Chapter 18: So Unhinged

When Yu Jing walked into that meeting room, she hadn’t expected both of her students to be such wildcards—one-liner queens who left the whole room speechless with just a sentence.

“Shen Ning,” she prompted gently as their homeroom teacher, “try thinking carefully. Anything you remember—no matter how small—is helpful.”

“I’m just being honest. They were only average Tier 1s—aggressive, sure, but not stronger than other students. If everyone had fought back during the ambush, it probably would’ve come down to who had more people.”

Shen Ning had almost added that fighting them felt about the same as sparring during gym class—but then she remembered that weakling Xiao Snow, and thought better of it.

Someone on the screen said:

“But you were alone at the time—completely outnumbered—and still achieved a flawless victory.”

“I… I’m different.”

And she was different. She’d opened a starter pack before going to the mall and was already at the peak of Tier 1. Most students weren’t even mid-tier yet.

Sitting to the side, Luo Kangsheng looked like he wanted to speak several times—probably to mention Shen Ning’s special circumstances—but the old principal subtly stopped him.

It didn’t matter what the researchers wanted. Ling Academy was Shen Ning’s guardian, and that meant she was one of their own. Now that their girl had proven herself, they had to protect her, no matter what.

“Alright, thank you for sharing, Shen Ning,” the man on the screen said. “In that case, let’s follow Ling Academy’s approach—restrict student outings and ensure their safety on campus.”

Others were about to agree when Xu Chuyao interjected:

“Not necessarily.”

Everyone turned to look at her again.

“It’s obvious that the organization behind the Spire graffiti controls more than just the Clown Gang. The gang might even be their weakest pawn. I don’t know what their goal is, but it’s probably not to cancel our school breaks.”

Just that one statement darkened the room again.

“Excellent insight, Xu Chuyao—and you too, Shen Ning. Thank you for your efforts,” the square-faced man said.

Yu Jing knew what that kind of comment meant: the real meeting was about to begin. Time for the students to leave.

So, she stood and politely escorted the girls out. Even she wasn’t qualified to stay for what came next.

As they walked out of the admin building, Xu Chuyao looked back, curled her lip, and muttered:

“Hmph, bunch of smooth talkers. Said they’d ‘take my analysis seriously,’ yet they kicked me out early. If they really respected it, they’d have let me stay.”

Yu Jing, still a bit tense, chuckled despite herself.

“If you keep being right, they might give you a seat at the table.”

The table.

“Tch. As if I’d want it by then.”

Only Shen Ning stayed quiet, walking in silence. She didn’t feel much about the whole meeting. It was like she’d gone through the motions, said a few things, and that was it.

As for the students who were killed in those attacks—well, same as yesterday: Their safety wasn’t my responsibility. She felt nothing.

Yu Jing dropped them off near the classroom building, telling them to return to their dorms when the next announcement came and not to wander off. Then she left for her own tasks.

Xu Chuyao stretched, yawned, then glanced at Shen Ning. Shen Ning glanced back.

“What are you staring at? Let’s go!” the thunder girl said righteously. “I’m not some map drawn on your back!”

“…”

—

Back in the admin building’s meeting room, Xu Chuyao’s last analysis was only briefly discussed before being set aside.

It wasn’t that they didn’t take her seriously—it just wasn’t the kind of topic they could solve here and now. The real solution would come from each city’s private think tank.

Right now, they were focused on another crucial issue:

“The Clown Gang—or more precisely, the group symbolized by that Spire graffiti—who are they? And what do they want?”

Excellent questions—just… not ones with easy answers.

“Exiled rebel factions?”

“Unaffiliated rogue spirit-wielders?”

“Could they be traitors hidden within the upper echelons?”

Everyone was tossing out guesses, but none of it was backed by solid analysis or evidence.

If Xu Chuyao were here, maybe she could offer something…
But then again, maybe not.
She hadn’t quite figured this part out yet.

She didn’t even have the “map”—how was she supposed to “spin” a proper theory?

Shen Ning’s mood lightened quickly—because as they walked, Xu Chuyao started humming again.

Her sweet voice, paired with an old pre-cataclysm pop song, was soothing and bright. The kind that lifted your spirits just hearing it.

But as they neared the dorms, Xu Chuyao suddenly stopped. Her humming cut off, her footsteps paused.

Shen Ning opened her mouth to ask what was wrong—only to look up and find the thunder girl smiling at her, cute and pretty, with that crafty little grin on her delicate face.

“So? Was it nice?” she asked sweetly.

A flash of memory—like a camera shutter—went off in Shen Ning’s mind. A strange flutter tickled her heart for no reason.

“…Not bad,” she said.

Xu Chuyao’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk.

“Aha, I get it! ‘Not bad’ means it was very good~”

Pfft. As if I wouldn’t understand your language by now.

Shen Ning didn’t argue. She wasn’t like Xu Chuyao—if someone guessed right, she didn’t bother denying it.

“You see, I’m pretty, well-endowed, super smart, sing well, my personality is… okay, not too bad—and did I mention I’m well-endowed?”

Xu Chuyao spun in a little circle, her dainty steps practically dancing. Her light skirt fluttered in the breeze, occasionally revealing the perfect contrast of white thigh-highs against soft skin.

It was a cute sight.

But… didn’t she repeat one of those “advantages”?

“So…” she leaned in with a playful yet teasing tone, “what do you think about me?”

Shen Ning answered instinctively:

“I think I wanna—”

“Huh?”

“…Nothing.”

Shen Ning rubbed her temples.

Ugh, damn that reflection, yelling ‘just do her’ nonstop—now my brain’s fried. Almost slipped up out loud…

Thankfully, she hadn’t said it clearly. Judging from Xu Chuyao’s wide-eyed innocent look, she probably didn’t hear.

“No, no, I definitely heard something. You just said… you want me to be your girlfriend, right? Sure! I agree!”

And with that, she twirled away, bouncing all the way back to the dorms.

“Don’t forget to bring me a gift tomorrow, okay? A present for your girlfriend~”

…What?

Shen Ning stood there in a daze.

Did she really just say yes?

“Wanna do you” and “want you as my girlfriend”—do those two things sound alike?

…Well, okay, maybe kind of. Same vibe, different delivery.

—

Meanwhile, in the girls’ dorms, Xu Chuyao walked in just ahead of her, patted her chest in relief, stuck out her tongue, and wore an expression of lingering fear.

“Jeez, that was terrifying. Suddenly saying you wanna do me’? I don’t even know what I did to deserve that.”

Come on—did they really think Xu Chuyao had hearing problems?

No way she didn’t hear exactly what was said.