She said she wanted to seek Li Siqi’s support, but the problem was, the timing of her return to the port just so happened to coincide with the very morning that Li Siqi and Lin Xue’er had arranged to have a quarrel!
So, when she met Li Siqi’s gaze, Xia Mengxi suddenly found herself at a loss for words, not knowing how to begin.
[Clang! Since you’re clueless, let this God lend you a hand.]
The text from God?
The timing of God’s appearance was simply perfect! She really had no idea how to get along with Li Siqi just now.
As time seemed to freeze in that moment, Xia Mengxi couldn’t help but smile in relief, though beneath her happiness was a thread of worry. After all, God was a whimsical being who wouldn’t always help her thoroughly or unconditionally.
Fortunately, this time the options were very normal, and they made perfect sense.
[Activity Option A: Explain to Li Siqi that your cold attitude over the past two days is entirely because Lin Xue’er is not a normal person.]
Escaped\nNewlines\tTabsAnd\BackslashesForTestingChoose this option to receive a silver bee-shaped hairpin.
[Activity Option B: Tell Li Siqi that you’ve been persecuted by Lin Xue’er, and ask her for help.]
Escaped\nNewlines\tTabsAnd\BackslashesForTestingChoosing this option will trigger conflict between Li Kaiqi and Lin Xue’er.
Just a glance at the options was enough for Xia Mengxi to make her decision immediately. She chose Option A.
Her reason was simple: based on her first time returning and interacting with Li Siqi, her impression was that Li Siqi was a rather impulsive person, so if she chose Option B, there was a high chance Li Siqi would do something reckless, even risking her own life.
If she was going to seek Li Siqi’s support, then she needed to be responsible for her fate as well.
After all, it wasn’t just about the sacrifice Li Siqi had made to help her last time, but also about mutual respect. If all she did was ask for help without giving back, she would only be resented.
“Sorry! Li Siqi, I didn’t mean to treat you so coldly these past few days! I… I actually have my reasons!”
“Reasons?”
Li Siqi looked at her in confusion, waiting for her explanation.
She subconsciously glanced over her shoulder, then turned back to the person in front of her and spoke slowly.
“Actually, the reason I’ve been deliberately avoiding you is because of her—my childhood friend, Lin Xue’er. She… she’s not a normal person!”
As she spoke, Xia Mengxi showed a genuinely pained expression—not to gain sympathy, but truly from the bottom of her heart.
“She’s extremely possessive. She thinks I belong to her, always watching over me, not allowing me to have too much contact with others. And her way of thinking is quite unusual. Invisibly, she’s been disturbing my life in all kinds of ways.”
After saying all this in one breath, Xia Mengxi felt as if she might faint from lack of oxygen, but she hadn’t finished yet.
So she pleaded silently for Li Siqi’s patience, hoping she could finish before Li Siqi reacted.
Thus, in a faltering manner, Xia Mengxi took quite some time to get her explanation out completely.
“I know, we’ve only met a few times, including today. Telling all this to someone who barely knows me must sound unbelievable. But! I… I really have no other way!”
“My Family, and my former Tongxue, they’ve all been fooled by her facade. If nothing unexpected happens, soon everyone in this Class will be deceived too.
But you, you’re different! You stand out, so… so I feel you’re my chance to break free from Lin Xue’er. That’s why I came to you for help.”
After Xia Mengxi finished her last sentence, a complex look flashed across Li Siqi’s clear eyes. She nodded slightly, signaling that she believed Xia Mengxi’s words.
“So, what do you want me to do to help you?”
She had known that Li Siqi was a good person, but when Li Siqi actually agreed to help her, Xia Mengxi still couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy.
“If possible, can I ask you to let me stay in the same Dormitory as you?”
“That’s it? Nothing else?”
Xia Mengxi nodded and said to the girl in front of her,
“I know you have no reason to help me, so I won’t ask for much. As long as you can let me share a Dormitory with you, and, if possible, allow me to stay near you from time to time, I promise I won’t invade your personal space.”
Seeing Xia Mengxi’s contented look, Li Siqi stepped forward, patted her head, and smiled gently.
“You could be a bit more demanding. After all, you’re the one asking for help, and I’ve agreed. Of course, I’ll protect you.”
It had to be said, Li Siqi really was a good person. The first time they met, she had been like this too. Even though they’d only met a handful of times, Li Siqi had been willing to risk her life to help her. Logically, Xia Mengxi shouldn’t drag someone like this into her troubles, but she longed so much for someone’s help that she decided not to ask for too much.
“Thank you so much for your kindness, but there’s really no need. From the moment you help me, you’ll become a target for her revenge, maybe even your Family will get involved…”
Thinking of how Li Siqi had been threatened before, Xia Mengxi couldn’t help but look at her with some guilt, and asked again,
“Actually, you can still change your mind now. Her methods really are beyond imagination… If you really insist on sharing a Dormitory with me, then…”
Noticing the hesitation in Xia Mengxi’s words, Li Siqi immediately cut her off a little angrily,
“If you want freedom and to break free from someone else’s shackles, you shouldn’t be so hesitant. Have you heard the saying: ‘If you hesitate, you will lose’? You need to get rid of that indecisive mindset. You can’t have both fish and bear’s paw—understand?”
Listening to Li Siqi’s words of wisdom, Xia Mengxi was momentarily dazed, then nodded, feeling relieved.
“Okay! I get it. But I want to earn my freedom with my own effort, so unless I really can’t handle it, I won’t trouble you.”
“All right.”
Li Siqi sighed helplessly, but when she looked at Xia Mengxi, there was a hint of approval in her eyes.
In her eyes, this seemingly fragile girl had chosen to face her problems head-on, seeking help wisely instead of running away, and that was already remarkable.
If only… her own little sister could be as brave as Xia Mengxi, maybe things wouldn’t have ended in tragedy.
“Right, Mengxi, this is for you.”
“Huh?”
Xia Mengxi looked curiously at the girl before her. Li Siqi took out a silver bee-shaped hairpin from her pocket and placed it in Xia Mengxi’s hand.
Isn’t this the prop from Activity Option A? So it really is Li Siqi giving it to her.
“This hairpin was a prize I got yesterday while shopping. It’s not worth much, but as a token reward, I think it’s quite nice. In a way, it represents a bit of luck, so I hope it’ll bring you some good fortune.”