“G-Go… go where? Jie-jie… Isn’t today a school day? I-I’m already ready…”
Qiu Mian still didn’t even know her little sister’s name.
After a moment’s hesitation, she decided to borrow the name of one of her favorite foods for now.
Okra.
Qiu Mian mentally dubbed her that for the time being.
Okra froze. Confusion was written all over her face.
“If I tell you to follow, then follow. What’s with all the pointless questions?”
Qiu Mian cut her off, struggling to keep her tone impatient. “Hurry up. Don’t make me say it twice.”
The words left her mouth, and her own heart gave a heavy thud.
Too stiff. Completely lacking the natural venom of a truly vicious side character.
Fortunately, it seemed effective enough on Okra.
The girl’s face paled further. Her lashes trembled violently, but she asked no more questions. She simply lowered her head at once and replied in a voice so faint it was almost inaudible:
“…Yes. I-I’ll be ready right away.”
Okra fumbled to untie her apron, wiped her hands haphazardly, and didn’t even bother going back to her room for a coat. Dressed only in her thin uniform blouse, she followed close behind Qiu Mian—always keeping exactly half a step of distance—head bowed so low she resembled a small flower beaten down by frost.
Qiu Mian walked ahead, her heart a chaotic mix of emotions.
She could feel the cautious gaze on her back and the faint, constant trembling coming from the girl behind her.
I’m sorry… I’m really, really sorry…
She repeated the apology silently in her mind.
Once I figure out what’s going on, once things are a little safer… I’ll definitely treat you well.
The two of them walked out of the apartment in silence, one in front and one trailing behind, heading toward the school.
The morning streets were gradually coming alive. More and more students in Holy Iris Academy uniforms appeared.
Following the vague description she remembered from her own novel, Qiu Mian headed toward that “quiet corner” near the school.
As she walked, she stole glances at Okra from the corner of her eye.
Only now did the height difference become really obvious.
Okra was more than half a head taller than her. Though slender, her frame was larger-boned, and her legs were noticeably long.
Qiu Mian probably only came up to her chest.
She hadn’t noticed it as much when they were in the room earlier—when she’d been “smothered”—but walking single-file like this made the contrast stark.
She looks so timid… yet she’s this tall…
A strange emotion flickered through Qiu Mian’s heart.
The original scum must have relied on her “big sister” status and rotten personality to terrorize such a tall girl into this state. Seriously…
The more she thought about it, the heavier the psychological burden of playing this “vicious older sister” became.
The corner drew near.
It was a side path connecting the main road to a narrow alley—relatively secluded, with few pedestrians in the early morning. A large, leafy tree stood nearby, casting dappled shadows across the ground.
This was the place.
In the novel, this was exactly where “villain Qiu Mian” had unleashed the worst of her verbal abuse on the “timid sidekick,” only to be interrupted by the passing “female protagonist.”
Qiu Mian stopped.
Okra halted immediately behind her, staring up nervously, hands twisting together anxiously.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, falling across Okra’s light linen-colored hair and pale face, bathing her in a soft, gentle halo.
Her violet eyes clearly reflected Qiu Mian’s figure.
Something in Qiu Mian’s chest gave a soft, involuntary thump.
No. I can’t soften now. Not yet.
She took another deep breath and forced herself to recall the lines she’d once written for vicious female antagonists, trying to slip into character.
She lifted her chin to project arrogance, letting deliberate disdain color her gaze as she swept it up and down Okra’s entire body.
“Look at yourself,” she said, deliberately pitching her voice cold and cutting. “Cowering, head down, chest hunched—no presence at all. Just standing next to you makes me feel embarrassed.”
The words landed heavily.
Okra visibly swayed. Her head dropped even lower, lips pressing into a thin line, but she offered no retort. Her fingers only clutched tighter.
Qiu Mian’s heart twisted painfully. She almost couldn’t continue.
But she forced herself onward, letting her gaze settle on Okra’s thin blouse—left exposed without an outer layer.
“Not even bothering to wear your coat properly? Trying to look pitiful for someone? Or do you think it makes you seem ‘delicate and moving’?”
Even Qiu Mian herself found the sarcasm awkward and unnatural, but it was the closest she could come to the kind of cutting school-bullying dialogue she remembered writing.
Okra’s shoulders began to tremble—not from cold, but from humiliation.
She still said nothing. Only her long lashes fluttered rapidly, as though tears might spill over at any second.
Come on… The “female protagonist” should show up soon, right?
While forcing out words that made even her own stomach churn, Qiu Mian anxiously scanned the surroundings.
Hurry up and appear. Stop me. Then I can storm off in “righteous anger” and end this miserable performance…
Just then—
“Well, well, look who it is. Getting an early start on the fun, huh?”
A voice dripping with mockery drifted over from the other side of the corner.
Qiu Mian and Okra both froze, turning toward the sound.
Three girls in Holy Iris Academy uniforms stepped out from behind the tree’s shadow.
Leading them was a girl with striking yellow hair. Arms crossed, head tilted, she wore an unpleasant smile as her gaze darted back and forth between Qiu Mian and Okra before finally locking onto the latter.
Her eyes raked over Okra’s trembling, humiliated frame, lingering on her pale face. The corners of her mouth curved into a wider, mocking grin.
“Isn’t this our oh-so-famous little sidekick? What’s wrong—getting scolded by your oh-so-amazing ‘big sister’ again?”
The girls behind Yellow Hair chimed in with exaggerated, sneering tones, deliberately stressing the word “sister,” which drew snickers from her two lackeys.
“Look at you. Every time I see you, you make me sick.”
Yellow Hair stepped forward, almost pressing right up to Okra’s face. Her voice suddenly rose sharply.
“Just like that shameless mother of yours—born to wag your tail and beg, nothing but an annoying piece of trash!”
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