xie Yier.
“My life… suddenly keeps getting more and more exciting. The things others might never encounter in a lifetime, I’ve experienced all of them in just a few months…” Ge’er muttered to herself.
“What’s so exciting? Tell me, let me hear it.” A clear, energetic voice suddenly rang out from behind.
Aier nearly jumped in shock!
Turning around, she saw Tingji crouched behind her, hands cupping her cheeks, her bright orange eyes twinkling like crystals as she looked at her, the smile on her face brimming with mischief.
“You! You scared me to death!” Aier clutched her chest, still reeling from the fright.
“What’s wrong?” Tingji giggled as she pinched the soft flesh at Aier’s waist, “I didn’t mean to sneak up on you, I walked over fair and square. You just didn’t notice me.”
“No, weren’t you supposed to be locked up?”
“I was, but it was just too boring, so I came out to see what you were doing. Since you were just standing here doing nothing, I thought I’d keep you company. (=.=|||)”
Are you sick or something…
If it’s so easy for you to slip out, what’s the point of being locked up at all?
“Senior Sister~” Wu Li’s voice drifted over at just the right moment.
She was holding a small bundle wrapped in linen, standing in the sunlight at the corner.
The sunlight made her shine like a goddess.
“Tsk… that annoying person is here again!” Kang Na pouted, looking displeased, her hazel eyes glaring at Mary.
How can you have the nerve to call someone else annoying…
Aier secretly complained in her heart.
Mary ignored Tang Ting and walked straight over to Aier, unwrapping the bundle to reveal several golden-brown pastries still warm and exuding a sweet, inviting fragrance.
“Do you want some? I baked these myself, originally, I was going to give them to a friend, but she had something come up last minute and couldn’t make it. I knew I couldn’t eat them all myself, so I thought I’d bring them for you instead.”
“Wow~ thank you, Senior Sister!” At the sight of sweets, Aier’s eyes lit up so brightly they almost looked like spotlights.
She took a piece of pastry from Mary and couldn’t wait to take a big bite, letting out a satisfied sigh.
The soft pastry filled her with immense satisfaction.
Tang Huan, standing beside them, snorted and folded her arms, chin raised high.
She mercilessly mocked, “Tsk~ Stop pretending! You obviously baked these especially for her, didn’t you? What’s all this about a friend having something come up? So fake!”
“Mind your own business.” Mary shot back coldly, giving Tang Ting a sideways glance with a hint of disdain, “There’s none for you.”
She grabbed Aier’s wrist, picked up the rest of the pastries, and turned to leave.
“Younger Sister, let’s go. Don’t bother with this unreasonable person.”
“Hey! Who are you calling unreasonable?!” Tang Na fumed, chasing after them, her peach-colored hair swaying slightly with every movement.
“Tch, Three-way Relationship, huh! Young people these days really know how to play with fire. Not like me, I’m already nineteen and haven’t even had a proper date yet…”
Under a pine tree not far away, Mi He watched the dispute between the two girls and Aier.
“I didn’t expect it… this little one is so popular at School? What exactly do they see in her?”
She looked curiously at the simple information she’d found in the Archive Room File about Aier. The contents basically said Aier was the kind of “good kid” other parents wished for—studious, excellent grades, no bad habits.
Her record was so clean it was almost boring.
“It can’t be that simple.” Mi He’s mind raced, “Bright Talent can’t be so shallow!”
She decided to keep a close watch.
Very soon, her eyes darted as a crafty idea flashed through her mind.
She smirked slyly, fished out a Secret Speech Crystal from her small pouch, quickly typed out a message, and sent it to her Senior Sister Xie Yier:
[Senior Sister, today I met someone pretty interesting at School. I’m a little moved. But… it seems she already has someone she likes and doesn’t seem interested in me. Should I… try being more proactive?]
Duchess’ Office
Xie Yier was surrounded by piles of official documents, her black work dress exuding a composed, noble aura.
The Secret Speech Crystal on her desk suddenly lit up. She glanced at it; it was from Mi Lian. She opened it casually, scanning the contents.
At first, she didn’t pay much attention, but as soon as she read the message, her expression immediately changed.
Xie Yier’s brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing the word “School”, she almost instinctively associated it with Aier.
Her Younger Sister was a renowned Bright Talent; how could she possibly have met someone she liked at School?
And today is the very first day of class—it’s just too much of a coincidence.
She put down her quill, picked up the crystal, her fingertips pressing down with a barely noticeable force, and replied:
[What’s the name? Senior Sister will help you check her background.]
The reply came almost instantly.
Mi He looked at Senior Sister’s response, the corner of her lips curving into a satisfied little smile.
Hehe, hooked~
Her fingers flew as she typed:
[Her name is Aier. But she seems to already have a girlfriend, and isn’t very responsive to me… Is it because there’s too big a difference in our status? Senior Sister, do you think it’s wrong for me to try to step between other people’s feelings?]
Upon seeing that name, Xie Yier’s expression grew even colder.
A nameless anger instantly flared up inside her; even the teacup in her hand was nearly crushed as she clenched it.
It’s more than just wrong—
This little fox actually dares to fight over someone with Yu Ting and Mary!
Xie Yier could practically imagine Mi He’s smug little face!
The temperature in the Office seemed to drop by several degrees.
Aier, who had been standing quietly at the side, watched as Xie Yier nearly twisted her coffee mug to pieces, and couldn’t help but take a deep breath.
She silently and very naturally took two steps back, moving closer to the door.
Her gaze dropped low, focused on her shoes, trying to minimize her presence as much as possible.
These shoes are really unlucky today…
She did her best to act like she didn’t know anything.
At that very moment, at School, Aier was eating her pastry when she suddenly shivered, as if danger was approaching.
“What’s wrong, Little Cute One?”
Mary noticed and asked with concern.
“It’s nothing… I just have a bad feeling that something’s about to happen…”
/ If you like her, then go ahead and try it, I guess. /
Over at the Duchess’ side, Xie Yier was practically forcing herself to smile as she gritted out a voice message to Mi Lian.
After sending it, she worked hard to calm herself down.
“Heh heh (~.-W7-) Based on what I know about Senior Sister, she must look really awful right now.” Mi He snickered, doing her best not to burst out laughing in public.
Although Xie Yier was rumored to be cold and ruthless, as someone who had grown up with her, this little troublemaker knew exactly what the real Xie Yier was like.
And that was precisely why she dared to play with fire.