Chapter 293: Nemesis? Best Friend? Or..?

“…Yawn.”

And she said we’d spend a wonderful day together.

Yet here we are, simply heading back to school for class like normal!

Inside the pink-and-purple Maybach cruising steadily along the highway, Su Wanli rubbed her slightly throbbing forehead with a finger and silently complained to herself.

To be fair, she had genuinely enjoyed herself yesterday.

Whether it was making a bracelet with Meng Wange that wasn’t particularly pretty, squeezing through crowded stalls to sample all sorts of bizarre local snacks, watching the magnificent fireworks beneath the matchmaking tree, or sitting beside a campfire on the beach and grilling meat while gazing up at the same star-filled sky together—

Every moment had been so beautiful that it felt unreal, like a dream.

…

The price, however, was obvious.

This morning, she had barely crawled out of her warm sleeping bag and finished watching the sunrise with Meng Wange before a driver appeared at their tent.

“Miss Su, the tent and everything else will be collected later. For now, please gather your school essentials and get into the car with Miss Meng Wange.”

“If we leave now, we can still get both of you back to Baiying Academy before the first bell.”

The moment she heard that news, Su Wanli nearly lost the will to live.

…Well.

Fair enough.

No matter what happened, she and Meng Wange were still, at least on paper, two perfectly ordinary high school girls who needed to attend class and maintain attendance records.

A Monday morning meant returning obediently to school.

Returning to that familiar classroom.

Returning to five consecutive days of imprisonment.

Staring out the window at the magnificent coastline rushing past, Su Wanli found herself completely unable to appreciate the scenery.

She let out a long sigh before turning her attention to the brown-haired girl sitting beside her.

Meng Wange had already changed back into her Baiying Academy uniform.

However, unlike her usual impeccably neat appearance, the collar of her shirt was slightly open, and her tie hung a little loose. She lounged comfortably against her seat, carrying an air of lazy relaxation.

One hand rested on her knee, lightly tapping an unknown rhythm.

The other supported her chin as she quietly gazed out the window.

The morning sunlight filtered through the glass, painting a warm streak of gold across her soft chestnut hair.

…Wow.

She’s really beautiful.

Even though she had already thought this countless times before, Su Wanli couldn’t stop herself from silently admiring her.

As though sensing her gaze, Meng Wange turned her head.

Her clear, tranquil eyes curved into crescent moons as she offered Su Wanli a bright smile.

“What is it, Miss Su? Is there something you’d like to say to me?”

“…”

This girl…

Wasn’t she acting just a little more enthusiastic than usual?

Looking at that familiar smile—which somehow felt slightly different than before—Su Wanli’s heart skipped a beat.

She hurriedly looked away and pretended to focus on the scenery outside.

“…Nothing. I was just looking at the view on your side.”

“I see. Would you like to switch seats with me? My side faces the ocean, so the scenery is a little better.”

“…No thanks. I’ve already seen enough. It’s just a coastline. After these past two days, I’m already tired of looking at it.”

Su Wanli casually waved her hand before sinking heavily into the backrest and closing her eyes.

Heh.

Looks like all the effort I’ve put in recently has actually paid off.

After all, if Meng Wange had become more affectionate toward her, then surely that meant their relationship was growing closer.

Thinking back, the way they interacted now was completely different from how things had been in the beginning.

Back then, Meng Wange had always maintained a polite, courteous distance.

Every action was measured.

Every word carefully controlled.

But recently…

She could naturally hold Su Wanli’s hand.

Naturally hug her.

And even…

Well.

Other intimate things.

If that was the case, then what exactly was their relationship now?

Su Wanli frowned thoughtfully.

A simple master-and-servant relationship felt far too cold.

But beyond that…

What were they?

Fated rivals?

Close friends in some strange sense?

Or perhaps…

As she pondered, Li Yunsheng’s teasing words from yesterday suddenly echoed in her ears.

“Actually, were you planning to bring your little sweetheart here to make a wish before the fireworks started?”

…

Little sweetheart!?

“Pff—cough, cough!”

Su Wanli nearly choked on her own saliva and instinctively grabbed the shoulder of the person beside her.

W-Wait.

Had their relationship already appeared that close in the eyes of someone who had barely met them a few times?

That wouldn’t do!

If people saw them that way, then wouldn’t that make her…

Meng Wange’s…

Rumored girlfriend or something?

Heh.

Hehehe…

A strange sense of delight bubbled up from deep within her chest.

Without realizing it, the corners of her lips curved upward.

“What is it, Miss Su?”

Apparently misunderstanding her reaction, Meng Wange shifted slightly closer.

“Would you like to borrow my shoulder?”

She relaxed her posture and presented a perfectly convenient shoulder for Su Wanli to lean against.

“…Huh? As if I’d need that!”

“The car just bumped a little. I lost my balance for a second, that’s all…”

Hearing this, the driver in the front seat quietly adjusted his sunglasses and lowered the car’s speed by another notch.

Su Wanli noticed none of it.

Instead, she gently rubbed her temples and continued her train of thought.

Little sweetheart.

Girlfriend.

Romantic partner.

Really?

Did she and Meng Wange genuinely give people that impression when they stood together?

Well…

At the end of the day, that was only how outsiders saw them.

The truly important question was—

What did Meng Wange think?

Their relationship had undoubtedly improved.

But in Meng Wange’s heart, was Su Wanli merely a dependable master?

A trusted friend?

Or…

Something more special?

Quietly, Su Wanli lifted her head and looked toward Meng Wange’s profile as the girl rested with her eyes closed.

…The system hasn’t assigned any new missions lately.

So while I still have some free time…

I need to figure this out.