Just as the atmosphere froze and Yellow Hair’s eyes flickered with uncertainty, Qiu Mian took a deep breath and forced herself to snap out of the shock Okra had given her.
She couldn’t waste the “advantage” Okra had just created.
Evidence… right, evidence!
Without drawing attention, she subtly raised the phone she’d been holding in her left hand, hidden at her side. The screen faced the three girls clearly, displaying the recording interface—and it had obviously been running for a while.
“Attempted violence.”
Qiu Mian shook the phone lightly, her tone sliding back into that deliberately icy detachment.
“Need me to remind you which school rule that violates? Or should I just send this straight to the Disciplinary Committee so the teachers can enjoy your little performance?”
Yellow Hair’s gaze locked onto the phone. Her pupils contracted slightly, but the smile on her face didn’t falter—in fact, it grew even “gentler.”
She ignored Qiu Mian’s threat entirely, acting as though the camera aimed at her didn’t exist. Her eyes drifted between Okra and Qiu Mian before settling on Qiu Mian’s face. Her voice turned soft and slow, almost like catching up with an old friend.
“Little Mian-mian, it’s been years, and your temper’s really grown, huh.” She even used a more intimate nickname.
“So protective of your little sister? I almost thought you were cooking up some new way to ‘take care’ of her again.”
She deliberately emphasized “take care,” her gaze pointedly flicking to Okra’s hand still gripping the lackey’s wrist before returning to Qiu Mian with a beaming smile.
“But sisterly love is a good thing. I just wonder…” She paused, lowering her voice into a venomously sweet murmur. “Does your little sister know how to ‘properly’ protect herself? After all… an older sister’s true thoughts can be so very hard to guess, right~?”
She even gave Okra a suggestive little wink.
That knife-hiding-in-a-smile act… it’s disgusting.
Qiu Mian sneered inwardly, but her face showed nothing. Instead, she lifted her eyelids lazily, as though she’d just heard something incredibly boring.
“My ‘thoughts’ aren’t something you need to guess at. As for how Okra protects herself…”
Qiu Mian deliberately drew out the words, casting a sidelong glance at Okra’s still ice-cold profile.
“…she’s at least better than certain noisy mongrels who can only bark. Now take your lackeys and get lost.”
The final “get lost” came out light and casual, yet carried an unmistakable finality.
The smile finally faded a few degrees from Yellow Hair’s face. She gave Qiu Mian a heavy look, then another deep one at Okra, as though weighing something. In the end, she scoffed, patted the shoulder of the still-pale, pain-twisted lackey whose wrist Okra had released.
“Useless trash. Embarrassing.”
She muttered the curse under her breath, then turned to Okra, voice slipping back into that fake, syrupy gentleness. “Little Okra, aren’t you going to let go? Your ‘big sister’ already gave the order. Be a good girl and listen to ‘big sister,’ okay? After all… she’s the one who ‘cares’ about you most, isn’t she?”
Okra’s fingers twitched. Her cold violet eyes fixed on Yellow Hair for two full seconds before she slowly released her grip.
The freed lackey immediately clutched her wrist and stumbled back behind Yellow Hair, glaring at Okra with a mix of shock and fear.
Yellow Hair cast one last long, unreadable look at both Qiu Mian and Okra. Then, with her two lackeys in tow, she turned and walked away from the corner.
Qiu Mian waited until their figures completely disappeared before letting out a subtle breath of relief. She pressed the stop button on the recording.
Her arm was actually trembling slightly.
That yellow-haired bitch… she’s definitely trouble. She knows “me,” she has serious malice toward Okra, and… she’s dangerous.
Those last words were clearly trying to sow discord, warning Okra to be careful of “me”… Does she know the original was awful to Okra?
Questions swirled in her mind, but now clearly wasn’t the time to dwell.
Just then—
“Wow! What was that just now?”
A bright, clear female voice—full of undisguised curiosity and a hint of righteous indignation—cut in abruptly.
Qiu Mian and Okra turned toward the sound at the same time.
A tall girl with a neat, high ponytail stood a few steps away, hands casually tucked into the pockets of her uniform blazer. She watched them with keen interest.
She had large, lively, expressive eyes that were currently blinking rapidly as they darted between Qiu Mian and Okra. A frank, sunny smile curved her lips, and her whole presence radiated straightforward warmth and cheer.
That vibe… classic cheerful optimist…
Seeing them look over, the girl strode forward a few steps with easy familiarity, her smile growing even brighter.
“You two okay? I was just passing by and it looked like someone was causing trouble. Need any help? Oh—right, self-introduction! I’m Xia Qingkong! I just transferred to Holy Iris today—second year!”
Xia… Qingkong?!
Qiu Mian’s heart slammed against her ribs.
It’s her—it’s her—it’s really her! The female protagonist I designed! Cheerful, outgoing, strong sense of justice, a little airheaded at times but super reliable when it counts—Xia Qingkong! She actually appeared at this exact time and place!
The plot… was really following the “original” trajectory!
At least the opening part was!
The realization brought Qiu Mian a bizarre sense of absurd relief amid the tension—like somehow, the script was still partially under her control.
But before she could school her expression into the proper “villain Qiu Mian” attitude to face this “fated rival,”
A finger suddenly poked her lightly in the small of her back.
“!!!”
Qiu Mian jolted so hard she nearly jumped in place!
The sudden scare almost shattered her carefully maintained cold facade. Her mouth fell slightly open, eyes widening—she looked exactly like a startled small animal.
“Who?!”
She whipped around, only to meet Okra’s eyes—now back to their usual wet, timid, puppy-like appearance.
Okra seemed startled by her over-the-top reaction. Her finger froze mid-air as she mumbled softly,
“J-Jie-jie…”
“Wh-What is it!” Qiu Mian forced her racing heart back down, trying to scowl and cover her earlier fluster, but the tips of her ears betrayed her by heating up.
Damn it, this body reacts way too strongly!
Okra shrank her neck, voice dropping to a mosquito-like hum. “T-Today is… the first day of transfer… We’re… we’re going to be late…”
First day of transfer?
A buzzing sound filled Qiu Mian’s head.
Right! In the original opening, the female lead Xia Qingkong transfers in on her first day and happens to witness “Qiu Mian” bullying the “little sidekick”! I almost forgot because of Yellow Hair’s interruption! And I have to get to class too!
Oh no—we’re going to be late!
She instinctively glanced at the time on her phone earlier—only about ten minutes left!
Panic surged. Forgetting all about maintaining her “nasty big sister” persona, she instinctively reached out and grabbed Okra’s wrist, intending to drag her along.
“Let’s go!”
Her palm met cool, smooth skin. Okra’s wrist was slender, but the bones were distinct, and beneath the fabric Qiu Mian could feel taut, firm muscle lines.
And Okra’s hand… seemed a whole size larger than hers, now being clutched in Qiu Mian’s slightly frantic grip.
Okra’s body stiffened—she clearly hadn’t expected it.
Jie-jie… is holding my hand…
So soft… Jie-jie’s hand is so small… so warm…
A strange, tingling warmth spread quietly from the point of contact at her wrist.
Okra’s lowered lashes trembled faintly, concealing the indescribable emotion in her eyes.
She didn’t struggle. She didn’t speak. She simply let Qiu Mian pull her along, her steps hurried to keep up.
Xia Qingkong watched the two sisters—one aloof and prickly, the other quiet and strange—hurry away. She blinked, and her smile deepened, now tinged with curiosity and intrigue.
“Big sister… little sister… and that yellow-haired one earlier…”
She tapped her chin and muttered under her breath, “Looks like this new school is going to be way more interesting than I thought!”
She glanced toward the school gates, then set off after them with light, energetic steps.
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