The Weight of a Snow Mountain

Mentioning Aileen’s name immediately garnered significant trust from the crowd.

Aileen’s prowess that day had been nothing short of legendary. Standing alone on the forum, she had, with a single sentence, delivered a resounding slap to Yun Caiyi and her ardent supporters, leaving no one daring to utter a word in protest.

Following this, someone familiar with the Student Union divulged Aileen’s formidable standing within the organization, allowing the other students to gradually grasp the extent of her influence.

Prior to graduation, regardless of who held the title of Student Union President, Aileen had always been the unshakeable second-in-command. Now, with the new president yet to be elected, she effectively stood as the undisputed leader of the entire Student Union.

The gravity of her words, much like her ‘Tuantuan’ (TL Note: A playful term referring to a woman’s ample bosom), was undeniably substantial!

“You all know I’m against Yun Caiyi becoming president,” she declared, “yet she suddenly announces her candidacy, and so many people rally behind her. Isn’t that just a blatant attempt to humiliate me?”

Xi Yao stretched out her arms, resting her graceful, jade-like forearms on the pool’s edge, as she spoke with an open and candid demeanor.

“As you’re aware, Aileen is like a sister to me. Could she possibly stand by while her sister endured such injustice?”

According to Xi Yao’s dramatic retelling, Aileen had launched her attack in a fit of righteous fury, her single sentence enough to send Yun Caiyi and her champagne-popping entourage scattering in terror, leaving a trail of shattered glass in their wake. To describe it simply, it was as if a Demon Lord had descended from the heavens, truly a Tai Sui God (TL Note: A powerful and awe-inspiring deity in Chinese folklore, often associated with authority and misfortune) unleashed upon the mortal realm.

It was truly an epic tale!

Xi Yao spoke with such conviction, and though the others merely listened, the exact truth of her words became secondary. What mattered was the palpable improvement in the atmosphere; the girls, who had initially been swayed by doubt, now found a renewed sense of calm, and the conversation flowed with noticeably greater ease.

“Group owner,” one girl inquired with a hint of curiosity, “how exactly did you and Aileen come to know each other?”

The other girls, their interest piqued, eagerly leaned in to listen.

“It’s quite simple, really,” Xi Yao began. “As you all know, throughout the entire high school department, there are only two of us who are… this well-endowed.”

A faint trace of nostalgia flickered in Xi Yao’s beautiful, wine-red eyes as she continued, “That day, we unexpectedly ran into each other. It was our first meeting, yet we instantly felt like old friends, a mutual appreciation blossoming between us, and we couldn’t help but…”

She hadn’t actually lied, though it was a rather one-sided account. Aileen had primarily been there to find Jiang Li that day, but Xi Yao herself had indeed felt an instant kinship with her.

A beautiful, blonde, well-endowed girl — who wouldn’t be captivated?

A hush fell over the group for a moment, and Xi Yao, lost in her reverie, didn’t immediately notice. It wasn’t until the girl beside her could no longer contain her curiosity and blurted out, “So, was it soft?”

Xi Yao paused, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. “What do you mean, soft or not soft…?”

“You just mentioned that you ‘ran into’ her.”

“Exactly, Group Owner! Did one of you get knocked over, and then the other fell on top, creating a secondary impact?”

“Who fell? Who was on top? Group Owner, please elaborate!”

Xi Yao’s lips twitched involuntarily.

Good heavens, she had clearly said ‘ran into,’ not ‘collided with.’ And how could they be so certain that they would inevitably ‘bump into Tuantuan’ (TL Note: Referring to breasts, implying a collision of their ample bosoms)?

Mentally simulating the scenario, she realized that given how prominent both of them were, a ‘Tuantuan’ collision (TL Note: A playful term referring to a woman’s ample bosom) was indeed an unavoidable outcome.

“…That’s not what’s important, my friends,” Xi Yao interjected, attempting to steer the conversation back on track. “What truly matters is that we cannot allow Yun Caiyi to succeed. However, Aileen and I alone are far from enough; we need everyone’s collective effort.”

“Group owner, just tell us,” a girl beside her said, gazing up at her expectantly. “What do you need us to do?”

The other girls, too, turned their gazes towards her.

After a mixture of half-truths and casual banter, the atmosphere in the bathhouse had reached its peak. The students’ morale was soaring, their spirits brimming with an almost feverish excitement.

Yet, a subtle bewilderment flickered across Xi Yao’s face.

Aileen hadn’t actually told her what to do, only emphasizing that the most crucial task at hand was to expand their influence and amass strength.

She was on the verge of repeating the same empty platitudes she had offered three days prior, encouraging everyone to continue recruiting more members.

But then, Xi Yao lifted her gaze, and through the swirling mist, she saw pairs of earnest eyes belonging to the young women, all fixed intently upon her.

The confusion and unease, though temporarily veiled by laughter, remained deeply etched in their eyes. They were, after all, still young, and facing such a daunting situation, they felt a profound sense of apprehension.

Yun Caiyi’s forceful declaration had caused the Student Union executives, once seen as pillars of authority, to defect en masse, rendering their individual votes seemingly inconsequential.

It wasn’t merely the mist that was hazy; the girls’ hearts were equally clouded with uncertainty.

In that moment, Xi Yao finally grasped why, at the outset, everyone had needed to see her ‘snow mountain’ (TL Note: A poetic and playful euphemism for her ample bosom) floating on the water before they could feel at ease stepping into the bath.

The ‘snow mountain’ was merely a symbol, a beacon signifying someone standing before them, guiding their path forward. As long as they had a direction, they would not falter.

Yet now, they were missing a true pillar of support. The ‘snow mountain’ had merely been a focal point for their bathhouse gatherings, not a steadfast foundation for their rebellion against Yun Caiyi.

A clarity washed over Xi Yao; she finally seemed to understand her next course of action.

“You will know soon enough,” the young woman stated with profound seriousness. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

‘Forgive me, Aileen,’ she thought. ‘The original plan no longer applies to the current situation, for circumstances themselves have shifted, necessitating a more effective response.’

Just as matter is in constant motion and transformation, so too must our plans adapt.

A quiet settled over the bathhouse, and the girl beside Xi Yao murmured, “Group Owner, what are you going to do?”

Xi Yao had already risen, slowly ascending from the bath to the shore. Water cascaded from her ‘snow mountain’ (TL Note: A poetic and playful euphemism for her ample bosom) onto the towel, eventually tracing a path down her thighs to the tiled floor.

“Tomorrow,” she stated, “wait for my signal.”

Xi Yao had made up her mind: tomorrow, she would also enter the election!

She recalled the overwhelming cheers that had erupted in the comments section when Yun Caiyi announced her candidacy, with numerous individuals holding titles like Student Union executive and club president offering their unwavering support.

‘Let’s see, then,’ she thought. ‘Let’s find out which of us can truly command greater momentum.’

The girls in the bath watched her depart, and those seated on the ground thoughtfully shifted their legs, clearing a path for Xi Yao.

With the departure of “Big A’Yao” (TL Note: A playful nickname for Xi Yao, emphasizing her ample bosom), the second bathhouse gathering concluded. It had been brief, certainly not as long as the first.

Yet its significance was profound, for above all, it left everyone brimming with anticipation for the morrow.

Naturally, in the aftermath, the group chat buzzed with numerous discussions centered around the topic, “The Group Owner and Aileen once ‘collided’ — guess whose ‘Tuantuan’ (TL Note: A playful term referring to a woman’s ample bosom) emerged victorious?” This sparked eager debate among countless group members who hadn’t attended the gathering.

****

Inside Dorm 520, the door clicked open, followed by the soft patter of footsteps.

“You’re back,” Jiang Li stated, not even bothering to lift her head as she offered a faint greeting.

Just from the sound, she knew it was Xi Yao. Her footsteps were distinctively girlish: light and airy overall, yet with a subtle heaviness that betrayed the generous burden on her chest, imbued, however, with a floaty lightness reflecting her current mood.

“Mm, I’m back,” Xi Yao hummed, changing into her pajamas before climbing into bed and pulling the small quilt over herself. “Early to bed, early to rise for a morning run tomorrow!”

Then, she would devise a way to announce her candidacy for Student Union President.

Should she simply post on the forum? Yun Caiyi had done precisely that, and it was undeniably the most straightforward approach. Yet, Xi Yao wondered if it would appear too pedestrian, as though she were merely mimicking Yun Caiyi and thus needlessly overshadowed. Were there other options?

‘Never mind all that for now,’ she decided. ‘I’ll figure it out slowly tomorrow.’

Tomorrow was Friday. If she announced her candidacy, this weekend would undoubtedly become quite lively. However, the weekend itself held little relevance to her plans, for the weekend was designated as ‘reward time.’

A reward personally arranged by Sister Wan.

“You seem to be in good spirits,” a cool, clear voice drifted from the opposite bed.

Jiang Li lay on her own bed, gazing softly at Xi Yao across the space separating their two beds.

“Ji-Jiang Li,” Xi Yao managed a strained smile. “Do you usually watch me like this while I sleep?”

Jiang Li replied calmly, “Not at all. I was simply curious, seeing how happy you seemed just now.”

‘That’s good, that’s good,’ Xi Yao thought. ‘If you really stared at me like that every night, I’d never be able to sleep again.’

“I am indeed a bit happy, because I finally know what I need to do,” she answered casually.

‘Yes, that’s right, that’s exactly it. It’s absolutely not because Reward Day is approaching.’