A Peculiar Concern

“Today, cough, today… clear your afternoon schedule. I have something to discuss with you. Dress neatly; I’ll come pick you up then.” Bai Muxue had to exert considerable effort to stifle the cough that threatened to escape, determined to uphold her usual façade before Shen Jingyi.

While a phone call wasn’t out of the question, engaging in a serious discussion about disaster beasts over the phone felt utterly out of character for an impatient, privileged young lady like Bai Muxue. A face-to-face conversation would undoubtedly be more suitable.

This time, the phone rang only thrice, sparing Bai Muxue a lengthy wait. She heard Shen Jingyi’s voice, deliberately lowered, offer a swift reply: “Okay.”

Her voice, it seemed, carried noticeably less reluctance than their previous conversation.

Having been relentlessly teased and bullied by Amber the previous night, Bai Muxue found a sense of dread stirring within her, terrified that her carefully constructed façade might one day crumble before Shen Jingyi.

Yet, several threatening lines remained unuttered, abruptly cut off by Shen Jingyi’s simple “Okay.” Bai Muxue stood agape, momentarily speechless, before she finally managed to lower her voice and continue:

“Teacher Shen, do try to be a good girl… and don’t forget who settled your mother’s outstanding debts.”

“Mm,” Shen Jingyi murmured softly, “I know.”

She appeared to still be at work, as the faint murmur of customers could be heard through the phone. When Bai Muxue had first encountered Shen Jingyi, her tone had been icily distant, never once offering a pleasant expression. Yet, at this moment, her voice seemed… softened?

Bai Muxue: “…”

‘Ugh, that must be a trick of my mind, right?’

‘It must be the fever interfering with my hearing!’

The threatening lines she had meticulously prepared were reluctantly abandoned. As a tickle arose in Bai Muxue’s throat, she once again succumbed to a fit of coughing: “Cough, cough… In any case, Teacher Shen, wait for me obediently there. I’ll be over to pick you up this afternoon.”

For some inexplicable reason, a sudden silence descended upon Shen Jingyi’s end of the line the moment Bai Muxue finished speaking. Despite the quiet, her soft, steady breathing confirmed she had not yet disconnected the call.

After a considerable pause, Shen Jingyi’s voice, tinged with a hint of hesitation, finally emanated from Bai Muxue’s phone: “Um… your voice sounds a little off. Are you alright?”

Bai Muxue was abruptly taken aback by the question. Was Shen Jingyi actually expressing concern for her?

‘Shen Jingyi, showing concern for someone? And for whom? Bai Muxue?! Is this for real?’

‘If there was a list of people Teacher Shen despised most in her life, Bai Muxue would undoubtedly be at the very top!’

‘Ahaha… it seems her fever is quite severe… she’s even started hallucinating…’

‘No… I must still be half-asleep…’

Utterly devoid of coherent thought, Bai Muxue offered no reply. Instead, she numbly ended the call, then promptly collapsed onto the plush expanse of her large bed.

****

Meanwhile, on the other side, Shen Jingyi stood by the counter, her gaze fixed on the “Call Ended” display on her phone, a peculiar sensation stirring within her.

She had, of course, discerned the unusual quality in Bai Muxue’s voice, likely attributing it to Miss Bai’s latest escapades. Surely, it couldn’t be that someone had tragically sustained injuries after a fierce battle with disaster beasts at the amusement park last night, could it?

As this very thought surfaced, even the perpetually serene Shen Jingyi found a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

And yet… why had she, in that moment, felt compelled to proactively express concern for Miss Bai?

The answer to this question eluded even Shen Jingyi herself. It was simply that the moment she heard the young woman’s slightly hoarse voice on the other end of the line, before she could fully process it, words of concern had already escaped her lips.

‘Was the heat so oppressive that it had clouded her judgment?’

With a sigh, Shen Jingyi turned off her phone and refocused her attention on the counter, only to notice her junior schoolmate and Sister Li covertly observing her from a short distance away.

Shen Jingyi instinctively paused her work, tilting her head slightly. “Is something amiss?”

“No, nothing!” the junior schoolmate stammered, instantly snapping to attention in fright.

Witnessing this, Shen Jingyi offered no further comment, resuming her task of organizing ledgers and printing receipts. Yet, when she next lifted her head, her junior schoolmate was still concealed behind a shelf, idly arranging products while furtively peering in her direction.

“…What exactly is it you’re trying to say?” The young woman sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead in exasperation.

Upon hearing her, the junior schoolmate sheepishly emerged from behind the shelf, offering an awkward smile. “Actually… it’s nothing major, really. I just wanted to ask if you, um, have something important happening lately, Senior? You never used to check your phone while working.”

In her memory, beyond making and receiving daily calls or texts, she had rarely seen Shen Jingyi use her phone. She certainly hadn’t observed her senior playing popular mobile games or avidly following trending web dramas.

Yet, observing her senior now, constantly fixated on her phone, seemingly lost in thought… she secretly yearned to ask if her senior was truly in a relationship. And if the person in question was indeed the rumored Miss Bai from the Bai family.

Naturally, she wouldn’t dare pose such a question directly to Shen Jingyi. At best, she could only resort to such indirect probing.

“Mm.”

Shen Jingyi, of course, remained oblivious to the young woman’s inner thoughts, merely offering a faint nod.

Miss Bai’s messages held undeniable importance for her; a delay in response, even a slight one, could lead to untold tribulations.

Therefore, despite her ten thousand objections, Shen Jingyi had begrudgingly designated Bai Muxue as a “special contact.”

Seeing Shen Jingyi nod, the young woman involuntarily gasped, snatching a nearby bag of potato chips to conceal her face and the look of surprised uncertainty etched upon it.

For the perpetually aloof Senior Shen to be so deeply preoccupied… that fabled Miss truly possessed some extraordinary charm! No wonder the students at school endlessly circulated rumors.

Her thoughts drifted to the opulent dress Senior Shen had worn yesterday, and the choker-like neck accessory adorning her throat…

Instantly, the young woman’s mind concocted a novel tens of thousands of words long, brimming with… indescribable content.

“Alright, alright, with so many customers, stop slacking off and get back to work!”

Sister Li, standing nearby, lightly tapped the young woman’s head with a hint of exasperation. Then, turning her gaze to Shen Jingyi, who stood quietly behind the counter, she handed her a stack of documents. “Xiaoshen, seeing how swamped you’ve been lately… those part-time jobs you asked me to help find… are you still interested in taking them?”

Sister Li possessed a few connections in this particular field and was well aware of Shen Jingyi’s less-than-ideal family circumstances. Holding a favorable impression of this polite and resilient young woman, she often offered what support she could.

Shen Jingyi lowered her gaze. “Yes,” she affirmed.

Her submission to Bai Muxue was primarily driven by the colossal gambling debts her mother had left behind. Yet, despite this arrangement, her financial situation had seen little improvement, leaving her still struggling to make ends meet.

In truth, Shen Jingyi understood perfectly well that, much like the designer clothes Bai Muxue had gifted her, money would cease to be an issue if only she chose to ask.

Yet… her inherent pride and unwavering reserve absolutely forbade such a course of action.

“Alright then, I’ve printed out all the details. My friends helped me find these, so just take a good look…”

Sister Li waved her hand dismissively. “One of them is tomorrow. A primary school is organizing a summer activity, taking children to a hospital school in the suburbs for a visit and educational trip. They’re looking for volunteers, and round-trip transportation costs are covered.”

The city outskirts… it didn’t seem to pose any significant issues, nor would it consume much time. Shen Jingyi briefly scanned the documents, then nodded to Sister Li. “Thank you, Sister Li.”

“Oh, you child, it’s merely a small favor…”

Before Sister Li could complete her sentence, a voice, both clear and brimming with youthful energy, resonated from behind them, abruptly halting their conversation.

“Eh eh eh—The Dimensional Shine ★ Girl’s Dream collaboration cards are still available?! I thought they’d all sold out! I never expected to find them in a place like this!”

“Excuse me~ I’ll take all of these, could you please ring them up for me~”

As a delicate fragrance wafted gently closer, Shen Jingyi instinctively lifted her head, her lips curving into a practiced, superficial smile. “Alright, that will be a total of…”

Yet, in the very next instant, the smile on Shen Jingyi’s lips froze, and a flicker of utter disbelief crossed her delicate features.

What met her gaze was a charming young woman, her twin ponytails tied with ribbons, dressed in a black JK skirt. She had stacked a formidable pile of cards on the cashier’s counter, her bright, clear eyes sparkling with a distinct, lively brilliance.

Could she be… the daughter of the late Mr. Tang Mu, whom she had encountered at the memorial service yesterday?

Tang Xingwan…?