Tap tap, tap tap.
The homeroom teacher’s footsteps drew nearer, and her deskmate’s little heart skipped into her throat.
At the very last moment, Bai Xia’s hands flew over the desk. Somehow, the small booklet she had been reading just moments ago disappeared, and her English textbook was neatly placed on the table instead.
The homeroom teacher glanced over, nodded in satisfaction, thinking that although this transfer student often took leave, her focus in class was still commendable.
Once the homeroom teacher walked away, her deskmate immediately leaned over.
“Bai Xia, that move you pulled just now—handling that so calmly… it was amazing!”
She had clearly been looking at a booklet unrelated to class, but in the final second before the teacher entered her line of sight, she switched at lightning speed.
Although no one understood exactly how she managed it, there was no doubt it was incredibly skillful.
Bai Xia curled the corners of her lips.
“I’m always calm.”
Except when it comes to Bai Xiaoya.
Without Bai Xiaoya around in the high school division, there was no emotional outburst, no mindless rambling, only cold precision as sharp as a surgical knife!
She took out a few books she had been reading recently: Magician’s Techniques Collection, King of Gamblers, and I Am a Little Locksmith.
All about learning technical skills.
Her deskmate glanced at them, puzzled.
“Bai Xia, do you read these every day?”
“Just building some technical reserves,” Bai Xia said coolly, “It’s better to have skills ready when needed than to be caught empty-handed.”
Although she didn’t fully understand, her deskmate felt that made some sense.
“By the way, have you ever heard of Xinglong Group?”
“Huh?”
The topic jumped suddenly, but her deskmate answered seriously, “You mean Xinglong International? The local company here in Baiyuan City.”
After all, this was the first time Bai Xia had taken the initiative to speak to her.
“Right, that’s the one.”
“Xinglong International… I don’t really know much about it, but I’ve heard some rumors before…”
***
The nurse’s office teacher once again helped Bai Xiaoya out of trouble.
The diagnosis was clear—Su Qingyu was not injured at all, just physically weak and needed rest and some glucose.
But why Bai Xiaoya had carried her out of the same shower stall was inexplicable.
I mean, two girls bathing together, and the smaller one suddenly collapses—that just doesn’t make sense.
Anyway, Bai Xiaoya shrank back, took leave, and hid in her dorm to sleep, avoiding the strange looks from classmates in the classroom.
“Why did this happen?”
The big-chested girl pulled back the covers and sighed heavily, staring at the ceiling.
“Baby,” she murmured to the empty air, “you really are light as a feather, fall over with a single push, fast as lightning, mysteriously confident, yet clumsy and playful.”
If only that last judgment had been added during the mission, maybe she could have triggered the Intermediate Prize Pool twice.
I barely moved, sister, I really barely moved.
That day, Bai Xiaoya’s mood was complicated, but even more so was Su Qingyu lying in the nurse’s office.
Many people had come to visit her recently.
Classmates brought flowers and fruit, as well as Children’s Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium and Vitamin Oral Liquid—the blue bottle, for supplements.
Her roommates were furious, accusing Bai Xiaoya of being a troublemaker, recklessly using her big chest to bump into people everywhere.
Eventually, the homeroom teacher came by, peeled an apple for her, and spoke earnestly—maybe she should reconsider whether to be a boarder or attend school as a day student?
“Why did this happen?”
Su Qingyu stared at the ceiling, whispering.
Her murmur was even softer than Bai Xiaoya’s, barely audible, even to herself.
But someone was listening.
[Due to mission failure, Host will enter Cooldown Penalty Mode. Missions cannot be triggered for seven days. Note: Cooldown isn’t a bad thing. It helps you put aside impatience and calmly analyze the reasons for failure. Pluck a delicate flower—you don’t have to use another flower, for example—do you not have hands? Or something more flexible?]
Su Qingyu bit her lip.
She was right—how could she forget what she was best at?
Now, the hidden hero would remain concealed until the Summer Tournament.
Luckily, the off-season was only seven days.
Next time, she would definitely show her true strength!
Su Qingyu took leave early and left school to enjoy the weekend.
Before leaving, she even borrowed some instruments from the Art Academy.
There was no good reason, but who could refuse a pitiful golden-haired loli?
Bai Xiaoya received a message: Su Qingyu said Saturday’s action would proceed as usual, no impact.
Emmmmm.
Her slender fingers tapped tentatively on the phone screen, trying to write a message—
[Actually, you did pretty well. I had a feeling at the time, just a bit short…]
Too blunt, and maybe not comforting enough.
Deleted, rewrote—
[Speed is key. Quick is cute too.]
No, that was just adding fuel to the fire.
Delete again.
[See, I told you to give up, but you insisted. Sigh.]
I.told.you.so.
Classic American movie line, too foreign, she might misunderstand it as shifting blame.
Better not.
After thinking for a while, Bai Xiaoya finally sent two words: [Keep it up.]
A thousand words of encouragement couldn’t match a single phrase.
Everything was left unsaid.
Beep beep beep. Su Qingyu replied instantly: [Waiting for you next time! Hmph!]
“…”
Why so fierce?
I wasn’t mocking you.
Bai Xiaoya put away her phone and sighed at the state of the world.
Only someone as encouraging as herself was a good girl.
Enough, it was the weekend.
Time to go home.
She still had many small questions to ask Bai Xia.
***
As usual, Li Butler arrived promptly after the fourth period on Friday to pick her up at the school gate.
Bai Xia got into the back seat, motioning for him to drive.
Halfway along the road, the girl asked casually, “Does our family have business dealings with Xinglong International?”
“Xinglong International? Probably. The Bai Family cooperates with most local businesses in Baiyuan City,” Li Butler replied.
“Mr. Bai once said, a tall tree needs fertile soil to grow stronger.”
Bai Xia nodded slightly.
It seemed their dealings were shallow—normal commercial exchanges, but not true partnerships.
“Second Miss,” Li Butler suddenly lowered his voice, “do they have any contact with the eldest miss?”
Bai Xia was slightly taken aback, suddenly recalling that they still thought she was opposing Bai Xiaoya.
They were opposing—just not in a sharp way… at most, needle to seam.
“No contact. Just heard some classmates mention it, so I was casually asking.”
“I see.”
The rest of the trip was silent as Li Butler quietly drove the car into the Bai Family garage.
Bai Xia stepped out and was just walking to the courtyard gate when her phone vibrated in her pocket.
Buzz buzz buzz.
Taking it out, she saw a new message.
[Nickname: White-haired Big-breasted Girl: Come upstairs first, I have something to ask you.]
The girl looked up and sure enough saw a pair of familiar big white rabbits sprawled on the balcony, scowling at her like an interrogation.
“…”