Chapter 13: A Lesson in Distraction and Unexpected Encounters

As Ye Qing’s confusion mounted, Shen Congqing’s voice suddenly locked onto her, sharp and severe.

“Ye Qing, please pay attention to classroom order. Could you answer this question?”

Utterly bewildered, Ye Qing could only nod blankly.

‘She had merely been concerned for a classmate, yet it seemed she was being misunderstood again?’

The blonde woman at the podium adjusted the rimless glasses perched on her upturned nose. Her emerald eyes fixed coldly on the black-haired girl in the back row.

Seeing the girl show no shame, not even a flicker of expression, after being called out, Shen Congqing unconsciously tightened her grip on the teaching pointer.

‘Pulled strings to get in, skipped classes, almost late again…’

‘And if that wasn’t enough, she’s now flirting with a female student during class? She clearly has no respect for me.’

Observing Tang Nuo’s flushed cheeks and her foolish giggles while covering her face in the corner, Shen Congqing’s suspicions solidified.

“Explain the three dimensions of the Munsell color system.”

Ye Qing tilted her head. This challenge wasn’t as difficult as she had imagined.

“Hue, value, chroma.”

‘Hmph, I do have some basic knowledge. I wouldn’t forget something like this…’

“Hmm, very good. Since you already know the three attributes of color,” Shen Congqing’s emerald eyes darkened as she smiled meaningfully.

“Then, is there a hue whose maximum chroma locus forms a non-closed spiral on the surface of the color solid? If so…”

Ye Qing blinked blankly, having completely tuned out the rest of the question.

‘This is flash, this is defense, this is Isshin Ashina.’

‘This is movement, this is attack, this is Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven.’

“I don’t know.”

Shen Congqing let out a frustrated laugh, surprised by the black-haired girl’s blunt honesty. Yet, seeing Ye Qing’s placid expression—like a pig unbothered by boiling water—she surmised there was no remorse whatsoever.

“It’s fine. Sit down. Silver Moon, assistant teacher, please supervise our classmate Ye Qing.”

The assistant teacher, who had been standing quietly by the door, finally drew attention. She gave a simple nod, then swiftly moved behind Ye Qing, making Ye Qing feel an eerie chill creep up her neck.

Ye Qing instinctively glanced back. The moment her eyes met the other person’s face, her eyes widened abruptly, her amber pupils trembling.

‘Gu Xuanyu? No, her hair isn’t this white…’

The assistant teacher, known as Silver Moon, was dressed simply. Her pristine white hair was tied into a somewhat demure low ponytail. She had stood by the door unnoticed until Shen Congqing called her name.

If it were merely special attention from an assistant teacher, Ye Qing wouldn’t have cared. What startled her, however, was that the woman possessed a face strikingly similar to Gu Xuanyu’s.

Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t an exact match. Her subtly upturned lips, for instance, weren’t Gu Xuanyu’s style; they were more akin to that wicked woman, An Yueying. And her pupils weren’t the clear, intoxicating wine-red of Gu Xuanyu’s, but rather deeper and more mysterious.

Afraid to stare, Ye Qing quickly averted her gaze, only to realize she couldn’t recall the woman’s face. All that remained in her mind was a hazy fog, beautiful and indistinct, like the memories of a ‘departed wife.’

“Classmate, don’t look at me. Focus on the lesson.”

A sudden reminder from behind snapped Ye Qing back to attention, and she dutifully straightened her posture.

‘Right, I almost forgot she’s an assistant teacher. What am I even thinking?’

Shen Congqing observed the now-obedient Ye Qing, giving Silver Moon an approving nod before resuming her lecture.

In this manner, Ye Qing finally endured until class ended. Nothing else occurred, yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that the white-haired assistant teacher was scrutinizing her.

‘Perhaps it was just a delusion.’

***

Just as Ye Qing gathered her belongings, preparing to leave, the soft, sweet voice of the blue-haired girl beside her called out.

“Th-that, please wait a moment.”

Tang Nuo stood up, matching Ye Qing’s height. In others’ eyes, her physique was delicate, and coupled with her pitiable, timid face, it made one almost want to tease her.

Ye Qing couldn’t help but wonder if her judgment was flawed. How could such a frail, delicate girl be a promising candidate for an evil executive?

“Do you like magical girls too?”

Seeing Tang Nuo’s eyes full of hope, Ye Qing glanced down at her own magical girl wallpaper, understanding dawning on her.

“Oh, no.”

“How could you say that…”

As if deeply struck by Ye Qing’s heartless remark, Tang Nuo sagged like a deflated balloon, her eyes welling with disappointment. This sight softened Ye Qing’s heart.

“It’s not like I hate them.”

‘Who knows, I might have a lot of close contact with them in the future. Either they’ll be defeated and humiliated, or I’ll be captured by accident.’

“That’s wonderful! Can we be friends?”

Tang Nuo’s small face bloomed like a summer flower, her smile so sweet that it was impossible to refuse her request.

“Alright.”

Ye Qing reluctantly agreed. Watching Tang Nuo frolic like an excited puppy, she couldn’t resist reaching out to stroke her fluffy blue hair.

Feeling Ye Qing’s gentle caress, Tang Nuo’s heart fluttered. Her pretty face flushed crimson once more, her heart pounding like a startled deer.

In her life, Tang Nuo had always been an invisible social introvert, never daring to venture into crowds. Often, after just a few words from others, she would be unable to respond and would slink away.

Ye Qing’s friends were a rare species, while Tang Nuo’s only friend was now the black-haired girl who had just agreed to befriend her.

Having finally made her first friend since starting university, Tang Nuo’s spirits soared, causing her to involuntarily start waving her arms and dancing.

‘Although Miss Ye Qing seems cold, she might actually be a warm-hearted girl beneath that cool exterior. And she looks as cute as a magical girl…’

However, just as she pondered how to foster their newfound friendship, Ye Qing made a gesture that felt overly intimate to her, leaving Tang Nuo stiff and speechless.

‘Mom said head pats are a way to show affection. No one has ever patted my head before, except her… I heard online that art students are all older sisters who like cute girls. Could Miss Ye Qing be one too?’

‘Waaah, I was deceived by her harmless appearance, Mama! I’m going to be abducted by an older sister overflowing with affection…’

Ye Qing, oblivious to Tang Nuo’s wild imaginings, merely saw the girl’s face flush crimson again and scratched her head in confusion.

‘Am I doing something wrong? Why does she blush so easily?’

‘When I used to comb Gu Xuanyu’s hair, she’d always become obedient with just a gentle head pat. Why isn’t it working here?’

“Never mind, let’s go.”

Tang Nuo mumbled, burying her small face in her scarf, her slender fingers fidgeting behind her back as she followed Ye Qing.

Before Ye Qing had taken more than a few steps, she felt an unfriendly gaze firmly lock onto her from the doorway, sending a prickle down her spine.

She considered changing direction to leave, only to realize the other way was a dead end.

The pink-haired girl, whose eyes were shadowed by a weary cloud and deep resentment, noticed Ye Qing’s hesitation and boldly approached her.

“Hello, Ye Qing. Would you mind exchanging Bixiv contact info? You remind me a lot of someone I know.”

“I don’t know… er, I mean, it’s not convenient.”

Though Ye Qing tried her best to appear sincere, she inherently lacked expressive facial features, and her evasive amber eyes already betrayed her guilt.

Lin Shaoyao narrowed her rose-red, star-like eyes, a dangerous curve slowly forming on her lips.

“What do you mean ‘don’t know’? You’re Qingyu, right? I’m Xiao Conan~”