Liang Sheng pulled a small mirror from her bag and examined her handsome face from every angle. Finally, she reached a conclusion. Damn, I’m so freaking pretty—like a fairy descended to earth.
“Zhen Zhu, little friend~” Liang Sheng snapped the mirror shut and flashed a fake-sweet smile as she squatted down in front of Zhen Zhu. “Want to…?”
Zhen Zhu let out a shriek. “No way! Eek! You might have my body, but you’ll never have my heart!”
Liang Sheng blinked. “…?” Little one, do you have a lot of question marks in your head?
“I mean, who the hell wants your flat-as-an-airport chest anyway? Stop cursing me out, okay?” Liang Sheng was torn between laughter and exasperation, her sharp tongue as cutting as ever.
“And hey~” Liang Sheng raised her hand and pinched Zhen Zhu’s chubby baby face, tugging hard. “Little kids shouldn’t look at that dirty stuff. It’ll pollute your mind and soul. Learn from big sis—stick to uplifting study materials, like those five-year practice tests and three-year Gaokao drills or whatever.”
Tears welled up in Zhen Zhu’s eyes from the pain. Her eyes reddened as she swatted at Liang Sheng’s offending hand, mumbling threats through her distorted mouth. “I’ll tell on you! Hurry up and let go, or it’ll look bad for you!”
“Hahaha!” Liang Sheng threw her head back in laughter. “Little friend, why do you sound so babyish and lispy? And your strength is so weak! Man, you’re really short—do you have to jump just to reach big sis’s knee? Did you just get weaned a few days ago? Oh yo-yo, oh yo-yo~”
The words didn’t hurt much, but the insult was devastating.
How could Zhen Zhu tolerate this? She’d been pampered from birth, held in the palm of her parents’ hands lest she fall, kept in their mouths lest she melt—worshipped like a little ancestor. Stars? Her parents would fetch the moon if she asked!
Her ultimate move: wail at the top of her lungs.
“Waaahhh!” Zhen Zhu’s piercing cry startled Liang Sheng. Oh crap, don’t let Teacher Dong Yue think she bullied Zhen Zhu into tears! This was unfair—she was innocent! Zhen Zhu started it!
“Shh, shh, shh.” Liang Sheng pressed her index finger to her lips, shushing frantically for Zhen Zhu to quiet down. But this little loli wouldn’t listen. Seeing Liang Sheng flustered made her happy, so she cried even louder.
“Oh man, my little ancestor.” Liang Sheng wanted to cry herself. She glanced around, hoping no one noticed their battlefield. Then, by chance, her eyes landed on the big bag of snacks she’d bought, sitting on a nearby table.
Liang Sheng scooped Zhen Zhu into her arms and scurried over to the snacks. She patted the girl’s back gently. “Big sis was wrong~ Big sis will treat you to snacks, okay? Forgive me just this once. I know you’re the most understanding little beauty, Zhen Zhu.”
Who could resist flattery like that? Words like “little beauty” and “understanding,” combined with Liang Sheng’s “sincere” apology—and most importantly, the temptation of tasty snacks—made Zhen Zhu stop crying instantly. If not for the tear stains on her cheeks, no one would guess this gleeful child had been bawling moments ago.
“Ahem, well, since you put it that way, I’ll forgive you!” Zhen Zhu eyed the goodies and let Liang Sheng hold her without a fight. She just grabbed snacks and shoved them into her mouth.
Liang Sheng worried she’d choke but couldn’t talk her out of it, so she fretted on the sidelines.
As for Dong Yue? She was busy fending off elders and had no time to watch Liang Sheng and Zhen Zhu. That was a relief, letting Liang Sheng drop the cloying good-girl act of the model Three Good Student. She wasn’t a good kid anyway… er, she wasn’t a good student.
For the sake of her strategy, she had to pretend. Suddenly, doubt crept in. What was the point of all this? Endless pandering, turning into a different person for every girl—it was hypocritical, plain and simple.
If it was for survival now, what about before? Before the real transmigration, or even right after arriving in this world—why had she acted like a desperate lapdog, fawning over every girl around her?
Probably… a lack of love. Or fear of being hated. Being liked sure beat being despised by a mile.
Liang Sheng knew her personality wasn’t great. But she didn’t regret it. Being liked—even obsessively so—was her drive to keep going. Take yandere Hana: Liang Sheng feared her a bit, but she craved that continued affection. It sounded twisted, but that’s how she felt.
Lost in melancholy over life and reality, Liang Sheng felt greasy potato chip crumbs as Zhen Zhu pinched her face with her messy little hand.
“Hey, what are you doing!” Liang Sheng nearly dropped the little loli to the floor.
“Ehehe.” A naughty grin spread across Zhen Zhu’s babyish face. She’d clearly succeeded in her mischief. “This is payback for pinching my face earlier!”
Warmth bloomed in Liang Sheng’s heart. Fine, adults forgive and forget. This kind of relationship in this world? Pretty great. Just chase the moment’s joy. Why overthink? Surrounded by beauties who like me—ain’t that happiness enough?
As evening fell and Zhen Zhu sat belching contentedly, Dong Yue finally escaped her aunts and uncles and made her way to Liang Sheng and Zhen Zhu.
“Teacher, can we head out now?” Liang Sheng lit up at Dong Yue’s approach, waving her arms excitedly. Cooing at kids and listening to adults chatter was exhausting.
Dong Yue sighed and shook her head. “I have to stay here tonight. I’ll drop you home first.”
“What about Zhen Zhu?” Liang Sheng glanced at the little loli sitting primly, still hiccuping.
Dong Yue smiled. “Her parents will pick her up soon. No more chit-chat. I’ll drive you home. It’s getting dark—unsafe for a girl to take a cab alone.”
Huh? Teacher Dong Yue drives? Liang Sheng scratched her head. The novel never mentioned it. Well, with so much to cover, minor details like that wouldn’t make the cut.
After waving goodbye to Zhen Zhu outside with Teacher Dong Yue, the sharp-tongued little loli showed surprising reluctance. She even gave a quick hug, then fled back inside with a blush. Huh? Conquered with a few bags of cheap snacks? Too easy!
Hmm, Liang Sheng realized she’d teased and even made this little loli cry, yet Zhen Zhu’s favorability hadn’t dropped. What did that mean? It meant Zhen Zhu truly saw her as a (girl)friend—no resentment toward their playful bickering.
At the car, Liang Sheng sighed for the umpteenth gazillionth time since transmigrating. “Having money is just the best~”
Look at this parking lot sea of luxury rides—a veritable stack of cash and gold bars. All top-tier cars. Liang Sheng couldn’t tell models apart, but this was the wealthy Dong Family. No skimping on wheels.
Slurp. Someday, she’d own her own luxury ride! Her hands itched with excitement.
“Let’s go.” Dong Yue pulled out her keys with flair, unlocking a convertible sports car. She slid in and beckoned the dumbfounded Liang Sheng to hurry up.
“Awoo!” Liang Sheng turned into a husky—er, Tibetan mastiff—no, a werewolf for cool points—and dove into the car. Don’t ask; it was just money short-circuiting her poor kid brain (praise incoming).
“Why aren’t you buckling up?” Dong Yue frowned, leaning over to fasten Liang Sheng’s seatbelt.
Liang Sheng grinned cheekily. “Teacher~ You smell so good. What perfume is that? I’ll grab some tomorrow—it’s amazing~”
Dong Yue lifted her wrist and sniffed. Nothing. She grabbed a lock of hair and inhaled. Still nothing. Weird—how’d this kid pick it up?
“Nonsense.” Dong Yue chuckled. “I don’t smell like anything. You’re getting cheekier by the day.”
Liang Sheng feigned shock, hand over her open mouth. “Oh! It’s Teacher Dong Yue’s natural body scent! Waaah~ Shengsheng wants it too! Waaah, guess some people just aren’t worthy…”
“Hahaha.” Dong Yue laughed heartily.
Ding~ Favorability increased.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 52”
“Such a mischievous imp.” Teacher Dong Yue tossed out those words.
Emboldened, Liang Sheng went for it, wrapping her teacher in a massive bear hug.
“Teacher~ Let me snuggle that scent! You can’t buy it anywhere—unique to you, one of a kind!” Without waiting, she clung to Dong Yue’s arm, rubbing her head against it.
Ding~ Favorability increased.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 52.5”
“Okay, okay, no more fooling around.” Dong Yue grew ever more indulgent and doting, dropping her lofty teacher demeanor to tussle playfully with her prized student.
“Hey, look at the time. Let go already.” Dong Yue checked her watch and poked Liang Sheng’s forehead with her finger. “No more messing. I need to get you home and head back quick.”
“Aw!” Liang Sheng obeyed this time, sitting up straight for the “just-go-travel” ride with Teacher Dong Yue.
After Dong Yue dropped her home, Liang Sheng collapsed into bed and passed out. What a draining day—coaxing the teacher, wrangling the bear child. Life’s tough; Shengsheng sighs.
I’m just a kid, yet my young shoulders bear the love of so many women… Phew, not easy at all!
That year passed in a blur, and Liang Sheng faced two terrifying events.
