Chapter 94: She Has Changed

Vacations always come to an end, and after so many things had happened, the midterm break for the third-year students was drawing to a close.

That morning, the girl woke from her dreams and couldn’t help but look up at the sky as she closed her eyes. What should she do today?

“Song Yunyao!”

“I asked the girl Ling Yunzhi once, promising her to be the best in the world.”

“I don’t know, Yunyao didn’t say.”

Whether the reflections’ advice was useful or not, it was certainly lively.

While eating breakfast and pondering for a moment, Shen Ning decided to find Xu Chuyao not for Yunyao, but to ask about what had happened before.

After leaving her girlfriend’s dorm late at night last time, her girlfriend told her to keep a low profile for a few days. If anyone asked, say nothing. Yunyao would handle it.

Shen Ning obediently kept quiet, but the school had been bustling yesterday, with many people coming and going. Even hiding behind the dorm window, she could see it all. She didn’t know the exact details but guessed it was probably about her own matters.

Today, seeing the calm outside, the girl boldly went to her girlfriend’s dorm to inquire.

“Yeah, it’s resolved. Everything’s fine now,” Xu Chuyao reassured her, “You don’t have to worry.”

Such a powerful reassurance.

“Qi has always said, just ask Yunyao.”

It seemed quite relaxed, as it was nearly noon and the two girls in the dorm were still lying in bed.

Only Mi Xiaolu had dark circles under her eyes, probably from staying up late.

“But your Third Rank status, that can’t be hidden,” Xu Chuyao said to her, “In a few days, the school will hold a grand Evaluation Ceremony to let you shine.”

Shen Ning subconsciously frowned, “Do these things really need to be so flashy?”

“Of course. Plus, the Principal will try to make the event lively, inviting some social celebrities. Many people from outside will come just for the occasion,” Xu Chuyao shrugged, “He has to do it.”

It wasn’t that the Principal craved fame; though it would indeed boost the Academy’s reputation, not doing so was not an option.

Third Rank Spirit Power Users were already the core strength of the world’s upper echelons. Every Third Rank would be strictly evaluated and registered. Without permission, they couldn’t just roam other cities.

And Shen Ning, at her age, might be setting a new record, which was a big deal. If the Principal did nothing, he’d be criticized for secretly harboring a Third Rank.

“Can’t be helped. Just enjoy it,” Xu Chuyao advised her. “If there’s an interview and they ask you to say a few words, just thank your fa… uh—”

Originally, she planned for the girl to formally thank her parents, teachers, and the school, but suddenly remembered the protagonist had no parents to thank.

“Thank whoever you want, when the time comes.”

Shen Ning nodded, half understanding.

After all that had happened, she had absolute faith in her girlfriend’s wisdom.

Looking at her other timeline self living steadily into the future, having given up thinking and content to be a noble lady it wasn’t a bad life.

Thinking this, Shen Ning suddenly recalled a rather risky little matter.

“Xu Chuyao, are you free now?” The girl lowered her voice. “I have something involving some stuff… like a certain X Crystal Laboratory, and X Crystals…”

Before she finished speaking, Mi Xiaolu suddenly stood up, put on her worn shoes, and walked out.

“You guys talk, I’ve got some errands to run.”

Little Lei really needed healthy sleep.

Shen Ning closed the door behind her, then drew the curtains, finally dragging a small chair to sit under her girlfriend’s bed.

Seeing such a serious setup, Xu Chuyao slightly pulled back her quilt and moved to the edge of the bed.

“Go ahead, I’m listening.”

“Do you remember our date at the concert? A girl from the band rushed on stage and talked about people disappearing at the border…”

Shen Ning carefully organized her words and slowly told the story—from the information given by Realist, to her own guesses, and the information revealed by two similar symbols.

“Right, that’s exactly what should be done.” The Milky Ning Reflection expressed admiration, “I told Yunyao everything too.”

Tell Yunyao, then she didn’t have to think. Just be a noble lady living gracefully. How nice.

But while Shen Ning spoke with ease, Xu Chuyao was far from at ease.

When she first heard about the band girl’s story, Yunyao was lying down and didn’t think it was a big deal.

Upon hearing that friend Shen Ning brought last time had discovered a strange case from old newspapers, Yunyao clicked her tongue in amazement, thinking that Shengling Academy really did have outstanding talents—not just Spirit Power cultivators, but also sharp thinkers. Truly a place where arts and sciences flourish.

Hearing about the mysterious foreign investment in town brought by the band girl, Yunyao sensed something was off and sat up a bit.

Finally, when she saw Shen’s drawing of the “smoked roasted sweet potato” symbol, Xu Chuyao suddenly sat upright, her scalp tingling.

“You didn’t go any deeper, right?”

That was no roasted sweet potato. It was clearly the shape of a crystal, belonging to a crystal research institute of the Rockmorgan Family.

How deep the organization’s involvement went, Xu Chuyao wasn’t clear, but she knew the first main storyline boss came from there.

“No,” Shen Ning honestly shook her head. “I was a bit scared, so I didn’t let them continue investigating. Xiao Si Nuo helped Xiao Hua find a place to stay, just by the school on XX Road…”

As someone at the Peak of Second Rank daring to take on five opponents of equal strength alone, Shen Ning said she was scared—that was truly something to fear.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Xu Chuyao breathed a sigh of relief.

Having received her girlfriend’s affirmation, Shen Ning’s mood also relaxed greatly.

“That’s all I wanted to say. Since everything’s fine, I’ll head off first.”

“Wait, wait.”

Just as the girl stood, hearing those two words, she turned and saw her girlfriend’s face adorned with a mischievous little devil smile.

“Shen Ning, I forgot to ask earlier—when you ran so far at dusk to the lesbian bar, you weren’t just buying water, right?” Xu Chuyao said, “The book you always read, did you get it from there?”

Shen Ning instantly became flustered, like a student caught cheating on an exam, her secret source of notes discovered.

“Looks like I was right, huh~.”

Xu Chuyao quietly bit her small fang, holding the quilt tightly, and with a sense of seeing through everything, began to laugh:

“Haha, so you barely know what you’re doing by following what the book said, a total small fry. Running so far to buy water last time, was it just to sneak in a few moves? Otherwise, you wouldn’t stand a chance against your girlfriend, huh? Such a small fry, such a small fry.”

Shen Ning’s ears flushed red. Suddenly standing up, she dropped a quick “I’ll study harder,” then flung the door open and ran out.

The pure little sister revealed her innocence true to her nickname, but her sudden shyness left Xu Chuyao sitting on the bed feeling like the sky was falling.

It was over. Mocking her as a “skill newbie” no longer worked!

No, actually it still did—others rarely saw her so shy. But the problem was, that wasn’t the effect Xu Chuyao wanted.

Villainy value gained: zero eggs!

Half an hour later, Mi Xiaoru returned from outside and saw Xu Chuyao sitting on the bed, very puzzled.

“What’s wrong? Did something big happen?”

Xu Chuyao slowly turned her head to look at her roommate, her voice trembling with emotion:

“Shen Ning… she’s changed.”

She had become shy and innocent, no longer prone to anger.

“Pfft, that’s normal,” Mi Xiaolu said calmly, “It’s not the first time she’s changed.”

Just hearing Yunyao say that wasn’t the first time was already familiar.

Elsewhere, in the girl’s dorm, the Sexually Repressed Shadow was furious at her recent behavior.

“Just leaving like that? You just walked away? She sat there so arrogantly on the bed, and you didn’t pounce on her?”

Damn love—it turns people into what!

But the other two held different views.

Milky Ning Reflection: “Yunyao wasn’t just laughing at you. She was pointing at you, telling you to learn more.”

Broken Shadow: “Sigh, if Yunyao wants to say it, she should just say it. Her voice is so pleasant; it wouldn’t hurt to hear more.”

The Sexually Repressed Shadow was almost fainting with anger.

Damn it, how did Love Yao turn out like this?

“By the way, how was the parking lot issue resolved?” The girl mumbled, looking out the window. “So many people came yesterday, and now no one’s managing it.”

“Stop worrying so much. Yunyao always has a way.” The Aristocratic Lady Reflection stretched out her hand, “At such a midday hour, why not have some forest tea and take a little rest?”

Indeed, the parking lot incident had been resolved in an unexpected way, but that didn’t mean the matter was closed.

The Ahabi Financial Group was furious, especially the instigator, Prince Ahabi, who raged in his palace, vowing to launch a holy war to make that hateful woman pay.

But given their recent setbacks, it was all just empty threats.

Meanwhile, the Rockmorgan Family experienced some unforeseen developments.

They hadn’t known about the incident in Center City, but when Prince Ahabi made a call demanding they hand over a female student named Shen Ning—offering money—they were naturally unwilling to sell their own.

However, they were curious about what had happened to make such a powerful family so wary.

“Some friends in Center City said the Ahabi Financial Group sent a team, seemingly to retaliate against a girl who caused the failure at Yayang Tower. But before they could act, an unknown Third Rank Spirit Power User wiped them all out.”

Edward Rockmorgan, Technical Director of the Science and Development Department at the Rockmorgan Mining Group, and the third young master of the family’s middle generation, was shocked to hear this news.

“That Shen girl? Third Rank already?”

“Possibly. Our friends can’t get more accurate information… but Shengling Academy is preparing a grand Evaluation Ceremony. Besides that possibility, there’s no reason to do such a thing. If it really is her, such a young Third Rank, the news wouldn’t stay hidden.”

Hearing this, Edward pondered for half a moment, then tapped the table:

“Since there’s such a grand event, our family, as the Academy’s partner, should send someone to attend.”

After a brief thought, he ordered, “Send Professor Swina. He was just in Center City recently and is familiar with the area.”