Chapter 51: Bai Li’s Troubles (21)

Bai Li raised her hand and lightly knocked on the wooden office door.

“Come in — “

The hinges turned softly as Bai Li pushed the door open and entered.

“Good morning, daughter — how was breakfast?”

“Good morning. Breakfast was fine, just a regular cup of blood.”

“Hmm? Bai Li, did you forget what you’re supposed to call me?”

“Uh… Good morning, Empress Mother!”

“That’s more like it — come, sit on my lap. We need to start working — “

Bai Li stiffened slightly at the words.

Her gaze swept across the office, finally settling on a small stool like a lifeline.

She quickly dragged it over.

“Empress — Empress Mother! I… I’ll just sit here next to you! There’s no need to trouble your lap!”

The smile on Baining’s face vanished instantly, and her expression darkened.

Bai Li’s heart tightened, and she couldn’t help but shudder.

‘Oh no, am I going to be punished even for this…?’

“Fine, as you wish. Watch closely how I review these. I’ll pick one or two later to test you on,” Baining said coldly.

The expected punishment didn’t come, and while Bai Li breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a sudden surge of nerves.

‘A test? I feel like I’ve suddenly been transported back to my student days… I really have to pay attention.’

Bai Li made up her mind and stared intently at Baining’s pen.

She was terrified of being caught daydreaming, which would only give the woman another excuse to tease her.

As time ticked by, Bai Li forced herself to stay alert, but drowsiness hit her like a tide.

Her focus began to drift.

Her gaze quietly shifted from the parchment to Baining’s face, which was now fixed in deep concentration.

To be honest, Baining really did look reliable when she was being serious.

Despite her petite body, the style of her handwriting, the speed of her pen, and the decisiveness with which she judged the merits of each policy all displayed her impressive leadership talent.

But Bai Li just couldn’t understand it.

If Baining could so clearly distinguish right from wrong in policy, how could she not see how twisted their current relationship was?

Unless, in her mind, this relationship was perfectly natural and normal.

At that thought, Bai Li couldn’t help but shiver.

A chill ran down her spine.

‘Isn’t this… simply the pure evil of Monsters?’

‘Damn it! Did my ten years of teaching all go to waste?’

‘In her eyes, having lived for hundreds of years, were those ten years just a game to experience human life while satisfying her sick sense of humor by messing with me…?’

The more Bai Li thought about it, the more depressed she became, and her head began to droop.

“Daughter, what are you thinking about with your head hanging like that?”

Baining noticed her strange behavior and spoke up.

“Ah! Nothing… I was just thinking about a few things. Please continue, Mother. I’m watching closely!”

“Then you’d better pay attention — “

Baining smiled and lowered her head back to the work.

Bai Li sank back into her gloomy thoughts.

‘Sigh, even though I can vaguely feel that Baining truly loves me…’

‘But… is this kind of love, mixed with such complex emotions, really reasonable?’

Bai Li wondered to herself if it was possible that Baining had somehow mistaken fatherly affection for romantic love.

‘Maybe… it really is possible.’

‘I have to find a chance to have a serious talk with Baining later…’

‘But… what if I’m just being narcissistic and overthinking things? Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?’

‘It might even make things awkward for Baining.’

‘No, why am I thinking like that!’

‘Baining was the one who changed me into this form without my consent. Why am I still being so considerate of her?’

‘Besides, if it really is a misunderstanding, choosing to stay silent just to save face will only make the misunderstanding deeper!’

‘It’s decided! I’ll settle this with Baining later!’

Bai Li snapped herself out of it and refocused her gaze on the parchment on the desk.

‘Oh…? Did she figure something out?’

Baining appeared to be fully concentrated on the policies, but out of the corner of her eye, she had been secretly watching the pensive Bai Li.

She realized she might have been a bit too hasty the previous night.

Feelings needed to be nurtured slowly, and it was probably good to let her have some quiet time to herself.

She just hadn’t expected Bai Li to perk up and recover so quickly.

The corners of Baining’s mouth quirked up slightly.

It seemed her daughter — her former Pops — wasn’t quite as fragile as she thought.

And so, the two white-haired girls sat in a strange silence, each with their own hidden agendas, as the long hours passed.

Finally, Baining finished reviewing the thick stack of proposals and set her quill aside.

“…”

Just as Bai Li was racking her brain for a way to start the conversation, Baining saw right through her.

“Ahem. Whatever you’re plotting in that little head of yours can wait for a bit.”

“!”

Bai Li’s heart jumped.

“For now, I need to test you on which Legislative Proposals I just reviewed.”

“Oh… okay!”

Bai Li quickly sat up straight, though she was crying on the inside.

‘I was so busy overthinking that I don’t remember a single proposal!’

“Good. First question — the very first item I approved was a Legislative Proposal regarding an increase in personnel for the Border Patrol. How did I respond to it, and what were my reasons?”

‘…I’m dead. I have no idea…’