Only Bai Xi and Chen Jingmo remained in the activity room, standing on opposite sides, the air thick with tension.
“If you have something to say, say it clearly. I don’t care about your Nanluo rules, I have no interest in your ‘playing house’ school gangs, and I certainly have no interest in a one-on-one fight like a grade-schooler. You’re seventeen, almost an adult—try to be a bit more mature.”
As she spoke, Bai Xi was communicating with 002 in her mind. Sensing her familiar physical constitution and strength returning through the system’s temporary buff, she almost laughed out loud. Man, I should pick fights more often. This feeling is amazing!
Because of her good mood, her words had a certain lightheartedness to them, which only made her sound more arrogant.
Chen Jingmo had never encountered someone who dared to be this cocky in front of him. Ever since he could walk, he had been fighting. In every school he attended, everyone usually cowered the moment they saw him. Bai Xi’s active provocation was a rare sight indeed.
However, this rarity didn’t change his original intent. Though, if Bai Xi could hold her own later without begging for mercy, he might think more highly of her and let her off the hook.
“Don’t talk to me about interest. You hit my people, which is the same as hitting my face. If I don’t do something, I won’t be able to save face. So today, you’re fighting whether you like it or not. But you don’t look like much of a fighter, and my underlings probably exaggerated how you took them down. I won’t use my full strength; I’ll just give them an explanation and call it a day, how about it?”
Chen Jingmo scanned Bai Xi up and down. His heated brain cooled slightly, and he began to hesitate. Did this weak-looking guy really floor Jin Zhong and the blonde guy?
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow. Seeing Chen Jingmo quietly set down his baseball bat, she waved a hand. “No need for that. But we’re short on time right now. How about this: today at noon, on the rooftop. Bring all those guys I hit last time. If they want an explanation, let them come get it from me. Deal?”
Bai Xi was desperate to keep her temporary physical buff for as long as possible, so she naturally wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip. Besides, if she let herself get beaten up just to save some kid’s face, where would her face go? Furthermore, once they actually started, it was anyone’s guess who would end up as the “grandson.”
Surprised by her words, Chen Jingmo looked at her skeptically. “You mean you’re actually challenging us to a group fight?”
A group fight? Bai Xi curled her lip inwardly. No, I’m just using you as an excuse to get 002 to let me keep this body strength a bit longer.
She kept her thoughts to herself and gave a firm nod. “Twelve noon. Class starts at two, so we’ll still have time for lunch.”
“Heh, you still have the appetite for lunch,” Chen Jingmo sneered. Thinking about Bai Xi’s status as the Young Master of the Bai family, he assumed she was going to call in reinforcements. He agreed decisively. “Fine. Twelve o’clock. Whoever doesn’t show up is a grandson!”
As soon as he finished, the bell for the third period rang. The third period was Language with the “nagging monk.” Chen Jingmo had been lectured by that old man—who was basically a modern-day Tang Sanzang—countless times. He had a headache just thinking about Chinese class and didn’t want to get caught in the teacher’s crosshairs, so he led his group out, dragging the protesting Jiang Zhiya with him.
Feeling the long-lost power coursing through her body, Bai Xi was in an exceptionally good mood. She didn’t want to waste this borrowed time in a boring Language class, so she made a split-second decision: she was skipping.
While the school leaders generally didn’t dare offend the Bai family, Bai Xi didn’t want to be too flashy. She avoided the main teaching building and slipped through the interconnected sky-bridges to the Art Building in the corner of the campus. It was usually deserted.
While Bai Xi was running around the campus as free as a bird released from a cage, things weren’t so easy back in the classroom.
By the time Chen Jingmo and his crew slipped through the back door, the Language teacher’s polished leather shoes had already stepped into International Class Two’s territory. His white shirt was tucked neatly into a leather belt, and he held a stack of test papers. His graying hair was combed back meticulously, and his eyes—which didn’t need glasses—scanned the room like a radar.
“Is the Monitor back? Write down the names of everyone who is late or absent without leave. Make two copies—one for me, and one for your Form Teacher!”
Fu Zuo stood up and gave a respectful student’s bow. She scanned the room, pausing when she saw Bai Xi’s empty seat. Under the teacher’s piercing gaze, she wrote Bai Xi’s name on both lists.
Once the names were collected, the “Old Monk” began his lecture.
“This Old Monk is as eccentric as ever. I wonder if he’s still going through male menopause?” Only two minutes into class, Chen Jingmo had already received a dozen “death stares” from the teacher. He whispered to Jiang Zhiya while the teacher was writing on the board.
“Chen Jingmo! If I catch you one more time, you can go to your Form Teacher’s office for your Language lesson!” A piece of chalk flew across the room, grazing Chen Jingmo’s head and landing right in front of Yu Mo.
“I’m giving you ten minutes to memorize the passage I’ve assigned on the board. You may check each other in pairs. After ten minutes, I will conduct a random check. Anyone who can’t recite it will copy it fifty times. The mandatory check list: Chen Jingmo, Jiang Zhiya.”
The teacher slammed the eraser on the podium, his eyebrows twitching with irritation.
Hiding behind his book, Chen Jingmo rolled his eyes. He and Jiang Zhiya turned around to face the back. Their “front-row” neighbors didn’t dare turn around; they were already busy discussing with the rows in front of them.
“Why hasn’t Bai Xi come back yet?” Jiang Zhiya had noticed it when Fu Zuo took attendance. She glared at Chen Jingmo. “What’s wrong with you? How did Bai Xi offend you?”
Yu Mo, who had been focused on stroking the cat, looked up at Chen Jingmo. His eyes were dark and heavy.
Being stared at by both of them, Chen Jingmo scowled uncomfortably. “She’s the one who hit my people first, okay? Besides, I didn’t do anything to her. I said I wanted to duel, but she proposed a group fight. Then the bell rang and I came back. She’s probably on the phone with her dad right now calling for backup.”
“A group fight?!” Jiang Zhiya and Yu Mo exclaimed in unison.
“Is there a hole in your brain? Look at Bai Xi—who could she possibly beat in a fight? Your underlings are all thick-skinned thugs. They’re obviously using you as a shield to intimidate her. Don’t you see through them? I don’t care—you are not to touch Bai Xi!” Jiang Zhiya nearly exploded. If she hadn’t been afraid of the Old Monk on the podium, she would have grabbed Chen Jingmo by the collar.
Yu Mo didn’t speak, but his expression suggested he actually agreed with Jiang Zhiya for once.
“Well, Bai Xi didn’t deny it. And in a group fight, she’ll bring her own people. It’s not like she’s going in personally. What are you so worried about?” Hearing Jiang Zhiya’s logic, Chen Jingmo felt a bit like a bully, and his tone softened.
“Still, no. You’re not allowed to go,” Jiang Zhiya snapped.
Helpless, Chen Jingmo took out his phone and opened the Nanluo Academy forum. “I’ve already leaked the news. The fight is on. If I don’t show up, what kind of man would I be? Look, just stay out of it. I know what I’m doing; I won’t hurt her. If she’s smart and doesn’t show up, I won’t pursue it further. Is that good enough?”
On the forum, five or six “mega-threads” had already appeared. A fight between the Young Master of the Bai family and the Boss of Nanluo was clearly the hottest topic. Some people had already prepared binoculars, determined to witness this historic moment.
Since Chen Jingmo had backed down slightly, Jiang Zhiya had no other choice. She looked at Yu Mo. “Do you have Bai Xi’s contact info? Hurry up and tell her not to go!”
Under Jiang Zhiya’s urgent gaze, Yu Mo’s dark eyes fixed on Chen Jingmo’s phone screen. “If Bai Xi doesn’t show up, what does that make her? She is the Young Master of the Bai family. Do you really think she won’t go?”
At Nanluo, every student represented a family. A student’s “face” was, in a way, the family’s “face.” No matter the cost, Bai Xi could not be a deserter.
“Ugh, why is it so complicated!” Jiang Zhiya glared at Chen Jingmo again. “This is all your fault!”
“Discussion time is over. Chen Jingmo, Jiang Zhiya, Yu Mo—stand up and recite the passage.”
The trio had been so engrossed in their discussion that the Old Monk on the podium looked like he was about to eat his textbook. He slapped the desk and called their names.
Yu Mo glanced at the board. With his hand resting on a closed textbook, he recited the entire passage with clear, fluent articulation.
Chen Jingmo & Jiang Zhiya: … This dog!
The check ended with Chen Jingmo and Jiang Zhiya “winning” the prize of copying the text fifty times.
Meanwhile, a completely oblivious Bai Xi was standing by a fourth-floor window in the Art Building. Leaning against a corridor pillar, she watched a figure inside one of the rooms.
A fiery red dance outfit, slender limbs, graceful curves, and waist-length hair. The half-drawn curtains created a play of light and shadow. The figure stood at the boundary of light and dark, performing a dance that was both light and flexible, weaving between the shadows. The visual impact was breathtaking.
Suddenly, all movement stopped. The figure froze like a statue, head bowed, standing right on the line between light and shadow.
Bai Xi was confused. The dance was missing its final move. Why did they stop?
Before she could finish her thought, the figure moved again—but not with a dance move. The figure lunged toward the window where Bai Xi was standing, hands gripping the iron bars, and stared straight into Bai Xi’s eyes.
Bai Xi: !!!