Chapter 4: Plan Failed?

[Don’t forget tonight’s self-training, be on time.]

The phone placed in the pocket of the pink-haired girl’s school uniform skirt suddenly vibrated. Since it was almost pressed against her thigh, she could feel it even while casually glancing around as she walked.

She took it out and saw it was a message from that guy.

Although she felt a bit reluctant, she immediately replied, “Got it.”

She had originally thought that after transferring to the assigned school, she would have some free time, but some people clearly didn’t see it that way.

Putting the phone down, the girl looked ahead. The traffic light at the crosswalk was flashing a glaring red. Just one more intersection ahead was where she lived. But today, it seemed she wouldn’t be able to just go home and lie down.

She glanced left and right, searching for a nearby bus stop. At the same time, she opened her phone’s navigation and typed in “Federal Special Investigation Bureau.” Mutsushima City wasn’t the capital nor one of the largest cities.

Yet, for some reason, the headquarters of the Special Investigation Bureau was set here, even though the location was a bit out of the way.

In ordinary people’s minds, the Federal Special Investigation Bureau was more like an elite police force. Their agents usually had richer experience and skills than local police, so when there were difficult cases, help would often be sought from the Bureau.

The high school uniform–clad girl didn’t seem like someone who would be connected to such a place. On her way to the bus stop, she selected a route on the map that seemed convenient.

As her figure disappeared from the intersection, three sneaky people immediately followed her, hiding behind billboards and street lamps on the sidewalk, secretly watching the girl waiting for the bus.

If she looked back at that moment, she would see they were classmates from the class she just transferred into today!

“What should we do? Should we follow her?” Violet hid behind a transformer box, only half her head visible.

Originally, they thought just following from a distance would be enough, but unexpectedly, she waited for the bus too. Now they had to make a choice:

Either casually follow her onto the same bus and get off at the same stop, or end it here for today.

“Ruo Lin, what do you think?”

“I… a bus is coming.”

While Ruo Lin was pondering, a bus arrived in the distance. The girl they were following stood up, clearly intending to board that bus.

There was no time to hesitate; a decision had to be made immediately.

Without giving herself much time to think, Ruo Lin appeared from behind a utility pole and sprinted toward the bus stop. The bus driver noticed and delayed for a few seconds. After the two boarded, the doors closed, and the bus departed.

Ruo Lin panted heavily while holding onto the handrail. She glanced back at Violet, locking eyes, then immediately noticed a big problem—where was Liu Yumeng?

As the bus passed the intersection they’d just been at, the two saw Liu Yumeng walking out of a bakery, holding a piece of meat floss cream bread.

“Huh—?”

Violet exclaimed in surprise as the bus sped past the intersection.

Standing mid-bus, Xia Kexin finally noticed the two girls leaning near the front door.

Wearing the same school uniform, they were easily noticed.

Coincidentally, Ruo Lin also looked inside the bus and met Xia Kexin’s gaze, and in that instant, Ruo Lin froze.

“Hi?”

Xia Kexin raised her right hand and quietly greeted.

Running into classmates on the bus, especially ones sitting right in front, she didn’t know what to do. They weren’t close, so there was no topic to chat about, but ignoring her would seem impolite.

At that moment, Violet stepped forward, “Ah, aren’t you the new transfer student? I think your name’s Xia Kexin, right?”

She moved from Ruo Lin’s side to Xia Kexin’s, and since their tailing plan had failed, it was time to change tactics.

“Y-yes.”

Looking at the blonde girl radiating the vibe of a popular student, Xia Kexin felt nervous. She wasn’t good at dealing with such people. Although they hadn’t exchanged more than a few words before, Violet kept talking nonstop now.

Plus, there were still several stops before Xia Kexin would get off at her transfer station. Being stuck next to her was basically torture.

“You always have people around you in class, so I never got a chance to say hi. Now we finally have the chance—what a coincidence.”

“It’s nothing.”

Please don’t bother me.

“Xia Kexin, are you going home?”

“No, actually I live in the school dormitory, but I need to buy some things.”

There was a large shopping mall on this bus route ahead. Although Xia Kexin hadn’t lived long in Mutsushima City, she knew a bit about the basics.

And she couldn’t exactly say she was heading to the Special Investigation Bureau’s headquarters.

“What a coincidence! Actually, we’re going there too.”

“Eh?”

Kexin exclaimed. She’d made up a casual excuse but ended up running into them.

Looks like she’d have to get off at the mall stop, otherwise it wouldn’t work. Why did such bad luck happen on her first day at a new school?

“That really is a coincidence.”

Thinking about it, it was true. This wasn’t the city center of Mutsushima. Unlike the dense malls downtown, the area’s main shopping and dining spot was the commercial complex called Xin’anhui.

“By the way, which school did you transfer from?”

“Is your hair dyed? Where did you get it done? It looks really cool.”

“Want to have dinner together later?”

…

Violet didn’t stop talking the whole way, continuously pouring conversation at Kexin, while Ruo Lin just stood by the window, occasionally sneaking a glance at her.

Today, Kexin got a taste of what “enthusiasm” meant. Despite Violet’s name, she was nothing like the image Kexin had in her mind.

Finally, the bus reached Xin’anhui Mall stop, and Kexin had no choice but to get off with them.

“See you tomorrow! If you need help moving stuff, just contact us,” Violet waved her phone. She’d just added Kexin as a friend, and since she’d offered, Kexin couldn’t refuse.

“Thanks.”

Since she said she was buying daily necessities, Kexin pretended she was heading to the supermarket inside the mall, while the other two headed to the food court on the basement floor.

But it was all just a pretense.

After confirming Kexin wasn’t looking, Violet immediately turned around.

“Let’s keep following her.”

Just as Violet approached the escalator going back, Ruo Lin grabbed her sleeve and shook her head.

“Forget it, I feel like she’s not a bad person.”

“But—”

“Let’s eat, my treat.”

Violet was reluctant but had noticed something strange about Xia Kexin. Also, she saw that Kexin’s Mchat friend list had fewer than five people—hard to believe in this day and age.

Ruo Lin pulled Violet’s hand toward the deeper part of the food court. Out of sight, Ruo Lin looked thoughtful before lifting her head with a resolute look. The girl made a firm decision in her heart.