On the empty steps in front of the school building.
There were still a dozen minutes until the lunch break, but Ye Zhibai had to slip out of the school first.
After all, the entire school was buzzing about that mysterious figure spotted on the second floor of the gymnasium. She could see it clear as day in the massive Qihai No.1 Middle School group chat on Ye Zhiyun’s phone.
Ye Zhibai had zero interest in getting cornered for a press conference!
Wuwu, this huge campus, and no place for me to stand!
She sat on the bottommost step, a menu from the cold drink shop padded under her butt.
“Sister, let’s wait just a bit longer? I’ve already sent the Head Maid to fetch the car. Once she pulls up down here, we can head straight to East City. It’s not far—we should make it home before dark.”
“No rush.”
Ye Zhibai said it leisurely—not in a rush.
Well, not entirely true. All those things back at the apartment could get hauled off as junk by Old Man Zhang, the self-proclaimed junk-collecting war god, at any moment.
But… this moment’s pampering felt fresh as could be.
When they’d left the cold drink shop, the owner had gifted Ye Zhibai two little folding fans.
Not everyone got them—the key was, the manager had recognized the famous Student Council President, Ye Zhiyun.
As one of the school’s board members, Ye Zhiyun’s face carried weight that went without saying.
The nervous manager had two choices back then.
Hand over the fans, or hand over the whole shop.
So, smart guy that he was, he’d cut his losses and gone with the fans.
—A wise move.
Now, the ever-impressive Eldest Miss Ye Zhiyun had one open and was diligently, earnestly fanning her big sister with gentle breezes.
Soft. Delicate.
Guang Yu leaned against Ye Zhibai’s side, eyes half-closed, basking in the bliss.
Ye Zhibai just thought… this summer’s stifling wind, carrying Yun’er’s natural sunflower scent from her body, wafted over by the fan… was still hot as hell!
Yeah, yeah, “a beautiful girl fanning you makes it cool”—anyone who buys that line can keep it.
Ye Zhibai wasn’t having any of it!
“Alright, Yun’er, enough with the fanning.” Ye Zhibai’s words sounded caring, but her expression was pure disgust. “Aren’t you hot?”
Wuwu, Sister, please, disdain me more!
“Not hot?” Ye Zhiyun let out an excited breath, lifting a strand of black hair stuck to her cheek by fragrant sweat with one hand. A sheen of fine perspiration gleamed on her jade-like neck. “Not when I’m next to Sister~ The maids at home always said you’re like a walking air conditioner—just looking at your face cools you down. But I don’t agree.”
“You think… I’m not that cold?”
At those words, Yun’er’s smile froze on her face for a split second.
Then it bloomed even brighter!
“Nope, it’s not about cold or hot. I just won’t let them stare at Sister’s face! Haha!”
So cold!!
Friggin’ freezing!
What a twisted angle!
Your “cold joke” hit me with chills on every level!
The air around them seemed to drop several degrees in an instant.
Before the shivers set in, Ye Zhibai heard Guang Yu whisper right in her ear.
“Car’s here—let’s go, go! Car AC time!”
“Hm?”
Guang Yu’s
vocabulary was evolving faster than Ye Zhibai’s.
And those fox ears were definitely handier than human ones.
Ye Zhibai hadn’t even spotted the car or heard the engine yet, but Guang Yu had already tipped her off.
Two seconds later, that pricey black sports sedan rolled up… not in a hundred-meter sprint hitting 120 kph or anything.
Nah.
It crept along at idle speed, nice and slow.
School had vehicle speed limits, after all. Fancy ride or not, rules were rules.
The sedan pulled up sideways.
Doors facing Ye Zhibai and Ye Zhiyun. The Head Maid stepped out from the driver’s seat, hands clasped in front of her, as polite and ceremonial as ever.
“Eldest Miss, Second Miss, please get in.”
“Mm, Sister, let’s go.”
—Guang Yu, come on!
Ye Zhiyun took Ye Zhibai’s hand, and this time, Ye Zhibai didn’t forget to reach back and grab… a fistful of air!
To bystanders, it looked like air. In reality, she’d snagged Guang Yu’s hand.
Move slow this time and get your tail or head caught in the door again, and don’t come crying on my lap!
Last time she’d twitched and shuddered half the ride, shedding a lapful of fox fur that Ye Zhibai hadn’t picked off until they got out.
The rest of the trip should’ve been simple: pile in, fire up the engine, head to East City.
—That’s how it should’ve gone.
But before Ye Zhiyun could shift aside to let Ye Zhibai board first—
She froze mid-motion.
Her smiling face instantly frosted over.
It wasn’t just her.
The ever-vigilant Head Maid, trained to scan all directions, reacted even faster.
Without a fuss, she grabbed a long wooden staff from the car, planted herself between Ye Zhiyun and Ye Zhibai, and slammed the staff into the ground! Like a war goddess incarnate!
Eh?
Eh?!
What? You guys filming a movie all of a sudden?!
“Someone’s hiding. In the shadows.” That was all the Head Maid said.
Yun’er stepped forward too, shielding the utterly baffled Ye Zhibai behind her.
Their gazes locked together on the green belt five meters east of the car.
A neat row of dense, shady willows—perfect cover for a person.
Yun’er didn’t panic. If anything, pure disgust twisted her features.
“Oh ho… got some nerve. Sneaking around on school grounds, tailing Sister’s visit? Courting death…”
So how the heck did you spot ’em?!
Ye Zhibai strained her eyes wide open, saw zilch out of the ordinary in those willows. She was half-tempted to stomp over and check herself!
Oh right… I’ve got a certain deity right here!
Ye Zhibai whipped her head toward Guang Yu, only to catch her winking—and sending a Mind Transmission straight to her!
“What? What’s goin’ on all sudden-like? What happened?! Why so scary?!”
“……”
Classic barrage of clueless questions.
Scared you into every dialect under the sun, huh!
That scummy fox had probably burned through her divine power and couldn’t scout, leaving her jittery.
Before Ye Zhibai could respond, the Head Maid had already issued her one-and-only ultimatum toward the bushes, crisp and efficient.
“Friend hiding behind the willows—show yourself!
Right now! Let’s avoid any misunderstandings or needless injuries!”
“……”
It wasn’t far.
Ye Zhibai clearly heard… a rustle from behind the willows.
The sound of footsteps brushing the grass as someone stepped out.
There really was someone?!
No doubt about it.
Yun’er had trained in self-defense with the Maid Corps since childhood—her senses were top-tier.
The Head Maid’s detection skills were straight-up legendary.
Whoever was back there wasn’t dumb enough to ignore the warning.
The figure emerged.
She stepped out like an April breeze scattering peach blossoms across the ground.
A girl.
Dazzling golden hair, shimmering crimson eyes.
Around five-foot-eight—perfect height for a girl.
Slender and well-proportioned, with dignified, elegant features.
She walked graceful as a lotus blooming with every step, her golden shoulder-length hair gleaming in the sunlight, a sight for sore eyes.
The refined aura of someone raised in an elite family.
As she approached the group, she clasped her hands in front, tilted her head with a smile, her right crimson eye brimming with allure.
Just the right eye—her left was hidden behind long golden bangs, giving the hairstyle an odd vibe.
She wore the Qihai No.1 Middle School uniform, her slim legs wrapped in black mid-calf socks.
Subtle. Simple. Lively.
Honestly, this was the first time since her rebirth that Ye Zhibai had seen anyone who could rival Yun’er’s beauty.
On looks alone, both were bona fide country-topplers.
But their auras clashed completely—Yun’er was icy cold, while this girl’s vibe was gentle and easygoing… with
a hint of seductive charm?
Did our city have this many stunners?!
Never knew!
Ahem… good thing there was no mirror nearby, or staring at her own face, Ye Zhibai would’ve never dreamed up that take.
Guang Yu could vouch for it: no matter how stunning, they couldn’t hold a candle to Ye Zhibai’s looks. Mother God’s handiwork wasn’t messing around!
Gazing at the golden-haired girl with the bangs over her left eye, the Head Maid blinked in surprise, easing her grip on the staff as the tension melted away.
“Miss Lin?”
Miss Lin?
From the Head Maid’s tone… an acquaintance?
Even if she was, Ye Zhibai sure didn’t know her.
Over on Ye Zhiyun’s side, though… the disgust she’d shown earlier only deepened at the sight of the blonde.
The golden-haired girl paid it no mind.
Her eyes were fixed solely on Ye Zhibai, standing at the back with zero change in expression.
She smiled behind half-covered lips, her crimson eyes reflecting Ye Zhibai’s figure.
And with her soft, bell-like voice…
“Oh wow… I heard cute Little Bai’er got discharged from the hospital yesterday, so I came out to take a look. Didn’t expect to actually run into her! Yayayaya… This is just… Looks like my luck’s pretty good, huh?”
“?”
