Chapter 5: The "New Transfer Student"

It's a brand new day. Qing Yue went back to the girls dormitories at around 8:00 yesterday night. And now...

"Good morning class, today we have a brand new transfer student. Her name is Qing Yue." Mr. Wang said. Then, turning to Qing Yue, he said, "Please introduce yourself."

Murmurs went up in the class, saying things along the lines of "Woah, she's a beauty!" or "Look at all the boys drooling for her already..."

Qing Yue stepped forward, cleared her throat, and introduced herself.

Alright, remember now, my cute little sister. Pretend you don't know me, and in fact, act as if you despise me a litt-

"Hello everyone! My name is Qing Yue and I am Xuan Kai's little sister!"

...Y-You're kidding me, right?

Ah...great. Just great. I should've made her agree to not show that she has a relationship with me at all. Or that she hates me. Both would've worked. I went through all that trouble getting her to agree not to interfere in my matters and she just shows up and declares she's my little sister? Truly, an outstanding move. She just flawlessly ruined her whole future at this high school.

"Eh?? She's Fei Wu Kai's sister? What a pity..."

"Damn, she has bad taste. Xuan Kai, of all people?"

"Looks like trash stick together. Hahaha!"

Even Mr.Wang's attitude toward her immediately changed.

"Are you done? If you're done, get in your seat," Mr.Wang said coldly, a sneer on his face. "There's a vacant desk beside Xuan Kai's, I think you would appreciate that."

"Thank you very much!" Qing Yue said with a big bright smile on her face. "I indeed appreciate it."

She then took several confident steps and arrived at her destination, right beside my private space in the corner of the classroom - well, it's not so private now.

"Heya, Big Brother Xuan Kai!" she said as she sat down in her chair and gave me a little wave. Mr. Wang couldn't care less about me and Qing Yue after she declared herself my little sister, so he doesn't mind us talking as long as we aren't loud enough to disturb the class. In this case, it's a good thing.

"...Good morning," I responded quietly. I noticed that Yu An Xue was staring in our direction, but I didn't show it. "What you just did up there, will cost you your entire high school life." I said stoically as I pointed my chin towards the front of the classroom where Qing Yue had just been standing moments ago.

"I know that," she replied loftily.

"If you knew that already, then why did you still do so? You could've had a happy school life with your looks and personality."

"Because I wanted to," she said nonchalantly.

"You aren't a little girl anymore. Stop acting like this."

She let out a pouty "hmph", flicked her hair back, and turned her head the other way, coincidentally meeting Yu An Xue's eyes. Neither said anything, but I could tell they were both inspecting the other. Qing Yue because she wondered why Yu An Xue was staring at me, and Yu An Xue probably because she was curious about my little sister. After all, no one expected me, the trash with no magic power whatsoever, to have such a beautiful sister, from the Qing family no less. Several seconds passed, and eventually they both retreated and paid attention to the class.

Ringgggg!

The loud yet familiar shrill of the school bell rang out after a while, signifying the end of morning classes and the beginning of our 1 hour lunch break. This period of time is the best for discerning who are the popular kids and who are the loners. Me? It's obvious, isn't it?

Everyone quickly packed their things and rushed for the door, racing to be the first one out of the classroom. Friends banded together as groups and chatted excitedly about where they would go to eat today and other miscellaneous topics. As for me, I stayed in the classroom and waited until everyone else is gone. I mean, who would want to eat with me anyway?

"Big Brother Xuan Kai, where do you want to go eat?"

I take back what I just said.

"Qing Yue...I forgot you were here," I stated.

"I'm sitting right next to you and you still manage to forget that I exist?!" Qing Yue asked unhappily. "Am I that unimportant to you?"

"That's...not what it is."

"Whatever. I'll repeat my question - where do you want to go eat?"

"I usually just go to the cafeteria..."

"Eh? The cafeteria? But the food there is horrible isn't it?"

"It's edible. That's all I care about. I really don't mind if it tastes bad."

"Well I do! C'mon, I'll take you somewhere!"

"You'll be laughed at if you're seen together with me..." I trailed off.

She sighed and grabbed my hand. "Who cares? Let's go!"

And so, I was forcefully dragged away from my normal routine. As I followed behind her, all I could see was her angelic long white hair, swaying side to side as she ran. And right then and there, I swore to myself that I would protect her, no matter what it takes - even if it costs me my life.

I...can't let anyone else important to me die.

*****

- 2022, November 8th. The Starry City -

"So? Why exactly are we at a hotel?" I asked. Yep - this girl has brought me to a 5-star hotel in Shenzhen, The Starry City.

"What are you thinking about? It's not like we're going to sleep together or anything," she brushed my remark off with ease.

Why are you doing so much for me, Qing Yue?

"I never said anything of the sort," I replied. "I am merely questioning why we are at a hotel instead of a restaurant. Are we eating room service food?"

Realizing that she had been exposed - she was the one thinking those thoughts, not me - she hurriedly attempted to change the topic. "A-Ahem! Anyway, we are nearing our destination. The restaurant we are going to is named Grange Grill, it's inside the hotel. Does it ring a bell?"

"I've heard of that place before. Oh, and also...no, I don't hear any bell sounds at the moment."

"That was a figure of speech..." she said, exasperated. "Well, I can't really blame you, can I, Big Brother Xuan Kai? No one talks to you in general, so it's only natural you don't know these things."

"That's...correct."

That's correct, but...did you really have to point it out like that though? Ouch.

Not long after, we reached the restaurant known as Grange Grill. Turns out, it served Western cuisine, and is famous for its steaks. It gave off an air of royalty, clearly a part of the high-class district. I then inspected myself a little bit.

"This is going to suck..." I muttered.

Qing Yue didn't seem to notice. Everyone else did, however. As soon as we walked inside, dozens of stares were focused on us - me, in particular. I looked around at the other diners of the restaurant wearing luxury brand tuxedos and dresses, then looked at myself in my black hoodie and ripped jeans.

I didn't have a school uniform, so this was the only thing I could wear. When I had applied for a uniform last year, the secretary lady told me that there weren't any left of my size. But on the way back to the classroom, I had noticed another student around my size enter the office.

"Hello, ma'am! Are there any uniforms my size?" he had asked.

"Oh! If it isn't third young master Li! Of course there are, we have plenty of spares for all sizes," the secretary had answered.

Although I knew already that the lady was lying to me, hearing this exchange still made me frustrated. But alas, what could I do? I can only blame myself for being too useless.

So, here I am, wearing cheap, commoner's clothes in a luxurious Western cuisine restaurant. Not long after, we were led to a table for two in the corner of the room. Qing Yue thanked the waiter after receiving a menu from him, and as she flipped through the exquisitely designed booklet, I surveyed our surroundings. It was the first time I was in such a first-rate place.

As I was examining the luxury of this place, my eyes coincidentally landed on two people that looked around my age chatting happily at a table on the other side of the room. They sure looked like a couple. The word 'lovey-dovey' was practically written in the air with some kind of Sky Magic (there's gotta be a spell for that, right?). The two of them matched each other nicely, if I do say so myself.

There was just one slight problem - the male of the duo was Li Mu Shen (Li Yi Fei's younger brother), the third young master of the Li family - the same one from the truly tragic uniform story. And as for other one....

...Well, she's my fiancee.