“Back?”

“Mm.”

“Not bad. You made it back by seven. Not late.”

“Mm.”

“Everything go okay at school?”

“Mm.”

After that short, icy exchange, Qin Yue felt like something was off.

Wasn’t this just the same as before?

“You only know how to go ‘mm’? Don’t you have anything to say to me?” she asked.

“No,” Bai Ningning said lazily. “Talking isn’t as useful as doing.”

Qin Yue’s anger meter filled up instantly.

Her fingers went stiff.

But then she thought about tomorrow’s work, and softened again. There were still a few days left. Once the project was done, settling the score wouldn’t be too late.

Advisor, what’s the most important thing about being a CEO?

Patience!

To distract herself, Qin Yue found something else to do. She picked up her phone and sent a message to her younger sister, whom she hadn’t contacted in a long time.

[.] When will you finish the paperwork?

A few minutes later, she got a reply.

[Qin Xin] Probably after military training.

Since it involved dorm fees, handling the paperwork for off-campus living took some time.

[.] Okay. Let me know when it’s done.

[Qin Xin] Mm.

That was it. The sisters had never been especially close, so there wasn’t much to say. As for staying over, well, she could stay if she wanted. It wasn’t like anything would happen.

Qin Yue put down her phone, closed her eyes, and fell asleep peacefully.

But on the other end of the internet cable, the girl stayed awake for a long time.

Tomorrow was the first day of school.

Even though her family was well-off, and she’d seen plenty growing up, Qin Xin was still just a girl fresh out of high school. She felt a little nervous about the college life waiting for her.

College life was still an unknown. She had no idea what it would be like. And in a few more days, she’d be living with her sister too.

Thinking of that sister left Qin Xin with mixed feelings.

Qin Yue was heaven’s favorite daughter. She had taken over the company early and already produced results. Her reputation had long since hit the ceiling.

Whether it was relatives and elders at home, or family friends in their social circle, whenever people talked about Qin Yue, she was the textbook example of someone else’s perfect child.

Qin Xin was excellent too.

But next to Qin Yue, her excellence felt awkward.

When she got into a top middle school as the top student in her grade, her sister landed a city real estate project and sent the company’s stock surging limit-up several times.

When she won a national academic award for middle school students, her sister led the company’s sunset industry through a successful transformation and bought it another ten years.

At her birthday banquet that year, little Qin Xin held her oversized certificate in her hands, yet all the guests were talking about her sister.

She stood in the shadowed corner of the hall, like she was living inside her sister’s shadow.

Well, what could she do? She was born later.

The girl slowly closed her eyes, sleepiness beginning to wash over her.

That said... it’d be nice if she could win just once.

Even a draw would do.

Zzzz

…………

“Hey, Big Roundie, are we hanging out today? Our classes don’t start for a few more days this semester.”

Guan Qian’s voice came through the phone. Bai Ningning stretched lazily and let out a few comfortable little hums.

“Ew, don’t make that kind of... sound. You just woke up?”

“Mm. I had stuff to do last night, so I slept late.”

“Then are you coming now?”

Bai Ningning climbed out of bed and spoke while getting dressed. “No. I’m busy.”

“Busy again? Busy with what?”

“Busy being a volunteer,” she said simply. “Farming credits.”

Guan Qian understood at once. “So that’s what the class monitor wanted from you yesterday?”

“Yep.”

“...Alright then. Guess I can only wish you good luck.”

What luck? She was just guiding a few junior girls. How hard could that be?

After breakfast, she headed straight for the school gate and began staking it out. She had only been standing there a short while when quite a few people came up to her on their own.

“Hey there, junior, this senior can... ah, wait, you’re a sophomore?”

“Junior, did you bring luggage? Senior sis can help you... sorry, I didn’t notice.”

With a face that looked like a middle schooler’s, Bai Ningning got mistaken for a freshman by plenty of upperclassmen. They came over offering help, only to spot the volunteer tag hanging around her neck before they could finish speaking.

It got awkward for a while. Bai Ningning had no choice but to take off the tag and hold it in her hand, so fewer people would misunderstand.

Then another kind of situation appeared—

“Junior, junior, need help... I know you’re not a freshman. A sophomore can still be a junior.”

“If that doesn’t work, I can call you senior sis.”

“Or I can just call you sis. Sis, can I get your QQ?”

You were supposed to volunteer for the freshmen. Why are you all volunteering for me instead?

“No,” Bai Ningning rejected everyone with a cold little face. “Please do your own jobs and stop bothering me.”

“Uh, okay.”

“Wuwuwu.”

After that, things finally quieted down a bit, and the traditional volunteer-helping-freshmen process got back on track. Bai Ningning also began selecting the junior girl who would belong to her.

Ah no, the junior girl who would belong to her credits.

This one had a round little face and a bit of baby fat. She looked obedient enough. But she was wearing designer brands, so she might have a ton of luggage. What if I can’t carry it? Better not.

This one was tall and skinny, with only one small suitcase. At a glance, she looked like an independent, self-reliant girl. But her eyes looked so fierce. Better not.

This junior girl was petite and cute. She had little luggage, looked soft and well-behaved, and had a pair of smiling eyes.

But if I walked up to her on my own, would she think I was showing off my giant pillows? She really is so tiny...

Emmmm, better not.

Then suddenly, a beautiful girl entered Bai Ningning’s field of vision.

Smooth black hair fell straight down her back. Her features were delicate and lovely. Her figure was slender and well-proportioned, and her fitted clothes made her look especially tall.

She didn’t smile much, but her gaze was elegant and refined. One look told you she was someone with excellent manners.

More importantly, she was wearing black thigh-highs!

A beautiful junior girl in black thigh-highs—who cares whether she’s obedient, easy to talk to, carrying lots of luggage, or glaring like she wants to kill someone...

None of that mattered.

What mattered was the vibe!

Bai Ningning’s gaze stopped on those beautiful, slender legs wrapped in black thigh-highs. There was no question about it. The vibe score had maxed out.

Maxed out!

The black-haired beauty drew plenty of attention the moment she appeared. Quite a few male upperclassmen at the school gate started moving, tempted.

But Bai Ningning was faster.

No one was faster than her!

“Hi, junior. If you need help,” her slender hand lifted the girl’s suitcase, “I can carry your things and help you get familiar with campus.”

Her cool, flat voice somehow sounded elegant and steady at that moment, almost carrying a trace of otherworldly grace.

Several boys nearby stared with their jaws dropped. They hadn’t even noticed when this pretty girl—who looked more like a freshman than anyone there—had shown up.

Damn, you’re way too fast.

The black-haired girl hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod. “Thank you.”

“My name is Bai Ningning. What about you?”

“Qin Xin.”