Chapter 92: Outsmarting Without Fighting

Yeah.

When did it happen, and why?

Bai Xia, who wasn’t good with words, shrank back a little, not knowing how to speak, afraid that once she opened her mouth it would turn into nonsense.

But Su Qingyu, who was sharp-tongued, took the lead.

“Aya, weren’t you the one who told us to do it together?”

Bai Xiaoya was slightly stunned.

“Me?”

“Yeah. You were wearing a strappy swimsuit, lying on the bed—yes, just lying there—saying how about we just do it together, or something like that.”

Big-Chested Girl did say that, and Su Qingyu’s words were quite fair.

But…

“That was—because I predicted you two would act like this, so I said it. If you weren’t planning to do that, I wouldn’t have said it.”

Bai Xiaoya defended herself.

She had to explain, or else it would look like she was unsatisfied.

Besides, it was true she saw the System mission first, then brought it up.

At the time, she thought since everyone was going to team up anyway, she might as well make the first move to win some face and momentum.

“Is that~so?”

Su Qingyu blinked.

“But at the time, we hadn’t even decided. It was after hearing what you said, Aya, that we thought there was no better time than now.”

“Really?”

No way.

But Bai Xia also agreed, though she didn’t dare speak for fear of babbling nonsense, so she just nodded.

To be honest, even after hearing Bai Xiaoya say that, the girl hadn’t really made up her mind and was still thinking about trying to persuade them.

It wasn’t until she saw Su Qingyu pounce that she joined in with the thought of “can’t let myself lose out.”

Bai Xiaoya shook her head, realizing this question was turning into the “chicken or the egg” problem.

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this. What I want to say is—since it all started from a misunderstanding, can’t we fix that misunderstanding in the future?”

The two’s cooking firepower was too strong.

She couldn’t hold up.

Before Bai Xia could speak, Su Qingyu answered again.

“Of course not! You said it first, now you can’t win so you surrender? That’s too late.”

She was anxious because, among the three, only one person was sure that in a 1V1 duel, they couldn’t win at all.

In short, the flames of war had been ignited, and until they burned out, nothing could stop them!

Bai Xia opened her mouth, a little opinionated—not to break unity, just thinking maybe in the future they could take turns, rest, and not always—

But Su Qingyu had already moved on to the next topic.

“Speaking of which, I think you’re the one who should reflect, Aya.”

Bai Xiaoya’s mouth twitched.

“Me?”

“Yeah. Even if we’re two people and stronger, you can’t just admit defeat and lie down like that. You have to hold up your fighting spirit. Where’s your energy from before?”

“…………..”

What does that mean? Cheering me on? Is she complaining the resistance wasn’t fierce enough, so it wasn’t exciting?

Bai Xiaoya felt a bit dizzy.

“I think I’ll go downstairs for breakfast first. My blood sugar is low.”

Big-Chested Girl put on her clothes and went downstairs.

The two girls remained in the room.

They were like this—whenever they had a chance to be alone, they held a tactical mini-meeting.

“What did you mean just now?” Bai Xia asked.

“I mean the last part, not the topic about unity.”

“Of course it was to ignite fighting spirit,” Su Qingyu stretched out her small hand, pointing at the air above her head.

“If she doesn’t have fighting spirit, how can she fight us? If she doesn’t fight us, how do we get the mission?”

She wasn’t pointing at air, but at a mysterious existence that couldn’t be seen or touched, yet would send tasks straight to your face once conditions were met.

It was also the core reason they could execute the “drag for time” tactic.

Trade space for time, time for rewards.

Bai Xia thought it made sense, but there was a small problem.

“Does that really work?”

“Don’t know.”

Su Qingyu spread her little hands.

“We’ll have to see how Aya thinks after breakfast.”

Bai Xiaoya hadn’t come down for breakfast in a while, mostly because she woke up close to noon each day.

It was early, but not late.

She was a bit hungry, but if she ate, she couldn’t eat lunch.

But today, Bai Xiaoya went to the restaurant and called Zhang Butler over, asking him to have the kitchen prepare some food.

“What about lunch later?”

“We’ll see about lunch then. For now, give me something to boost my blood sugar.”

Breakfast time at the Bai family was long over.

The kitchen fired up the stove again.

Ten minutes later, after eating a few soft pastries and drinking sweet soup, Bai Xiaoya’s low blood sugar was cured.

She propped her face with her hands, thinking.

“Eldest Miss, is there something troubling you lately?”

Zhang Butler asked cautiously.

To be honest, he felt a bit guilty.

Aside from running errands, he hadn’t been able to help the Eldest Miss with her worries lately.

“Mm.”

Bai Xiaoya replied absentmindedly.

“Is it because of the Second Young Miss?”

“More or less.”

About half of it was because of Bai Xia.

No, it was mostly because of Bai Xia.

Without her, just having Su Qingyu around wouldn’t be scary.

“But Eldest Miss, haven’t you already found a way and things are going smoothly?”

Zhang Butler was puzzled.

In their eyes, Su Qingyu was Bai Xiaoya’s classmate, obviously recruited from school to help, since it’s easier to ask a peer for help in dealing with another peer.

But they didn’t know that the one being ganged up on was actually Bai Xiaoya—being bullied on the bed.

“I’m just wondering how things turned out like this.”

The Big-Chested Girl sighed.

Zhang Butler pondered for a moment before cautiously asking.

“Eldest Miss, do you want to reconcile with Second Young Miss… ah, no, I mean, do you want to make peace?”

‘Reconcile’ sounded too harsh.

Bai Xiaoya shook her head vigorously.

“Of course not.”

If I make peace, where will my rewards come from?

Although most rewards are Yut, sometimes there are good ones.

Like the special move that came in handy this time.

As for things like the Tear Radar, they’re useful too, but during the Restaurant Battle, I turned it off—otherwise, with so many people on the battlefield, tears would keep falling.

“Eldest Miss, since you’re troubled now, it means the plan for a frontal assault isn’t working.”

Zhang Butler said.

“So why not try a strategic approach?”

Bai Xiaoya froze.

“Strategic?”

You can use strategy for this kind of thing? How?

Set traps, like having General Big White Rabbit bring some alcohol?

She misunderstood.

Zhang Butler hadn’t even thought about that direction.

He was talking about using tactics—attacking the mind.

“Eldest Miss, for example, you could try using your position. In formal situations, with others watching, you can bury traps in your words. Strike at their heart—strike at their heart!”

Bai Xiaoya rolled her eyes.

What do you mean, strike at their heart?

Am I supposed to kill without a blade too?

But what he said about using momentum did give her a hint.

“Old Zhang, go to the kitchen and tell them to add a few hearty dishes to lunch.”