Unexpected Sweetness Amidst the Gloom

According to the stipulations, from the moment she signed the agreement, everything about her, from then on, would belong to Bai Muxue.

Like a puppet controlled by unseen strings, every moment of her time was held firmly in Bai Muxue’s grasp.

While the agreement did mention special circumstances would be handled on a case-by-case basis, Shen Jingyi knew with stark clarity that even if such situations arose, it would make little difference.

The right to interpret all clauses belonged solely to Bai Muxue; perhaps only when the young lady was pleased would Shen Jingyi be granted a meager sliver of time to merely exist.

Bai Muxue bringing her to the memorial service was nothing more than treating her as a passable accessory, a diversion for her amusement.

Her refusal now, however, was an undeniable public affront to Bai Muxue’s dignity.

Although their recent interactions might have resembled ‘friendship’ in some fleeting way, from the very beginning, she and Bai Muxue had never been friends.

—One was a high-and-mighty young lady who possessed everything she desired; the other was an ordinary high school girl from a struggling family, forced to work part-time to supplement household expenses.

They simply did not belong to the same world.

Shen Jingyi had not eaten for an entire day, had endured two consecutive high-intensity battles, and had just been exposed to a biting cold wind.

Her already fair complexion was now starkly pale, even her lips drained of all color.

Yet, she found herself unable to care about her appearance, her troubled mind keeping her eyes downcast, too wary to meet Bai Muxue’s gaze.

‘Would she believe I had violated the agreement?’

‘Or perhaps… she would do something even more outrageous, more humiliating, just as she had on the rooftop earlier…’

To Shen Jingyi’s surprise, Bai Muxue merely cast a glance at her explicit refusal, then turned with a faint smile and said: “Let’s go.

We can discuss this further in the car.”

Bai Muxue leisurely crossed the street, where the Bai family’s luxury car waited silently by the curb.

She pulled open the door and settled inside without hesitation.

Shen Jingyi gripped the door handle, and in the reflection of the car window, her ashen face appeared as delicate as paper, ready to crumble at the slightest breeze.

The girl tilted her head. “Why are you just standing there? Get in.”

“…”

Hearing this, Shen Jingyi pressed her lips together and climbed into the car.

After the driver solicitously inquired about the young lady’s well-being, he fell silent.

No music played, and aside from the engine’s low rumble and the rushing wind outside the windows, no other sound disturbed the car’s interior.

Into this deathly silence, Shen Jingyi spoke again: “–I won’t be going tonight.”

Her gaze fixed on the car window, her small hands silently clenched, and her usually soft, delicate body gradually tensed.

“Oh.”

Bai Muxue merely nodded languidly at her words, seemingly oblivious to Shen Jingyi’s unease and tension. “If you’re not going, then don’t.

I won’t be going either.”

‘After all, that little girl Tang Xingwan was perfectly fine; with her secretly looking out for her, the girl would lead a life free of worries about food and clothing.’

‘As for her previous body, it would be properly laid to rest after the memorial service.’

‘And those high-ranking officials from the Disaster Prevention Bureau trying to curry favor? Who cared about them? She couldn’t be bothered to deal with that lot.’

However, Bai Muxue’s internal musings remained, naturally, unknown to Shen Jingyi.

Shen Jingyi froze for several seconds, then looked at Bai Muxue with a hint of disbelief.

She had fully expected the young lady Bai to be highly displeased, perhaps even doing… *that* sort of thing to her right there in the car.

At this moment, the young lady Bai propped her chin with a small hand, a lollipop dangling from her mouth, as she idly scrolled through her phone.

The dim, yellow streetlights outside cast fragmented gleams upon her, highlighting her delicate features and exquisite eyes.

Unlike the seductive charm she exuded after her transformation, the current Bai Muxue, with her fair and tender complexion, resembled a delicate porcelain doll, instinctively making one want to cradle and dote upon her.

Shen Jingyi hesitated for a moment. “You…”

“What is it?” Bai Muxue looked up.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Jingyi slowly averted her gaze. “–It’s nothing.”

“Is that so~”

Bai Muxue put down her phone, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. “This young lady happens to have plans tonight, and since you do too, we’ll let it slide.

But the next time you utter such words…”

The girl paused, then playfully raised her lollipop, deliberately drawing out her tone. “–I can’t say what might happen, you know~”

At these words, Shen Jingyi’s delicate body instantly tensed, only to relax moments later. “Mm…”

Observing the countdown increase by another day, Bai Muxue nodded in satisfaction.

No one spoke for the remainder of the journey.

By now, they had reached Wangdu’s main urban area, the sky having transformed from a setting sun’s glow to an impenetrable darkness.

Around them, streetlights and neon signs illuminated patch after patch of the cityscape.

Ignoring the driver’s questioning gaze, Bai Muxue turned to the drowsy girl and asked: “Teacher Shen, would it be alright to drop you off near that convenience store… Teacher Shen?”

“Ah? Yes.”

Shen Jingyi took a moment to fully register the question, then pressed the corner of her eye and softly said: “Apologies, I was a little distracted just now.”

After a slight hesitation, she quietly added: “–Thank you.”

Observing Shen Jingyi’s unsteady demeanor, Bai Muxue couldn’t help but furrow her brows slightly. “Are you feeling unwell?”

She had kept her eyes closed since getting into the car, practically dozing off for the entire ride.

“No,” Shen Jingyi gently shook her head.

‘It was merely low blood sugar from mana depletion combined with not having eaten… Though truly uncomfortable, it wasn’t unbearable.’

‘She checked the time on her phone; there should still be enough for her to buy a bread from the supermarket to stave off her hunger.’

The convenience store where Shen Jingyi worked was located in the main urban area, not far from their current location.

After the car drove a short distance further, it pulled up beside the convenience store.

Once the car came to a stop, Bai Muxue turned to Shen Jingyi, a lollipop in one hand, the other propped on the seat cushion, and let out a cunning chuckle. “Well, we’ll let it go this time, but at the next gathering, Teacher Shen, you’ll have to keep me proper company, okay~”

“–Alright.”

Shen Jingyi nodded.

The car door unlocked, and as she pushed it open, a gust of fresh air immediately washed over her.

The boisterous sounds of men and women on the street drifted into her ears; girls walked past her, clutching bubble tea, while boys chattered excitedly about heading to an internet cafe for a group game…

So much had transpired today that, for a moment, Shen Jingyi felt as though she had been transported to another world.

She turned back, intending to thank Bai Muxue.

But the instant she tried to push herself upright, her face suddenly turned ashen, and the entire world seemed to spin around her.

The combined after-effects of low blood sugar and mana depletion made her legs buckle, and before she could even react, she collapsed straight down.

“Eh? Eh? Eh???”

Bai Muxue, who had been diligently maintaining her persona as a villainous young lady, suddenly panicked.

Seeing Shen Jingyi fall directly towards her, she hastily reached out to steady her.

However, her petite frame was no match for Shen Jingyi’s weight; she felt a powerful force, and Shen Jingyi tumbled straight into her arms.

“Oh, my!”

With a startled cry, both girls collapsed onto the seat cushions.

The driver, alarmed, hastily turned his head. “Young Lady?? Are you alright?”

“Ah, ah, I’m fine, I’m fine.”

The pain throbbing in her chest made Bai Muxue’s lips twitch slightly.

She hastily shook her head, indicating she was unharmed.

Seeing Shen Jingyi, pale-faced and unconscious, lying in her embrace, Bai Muxue’s heart jolted with alarm.

A sudden possibility flashed through her mind.

‘…Low blood sugar?’

Lost in thought, she struggled to free her pinned arm and wrapped it around Shen Jingyi.

Her other hand instinctively clutched the lollipop in her mouth, a flicker of hesitation crossing her pretty face.

‘Ugh… did she really have to do this?’

The lollipop in her hand was picked up and put down, as if she were engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

‘Tsk, this was no time for shyness.

Saving her was paramount, saving her was paramount!’

The girl secretly gritted her teeth, then took the lollipop from her mouth.

She pressed the candy against Shen Jingyi’s lips, forcefully pushing it inside.

At that moment, Shen Jingyi was not entirely unconscious; after a wave of dizziness, her senses gradually returned.

For Shen Jingyi, hypoglycemic dizziness was a common occurrence.

She only paused for a moment before attempting to prop herself up and sit upright.

Immediately, through a hazy fog, something was slipped into her mouth.

Seeing Shen Jingyi’s eyes flutter open, hazy and unfocused, Bai Muxue’s gaze darted away, her fair cheeks flushed a deep crimson, as if about to bleed, and she spoke with a hint of guilt:

“Th-th-that, you need to replenish your blood sugar… You, why don’t you give it a lick? It’s sweet.”

Still not fully lucid, Shen Jingyi heard the girl’s stammering voice.

She instinctively licked it as told, then held the lollipop in her mouth.

In her dazed state, only the sensation spreading across her tongue remained.

‘—It truly was, very sweet.’