Chapter 19

Chapter 19: It’s like this…

　　”Is this… a present you bought for me?” Yuan Xiaoling tentatively started a conversation. “Thank you! It’s so cute, I really like it.”

　　Bai Ling ignored her, setting down the cat ear hairpin before rummaging through her shopping bag and pulling out a kitty-shaped lacy underwear. Just by looking at it, one could already imagine what kind of view it would create when worn.

　　Yuan Xiaoling was silent for a moment.

　　”Hmm, well, this underwear is also cute, I kinda like it too.”

　　Then came a pair of white panties, matching the underwear with a kitty-shaped cutout in the middle.

　　It seemed to have some serious practical value.

　　Yuan Xiaoling’s eyelids twitched.

　　”If I have to like this one too, then I guess I can still manage to like it.”

　　Bai Ling still didn’t acknowledge her until she took out the last item.

　　An attachment—a kitty tail.

　　Even Yuan Xiaoling fell silent now. The room grew eerily quiet, like a funeral hall.

　　”Bai… Ling,” Yuan Xiaoling timidly probed, “You’re not mad, are you?”

　　”Why should I be mad?” Bai Ling calmly looked at her. “If you’re dressing up nicely for me to see, I should be happy, right? Why would I get angry?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling’s lips quivered. “Sis, I was just joking…”

　　”I wasn’t joking,” Bai Ling said faintly, “And besides…” She added dryly, “You’re older than me.”

　　Normally speaking, she should call Yuan Xiaoling ‘senpai’.

　　Seeing her expression and tone, Yuan Xiaoling knew there was no room for negotiation. Silently, she crawled forward a little, grabbed the items.

　　She slipped into the bedcovers, changed into the kitty-patterned underwear and panties, then placed the cat ears on her head.

　　”Is this good enough, nya~?”

　　She even added a flattering meow.

　　Bai Ling remained unmoved, shaking the attachment in her hand.

　　”Dear senpai, can a cat without a tail still be called a cat?”

　　”Of course, it can,” Yuan Xiaoling immediately replied, “It’s called a Manx cat.”

　　Then she noticed Bai Ling’s expression darkening.

　　Yuan Xiaoling blinked, thinking maybe she had said something wrong. Upon reflection, it did seem somewhat mocking, implying Bai Ling lacked knowledge.

　　”No worries,” the blonde-haired maiden said, “That’s how sports students are.”

　　Athletic arts students, more specifically.

　　Bai Ling walked up to her with a grim face, coldly saying, “Active or passive, which do you prefer?”

　　”What’s active?” Yuan Xiaoling asked.

　　”Active means you put it on yourself.”

　　Bai Ling gave her one last chance.

　　Yuan Xiaoling shrugged her delicate shoulders, the glow of her snowy skin visible through the lace cutouts.

　　”And what about passive?”

　　Bai Ling didn’t reply again, her eyes flashing with a hint of crimson. An invisible force seized the golden-haired maiden.

　　”Wait, wait, what are you going to do… hey?”

　　Yuan Xiaoling’s body lost control as her inner consciousness was invaded, while external psychokinesis held her limbs, forcing her into a prone position with her bottom slightly raised, just like a real kitten.

　　Back exposed to the enemy.

　　”Wait, wait, wait, Bai Ling,” Yuan Xiaoling’s voice trembled, “I know I was wrong, sorry, okay?”

　　”Dear senpai, over the years I’ve learned one thing,” Bai Ling’s voice grew closer, “People won’t know they’re wrong until they’ve paid the price.”

　　Oh no, oh no, the Dragon King aura has appeared, danger is imminent.

　　”Maybe I’m different from others, and anyway, school resumes tomorrow, we need to go back early… AHH!!”

　　While Yuan Xiaoling was trying to reason, she suddenly felt an indescribable… sensation.

　　Click, that was the sound of assembly completion.

　　”We do need to go back early, but luckily, there’s still plenty of time now.”

　　Bai Ling pressed against her delicate neck, whispering softly, “More importantly, your ability gives you excellent recovery bonuses.”

　　”So, resting at ten o’clock tonight should be just perfect, wouldn’t you say?”

　　Pain, so much pain. Why, why does it have to be this way?

　　She recalled a famous DC comic story where Batman’s nemesis Joker once played a “Fatal Joke” on him.

　　Yuan Xiaoling lifted her kitty-like head, watching the summer sun slanting down the mountain ridge. Only when it set and the moon rose in the starry sky, bringing peace to the world, would salvation come.

　　In short, there were still six hours until ten o’clock.

　　”Waaah…”

　　The girl shed tears of sorrow, along with some other things…

　　…

　　No matter what, Bai Ling was satisfied.

　　What was supposed to be a moment of viewing questionable images successfully diverted her attention, suppressing emotions that were almost out of control. But such methods had side effects—they increased arousal.

　　Now that issue was resolved.

　　Though she looked frail, seemingly unable to withstand the wind, few people knew that once spiritual energy surpassed fourth-tier, most Spiritual Energy Manipulators could enhance their bodies.

　　For example, Bai Ling, who mastered the core ability of Inner Stone of the Mind, could fully control her brain, allocating bodily energy in the most optimal manner, making her actual physical abilities far better than appearances suggested.

　　So those six hours… were only due to needing to return to school early tomorrow.

　　Yuan Xiaoling wasn’t entirely foolish; during her mewling moments, she occasionally added a “nya” to act extra obedient, hoping to please Bai Ling and lighten the “punishment.”

　　The actual effect was boosting Bai Ling’s attack speed.

　　The stubborn summer sun finally set, but the moon didn’t show up. Tonight was pitch black, probably feeling too embarrassed, it hid behind the clouds.

　　Ten o’clock finally arrived.

　　True to her word, Bai Ling let the big kitty go at ten.

　　Yuan Xiaoling lay motionless on the bed, eyes closed.

　　… Originally, she wanted her to use her ability to clean up the scene a bit. Since she didn’t, that’s fine.

　　Pop~

　　”Ah… Huff…”

　　She unconsciously moaned once and continued sleeping. Ningning was completely out of it, knowing nothing.

　　”Sleep tight,” Bai Ling whispered near her small ear, “Next time before playing pranks, try improving your ability level first.”

　　Third-tier recovery might not keep up.

　　Zzzz

　　…

　　”Heard~ winter~ leave, woke up in a certain year and month~”

　　Dawn broke, morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, shining onto the sad face of the golden-haired maiden.

　　”I think~ I wait~ I expect, love has to take a few turns before it comes~”

　　After washing up outside, Bai Ling returned to find this scene.

　　”What’s wrong with you?”

　　Singing songs in the early morning with incorrect lyrics—was she dumbfounded?

　　”Nothing, just suddenly got philosophical,” Yuan Xiaoling turned around, looking at her with a sorrowful gaze, “Bai Ling, tell me, is the future predestined?”

　　The correct line earlier should have been “the future cannot therefore be arranged.”

　　Bai Ling paused for a moment, lifting her hand to unbutton her collar.

　　”I checked, there are no classes in the first two periods in the morning, you have classes but they’re not specialized ones, so you can ask for leave. We have at least three hours, which is more than enough.”

　　”No, no, no,” Yuan Xiaoling quickly scanned her surroundings and jumped off the bed, “I’ll get up, let’s go back to school.”