Chapter 148

Chapter 16: Seems Like Something’s Forgotten

　　This world has many truths, but sometimes there’s no truth to speak of.

　　Xin Lan sat on the chair, hugging her iPad, her fingers unconsciously swiping up and down the forum pages.

　　She just couldn’t figure it out.

　　Based on her rich experience from XiaoX Book, WeiX, and various forums, Xin Lan was very clear about the power of box weapons.

　　No one is perfect; under everyone’s watchful eyes, as long as there’s a flaw out there, relentlessly attack that flaw.

　　On those aforementioned platforms, Xin Lan had witnessed countless times how many seemingly wonderful people were driven back step by step due to a single flaw, as if having even a tiny issue meant everything they did was scheming, all pretense.

　　But why wasn’t it working today? Could it be they haven’t realized yet?

　　Xin Lan wasn’t willing to give up, trying to make another effort—

　　[Registered User 123123: Don’t let her fool you, she’s not mature at all, sometimes she’s even capricious.]

　　[(Highly Liked Reply): But she’s got big boobs.]

　　[Registered User 123123: She doesn’t talk gently to people, she relies on her momentum to suppress others, and she calls you minnows.]

　　[(Highly Liked Reply): But she’s got big boobs.]

　　[Registered User 123123: She never lets go when she’s right, it’s infuriating!]

　　[(Twenty Thousand Likes): But she’s really THAT big!!!]

　　Xin Lan slapped the tablet down onto the table.

　　Why was this happening? She had so many flaws, why should having big boobs override everything?

　　When she picked up the tablet again, she saw only one prominent notice on the screen—

　　[Due to violation of community guidelines—”No节奏pushing,” your account has been restricted. Restricted time: 3640 days 23 hours 59 minutes.]

　　…………

　　”After a whole night, things should be fine.”

　　The next morning, Yuan Xiaoling got up from bed and said this to her two roommates.

　　Yesterday, she had lain in the dorm all day, and today she definitely had to get out. Moreover, if she didn’t go out to draw attention, neither Gu Hui nor Qiao Lili would dare to go out.

　　So, “relying on roommates to bring food” was no longer an option.

　　Yuan Xiaoling put on her beloved white shorts, bounced her beautiful legs, jumped off the bed, and then muttered those words to comfort herself.

　　Just as she walked to the door, she turned back to look at her roommates.

　　”Let’s go out together. If anything happens, help me out.”

　　It’s not cowardice, it’s just being cautious.

　　…………

　　Bai Ling hadn’t been peaceful these past two days. Last night was okay; when the post heated up, she was already back in the dorm, facing only her two roommates.

　　They said things like, “Who would’ve thought Miss Yuan, the school beauty queen, turns out to be Lady Water Dragon,” or “When I read the description of the blonde-haired maiden with large assets, I kind of suspected it might be her, but didn’t think it’d actually be her,” or “Bai Ling, you knew all along, right? Not telling us, you’re truly blinded by beauty!” and such.

　　She managed to fob them off with some random excuses.

　　But after getting up this morning and stepping outside, surrounded by other classmates, the questions started getting harder to answer.

　　At first, everyone was focused on Yuan Xiaoling, asking if she was really as powerful as in the game, whether she could summon animal friends and water dragons, if they had seen it themselves, or if she used her water creations to do strange things…

　　These Bai Ling could handle, simply saying it was confidential information, nothing more. But later, the questions started veering off course—

　　”Bai Ling, what’s your strength like? Can you beat Lady Water Dragon?”

　　”If you can’t win, does that mean you’ll be at the bottom tonight?”

　　”Bai Ling, when are you going into the pool?”

　　”As fellow students, I’ll save a big spot for you.”

　　Bai Ling kept her cold expression intact: “Confidential, no comment.”

　　When the morning class bell rang, the crowd around her slowly dispersed. The white-haired maiden sighed in relief, finally able to take a break.

　　So, thinking about it, what exactly was Yuan Xiaoling thinking? No confidentiality measures at all, exposing herself while still at school.

　　Like she only cared about keeping her own secrets safe.

　　Bai Ling thought to herself, if I’m tangled up like this, surely Xiaolin must be burning hot.

　　I have to rescue her.

　　Crossing the small road through campus, heading straight from the Physical Education Department to the Broadcasting Department. This route was familiar to her, engraved deeply in her mind from countless nights of assaults.

　　This time, not for killing, but for salvation.

　　And at this moment, downstairs in the Broadcasting Department dormitory, the cool-dressed blonde-haired maiden with large assets was surrounded by a crowd, but the atmosphere was still relatively pleasant.

　　Gu Hui and Qiao Lili stood on either side like stone lions in front of a gate, creating a bit of safety distance for Yuan Xiaoling.

　　Yuan Xiaoling raised her little hand and gently pressed it down: “Everyone, don’t rush. Ask your questions slowly, one by one.”

　　”Yuan Xiaoling, when did you awaken? Are you really as powerful as in the game?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling: “A few months ago, I suddenly awakened. Even stronger than in the game; they weakened me for game balance.”

　　”Can I join you after graduation?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling: “Awaken and report directly to the Grand Hotel in Tianhai City, no need to wait for graduation.”

　　”Can you include me in the game?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling: “After awakening, yes, still report to the Grand Hotel in Tianhai City.”

　　”Are recent ghost-like phenomena very dangerous to ordinary people?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling: “Yes, but don’t worry. There are several units of Spiritual Energy Manipulators ready to support every incident in Tianhai City.”

　　”What if they suddenly appear in the school?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling: “I’ll deal with it.”

　　Not far away, looking at the scene, the white-haired girl silently retreated to the corner.

　　She rushed over here thinking Xiaolin was in deep trouble, only to find such a harmonious and friendly picture upon arrival.

　　Not to mention, why did people here ask normal questions, while when it came to herself, it was always something different?

　　After a while, with the second class bell ringing, the crowd finally dispersed.

　　Yuan Xiaoling didn’t go to class, instead walking leisurely in the opposite direction. It seemed as though she wasn’t surrounded earlier but rather attended a planning meeting.

　　Walking around the corner, the sudden appearance of Bai Mao startled her.

　　”Geez, Bai Ling, what are you doing here?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling crossed her arms instinctively and said, “It’s broad daylight now.”

　　Bai Ling glanced at her and said irritably, “I just came to see you, don’t be so sensitive.”

　　”Is that so?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling puffed out her cheeks, thinking, can you blame me for being sensitive? The PE department is so far away from here. When have you ever come all this way without wanting to… you know… with me?

　　”So why did you run all the way here today?”

　　Hearing this question, Bai Ling suddenly stiffened her pretty face.

　　”Just wanted to check on you,” she said.

　　She couldn’t say she thought Yuan Xiaoling was like herself, trapped by people asking embarrassing questions, and she wanted to rush over to save her.

　　With herself in such a sorry state, Yuan Xiaoling handled much larger crowds effortlessly. The gap was too great.

　　”Really?” Yuan Xiaoling blinked her eyes. “You ran two or three subway stations’ worth just to check on me?”

　　”Who says I ran here?” Bai Ling quietly wiped the sweat from her neck. “Just wandering aimlessly because I was bored.”

　　Not giving Yuan Xiaoling a chance to speak, she quickly added, “How could you expose your information so carelessly without any preparation?”

　　”There’s nothing to prepare, right? In the era of big data, it’s bound to happen eventually,” Yuan Xiaoling said nonchalantly. “Besides, many people already know my situation.”

　　Then why are you still running around recklessly?

　　Bai Ling looked down, glancing at her long, white legs exposed beneath the shorts, thinking she dressed so provocatively to hold a fan meeting.

　　Indeed, those surrounding her classmates earlier acted like rational fans—polite and respectful. As for herself…

　　The more Bai Ling thought about it, the angrier she got, wishing she could squat down right now, grab Xiaolin’s long legs, and retreat into the nearby bushes.

　　Forget about encountering anyone, just modify their cognition.

　　”And letting them know isn’t a problem anyway. It’s been years since the spiritual energy outbreak; everyone’s mentally prepared.”

　　Yuan Xiaoling stretched lazily, looking up at the clouds in the sky, and said leisurely, “But I feel like I forgot something.”

　　Buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz, her phone rang.

　　”Hisss—!”

　　Yuan Xiaoling suddenly sucked in a breath, startling Bai Ling who was crouching down ready to act. She looked up to see the blonde-haired maiden’s frightened eyes and pale face.

　　”What’s wrong?”

　　”I remember what I forgot.”

　　Yuan Xiaoling handed her the phone. Bai Ling took a closer look and saw the incoming call reminder on the screen with two big characters—

　　[Mom]

　　Bai Ling was also stunned, looking up at Yuan Xiaoling after a while.

　　Yuan Xiaoling looked down at her, neither speaking. Their gazes met in the air, exchanging thousands of unspoken words. At this moment, it didn’t matter what Bai Ling was crouching down to do.

　　Hmm? Right, what was she crouching down to do?

　　Never mind, it’s not important because the phone rang again at this moment.

　　”You… want me to answer?” Yuan Xiaoling tentatively asked.

　　Bai Ling immediately stood up, hands behind her back.

　　”If Aunt Qu were looking for me, she’d call me directly. Since she called you, you should answer it yourself.” She said.

　　That makes sense.

　　Yuan Xiaoling gritted her teeth and pressed the answer button:

　　”Hello?”

　　………………

　　”Tianhai University Southeast Gate Station, arrived. Passengers who need to disembark, please exit from the rear door.”

　　The gentle-looking woman hugged her little backpack and stepped off the bus. The sun was shining brightly, and she had to raise her hand to shield her forehead to see the road ahead clearly.

　　It wasn’t easy coming here from Xiao’an Town. First, she took a long-distance bus into the city, then rode the subway, and after finishing the subway, she took another bus to finally arrive here.

　　Little Fang slightly lifted her head, peeking at the sky through the gaps between her fingers.

　　It’s been a year since she last returned to the city. A year seems to pass quickly, yet feels endlessly long.

　　She grabbed her phone and walked under the shade of a tree. On the phone screen was that thread analyzing the “Four Directions Plot.”

　　It’s rumored that the game producer, Lady Water Dragon, and her little girlfriend are in this school.