Chapter 74: Close, Yet Distant
Jian Yu didn’t agree with Shen Gu.
’No,’ a part of her disagreed instantly.
Because Pei Yin didn’t like red.
The chains and accessories he wore were all dominated by cool tones—silvery-white, jade, or perhaps misty cyan and pale gold.
Jian Yu rubbed the chain on her wrist.
A mix of fine silver and gold like this, layered several times—that was Pei Yin’s style.
The class continued.
Jian Yu secretly opened the letter.
The strokes were sharp yet restrained, exuding a natural grace. It even had a gentle air to it, like a spring breeze.
Content: I want to grab your ankles and watch you try to run. The sound of the ankle bells would be so titillating, so beautiful.
Lewd words written in a gentleman’s hand.
’Hmm... Hard to say what to make of that.’
Next to each person’s desk was a set of equipment, which included a paper shredder.
She tossed the pink letter in, and it was quickly reduced to confetti.
The two anklets that remained looked very expensive.
Jian Yu hesitated for a moment before stowing them in her Space Ring.
’They were a gift to me, so they’re mine now. If no one claims them, I’ll just resell them.’
’I’ll give them three seconds. After that, the offer’s off the table.’
WHOOSH—
A rustle of sharp intakes of breath filled the classroom.
Jian Yu looked up and saw Sheng Yue appear at the door.
His ascetic face, broad shoulders, and the white uniform encasing his long legs created an inexplicable urge to see him sullied.
With a ruthless flick of his hand, Sheng Yue acted.
A blinding flash of yellow shot through the air, shattering the silence and stirring up a sharp gust of wind.
The poker-card-sized Yellow Card flew seven meters as if it had eyes, landing perfectly in front of Yan Qin.
Between the open pages of her book, the golden card pressed a slight indent into the paper, making the page tremble.
"A Yellow Card!"
"I’ve heard the upperclassmen warn about it so many times, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen Chairman Sheng give someone a Yellow Card."
"Two Yellow Cards turn into a Red Card, and not only are you banned from all major events, but you also..."
"I told her not to sit there. Serves her right. Now she can forget about entering this year’s Incubation Competition. Hmph, and here I thought she was so special."
A soft, mocking voice reached Jian Yu’s ears.
Her hearing seemed to have become extremely sharp. She could clearly hear conversations that had been lowered to a near-whisper.
’This isn’t normal,’ Jian Yu thought, pressing her lips together.
She couldn’t help but recall the image of the Red Snake flitting about in the laboratory.
’Maybe it wasn’t that Yan Qin couldn’t see it, but that the Red Snake’s movements... seemed much slower in my eyes?’
Another Yellow Card flew past her eyes.
Jian Yu lifted her eyes, her gaze focused.
The card spun in the air like an errant yellow leaf, following a trajectory to land on the desk of another girl, one wearing a green brooch.
It moved so fast it nearly left an afterimage, yet with some inexplicable power, she was able to make out the number on the card.
1006. The four digits were seared into her mind’s eye, perfectly clear.
Professor Lin said expressionlessly, "Are you done showing off?"
"Mhm." Sheng Yue walked in calmly and joined the lecture mid-session.
His usual seat was taken, and Shen Gu was sitting next to Jian Yu.
His eyes swept around the room before he casually found another seat and sat down.
Yin Jiu: [You rushed all the way over here just to sit there? You should go over, tell that Shen Gu kid to get up, and take his seat!]
Sheng Yue: [Shut up.]
Yin Jiu (whining): [Master...]
Sheng Yue’s blue eyes were downcast, an unapproachable, distant aura constantly shrouding his ascetic face.
His lips flattened into a thin line. [If you’re going to be so dramatic, why not take a page from Red Snake’s book and climb onto someone to act cute?]
Yin Jiu (awkwardly): [I’m shy.]
’He took after his master, that was all.’
"..." Sheng Yue pressed his fingers to his temple, composing himself.
Yan Qin was even more unsettled than he was.
Firstly, because of the Yellow Card in her hand.
Secondly, because the other girl who had received a Yellow Card was glaring daggers at her.
Yan Qin had overestimated herself and underestimated the abilities of Sheng Yue and his circle. She hadn’t expected her little scheme to be discovered so quickly.
Weis Lan Noble Academy had nearly ten thousand school rules.
Rule 1006: Private contact with mercenaries is forbidden.
Aside from Sheng Yue and the two girls who received the Yellow Cards, Jian Yu was likely the only one who knew the reason for their punishment.
’That makes sense. Sheng Yue wouldn’t be so petty over a single seat.’
’Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi, on the other hand, probably would be.’
’The former would do it purely out of displeasure, while the latter would most likely interpret the act of taking his seat as a deliberate provocation.’
’Privately contacting mercenaries is a major taboo at Weis Lan. A single misstep could implicate one’s entire family,’ Jian Yu mused.
’They couldn’t have hired them to kill me, could they? That would be too vicious.’
’No, that’s not right.’
Weis Lan Noble Academy was famous for its high-level security system. Not even the most skilled mercenary could force their way in.
During the Interplanetary Hundred Schools League, one still needed an invitation and identity verification to enter or leave Weis Lan.
Remembering the note from earlier, the plots of several "forced romance" novels began to flip through Jian Yu’s mind automatically.
In a forced romance, the female lead usually has a villainous best friend. This friend pretends to help the heroine and badmouths the male lead, but in reality, she’s just...
Jian Yu’s eyelid twitched.
’Don’t tell me Yan Qin is trying to trick me into going somewhere just to kill me?’
She rarely assumed the worst of people, but she also wouldn’t underestimate the wickedness of the human heart.
Before she knew it, class was over.
When she looked up again, Professor Lin was no longer at the lectern.
"What did you do?!"
The girl with the green brooch grabbed Yan Qin’s uniform, her voice cold as she questioned her.
Several other girls with teal brooches tried to hold her back, attempting to mediate. "Let’s just talk this out calmly."
"Talk? What is there to talk about?! Do you know how I got this card? It’s all because of her! She dragged me into this!"
"Didn’t you say you wouldn’t do anything? Then what’s this Yellow Card about? Have I offended you somehow? Are you trying to get me killed?!"
The voice was sharp and piercing. Jian Yu couldn’t help but frown.
Sheng Yue suddenly returned to the classroom, the pressure around him dropping to a heavy low.
His deep blue eyes watched the farce before him without a ripple of emotion.
The anger was extinguished, the commotion forcibly quelled. The girl clutched her Yellow Card and ran off, aggrieved.
Yan Qin stood frozen for two seconds, then decisively followed the others in pursuit.
Shen Gu was packing his things.
He turned around to find Sheng Yue standing before him.
He greeted him nervously, "Chief... Chief Sheng."
Jian Yu, who had been waiting for Ling Yanzhi to arrive, heard the voice, and her dazed eyes slowly came to rest on Sheng Yue.
She stood up stiffly, her small face tense. Her expression was somewhat detached, lacking its usual soft delicacy and gaining a touch of cool aloofness.
Her moon-white dress traced an arc, the starry flowers on its hem veiled in a misty light that captivated the soul.
Sheng Yue’s long lashes were lowered, the thick fringe casting a shadow that hid the emotion in his eyes.
Even his breathing was as restrained as a precision instrument.
"I’ll take you back."
Sheng Yue’s attitude was aloof.
Jian Yu glanced at her Star Brain.
On it was a message from Ling Yanzhi: Something came up and I can’t get away. I asked Sheng Yue to take you back.
Shen Gu, having received a notification from Xi Yu, looked up and said in a small voice, "I’ll be going then."
Sheng Yue gave a slight nod. "Mhm."
Jian Yu looked at Sheng Yue’s cold expression and thanked him in a low voice, "Sorry to trouble you."
Yin Jiu (cheering him on): [Say it! Say something else!]
Sheng Yue’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "Alien Beasts have been transported from the major planets to serve as prizes for the competition. They’re in charge of the inspection to prevent any riots or incidents."
Jian Yu looked up. "Oh."
That seemed a bit rude. "Oh, oh. Thank you, Chairman Sheng."
It was a forced cheerfulness, and she sounded a bit like a robot.
Jian Yu pressed her lips together and walked a few stiff, uncoordinated steps.