Chapter 30: Zhao Mingyue Under Fire
Zhao Mingyue rarely used chatting apps because, well, she had no friends and no family. The only people who ever bothered to message her were her classmates, and even then, if she managed to chat once a week, that was a lot.
This was all news she had shared with her friends before, and judging by her situation, it was indeed true.
But today, while she was at the convenience store, Bai Yu noticed her often lowering her head, tapping away on her phone, chatting with someone for quite a while.
Bai Yu took a quick glance at the handsome sunshine boy in the profile picture before vanishing from the room.
Zhao Mingyue blinked awake, her white arms peeking out from her blanket. She grabbed her charging phone, peering at the screen before propping herself up. The thin blanket slid off her shoulders as she did, and a stray strand of hair dangled down. She tucked it back behind her ear.
“It’s already eleven o’clock…”
Leaning against her headboard, she attempted to pull the blanket back up, but her delicate shoulder remained exposed.
Bai Yu wanted to remind her, but Zhao Mingyue tapped the screen, switching the video call to a voice call.
“Hey, Li Nan, what’s up?”
The only person who would video call her at eleven at night was Li Nan, her deskmate. He was the only one who regularly initiated conversations with her, even more so than Lu Liangting.
As soon as she finished her sentence, a distinct man’s voice came through the phone — that slightly annoying tone that tried too hard to sound “magnetic.”
“Sorry to bother you this late, Mingyue. So, I’m moving to a villa in the city center, and while I was organizing my bookshelf in my study, I found that book you lent me. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
“Oh dear, my memory really stinks! This book has been with me for two months, and I totally forgot about it. To make up for it, I’ll bring you a little gift when we get to school tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to, just give me the book.”
“Come on, don’t refuse! Just a little gesture of apology.”
“Really, it’s not necessary.”
“Mingyue, if you keep saying that, I might get mad! We’re friends, you know, it’s completely normal.” He really emphasized “friends” like it was a hot topic.
“I…”
“Alright, it’s settled! See you tomorrow, Mingyue~”
Beep.
The call ended, leaving Zhao Mingyue feeling somewhat speechless. After a sigh, she placed the phone back on her headboard and snuggled back under the blankets to sleep.
She was used to it by now — Li Nan was just like that, always engaging in aimless chitchat.
Bai Yu didn’t come back. She found the situation perfectly normal; given Zhao Mingyue’s looks, it was downright puzzling that no one was chasing after her at school. If her situation weren’t so special, always either working or on her way to work, she’d probably have a line of admirers.
After all, as the protagonist of a campus romance comic, Zhao Mingyue’s charm was undeniable. The effect she had on boys was absolutely lethal. If she dressed up just a little, her love letters would likely flood in.
The downside? Among the boys who’d chase her, there would definitely be some brain-dead individuals. They were easy to deal with, but their existence often served as decoys for someone else lurking in the shadows.
·
·
“Bai Yu, look! Has my strength increased? Are my arms significantly bigger?”
In the cozy living room, an energized Zhao Mingyue burst with enthusiasm! She had risen at six-thirty, and after washing up, the first thing she did was grab Bai Yu’s arm, showing off her slender limb that had no visible muscle definition.
It all started when she woke up feeling inexplicably stronger.
Then she remembered the reward for completing a task on her black phone: [Strength +1]. How could she not be happy?
“Strength plus one! The boost is probably ten percent of your original strength. If you’re super talented, it could go up to twenty percent. And future boosts will be weaker, so don’t celebrate too early.” Bai Yu said, her expression flat as Zhao Mingyue tugged on her arm.
Zhao Mingyue paused, considering this. “Ten percent is still a lot, huh? But… the size of my arms doesn’t seem to correlate with that.”
As she spoke, she sneaked a glance at Bai Yu’s arms.
When she compared them, it was clear Bai Yu’s arms were even more delicate than hers, making her look like a living doll.
But when it came to strength, she knew she’d lose to Bai Yu.
“It doesn’t matter, as long as my strength increases! Bai Yu, do you think if I keep completing tasks like this, I could someday surpass you in strength?”
Zhao Mingyue leaned in close, grinning mischievously, her eyes hinting at mischief. It was hard not to wonder if she planned something strange once her strength outmatched Bai Yu’s.
Bai Yu was 150 cm tall, while Zhao Mingyue was 170 cm. So next to her, Bai Yu really did look like a little sister, the kind that could only whimper when caught up in something strange.
Bai Yu said nothing, stepping into Zhao Mingyue’s shadow.
At exactly seven o’clock, Zhao Mingyue departed.
Arriving at school at half past seven, the distance from the Sunshine Apartment to “Linyang Private High School” wasn’t particularly far; it was just that Zhao Mingyue’s transportation wasn’t the greatest.
Today, Zhao Mingyue was dressed to impress.
Her black school uniform was paired with an over-the-knee pleated skirt. Her legs were smooth and straight, her skin fair and delicate, topped off with white knee socks and brown shoes. Her short hair, loosely tied with a scrunchie, fell casually behind her, with a matching black rabbit hairpin perched on her forehead.
This was just a typical student outfit, but on anyone else, it would be unremarkable. It would merely evoke nostalgia for youth. But on Zhao Mingyue, it radiated a completely different vibe.
It was as if she had a magic spell cast on her, drawing the gazes of passersby. Even in a world where purity often got tangled with green tea b*tches, no one could frown or cringe at Zhao Mingyue. Even the lowest of the low would merely think, “What a pure, adorable girl.”
After the initial reaction, some might even envision Zhao Mingyue in various embarrassing poses, sighing that if only they could relive their youth, they’d do things differently.
Zhao Mingyue was already used to this attention; she slung her backpack over her shoulder and headed to the classroom.
As she entered, the first thing she spotted was a heart-shaped box of red chocolate on her desk, tied with a pink ribbon on top of a book.
At this hour, many classmates were already in the classroom.
Zhao Mingyue didn’t rush in. She frowned slightly at the box of chocolate and the murmurs around the classroom.
Yes, murmurs — something that had never happened before. Today, several girls and boys were huddled together, whispering about her. The moment they saw her walk in, they suddenly fell silent, pretending to be uninvolved while staring at her.
