Chapter 25: Decadent Noble

“Xiao Huan.”

Ju Zhenli stood at the door, the collar in her hand swaying slightly, the bell making a faint tinkling sound.

Qin Huan’s smile froze on her face.

“Elder Sister Zhenli… um… it’s getting late…”

She instinctively shrank back, pressing her back against the headboard.

“That’s why you should keep me company, right?”

Ju Zhenli tilted her head, her tone matter-of-fact.

She walked slowly into the room and closed the door behind her.

“Xiao Huan.”

Ju Zhenli sat down by the bed, her slender fingers gently tracing the edge of the collar.

“You came back very late today.”

“It was because of practice…”

Qin Huan tried to explain.

“I know.”

Ju Zhenli interrupted her, her brown eyes fixed straight on Qin Huan.

“I like the way Xiao Huan works hard for her dreams.”

“Then…”

“But.”

Ju Zhenli leaned forward slightly, her golden hair slipping from her shoulder and falling beside Qin Huan’s face.

“When Xiao Huan answered the phone, your voice sounded strange.”

“And also.”

Ju Zhenli’s fingertips lightly touched Qin Huan’s collarbone, slowly moving up along the line of her neck, finally stopping under her chin.

With a slight pressure, she lifted Qin Huan’s chin.

Their eyes met.

In Ju Zhenli’s gaze was reflected Qin Huan’s slightly flustered face.

Those eyes, usually cold and distant, now seemed covered with a thin mist, making it impossible to see what lay beneath.

“Xiao Huan.”

Her voice was very soft, soft like a sigh.

“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you?”

“Elder Sister Zhenli.”

Qin Huan took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady.

“How could I possibly lie to you? You’re my favorite master.”

She played her trump card: after using the normal address, suddenly resorting to this tactic of invoking past feelings—Ju Zhenli definitely couldn’t resist that!

Sure enough, Ju Zhenli’s gaze wavered slightly.

A trace of red quietly crept onto the tips of her ears, and her grip unconsciously relaxed.

Qin Huan felt a surge of joy and decided to press her advantage.

She proactively reached out and gently placed her hand over the one holding the collar.

“Elder Sister Zhenli.”

Her voice was soft, with a hint of coaxing affection.

“I’m really tired today. Tomorrow I still need to go find the band’s keyboardist… Can we rest early?”

Ju Zhenli blinked.

“Then Xiao Huan has to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“Tomorrow.”

Ju Zhenli placed the collar on the nightstand, then cupped Qin Huan’s face with both hands, her thumbs gently stroking her cheeks.

“Don’t come back this late anymore.”

“I promise!”

Qin Huan immediately raised one finger, making a vow-to-heaven gesture.

Ju Zhenli stared at her for a long moment before finally letting out a soft sigh.

“Good night, Xiao Huan.”

She leaned down and placed a very light, very gentle kiss on Qin Huan’s forehead.

Ju Zhenli left.

Qin Huan buried her head in the pillow.

She hadn’t expected to successfully escape today.

“Mm…”

She let out a soft whine, unable to sleep.

She decided to send a message to Zuo Xi, asking how the contact with that fallen noble young lady was going.

[Xijiang, about the keyboardist thing, how’s the contact going?]

[Cat peeking out.JPG]

Zuo Xi replied instantly as usual—she must spend most of her day surfing the internet.

[I was planning to tell you tomorrow, didn’t think you’d still be awake.

Furan said she’ll be practicing in the piano room tomorrow afternoon, so she wants us to come find her then.]

Furan?

That name didn’t sound simple at all.

Coupled with the fallen noble status…

Could she also be one of the heroines?

Do heroines really have some weird mutual attraction buff?

But in physics, it’s supposed to be like repels like…

Damn, the physics of this world don’t exist anymore.

[Cat nodding.JPG]

[Then let’s meet at the school gate tomorrow afternoon.]

[OK, sleep early, Qin Huan.]

Seeing Zuo Xi’s little wordplay at the end, Qin Huan peacefully closed her eyes…

—

“Qin Huan! Over here, over here!”

Qin Huan saw Zuo Xi waving at her from afar at the school gate.

Today Zuo Xi was wearing a light blue hoodie, a white pleated skirt, and her hair was tied up in a cute little bun, emanating an idol-on-duty vibe of energy.

“Sorry, Xijiang, have you been waiting long?”

Qin Huan trotted over.

“No, no, I just got here too.”

Zuo Xi waved her hand, then gave Qin Huan a once-over, her eyes lighting up slightly.

“Really? Thanks, Xijiang.”

Qin Huan gave a sweet smile.

Today Zuo Xi didn’t seem to be clinging to her aloof idol persona—maybe she found playing cold and distant too tiring and decided to just be herself.

The tips of Zuo Xi’s ears turned a little red.

She cleared her throat twice and looked away.

“Th-then let’s go. Furan should be practicing in that piano room around this time.”

“Okay.”

The two walked side by side deeper into the campus.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the corridor windows, cutting bright squares of light on the floor.

Zuo Xi led the way, her steps light and quick.

She occasionally glanced sideways at Qin Huan, then quickly turned back.

Qin Huan pretended not to notice and quietly followed behind her.

They passed the teaching building, circled the sports field, and the surroundings gradually grew quieter.

Qin Huan had never been to this area before—it was quite secluded.

“Furan doesn’t really like crowded places.”

Zuo Xi softened her steps, unconsciously lowering her voice.

“So she always practices here. But she plays the piano really well—I was stunned the first time I heard it.”

Turning a corner in the corridor, the faint sound of piano drifted over.

Zuo Xi stopped and raised a finger to her lips, making a shushing gesture.

Qin Huan nodded in understanding, and the two tiptoed toward the direction of the piano sound.

The piano room door wasn’t fully closed; soft light spilled through the crack, mixing with the tranquil piano notes.

Zuo Xi didn’t push the door open.

Instead, she turned sideways, signaling for Qin Huan to look through the crack herself.

Qin Huan cautiously leaned in.

A girl sat at the grand piano by the window, her long silver-white hair cascading to her waist, glinting faintly in the sunlight.

She wore a plain white dress, no extra ornaments, only a small silver brooch at her collar.

Her profile was soft, as if drawn with the finest strokes.

Her skin was so pale it nearly merged with her silver hair.

Her light purple eyes were focused and calm.

She looked like a girl who had stepped out of a classical oil painting, possessing a beauty that didn’t belong to this era.

[Target: Furan]

[Identity: Fallen Noble]

[Golden Finger Ability: Forced Sage (Development Level: 5%)]

[Affection Level toward you: 60 (Vaguely remembers your face)]

[Obsession Degree toward you: 80 (Looks like they want to be with you)]

[Evaluation: A girl with a pure heart. The Miao Heavenly Emperor finds her reassuring.]