A Farcical Encounter and a Frightening Suggestion

Zhuang Xun turned her head, observing Meng Miao, whose hands were casually tucked into her pockets, her gaze indifferent. For a brief moment, Meng Miao’s peripheral vision landed on Zhuang Xun before shifting to Ji Xiao.

“I merely happened to spot a familiar junior and thought I’d come over to say hello~” Ji Xiao’s face, at some point, had regained its smiling expression. “Senior Meng, you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Meng Miao replied without ceremony, “I do mind.” She then revealed the watch hidden within her sleeve, speaking with utmost seriousness. “I’ve been waiting for you for five minutes. Do you want me to keep waiting?”

Zhuang Xun watched the decisive Meng Miao, not uttering a single word throughout the exchange.

Ji Xiao’s lips twitched, and she reluctantly stood up, moving to Meng Miao’s side with a pout. “Fine! Senior, you’re always so precise with time. It’s boring!”

“Then I’ll be leaving now.” As soon as the words left her lips, Meng Miao turned to depart.

Ji Xiao, appearing utterly helpless, trailed behind her. “My mistake! My mistake! I’ll come with you right now!”

It was only after Ji Xiao and Meng Miao had disappeared from sight that Zhuang Xun realized the farce had finally ended. As her body relaxed, her phone chimed with a ding.

[Dream (Senior Meng Miao): Don’t take what Ji Xiao said to you to heart.]

[Dream (Senior Meng Miao): She’s a lunatic.]

Upon seeing these two messages, Zhuang Xun was momentarily unsure how to process them. The last person Senior Meng Miao had called a “lunatic” was Senior Ning Qi…

Before she could reply, a third message arrived.

[Dream (Senior Meng Miao): She and Shen Xian knew each other early on, so there’s no need to care about her words. If you truly care, go directly to Shen Xian.]

Zhuang Xun’s hand paused over the keyboard, Meng Miao’s message reflected in her eyes. Even though she isn’t here, her ability to guess my internal thoughts is a little frightening, isn’t it? Does everyone in the Magic Department have to study psychology?

[Zhuang Xun: I understand. Thank you, Senior.]

After replying, she turned off her screen and set it aside, sitting quietly to finish the last few sips of her coffee.

She wasn’t jealous that Ji Xiao and Shen Xian had known each other for a long time; she didn’t even have the standing to be jealous right now. More than jealousy, she truly did care about what Ji Xiao had said. As Meng Miao stated, it was impossible not to care. Ji Xiao’s words contained far too much information she didn’t know.

The fastest way to verify it was, naturally, to ask the person directly.

But… Zhuang Xun recalled her senior’s somewhat strange behavior today. The thought of contacting her was once again set aside. After experiencing the chaotic pheromone leak yesterday, perhaps being alone was better than meeting Shen Xian right now.

Moreover, her main priority was preparing for the assessment ten days away. Just then, her phone chimed again.

[Dream (Senior Meng Miao): Shen Xian asked me to send this to you.]

[Dream (Senior Meng Miao): Newcomer Assessment Content + Supplementary Instructions.pdf**]**

[Zhuang Xun: Thank you, Senior.]

As soon as Zhuang Xun replied to Meng Miao, Shen Xian’s message popped up the very next second.

[Chord Tone (Senior Shen Xian): Little Zhuang Xun~ I had Miaomiao send the file to you, take a look! Feel free to contact me with any questions.]

[Chord Tone (Senior Shen Xian): Love you! (sticker) ]

Seeing these two messages, Zhuang Xun had a strong suspicion. Her senior likely didn’t want to contact Ning Qi for the file, so she had chosen Meng Miao as a compromise.

[Zhuang Xun: Okay, thank you, Senior.]

[Chord Tone (Senior Shen Xian): You’re welcome~ Don’t push yourself too hard. (kissing sticker) ]

Zhuang Xun opened her emoji keyboard and sent a matching kissing face back. Her phone screen then reverted to the newcomer assessment PDF. After more than ten minutes of reading, her expression grew solemn.

It was just as she had thought. The terminology for the individual magic assessment was extremely simple—the basics. However, this created a massive problem. The magic she had been learning was taught by Shen Xian and Ning Qi. Her primary focus had been advanced practical combat magic.

The probability of those high-level spells being used in a recruit assessment wasn’t high. Standardized, simple magic terminology would actually be difficult for her because she needed to learn how to control both the intensity and the applicable range of the spells to fit the criteria.

Moreover, she had never even seen the two magic terminology books for the written exam mentioned in the document. This was because she was Shen Xian’s partner. Her senior specialized in ancient magic terminology; therefore, Zhuang Xun had studied the same.

Two textbooks in ten days… could she do it?

She looked at her dark phone screen. This was the most suitable time to contact her senior for help, and Shen Xian had invited her to do so. But Zhuang Xun wanted her senior to get some proper rest during this period. Aside from Shen Xian, there was only one other person she could consult.

“Hello? Junior Zhuang~ Why are you calling me at this hour?”

Zhuang Xun turned on her living room light and spoke into the phone. “Senior Ning Qi.”

The next second, she heard Ning Qi’s soft chuckle from the other end.

“Muxi, don’t fuss~ I’m on the phone with a junior. Junior Zhuang, please wait a moment.”

Zhuang Xun subconsciously nodded, then softly said, “Okay.”

Accompanied by a dog’s bark and the rustle of clothes, the sounds faded as Ning Qi moved.

“What’s the matter? You can tell me now.” The sound of wind carried through the phone; Zhuang Xun realized Ning Qi was calling her from a balcony.

“What’s wrong?” Ning Qi’s voice softened.

Zhuang Xun took a breath. “Senior, may I borrow two books from you?”

The other end of the line fell silent for a moment, then Ning Qi cut straight to the chase. “Are you looking for me because of the newcomer assessment?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you go to Little Shen Xian?” Zhuang Xun heard the soft pop of a bottle being opened.

Zhuang Xun didn’t mention the pheromone incident, simply stating her current feelings. “I don’t want Senior to worry about me because of this.”

“Is it about the pheromones?” Ning Qi’s words hit the mark.

Zhuang Xun swallowed. “Senior…”

“I won’t ask any more questions.” Ning Qi chuckled. “I can lend you the books. In fact, I can do more than that. If you need it, I’d be happy to be your private tutor.”

Zhuang Xun tightened her grip on her phone. “Why would Senior suggest that?”

Although she had considered the idea, she had quickly dismissed it. After the accident, Ning Qi had voluntarily taken on some of Shen Xian’s workload.

“Isn’t it more appropriate to ask me than to ask Little Shen Xian? I happen to have nothing much going on recently. Since you called me, doesn’t that prove you want more than just to borrow two books?”

“Senior, do you need a psychological counseling license to join the department?”

“Pfft, hahahahahaha!” Ning Qi burst out laughing, her tone eventually turning serious. “What would you need that for? You want to prove yourself, and I just happen to have the ability to help. You definitely won’t lose out by letting me help you. And… Little Shen Xian’s expression would be very interesting if she knew her partner found another senior, wouldn’t it?”