Chapter 135: Two-Way Trip and Punishment

“Did they have a falling out? Did the wife get dumped?”

“With Xiao Xi’s personality, she’s too soft to the people around her. Once Lao Lin goes to apologize, it’ll all be fine.”

“I saw a fanfic on Moubao yesterday, where the transmigrated male lead took Xiao Xi away during the team battle.”

“Hey, what are you talking about up there???”

“There’s already fanfic? Hurry up and show me!”

Aili’s lips curled up as she finished painting the last of Yun Ruoxi’s little toes with pink nail polish. She cradled Yun Ruoxi’s feet in her hands and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her foot.

The moist sensation startled Yun Ruoxi, and she reflexively pulled her legs back.

“Xiao Ai, what are you doing?” she chided.

“Big Sis’s feet are so pretty! With nail polish, they look just like a work of art.” Aili grinned.

“But Big Sis, they haven’t come over.”

“Let them be. If they don’t want to come, then don’t come.”

Yun Ruoxi turned her head away.

She hadn’t expected that after dressing up so prettily, Lin Zhen and the others could actually resist coming over.

But so be it. It just meant there’d be fewer shots of her.

“A tsundere Big Sis is pretty cute too. If you want to go over, then let’s go together,” Aili said, flopping back beside Yun Ruoxi.

“I never said I wanted to go.”

Although that’s what Yun Ruoxi said, deep down, she did want to go.

But not for herself—she wanted to go for Aili’s sake.

She already had 680,000 popularity.

A little more or a little less didn’t matter to her, but for Aili, these appearances were a chance to boost her presence.

“Really?” Aili climbed onto Yun Ruoxi’s chair, staring into her eyes.

“Really.”

Yun Ruoxi turned her head aside.

“Big Sis is lying!” Aili flopped back down.

Without the camera on her, Yun Ruoxi wasn’t willing to put on her ultimate acting skills for Aili.

So she wasn’t surprised that Aili could see right through her.

After all, two years together.

Even a blade of grass would grow some feelings.

Not to mention, they were part of the main cast—each with their own charm, spending time together and helping each other out.

So, even if Yun Ruoxi still claimed in private—at least to the system—that Lin Zhen and the others were just tools to boost her popularity,

She was well aware in her heart that she already saw them all as true friends.

Seeing that they really hadn’t come to find her, even knowing Lin Zhen was feeling guilty, she couldn’t help feeling a bit unhappy inside.

And this trace of unhappiness was keenly picked up by Aili.

Tap tap!

Aili suddenly jumped off the beach chair and started folding it with a sigh.

“Xiao Ai, what are you doing?” Yun Ruoxi asked.

“Going to find Brother Zhen and the others.”

Aili said helplessly, “Since Big Sis is too timid to go, I’ll be the little sister and take the initiative for you.”

“Even though I don’t really like Brother Zhen, compared to my irrelevant dislike, I’d much rather see you happy, Big Sis!”

Xiao Ai, you…

Hearing this, Yun Ruoxi was genuinely touched.

She always considered Aili in ways that fit her own plans, but Aili, on the other hand, always put her first.

Maybe it’s this kind of mutual effort.

That’s why their relationship had grown into something even closer than real sisters.

“Hurry up, Big Sis!”

Aili tugged down her lower eyelids, making a funny face at Yun Ruoxi.

“And now that you have Brother Zhen, you can’t ignore me!”

“How could I!” Yun Ruoxi shook her head with a smile.

So, not long after—

Lin Zhen and Anvil, who were on the beach playing volleyball at a level that could kill a man, saw two little dumplings—one in blue, one in yellow—walking over hand in hand.

“What brings you two here?”

Though he said “you two,” Lin Zhen’s eyes were on Yun Ruoxi the whole time.

Yun Ruoxi pouted. “It’s Xiao Ai who insisted on bringing me. And what happened last time, it was only that once.”

As she spoke, she waved her joined fingers.

Behind her, two beach chairs and a sun umbrella floated over, one by one landing beside Zi Jiu.

Yun Ruoxi led Aili past Lin Zhen.

At that moment, the boy responded softly, “I promise, there won’t be a next time.”

As the sunlight fell, their shadows overlapped, with only their faces visible to the left and right.

Yun Ruoxi’s lips unconsciously curled up, and Lin Zhen’s eyes were filled with a smile.

“So sweet!”

“Lao Xi is too soft. Just forgave him like that, sigh.”

“Completely tamed by Lao Xi!”

“I think Lao Xi is cuter when she’s stubborn.”

“Hey in front, tsunderes are out of fashion now, watch out—Zi Jiu might just sneak off with Lao Xi’s whole family.”

“Xiao Ai: Yes, yes, yes! I was the one who insisted on bringing Big Sis to find her little boyfriend.”

The two days spent vacationing in the picturesque resort area were perhaps the happiest and most relaxing since any of the trainees had arrived at the training camp.

For some who came from poor backgrounds, it was even the best two days of their lives.

But happy times always come to an end.

***

In the early hours two days later, all trainees were woken from their dreams and, under the instructors’ watch, loaded onto a ship back to Pandora-3.

No one expected that on their first day back at camp, what awaited them wasn’t even tougher training—

But a long-awaited assembly in the plaza.

And the mood was… off.

Outside the diamond-shaped base, the trainees lined up in formation.

Instructor Behemoth stood at the front, his face like a winter storm. His eyes, as big as bronze bells, swept over everyone with an icy glare.

He didn’t say a word, and none of the trainees dared to move an inch.

What’s going on? Did someone anger him? Or is there an even harsher challenge coming?

Aside from Lin Zhen, who felt an increasingly ominous premonition, the others were all anxious and confused.

The cold wind howled through the night, tossing the hair of the gathered boys and girls.

After a long silence, Behemoth finally spoke—and his first words dropped like a bomb.

“I…I’m very disappointed in you. Truly disappointed.”

“The camp has fed you, clothed you, given you precious knowledge to advance, granted you the awakening opportunities countless people dream of—things you’d never have touched in your entire lives.”

“And yet some among you don’t know how to be grateful.”

“During the team battle, six trainees tried to use the chaos as a chance to steal a ship and escape the camp.”

Someone tried to run away?

Were they caught?

Not everyone was a leader; many had no idea anyone was bold enough to attempt an escape.

“Of course, they were all brought back.”

Instructor Behemoth clapped his hands lightly.

Six trainees, bound with shackles on their hands and feet, were herded up the stairs by soldiers like zombies.

Their eyes were lifeless, their mouths sealed with iron masks—only their nostrils left open for breathing.

“And we’ve given them a little punishment.”