Chapter 25: Her Lover, the Deceiver Part 3

He Tong let out a cold laugh. “You’re bold enough to say that.”

Jia Hua shrugged. “She’s my girlfriend. Naturally, I think she’s perfect. Regardless of the result, she’s full marks in my heart!”

He Tong: “…”

Perhaps she shouldn’t have asked.

All eyes were glued to the projection screen showing Zhen Yan. She passed through stages effortlessly, reaching the seventh stage. This was the tensest stage for everyone, because clearing it meant a score of 7, tying with Ji Shuoqing!

Then there’d be two first places!

Seven identically sized sheets of paper appeared side-by-side in the distance. The requirement board instructed Zhen Yan to only pierce the third sheet from the left.

As Zhen Yan raised her hand to gather Mental Power, everyone’s hearts clenched. They held their breath, watching the screen without blinking.

“Pfft—” The third sheet was pierced. The other papers remained intact.

The rest area erupted in spirited cheers.

“Whoa! She passed! She passed the seventh stage!”

“Oh my god! This is her first test, right? She hasn’t trained before? This strong on the first try? This is 5A? This is talent? I’m so jealous!”

“…”

Having cleared the seventh stage, Zhen Yan didn’t stop. She continued, seemingly effortlessly, through the eighth stage. At the ninth stage, she paused. Instead of starting immediately, she unbuttoned the first button of her collar.

Sharp-eyed Jia Hua had already noticed beads of sweat beginning to slide down Zhen Yan’s temples, her collar gradually dampening.

Jia Hua crossed her legs, staring intently at Zhen Yan on the projection screen, saying nothing.

Standing inside the isolation chamber, Zhen Yan felt a faint headache beginning. Continuous, unrelenting use of Mental Power did indeed exert pressure on the mind.

Zhen Yan raised her eyes towards the distant small circle formed by nine tiny sheets of paper. Her head throbbed faintly.

She could release powerful Mental Power, but controlling it was difficult. She hadn’t studied systematically. She was merely imitating He Tong’s morning demonstration.

Looking at the requirement board instructing her to hit the tiny center sheet, Zhen Yan rallied her spirits. Summoning her resolve, she channeled the Mental Power within her into a thin rope, shooting it towards the center of the circle.

“Pfft—” The center paper was pierced. The requirement board lit green! Zhen Yan passed the ninth stage!

But simultaneously, only ten seconds remained. Zhen Yan concentrated her Mental Power, hurling it all towards the ring composed of ten coin-sized tiny paper circles.

Damn it, can the distance get any farther?! Can the paper get any smaller?!

The entire ring was shattered. The requirement board lit up red. Zhen Yan failed the tenth stage. Time had run out precisely.

Zhen Yan’s score appeared on the display screen—and it was first place. 9 points. Second place was Ji Shuoqing with 7 points. Third place had 5 points… Last place was Qin Hua, 0 points.

Seeing this, He Tong’s eyes widened. Jia Hua laughed lightly. “Teacher, are you satisfied with my girlfriend’s score?”

“Of cou—ahem, not bad. But not yet a perfect score. More effort needed.” He Tong cleared her throat twice then stood. “Let’s go, she’s coming out too. Class A should regroup.”

“Okay.” Jia Hua followed behind He Tong towards Zhen Yan.

Passing the rest area, Jia Hua, with her superhuman hearing, caught people whispering about her.

“She can skip the test, and she’s always walking with Teacher He. Do you think they know each other?”

“I think they definitely do. And she’s a last-place parachuter. So originally she should’ve been first in Class B. How did she manage to squeeze into our class?”

“Right? She doesn’t have formidable strength like Zhen Yan. She must have gotten in through some inside connection.”

“Heavens! Have you noticed one thing? Her surname is Qin! Same as Principal Qin!”

“Yes, yes, yes! Are you saying she’s a relative of the principal?”

“…”

Listening, Jia Hua suddenly started laughing, causing He Tong walking ahead to look back at her in confusion.

Jia Hua shook her head. “Nothing, just thought of something funny.”

Oh ho, in their eyes, I’m already backed by the mountain of Principal Qin! I’m a student who used connections to get in!

Class A regrouped. He Tong greatly praised Zhen Yan, commented on the other cadets, and finally explained in detail how to control the Mental Power inside the body and how to release it properly.

Only when the dismissal bell rang did He Tong stop the lecture.

He Tong: “Tomorrow starts the three-day break. The third day of break, 7 PM, self-study in the classroom. No cadet can be late. Otherwise—”

“Penalty run of 100,000 meters—” all the cadets chanted in unison.

“Good that you remember! Engrave the time in your minds! Dismissed!” He Tong waved her hand.

“Thank you for your hard work, Teacher! Goodbye, Teacher!” All cadets bowed to He Tong, then scattered rapidly. Jia Hua and Zhen Yan were no exception.

Zhen Yan pulled Jia Hua straight to the academy’s Mission Hall. Taking the hovercraft there, both were astonished upon arrival.

The Mission Hall was excessively grandiose, its exterior gleaming gold, an aura of luxury hitting them directly.

Entering the Mission Hall, they found the first floor enormously vast. The surrounding walls were covered in missions, divided into five categories: S, A, B, C, D. S-Rank missions were the hardest, with the highest rewards. D-Rank missions were easiest, with the lowest pay.

Zhen Yan leaned close to Jia Hua. “Our identity is A-Rank Mental Power Users. Does that mean we can take A-Rank missions?”

Jia Hua shook her head, pointing at the processing counter. “It says there: B-Rank Mental Power Users can only take C and D-Rank missions. A-Rank Mental Power Users can only take B and C-Rank missions. Teachers can take S and A-Rank missions.”

Zhen Yan: “Ah, like that. Then we take a B-Rank mission?”

Jia Hua nodded. “Mm. Choose the one with the highest reward.”

Zhen Yan nodded emphatically. She’d come here precisely to earn money. Naturally, she wanted the highest-paying one.

They directly looked at the B-Rank mission board. The top-ranked mission required two Bakero Snake Gallbladders, with a reward of thirty million. But there was a time requirement: delivery within three days.

This was far more urgent than ordinary missions.

To avoid unforeseen issues, the two sought out a staff member to ask for the reason.

The staff member sighed and explained that this mission originally had a reward of only three million. But because no one took it, and the required completion time kept shrinking, the reward had to be increased repeatedly until it hit thirty million.

The two asked, “Why doesn’t anyone take it? Is the mission very hard?”

Staff member: “Not hard to complete, but hard to deliver within the client’s timeframe. Bakero Planet is relatively far. Even with the fastest Starship, it takes half a day to get there. Bakero Planet is humid, mostly covered in forests, unsuitable for prolonged human habitation. So generally, very few people are on that planet. Additionally, Bakero Snakes, while non-venomous, are extremely timid and hide instantly upon detecting humans, making them very difficult to find.”

The staff member took a gulp of water before continuing. “So to say, its difficulty lies in being hard to deliver on time. Furthermore, the Bakero Forest has rich biodiversity, unknown dangers, and isn’t suitable for extended stays… In short, it’s not easily done.”

Both nodded.

It was clear now. The second B-Rank mission had a reward of only three million, ten times less than the first, showing the first mission’s difficulty.

Just as the staff member expected them to choose another mission, the two said, “We’ll take this mission. Can we process the acceptance here with you?”

The staff member’s eyes widened, then immediately said, “Yes, yes! Please give me your academy cards, and we can process it for you.”

The two handed over their academy cards for data reading and mission transfer. Quickly, they completed the procedures for accepting the assignment.

The staff member said, “Relevant information about Bakero Planet and the Bakero Snake has been sent to your phones. Take a careful look.”

Nodding, they left and took the hovercraft straight to the Canteen.

Man is iron, rice is steel, one meal missed and you feel faint. No matter what, eat first, talk later.

Sitting on the first floor of the Canteen eating, they felt… “troubled.”

All around them, cadets filled the area, all secretly watching Zhen Yan. But whenever Zhen Yan glanced their way, they quickly lowered their heads. The moment her gaze moved away, they looked up again.

“Hehehe,” Jia Hua chuckled lowly, earning a glare from Zhen Yan across from her. She scolded softly, “Don’t laugh!”

“Okay, okay, I won’t laugh, I won’t laugh,” Jia Hua quickly acquiesced.

“Eat quickly, let’s leave fast.”

Although Zhen Yan had been watched countless times since childhood—being good-looking, academically excellent, and appearing to be a high-grade Alpha—she had never once been this annoyed.

Because she and Jia Hua hadn’t disclosed their lover status, unlike at An City No. 2 High School where everyone tacitly acknowledged they were a couple. What if someone inadvertently took a liking to the beautiful, kind Jia Hua and tried to steal her away?

The moment Jia Hua finished her four bowls of rice, Zhen Yan immediately dragged her into the hovercraft, heading towards the dormitory area.

On the hovercraft, Zhen Yan searched for Starships from Planet Dinkley to Bakero Planet. No direct ones existed; they had to transfer at Planet Hakasi. The earliest departure was tomorrow at 7 AM. So, if they wanted to go to Bakero Planet, they could only take that tomorrow morning starship.

Having bought tickets, they showered and slept. 7 AM departure meant they’d have to leave the academy by 5:30 AM at the latest. Early to bed, early to rise, they said.

Lying in Jia Hua’s arms, Zhen Yan blinked. “It’s not even nine yet. Isn’t it too early? Should we read a bit before sleeping?”

Jia Hua: “…”

No, she refused.

Jia Hua held Zhen Yan, kissing her on the cheek. “Read what? Am I not better than a book? With a beautiful girlfriend like me here, you want to look at a book? Are you incapable or something?”

Zhen Yan: “…” I actually am incapable.

Zhen Yan closed her eyes, reached out, and hugged Jia Hua’s slender, lean waist, a smile in her voice. “Okay, okay, I’ll sleep. We’ll sleep together.”

They embraced and sank into deep slumber.

Time passed, both fast and slow. No one knew how long later, in the endless darkness, Jia Hua opened her eyes. Her gaze was clear and bright, without a trace of drowsiness.

Steady breath fanned against her neck. Jia Hua placed a soft kiss on Zhen Yan’s silky hair. Gently, she pried Zhen Yan’s arms from her waist, silently got out of bed, changed clothes. The window opened, then closed, and the person vanished from the room.

Just as the window shut, Zhen Yan, who had been sound asleep, instantly opened her eyes. She reached up and touched her hair. Gazing at the closed window for a long moment, she finally closed her eyes again. Scooting over, she lay down on the spot where Jia Hua had just been, breathing in Jia Hua’s lingering scent, and slowly fell back asleep.

At this very moment, Jia Hua reappeared swiftly at the “Treasure Hunt Holy Land.”

Draped in a black cape, wearing a Demon mask that completely obscured her identity, she headed straight for the auction house.

The auction house was covered in an invisible protective barrier. Jia Hua walked straight through the main entrance.

“Good day, we are temporarily only receiving—”

“Get your Boss. I have a big business deal to make with her. Take this to her. She’ll come out when she sees it.” Jia Hua handed a small box to the Doorman.

Jia Hua’s voice was low, hoarse, and deep. Combined with her outfit, she looked every bit the high-level expert.

“Yes, yes, please come in and wait, I’ll go inform the Boss immediately.” The Doorman had someone receive Jia Hua while he instantly ran to tell the Manager with the box.

The Doorman informed the Manager, who went to the office to find the Boss.

“Boss, a mysterious person had the doorman give this to you. They said they want to do a big business deal with you,” the Manager said.

“Oh?” Sitting on the Boss chair was an extremely alluring woman. She beckoned. “Open it.”

The box was slowly opened by the Manager. A blue gem glittered under the light.

The Boss glanced. “Fake. Throw it away.”

The Manager was shocked. Someone dared to use a fake to act mysterious in front of their boss?

Just as the Manager was about to close the box, the Mental Power contained within the Sapphire in the box leaked out. The Manager instantly collapsed to her knees. The woman in the chair tasted blood at the corner of her mouth.

Her eyes held both terror and delight. Ignoring the blood at her lip, she shot up, snatched the box, and dashed outside.

That Mental Power just now… at least S-Rank!

Sitting in the VIP room, sipping fine tea, Jia Hua silently calculated her expenses.

Fake gem plus small box, one hundred yuan total.

So painful. If she didn’t earn a nine or ten figure sum back, she wouldn’t accept it.