Transfer Student

Wang Ning stared at that bright and cheerful face, recalling what Xiao had said.

“What’s wrong?” Karleen blinked. Her expression remained calm and open under Wang Ning’s gaze. “Is there something on my face?”

Wang Ning silently looked away, but the next second, Karleen spoke again.

“Why did you stop looking?”

Wang Ning answered slowly, “Nothing. I was just spacing out.”

Karleen suddenly picked up her pace, easily overtaking her. But she didn’t go far—just moved half a step ahead, right into Wang Ning’s line of sight.

She turned her head slightly and smiled, “Now you don’t have to turn your head to keep looking at me.”

Wang Ning: ?

Karleen’s smile was dazzling, like a golden retriever tilting its head lovingly: “This way, you can see me at all times.”

Wang Ning: …

She was starting to reconsider Xiao’s comment that Karleen was “dangerous.”

That smile… she looked more like an enthusiastic airheaded beauty than anything threatening.

Thinking about the game’s plot again, Wang Ning felt a sense of urgency.

In the game, Karleen’s overly kind and upright personality made her far too defenseless. Whether it was the royal family’s shady dealings or the manipulated public, in the end, they all became the blades that stabbed into her back.

[“Don’t say that. They’re my best friends and the strongest emotional support I have—that’s the trust between us.”]

[“But thank you for your concern.”]

[“Heir? To me, if the one sitting on that throne isn’t me, then it’s simply because the people and the empire deemed me unfit. Nothing more.”]

[“…Why? I didn’t do any of this! This is slander! These claims can’t prove I betrayed the Ulysses Empire! Why?! Mother?! You all—”]

[“……”]

[“…………”]

[“………………”]

[“…It hurts…”]

A pale face.

A lit candle.

And final words.

Wang Ning suddenly strode past Karleen.

Under the blonde student council president’s surprised gaze, she spoke in a serious tone, “Senpai, I don’t think we should judge someone’s goodness by appearances alone. And sincerity doesn’t always bring sincerity in return.”

Karleen looked at Wang Ning’s serious little face and blinked. Then she smiled and said, “Of course I know that, Ningning.”

“…Don’t smile. I’m serious. Senpai, you’re far too defenseless toward the outside world.” Wang Ning sighed.

“Hahaha, you make it sound like I’m really easy to trick.” Karleen’s eyes remained filled with laughter.

Ningning really was too cute. She actually thought Karleen was some naive, innocent, overly kind girl with no grasp of the world—wait, was her outer appearance really that misleading?

Karleen fell into thought.

Sunlight had now completely taken over the sky.

The thin morning mist over the track field had dispersed. More students had arrived, and many pairs of eyes were now discreetly observing the two figures running one in front of the other.

The white-haired girl had her hair tied in a bun. A breeze fluttered her short white sleeves and blue skirt. Her slender figure was like a nimble little deer—or a small fish gliding through a red underwater world.

Beside her, that familiar golden hair and bright smile needed no introduction.

A few scattered students secretly took out their “InterWorld” phones and started snapping pictures, excitedly posting them on their “MagicCircle” feed.

“The two school legends are jogging together! What a legendary moment! Waking up early was so worth it!”

“Karleen-senpai is a third-year—why is she with a first-year student?”

Their whispers and chatter filled the air—until a sweet voice suddenly interrupted.

“Hi~ classmates, were you just talking about the white-haired girl?”

The girls looked up.

Standing in front of them was a stunning unfamiliar girl, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Ah, yes!” So pretty! Was that silky blackish-blue curly hair even real?!

The new girl followed their gaze toward Wang Ning, the curve of her lips widening slightly. “Who is she?”

“What?! You don’t even know who she is?!”

“I just transferred here today—Is she famous?” The curly-haired girl tilted her head as if puzzled.

The group of girls immediately launched into an excited explanation—but by the end, they were nearly unanimous in saying:

“Classmate! Join the Angel Cult!”

The transfer student: “……”

The transfer student: “Wow~”

“Eh?” One girl suddenly realized something odd and widened her eyes. She looked at the two identical-looking figures in front of her. “You guys?!”

The number of people on the road suddenly swelled. A few who overslept were now sprinting frantically toward the school building.

Class was about to begin.

Wang Ning hurried into her classroom just as the bell rang, collapsed into her seat, and immediately started looking for water.

Water. Where’s the water?!

Her throat was on fire—she really should have brought a bottle with her!

She searched her desk drawer—nothing.

When she looked up at the table, she suddenly saw a brand-new bottle of mineral water placed neatly on her desk.

“Huh? Where’d this water come from?”

She reached over and poked the girl slumped on her desk beside her.

“Deskmate, did you give me this?”

Glassanne mumbled a vague “Mm.”

“Thanks to the best deskmate in the world!”

The first class of the day was with their demon homeroom teacher. Wang Ning pulled herself together and watched as Miss Louis walked in with a book—followed by two other people.

Miss Louis put down her book, faced the class, and beamed.

“Everyone, we have two transfer students joining us today.”

Wang Ning got a clear look at the silhouettes on the platform—her eyes instantly flew wide open.

Why is it them?!