Chapter 54

The inconclusive bet between Tong Yuwu and Taji had become the hottest topic on campus, the kind of gossip everyone couldn’t stop talking about. Even several days later, the excitement showed no signs of fading.

Gossip always gets twisted in the retelling, though. By the time it reached Meng Yiran’s ears, the story had evolved into Tong Yuwu having clearly lost the bet but refusing to honor it and drop out of school. She’d only gotten away with it by clinging to the thighs of other nobles, forcing Taji to call the whole thing off.

Meng Yiran was left with a head full of question marks, her face scrunched up in confusion. The two boys ahead of her, however, were still chatting away with great enthusiasm, as if they’d witnessed the whole thing firsthand.

“Tsk tsk, have you seen that first-year’s face? No wonder those nobles are at each other’s throats over her. Not surprising at all.”

“She’s really that good-looking?”

“She looks like she stepped right out of an oil painting—stunning at first glance, almost too perfect to be real!” The voice paused for a beat, then dropped lower as it shared an even juicier tidbit. “Think about it: no magic talent, and she’s the wrong age to boot. Why would the higher-ups let her enroll? It’s gotta be that face and that body of hers!”

The two of them let out sleazy “hehe” chuckles in unison.

Meng Yiran took a deep breath to steady her rising anger, then opened her Spirit Beast Pouch.

She’d only meant to release the big black cat “Wordless,” but the golden “Clean” was too nimble and slipped out the moment the pouch opened. Meng Yiran didn’t bother shoving it back in right away, so she tucked “Clean” into her pocket instead. Bending down, she whispered a few words into “Wordless”‘s ear.

“Wordless” remained utterly calm. After hearing her out, it cast a casual glance her way. In the next instant, its figure blurred and vanished without a trace. By contrast, “Clean”—who hadn’t been given any orders at all—was practically vibrating with excitement. It kicked off with its hind legs and leaped from her pocket the moment she wasn’t paying attention.

Meng Yiran jumped in surprise and reached out to stop it, but she was too slow. All she could do was watch as “Clean” charged straight toward the two foul-mouthed creeps.

Terrified it might get hurt, she hurried after it.

Now scrubbed clean of all grime, “Clean” sported a coat of gorgeous golden fur and a petite frame that made it look like nothing more than an underage little milk kitten. But that tiny body packed unimaginable explosive power and stamina. As it raced along, it moved like a mini low-altitude missile, whipping up enough wind to bend the grass by the roadside.

In the blink of an eye—at least from Meng Yiran’s perspective—it had reached the two boys. They were caught completely off guard, standing there dumbfounded with no attempt to defend themselves. “Clean” lowered its head and rammed right into the gossipmonger’s belly, sending him flying through the air.

Meng Yiran hadn’t even finished calling it back when the golden furball turned around with smug satisfaction, bounding toward her for praise. The boy it’d hit was already writhing on the ground, howling in pain.

Seeing this, Meng Yiran swallowed her words. She scooped up the returning “Clean” and gently stroked its little head.

The fallen boy’s companion spotted her and glared daggers, snarling a curse before turning to help his friend. But the moment he took a step, something slammed into his calf, followed by a sharp burst of pain. He looked down to see a black beast—neither tiger nor leopard, but with a pair of gleaming golden pupils—standing right by his feet, eyeing him predatorily.

He yelped in fright and stumbled backward, crashing to the ground himself. Blood oozed from the gashes on his calf.

“Wordless” padded back to Meng Yiran’s side with graceful, silent steps. The two boys stared over at them.

“W-What’s going on?” the scratched one stammered, his bravado deflated as he demanded an explanation from Meng Yiran.

She flashed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Sorry about that.” She put on a mock-polite expression. “I heard you two telling stories from way over here, and my two spirit pets got curious and wanted to listen in. They’re still a bit wild, though—they didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Are you nuts?!” the one “Clean” had bowled over finally recovered enough to clutch his stomach and bark threats. “You can’t even control your spirit pets on school grounds? What’s your name? I’m reporting you to the Academic Affairs Office!”

Meng Yiran couldn’t have cared less. She stepped forward, looking down at them imperiously. “The Academic Affairs Office? Be my guest.” She sneered. “Why don’t you share that ‘fascinating’ bit of gossip with the teachers while you’re at it?”

Their faces instantly turned grim, shifting through shades of blue and red like a pair of human color palettes. In the end, they helped each other to their feet, muttered “Forget it” and “I won’t argue with you,” then hurried away.

Meng Yiran itched to spit at their retreating backs. Only when she saw how disheveled they looked as they fled did her anger finally subside a little. With that minor incident resolved, she composed herself and set off to find Tong Yuwu.

But when she reached the Noble Miss’s side, Meng Yiran realized the situation was even worse than she had imagined.

Everyone around Tong Yuwu—whether students or faculty—couldn’t help stealing glances at her as they passed by, their eyes filled with varying degrees of scrutiny.

These people were cautious enough not to gossip to her face, but the contempt and mockery in their gazes were even more uncomfortable.

The well-bred Noble Miss seemed utterly oblivious to it all, maintaining her serene composure as she went about her own business. Meng Yiran, however, couldn’t stand it. She glared back at every single one of them on Tong Yuwu’s behalf.

Tong Yuwu noticed her approach, and a hint of warmth entered her eyes. Her words, though, were far from polite. “You’re late.”

Meng Yiran puffed out her cheeks. “Sorry, I ran into a little trouble on the way and got held up.” She leaned in close to whisper in Tong Yuwu’s ear, “Have they been staring like this the whole time?”

“Hm?” Tong Yuwu didn’t catch her meaning at first. After a moment’s thought, she shook her head. “No idea.”

Meng Yiran pulled a face and muttered, “Whatever. It’s probably for the best—at least it won’t ruin your mood.”

She let out a long breath and grabbed Tong Yuwu’s wrist. “Come on, let’s go eat.”

The two of them walked arm in arm toward the classroom door. They hadn’t quite stepped out when they bumped into a student coming in.

His gaze flicked indifferently over Meng Yiran before settling on Tong Yuwu.

At first, Meng Yiran couldn’t quite place him. But the moment he spoke in that aloof, steady tone, she knew he was Ming Ke, the younger of the Ming Family twins.

Ming Ke held a small black pouch, which he extended toward Tong Yuwu. “For you.”

Tong Yuwu frowned slightly and glanced at the black pouch. “What’s this?”

Ming Ke turned his head away with obvious impatience. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” he explained. “White Conch Ash.”

Meng Yiran blinked in surprise and turned to Tong Yuwu, only to see the same confusion in her eyes. So Tong Yuwu definitely hadn’t asked him for help.

Had Ming Ke gone out of his way to get the White Conch Ash from Taji on his own?

These past few days, Meng Yiran had asked Ling Ze to help track down other sources of White Conch Ash and had braced herself for no progress anytime soon. She never expected that at this crucial moment, Ming Ke would deliver the final missing material right to their doorstep.

Of course it stirred her heart—but seeing that Tong Yuwu made no move to take it, Meng Yiran didn’t dare act rashly either. She just stared blankly at the black pouch.

Ming Ke wasn’t known for his patience, and it was already wearing thin.

“Take it,” he said with a scowl, unusually stringing together a full sentence for her. “A few days ago, weren’t you willing to risk expulsion just to bet against him? What, don’t need it now?”

Tong Yuwu opened her mouth to reply when a voice called from outside the classroom.

“Ming Ke, you done yet? How’s delivering one thing taking so long? Hurry up and let’s go.”

Tong Yuwu pulled Meng Yiran out of the classroom. A short distance away at the stairwell landing stood a few third-year boys—clearly the friends who had come with Ming Ke.

Among them was Taji, the dark-skinned boy she had bet against before.

Ming Ke chased after them, his expression already darkening.

One hand in his pocket, the other clutching the pouch of White Conch Ash, he demanded, “So, do you want it or not?”

Meng Yiran deliberately glanced toward Taji. Though he was furrowing his brow as he watched them, he showed no objection to Ming Ke’s actions and seemed to tacitly approve of him giving away the White Conch Ash.

Before Meng Yiran could figure out why Taji had suddenly changed his tune, Tong Yuwu beside her finally moved.

The beautiful Noble Miss let go of her hand and took the small pouch from Ming Ke.

At the stairwell, Taji curled one side of his lip into a highly sarcastic smirk.

Suddenly, the pouch in Tong Yuwu’s hand felt like a scalding “gift of pity” to Meng Yiran. She tugged at Tong Yuwu’s sleeve and whispered in her ear, “Are we really taking this?”

She sneaked a glance at Ming Ke. “It feels like we’ll just end up getting mocked for nothing and owing the Ming Family a huge favor.”

Tong Yuwu glanced at her but said nothing.

The next moment, to everyone’s surprise, she strode forward and stopped right in front of Taji.

Taji was leaning halfway against the stair railing with half his body, and he showed no sign of straightening up as she approached.

His posture was utterly languid, and his tone equally casual as he slanted a glance at Tong Yuwu. “Got something to say?” Then he arched a brow, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over the black bag in her hand. “If you’re here to thank me, save it. You just need to remember one thing: you got the better end of the deal, so don’t act all high and mighty about it. From now on, stay the hell away from me, your father.

“Next time, even Ming Yi and Ming Ke’s faces won’t save you. Got it?”

Tong Yuwu looked at him. “You done?”

Taji froze for a moment.

Feeling thoroughly dismissed, he abruptly straightened his back, his eyes narrowing as he fixed her with a hard stare. “What the hell do you mean by that?”

Tong Yuwu raised her hand and tossed the black bag straight into his chest.

It hit with a muffled thud, but Taji caught it before it could fall to the ground.

“The bet from last time didn’t go off without a hitch, but our wager is still in effect,” Tong Yuwu said, her expression utterly calm. “Let’s go again.”

Taji stared blankly for two seconds before letting out a soft chuckle as realization dawned.

“You’re serious?”

Ming Ke and Meng Yiran had caught up by then, and both had heard Tong Yuwu’s words.

Meng Yiran’s eyes widened slightly as she stepped forward and grabbed Tong Yuwu’s arm, while Ming Ke’s face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

Tong Yuwu patted the back of Meng Yiran’s hand reassuringly, then turned to meet Taji’s gaze once more.

“Yeah.”

Taji suddenly burst into laughter.

When he finally caught his breath, he turned to Ming Ke with a playful glint in his eyes. “You heard her. This time, it’s not me forcing her—she said it herself.”

Ming Ke scowled and turned his head away, his lips pressed into a tight line as he said nothing.

Taji cracked his neck and nodded at Tong Yuwu. “Fine. One more bet.”

He tossed the black bag containing the White Conch Ash up and down in his hand. “But we’re changing the terms a bit.” He grinned, his eyes gleaming with a dark red light. “On top of the original stakes, if you lose, you’ll go to the broadcast station and admit in front of the entire school’s faculty and students that you don’t deserve to be part of the Nobility.”

Meng Yiran blinked in surprise, then glared at him and snapped, “You have no idea what’s good for—”

Before she could finish, Tong Yuwu gave her a gentle tug.

She nodded at Taji. “I’ll add one too.”

Taji’s expression lit up with anticipation. “Oh?”

Tong Yuwu said, “If you lose, on top of handing over the White Conch Ash, you’ll have to voluntarily withdraw from Clarity Magic Academy and leave.”

Taji’s friends around them gasped in shock and began whispering among themselves. Even Ming Ke shot her a glance.

Taji’s face flickered with uncertainty.

He pressed his lips together tightly. Several seconds passed before he finally nodded. “Deal.”