Chapter 170: Hong Chenyi and the Complex Relationship with Her Ex-girlfriend
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 170: Hong Chenyi and the Complex Relationship with Her Ex-girlfriend
"How was it? Pretty lively out there, right?"
I watched them return lugging bags upon bags of stuff, feeling a bit of a strange sensation.
"Hehe, it was definitely lively. And things were super cheap." Hong Chenyi dropped her haul on the floor and started sorting through it. "Yiren, here's your women's clothes. This one goes in front of Guan Qiuling's door. And these are mine."
"Oh." Dongli Yiren looked a bit reluctant as she took the bags. Looking at the packaging, they definitely looked like clothes—well, no need to guess, they’d already said it was women's clothing.
"What were you guys doing? Buying clothes?"
"Yeah! There was a big sale on women's clothes, crazy cheap. Hehe, we can't just keep wearing the same few outfits forever. I figured we should try out some other styles and see how they feel."
"True. I'm looking forward to seeing you guys in some prettier outfits," I said, the corners of my mouth curling up in anticipation.
Before this, the clothes they wore were mostly bought in a hurry and tended to be gender-neutral. Only a bold type like Hong Chenyi didn't care and would wear a skirt right away. Now that they’d lived at the Witch Academy for a while, seeing them buy their own women's clothes gave me a sense of relief.
As for Dongli Yiren, she looked like she was being bullied.
"Dongli Yiren, what's with that face?"
"It's nothing." She clutched her clothes and bolted upstairs, not wanting to stay a second longer.
Was the idea of buying women's clothes still embarrassing for her? She seemed to fit into that maid outfit just fine when she was working part-time.
"What's up with her?"
"Nothing. She was probably just shy while picking them out. Honestly, we're girls now, what's there to be shy about? Right, Sister Xiao Han? Want to give me your thoughts on my new skirt?" Hong Chenyi asked casually, clearly unbothered.
"Maybe later. But it's already this late—why did only the two of you come back? Where are the other two?" I asked curiously.
"Well... Guan Qiuling ran into a senior sister who used to look after her. Apparently, she's staying over there tonight. As for Yu Yuetian, she’s not a social butterfly at all. She didn't hang out with us; she had some club activity. I heard it was a group dinner. It's hard to imagine what Ascetics eat at a dinner party. Boiled cabbage?"
Hong Chenyi started trash-talking without a second thought. Even she probably found the idea ridiculous.
"Oh, right—Sister Xiao Han, I brought you some late-night snacks. If you're not hungry, just stick them in the fridge."
"Thanks." I didn't stand on ceremony and took the bag. Regardless of what was inside, it was the thought that counted.
"Hey now, saying 'thanks' makes us sound like strangers," Hong Chenyi chirped with a grin before grabbing her things and heading to her room to organize.
Sitting alone on the sofa, I opened the snacks. Inside were things resembling grilled skewers—perfect late-night food. They certainly knew how to enjoy themselves, hitting the streets for skewers and bringing a portion back for me.
After Hong Chenyi finished putting away her new clothes, she hurried back downstairs. Since I was the only one there, she clearly had something she wanted to ask.
"Sister Xiao Han, I saw that announcement you posted in the group. Are students from other Transcendent Academies really coming?"
"Of course. Looking at that eager face of yours, what are you planning?"
I looked at Hong Chenyi’s borderline-predatory expression. She definitely wasn't thinking about anything wholesome.
"I want to—I really want to... cough... I mean, will those Beast Academies be coming too?" Hong Chenyi asked expectantly.
"Beast Academy" was a general term for Orc Academies. If you broke it down, there were many types, like the Cat-people Academy, which further split into specialized schools like the Gale Cat Academy or the Burst Flame Cat Academy.
Beast Academies were the most diverse among all Transcendent Academies. The top-tier ones could rank among the ten first-class academies, while the bottom-tier ones were as pathetic as a Lesser Demon Academy.
"I'm not entirely sure. I heard quite a few academies are coming for the exchange, so there will definitely be several Beast Academies."
"Really? So cat-girls and fox-girls are actually real! I wanted to check them out back then, but I wasn't about to trade my future for it..." Hong Chenyi said excitedly, making no effort to hide her "XP." Or perhaps her tastes were so broad that exposing a few didn't matter.
"By 'not trading your future,' do you mean joining the Witch Academy instead?" I ruthlessly called out her excuse.
"Also, don't get your hopes up. Since they're here for an exchange, they're not coming to perform hot dances for you. For all you know, you'll get there and see nothing but hulking, muscular brutes covered in fur."
"Eww! Sister Xiao Han, don't ruin my beautiful fantasy!" Hong Chenyi’s face instantly paled, as if she had actually visualized the scene. She looked like she was breaking out in goosebumps.
"Honestly, you'd be better off finding a senior sister who knows Shapeshifting Spells. At least the magic can change her back."
"Forget that. Oh! Wait, Sister Xiao Han, I remember you have a cat-girl transformation spell! Why don't you turn into a cat-girl for me?"
"In your dreams! I'll scratch you to death. Besides, that's a Cat-person Transformation, and it's the effect of an alchemy item." I gave Hong Chenyi a sharp rap on the head.
Sister Bai gave me that cat-person transformation bracer. Even if it were used for non-combat purposes, I should show it to Sister Bai first!
Come to think of it... I don't think I've ever specifically shown it to her.
Maybe... I should take a selfie before bed and send it to her?
"Ah? Fine then." Hong Chenyi gave up on the idea when she saw I wasn't cooperating. "Um, Sister Xiao Han, I wanted to ask your advice on something."
"What is it?"
"It's... recently, that girlfriend I haven't talked to in a while... no, ex-girlfriend now... she found me again. I don't know how she tracked me down, maybe by my name. The whole situation was... pretty awkward." Hong Chenyi’s boisterous personality vanished. Talking about serious matters, she seemed like a different person.
"What? You were playing so hard before, and now that you've run into her, you've lost your spark?" My gossip radar pinged as soon as she mentioned it.
Based on the story she told me before, shouldn't she have just walked away and ignored her? Why was she acting like a changed person and venting to me?
"Well... our fathers are on good terms. I can't really bring myself to have a nasty falling out with her..."
"So, all that talk before was just lip service? You're not thinking about getting back together, are you? Didn't she dislike you before? What, have the roles reversed? Does she want you now?" I pressed.
"Uh... no, it's not like that. Actually, she probably still doesn't feel much for me. I doubt she'd ever like me, but she said... well, she said we could be besties. Do you think I should agree?"
"Become besties? Isn't that a win for you?"
I looked at Hong Chenyi, somewhat speechless. The goddess she used to chase was now offering to be her best friend.
Going from a "licking dog" to a "bestie"—isn't that massive progress?
As for Hong Chenyi saying she’d moved on and learned to love herself more... the moment she asked me this question, I realized she had been talking big.
How could someone move on from a goddess they’d chased for years just like that?
Without a massive shock to snap her into reality, how could she not harbor old feelings?
"How is that a win!?"
"Fine. In that case, I'll give you a few options." Seeing Hong Chenyi stubbornly refusing to admit it, I decided to cut through the mess and see if there was any entertainment to be had.
It felt a bit wrong to treat a roommate as a source of amusement, but she was practically shoving the drama in my face. How could I refuse?
"First, the Upper Path: Sever all ties. Just as you said—forget your sweetheart, and your sword-play will be divine! From then on, focus solely on the path of the Transcendent, leave everything behind, and live without attachments."
"Whoa, what kind of plan is that? No way!" Hong Chenyi rejected it immediately.
"Then the Middle Path: Follow her lead and become her bestie. Then, use that position to gain her favor and step by step..."
"Stop! I don't have those feelings for her anymore, and she wouldn't give me the chance anyway. Let's skip that one." Hong Chenyi interrupted me hastily.
"Wait, if you don't have feelings for her, why can't you just cut the cord?" I stared at her, stunned by her logic.
"I... feelings aren't something you can explain in a few words! We're just... just... we want to be ordinary friends... yeah, just friends! Friends who won't cross that line!" Hong Chenyi’s face grew redder as she spoke, her tone becoming agitated.
She probably didn't even realize what she was saying.
"Then just be friends. I've advised you to split, and I've advised you to pursue her, but you rejected both. That means you already have the answer in your heart, don't you? It's all like a trick of fate; time will give you the answer. Some relationships don't need words to describe or define them, because language and labels are powerless. You simply have your own standards..."
"Sister Xiao Han, you really do understand me!" Before I could even finish my nonsense, Hong Chenyi was moved as if she’d found a soulmate. She looked ready to cry.
She suddenly lunged forward, trying to give me a hug of shared resonance.
I dodged, letting her flop onto the sofa. I had no idea what she’d actually heard in my rambling, but she wasn't going to get a hug out of me. She could save that emotion for the girlfriend she couldn't forget!
"Alright, if you have this much energy, go talk to your girlfriend!" I said, pressing a hand against her head to keep her down. "By the way, after all that, you still haven't told me her name. How long are you going to keep it a secret?"
"Huh? I haven't mentioned it?"
"Have you?"
"Uh... I guess... not. Her name is Shi Huiyu. And... she's currently the class monitor for Class 36..." Hong Chenyi thought about it and realized she really hadn't mentioned the name before, so she told me.
"Class 36 monitor?"
I was slightly surprised. Being a class monitor meant she was quite capable. I didn't have any impression of her, though; I'm not great at remembering the faces of people I don't know.
"Sister Xiao Han, if you run into Huiyu on the field, please go easy on her!"
"I know, I know. We might not even meet."
Looking at her pleading, who would believe she didn't have a "complex relationship" with this Shi Huiyu?
Well... if we don't meet, then whatever.
If we do, I wouldn't mind personally asking what the deal is. I'm sure she’d be willing to chat a bit before we start fighting.
"Hehe~ I knew you were the best, Sister Xiao Han! I'm heading back now, bye~"
Watching her scurry off, I felt a strange sense of amusement. Another piece of gossip acquired.
I love a good laugh, but I hoped Hong Chenyi wouldn't end up being the joke herself.
I finished the skewers she brought, wiped my mouth, and decided to leave tomorrow's problems for tomorrow.
Tomorrow would be the Top 50 to 25 and Top 25 to 13 matches. Of course, there would be other matches for those who lost to determine the specific rankings within the Top 50.
As long as I didn't run into Tan Han, there shouldn't be any surprises. Or rather, even if I did... there might not be any surprises.
Tan Han should be the one worrying. If we were destined to meet, she’d better pray it wasn't tomorrow. If you lose tomorrow, there are no more Resurrection Matches.
* * *
The next day.
In the morning, the academy released the official announcement for the multi-academy joint exchange through the system.
A quick scroll through the Academy Network revealed plenty of senior sisters going wild.
Some were thirsty for any male or female visitors; some were "opening supermarkets" online (slang for wanting to 'consume' or dominate others); and there were all sorts of fluff posts about buying snacks for the show...
It made sense. The news had been brewing since yesterday, and today’s official announcement had completely ignited the discussion.
I wondered how the first arrival, Afuhemi Academy, would make their entrance.
Checking the time, I realized it was getting late.
I set off for the Arena. It was already the third day; time was flying. Thinking about it, the match schedule was actually quite relaxed, almost to the point where there was no suspense left.
As I rode my broom through the sky, I felt a faint, oppressive sensation.
But when I looked up, the sky was still filled with the morning sun. Looking at that endless blue usually put me in a good mood.
However, when I switched to Spirit Vision, the Curtain Wall shrouding the entire Witch Academy ceased to be an obstacle to my sight.
I felt a massive shadow looming over me. It was a gargantuan creation, shaped like a ship, floating in the heavens.
Terrifying energy rippled out from it, causing the academy's Curtain Wall to vibrate faintly.
Instinctively, I lowered my altitude to get away and sped toward the Arena. My speed exceeded the limit for a moment, but no Discipline Squad came after me.
Then, I heard a terrifying roar.
It wasn't like the sound of the Curtain Wall being violently breached; instead, it was the sound of the wall automatically opening a massive gate.
The giant "spaceship" slowly sailed into the airspace above the Witch Academy. Such a massive commotion immediately drew everyone's attention. The ship simply cruised straight into the academy's territory.
Quite a few senior sisters hopped on their brooms and flew up just to get a closer look.
Once I calmed down, I noticed the ship appeared to be made entirely of wood. I could even see ancient knowledge annual rings on the hull, as if the vessel had been carved from a single, colossal tree.
No... not carved. Under Spirit Vision, that giant ship was a living thing!
A plant that had grown into such a form!
At the stern, I could see spreading branches and leaves pulsing with life force.
Even in the air, I could hear the exclamations of nearby senior sisters. I drifted closer to eavesdrop on the news.
From their chatter, I gathered quite a bit of information—including what that flying ship actually was.
The Afuhemi Life Forest Elves' "The Never-Landing Life Floating Tree."
Just from the name... so it really was a tree?
A tree that never touches the ground?
What a wondrous thing. It must be incredibly precious to the Elf Academy.
I hadn't expected the first arrival, Afuhemi Academy, to be so high-profile. I’d assumed they would enter through the front gate with academy teachers coming out to greet them.
I guess my imagination was just too limited.
I watched the great tree fly toward the other end of the academy, where there was likely a designated landing site. I was starting to look forward to how the other academies would make their entrances.
Many senior sisters flew over to join the excitement, but I didn't follow. I was a contestant; there was no need for me to go over there at this time.