Chapter 12: Eavesdropping

The tight black leather bustier traced out a stunning, seductive silhouette, with a black blazer draped carelessly over her shoulder.

Her ash-gray, shoulder-length hair curled in soft waves, the inner arcs of the waves brushing her temples and half-shielding the gleam in her eyes.

Gazing down at the scoundrel before her with cold, violet pupils, she looked upon him no differently than trash.

—She was, without a doubt, the supreme queen of this sinful city. 

So breathtaking that men would willingly kneel beneath her hemline, yet the only one she harbored an unhealthy possessiveness for was the girl in her arms.

Overwhelmingly domineering.

Any lowlife foolish enough to test her edge would suffer punishments worse than death.

“Whoa—”

Her stiletto heel crushed the thug’s skull with a sharp, brittle sound.

Her arm, like iron, clamped around Wu Xiaomi, denying the girl even the chance to flee.

“She. Is. Mine.” 

She lifted Wu Xiaomi’s face, reaffirming her claim. 

“I won’t repeat myself a third time.”

The outlaws who had surrounded Wu Xiaomi were visibly shaken by her aura.

What’s more, they recognized this terrifyingly dominant girl.

She was famous lately, after all.

“T-that’s Bai Xiaozhi,” one of them stumbled back, gulping. 

“One of the few lucky ones accepted into the Spirit Tamer Academy… main combatant of Zone D57… she’s strong! Way out of our league!”

“Retreat!”

They cast one last greedy glance at Wu Xiaomi but, ultimately unwilling to risk it, slipped away into the building.

“…”

Wu Xiaomi stared blankly at the girl before her.

Bai Xiaozhi???

“Sorry. I scared you, didn’t I?” 

Bai Xiaozhi leaned down, her voice a gentle whisper in Wu Xiaomi’s ear. 

“This place is dangerous. Please just go along with me for now…”

Still, she showed no sign of letting go—her grip around Wu Xiaomi remained tight and secure.

She was taller than Wu Xiaomi, and the contrast made Wu Xiaomi look like a canary cradled in the queen’s palm.

“When I used to wander with my brother, he was always getting into fights with thugs,” Bai Xiaozhi murmured. 

“He told me—when dealing with scum, you have to be meaner, tougher, and more ruthless than they are… These guys only bully the weak. But if you seem fiercer than them, they’ll back off.”

“So you… pretended to be like that?”

Bai Xiaozhi didn’t answer. 

She was already focused on the exchange list on the bulletin board.

Wu Xiaomi decided to check hers too.

There had originally been three options: [Supplies], and two locked entries marked [???].

Now, the second one was unlocked: [Raid Supplies].

There, Wu Xiaomi saw potions, currency from the continent of Nerrifa, common weapons, and Sequence Abilities ranging from levels 80 to 100.

Even though these were lower-tier Sequences, the prices were exorbitant—ranging from 1,000 to 30,000 Raid Points—far beyond the reach of average raiders.

Next to the [Raid Supplies] store, Wu Xiaomi spotted a roulette wheel.

[100 points per spin. Win a random item from the shop—including ones not yet unlocked in this stage.]

Ooh~ That looked fun!

She was just about to try it—

When a blonde girl not far away suddenly activated her public jewelry interface and blasted “Good Luck Is Coming” at full volume.

“Heh! With my god-tier luck, I’ll totally profit from this! C’mon, gimme—”

Ten seconds later.

The girl sat collapsed on the ground.

Five “Thank You for Playing” slips crumpled in her hand, her face blank with shock.

Five hundred points, gone in a blink.

If she hadn’t saved a handful of leftover points, she wouldn’t even have enough to buy food and water for the next three days.

“……”

Thanks to this unfortunate soul, Wu Xiaomi decided to think it over for a couple more days.

For now, she hoarded her points and only redeemed a dagger—one small enough to strap to her thigh bandage and draw quickly.

Bai Xiaozhi exchanged for two swords and stored them in her jewelry’s inventory.

—The jewelry had an item storage function. 

Rewards like the “Bountiful Umbrella” from defeating the Beast-Face tribe solo and the village chief’s payment were also stored inside her anklet.

Every time she needed to activate the jewelry’s functions, Wu Xiaomi wanted to complain.

Why could other people just use their hands, while she had to lift her left leg like a ballerina to reach hers?

So annoying!

“Let’s go.” 

Bai Xiaozhi tapped the exchange page with a delicate finger.

A white glow traced a shape on a nearby patch of land.

Moments later, a small house appeared, complete with lawn and fence.

It looked almost like a cozy little suburban villa.

The atmosphere was warm, comforting.

Bai Xiaozhi lifted her chin with regal pride, her slender arm locking Wu Xiaomi even tighter against her.

Oof. That grip kind of hurt…

It was a strange feeling—like being someone’s pet, held close by a leash.

Bai Xiaozhi’s edge was too sharp, too commanding.

No one dared to challenge her.

Pedestrians instinctively bowed their heads and stepped aside.

Her aura was overwhelming, yet her beauty made people unable to look away.

The masses felt an urge to kneel before her, to grovel at her feet just for the chance to glimpse her face…

Dangerous and alluring.

“Clang—”

The gate to the small courtyard slammed shut and locked from the inside.

Only when Bai Xiaozhi and Wu Xiaomi disappeared from view did the crowd finally exhale in relief.

Though… there was a tinge of lingering regret in their eyes.

It felt like witnessing a pure princess being stolen away by a wickedly beautiful dragon and hidden inside a castle…

For a moment, no one knew whether to be worried for the princess, jealous of the dragon, or just start shipping them as a couple.

“Hoo—”

Once the iron gate shut behind them, Bai Xiaozhi’s aura softened slightly.

At least Wu Xiaomi wasn’t trembling in fear anymore.

“You’re my brother’s friend. Until you’re safe, I’ll protect you.”

Bai Xiaozhi gently brushed back Wu Xiaomi’s hair.

The difference between how she treated outsiders and how she treated Wu Xiaomi was like night and day.

One side was an icy mountain. 

The other, a hot spring.

Wu Xiaomi didn’t quite understand—

Brushing hair, caressing cheeks, licking her chin…

Were these normal gestures between girls?

She really wasn’t sure.

She’d heard that close female friends often got handsy in a carefree way.

Well… at least it was better than guys slapping each other’s butts or doing “thousand-year death” pranks, right?

So… this should be normal?

If she overreacted, would she just seem overly dramatic…?

Besides, the girl had just saved her.

“A-actually, your brother asked me to look after you, not the other way around…”

Not knowing how to talk to a “normal” girl, Wu Xiaomi fumbled nervously.

“I think… I’m a little bit older than you?”

“You silly thing, I’m all better now.”

Bai Xiaozhi tilted her head with an indulgent smile.

“And if I’m better, then I don’t need looking after anymore~”

“But…” 

Something about all this still felt really off.

It was like their roles had reversed.

She was supposed to be the older, more reliable one—but now she was the weakling.

Ugh. This was so uncomfortable!

She had to toughen up!

Be Tough!

“Bar.”

Right as she gathered her resolve, Bai Xiaozhi’s hand landed on her head.

Sprawled out lazily on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, Bai Xiaozhi squinted her eyes.

“Go take a bath. I got a bathtub ready for you.”

“A bathtub?!”

The kind of luxury only found in high-end hotels or well-off homes?!

And it could be redeemed just like that?!

To the penniless Wu Xiaomi, it was like a long-lost dream come true!

“Waaah! It’s huge!”

She squealed and ran over to the tub, caressing the smooth porcelain surface with stars in her eyes.

It was practically a mini swimming pool!

Hot water poured in at a rapid pace, though its source remained a mystery.

In no time, white steam floated gently over the surface.

After everything she’d been through today, soaking in a warm bath was pure heaven.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

Without hesitation, she stripped and dipped her toes into the water—

A bit hot. 

Her toes flinched like they’d been shocked.

But tolerable~

“Ahh—”

Her pale skin slowly slipped beneath the surface. 

The soothing heat left her whole body tingling with relief, almost making her moan out loud.

Every nerve in her body unwound completely.

—I’m not getting out until the water gets cold!

Half an hour later.

“…”

Bai Xiaozhi stared blankly at the “corpse” floating in the tub.

Poke.

No response.

This was why people with weak constitution shouldn’t bathe for too long in hot water.

They’d end up like frogs boiled slowly—passed out before they even noticed.

Sighing, Bai Xiaozhi had no choice but to carry the girl out herself.

“Mmmf…” 

Wu Xiaomi smacked her lips, cheeks flushed from the heat, mumbling nonsense in her sleep.

Bai Xiaozhi couldn’t help but chuckle.

She dried the girl off, tucked her into the soft bed, and pulled the covers over her.

Then she lay beside her, watching Wu Xiaomi sleep with a gentle smile.

She was fast asleep.

“Jie… you know…”

In the darkened room, with the lights off, Bai Xiaozhi whispered softly—

“Actually… I have a secret.”

A secret she hadn’t even told Wu Xiaomi.

In the silence of the bedroom, Wu Xiaomi’s chest rose and fell in rhythm—

Completely unaware of the heartbeat pulsing right beside her.

Bai Xiaozhi’s heart was racing.

No matter how handsome or charming the boys at school had been—

She had never once felt this way.

At one point, she’d assumed she was just naturally indifferent.

But the moment she awoke from her sickbed, and saw that girl standing before her—

Her heart had leapt wildly, filled with color and anticipation.

That same day, the meteor had come crashing down.

It was the end of the world…

Yet in Bai Xiaozhi’s world, the sky had cleared.

She finally understood what made her different from other girls all along.

“Actually, I—”

She didn’t notice that, on the bed beside her, Wu Xiaomi had quietly stopped breathing.

She had secretly woken up.