With endless thoughts swirling in her mind, Luna returned to the front of the dormitory door.
She hoped Dai Lina’s desires wouldn’t go overboard…
Thinking this, Luna pushed open the dormitory door as usual and shouted:
“I’m back!”
However, when she entered, the atmosphere inside the dormitory was completely different from usual.
Qingyan and Su Luoluo’s eyes were full of confusion and puzzlement, as if they were waiting for an explanation.
And her older sister, Xiao Xi, looked even more frightening, her face clouded with a cold and stern gaze.
“What… what’s going on?”
Luna asked cautiously, only to be met with a suffocating silence.
Suddenly, Xiao Xi strode forward and grabbed Luna’s wrist tightly, the force so strong that Luna felt pain.
“Sister!?”
Luna stared at Xiao Xi in shock, unable to understand why she was so angry.
Xiao Xi didn’t answer. She just pulled Luna’s hand, dragging her forcefully into her bedroom and slamming the door shut.
After locking the door, Xiao Xi’s face was still as dark as water.
“Sister… you’re…”
Luna tried to ask, but before she could finish, Xiao Xi interrupted her.
“Enough! Don’t say another word, Luna!”
Xiao Xi shouted, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She seemed to be trying hard to control her emotions, not wanting Luna to see her vulnerability.
Luna was frightened by Xiao Xi’s reaction, and unease surged through her like a tide.
“Why…”
Luna muttered softly.
She didn’t understand why Xiao Xi was so angry, or why she was crying.
“Explain it to me… clearly…”
Xiao Xi’s voice trembled, full of disappointment and anger.
“Why… why haven’t you gone to training recently? What have you been doing, Luna!”
At those words, Luna lowered her head, clenching her hands tightly.
What she feared most had finally happened.
Her skipping class and not attending training had been exposed…
Although she had imagined this moment before, now that it was truly here, she realized she had no idea how to explain.
But what made Luna even more curious was… how did her sister know?
What she didn’t know was that when Xiao Xi was on a call with their father, Lu Ming explained the situation to Xiao Xi like this:
“It’s like this. Just now, Luna’s Instructor called me and said Luna hasn’t been attending training courses lately, so they called to ask about it.”
Lu Ming’s voice over the phone carried a hint of worry.
Xiao Xi was shocked when she heard this and quickly asked:
“Dad, are you saying Luna hasn’t been attending class at all recently!?”
Lu Ming confirmed it.
“That’s right. Don’t tell me even you didn’t know?”
From her father’s words, Xiao Xi sensed something was wrong.
She didn’t dare hide it and spoke honestly:
“Yeah, I didn’t know where Luna went either. I just found out now that Luna hasn’t been going to class all this time.”
“What did you say!? Didn’t you notice any unusual behavior from Luna!?”
Lu Ming’s voice clearly showed his anger.
Hearing this, Xiao Xi racked her brain, recalling Luna’s unusual actions recently.
“…There were some, but she always left a note on the table saying she was going to the Training Field first, so I didn’t suspect anything.”
There was a brief silence on the other end, then Lu Ming’s voice sounded again, carrying a trace of helplessness and worry.
“…Xiao Lu, please call me immediately when you get back, okay? Your mom and I are both very worried about her.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xi felt a wave of guilt.
If only she had noticed something was wrong earlier…
“Okay, Dad…”
Lu Ming sighed over the phone.
“That’s all for now. If it gets too late and she’s still not back… we’ll have no choice but to call the police.”
After hanging up, Xiao Xi stood blankly in place, her gaze once again falling on the Training Building.
She felt like a fool, blinded by Luna’s notes, waiting here for someone who wasn’t even present.
I’m so stupid… really…
With a heavy heart full of mixed feelings, Xiao Xi walked alone back to the dormitory.
And then, returning to the present…
“What exactly are you hiding from us, Luna!”
Xiao Xi demanded loudly.
“I’m… I’m your sister! What could you possibly have to hide from me!?”
“Sister… I…”
Seeing Xiao Xi so agitated, Luna’s voice grew weaker.
She didn’t know how to explain to her.
“…I’m sorry…”
In the end, Luna could only say those three words.
Hearing Luna’s reply, Xiao Xi grew even angrier!
“You… idiot!!!”
“Do you even know the meaning of training? It’s so we can have more power to fight back against the Psychic of the Demon Clan! Yet you chose to skip class!”
“Do you understand how important training is!? Even on weekends, I go to train with Dai Lina—do you understand that!?”
“That kind of training is meaningless, sister!”
Luna bit her lip, gathering her courage to retort.
After becoming S-Rank, she finally realized that the so-called training courses were utterly useless!
“You…”
“Training courses only teach us how to use Skills, and nothing else! What’s the point of learning so many Skills if your rank never rises?”
“Those things can just be learned from someone who knows them. There’s no need for training at all!”
Xiao Xi froze.
She hadn’t expected Luna to say that.
“So… that’s your reason for skipping class?”
Xiao Xi asked in a trembling voice.
To think she skipped training for such a reason.
“That’s right. That’s my reason!”
Luna said firmly.
That was why she chose to follow Eliza.
No matter how tough it was, she was willing to train with her.
“You idiot…”
Seeing Luna’s unwavering attitude, Xiao Xi felt a pang of heartache.
She clenched her fists tightly, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.
It was the first time such a big rift and conflict had arisen between her and her sister.
She didn’t understand why Luna had changed so much.
Looking at her sister’s tearful face, Luna realized she had said the wrong thing.
“Sister…”
Luna called softly.
She wanted to reach out and wipe away her sister’s tears, but just as she was about to touch her, Xiao Xi pushed her hand away.
“Go explain to Mom and Dad yourself, Luna!”
Xiao Xi’s voice was filled with anger and disappointment.
After saying this, she stormed out of Luna’s bedroom, leaving Luna alone inside.
Out in the living room, Qingyan and the others who had been watching, saw Xiao Xi come out of Luna’s bedroom and return to her own room.
The sound of her slamming the door was so loud that even Qingyan and the others were startled.
“……”
Luna remained standing there, her heart full of complex emotions.
She had planned to keep her S-Rank a secret, waiting for the right time to show her sister.
However, the current situation forced her to consider revealing this secret sooner.
She plugged in her phone to charge, and as the screen lit up, she saw numerous unread messages and missed calls.
Her sister, Dai Lina, and her father had all tried to contact her.
Luna hesitated for a moment before lightly pressing her father’s phone number.
Her heart was uneasy.
After only a few rings, the call was answered.
Lu Ming’s familiar and anxious voice immediately came through:
“Xiao Lu? Are you okay?!”
With mixed emotions, Luna answered softly:
“I’m fine, Father. I’m truly sorry. My phone was dead, so I didn’t get your calls.”
Lu Ming’s tone relaxed slightly, but he quickly asked again with concern:
“It’s good you’re safe. But, Xiao Lu. Why did you suddenly start skipping class? Everyone’s very worried about you.”
Luna bit her lip, her feelings in turmoil.
She truly didn’t know where to begin.
She hesitated, then said:
“I… Father, could you give me a little time? Tomorrow, tomorrow I’ll tell you and Sister everything.”
On the other end, Lu Ming sighed, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness.
“Xiao Lu, just what are you hiding from us? You’re making us all very worried.”
Luna felt even more guilty.
She hurriedly promised:
“I’m sorry, Father. Tomorrow, I’ll go to you with Sister and tell you everything.”
Lu Ming was silent for a moment before finally agreeing to Luna’s request.
“All right, both of you come tomorrow. But remember, Xiao Lu, no matter what happens, family will always be your strongest support.”
Receiving her father’s understanding, Luna finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you, Dad. See you tomorrow.”
With that, Luna gently pressed the hang-up button, ending the call.
After hanging up, Luna collapsed onto the bed, her mind replaying the argument with her sister.
She had never seen her sister so heartbroken before.
The look of disappointment in her eyes made her feel like she had been labeled a delinquent.
“Sigh… I thought I could keep this hidden for much longer, but I never expected it would be discovered so soon.”
Luna muttered to herself, feeling helpless about how quickly her secret had been exposed.
Then, a new problem presented itself—how to explain everything to her family tomorrow.
At this moment, she noticed Eliza, who had been lounging leisurely on the chair.
Eliza sat with her arms crossed, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of her lips.
Her indifferent attitude left Luna both speechless and anxious.
“Eliza, can’t you say something? What are we supposed to do now?”
Luna pleaded, hoping Eliza would offer some advice.
After all, she was a kind of “accomplice” in this.
Eliza sighed softly, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
“At this point, some secrets can no longer be hidden, child.”
She spoke slowly, as if she had already formulated a plan.
After all, Luna was her child.
Now that she was in trouble, Eliza couldn’t just stand by and not help clean up the mess.
This was also her responsibility as a ‘mother’.
“So, you have a good idea, Eliza?”
Hearing Eliza’s words, Luna’s eyes lit up with hope and she asked curiously.
Eliza nodded slightly, a sly smile curling at her lips.
“Of course. Since the secret has already been discovered, our only option is to use a half-truth, half-lie strategy to handle it.”
She said in a low voice, confidence in her tone.
“What is it? Tell me quick!”
Luna rushed over, grabbing Eliza’s arms tightly and urging her.
Eliza gently patted Luna’s hand, signaling her to calm down.
“The plan is like this…”
She whispered, then leaned closer to Luna’s ear, beginning to softly explain her plan…