Not very peaceful?
Jiang Jinran didn't understand what Ji Qingying meant, but the girl before her continued, "Whatever you do, don't go to the arts building lately. Shi Hui and Huang Junran both ran into danger there."
Shi Hui and Huang Junran?
Weren't those the two demon kings who bullied her today?
That was great news!
What champion of heavenly justice was hiding in the arts building doing good deeds?
Jiang Jinran's brows relaxed, her expression easy. "Really... what kind of danger did they run into?"
"It happened last month," Ji Qingying explained, her brows still tightly knitted. "School hadn't started yet. The two of them came to the academy to hang out with a few other students, and something happened in the arts building. The academy won't let word of it get out, so a lot of people don't know..."
"Then how do you know?" Jiang Jinran asked.
Ji Qingying sighed, looking somewhat helpless. "My uncle is a security guard at the academy."
Ji Qingying came from a very ordinary background. She had only gotten into Imperial Star because of her heaven-defying grades, though her security guard uncle had also helped a little.
This uncle of hers loved to chatter and was always telling her gossip and secrets about the academy.
He had told her about this incident in passing.
She hadn't wanted to know either, okay!
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell someone about this?" Jiang Jinran raised her eyebrows.
Ji Qingying was quite frank. "There's no wall in this world that doesn't let the wind through. Whatever happens, word will get out sooner or later. It's only a matter of time."
"But you're the only person I've told about this."
Jiang Jinran's eyes darted around, her interest immediately piqued. "Then tell me-"
"What exactly happened to Shi Hui and Huang Junran in the arts building?"
Ji Qingying shook her head. "I don't know... my uncle didn't tell me either."
In fact, her uncle had always been extremely secretive about the details and hadn't revealed a single thing to Ji Qingying.
Her usually loose-lipped uncle had only told her-
"It's a little scary. I won't tell you, in case it gives you nightmares."
But today, she had clearly seen both Shi Hui and Huang Junran attending class as usual, without any sign of anything unusual on their faces.
Was what happened that day really so serious? Ji Qingying couldn't help feeling doubtful.
Jiang Jinran couldn't help sinking into thought as well.
She kept feeling that many eerie secrets were lurking around her...
That badge representing the Divine Sound Organization, Imperial Star Academy with its ordinary appearance and its surging undercurrents...
She'd transmigrated into a strong-female-lead wish-fulfillment novel, right?
Could this novel have a mystery element too?
Jiang Jinran couldn't be bothered to keep thinking. She was here to be a salted fish, not to ponder life-
As long as her life wasn't in danger, she couldn't be bothered to worry!
After school.
The driver parked the Bentley in the usual spot. Carrying her little schoolbag, Jiang Jinran reached the intersection and swiftly got into the car.
When she got home, just as she stepped through the door-
Jiang Jinran saw Jiang Yuehan's tall figure standing by the entrance.
"Brother?"
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You're home from work so early today?"
For someone as busy as Jiang Yuehan, leaving early and returning late was the norm. Yet here he stood at home before the sun had even set, which genuinely puzzled Jiang Jinran.
"I got a call from the principal today, so I came home early." Jiang Yuehan lowered his eyes, his gaze dark as he stared at his younger sister.
His tightly furrowed brows held an icy depth, an oppressive force, and a gloom that was difficult to put into words.
"You never tell me anything about school."
The moment the words left his mouth, Jiang Yuehan seemed to realize something, and his gaze briefly faltered.
He didn't seem to have any right to say that.
After all, he had previously paid this younger sister no attention either.
With how coldly he had treated her, it was perfectly normal for his sister to be unwilling to confide in him.
Realizing this, Jiang Yuehan's brows knitted even more tightly.
Jiang Jinran pursed her lips.
[This brother is acting like he really cares about me. I'm positively overwhelmed by the favor...]
[But the one this brother loves most is still his precious Miss Lu. A sister he picked up for free like me is nothing but passing clouds...]
As Jiang Jinran was thinking, Jiang Yuehan unexpectedly reached out and took her wrist.
A crack seemed to appear in his originally cold expression. Jiang Yuehan didn't know whether to laugh or cry-
He really had no idea what went through this sister's little head every day.
He hadn't even met Lu Wanning yet.
Even if, in the future, his path really did cross with that woman's as Jiang Jinran had said...
Did he necessarily have to fall in love with her?
Her brother led Jiang Jinran into the dining room, where she saw a bubbling hot pot on the table and beef densely arrayed all around it.
[Wow! I'm seriously starting to wonder if this brother can guess what I'm thinking... how did he know I wanted hot pot and swished beef!]
Jiang Yuehan turned his head and gave his sister an unobtrusive glance.
That was indeed the case.
He could hear what she was thinking.
The two sat down facing each other.
Unable to wait, Jiang Jinran tossed a few slices of beef straight into the pot, but she didn't control her force properly-
The hot pot's red, oily broth immediately splashed toward Jiang Yuehan, landing on his chest, his collar, and even his face...
Jiang Yuehan's brows instantly drew tight, a dark look of distaste instinctively showing in his eyes.
Jiang Jinran's heart trembled, and her hand shook, nearly letting her chopsticks slip.
[I'm done for! That look on his face-it's like he wants to throw me into a pot of oil and swish me around!]
Jiang Yuehan's fingers paused as he wiped himself with a tissue.
Jiang Jinran bit her lip, looking utterly aggrieved. "Brother, I didn't mean to."
Jiang Yuehan lowered his head to wipe his shirt, his voice betraying no obvious emotion. "It's fine."
Jiang Jinran looked even more aggrieved. "I know you're angry."
Jiang Yuehan: "It's really fine."
Jiang Jinran: "No, it's not."
Jiang Yuehan: ...
The handsome man suddenly raised his head and unexpectedly reached out a finger-
He lightly brushed the tip of Jiang Jinran's nose.
Then she discovered that he had left a greasy smear of red oil on it...
Jiang Jinran: ...
"There. Now we're even." Jiang Yuehan stared at Jiang Jinran's comical nose, his red-oil-smeared "masterpiece," a rare glimmer of teasing dancing in his eyes.
Jiang Jinran pursed her lips.
[Fine, as long as you're happy.]
[Just don't throw me into a pot of oil and swish me around.]
The corners of Jiang Yuehan's lips curved faintly, like a flower on a lofty peak blooming with a brilliant radiance in the sunlight.
It was the first time Jiang Jinran had seen him smile like this.
Traces of red oil he hadn't wiped away still lingered on the man's handsome face.
They gave Jiang Yuehan's smile an incongruously down-to-earth touch.
Jiang Jinran always felt somewhat tense around Jiang Yuehan. After all, he was undoubtedly a stern, difficult-to-handle big boss.
But at this moment, the taut strings in Jiang Jinran's heart instinctively loosened.
She curled her lips and smiled too.
Neither of them dawdled any further, and they started eating hot pot. Halfway through the meal, Jiang Jinran suddenly remembered Jiang Qiche.