Chapter 167

Chapter 35: Quite Beautiful

　Yuan Xiaoling is really worried about you, even more so about herself.

　To avoid waking up tomorrow and finding herself saddled with the nickname “Juicing Princess,” Yuan Xiaoling finally managed to persuade Bai Ling to come back after much coaxing.

　They sat together on the bed for a while, enjoying Little Water Jellyfish’s stamina replenishment.

　And Bai Ling, having regained her drive and with her feet off the ground—thanks to a blanket on the floor and the boost from Level 2 Sage State—her thoughts became crystal clear.

　”This is what I think: the principle of operation of the Inner Stone of the Mind… or rather its own method of sublimation of power during accumulation, is like a juicer.”

　Bai Ling was explaining her understanding of the Inner Stone of the Mind when she suddenly felt an intense gaze. Looking up, she saw Blonde-haired Maiden glaring at her with puffed cheeks.

　She thought for a moment and understood.

　”I wasn’t talking about you; a juicer isn’t the same as a Juicing Princess.”

　She even made a gesture: “The kind used for making fruit juice and soy milk.”

　Not the kind for making lemonade and coconut milk.

　”Getting back to the point, its specific function is to treat the absorbed Spiritual Energy Manipulators as raw materials entering the juicer system. Since their form has been transformed from matter into spirit, the strength of these raw materials depends on the intensity of their own will.”

　”When they were converted initially, their consciousness was in a frenzied state, so most of them have relatively low willpower intensity, like baked fruits that crumble easily. But there are a few who are different; they have Wu Bian (Spiritual Anchors), and their willpower intensity remains relatively high, like dried nuts that are hard to crush.”

　”I want to find the specific impressions corresponding to their spiritual anchors and actualize them within the Spiritual Realm of the Inner Stone of the Mind, awakening the residual consciousness of these people. If everything goes smoothly, under the catalysis of the spiritual anchor, their willpower intensity could increase further, reaching the level of a walnut shell, or even stronger, becoming something like small steel coins.”

　After delivering three paragraphs in one breath, Bai Ling licked the corner of her mouth, wanting to get up to fetch a glass of water but found her legs too weak to move. A sudden idea struck her, and she said to Yuan Xiaoling: “Bring me some water, I’m thirsty.”

　”Here.”

　Yuan Xiaoling didn’t use a cup but instead held a spring of sweet dew in her hands and brought it to Bai Ling’s lips.

　Gulped, gulped, hmm?

　Bai Ling originally thought the floral fragrance came from the girl’s hands, but it turned out the water itself smelled sweet.

　So she frowned and stared at Yuan Xiaoling, implying that she had given her something inappropriate to drink.

　”What’s the problem?” Blonde-haired Maiden said confidently, “My water is filtered by spiritual energy.”

　Bai Ling thought about it and agreed, so she didn’t mind anymore.

　Yuan Xiaoling, however, secretly smiled, thinking, “I’ve found another chance to feed her lemonade, now you’ll have curves tomorrow!”

　”Just now we were talking about… right, steel coins. If I face off against the Inner Stone of the Mind, treating it like a juicer, then my first strategic goal would be to destroy the blades of the juicer. As everyone knows, putting nuts into a juicer wears down the blades, and if they’re walnut shells or steel coins,” Bai Ling scoffed coldly, “they can shatter the blades directly.”

　She had always avoided discussing the final battle before, but today was the first time she laid out the tactics completely, which even made the usually calm Bai Ling feel a sense of relief.

　Her icy pretty face tightened slightly, and she let out a high-and-mighty humph, bringing back her old demeanor.

　”Understood,” Yuan Xiaoling nodded, “This is what you call ‘chokepoint.'”

　”Bah? Chokepoint?”

　”Yeah, haven’t you seen Transformers 2? In the battle at the Egyptian pyramids, the Decepticon combiner Devastator opens his mouth wide, sucking in metal and grinding it into his energy and parts. Unexpectedly, two Autobot cars were also sucked in, but they got stuck in Devastator’s neck, breaking it.”

　After telling the story, Yuan Xiaoling seriously said, “So this tactic is called ‘chokepoint.'”

　Bai Ling felt something was odd, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

　”In short, the first phase of the strategy is this: once its ‘blades’ are destroyed, it will definitely suffer heavy damage. The goal of the first phase is to wound, and the second phase’s goal is to kill. I’ve named the second phase strategy ‘overwrite,’ and the detailed procedures are still being worked out.”

　After saying all this, Bai Ling finally managed to stand up, having recovered enough stamina to rise without trembling.

　”I’m leaving first; I haven’t eaten lunch yet,” she said, “Remember to eat.”

　”Alright.” Yuan Xiaoling replied casually.

　Before she knew it, she’d forgotten about not eating, but it didn’t matter; she could just message her roommates and ask them to bring something back.

　Bai Ling wasn’t someone who waited for food to be served; with the cafeteria still open, she had to hurry over.

　When she reached the door, the White-haired Maiden suddenly stopped.

　”Yuan Xiaoling.”

　”Hmm?”

　”You offered it yourself, and I’ve already accepted it,” she said, “No one can take it away.”

　After saying that, she pushed the door open and left, disappearing in seconds.

　Yuan Xiaoling sat there, blinking blankly.

　What was that, throwing shade before leaving? And wow, she walked fast.

　It couldn’t possibly be because she was shy, no way, no way, the Blonde-haired Maiden shook her head forcefully.

　A few minutes later, the dormitory door opened again. Yuan Xiaoling thought Bai Ling had returned, but upon looking up, she met the gazes of her two roommates.

　Then, Qiao Lili’s wail echoed through the dorm—

　”My bed?!?”

　…………

　Tianhai University has always been known for its simple academic atmosphere, and the school is full of kind-hearted people, like the students in the neighboring dorm.

　In the afternoon, sitting in the neighboring dorm, Yuan Xiaoling held a bowl of boxed rice and just ate nonstop.

　”Still, be careful not to dirty the floor,” Qiao Lili said, “After all, it’s someone else’s dorm.”

　All three beds in their dorm had collapsed, leaving the floor a mess with no place to stand. Happily glancing next door, since the girls here weren’t around, they borrowed the space.

　”No worries,” Yuan Xiaoling mumbled unclearly, “I have water.”

　She would give the floor a thorough cleaning before leaving, guaranteeing it would be spotless.

　After finishing the meal, she placed the box aside, touched her little belly, and looked at the neat and spacious dorm, sighing, “What a group of good classmates.”

　Several times now, they were always conveniently absent whenever needed, leaving the room available for use.

　”Hmm…”

　Gu Hui responded with a sound, picking up her mobile phone to glance at it: “I greeted them, but they haven’t replied for so long; I wonder where they went.”

　Qiao Lili waved her hand, “Who knows, they run around outside every day, either bars or KTVs, or board games, role-playing games, or gatherings.”

　As they spoke, they began chatting about the fulfilling lives of the girls next door, knowing many friends and having various activities every day, living such rich lives.

　Looking at themselves, lying on the bed every day, either flat on their backs or prostrate, it was truly lamentable.

　After Yuan Xiaoling finished sighing, she turned back to the bed… because lying down and prostrating were still more comfortable.

　Incidentally, she checked the system message she had just received—

　【Congratulations on completing the Weekly Task: Life Mentor.

　Under your guidance and encouragement, the protagonist has finally overcome confusion, though perhaps not all directions have been found, but she has certainly regained her motivation.

　But amidst the joy, you suddenly realize your identity is the villainess, yet you helped the protagonist improve.

　You completed the task, but is it worth it?

　Reward Obtained: Fifth-tier Breakthrough Fragment of the White Dragon Lady (1/5)】

　Yuan Xiaoling flopped to the side, thinking the cost was somewhat high, enduring several sessions of punishment. But with one-fifth progress toward a Fifth-tier breakthrough, it was still worthwhile.

　Today was truly exhausting; time to sleep.

　Zzz

　There was nothing going on today, so sleeping until nightfall was fine. It was her roommate who woke her up because if she slept any longer, there wouldn’t be anything to eat.

　”They still haven’t replied to my messages,” Gu Hui said with concern, “And other classmates say they haven’t been back since yesterday.”

　Qiao Lili blinked, “Who? The three next door?”

　Gu Hui nodded.

　Since they borrowed someone else’s dorm today, they should at least report it, even though Yuan Xiaoling had cleaned up thoroughly.

　”They might have gone to some offline event, like a celebrity concert, BW Comic Con, role-playing game gathering, or maybe they have friends visiting from the seaside to hang out,” Qiao Lili said, “Isn’t that how the socially active live?”

　”Huh? Oh, um.”

　Yuan Xiaoling had just crawled out of bed, feeling delicate and unaware, in a daze, responding with nonsensical sounds to whatever question.

　Gu Hui thought about it and agreed; that was possible, so she didn’t worry too much, just sending another message informing them the room was clean.

　…………

　For Bai Ling, after regaining her motivation, she didn’t want to stay at school every day. Once her body improved a bit, she went to the central district base to talk and chat with Ding Shumei and Grandma Li, learning more details to ensure greater confidence when awakening them.

　Unfortunately, apart from these things, she couldn’t find any information about a third family member.

　Bai Ling tried asking them, but received no response. The Four Squares Academy people guarded their family information well.

　After chatting, with nothing else to do, Bai Ling grabbed a cushioned chair, sat on the balcony for a while, basked in the sun, and rested her waist.

　After a while, Fang Hui also came over. Since giving a psychology class at the school a few days ago, she hadn’t been to school these past few days and stayed here.

　”White Ling, do you have any leads on your plan?”

　Bai Ling turned around and looked: “Ah, Teacher Fang Hui.”

　Using telekinesis to adjust the chair direction, facing forward, she continued: “There is a plan, but the preparations might not be sufficient… probably. I cannot predict precisely.”

　As autumn approached, the wind often blew fiercely on the balcony, carrying voices far away.

　Fang Hui sat beside her: “Memories, indeed, are very precious things for a person… Speaking of which, White Ling, what about you?”

　Bai Ling was slightly startled: “Me?”

　”Yes, you must have such memories, right?” Fang Hui smiled, “With Yuan Xiaoling.”

　”Beautiful memories, everyone has them,” Bai Ling stiffened her expression, “It doesn’t necessarily have to be with her.”

　Making it sound like she couldn’t live without the Blonde Busty Girl, just a young girl, who…

　”These days listening to others’ stories with you, what about yours?” Fang Hui slowly asked, “Can you share?”

　How did it suddenly come to her?

　Bai Ling felt a bit uncomfortable: “Actually, there’s not much to say. Beautiful memories are mostly similar, that’s all.”

　Like family, love, ideals, wishes… stuff like that.

　Fang Hui thought for a moment and changed the topic: “By the way, I heard you already prepared a custom wedding dress. When are you planning to take photos?”

　”Tomorrow.” Bai Ling answered without hesitation.

　Speaking of this, she could hold her chest high… Come to think of it, when she got dressed in the morning, she noticed her underwear was tight, and the collar button almost didn’t close. Could it be growing again?

　Never mind, not important, it still fits, replace it if it breaks. Otherwise, changing three sets of underwear in two months makes it seem like her youth is overly vigorous.

　Fang Hui smiled; she realized Bai Ling was enthusiastic about this, previously mentioning setting a wedding date, knowing the girl took this seriously.

　Then…

　”White Ling, when did you start having this idea?” she asked with a smile, “Taking wedding photos and holding a wedding ceremony…”

　Before Bai Ling could respond, she added: “Listening to you talk about it every day, you must be really looking forward to it, right?”

　Indeed, Bai Ling originally intended to casually brush it off, but hearing that last sentence, her cool expression couldn’t hold.

　”Not particularly looking forward to it or any particular reason, it’s just because…”

　The White-haired Maiden turned her head to look outside, her thoughts drifting back to memories.

　”Just because she擅自decided to take me home and arranged some sort of engagement ceremony. Think about it, since we’re engaged, naturally we should start planning the wedding.”

　That’s right, it’s all Yuan Xiaoling’s fault, she initiated it, and Bai Ling was just cooperating.

　Logically sound.

　”Oh?” Fang Hui became interested, “What exactly did she do?”

　”Well, during the summer vacation, she took me back to her hometown. There’s a huge flower garden there, managed by her grandfather. She took me back, then dragged me to the flower garden for a date. We were playing around when she suddenly started spouting nonsense and humming a proposal song. Then her grandfather came out and put on their family heirloom bracelet…” That’s how it went.

　Bai Ling spoke quickly, finishing the entire process in one breath, as if slowing down even a little would make it sound like a lie.

　Reasonably speaking, there was nothing wrong with it. “Dandelion’s Promise” is a subtly confessional love song, confession equals proposal, plus giving her a token of affection—whether it’s a pearl ring or a grass-made wreath, the symbolic meaning is the same. Then add the family heirloom bracelet from the grandfather, and that’s an engagement ceremony.

　Why give a family heirloom bracelet if it’s not an engagement? Hmm? Just why give the bracelet?

　Bai Ling reviewed this line of reasoning, relaxing slightly.

　No problem, reasonable, that’s it.

　”I see,” Fang Hui nodded, “A flower garden during the summer vacation, spending time with someone you like, it must be beautiful.”

　”Alright.”

　Bai Ling replied unconsciously, but her thoughts lingered in the memories: “There’s a path covered with flowers, shrubs restrained by branches on both sides, petals floating in the air like guiding arrows, leading us to a small hill. There, the ground is soft grass where you can sit directly. Tree shade covers half the sun, warm and cozy enough to make you sleepy.”

　”So at that moment, I lay down, and she followed, complaining about the itchiness of the grass on the ground, then she sprawled on top of me, humming sentimental love songs from decades ago. I opened my eyes and saw countless dandelions floating in the sky.”

　The white-haired girl opened her eyes, returning her thoughts to the present: “It is quite beautiful.”

　Not just alright, retracting the previous evaluation.

　She heard laughter beside her, turning to see Auntie Fang Hui’s motherly smile, as if saying: “Wonderful, wonderful.”

　”In short,” Bai Ling straightened her expression again, pretending to be calm, “I’ve told mine, what about you?”

　Fang Hui’s smile diminished slightly.

　”As for me…”