Chapter 49: The Price of Security

The subtle ripple, sparked by Lin Wan’s playful remark about “money” and “connections,” did not subside with the end of the movie night. Instead, beneath the frozen surface of Xia Yue’s heart, it birthed a hidden yet resolute undercurrent.

Since then, Xia Yue seemed to grow even busier.

Beyond her daily student council duties and her responsibilities as a magical girl, the time she spent in front of her personal terminal noticeably increased.

She no longer merely browsed internal organizational mission briefings and academic data. Instead, she began systematically researching topics seemingly unrelated to her “main occupation”: financial market fluctuations, equity structures of emerging tech companies, urban real estate development plans, and even resource exchange rules within certain grey areas.

Her actions were incredibly discreet and efficient. Leveraging her authority as student council president and the convenience of her identity, she gained access to macro data and policy trends that were typically inaccessible to ordinary individuals.

With the magical girl’s superhuman information processing capabilities and logical thinking, she could swiftly grasp crucial points amidst a torrent of complex information.

She did not engage in high-risk investment gambles. Instead, she chose several paths that appeared conservative but were, in fact, meticulously calculated. This involved compliant short-term capital operations through affiliated enterprises, leveraging information disparities for low-buy, high-sell transactions in specific sectors, and even, through clandestine channels, handling certain “spoils of war” occasionally seized by “Star Guardians” during missions—items inconvenient for public disposal yet possessing considerable value.

Her movements were clean and decisive. The flow of funds interlocked like a precise instrument, leaving no trace.

Within mere days, a sum that would be considered immense for an ordinary high school student, or even most adults, quietly flowed into an anonymous account she had opened under the name of an offshore shell company.

Xia Yue accomplished all of this without a hint of outward change. Even Lin Wan and Yu Niannian, her closest companions, remained oblivious. They simply noticed that Xia Yue seemed even “busier” lately, and the aura about her had grown subtly colder.

Then, one day, under the pretext that “the student council needed to update old equipment and establish a dedicated scholarship fund,” Xia Yue submitted an astonishingly detailed proposal to the school board, accompanied by a large, anonymously donated sum with a clear source.

This donation not only perfectly covered the equipment upgrades and scholarship establishment but also left a significant surplus, with its handling meticulously planned to be beyond reproach.

The move caused quite a stir within the school, yet everyone attributed it to Xia Yue’s exceptional leadership and an unnamed philanthropist.

Only Lin Wan, upon hearing the news, raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, her gaze lingering for a moment on Xia Yue’s still, unruffled face.

The first step was quietly completed. Through her actions, Xia Yue proved she possessed a far more advanced and potent ability to acquire and manage resources than Yu Niannian’s “splurging” relying on family wealth.

Next, the second step began.

Xia Yue was no longer content with merely accumulating funds. She began leveraging the channels of the student council and the “Star Guardians” to access more core resources.

Under the guise of “optimizing logistical support” and “enhancing member welfare,” she submitted several reports to the organization. These reports proposed integrating internal resources and establishing a standardized system for material allocation and contribution point exchange. The reports were rigorously logical and data-rich; even Ouyang Na nodded slightly in approval, finding them quite constructive.

Concurrently, she began intentionally introducing certain “good things” into Jin’s life. These items, acquired through her own channels and not part of the organization’s standard provisions, appeared in a manner that seemed casual but was, in fact, carefully calculated.

Sometimes, it was a box of expensive floral tea from a specific region, rare in production, and known for its subtle aid in stabilizing magical energy. Xia Yue would place it on Jin’s desk with the explanation, “Someone gave this to me, but I don’t drink it.”

Other times, it was a hardcover edition of a classical art book, long out of print and something Jin had once casually mentioned wanting. This would appear on her apartment’s porch, accompanied by a printed, unsigned note: [Cleaned out from the storage room.]

Unlike Yu Niannian’s direct, overt transfers, these items carried an undeniable, pervasive thoughtfulness and… control.

They quietly improved Jin’s quality of life, subtly weaving a comfortable net around her, a net orchestrated by Xia Yue.

Lin Wan was the first to notice this change.

She observed the priceless floral tea on Jin’s desk, then glanced at Xia Yue, who was nearby, head bent over documents, her expression conveying ‘this has nothing to do with me.’ A playful curve touched Lin Wan’s lips, yet uncharacteristically, she offered no teasing remark.

Yu Niannian, however, was somewhat confused. She tugged on Jin’s hand and whispered, “–Sister, you seem to be getting lots of nice things lately, don’t you? Did Senior Xia Yue send them? She’s so kind!” Her thoughts were simple and direct; she hadn’t yet perceived the undercurrents beneath the calm surface.

Jin herself felt a complex mix of emotions. She was no fool and could sense the origin of these items.

Xia Yue’s “gifts” carried a cold, undeniable demeanor, leaving Jin no room for refusal.

To accept them meant incurring more “debts” that would be difficult to repay; to refuse might provoke even deeper dissatisfaction from the other party. She could only passively endure, her unease growing with each passing day.

Finally, the third and most crucial step arrived on what appeared to be an ordinary evening.

****

Xia Yue returned to Jin’s apartment, where they were the only two present. She didn’t immediately sit down to handle documents or remain in silence as usual. Instead, she stood in the center of the living room, her gaze calmly fixed on a somewhat flustered Jin.

From her personal folder, she retrieved a finely bound document, resembling a business contract, and gently placed it on the coffee table.

The document’s cover bore no flamboyant title, only a single line of calm Song typeface:

“Resource Provision and Code of Conduct Agreement (Draft)”

Jin’s heart gave a sudden lurch, seized by a powerful sense of foreboding.

Xia Yue’s voice was as calm as her gaze, devoid of discernible emotion, yet it carried the weight of a verdict.

“Given your current circumstances and the objective need to maintain a stable life during your ‘observation period,’ I have drafted an agreement.”

Her slender finger tapped the document as she explained it clause by clause, her tone as objective as if she were presenting experimental data.

“The first article concerns resource provision. According to this agreement, I will provide you with comprehensive living support, including but not limited to: an independent apartment located in the core zone of the base with a higher security level; a personalized meal plan customized by an organization-certified nutritionist; regular allocations of special resources designed to stabilize your nascent magical energy; and a monthly stipend sufficient for your free disposal, alleviating any concerns about your livelihood. The standard for this will far exceed anything you currently have access to.”

She paused, observing Jin’s face gradually pale, and then continued:

“The second article outlines the code of conduct. In exchange for resource provision, you are required to adhere to the following terms: you may not leave your designated activity area without my permission; you must regularly report your whereabouts and contacts to me; you must obtain my prior consent before engaging in interactions with Lin Wan, Yu Niannian, or anyone else that extend beyond the scope of ordinary social interaction; and, when making important decisions, you must prioritize and follow my advice.”

Xia Yue’s gaze sharpened, piercing Jin’s heart like an ice pick.

“This agreement is designed to clarify the rights and obligations between us, preventing unnecessary misunderstandings and… resource wastage. It can provide you with the most stable and secure living environment, far surpassing what Yu Niannian’s inconsistent pocket money can offer, and certainly beyond what Lin Wan’s capricious whims can guarantee.”

She pushed the document towards Jin, her tone imbued with an undeniable, almost ruthless “benevolence.”

“Sign it, and you will attain true ‘security.’ Otherwise…”

She did not elaborate, but the unspoken threat was clearly conveyed within her icy blue eyes: losing this “privilege” could lead to even more unpredictable consequences.

Jin stared at the “agreement,” its clauses clear and its logic rigorous, yet it overtly priced her freedom and relationships. A chill shot from her feet straight to her head.

Xia Yue did not roar, nor did she display anger. She simply, in the calmest and most rational manner, constructed a magnificent, frigid cage, then sought to lock Jin inside with “resources” and “security” as the keys.

If Lin Wan were present, she would likely whistle in admiration, praising Xia Yue’s ruthless and efficient “pulling the rug out from under someone.”

If Yu Niannian understood, she would probably stomp her feet in distress, wondering how Senior Xia Yue could transform “being good to Sister” into such a cold transaction.

Jin, however, merely stared blankly at the document, at Xia Yue’s unruffled face, her heart sinking little by little into a cold abyss.

She finally understood.

Xia Yue was not joking.

She had researched the “market,” assessed the “value,” and then presented her “offer.”

An “offer” that she could not easily refuse, yet one that was profoundly humiliating.

To completely buy out her freedom and her right to connect with the outside world, using money and resources.

This was Xia Yue’s solution—the most “rational” and chilling method she found when confronted with the “jealousy” she could neither comprehend nor control.