“You… uh…” Liang Sheng faltered. Sure enough, she didn’t have the talent to train others. She could only tease a little; she wasn’t qualified to actually train someone.
“What should I do? What comes next?” Liang Sheng gritted her teeth, constantly seeking Kazuko’s help in her mind.
Kazuko let out a deep sigh. “The pit you dug yourself—if you can’t fill it, just jump in. Don’t waste it.”
What kind of advice was that! Liang Sheng felt both anxious and scared. She watched as Senior Sister An Hua wrapped her arms around Liang Sheng’s waist and murmured words that set her blood racing. No one could withstand that!
“S-Senior Sister, let’s talk this out properly. Get up and talk. Kneeling like that will hurt your knees.” Liang Sheng wiped the cold sweat from her forehead while reaching down to help the kneeling An Hua to her feet.
Swish~ Favorability dropped.
“An Hua’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 69”
Liang Sheng was speechless. So even being gentle didn’t work on a masochist like her? Fine then…
“Get up!” Liang Sheng suddenly shouted.
An Hua jolted. She lifted her head and looked at Liang Sheng.
Liang Sheng reached out and lightly patted An Hua’s cheek. “I told you to get up. Did you hear me? Don’t tell me you want me to say something even harsher?”
Ding~ Favorability rose.
“An Hua’s Favorability toward Liang Sheng: 75”
Ah~ That was the feeling… An Hua’s lovely eyes brimmed with misty tears, her red lips parted slightly as she panted softly. She obediently stood, gazing at Liang Sheng with eager anticipation for her next move.
Seeing An Hua finally on her feet, Liang Sheng breathed a sigh of relief. But she had no idea what to do next, so she mentally asked Kazuko, “Can I use that sleep skill again—the one that knocks people out?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention, it has a three-day cooldown. So you can’t use it again until three days from now~” Kazuko chuckled mischievously, clearly eager to watch the show continue.
Oh! Liang Sheng despaired completely. She tilted her head back at a forty-five-degree angle to gaze at the sky, muttering under her breath. Queen Mother, Jade Emperor, Guanyin Bodhisattva, God of Wealth(?), Tathagata, Jesus(?), Sun Wukong(?). Emmm, who else? Whatever—whoever—please save this poor beautiful girl!
Click. The door suddenly sounded. Liang Sheng and An Hua whipped their heads toward it in unison.
In walked a weary-looking middle-aged man. He was rubbing his brow with one hand while carrying a briefcase in the other as he stepped into the room.
Heaven above! Liang Sheng clasped her hands together in thanks. Thank you, my dear heavens~ Did you hear my heartfelt plea? Oh~ Amitabha, boundless blessings, amen~ (The strange whims of humanity.)
An Hua’s expression changed the instant she saw the middle-aged man. She hurried over with a respectful look, bowed deeply, and said deferentially, “Dad, you’re back.”
Liang Sheng stood frozen in shock beside her. The book had mentioned that An Hua’s family was strict, but she hadn’t realized it was quite this strict.
So… so… so… Liang Sheng floundered awkwardly. Her dad must be incredibly intimidating, right? Her heart raced with panic. She scurried over and bowed almost a full one-eighty, preparing to greet the stern-looking middle-aged man in the same tone An Hua had used.
“Dad… ptoo ptoo ptoo!”
Three blank stares. Silence fell.
“A-An Hua, this is…?” An Hua’s father stammered too. How had an extra daughter appeared in his home upon his return? Had he accidentally become a father to another?
Liang Sheng wanted to die of embarrassment. She quickly covered for herself. “Uncle, hello! I’m Senior Sister An Hua’s junior sister. I came over to discuss some academic matters with her!” This was sure to work. What parent didn’t love seeing their kids study together and make progress?
Sure enough, the frown creasing An Hua’s father’s brow eased a bit. But his words left An Hua feeling awkward.
“Young lady, what is your student ranking at school…?” He decided to ask about her grades in a roundabout way.
“521,” Liang Sheng answered promptly.
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Crows flew overhead.
“J-Junior Sister Liang Sheng, my dad meant your class ranking… not your student ID,” An Hua whispered, tugging at Liang Sheng’s clothes.
Liang Sheng snapped to realization. She puffed out her chest. She used to hate this question; now she loved it.
“001!” Liang Sheng grinned, a touch ferociously.
An Hua’s father nodded in satisfaction at the number. He turned to his daughter. “Make more friends like this one. You’ve chosen well. Get along with her.”
“Yes, Father…” An Hua bowed her head, her hands clutching the hem of her pure black nightgown tightly.
“You two carry on with your discussion. I’m heading to my room.” An Hua’s father waved his hand grandly and turned to leave.
Liang Sheng quickly chimed in. “Uncle, I have something to attend to, so I’ll head out first. Next time, I’ll come discuss academics with Senior Sister An Hua again. Goodbye, Uncle! Goodbye, Senior Sister An Hua!” With that, she bolted out the door like a puff of smoke.
An Hua’s father watched Liang Sheng’s retreating figure. Then he turned back, looming over his daughter. An Hua didn’t dare lift her gaze to her father. She kept her head bowed low, like a child who had done something wrong.
Suddenly, An Hua’s father raised his hand. An Hua’s body shuddered violently; she squeezed her eyes shut on instinct.
His hand gently came to rest on An Hua’s head. An Hua’s father praised her. “Your judgment was good this time. Make more friends like her in the future—ones who can help you in all aspects. As for those with poor grades and impoverished backgrounds, stay away from them. That’s advice from your father, a successful man.”
“Yes!” An Hua responded immediately.
The light that had shone in An Hua’s eyes while Liang Sheng was there had vanished, replaced by darkness. She knew that to her father, she was his daughter only as long as she excelled. If she didn’t… she could be discarded at any moment.
Thank goodness Junior Sister Liang Sheng was such an outstanding person. An Hua kept her head down and eyes squeezed shut, holding back the torrent of tears threatening to spill.
—
Liang Sheng trotted all the way to a corner, where she finally stopped, gasping for breath. As she panted, she grumbled, “Oh my gosh, Senior Sister An Hua’s masochist streak is terrifying! I had no clue what to do next. Thank goodness her dad showed up when he did, or who knows what might have… cough cough. Wuwu, thanks to her dad for protecting my purity and chastity~” She hugged herself tightly, striking a dramatically flirtatious pose.
“Ugh,” Kazuko groaned. “Do you even have chastity left? Flitting from one pretty girl to the next—yours is long gone.”
“Hey~” Liang Sheng waved it off. “What nonsense. Even if chastity’s out the window, my innocence is still intact. My body’s still pure as can be~”
“What if Senior Sister Gu Yuqi asked you to compete in bed?” Kazuko teased with a laugh.
Liang Sheng’s eyes lit up at the words. Without hesitation, she blurted out something jaw-dropping.
