“Lord Monrose, the attitude of Shengling Academy has always been tough. Not only did Principal Ting personally step in, but even Director Sui Jun from the Security Department was called out. Of course, I’ve been guarding near Gui Xuefeng the whole time, if I don’t complete the mission, I absolutely won’t leave!”
Listening to the words of loyalty from his subordinate on the phone, Monrose’s expression didn’t change at all. He just responded with a brief “I see,” then hung up.
“Continue,” he said to the person in front of him.
The other party was one of the liaisons from the Original Valley Research Institute, here to report on the progress of some experiments, especially since there had recently been some special developments and findings.
“We’ve successfully sent Spirit Power Users over to that world—First Rank and Second Rank, both. But everyone who returned said that their spirit power is useless over there. Other than their consciousness remaining clear, in every other way they’re no different from those lifeless locals.”
Upon hearing this, Monrose lowered his head in deep thought.
“If that’s the price of crossing over…”
“But that’s not all, Lord Sari-er,” the liaison forced himself to continue, “In subsequent experiments, our people were attacked on the other side. The one who suffered the most serious injuries returned completely insane.”
“Insane? What exactly happened?” Monrose’s frown deepened. “Did you get anyone to take a look?”
“If you mean a Doctor, we did. It’s not a problem with the brain or nervous system,” the liaison replied.
“It’s as if someone lost both legs and couldn’t walk anymore. The symptoms are similar, but in this case the injury is to the soul.”
This analogy was made by the head experiment manager at the Research Institute.
Monrose fell silent.
“So, it was indeed an attack on our people at the border. Also, increase the number of personnel chosen to be sent over there.”
After a peaceful weekend, the gentle and slightly awkward afternoon arrived. A girl wearing a crisp school shirt and a checkered skirt stood at her girlfriend’s dorm room door, taking a quiet breath.
Shen Ning had originally wanted to do as she always did, come over close to dinnertime. But today, Sexual Repression suddenly asserted itself, saying, “This time she didn’t say she’d treat you to dinner.”
Shen Ning knew Xu Chuyao’s personality well, besides being pretty and tall, she’s also extremely sincere and straightforward. If she didn’t say she’d treat you to dinner, then she definitely hadn’t prepared any food for you.
So, after the lunch break, Shen Ning slung her bag over her shoulder and came over without delay.
“So, you’ve come, but you better be on guard,” Sexually Repressed Shadow whispered, “Last time Xu Chuyao invited you, she held an unboxing event on the spot. Now she’s invited you again, but isn’t offering food. Who knows what trick she has up her sleeve?”
Broken Shadow: “Maybe Xu Chuyao just wants to invite her over for fun…”
“Would you even believe that yourself?”
Broken Shadow fell silent.
Shen Ning didn’t say anything. She felt that, well, Sexual Repression had a point, and while Xu Chuyao was indeed a bit more straightforward than mischievous, it shouldn’t be necessary to be so cautious just for a visit to her girlfriend’s dorm.
She raised her hand to knock on the door, feeling a bit silly.
“Here to see you!”
The door opened from inside, and her girlfriend’s cute face appeared in the doorway. Maybe because she ran over, the bunny ears on her headband wobbled a few times, as if greeting her.
Such a friendly start.
Shen Ning walked into the room happily, catching sight out of the corner of her eye of Xu Chuyao’s roommate sitting at her desk, looking like she wanted to speak but kept hesitating—a look of conflicted loyalty.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“It’s nothing,” Xu Chuyao glanced at her, lowering her voice, “She’s always like this, just got confused from her nap. She’ll be fine when Feixue wakes her up.”
Is that so? Then just let it be.
Shen Ning was arranged to sit down and given some tea. To be honest, it was just some tea bags bought at the convenience store, with a bit of milk added, nothing particularly special. But since it was made by her girlfriend’s own hands, it had a unique sweetness.
After a few sips of afternoon tea, Shen Ning couldn’t help but marvel at how attentive her girlfriend was, seeing the snacks arranged on the table.
Who says she didn’t prepare anything? Isn’t a light snack enough for the afternoon? Looks like Sexual Repression was wrong this time.
Just as she was thinking this, she saw Xu Chuyao take out a package, skillfully opening it to reveal a limited-edition fairy wand.
“Look, Shen Ning, I bought another one! This time it’s a different version!”
Xu Chuyao proudly held up the fairy wand, showing it off for a while, then fiddled with the packaging, “But… why aren’t you reacting?”
Only 50 Counter Villain Value? What a stingy reward.
“I am reacting, but…” Shen Ning looked at her calmly, “You already used this trick last time.”
Sexually Repressed Shadow added, “She used this last time, and now again. Not even trying to think of something new, Xu Chuyao must be treating you as an easy target.”
But was Shen Ning an easy target? Definitely not, so of course she showed no reaction.
“Come on, just because you ate it yesterday, doesn’t mean you won’t eat it today,” Xu Chuyao huffed, putting away the fairy wand and taking out another package.
“Look! I bought photos of lots of other girls!”
Shen Ning tilted her head. “Who are they?”
“Photos of the Moe Girl Group!”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
Nothing unusual about that—Shen Ning had been taken to concerts since she was little, so she thought it was perfectly normal.
Seeing all her well-prepared tricks fail to elicit a reaction—only earning a total of 50 Counter Villain Value—Xu Chuyao was furious, putting everything away with a pout, cheeks puffed out, looking at her white-haired girlfriend.
“If you don’t react to this, and that doesn’t work either, then why did you even come over?!”
Emmmm, wasn’t it you who asked me to come?
Shen Ning thought this, but didn’t say it, feeling that this was a good opportunity to express her own demands.
“That’s right, a good opportunity,” Sexually Repressed Shadow prompted her, “Even if you don’t know the reason, right now Xu Chuyao has the upper hand in momentum. Strike while the iron is hot, take the initiative and go for it!”
Although that was the advice, Shen Ning just sat politely and said:
“I came today to negotiate some terms with you.”
“Eh?”
“I hope you don’t ‘zap’ me today.”
Xu Chuyao was amazed. “Why do you say that… Even if you say not to zap you, why should I agree to your terms if you don’t let me set any of my own?”
She laughed playfully, “You won’t let me ‘zap’ you, so what, am I supposed to just lie here and wait for you to choose?”
She was just saying it offhand, but didn’t expect Shen Ning to nod without hesitation: “Alright, you can set your own condition too.”
Now it was Xu Chuyao’s turn to be surprised. “I can make my own request? Then if I don’t want to swap, will you just go home hungry?”
She considered this but quickly realized it wouldn’t work. Sure, it’d be easier for her, but the real issue wouldn’t be solved, no Counter Villain Value gained.
“I’ve decided,” after glancing at the fairy wand she had just thrown aside, she made up her mind, “My condition is: you have to sit right there and watch, no moving, for ten minutes, no, five minutes.”
Beautiful, kind, and considerate Xu Chuyao was worried her girlfriend would get bored if it went too long.
Shen Ning didn’t really care what the request was, since she was the one who had come to negotiate, as long as the terms were acceptable, that was fine.
Just sitting for five minutes? No problem at all.
“Alright, get ready,” Xu Chuyao found a comfortable position to sit, grabbing today’s new fairy wand, “Mi Xiaolu, come help with the timer!”
“Alright, I’m on it!”
Mi Xiaolu hadn’t expected to be dragged into this, but climbed off the bed and took out his phone: “Okay, one, two, three, start!”
In fact, the moment Xu Chuyao picked up the fairy wand, Shen Ning sensed something was off. Her skin tingled, but before she could say anything, the timer had started. Her girlfriend raised high the Gungnir-like wand, symbol of destiny and brought it down fiercely.
No way!
“Wait, why are you being so dramatic?” Xu Chuyao paused the motion at Shen Ning’s mouth, seeing the look of outrage in her eyes, then squinted mischievously, “I’m just making a show of it.”
One glance at the Counter Villain Value: eight hundred!
Shen Ning almost jumped up from her seat, but Gravel Reflection reminded her: If you get up now, the deal is off, and today’s mission fails. Sexual Repression thought Gravel Reflection was just being mischievous, refusing to let Xu Chuyao win so easily.
Regardless, Shen Ning’s body stayed put, but she couldn’t help complaining: “Don’t act out such dangerous moves!”
“It’s not dangerous,” Xu Chuyao waved the wand again, “See? It’s soft.”
I’ll show you soft!
[Counter Villain Value 41000]
Seeing the number rise, Xu Chuyao immediately put down the wand, waited for her girlfriend’s emotions to settle, then raised it again.
“I come, I go, I thrust in, I pull out, does that bother you or not!”
“I can’t take it anymore, seriously, the mission can be completed anytime, but today, just get her sorted out first!” Sexually Repressed Shadow roared.
“No way! We’re already at this stage. If you stop halfway, everything so far is wasted,” Gravel Reflection said earnestly, “If you don’t stick to the rules today, Xu Chuyao won’t agree to any future deals, and the mission can’t be done anymore!”
Gravel Reflection fished out a fluffy stuffed lotus pillow from beneath the short skirt, threw it into the air and sniffed: “Frankly, you’re too soft.”
“Stop causing trouble!”
Shen Ning’s head was a mess, with all sorts of voices representing conflicting opinions shouting out different viewpoints.
As the only one present who was actually doing her job as timer, Mi Xiaolu felt totally lost.
What on earth are you all doing? My Big Thunder roommate is busy, Xu Chuyao is busy, what kind of performance art is this? Are you going to finish this or not?
Shen Ning, what are you doing? Why are you humming? Is there a deep meaning I’m missing?
Are you even human?
At that moment, the phone rang—Mi Xiaolu instinctively announced:
“Five minutes are up!”
As soon as he finished, Shen Ning sprang up, pouncing toward her Big Thunder roommate, her white hair flying like a returning killer queen.
Xu Chuyao immediately tossed aside the wand and dove under her little blanket.
“What are you doing! I already kept my promise, so what are you doing… ahhh!”
There was no one left in the world.