Chapter 122: This is My Last Ripple, Young Mistress!
“President.”
At this moment, what did Yan Huan see when he looked at Sakura Kyoko?
There she was, kneeling on the ground, her bangs disheveled, looking up at him with tear-streaked cheeks that shimmered slightly under the light filtering in from behind her.
In her vacant gaze, a flicker of hope appeared as it reflected Yan Huan’s figure, but in the next second, she seemed to remember something and lowered her head slightly.
“Ugh.”
Seeing this, the smile on Yan Huan’s face faded a little, as if cracks were forming on the surface of a mask.
To be honest, Yan Huan wasn’t heartless; he couldn’t just brush off the emotional bombshell from yesterday and still seem natural today.
So he chose to don his mask of perfect emotional management.
Yet right now, witnessing the once-elegant Sakura Kyoko breaking down in front of him made his mask feel dangerously loose, threatening to slip away.
Quickly, he touched his face and turned away.
Looking towards the doorway, he called out to Spencer, “Spencer?”
“Wah wah, um…”
Spencer scratched her head sheepishly, then a second later puffed up her chest and stood tall, trying to look assertive, “What’s up?”
Yan Huan raised an eyebrow ready to speak but suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve.
Turning back, he saw Sakura Kyoko reaching out to grab his sleeve, softly saying, “President. This has nothing to do with Spencer; it’s my fault.”
“…”
Yan Huan shifted his gaze back to Spencer.
Hearing Sakura lowering her head so sadly, Spencer’s nose actually tilted upward, clearly reveling in a victorious stance that almost forced a laugh out of her.
Yan Huan felt a bit speechless, too lazy to comment on her ‘just add sunlight and bloom’ attitude, he decided to send her away.
“… Since it doesn’t concern you, you can leave now. The Club Battle is about to start, shouldn’t you discuss what to do with your members?”
Having just broken down Sakura Kyoko with a few words, Spencer felt somewhat awkward and wanted to leave, much like someone who accidentally made their friend cry and felt uneasy about it.
Now that she thought about it: wasn’t she getting smarter recently, huh?!
“Then I’ll head out then.”
“Okay.”
With the door ajar, Spencer stole one last glance at the devastated Sakura Kyoko inside.
Then, she glanced at Yan Huan, who seemed a bit different from his usual self, and suddenly felt uplifted and victorious.
It was like the golden egg of the angry little pig had smashed into the nests of the birds, achieving a glorious victory.
An indescribable sense of satisfaction surged within her, making her golden hair shine even more brightly.
Feeling a lot lighter, she was filled with energy.
She felt like she had become even stronger.
“Crack.”
Feeling that thrill, just after closing the door, Spencer cheerfully clenched her fists, “Hooray!”
Humming the theme song of “Angry Little Pig,” she bounced and skipped down the stairs without a care.
As soon as she stepped out of the Teaching Building, she suddenly appeared to remember something, touching her chin in confusion, “Wait, what was I even doing at the Student Council Office?”
“Ah, whatever, it’s all good if I feel great. Hehe~”
With that thought, she shook her head and skipped off toward the shopping street, carefree.
“Rustle.”
In the Student Council Office, Sakura Kyoko still sat on the floor, dazed, her gaze fixed on Yan Huan.
As she turned her thoughts, Spencer’s words seemed to ring in her ears, continuously haunting her.
Meanwhile, Yan Huan lowered his head and picked up the paper titled “Comic Club Activity Plan.”
After reading it for a moment, his gaze lifted to Sakura Kyoko.
Under his stare, she shrank back, hastily lowering her head again.
Yet in the next moment, Yan Huan didn’t say anything; he only placed the paper back on the coffee table.
Then, he bent down to pick up other scattered documents and items from the floor.
“…”
If only the president would ask her something, or do something…
Perhaps that could ease her heart a little.
Though she had not exposed her hidden vulnerabilities, it felt even more painful to be questioned like this, leaving Sakura Kyoko feeling utterly discomforted as she wrapped her arms around herself.
She opened her mouth, hoarsely saying, “President.”
“Ah, what is it?”
“About what happened before…”
Hearing that, Yan Huan grasped the documents, standing up straight.
After a moment of silence, he set the documents down, smiling as he moved closer to Sakura Kyoko, reaching out his hand, “Um, Sakura, let’s talk after you get up. No need to sit on the ground.”
“…”
But Sakura Kyoko remained still, kneeling on the floor in front of the desk.
Yan Huan was slightly taken aback, contemplated for a moment, and then decided to sit beside her instead.
“Creak.”
Leaning against the wooden desk, it emitted a slight sound.
Sakura Kyoko blinked, raising her tear-filled eyes.
She noticed a wide shaft of sunlight filtering between their shoulders, casting a shadow on the wooden floor that resembled a canyon’s gully.
Sakura Kyoko stared blankly at the golden sunlight projection, her left hand trembling slightly as it rested on the ground.
But there was no longer any fingertip reaching towards Yan Huan just inches away.
Yan Huan turned to her, asking, “What about what happened before?”
“Well… President, about the surveillance camera… it was my fault.”
Under the brilliant sunlight behind her, that mouse hidden in the shadows finally attempted to crawl out, trembling.
Yan Huan regarded her, and after a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “What are you talking about, Sakura?”
“Eh?”
“Isn’t that pretty normal?”
“…”
Sakura Kyoko’s eyes widened, disbelievingly staring at Yan Huan.
Seeing him blink and turn away to explain, he continued, “You’re mistaken. That day, I wasn’t upset because of you. It was just that Spencer barged in unexpectedly, so…”
Before her, the illusion of Meow-chan appeared, gracefully seated on the ground, gazing at Yan Huan.
Upon hearing this, Sakura Kyoko’s eyes flickered slightly, as though she realized something.
So that meant the concerns she had earlier… hadn’t actually happened?
She thought it was the barrier’s effect being interrupted by Spencer, causing her relationship with the president to revert to what it was before.
Realizing this, Sakura Kyoko opened her mouth, reflecting a hint of struggle in her eyes.
Since now that she had stabilized, maybe she could…
Pretend that nothing had happened?
That way, her relationship with the president could remain just as before.
With the president’s understanding having been modified, she could monitor him without worries, right?
It was as if the mouse that crawled out of the sewer felt discomfort from the light on the ground, contemplating retreat.
“…”
Watching the flicker of relief and retreat in Sakura Kyoko’s eyes, the Meow-chan in front of her sighed.
“Sakura Kyoko, do you really have to choose wrong every single time?”
“…”
Yan Huan stared directly at the silent Sakura Kyoko, seeing her pursed lips fall into silence and remain quiet for a long time.
Then it seemed he understood her answer.
He lowered his gaze, rubbing his face as if trying to blend his smile into his very soul.
Sighing softly, Yan Huan chose to let this topic slide.
He intended to support himself up, gather the scattered documents, and said, “Sakura—”
“N-no, that’s not it!!”
But at that moment, Sakura Kyoko suddenly exclaimed loudly.
“…”
Yan Huan turned to her and the surrounding space warped momentarily, the outside turning dark before bursting with light.
A contrary sense of common understanding erupted, shattering the prior alteration Sakura Kyoko had imposed upon Yan Huan.
The modification of their norms was undone by Sakura Kyoko.
As chilling consciousness began to warm in Yan Huan’s mind, Sakura Kyoko clenched her fists and declared to him, “This is too much! I know it was my mistake, so even if President wants to dismiss me as vice president, or even call the police, I’m… I’m willing to accept it.”
Tears began to cascade down the pale cheeks of Sakura Kyoko.
Spencer’s mocking words replayed in her mind, piercing her heart like daggers.
But Sakura Kyoko had to admit that that silly Spencer was indeed right.
It was precisely because she didn’t believe that the president could genuinely like her true self that she wore a dazzling mask to catch his attention.
She was indeed despicable, doing things without scruples.
Someone like her would naturally leave the president disgusted and heartbroken.
But even so, she never wanted to change the president’s mind with a barrier to force him to say things he never would have said.
Yesterday, she merely didn’t want the president to dislike her.
She hadn’t tried to deceive or hurt him on purpose.
She deeply regretted using the barrier against him yesterday.
“Clack clack clack!!”
Suddenly, Meow-chan brightened up beside them, calling out to Yan Huan, “It’s fragments, meow! Sakura Kyoko’s modifier just crumbled!”
But Yan Huan didn’t have time to respond to the overly excited Meow-chan beside him, his eyes remained focused on Sakura Kyoko.
The atmosphere in the Student Council Office gradually sank into silence as the two remained seated, sheltered by the desk under sunlight.
The girl was sobbing, as if for the first time she was peeling away the mask she always wore, even if only a little bit of it.
Sakura Kyoko, tears streaming, addressed Yan Huan, “I’m sorry, President. The real me… is nothing like what you usually see.”
The expression management on Yan Huan’s face began to melt away, and after a moment of silence, he asked, “Then what is the real Sakura like?”
“…”
Sakura Kyoko shook her head, shuddering slightly, wrapping her small frame completely within the shadow cast by the tall desk.
She couldn’t find the words to say.
Clearly, after saying that earlier, she had exhausted all her courage.
But at least now, she quietly sat in front of Yan Huan, facing him without avoiding, waiting for his judgment.
Today, Sakura Kyoko was already remarkably brave.
“…. I understand. Though it’s still hard for me to accept, at least you’ve removed all the surveillance cameras, right?”
“Eh?”
Sakura Kyoko blinked, lifting her eyes to look at Yan Huan.
Wasn’t that Nairu’s job? How did the president know?
“… You’re still the vice president of Far Moon Academy’s Student Council. If this gets out, it won’t just be the Student Council; it would shame the entire Far Moon Academy.”
“I’m sorry.”
Sakura Kyoko lowered her head, feeling a bit ashamed.
If this got out, it would probably bring disgrace to her family too, right?
“So the best approach would be to keep you on as vice president temporarily for evaluation after ensuring all the cameras are removed and all the data is destroyed?”
Sakura Kyoko was somewhat surprised because she had made up her mind to withdraw from the Student Council.
In this moment, she looked up with astonished eyes in front of the serious-faced Yan Huan, asking, “Is that really all, President? Why?”
Looking at her like this, Yan Huan unexpectedly recalled how she had looked when she first joined the Student Council and was faced with him asking questions.
“It sounds like you came to selflessly help me?”
“Interpret it however you like.”
“But why?”
“The reason is… I cannot disclose.”
With that thought, a slight smile creased his face as he mirrored Sakura Kyoko’s response.
“Why… I cannot disclose.”
“Eh?”
Sakura Kyoko’s face gradually flushed, her lips tightening as she seemingly recalled what Spencer had told her earlier: “The president used to like you.”
Could it be that the president’s preferences were strange, to still like her even after hearing her say all that?
No, no, no…
That notion was far too idealistic.
But…
What exactly did the president mean right now?!
“Seriously.”
Yet now that the extreme tension was dissipating, her body gradually relaxed, and there was no way to pursue Yan Huan’s inquiry anymore.
In front of her, Meow-chan returned with an ethereal centipede claw radiating a red glow, shaking her head helplessly and muttering to herself, “What else could it be? Isn’t it just because you’re the host of the modifier?”
But in the next instant, Yan Huan pushed off his knees, standing up, addressing Sakura, “Alright, Sakura Vice President. Since it’s a probation period now, you’d better perform well in the upcoming Club Battle.”
“Eh? I will do my best.”
Sakura Kyoko bit her lip, looking at Yan Huan’s profile as she spoke.
After all, it probably wasn’t solely due to the modifier, right?
As Yan Huan bent down patiently to gather the scattered documents, memories flooded him.
Because earlier today, he had seen Nairu.
“There weren’t any surveillance cameras like Dong Jie mentioned; could someone have come to dismantle them ahead of time?”
“Eh, someone like Dong Jie is the most sensitive to such things, especially since that kid is so young. She probably suspects that kid over every little thing; it’s only natural~”
“Dong Jie must be a water sign.”
“What the heck, do you even believe in zodiac signs? Wait, why is someone here dismantling stuff so early?”
“Look right by her feet; it’s a camera!!”
“There really is a camera?! You—who are you?!”
“That face—Jiu De Mi Nai!! Is that you?!”
“Bang!”
“Bam!!”
“Ding ding… clang clang.”
Time rewinds to this morning when Yan Huan was packing his bag at home, he seemed to hear some commotion coming from outside the door.
He paused for a moment, glancing at the door, then quietly crept to the entrance and peeked through the peephole.
Just in time to see a glamorous woman in a black leather jacket lighting a cigarette, stepping to his door and knocking.
“Knock knock~
“Yan Huan, are you there? I just saw you come back.”
That woman wasn’t the bodyguard named Nairu who was always by Sakura’s side?
Yan Huan hurriedly withdrew his gaze, thinking he might have discovered Sakura Kyoko’s secret surveillance camera plan, and her family sent a bodyguard to silence him.
But in the next moment, Nairu’s voice rang out again from outside, “Don’t worry, strictly speaking, I’m not part of the Sakuraguchi family; I’m just acting on the orders of the young lady. I’m here behind her back to tell you something; you don’t have to open the door.”
“…”
“I know you found out about the surveillance camera monitoring you; that was a mistake on her part. I’ve advised her many times already, and I don’t intend to defend her.”
“…”
“I just want to tell you: she’s extremely insecure and self-conscious in front of you.”
Outside, the smoking Nairu leaned against the door, gazing fretfully at several gangsters slumped against the hallway walls, continuing, “She’s so insecure that she doesn’t believe the real her could ever be liked by you, so she can only research your preferences to present herself in a way that pleases you.
“She wants to know where you are, but she’s too afraid to ask you, fearing exposing her intense feelings for you, and so she ends up taking the long way around instead of being direct.”
Behind the door, Yan Huan wasn’t looking through the peephole anymore but was instead staring at Meow-chan, who was prancing about at his feet.
“She’s grown up accustomed to sugarcoated interactions and being two-faced, Yan Huan.
“But ever since she started interacting with you and joined the Student Council, she has slowly begun to change.”
“Let’s just say, everything about her is a facade; she’s a genuine little mouse, and the only thing that’s real is her affection for you.”
Just then, a lookout downstairs seemed to sense trouble and rushed up the hall.
Yet Nairu’s words weren’t finished; she cast a nervous glance at the surroundings, planning her escape route, speaking even faster, “So Yan Huan, no matter what, give the young lady a chance.
“If she shows even the slightest unwillingness to be honest with you, then it’s hopeless, and pretend I never said any of this; you can do as you wish.
“But if it’s the opposite, please believe she can redeem herself. Even if in the end you decide not to be with her, at least you won’t have regrets.”
Inside the room, Meow-chan looked up at Yan Huan, “Meow~”
Outside, a commotion erupted,
“Damn!! It’s Jiu De Mi Nai! Inform the gang—we’ve found her!”
“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”
“Quick, notify Dong Jie!!”
“…”
Dong Jie?
Surely I heard that wrong, right?
Yan Huan suddenly recalled the last time he saw Nairu, noticing the familiar tattoo on her back, and he quickly leaned back to the peephole to observe the scene outside.
He saw Nairu’s expression morph from glamorous to distraught as she heard “Dong Jie.”
She took a deep breath, dispatching one thug before another was about to dial for help.
Nairu winked at Yan Huan through the peephole, then in the next second, she bolted toward another emergency exit.
Running away, the chilly morning wind stung her face harshly.
If it weren’t for the young mistress’s troublesome situation, her skills shouldn’t have allowed her to be discovered by this group of clowns.
Now she probably had to run for a while, or else if that red-haired maniac caught her…
Thinking of this sent a shiver down her spine.
She quickened her pace, internally shouting, “Young Mistress, this is your last chance with Yan Huan! You must seize it!!”
This is my last ripple, ahhhh!!!
