Chapter 197

Fifty-Third Page: The Goddess’s Moon Flip

It wasn’t until Tao Jie and I left the News Club Classroom that about twenty minutes had passed, leaving plenty of time for lunch break… It feels like a waste that my stomach was filled with meal replacement packs from the convenience store!

Stopping at the stairs, Tao Jie said, “Since we’ve decided to leave this matter in their hands, there’s nothing for me to do this time.”

“I’ll go talk to Sister Yǐjī, but you should still be careful they might use offline intimidation.”

Tao Jie raised an eyebrow, indifferent, “Haha, am I supposed to be afraid of that?”

“You’re not the ruffian who used to hang out in the Underground Street anymore. Some things are better done cautiously. Try to walk home with Sister Shenguang after school.”

“There’s no need to worry about me. I know how to deal with such people.”

Even if she said so, it didn’t make anyone feel any better.

Stepping down the stairs, I turned back and asked, “Tao Jie, have you been watching Sister Yǐjī’s live stream?”

“Of course… of course not. I only care about her popularity, and I only get worried if she gets close. The lower the better!”

I knew she wouldn’t admit it. Tao Jie was also a veteran in being stubborn. Though her words were harsh, her heart wasn’t.

I stood straight, looking her in the eye, earnestly advising, “Tao Jie, I think you should watch more of Sister Yǐjī’s live streams.”

Oh! I accidentally used formal language, which felt awkward but I continued.

“To meet your unreasonable popularity demands and to gain the chance to meet you, Sister Yǐjī has been constantly improving herself. She uses her off-stream time to learn languages, practice singing, and understand new things and subcultures. From her initial clumsiness when facing the audience to now chatting and laughing with the viewers… she’s only been a streamer for a week, and unless someone pushes themselves to the limit, they can’t achieve such a change. She wants to earn your forgiveness.”

“Little Lingmeng is always talking about these grand principles… Even for my mother, I won’t easily forgive her, so you don’t need to waste your breath.”

“Tao Jie, when will you accept your own feelings?”

“Huh? I don’t avoid—ah!”

She instinctively stepped forward, but tripped on the stairs, losing balance and falling towards me. Instinctively, I reached out to catch her, but her hands swept over my head, followed by her chest, with its momentum, hitting my face.

“Mmph!” I let out a muffled groan.

Ah, this… This is a real flesh collision.

Because the Teaching Building has central air conditioning, Tao Jie, who had taken off her coat, was only wearing a single layer. The sensation of her face touching mine was from a bra with underwire.

There was no time to indulge in the scent coming from Tao Jie. In my unstable state on the stairs, I couldn’t support her entire weight, causing us both to fall backward together.

Megami Mode!!

In that dangerous moment, the gathered divine power surged into the ring on my right hand, and a soft glow instantly enveloped my body, changing me in ways unseen.

Reaching out to hold Tao Jie around the waist, I adjusted our balance in mid-air, then kicked off the staircase steps with my toes, performing a roundoff back handspring, and finally landing with her in a princess carry.

“Clap clap clap clap!”

The students who had gathered started clapping.

“Lingmeng, you’re amazing! My heart is racing, I think I’m in love!”

The charm of Goddess Mode affects everyone, regardless of gender. The senior students and juniors all had hearts in their eyes, filled with possessiveness and admiration… If someone were to hug someone else and perform a back handspring on the stairs in front of me, I would admire them too.

“Did… Did she just glow?”

“Did she? Must be an illusion caused by her aura!”

Due to the minimal transformation, the process took only about 0.2 seconds, making it easy to mistake for an illusion. By the time I noticed, I had already landed. Holding Tao Jie, she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck, looking shocked. When she realized the intimate position, she blushed and struggled.

“Let… Let me down first…”

She avoided my gaze, whispering softly.

“Alright alright, Tao Jie, you’re too careless.”

I slightly crouched to help her stand up. She tidied her disheveled skirt, pouting, “You didn’t have to use such exaggerated moves to catch me? Everyone saw…”

“It was urgent, I didn’t think much of it.”

“Little Lingmeng, you seem… prettier.”

Tao Jie looked at me with a dazed expression before suddenly asking, “Wait! Did you turn into a girl?”

I scratched my cheek, embarrassed, “I did transform, but it’s not convenient to explain right now.”

Seeing the surrounding students, Tao Jie understood my meaning and sighed, “There’s always something surprising about you… but thank you, kind-hearted junior.”

After parting with Tao Jie, I returned to the classroom.

“I heard everything. Is this a hero rescuing a beauty or a beauty rescuing a beauty?”

Sister Qian sat on my desk.

“Here, take this. You didn’t eat lunch, right?”

She handed me a large rice ball from the cafeteria.

“Thank you, Class Representative. But your information is too accurate, isn’t it?”

“Not really. With such an exaggerated scene of someone falling down the stairs and doing a back handspring, it’s strange if it doesn’t spread. Although the process wasn’t recorded, someone took pictures… Here.”

Sister Qian handed me her phone. I was holding Tao Jie in a princess carry, half-squatting on the staircase platform between the third and fourth floors. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a perfect angle on our faces, like finely crafted dolls… Was this really taken with a phone?

“When did your body coordination become so good? Your physical test scores were worse than mine…”

Sister Qian paused, and Xia Lei ran in from the back door of the classroom, wearing basketball clothes and sweating profusely, clearly having come straight from playing sports.

In a closed environment like a school, gossip spreads quickly. Even the idiot playing basketball in the gymnasium knew about it.

“Hmm?”

Her question made Lu Zi, who was napping on her desk, sit up, glaring with clear confusion.

I somehow felt uneasy and explained, “Don’t joke around. Tao Jie and I have nothing to do with each other. She has a cohabiting boyfriend!”

My voice was loud, causing a commotion in the classroom…

It seemed like I revealed some significant information. I hoped it wouldn’t cause trouble for Tao Jie.

Xia Lei shouted again, “I didn’t expect you to target even married women. Do you want to experience the boss’s life as a minotaur?”

This idiot said something ridiculous in front of so many classmates.

I dragged her to the back window, slightly opening it to let the cold wind hit her hot head, hoping it would cool her down.

“Wah wah wah!”

Her sweat froze into frost.

“Calm down?” I asked.

“Freezing!” she replied.

I closed the window, and she shivered back to her seat.

Sister Qian asked, “So, do you need our help with what’s happening with Ling Shaojie?”

“No need, Sister Qian and Sister Miaomiao are public figures. It’s not suitable for you to get involved… Besides, we’re currently on the same side, preparing to help her solve her family issues first.”

“I know, I mean, can we help with whatever you’re planning tomorrow?”

Sister Qian knew we were going to cause trouble at the coming-of-age ceremony, probably informed by Lin Hua.

I asked, “If you’re asking, does that mean Sister Yuan Yue also received an invitation from the Tianping Group?”

“Yes, tomorrow our whole family will attend the coming-of-age ceremony with Sister Yuan Yue.”

Sister Qian naturally said “our whole family,” indicating she and Sister Shan had become true family with Sister Miaomiao.

Such a close, unstrained relationship is truly wonderful and enviable.

I replied, “The plan is set. For now, there’s nothing we need help with, but if unexpected things happen tomorrow, please cover for us.”

“Is that all? No problem… Don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I’m fine, I’m just an observer. The one negotiating is still Ling Shaojie and her… siblings?”

“Siblings? That’s four people?”

“It’s one person.”

——————

[17:30]

After three classes, school finally ended.

Sister Zǐ still needed to go to the research institute. As soon as the bell rang, she left faster than Teacher Takagi, probably drafted by her senior sister to help with the construction of the deep research institute.

Xia Lei wasn’t working today either. She covered Xia Lu’s shift yesterday and insisted Xia Lu return to work today, feeling cheated otherwise.

… If I were in her shoes, I’d take the extra money.

—”I think even if you reveal your male identity, the bald shop owner will still hire you.”—

I have my dignity. I won’t wear women’s clothes to work.

—”But you can’t even wear anything except women’s clothes…”—

That’s your fault!

Waiting at the entrance of the Teaching Building for a while, Orange came from the junior high department, and Xiao Haitang arrived late with her backpack.

“Sorry, there were some matters to handle in the student council.”

“No problem, let’s go back then.”

Orange hugged Xiao Haitang’s waist from behind, suggesting, “Since Onii-chan is free, shall we go get some milk tea to warm up? Or do you want to buy something at the pet store?”

I shook my head to decline.

“No, I won’t go out today. Lin Hua is waiting for me at home.”

Speaking of Lin Hua, Orange nodded understandingly.

But some idiot bounced in front of me, squinting with hope, “Chairman! Can you transform into Goddess Mode right now and carry me flying?”

I explained what happened at noon, though the misunderstanding was cleared, it sparked her curiosity about Goddess Mode.

Cherry Sauce could allow it, but I refused her with a realistic reason.

“No, you’ll freeze up there.”