“Sister Cheng!”
Perhaps Lan Yucheng’s previous reward had instilled a tiny spark of courage in Qing Xinxue.
She walked up to Lan Yucheng, taking the initiative to speak.
“Sister Cheng, tomorrow… could you take me to school?”
Having voiced her request, Qing Xinxue immediately swallowed hard, not daring to meet Lan Yucheng’s gaze.
“Alright. Just don’t oversleep tomorrow.”
Lan Yucheng poked her nose playfully, a smile gracing her lips as she spoke.
“Um… there’s one more thing. It’s about Sister Cheng.”
“Oh? Do tell.”
Lan Yucheng hadn’t expected herself to be involved in this matter.
“It’s just… if I still don’t go to school, we’ll need to ask Senior You Ran for leave.”
“Hmm… Senior You Ran?”
Lan Yucheng hissed softly. It seemed she would have to interact with this Senior You Ran.
‘Could this be my next capture target?’
As Lan Yucheng pondered, the affection panel inexplicably came to mind. It was completely misleading when it came to Qing Xinxue.
She wondered how it would fare with You Ran.
“I’ll go to school.”
Lan Yucheng made the decision instantly.
“Um… Sister Cheng… can’t we… not go?”
“Why not?”
Lan Yucheng countered, certain that after last night’s guidance, Qing Xinxue’s reason wouldn’t be, ‘Don’t let Sister Cheng’s gentleness be shared with others.’
“Sister Cheng, they… they’re really mean…”
“I know. That’s precisely why I must go.”
Lan Yucheng spoke with a confident air; she truly wasn’t afraid of anyone trying to cause trouble for her.
“Then, will Sister Cheng add Senior You Ran back?”
“Yes, add her back.”
****
No sooner had Lan Yucheng successfully added the Senior You Ran Qing Xinxue mentioned, than You Ran immediately called her.
– Lan Yucheng, are you really coming back?
– Yes, is there a problem?
– …You’ve fallen too far behind in your studies. I’ll tutor you every evening.
After saying this, You Ran abruptly hung up the phone.
“I’m going out to buy a few things. Wait obediently at home.”
“Okay.”
As Lan Yucheng stepped out, the cool air in the hallway cleared her mind, which had felt somewhat heated from all the strategizing.
She was contemplating what to buy and how to naturally initiate contact with ‘Senior You Ran’ when she nearly collided with Su Yiyi, who was just leaving her own apartment with a trash bag.
“Oh, Little Cheng, going out so late?” Su Yiyi greeted her with a smile, her gaze sweeping over Lan Yucheng’s face.
“Yes, just heading out to buy a few things,” Lan Yucheng nodded in response, wishing not to elaborate.
“Perfect, I’m also going down to dispose of the trash.” Su Yiyi naturally fell into step beside her, chatting casually. “Yesterday, I thought I heard Little Xue crying.”
“It’s nothing, just a child throwing a tantrum,” Lan Yucheng replied dismissively.
“That’s good then.” Su Yiyi finished disposing of her trash but showed no intention of returning home directly.
Instead, she enthusiastically invited, “Oh, by the way, I just baked some cookies. They taste pretty good. Want to come over and try some?”
Lan Yucheng initially intended to refuse. However, a thought struck her: Su Yiyi was a neighbor, and it wasn’t wise to strain their relationship.
Moreover, simply sitting for a short while shouldn’t take too long. More importantly, she subconsciously felt that maintaining a good relationship with Su Yiyi might become a useful ‘variable’ or even a hidden chess piece in the future.
“Alright, I’ll impose then,” she agreed with a nod.
Su Yiyi’s home was decorated in a warm and stylish manner, a stark contrast to Lan Yucheng’s own minimalist, almost sterile style.
The sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies still lingered in the air.
“Have a seat. I’ll pour you something to drink. It’s my homemade juice, and it tastes excellent.”
Su Yiyi settled her onto a comfortable sofa before turning and heading into the kitchen.
Lan Yucheng relaxed against the cushions, her mind still preoccupied with school matters. Senior You Ran… her voice suggested a decisive and efficient person.
Was her offer to tutor driven by a sense of responsibility, or did it hold a deeper meaning? Lan Yucheng needed to understand the situation quickly.
Just then, Su Yiyi returned, holding a delicate glass filled with an orange-yellow liquid that indeed looked like freshly squeezed juice.
“Here, try some. It’s my exclusive recipe,” Su Yiyi said with a bright smile, handing her the glass.
Lan Yucheng, suspecting nothing, thanked her and took a sip. The taste was sweet and sour, with a rich fruity aroma, very much like juice.
However, after swallowing, she detected a faint, almost imperceptible burning sensation in her throat, distinct from any fruit.
She merely attributed it to a particularly unique fruit and didn’t dwell on it. She was quite thirsty, and her thoughts were scattered, so she took several more sips.
Su Yiyi sat opposite her, watching with a beaming smile, chatting about neighborhood trivialities, and asking about Lan Yucheng’s situation with a natural, friendly tone.
However, it wasn’t long before Lan Yucheng began to feel something was amiss. Her head felt dizzy, her vision slightly blurred, and her body was overcome by an abnormal warmth.
Her limbs also started to feel weak. She suddenly realized something, looking at the half-empty glass in her hand, then at Su Yiyi, whose smile remained, but whose eyes seemed unfathomably deep.
“You… what’s in this?”
Her voice carried a softness she hadn’t even noticed herself.
“Juice, of course.”
Su Yiyi tilted her head, her smile innocent. “Perhaps it has a strong kick? It seems your alcohol tolerance isn’t very good.”
Alcohol?!
Lan Yucheng’s heart sank. She had forgotten about this! This body was brand new, and she had no idea of its alcohol tolerance!
What Su Yiyi had given her was not juice at all, but highly potent alcohol disguised as juice!
She tried to stand, but her body was utterly weak, and the room began to spin. Su Yiyi’s face swayed in her vision, her smile seeming to blur and deepen with meaning.
“You…” She tried to question, but her tongue was already disobedient. A powerful wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her.
She finally couldn’t support herself, her body going limp as she toppled sideways. Before completely losing consciousness, she felt a pair of arms catch her just in time.
Su Yiyi’s low murmur reached her ears, seemingly tinged with a hint of apology, yet mixed with another, undefinable emotion.
“Oh dear, it seems you really drank too much… I’m sorry, Little Cheng, I’ll take you home now.”
****
When Lan Yucheng next regained consciousness, she was lying on the living room sofa in her own home. Her head throbbed, and her stomach churned.
“Sister Cheng, you’re awake?” Qing Xinxue’s worried voice sounded beside her, holding a cup of warm water. “Sister Su Yiyi said you suddenly fainted from low blood sugar, and she brought you back.”
Low blood sugar? Fainted?
Lan Yucheng pressed her throbbing temples, a cold laugh forming in her mind. Su Yiyi certainly knew how to find an excuse.
She took the water cup and drank a few sips. The cold liquid slightly quelled the discomfort in her throat and the anger in her heart. She had been too careless!
To fall for such a trivial trick. Su Yiyi… what exactly did she want? Was it a prank, or… another form of test and a show of dominance?
“I’m fine now.” She suppressed her turbulent emotions, offering Qing Xinxue a reassuring smile. “Thank you, Little Xue, for taking care of me.”
Qing Xinxue carefully observed her expression, as if trying to discern something, but was ultimately appeased by the ‘thank you’ and seemingly normal demeanor, merely muttering softly:
“Sister Cheng should be more careful when going out in the future. If you feel unwell, you should say so immediately.”
“Okay, I know.” Lan Yucheng responded, but a warning bell rang loudly in her heart.