I had been mocked so thoroughly by that trashy system that I had completely lost my fight. I lay slumped on the tatami like a dried salted fish that had lost its dreams, the system’s voice still echoing in my mind.
Sob… is my life really going to be…
“Guiyun? Are you in there?” Sister Yueran’s gentle knock came from outside the door.
I hurriedly sniffed, messily rubbed my still-burning face, and tried to make my voice sound normal. “I’m here, Yueran.”
The door was pulled open slightly, and Yueran walked in carrying a tray. She was wearing simple loungewear today with her apron still tied, a gentle smile on her face as usual, as if the vulnerable and proactive person from last night’s drunken episode was just my hallucination.
“I made you some breakfast. You need to eat your fill to have the energy for the competition.” She placed the tray on the low table. On it were perfectly fried sunny-side-up eggs, toast, a small bowl of vegetable salad, and a glass of steaming milk.
“Thank you, Yueran…” I thanked her in a small voice, the tip of my tail curling unconsciously.
Yueran didn’t leave immediately. Instead, she knelt beside me and began checking the things I needed to bring today. She took out my tablet bag, opened it, and carefully checked if all the data cables and adapters were there, then felt for the spare nibs in the pen case.
“Did you bring your charger? Keep your entry certificate and ID in an easy-to-reach place; don’t mix them up with random junk.” She gave instructions in a soft voice while tidying up, her movements practiced and natural. “The competition venue might be chilly from the air conditioning, so I put a thin jacket in your bag.”
Watching her profile as she focused on checking everything, the gloom and shame I felt because of the system were unknowingly replaced by a warm, fuzzy feeling. Sister Yueran is really so attentive…
[Ding! Detecting that the host is currently immersed in a false sense of tranquility.] The system’s voice rang out abruptly. [Warm reminder: Excessive reliance on the care of others may lead to a karmic decline in your ‘independent coping ability.’ Please remain vigilant, host.]
…Shut up! No one will think you’re a mute if you don’t speak!
I snapped back fiercely in my mind, but I felt strangely guilty and quickly took a large gulp of milk.
Just then, Ling Xiaoxiao rushed in like a whirlwind, her pink-and-white rabbit ears twitching with excitement. “Guiyun, Guiyun! Are you ready!”
She saw Yueran helping me organize my things and immediately leaned over. Like showing off a treasure, she pulled a small, fluffy white rabbit-tail keychain from her pocket and, without a word, hooked it onto the zipper of my tablet bag.
“Here! Take my lucky tail with you!” She wagged her own large tail proudly. “This is the charm I’ve had the longest. It feels amazing to the touch! It’ll definitely bring you good luck! Touching the tail will make your inspiration explode!”
This gesture wasn’t like her previous unreliable “magic”; it held a bit of childish sincerity. I looked at the little fur ball shaking with her movements and couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you, Xiaoxiao.”
“Hehe, you’re welcome!” Ling Xiaoxiao pulled out her phone again. “I’ve discussed it with Shiyu; we’ll be cheering for you online during the competition! If there’s a public vote, we’ll mobilize all the regulars at the shop to vote for you! When you return in triumph, Yueran said she’d make you a feast!”
Fried fish fillets! My ears perked up instantly, and my tail wagged reflexively. This temptation was too great!
Yueran looked at us, giving a helpless yet doting smile as she tucked the last item into my bag and zipped it up. “Alright, everything’s ready. Don’t be nervous, just perform as you usually do.”
Just as I was soaking in the warm atmosphere of encouragement, the phone in my pocket vibrated. I took it out, and the name on the screen made me freeze instantly: Ning Dongya.
Fortunately, it was a message, not a call.
I opened it trepidatiously.
The first thing that caught my eye was an image. When I clicked to enlarge it, it turned out to be a page of a concise presentation, clearly listing the preferences and points of caution for several of the main judges in this competition.
Below the image was only a single line of cold text:
[Ning Dongya: Reference material. Don’t embarrass the company.]
My heart skipped a beat.
What… what was this? Providing help in a time of need? Or a warning?
Why would she go out of her way to get this? Was she afraid my level was too poor and I’d make her look bad, or was it… some level of concern?
Impossible! She must be afraid I’ll embarrass her!
I shook my head to drive out that ridiculous thought, but my palms were sweating as I held the phone. This reference material felt like a heavy stone pressing down on my heart, which had just been warmed by Yueran and Xiaoxiao, bringing a more complex pressure and a trace of… an indescribable throb.
[Detected an increase in the host’s emotional complexity; pressure and motivation levels are rising simultaneously.] The system’s voice rang out again. [Karmic entanglement deepening. Host, I wish you a pleasant competition and a successful social death… cough, I mean, smooth sailing.]
Pleasant my foot!
I looked at the gentle Yueran, the lively Xiaoxiao, and then at that cold yet precious “reference material” from Ning Dongya on my phone. I felt like my mood was a ball of yarn that a cat had played with—a complete mess.
Forget it, don’t think about it! The competition is what matters!
I took a deep breath and grabbed my packed art kit.
Let’s go!
Sister Yueran drove me to the International Convention and Exhibition Center in the city center. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the massive glass curtain walls and the bustling crowds made me feel a bit dizzy.
Long lines had formed at the entrance, mostly consisting of young people carrying all sorts of art supplies, their faces brimming with excitement or nervousness.
So… so many people…
I instinctively tightened my grip on the straps of my art bag. I felt my palms sweating, and my tail paced uneasily behind me. Yueran patted my shoulder and gave me an encouraging look before heading to the spectator entrance line.
Following the signs, I found the contestant passage and completed my check-in.
The competition rules were somewhat like an anonymous exam: all contestants entered a designated area and used standardized digital equipment provided by the organizers. Personal equipment was allowed but had to be inspected to ensure no cheating programs were present.
The theme would be announced simultaneously at the start of the competition, with a creation time limit of four hours. When submitting works, only the contestant number could be marked. All personal information would be hidden, and the panel of judges would conduct a blind review and scoring.
Phew… anonymity is fine. At least I won’t be treated differently just because I’m an intern at Ning Dongya’s company… I breathed a small sigh of relief, but the tension crept back up at the thought of competing against so many people.
Perhaps because of the nerves, or perhaps because of that glass of milk this morning, I suddenly felt an undeniable urge to use the restroom.
Ugh… I have to go to the bathroom first!
Clutching my stomach, I followed the signs and jogged through the crowded corridors. Seeing the restroom sign just around the corner, I picked up my pace. Just as I turned the bend—
“Thump!”
A petite figure crashed right into my arms! The impact made us both stagger, and the art bag in my hand nearly slipped.
“Ow! Who is it?! Don’t you have eyes?!” A crisp voice, tinged with an exaggerated anger, was the first thing I heard.
I focused my eyes and saw that the person who hit me was a girl who looked very young. she had messy auburn short hair, and a pair of brown, fluffy canine ears poked out from her hair.
She was wearing a punk-style black studded leather jacket and a short skirt. Her hands were on her hips, and she was glaring at me indignantly. The matching canine tail behind her stood tall like a flagpole, displaying her current dissatisfaction.
You’re the one who ran into me, okay! I complained internally, but with the urge to pee hitting me in waves, I really didn’t have the heart to argue with her.
“Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” I apologized in a low voice, only wanting to get around her and get to the bathroom.
“Hmph! Is a simple ‘sorry’ enough?” The dog-eared girl was relentless, taking a step forward to block me and speaking in a delusional tone. “To have knocked down this young lady, ‘Night Howl · Blood Moon Fang,’ there is a price to be paid! I see you’re here for the competition too. State your name! I shall utterly crush you with my brush on the battlefield!”
She even struck a pose she thought was cool.
What is all this! Night Howl · Blood Moon Fang?! What kind of cringe-inducing title is that!
Looking at her expression—which tried to look fierce but only succeeded in looking adorable—and those bright brown eyes shining with stupidity (strike that) innocence, I immediately judged that this dog-eared girl might not be very bright. She was the type of chuunibyou brat who had too much energy and loved to fantasize.
Getting tangled up with someone like this would definitely be never-ending.
“Um… Miss Blood Moon Fang,” I suppressed the intense urge to pee and the desire to mock her, trying to make my tone sound as sincere as possible. “I’m really sorry for bumping into you. But I have a very, very urgent matter that I must deal with immediately! Regarding the matter of crushing me, let’s discuss it after the competition, okay?”
After saying that, I didn’t wait for her response. I darted past her and practically sprinted into the nearby women’s restroom.
From behind me, I could still hear the dog-eared girl’s unwilling shouts: “Hey! Don’t run! You coward! I’ll definitely show you what’s what on the battlefield! Remember this lady’s title: Night Howl · Blood Moon Fang!”
Who would remember a name like that! And the competition is a blind review, you idiot!
After taking care of my physiological needs, I stood at the sink and looked at my somewhat pale face in the mirror, letting out a long sigh of relief.
The competition hasn’t even started and I’ve already met such a weirdo… I feel like today isn’t going to go very smoothly either…