It is now 7:49, just ten minutes left before classes begin at Baiying Academy.
The school Broadcast is softly playing a melodious Preparation Bell throughout the campus.
At the same time, on an almost empty corridor, two girls are striding toward the same destination, more than five meters apart from each other.
“So, haven’t I told you already…”
Hearing the footsteps following behind her now and then, Su Wanli sighed, gathered her hands in front of her, turned around and said.
“Don’t walk so close to me in the corridors at school! What if some messy rumors start spreading again? What am I supposed to do then?”
“Sorry, Miss Trouble Su, I just want to keep you within my line of sight as much as possible, just to make sure you’re safe. Does that make you feel uncomfortable?”
“…What nonsense are you spouting? This is school, what danger could I possibly be in?”
After Su Wanli’s frank and forceful rebuttal, Meng Huange lightly cupped her chin, tilted her head with a smile toward Su Wanli.
“Then, I just want to keep you in my line of sight, that’s all. Seeing your back gives me a rare sense of peace. Miss Wanli, can’t you allow me this one small selfish wish?”
Wow, to think she starts off with such cheesy lines. Her favorability towards me clearly isn’t even positive…
Su Wanli’s cheeks flushed, then she quickly turned her head away, coughed lightly at the air twice.
“Hmph, do whatever you want, it’s not like I care…”
[Affection Value dropped to 85]
“…No way, absolutely not! Who let you use my silhouette as some kind of security charm! Get over here and walk properly in front of me!”
“Yes, Miss Wanli.”
Meng Huange let out a quiet laugh, then briskly walked up beside Su Wanli, making a small gesture with her hand.
Su Wanli let out a cold snort of laughter, and, naturally, handed her own schoolbag over to Meng Huange. Together, they walked shoulder to shoulder toward the Class Three, Year Two classroom.
Hmm, something feels off here?
…From the start, wasn’t I trying to get Meng Huange to rely on me a little more?
“Hey, did you see? That black-haired girl is Su Wanli. I told you the other day, the one who got off that car wasn’t actually her…”
“Right, and the brown-haired girl beside her must be Meng Huange. Haven’t there been all those rumors on the School Forum lately?”
By the Baiying Academy Class Bulletin Board, two Grade One girls glanced nervously at Su Wanli and Meng Huange’s backs, whispering excitedly to each other.
“…But I didn’t expect they’d really have such a close relationship? Well, it does make sense…”
“No, no, no, how could this just be a simple PR move? One’s surname is Su, one’s Meng, and Meng Huange only suddenly appeared. There’s no evidence they had any prior connection!”
“Really? Would anyone bother faking that?”
“Tsk, you just don’t get it. The closer the relationship is, the more they need a plausible excuse to cover it up! That’s how it always is in the detective novels I read.”
The more gossip-savvy girl wagged her finger at her companion.
“Here, let me ask you: If you were Su Wanli, and your secret relationship got exposed—someone caught tons of your intimate moments on camera, so there’s no way to deny it—if you still wanted to keep the relationship hidden, what excuse would you use?”
“…Find a relationship that’s so close, nobody would think anything even if you acted intimate!”
“Exactly! That’s the truth behind all this! As I see it, Meng Huange never showed up before, and she’s got nothing to do with the Sujia. There’s no way they’re even distant relatives.”
“Good point! Let’s post an analysis thread on the forum—maybe it’ll go viral!”
As the two girls excitedly pulled out their phones to open the School Forum, a stern female voice sounded behind them.
“…You two, what are you talking about just now?”
“Ah!”
They quickly looked up to see a female teacher with dark circles under her eyes, a strict expression, and bloodshot eyes.
“…N-Nothing, good morning, teacher, goodbye!”
Watching the two girls run off like startled rabbits, Liu Xiaohua habitually scratched her Sun Acupoint and frowned.
…Weird? Why’d they run off? Am I that scary-looking? I thought I was one of the most approachable teachers in Baiying Academy…
But, the rumors about Su Wanli and Meng Huange really have gotten out of hand.
Liu Xiaohua stroked her chin, quietly pondering the topic those two girls were discussing.
Admittedly, their conversation was filled with the kind of romantic fantasy unique to girls, but it’s true—Su Wanli and Meng Huange really aren’t relatives, right?
According to Meng Huange’s Transfer Record, she’s always lived in some nameless Small Town up north. She even went to an elementary school that was basically just a Fuli School. There’s no way someone from such a poor family could be a distant relative of the Sujia…
Which means, those two girls’ analysis isn’t wrong at all. There really might be a hidden relationship between Su Wanli and Meng Huange…
Heh, so that’s how it is. Only the power of love could make a princess like Su Wanli so enthusiastic about her studies!
Ah, true youth!
Liu Xiaohua grinned and straightened her posture, patting her own perfectly-prepared Opening Exam results, and strode confidently toward the Class Three, Year Two classroom.
Of course, Su Wanli and Meng Huange had no idea that someone had just made such bold guesses about their relationship. They simply entered their classroom as usual and took their seats.
After Su Wanli’s overwhelmingly dominant performance in the past two days, there were no longer any students in Class Three, Year Two who dared to gawk openly at Su Wanli and Meng Huange. Even after they entered, no one made a fuss; instead, everyone kept their heads down, pretending to fiddle with their phones or read.
Tsk, I almost forgot—I still have a score to settle…
Suddenly realizing something, Su Wanli glanced instinctively at the few seats in the front row, but they were already empty—not even a single book was left behind.
Hmph, a cowardly little brat—lucky for you that you ran fast, or I’d have given you an earful.
Su Wanli took her schoolbag back from Meng Huange and yawned quietly, planning to nap on her desk for a bit.
However, just as her arm touched the tabletop, a few urgent voices called out from behind.
“Boss! Miss Wanli, Boss—!”
…Huh? Who? Are they talking to me?
Su Wanli straightened up, looked back.
The three of her silly subordinates, Pinky, Big Potato, and Thunder, had their hands raised in front of them, using voices that seemed quiet, but could actually be heard by the whole class, shouting her name.
Tch, my presence is so low, I even forgot I had these three idiots as subordinates.
From the first day of school till now, they’ve never done anything useful. All they’ve done is cause me trouble.
Su Wanli glanced at Meng Huange and, seeing that she didn’t react much, turned back to her three useless minions and said in a low voice—
“What is it? If you have something to say, just spit it out. Don’t act so sneaky.”
“Well, it’s just…”
They glanced awkwardly at Meng Huange and then pointed at the back door of the classroom.
What? Are they trying to get me to leave Meng Huange behind?
That’s not a good idea, right? If Meng Huange misunderstands and thinks I’m up to something weird, my favorability rating is going to tank again…
But, if I let these fools think things over by themselves, it might just cause even more trouble down the line…
Su Wanli hesitated for a moment, but still stood up, waved at them, and strode out of the classroom ahead of the group.