When Keke got home, she saw her older brother exercising at home.
As usual, I was in the yard with dumbbells that I didn't know how heavy they had become, stretching and doing back-and-forth jumps.
The cement ground in the yard was riddled with holes from all the jumping around by my brother.
So she squatted on the small stairs next to the front door and quietly watched her brother exercise.
A cool summer breeze blows by, and in the tender and enchanting twilight, Keke squints her eyes, leans against her knees, and in a daze, feels as if she has returned to her childhood.
It felt like Mom would come out of the house any second, tap her on the head, drag her home, and then call her older brother to come home for dinner.
The house will smell of cooking rice and the loud sound of a television.
When Mom came in, she would criticize Dad for not being able to resist having a cigarette and kick him out of the house to smoke outside.
Then Dad would grin and call Jiang Si his brother, asking him if he wanted a bite.
My mom got so angry that she grabbed a spoon and chased after my dad, yelling at him.
Oh, at this time, the music that usually starts the evening news broadcast will be playing right on time.
Little Keke would worry about her unfinished homework and feel sad and melancholy about having to get up early for school the next day.
Back then, she always envied adults, even her older brother, for having the freedom to do whatever they wanted.
Now she has become the person she admired as a child, but she also knows that freedom is not always happiness.
Fortunately, some things from my childhood have remained with me.
As long as her brother is still alive, she can always recall the past, and she will always feel at peace and warm in her heart.
Keke's home is wherever her brother is.
"Aren't you going to school yet?"
Plus, my brother's classic starting stance.
In short, he just can't stand her being idle. If she's idle, her brother will definitely ask her about it.
Have you finished your homework? Why aren't you going to school? Have you previewed the material for next semester?
I'll be going in a bit.
She replied, feigning impatience, "And it's not school, they're already on holiday. It's the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau headquarters."
"Aren't they all the same? Academic performance and ability are equally important."
He has the air of an art student.
I have to juggle both art and academics; in short, I have to worry about both, and both are important.
Come to think of it, magical girls could be considered students with special talents, right?
Although she doesn't get extra points on the college entrance exam, Keke remembers that she still gets preferential treatment because of her magical girl status; even if her grades are a little low, universities will still give her special admission.
With a perfect score of 750, even a magical girl who scores 400 can get into some prestigious universities, as mentioned in the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
However, Keke certainly doesn't plan to go through the special admissions process; she wants to rely on her own abilities to get into her parents' university, just like her parents.
"The college entrance exam results are out."
Keke suddenly said from the side, "When I went to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, I asked around, and the staff told me it had already been released."
"They even care about this?"
"I specifically asked them to. I told them you took the college entrance exam early, and to let me know when the results came out." Keke snorted. "They told me when I got back."
"How many."
Six hundred and ninety-seven.
She saw her brother frown, "So low?"
Wow, he barely went to school at all. He took the college entrance exam early in his second year of high school, and then complained that his score was too low...
"This score is second only to the best in Beihai..."
"Someone actually dared to take the test before me? Who?"
"Of course it's Sister Bingtang!" Keke said with a face full of envy. "Not only is she the best in Beihai, but she's also the best in East China, the top scorer, with over 700 points!"
Upon hearing that it was Bingtang, the older brother only muttered a couple of things, saying that grades didn't matter.
Keke still took out her phone, laughing happily, "On my way back, I asked in the relatives' group chat, and it turns out there are several people in the group who took the college entrance exam this year, and some who took it last year. Everyone is posting their results."
"Aren't you going to refund me?"
"No way!" Keke wrinkled her nose. "You always said you were stupid, that Mom and Dad gave birth to an idiot. I still remember that. I'll get my revenge before I back out."
Who taught you to be so petty?
"I learned it from you."
Jiang Si smiled dismissively. He was always a magnanimous person; how could he possibly hold a grudge like that?
This little girl is talking nonsense again.
"Look, look, brother." Keke handed him the phone. "This is Third Uncle's son, this is Fourth Aunt's daughter, this is Eldest Uncle's..."
One report card after another was laid out.
"The highest score was just over 500, and the rest were around 400. Then a bunch of them were comparing scores."
Keke's message was the last one in the chat group.
While expressing envy for everyone, he also lamented that his older brother had achieved success.
Then the third uncle, whose son was a perfect 500, immediately jumped in to offer some words of comfort.
This guy even changed his profile picture to his son's score.
The others pretended to comfort her, but were actually being sarcastic, saying things like, "It's okay, my son only got a little over 400 points. Jiang Si didn't study hard, so it's not a big deal if he got a lower score."
They are mostly filled with a sense of superiority.
Keke then posted her score in the group chat, and the score of 697 immediately silenced the entire relatives' group.
If you didn't know better, you'd think it was a group notification that Keke had been kicked out.
Keke posted two more sarcastic remarks, such as "I'd be letting my parents down if I didn't get over 700 points"—in reality, her parents' college entrance exam scores weren't as high as Jiang Si's.
Because those two used to brag about their college entrance exam scores to their daughter and son every day, urging them to work hard and catch up with their scores.
Jiang Si glanced at it, then pouted, "You're so boring."
"Hmph, it's not boring if it shuts these people up. Bro, you got such a high score, you definitely have to show it off, otherwise it's all for nothing."
Keke opened her alternate account again, "These people are talking badly about me behind my back, guessing that your grades are fake, and they even said they'd check your grades. I know everything, I've taken screenshots of everything, I'll teach them a lesson later."
"Don't be so cocky today, you'll be held accountable later!" - A famous line from Sherlock Lupin III.
As she spoke, Keke proudly pulled out a pair of non-prescription glasses from somewhere and put them on. "Detective Magical Girl Liuli, never misses!"
"Return it when you're done, and focus on your studies."
"No way! I want to do it again after I finish my college entrance exam."
"Don't let it interfere with your studies, just drop it."
"Having the motivation to prove them wrong will motivate me to study even harder, bro!"
The last coquettish cry made Jiang Si hear it, and she gave her a flick on the forehead.
If your grades drop, you'll be sorry.
"I know, I know, the great detective will never let this result affect his performance!"
Keke chuckled foolishly.
She hated how her relatives always talked behind her back, calling her brother an idiot, a moron, and a simpleton.
Although my brother doesn't care at all, Keke cares about it terribly.
Even when she was giving her brother the cold shoulder, those words still stung her eyes.
So Keke is determined to make those relatives look at her brother in a new light.
Although they still doubt their brother's achievements, no one dares to underestimate Jiang Si or call him stupid anymore.
That was actually Keke's real purpose.
After Jiang Si finished exercising, she put down the dumbbells, stretched, and walked into the house. Keke got up and followed behind her.
"So, which school are you going to apply to, bro?"
" Yanji University, perhaps."
"Huh?" Keke was taken aback. "Isn't that the Lily of the Valley the valley that Mom and Dad have?"
"They're all the same anyway. The magical girl program at Yanji University is better; I'd like to research it more."
Is it because of me? Or because of Ms. Shion?
Keke thought about it for a while, then nodded, "Hmm, then I'll apply to Yanji University too."
You're still early.
"I'll skip a grade too!"
Keke spoke with great confidence, thinking about how to go to school with her older brother. She was only about to enter the third year of junior high school, and university was indeed a long way off.
The little girl, counting her age on her fingers, had another meal with her brother.
Only then did he leave home and head towards the Beihai Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
The vehicle to the headquarters is ready.
Not long after Keke left, Jiang Si followed Bingtang's instructions and arrived at the outskirts of Beihai, where she boarded a special vehicle—a large, modified bus—to head to the headquarters of the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
I heard that the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau headquarters can't be reached by plane, or even by foot; a vehicle is needed to pick them up.
It's probably some kind of powerful magic.
And the people who accompanied me this time were naturally old acquaintances.
"Yo, hello there, Shion Shion's boyfriend!"
This is Xingxuan, a blue-haired magical girl and a newly recruited inner disciple from the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
"Hello, are you interested in our great Harry Potter?"
This is the true lineage of the Yarrow, who never knew his true identity from beginning to end.
Just as Yarrow was about to preach, she was stunned by what Xingxuan said, and suddenly turned her head to look at Xingxuan.
" Shion's boyfriend?"
Xingxuan looked at her with surprise, "Ah? Doesn't the True Disciple know? The matter that caused such a stir before, that Mr. Jiang Si is our sect leader's boyfriend, is common knowledge."
"Nobody told me this!"
Yarrow ' wizard hat nearly flew off. "How could this be? Shion could never be in a relationship with anyone else! If anyone's going to be in a relationship, it should be with Lady Bingtang, that's the couple I ship!"
Xingxuan looked completely bewildered. "What are you talking about...?"
Yarrow looked utterly desperate. "Do you know what? Shion isn't with Lady Bingtang, but is dating someone else, which is like Harry Potter not being with Hermione! It's just not right!"
"Wait, wait, Shion and Lady Bingtang are both girls, they can only be friends."
"Eternal friendship can surpass love! In short, Shion should be with Lady Bingtang..."
Seeing the Yarrow's increasingly melancholic tone, Xingxuan shrugged. "Who would understand this?"
"It's like Xiao Wu didn't end up with Bai San, but married Ten-Thousand-Ren Rain instead."
"Damn it, this is unacceptable!"
Looking at the two girls who seemed to resonate with each other, Jiang Si began to wonder if this was a test that Bingtang had deliberately set for her.
Do I really want to sit with these two lunatics?
That's very difficult.
Jiang Si, who is always rational and can distinguish between reality and fiction, has always looked down on fools who always try to apply fiction to reality.
To avoid being seen as one of their group of fools, Jiang Si simply kept silent.
"By the way, didn't you just say you don't read many online novels?"
Suddenly remembering something about Xingxuan, she looked at Yarrow and asked, "Isn't this something you know a lot about? The story of our Doumo Continent."
The Yarrow remained unfazed; "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated."
Didn't you say you were bored before?
"I've already read so many boring novels, one more won't make a difference."
Jiang Si looked up from the novel in her hand and glanced at the Yarrow.
Although Yarrow smiled, there was a hint of coldness in her pupils. "What's wrong? Do you have any objections?"
Because he disliked Yarrow in the past, Jiang Si had strictly forbidden the other disciples from revealing their true identities to Yarrow.
Therefore, among the true disciples, she is the only one who doesn't know that she is a male in disguise.
" Shion said that," Jiang Si said calmly. "She said she hates you, so don't repeat what she said."
Yarrow, dressed as a little witch, immediately took off her shoes, curled up in her seat, leaned against the window, and hugged her black-stockinged legs.
He became withdrawn.
Jiang Si even knew about this, which meant that the two of them might have already crossed that forbidden line in their relationship.
Is our Bingtang business completely hopeless? Is our Bingtang Alliance with Blue Flower about to break down completely?
No way! Why do all the couples I ship end up tragically...?
The sadness and grief I felt were almost the same as when I learned that Harry Potter eventually married Ginny.
Xingxuan patted her on the shoulder, "See? I told you, only online novels can satisfy everyone. Works like this, which are so far removed from readers, only frustrate people. That's why I don't like Harry Potter; what's the point of a book full of regrets..."
"That's not entirely true; sometimes regrets can be a strength of a work..."
"Even at a time like this, you're still speaking up for Harry Potter?"
Xingxuan muttered something to herself, then looked up at Jiang Si again.
The purpose of this trip to headquarters is to decide on three spots to participate in the Mental Image Domain Trial.
I don't Dao Sect sent my boyfriend here, and even specifically assigned them to protect me.
It's clear that Shion really values her boyfriend.
That cold, perfect face flashed through his mind, and he glanced at Jiang Si again.
Although the boy is somewhat handsome, to be honest, he doesn't seem to be a good match for Shion at all...
No wonder the Yarrow becomes withdrawn.
"Speaking of which, you're the prototype for Bai Family's Third Sister's teacher's master, right?" Xingxuan said earnestly, " Jiang Xiaosi."
Jiang Si's lips twitched slightly.
In the end, did he ultimately fail to escape the reputation of being called a master?
Bai Mei, you traitorous disciple...
However, since the other party had already recognized her, Jiang Si didn't intend to deny it, and simply nodded.
"Oh, it's me. I guided Bai Mei through her theoretical knowledge."
Xingxuan picked up her coffee cup and nodded seriously. "I see. It seems that going to headquarters this time wasn't Lady Shion's order."
"What's the meaning?"
"After all, above the General Administration is the independent God Realm," Xingxuan said with a calm and confident smile. "And after the Bai Family's Third Sister becomes a god, she will definitely bring you Jiang Xiaosi, into the God Realm."
Are you sure it's faithful to the original work?
"Although I haven't written the later parts, I'm absolutely certain it's like this." Xingxuan patted his chest again. "The storyline we're currently in should be moving on to the Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. This time, we absolutely must represent Slime Academy and win! Defeat the Spirit Hall! This is the perfect opportunity for me to show my skills and join the Slime Seven Monsters..."
As she spoke, Xingxuan looked at Jiang Si, "The later scenes should focus on me, so you probably won't have many scenes left, Jiang Xiaosi."
Just as Xingxuan showed a regretful expression, he smiled proudly and took out the engagement document from his pocket.
He slammed it on the table.
"Sorry, my storyline is about to reach the point where the fallen genius comes to annul the engagement!"
Xingxuan's pupils contracted as she stared at the engagement document.
How could that be? How could a boy without magic possibly take up a spot in the main storyline...?
No, no magic, despised by himself—it's definitely a fallen genius protagonist plot. Oh no, I've accidentally entered the role of a minor, supporting villain!
"You just looked down on me, didn't you?" Jiang Si looked at her with disdain, but her words struck her heart like a hammer blow. "You lost, Magical Girl Xingxuan. Being able to naturally identify as a villain on the street proves you can never be the protagonist!"
Xingxuan as if she had been struck by lightning.
Then she lowered her head in shame.
Xingxuan, Xingxuan, after watching the Doumo for so long, you still managed to be careless here. You're a disgrace to the Bai Family's Third Sister!
Thinking this, the blue magical girl also took off her shoes, hugged her legs clad in blue stockings, and curled up into a ball in a state of self-isolation.
Meanwhile, Yarrow, who had been withdrawn, twitched her little ears upon hearing about the engagement. She then sat up and glanced at Jiang Si's engagement Contract, her previously dim eyes immediately sparkling.
"No, this isn't an engagement Contract!"
"How is that possible?" Jiang Si frowned. "It's genuine, given to me by official staff."
"This one of yours." Yarrow, her left foot clad in a black over-the-knee sock, immediately slammed it on the table in front of Jiang Si. Holding the engagement document, she flipped to the last page and arrogantly pointed to the words on it, "Look here, this is... a marriage certificate!"
Jiang Si's expression changed drastically. She immediately snatched it, carefully examined it, and after confirming that it was correct, her face immediately turned angry.
"You brat, how dare you lie to me!"
His anger startled Yarrow, who nearly slipped and did a split, kicking Jiang Si in the face.
Who would have thought that a boy without any magic power could be just as terrifying as the sect leader when he got angry!
Yarrow quickly withdrew its foot and carefully curled up into a ball.
For a moment, I didn't dare to ask why the names on the marriage certificate weren't yours and Shion's.
Xingxuan, standing next to her, raised her hand and asked, "Aren't marriage certificates and engagement certificates the same?"
How can they be the same?
"Anyway, it'll all end in breaking the contract, and then you'll just throw the divorce papers in the other person's face," Xingxuan comforted her. "It's okay, you can just exchange them for a divorce certificate later. Although it adds a second marriage element, I don't know if the readers will accept it, but the plot will still go the same."
Jiang Si immediately quieted down. After thinking for a moment, she carefully put the marriage documents away.
"You're right, I was rash." Jiang Si looked at Xingxuan with some admiration. "It seems your cultivation level is quite high."
" Doumo and Demon Breaks the Firmament are two outstanding talents; I've watched them many times..."
This disciple is a good choice.
Jiang Si praised the Bingtang in her heart, then turned to look at the Driver.
Although it was well hidden, even Jiang Si didn't notice it at first.
But just as Jiang Si was getting angry...
That faint, Filthy Magic Power wafting by could not escape Jiang Si's notice.
When they arrived at a highway service area, they saw the Driver get out of the car and ask the staff to refuel the vehicle, then walk away to smoke.
While Yarrow and Xingxuan were huddled together in their own thoughts, Jiang Si got up and got out of the car, walking over to the Driver.
The Driver tilted his head and glanced at him with a puzzled look.
"Please return to your seats..."
" When Yin and Yang Are Thrown into Chaos..."
Upon hearing Jiang Si's words, the Driver paused for a moment, then lowered his voice, "To Demonic Blood Stains the Azure Sky?"
Then the Driver immediately asked, "At the end of the demonic road, who stands at the peak?"
"Upon witnessing the Motu, all paths to enlightenment vanish."
The Driver excitedly exhaled a large smoke ring and punched Jiang Si on the shoulder.
"Dude, that's awesome."
"Being an undercover agent can even get you into the Azure Cloud Sect Master's heart!"