Vol2 Chapter 27: Dormitory ,night chat

“Bai Ci, Bai Ci~”

“Senior Sister, Senior Sister… are you asleep?”

Half-dreaming, half-awake, Bai Ci heard two familiar voices. She slowly opened her eyes to the dim room, where two striking figures stood by her hospital bed, their flashlights illuminating their faces like ghosts.

“Pfft!”

Bai Ci rolled over, pulling the blanket over her head.

What were they doing here in the middle of the night? Playing some poetic midnight drama?

Xia Mi was one thing, but Zero, why join the chaos?

“Ugh…” Xia Mi sighed dramatically. “I made chicken soup for both Senior Sisters, but it looks like Senior Bai’s sleepy. Guess I’ll just share it with Senior Zero…”

“Who said I’m sleepy?”

Bai Ci shot upright, eyeing her. “Got any rice?”

“Ugh, so food trumps your Junior Sister!” Xia Mi pouted, feigning the heartbreak of a spurned maiden.

“My bad. Please, Junior Sister, feed me!” Bai Ci clasped her hands and bowed dramatically.

“Hehe!” Xia Mi grinned, cracking open a thermos. The rich aroma of mushroom and chicken wafted out under the moonlight. Bai Ci’s throat bobbed, her pajama collar fluttering as a breeze slipped in, unable to dim the sudden spark in her eyes.

Zero silently pulled three disposable wooden bowls and chopsticks from her bag, her eyes gleaming at the thermos.

“No rush, one bowl of rice each,” Xia Mi said, serving steaming sticky rice and handing a bowl to Bai Ci.

Bai Ci took it, the rice glistening like pearls in the moonlight, sticking to her fingers. Xia Mi poured golden, oily chicken soup into the bowls, the three heads huddling close like cats sneaking around a fragrant bowl of kibble.

Bai Ci hadn’t had chicken soup with rice in ages. Xia Mi was the epitome of a perfect wife—master of all dishes!

“Delicious, right? My cooking’s top-notch. Even Senior Chu said so!”

“Delicious,” Zero nodded. With her picky palate, she found no faults. Back when late-night hunger struck and the cafeteria was closed, she’d relied on Bai Ci’s instant noodles.

Tasty, but after a week straight, Zero felt queasy at the sight of them.

Still, Bai Ci ate earnestly.

Seeing her calm demeanor, Xia Mi’s eyes widened. “Senior Sister, aren’t you worried? What if the hearing decides you’re a dangerous high-risk hybrid and ships you off to some lonely South Pacific island for life?”

“Worrying won’t help. The Principal said my test results are safe. I’ll probably get through the hearing fine,” Bai Ci mumbled, her mood dipping.

Annoying…

She’d never met her birth mom, who died after giving birth.

So who was her Japanese dad?

Her only memories were of her adoptive parents, all gone now.

“That’s good,” Xia Mi sighed in relief. “I was scared I’d never see you again.”

“It’s fine… Teach me to cook sometime?” Bai Ci swallowed her rice.

“Sure!” Xia Mi nodded. “Whatever you want to learn, I’ll teach you. I’m the little kitchen goddess!”

“With enough leverage, the board won’t care about test results,” Zero said suddenly, her voice low. “Bai Ci, if they really deem you a dangerous element, what’ll you do?”

Bai Ci fell silent, unsure how to respond. After a moment, she mumbled uncertainly, “Run away?”

“Run away?” Both froze, as if she’d said something shocking.

Bai Ci nodded.

“What else can I do?” She took another bite of rice, mumbling, “I’m not spending my life in a place like that.”

“Senior Zero, can’t you hope for something better?” Xia Mi shot her a look. “Senior Bai will be fine.”

“Sorry.” Zero pressed her lips together and kept eating.

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister, you’ll be okay,” Xia Mi said, striking a heroic pose. “I made a huge sacrifice for you!”

“What sacrifice?” Bai Ci and Zero looked at her curiously.

“Making midnight snacks for Senior Fingel for a month.”

That was a big sacrifice.

Bai Ci and Zero exchanged a glance.

“Will he buy it?” Zero asked skeptically.

“He’s the head of Cassell’s news department. Know who spills your secrets to the world? Not Wikipedia—paparazzi. They’re the most dedicated journalists, with unmatched noses for gossip. They’re skeptics, questioning everything, and they’re everywhere,” Xia Mi said, puffing out her nonexistent chest proudly. “He even guaranteed that if he sets his mind to it, there’s nothing he can’t pull off at Cassell. Even with someone as private as Senior Zero, he could sneak in, snap some pretty photos, and send them for me to admire.”

Zero set down her bowl and chopsticks, clenched her fist, and punched her cushion.

The bowl and chopsticks had to stay safe—she wasn’t done eating.

If Fingel dared, for the sake of their late-night snack camaraderie, Zero would burn incense for him yearly.

“But the best at uncovering secrets are also the best at hiding them!” Xia Mi added.

“What’d he say?” Bai Ci, for once, cared about her own situation.

“He said clearing your name is like polishing a lump of coal. The crowd’s eyes are sharp. That day, besides Cassell students, there were Chicago University folks and regular people. Some busybody posted it online, but Fingel said he’s got the Principal’s backing and Norma’s highest access. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be making him snacks for a month!”

“Heh…” Bai Ci gave a dry laugh.

Meanwhile, Fingel was battling with the news department crew.

For safety, the Principal tasked him with clearing both Bai Ci and Chu Zihang. Bai Ci was easy—she hadn’t done much, and her missions were tame. But Chu Zihang? A rap sheet a mile long! Thirteen missions, thirteen infractions. If not for Professor Schneider’s mentorship, he’d have been expelled long ago. With his unquenchable golden pupils and dangerous Word Spirit, his continued enrollment was a glaring oversight in Cassell’s management.

What a notorious delinquent!

Damn it, I shortchanged Xia Mi. Bai Ci’s one thing, but Chu Zihang’s a whole other mess!

And with Xia Mi and Chu Zihang’s endless rumors, she was catching up to Susie, stealing the spotlight.

She should’ve owed me a year of snacks!