Chapter 12: A New Fated Rival

For the subsequent exams, Cheng Lan naturally completed his answers with exceptional ease.

Time swiftly brought them to the end of the school day.

Although another day of exams awaited them tomorrow, under Lidoa’s blessing, not to mention another ten days of exams, even the notoriously difficult college entrance examination would prove no match for him.

With a joyous heart, Cheng Lan stepped out of the teaching building with a light, buoyant stride.

‘Why do I feel like I’ve forgotten something?’

Just as Cheng Lan pondered this—

“Cheng Lan, wait up!” Qin Jinxuan rushed up from behind, her voice urgent.

‘Right, I remembered. I was supposed to tutor the heiress.’

Cheng Lan promptly slowed his pace.

“Honestly! Why are you walking so fast!” Qin Jinxuan tugged on the corner of Cheng Lan’s shirt. “You didn’t forget about my ability training, did you?”

Her gaze sharpened instantly, fixing intently on Cheng Lan’s face.

“How could I! Am I that kind of person?!” Cheng Lan retorted with an air of righteous indignation.

“Then why are your eyes darting about everywhere?” She narrowed her eyes.

“I’m just… it’s not every day you see ‘Master Ye’ strolling through our school, is it?” He casually offered an excuse.

“Hmph!” Qin Jinxuan pouted and glared at Cheng Lan.

“Ahem!” Cheng Lan cleared his throat. “Back to the main topic, shall we go to your place now?”

“No need,” Qin Jinxuan gently shook her head. “Let’s just go to your place. I happen to have something to take care of along the way.”

“My place?” Cheng Lan looked at Qin Jinxuan, utterly bewildered. “Do you even know my address?”

To this, Qin Jinxuan did not answer his question, but merely smiled faintly, giving him a playful wink.

‘My word! She’s got me on file!’

Cheng Lan immediately understood.

The trio soon arrived at Cheng Lan’s doorstep.

“Don’t look, now.”

Cheng Lan turned to caution Qin Jinxuan, then covered the display screen of the door lock with his left hand, swiftly inputting the password with his right.

“Hey! Do you really need to be so defensive around me! You already know my home password, after all!” Qin Jinxuan pouted in clear displeasure.

“It’s not like I wanted to know it; you insisted on telling me! If you want to blame someone, blame yourself!” Cheng Lan retorted instantly.

‘What in the world was my past self thinking?!’

Qin Jinxuan stamped her feet several times in frustration.

Beep beep!

Cheng Lan pushed open the door, remarking casually, “My place is a bit rundown, Miss Qin. Please don’t mind it.”

“Pardon the intrusion~” Just as Qin Jinxuan was about to follow Cheng Lan inside, she felt herself brush against something, causing her to stop dead in her tracks.

“Cheng… Cheng Lan…”

“What’s wrong?” He turned back to look at Qin Jinxuan, who was frozen at the doorway.

“I… I think I just touched a ghost at your door?” she said nervously.

“A ghost?” Cheng Lan was utterly baffled.

‘A ghost daring to cause trouble right outside his door?’

“Mm-hmm.” Qin Jinxuan nodded. “I think I bumped into something, but there’s clearly nothing here…”

She reached out tentatively, groping the air in front of her, but this time touched nothing. ‘Could it have been her imagination?’

“Oh.” Cheng Lan realized with a start.

“Lidoa, come out.”

No sooner had he spoken than a petite, silver-haired girl materialized instantly by Cheng Lan’s side.

“Hello there, Sister Jinxuan~” Lidoa lifted the hem of her skirt, gracefully curtsying to Qin Jinxuan.

“He… hello…” Qin Jinxuan gaped in astonishment at Lidoa, instinctively giving a small, hesitant wave.

“Cheng… Cheng Lan, you didn’t… actually catch a ghost, did you?” She cast her gaze back to Cheng Lan.

“Ha? She’s far more formidable than any ghost,” Cheng Lan chuckled lightly. “Anyway, let’s go inside. Let’s not stand around outside like we’re being punished.”

“Oh, oh.” Qin Jinxuan quickly stepped inside, gently closing the door behind her.

“Do you have slippers?” She blinked at Cheng Lan.

“No, just come in,” Cheng Lan was already settled on the sofa.

Qin Jinxuan looked down at the floor, so polished it reflected her image. She shook her head. “Your floor is so clean; you must have just tidied it yesterday. I’ll take off my shoes.”

Qin Jinxuan bent slightly, her fingertips hooked the heel of her loafer, and her small foot, encased in white stockings, slipped out, pressing onto the smooth wooden floor. She repeated the motion, then neatly placed both discarded loafers by the door.

She walked over to Cheng Lan and slowly settled down beside him.

“So… who is this little sister?” Her gaze flitted back and forth between Cheng Lan and Lidoa, filled with curiosity.

“Sister Jinxuan, my name is Lidoa, and I am Master’s personal assistant~” Lidoa offered Qin Jinxuan a sweet smile.

“Ma… master…? Per… personal…?” Qin Jinxuan’s gaze instantly locked onto Cheng Lan, sharp as a blade.

“What’s with that ‘I’m about to call the police’ look on your face?!” Cheng Lan retorted, unwilling to back down, returning Qin Jinxuan’s stare. “She’s a bionic human, a ‘robot’ (TL Note: ‘Luobo,’ literally ‘radish,’ is Chinese slang for ‘robot.’)!”

“A bionic human?” Qin Jinxuan looked at Lidoa, confused.

“She’s a robot that looks like a human,” Cheng Lan explained from the side.

“But she’s too lifelike!” Qin Jinxuan exclaimed.

“Hee hee~ After all, I am high-performance!” Lidoa proudly tilted her small face upwards.

“This little sister… is she really a robot?” Qin Jinxuan still couldn’t believe it.

“Truly, even more real than Ding Zhen .”

“Can I touch her?” Qin Jinxuan’s eyes sparkled, looking at Lidoa with excitement.

“You’ll have to ask Lidoa herself; don’t ask me.” Cheng Lan glanced at Lidoa, who was on his other side.

“You may~” Lidoa nodded, extending a small hand towards Qin Jinxuan.

Qin Jinxuan immediately reached out and touched it.

First, she gently squeezed her fingers.

‘So soft!’

Then she stroked the palm and back of her hand.

‘So smooth!’

“May I touch your hair too?” Qin Jinxuan asked again.

“Not the top of my head, no. That’s reserved for Master.”

“Alright, I understand.” Qin Jinxuan nodded, then moved behind Lidoa.

She extended her slender palm, threading her fingers through Lidoa’s cascading silver hair, gently smoothing it down.

‘So hair really can be as silky smooth as Dove !’

She helped Lidoa tidy her hair for a while, then a sudden flash of inspiration struck her, and she pulled two hair ties from her pocket.

“Lidoa, please wait just a moment for Sister, okay?”

“Ta-da! Doesn’t little Lidoa look even cuter now?!”

Qin Jinxuan had tied Lidoa’s hair into twin ponytails.

Cheng Lan observed for a moment, then nodded in strong approval. “To be fair, she really does.”

With the addition of twin ponytails, Lidoa indeed looked even cuter.

Qin Jinxuan gazed at her masterpiece, a satisfied smile gracing her face.

“Thank you, Sister Jinxuan~” Lidoa’s sweet voice chimed.

‘I can’t take it anymore!’ Qin Jinxuan felt as though she was about to melt from the cuteness.

She quickly returned to her seat beside Cheng Lan.

“By the way,” Qin Jinxuan lowered her voice, her gaze flitting between Cheng Lan and Lidoa as she asked cautiously, “What was her relationship with you in your previous life?”

“Just like you, she’s also a fated rival,” Cheng Lan said casually, leaning back on the sofa with his hands clasped behind his head.

‘Huh?’

Qin Jinxuan was first filled with confusion, then she immediately realized.

According to Cheng Lan’s understanding of a “fated rival,” if this little sister was also his fated rival, just like her…

Then that meant—

In the previous life, Lidoa’s relationship with Cheng Lan was absolutely not ordinary either!

Qin Jinxuan’s internal radar was already blaring warnings—

This little sister was very likely also her fated rival!