Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen: Inspiration Strikes

“What method?”

After stepping out, Bai Ling curiously asked.

She had been in there with swords drawn, while Blonde-haired Maiden was chatting it up outside like old friends. If she had come out any later, they might have started calling each other sisters.

“It’s nothing,” Yuan Xiaoling replied vaguely, “just a bit of life trivia.”

Bai Ling didn’t pay much attention, figuring it wasn’t anything important.

When they left the bar, it was already 11 PM. Queen’s Road wasn’t really a nightlife district, so at this time, there were few people on the streets.

“Truly quiet, not a soul around,” Yuan Xiaoling yawned lightly, “completely different from home.”

Bai Ling couldn’t be bothered to respond.

It’s almost midnight, where else would you go except for late-night food streets?

There just happened to be a hotel on Queen’s Road. The front desk attendant hadn’t finished her shift and was idly yawning.

“One room, one bed will do, preferably away from the light,” Bai Ling said as she approached.

Yuan Xiaoling moved her lips, wanting to negotiate for at least two beds but hesitated and didn’t dare to speak up.

“Alright, Room 304,” the attendant clicked on the computer, “please show your ID.”

Bai Ling raised her hand and handed it over. Yuan Xiaoling glanced and wow, there was nothing in her hand—just air.

The attendant naturally took it, gave it a proper look, and then used her own ID to check them in.

Spiritual Power intrusion sure is useful.

“Alright.”

Grabbing the room card, they went up to the third floor and entered the room to rest. Yuan Xiaoling stretched lazily and flopped onto the bed to sleep.

Not long after, Bai Ling also climbed onto the bed and hugged her waist.

At first, Yuan Xiaoling didn’t mind, until Bai Ling pulled down her collar and reached for Dabeitù.

“Wait,” the Blonde-haired Maiden blinked confusedly, “didn’t we have a good talk earlier?”

We clearly agreed that I’d only be used to vent if things went south.

Conversely, shouldn’t you be happy if everything went well?

“Yes, very happy,” Bai Ling said calmly, “so let’s celebrate.”

“??” Yuan Xiaoling was dumbfounded.

Isn’t it supposed to be venting when you’re unhappy? And celebrating when you’re happy? What am I turning into here?

“Wait.”

She fished out those two Dabeitù candies from her pocket and looked hopefully at Bai Ling: “Can I trade these Dabeitù candies for the other Dabeitù to take a break tonight?”

Bai Ling looked at her shiny eyes, gently took the candy, placed it on the bedside table… and then continued.

Playing cute and naive, truly funny, trying to play house with her?

“Wait, how did you… mmm…”

Ah Lan’s first trick, “cute bluff,” seems to be utterly useless.

But this time was different from before; it only lasted half an hour, and there wasn’t much variety. Yuan Xiaoling didn’t even ascend when she realized it was already over.

“Why was today so… early?” she asked curiously.

Phew, she originally wanted to say “fast,” but caught the danger at the last second and hastily changed the word.

This is Dragon King Sense, able to detect danger, like Spider-Sense in movies.

“Because we need to return early tomorrow.” Bai Ling said indifferently.

This time, she didn’t indulge herself, simply finishing up and then holding Yuan Xiaoling’s Dabeitù to prepare for rest.

“Return tomorrow?” Yuan Xiaoling was puzzled, “Isn’t school starting the day after tomorrow?”

We could just go straight back to the dorm tonight; why make an extra trip to the Zhang family’s place?

Bai Ling deeply inhaled the scent of lemon water mixed with milk, which helped her slightly control her emotions.

“Go back once, notify them of some matters.”

Yuan Xiaoling was curious: “What matters?”

“Expiration date.”

Turtle! So heavy with killing intent, the Blonde-haired Maiden didn’t dare to ask further.

Let’s just sleep. After enduring a half-hour session, she was somewhat tired too.

Zzzz

Since they slept late, the next day they slept in a bit and only headed back to the Zhang residence after lunch.

“That, I’ll head to my room first,” Yuan Xiaoling said.

This trip back isn’t good news; she didn’t want to get involved.

A few members of the Zhang family were in the living room. Just as Bai Ling walked in, they happened to meet.

“Hey, look who’s back,” Zhang Shanshan spoke first, “which hotel did you party at last night? Or did you not sleep at all?”

Normally, Bai Ling wouldn’t bother responding to such comments, but today she surprisingly replied:

“The Love Night Bar on Queen’s Road, nice environment.”

“Little Ling, glad you’re back,” Zhang Shengkang cut in before his daughter could open her mouth, “tomorrow you’ll be heading back to school, don’t forget.”

He gave Huang Ling a meaningful glance, and she understood, forcibly dragging her daughter back to the room under the pretense of checking her thesis.

“Mom, you only graduated high school, how can you understand my thesis…”

Amidst Zhang Shanshan’s protests, Huang Ling and she left. Only Bai Ling and Zhang Shengkang remained in the living room.

Zhang Shengkang picked up the TV remote and pressed a few buttons, pretending to be nonchalant: “Little Ling, did you see the news? There was an explosion yesterday afternoon at Tianhai Plaza. Luckily, nothing happened to you.”

“Mm, no problem,” Bai Ling also watched the TV, “I now have some ability to protect myself.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Zhang Shengkang forced out a couple of sentences.

The shadow cast by the backlight concealed the frustrated and uneasy expression on his face.

“Uncle Zhang,” Bai Ling suddenly said, “next weekend, I want to pay respects to my parents. Can you drive me then?”

Zhang Shengkang’s hand trembled slightly as he forced a smile: “Why the sudden urge to pay respects? Won’t it affect your studies?”

“I mentioned before that I wanted to investigate the suspicious points of that incident,” Bai Ling’s expression remained calm, “before taking action, I want to inform my parents.”

“Is that so?”

Sitting on the left, Zhang Shengkang wiped off his cold sweat with his right hand and said: “No problem, I miss your parents too, I’ll go with you then.”

“Good,” the White-haired Maiden smirked faintly, “thank you, Uncle Zhang.”

Upstairs in the bedroom, Yuan Xiaoling lay face-down on the bed, rolling around.

“Sigh, I feel like I’m failing miserably as the villain,” she suddenly lamented.

[Why does the host say this?]

“You tell me. Forget about others, just look at me. Since I’ve traveled through time, every day it’s either on the bed, in a chair, or on the sofa. Is this how villains act?”

As Yuan Xiaoling thought about her recent experiences, sadness welled up inside her: “I don’t understand, everyday super, everyday super, am I really that easy to surpass?”

She reincarnated and became powerful, but wasn’t I also a time traveler? Why is there such a big difference?

[Things have come to this point. Please maintain a positive and sunny attitude, Host. Also, a reminder: there are only three days left until the deadline for the Weekly Task.]

“I know, stop nagging. Isn’t this me thinking of ways?”

Yuan Xiaoling muttered, thinking that solutions aren’t so easily found, needing to be subtle yet effective… Wait, she suddenly remembered Ah Lan’s guidance.

“I’ve got an idea.”