Ji Yue Xuan instinctively froze in place, a frown briefly creasing her brow. However, her expression swiftly returned to its usual composure, betraying not a single flaw.
‘Had she never actually mentioned her “endearment” for Chu Xin?’
‘But how could Hasegawa Ten’i possibly know the term “Darling”?’
‘There was only one possibility, yet it seemed highly improbable.’
‘Perhaps Hasegawa Ten’i had overheard her while she was on the phone with Darling, or caught a glimpse of her at the entrance to Chu Xin’s classroom during lunchtime.’
‘If neither of those scenarios were true…’
‘Then it could only mean… Hasegawa Ten’i might have met Darling in private.’
‘Yet… Chu Xin would never reveal such an intimate “endearment” she used for him.’
Ji Yue Xuan found herself in a situation she couldn’t control for the first time.
Hasegawa Ten’i’s voice had actually been quite soft. However, Ji Yue Xuan’s perception regarding anything related to Chu Xin was exceptionally sharp, allowing her to catch the faint words.
A flicker of thought crossed her emerald eyes. But then, she relaxed, abandoning her train of thought.
‘She was simply overthinking things.’
‘The most important thing now was to go home with Darling.’
‘What difference would it make if she knew? What good would it do? She would still be like a pitiful puppy, whimpering on the ground, wagging its tail, begging for a mere shred of its owner’s affection.’
‘Why did she even care if Hasegawa Ten’i knew her endearment?’
‘According to the information she had gathered… Hasegawa Ten’i hadn’t been at school for the past few weeks.’
‘It seemed the lunchtime scene had indeed clouded her judgment.’
‘Nevertheless… she would remain vigilant around Hasegawa Ten’i.’
Seeing Ji Yue Xuan standing motionless and staring at her, Hasegawa Ten’i tentatively asked, “Wh-what’s wrong, Ji Yue Xuan?”
Ji Yue Xuan smiled and shook her head. “Nothing at all. Aren’t you two leaving yet?”
Hasegawa Ten’i glanced at Shimizuma, who was still lounging nearby. ‘What could Shimizuma be thinking at this very moment?’ she wondered.
She shook her head, replying to Ji Yue Xuan, “W-we should wait a little longer. I’m not sure what the club president is up to.”
Ji Yue Xuan offered no further reply. She merely nodded with a smile, then began to move, pushing open the activity room door.
Yet, just as she was about to step out, Shimizuma, who had been lounging, stood up and spoke. “From now on… please take care of me, Ji Yue Xuan. After all… we’re in the same club.”
Ji Yue Xuan paused, unsure if Shimizuma was slow to react or simply being herself. Seeing her “innocent” smile, Ji Yue Xuan responded politely.
“Yes, please take care of me too.”
After saying that, she left without looking back.
Shimizuma remained in her previous posture.
Hasegawa Ten’i, however, didn’t seem to notice. She simply stared in the direction Ji Yue Xuan had departed, lost in thought.
****
Back to the present.
Chu Xin, who had initially intended to wait for ‘that person’ at the school gate after leaving the dojo, sent them a message.
He didn’t mention he would be waiting for her, merely stating that he was done on his end.
Soon after, ‘that person’ sent a message back, asking him to wait for her downstairs at the multi-purpose building.
He walked through the campus.
The vast campus was a striking blend of modern and Catholic architectural styles.
Behind the main teaching building, situated at the very heart of the campus, stood a colossal church. After school, this was where all the nuns, except Tina, who handled daily affairs, would gather.
The sounds of prayer permeated the entire campus.
Bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, the atmosphere took on an indescribable, ethereal quality.
The multi-purpose building was located to the west of the teaching building, making it the westernmost structure on campus.
However, it was rumored that there was another “abandoned” multi-purpose building near the sports field, an ancient structure with external staircases.
Chu Xin had never been there.
He had only heard about it from ‘that person,’ who, having been the Student Council President before his transfer, was well-versed in all the school’s rumors.
This included the essential “Seven School Mysteries.”
Yet, at Maria Academy, there were only “Five Anomalies.”
Chu Xin wasn’t particularly interested in such things. He merely knew of their existence, but not their specific contents.
He walked along the paved paths of the school, heading towards the multi-purpose building.
There were no students left, save for those still engaged in club activities; everyone else had gone home.
After all, no other club would skip classes to conduct their activities like the Kendo Club.
And of course… he wouldn’t explore every hidden corner of the campus out of curiosity.
Fortunately, at the dojo, he hadn’t explicitly stated his intention to withdraw from the club. Otherwise, Jiang Qianhe wouldn’t have let him leave so easily, and he wouldn’t have inadvertently saved a “withdrawal” opportunity.
However, if the club disbanded in two weeks and he hadn’t successfully withdrawn, he wouldn’t know whether to consider it a success or a failure.
‘Forget it,’ he mused. ‘It doesn’t matter.’
As time elapsed, Chu Xin arrived at the “multi-purpose building,” which boasted a Western architectural style.
While its exterior adopted a Western aesthetic, the interior facilities and activity rooms remained distinctly modern.
If student enrollment increased, it would even be used as classrooms.
Maria Academy had stringent examination requirements but no fixed enrollment quota; as long as one passed the qualifying line, admission was guaranteed.
He leaned against the glass doors of the multi-purpose building, awaiting ‘that person’s’ appearance.
After less than two minutes of absentmindedness, his shoulder was suddenly tapped. He turned his head in the opposite direction.
Sure enough, he discovered Ji Yue Xuan, who had been attempting a “sneak attack.”
But what did it matter if she was discovered? Ji Yue Xuan still leaned in close. “Caught you, Darling!”
Chu Xin’s face flushed crimson. He still wasn’t quite used to it, it seemed.
He spoke, “Why didn’t you appear with a blindfold this time?”
Ji Yue Xuan covered her mouth. “Ah… so Darling prefers that method?”
Chu Xin, exasperated, gently pinched Ji Yue Xuan’s cheek. “I never said that…”
Ji Yue Xuan, her face slightly flushed from the pinch, quipped, “I didn’t realize Darling liked my face so much… It seems you had thoughts about your ‘bro’ even before this…”
Chu Xin smiled contentedly inwardly. ‘She truly is a high-offense, low-defense type,’ he thought.
Seeing Chu Xin ignore her, Ji Yue Xuan pouted, a hint of annoyance in her voice. “Hmph, it seems Darling still prefers the old way… But since Darling guesses so quickly… Darling… you could try guessing on purpose.”
For some reason, hearing that made Chu Xin shiver. “How could I possibly guess wrong? Our brotherly bond is unbreakable!”
“Mmm… Darling, that line scores very highly in my heart,” Ji Yue Xuan said happily.
Chu Xin shook his head. ‘What in the world…’
However, after uttering those words, Ji Yue Xuan took Chu Xin’s hand and began walking towards the school gate.
‘What a pity… I was just thinking of ‘ambushing’ Darling, but he noticed me,’ she mused.
As the two strolled intimately towards the school gate.
Hidden in the shadows by the multi-purpose building’s glass doors, Hasegawa Ten’i and Shimizuma both coincidentally stared in the direction the couple had departed.
‘So it really is like that… isn’t it?’
Meanwhile, as Chu Xin was lost in his blissful moment.
He had completely forgotten Tina’s “whisper” from that morning.
The area was now deserted, with only the persistent sound of fingers tapping on a desk emanating from Tina’s office.
At her desk, Tina, still deliberately wearing her horse-oil stockings, had her slender legs crossed. With one hand propping up her chin, she stared expressionlessly out the window, while the index and middle fingers of her other hand tapped together on the desk.
‘Heh… Was she being ignored?’
‘What nerve, Chu Xin.’
Just as she was contemplating how to “deal with” Chu Xin tomorrow, a knock sounded at her office door.
It was the voice of Gongsun Yanglan, the Student Council Secretary Chu Xin had met that morning.
“Teacher Tina, it’s time for the meeting!”
Tina felt a pang of impatience, but duties called. After a terse “Mm,” she rose and hurried to the meeting.
‘However… she had also devised a “punishment” for Chu Xin for ignoring her.’
****
They walked towards the school gate, playfully bantering as usual. What differed from before, however, was Ji Yue Xuan now linking her arm with Chu Xin’s.
The school gate was deserted. The security guards, all nuns, watched them from the security booth, their eyes piously lowered, their figures appearing delicate.
Yet, the next moment, one might notice they wielded massive weapons that seemed utterly incongruous with their slender forms.
Their movements and stability remained entirely unhindered.
‘Such an image could only exist in a game world,’ he mused.
Chu Xin had grown accustomed to the school’s peculiar ways.
He sighed inwardly about something else entirely: he had unconsciously grown accustomed to the daily routine of being “bros” with ‘that person.’
Even now that they had become a “couple”—a legendary status—there was no sense of incongruity.
‘Still, it was truly strange,’ he pondered. ‘How could the “victim” and the “blond phoenix empress” actually become a couple?’
Watching Chu Xin shake his head, Ji Yue Xuan also swayed her head, mimicking his actions.
It had to be said, Ji Yue Xuan, dressed in her Maria Academy uniform, possessed a unique charm.
With her golden hair and emerald eyes, her striking beauty was undeniable. The subtly cinched waist of her shirt perfectly accentuated her flowing waistline, and tucked into the skirt, it further intensified Chu Xin’s urge to see the girl wearing nothing but the shirt.
Chu Xin snapped back to reality, realizing he was still walking down the street, the whooshing sound of passing vehicles filling his ears. He began to speak, “Ji…”
His intended address was cut short by Ji Yue Xuan’s intimidating gaze.
“Yue… Yue Xuan?”
“Hmm? What is it, Darling?” Ji Yue Xuan responded with a smile.
“N-nothing, it’s just that you seem… unusually happy today? Did something happen?”
Ji Yue Xuan giggled and jogged a few steps to stand before Chu Xin. ‘Darling truly understands me best,’ she thought.
She stopped in front of Chu Xin. “It’s nothing much… just that two people in Darling’s class found out about our relationship!”