“Did you see yesterday’s Lin City news? The brave adventurers made a new discovery in the Fourth Layer—they reportedly obtained a new spiritual item, and it’s said to be Fourth Tier.”
“I saw it, but I’m skeptical about that news. Usually, after the Brave Adventurer Group finishes an expedition, the ‘Great Hero’ speaks personally. This time, it was just a media statement. Could it mean the exploration of the Saint Ruins came at a great cost? Maybe there were casualties in the hero party.”
“Hiss, now that you say it, that actually makes a lot of sense.”
On the eve before class, Class 18 was idling at the back of the pack.
Compared to other classes filled with Awakened Ability Users busy studying and exchanging notes on their powers, Class 18 enjoyed relatively free and leisurely days, with plenty of time to gossip.
And just this morning, as students arrived at school, hushed conversations had already begun about the recent hot topic—the hero party’s expedition.
Amid this lively atmosphere, one figure in the classroom looked rather lonely.
It was none other than Su Qi, who had just received some heavy news through Tencent—Mo Yu had been injured.
Su Qi quietly listened to the animated chatter about the hero party while staring at the chat window where he was messaging Mo Yu.
His thoughts drifted back.
Two days ago, at the Adventurers’ Guild on the top floor of Lin Hidden Mansion, Su Qi had watched the magical girl squad set off for the Fourth Layer amid cheers.
Coincidentally, Mo Yu had told him two days ago that some relatives had come to visit his home.
Now, connecting these two clues with the class’s speculation about the hero party’s rough expedition in the Fourth Layer, a strange feeling crept into Su Qi’s heart.
Was this all just too coincidental?
As for the link between Mo Yu and the magical girl, Su Qi was curious but didn’t dwell on it too long.
More than Mo Yu’s identity, perhaps because activating the Su Wife Ability made him a bit more sentimental, Su Qi’s biggest concern was his good brother’s health.
Glancing at the bento he’d made himself that morning, he recalled how his Ability-enhanced bento could bring some healing effect.
Without hesitation, he typed into Mo Yu’s chat.
“A Yu, no classes this afternoon. I’ll bring you lunch, okay? It’s no good if you twist your ankle and have to take care of yourself alone.”
After a moment of “typing…” on Mo Yu’s side, a quick affirmative reply popped up.
Little Puppy Moved.JPG
Seeing Mo Yu’s emoji and the phone location he sent, Su Qi confirmed they’d meet at Mo Yu’s place in the afternoon.
He felt a small spark of anticipation.
Though he’d been Mo Yu’s classmate and deskmate since middle school, their homes were far apart. Su Qi had never once been to Mo Yu’s house.
Now, just thinking about hanging out with his good brother in a closed room, venting about everything lately, Su Qi couldn’t help but look forward to it.
Since he planned to visit Mo Yu’s home, Su Qi wanted to maintain his “novelist” facade in front of his friend.
He hadn’t had time to check his own novels recently because of everything going on.
With no desire to reveal himself, he decided to open his phone and launch the Radish Bun Novel App since there were still minutes before class.
But when he opened the yuri novel by An Xiaoling, Su Qi was a little surprised.
He’d last read it three days ago—and in those three days, it had updated by twenty chapters?
Had An Xiaoling been struck by a burst of inspiration?
Curious, he checked the comments.
Cat Loves Fish: “Has this married big sister’s appearance frequency gotten a bit high lately? But I like it.”
Shengsheng Buxi: “Yuri bonding is the best! And the costume changes to different styles sound so fun.”
Siha Sisha: “What if the married big sister wore a school swimsuit? Could she transform into a white-haired loli? Lolis are the best!”
Jiu Yue: “Friendly reminder: the Internet is not outside the law. Taking the one above away for interrogation.”
…
Reading the passionate discussions about the married big sister, Su Qi shivered slightly.
He had just recently used the Su Wife Ability to join the Cangyou Wildcat Team.
No matter how he looked at it, the prototype for that married big sister character couldn’t be anyone else but himself!
Just as Su Qi exited the comment section and opened the novel to continue reading, he didn’t notice a cute, petite figure quietly enter the classroom from the door.
That figure was none other than An Xiaoling, the author of the yuri novel Su Qi was reading.
Regarding today’s classes, as an Awakened Ability User, An Xiaoling hadn’t planned to come.
But the thought of encountering Su Qi—the villainous “author” who hid behind his novelist persona—plus remembering she had promised “Su Su Sister” a few kicks two days ago, made An Xiaoling decide to bring her notebook to school to earn some credits and write a bit.
Upon entering Class 18, An Xiaoling instinctively glanced toward Su Qi’s desk.
That glance made her pause.
Because of the “writer drama,” An Xiaoling had been paying close attention to Su Qi recently.
And even just missing one day, Su Qi’s change surprised her.
His skin was whiter, facial features softer. Though there was no drastic change in looks and he was still in the delicate category, he gave off a noticeably different vibe.
Looking at Su Qi now, An Xiaoling inexplicably felt a vague sense of déjà vu between him and Su Su Sister.
Thinking this, An Xiaoling shook her head.
“No way, no way. My favorite Su Su Sister can’t possibly have anything in common with this annoying guy!”
It must be because she’d been overworking on updating the novel, and her mind was playing tricks on her.
Looks like I have to rest early tonight and save any rewards for tomorrow!
Muttering these thoughts to herself, An Xiaoling’s gaze soon fell on the small white shoes carelessly placed outside Su Qi’s desk.
Silently, she crept toward him, intending to plant a quick foot on him.
But as she got closer, having skipped breakfast, she caught a familiar scent—the gentle, warm aroma of a home-cooked meal.
Sniffing the scent, her bright eyes widened in surprise.
As a loyal customer of Su Ji Bento since Su Qi started selling bentos, An Xiaoling immediately recognized the disposable lunchbox in the plastic bag hanging from the left side of Su Qi’s desk.
She was 100% sure it was from Su Su Sister’s Su Ji Bento.
Why so sure?
Unlike common bentos sold for 10 to 20 yuan, Su Qi’s bentos cost 300 yuan each, so the disposable containers were also much more premium.
Seeing the box, An Xiaoling grew puzzled.
Didn’t Su Su Sister only make bentos on Sundays?
Or was this just a coincidence?
Did Su Qi just happen to buy the same expensive disposable box? But why?
Lost in thought, An Xiaoling noticed another strange coincidence.
Two days ago, before Su Su Sister cooked and added her on Tencent, she remembered Su Su Sister’s phone was old, a bit beat-up, and had a somewhat boyish look.
But now, the phone in Su Qi’s hand was exactly the same as Su Su Sister’s.
One coincidence might be one thing, but were there really two coincidences here?