Unconventional Tactics and Jealous Invitations

“Xi Yao, you…”

The moment Jiang Li began to speak, Xi Yao swiftly offered her explanation.

“Having already sent you a message, I spent the day strategizing with Aileen.”

This time, it was the truth, lending her an air of absolute righteousness.

“I saw the message,” Jiang Li replied, “but you weren’t at school. Where did you two go?”

Was it truly necessary to leave school grounds just to discuss tactics?

“Oh, Aileen had to go home to make lunch for her sister, so we went to her place,” Xi Yao explained again.

Once more, it was the unvarnished truth, giving her an undeniable confidence that even made her ‘Tuantuan’ (TL Note: A playful euphemism for breasts, implying they puffed out with pride.) seem to stand a little higher than usual.

Jiang Li, startled by the revelation, exclaimed, “Her home… you went home with her?”

“Yes, I did.”

Xi Yao assented at first, but then a peculiar feeling struck her. “It’s not really ‘going home with her,’ is it? We simply went to her house to discuss tactics.”

“Tactics…” Jiang Li’s gaze turned dark and probing. “Were these ‘tactics’ entirely legitimate?”

“Perhaps a bit unconventional,” Xi Yao admitted truthfully.

‘Unconventional’? That could only mean thoroughly improper tactics!

Jiang Li’s mood soured instantly. Regardless of what these tactics entailed, or whether they had ‘tested’ them on each other during their discussion, the mere fact that Xi Yao had gone home with Aileen was enough to ignite a storm of emotions within her.

‘I am your closest roommate’s deskmate; we eat together, shower together, attend classes together. Every time you ‘win the lottery,’ I’m right there watching. Given such a deep bond, how could you possibly go home with someone else first?’

“Then, would you come to my house?” Jiang Li asked, summoning her courage.

Xi Yao tilted her head, offering a bewildered glance.

“No, why are you suddenly asking such a thing? Jiang Li, is something… wrong at your home?”

“Nothing is wrong, but I wanted to invite you over to my place to play,” Jiang Li stated.

Though the words left her lips, her beautiful, impassive face clearly conveyed: ‘You can go to Aileen’s house, so why not mine?’

“But we’re quite busy lately, Jiang Li,” Xi Yao said, gently rubbing her hands together. “Even if we were to go out, it would be best if we had something productive to do…”

“My sister will be home then, and we can all go back together,” Jiang Li interjected swiftly. “She can help you with a physical examination… I mean, she can devise a better exercise plan for you, and we have full professional equipment at home.”

‘Sister Wan would be there too?’

‘That actually… sounds quite alright.’

Xi Yao pondered, “But we barely have any free time lately. The next holiday isn’t until…”

“The October holiday, a break even full-time schools are compelled to observe, is when my sister and I will both be home,” Jiang Li rattled off. “It’s not far from school, and staying for just a day or two would be perfect.”

She spoke without a flicker of hesitation, leaving Xi Yao to wonder if this was a spontaneous invitation or a meticulously planned one.

“Well… alright then.”

Xi Yao found herself with no recourse. Having been ‘apprehended’ by Jiang Li immediately upon returning from Aileen’s house, she could only agree.

‘It’s fine. Jiang Li is straight, and Sister Wan probably is too. It doesn’t matter.’

As evening fell, Xi Yao took out the meal Aileen had helped her pack, intending it for dinner. The portion was more than ample.

The enticing aroma made Jiang Li involuntarily glance over. “Did you bring this from Aileen’s house? Who made it, her mother?”

“No, Aileen made it herself,” Xi Yao replied casually. “Her cooking is absolutely superb.”

‘Awoo, awoo!’

Suddenly, Jiang Li felt that the scent in the air was not quite so appealing after all.

Lying in bed that night, the young girl pondered how her and her sister’s culinary skills seemed somewhat lacking.

While her sister’s cooking was certainly better than her own, it was merely on par with an average restaurant. What Aileen had prepared, however, smelled distinctly superior.

‘What should I do? Should I try an unconventional approach with ingredients or presentation, perhaps learning some dishes different from Chinese cuisine?’

‘Would Sister be able to do that?’

Jiang Li mused for a long time, only to turn her head and find Xi Yao already fast asleep, snoring softly.

‘Darn it, I forgot to make her do sit-ups again!’

****

The pleasant weekend drew to a close, and a new week dawned.

Campus life seemed to settle into its usual rhythm: morning runs, classes in the teaching building, and lunch. With the monthly exams approaching, most students began preparing anxiously, their focus only partially diverted by the discussions on the school forum.

Xi Yao felt no pressure about the monthly exams, as long as she didn’t fail physical education. After several days of morning runs, she had somewhat adapted to low-intensity exercise.

Before the monthly exams, she had abstained from certain indulgences, ensuring her accumulated stamina would be more than sufficient for the tests. This was the essence of ‘thick accumulation, thin release’ – building up strength for a decisive moment.

However, shortly after lunch, before she even had a chance for a nap, the blonde beauty came knocking.

“I secured the appointment. We’ll go after school this afternoon. You know which building the School Head’s office is in, right?”

Xi Yao offered an embarrassed smile. “Actually, I’m not entirely sure.”

“It’s fine, I’ll take you there then,” Aileen said, turning to leave. “Get a good nap in and conserve your energy.”

Observing her business-like demeanor, it was almost as if she wasn’t the one who had been ‘kneading dough’ with Xi Yao just yesterday.

Jiang Li had been listening quietly beside them, only speaking once Aileen had departed. “Are you two going to discuss tactics again?”

“No,” Xi Yao replied, removing her pants and climbing into bed. “This time, we’re implementing tactics.”

Jiang Li gasped softly. “Implementing tactics requires going to the School Head’s office?”

‘Are lesbians really this bold?’

Xi Yao offered no verbal reply, merely giving Jiang Li a proud glance. Aileen’s radical tactic of ‘pulling the firewood from under the cauldron’ was something only the two of them would dare to conceive and execute.

“Good afternoon, Jiang Li. Wish me glorious success!”

****

In truth, few in the school knew that the old School Head had left due to other commitments, and a young acting School Head was now in charge for the current semester.

At six in the evening, some time after dismissal, Xi Yao finally found Aileen at the side staircase of the teaching building.

“You’re quite late,” Aileen remarked, checking her phone. “Fortunately, it’s not yet our appointment time.”

‘Wasn’t that because you were standing so far out of the way?’

Xi Yao, too, was impeccably dressed in her school uniform today, mirroring Aileen’s figure-hugging, silver-and-blue attire. The taut fabric exuded an air of youthful vigor and vitality.

This vitality was primarily evident in the prominently supported ‘Tuantuan’ of both girls.

Aileen approached Xi Yao, reaching out to straighten her collar.

“Let’s be formal. We’re about to meet the School Head.”

As they stood so close, their four ‘great snow mountains’ pressed together, deforming like colliding tectonic plates, their ‘altitudes’ rising several degrees.

Fortunately, school had been out for a while, and the area was quite secluded. No one witnessed the scene, otherwise, a shout would surely have erupted:

‘Green! Green! Jiang Li’s been greened!’ (TL Note: In Chinese slang, ‘to be greened’ (戴绿帽) means to be cuckolded or cheated on; here, it is used humorously to imply a platonic ‘betrayal’ of friendship.)

“Let’s go,” Aileen said. “I hope our esteemed School Head has just finished dinner.”

Xi Yao nodded silently.

After a meal, one’s mood improves, and with the stomach demanding blood flow from the brain, one is less inclined to overthink.

She herself had been so full after lunch that she’d forgotten to close her door when rewarding herself in her boudoir.

The two girls walked one behind the other; whenever Xi Yao fell behind, Aileen would turn back and pull her along for a moment.

The School Head’s office, unlike those of other school leaders, was located in an independent building. It wasn’t particularly tall, only four or five stories, but its exterior appeared exceptionally grand. The rooftop alone seemed to be several times the height of other buildings.

One could only wonder what secrets lay above.