Chapter 45: Ready to Submit the Paper

Inside the armored compartment on the return trip to T City, the atmosphere was not the peaceful and harmonious one anyone would have expected.

Or rather, one person was single-handedly shattering the calm.

“Speak! Hurry up and confess! Leniency for those who come clean!”

Amber Flowing Light shook Fei Xia’s shoulders like an orange cat with its fur standing on end, rocking her back and forth wildly. Jealous flames blazed in those orange eyes.

“Who the hell was that woman in the sunglasses? What gives her the right to touch your face? What gives her the right to flirt with you whenever she wants!”

“That’s clearly my privilege!”

Amber Flowing Light made no effort to hide her feelings. 

The more she spoke, the more sour she sounded, until the air itself seemed to reek of old vinegar.

“And why did she buy you clothes? Twelve thousand eight hundred yuan! That’s sugar-mommy territory, right? That was definitely some shady keeping arrangement, wasn’t it?!”

“I was the one who took you shopping first… I was there first…”

Fei Xia’s head spun from all the shaking. 

She felt like the porridge from last night was about to come back up. 

She felt like a rag doll that had been played with to the point of breaking.

“Stop…”

She helplessly pressed a hand to Amber Flowing Light’s head and pushed her back a little, then explained with a deadpan face.

“It wasn’t keeping. It was a transaction. You can think of her as… a rich idiot ATM or an NPC handing out quests.”

“Really? That’s it?”

Amber Flowing Light stared at her suspiciously, clearly unconvinced.

“That’s it. She pays, I work. Purely a business relationship.”

As she spoke, Fei Xia unconsciously stroked the brand-new Shadow Walker cloak she wore. 

The fabric felt exquisitely smooth under her fingertips—high-tech material that was lightweight yet warm, with excellent breathability.

She had to admit, something that cost twelve thousand eight hundred really was flawless in quality. 

It looked sharp and gave a sense of security when worn.

But…

Fei Xia’s eyes flickered slightly as her gaze landed on the neatly folded old cloak beside her.

The new one was expensive and stylish.

Yet for some reason, it felt like something was missing.

The old cloak had been ragged and worn, but when it was draped over her shoulders it had given her an inexplicable feeling of home.

That sense of security was something the twelve-thousand-eight-hundred-yuan new cloak simply could not match.

Seeing the faint satisfaction on Fei Xia’s face as she stroked the new cloak, Amber Flowing Light grew even more sour.

“Damn it… Next time I’m definitely buying you something even more expensive!”

Buzz—

Space rippled.

Snowball popped out of thin air. It glanced at Fei Xia, then at the damaged old cloak she had folded and set aside.

“I’ll take this one back for now.”

Snowball sighed and used magic to store the old cloak away.

It’s not completely ruined. 

Hopefully I can fix it before those lords lose their tempers…

Snowball muttered guiltily, then vanished with a whoosh as if afraid Fei Xia might change her mind.

“Hey? Wait…”

Fei Xia didn’t even get the words out before her familiar was already gone.

She could only let it go.

“That Gu Lingyue…”

Qinghai Starlight, who had been quietly watching the two of them horse around, finally spoke up with a smile, breaking the vinegar-jar atmosphere.

“Although the Gu family is a commercial giant that basically rules T City and has complicated ties with the General Bureau…”

Qinghai paused to recall, then spoke fairly.

“She herself isn’t a bad person. Her personality can be… nasty, and she loves teasing people, but when it comes to right and wrong she’s someone worth cooperating with. She’s helped me quite a bit too.”

“Hmph. I don’t care if she’s bad or not.”

Amber Flowing Light crossed her arms and turned her head away in a huff, cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s.

“Anyone who tries to steal my junior is an enemy! Next time I see her I’m definitely biting her!”

***

Some time later.

“Passing through the first checkpoint. Identity verified. Welcome back to the T District main urban area.”

At the vehicle’s announcement, the convoy passed through the towering Clean Wall.

The scenery outside the windows changed completely.

The pitch-black, dead-silent wasteland and the hopeless outer districts behind them were completely sealed off by the high wall.

In their place was a dazzling sea of neon that dyed the night sky purple-red, so bright it made the eyes ache.

Holographic advertisements wove between buildings. Giant screens broadcast the latest entertainment news. 

Vehicles flowed endlessly along the streets while stylish pedestrians enjoyed the nightlife.

Prosperous. Noisy. Thick with the scent of money and desire.

The three of them leaned against the windows, watching the familiar view, each lost in their own thoughts.

Amber Flowing Light stared at the huge Gu Group logo on the towering building and ground her teeth, already plotting how to snatch Fei Xia’s custody rights back from Young Miss Gu.

Damn capitalists! Once my allowance unfreezes next month, I’m buying the entire mall and giving it to Little Red Bean! I refuse to lose to that woman!

Qinghai Starlight gazed at the distant lights of the residential district, her eyes turning soft and urgent.

I wonder if Little Nine is asleep yet? 

I promised them braised pork… I need to hurry home and make it.

Fei Xia, however, felt no warmth looking at the neon-filled sky.

To her, those lights were not beautiful scenery but burning expenses—massive electricity bills that had to be paid.

They were the false sense of security lit by countless consumables just like the white-haired receiver back in H City, people who burned themselves out to keep the lights on.

She touched the terminal in her pocket. 

The mission settlement receipt was stored there.

Fifty thousand… still not enough.

***

Half an hour later, outside the T District General Bureau headquarters.

The convoy came to a slow stop.

“Well then, I’ll head back first.”

The moment they stepped out, Qinghai Starlight looked eager to get home.

She waved to Fei Xia and Amber, her smile far more genuine than usual.

“The kids at home are still waiting for me. Fei Xia, Amber… thank you both. Really.”

With that, she didn’t even bother reporting back inside the Bureau building. 

She transformed into a streak of blue light and flew off impatiently toward home.

“Ah… Senior Qinghai left so fast.”

Amber Flowing Light watched her senior’s retreating figure with a touch of regret, then turned back to Fei Xia, eyes turning into sparkling strings of longing.

“Um… Little Red Bean, want to grab a late-night snack first? I know a super delicious mala hotpot just around…”

Beep beep—!

Her phone suddenly went crazy.

Amber Flowing Light glanced at the screen and her face instantly collapsed into a bitter melon expression.

“Uu… My manager is hounding me. There’s an emergency ad reshoots. If I don’t go they’ll deduct breach-of-contract fees…”

“Go. Money comes first.”

Fei Xia waved her off without the slightest reluctance.

“Little Red Bean! Remember to miss me! We have to eat together next time!”

Amber Flowing Light left with a miserable face, looking back every three steps as the nanny van came to pick her up.

In the blink of an eye, the once-lively entrance of the General Bureau held only Fei Xia.

A cold wind blew past, scattering a few fallen leaves.

Fei Xia tightened the expensive new cloak around herself. It was warm, but it still felt like something was missing.

She took a deep breath and looked up at the second floor of the General Bureau building, where the cold white lights were still on.

The excitement was over. Next…

It was time to hand in that so-called “perfect” answer sheet.