Chapter 37 (1/4): The End

It seems Lin Guanqi has matured—she’s already thinking about earning her own money, whereas before, she was always pondering how to have fun.

But things really have been peaceful lately; the absence of beast invasions is honestly a bit surprising.

“Mm… are we home?”

Bai Ningbing was just about to pick up Lin Guanqi from the passenger seat when she woke up.

“Yeah, we’re here. Come on, let’s go back to the hotel and get some sleep.”

Lin Guanqi pouted and said, “No, I want you to carry me to bed. I’m still so sleepy.”

Bai Ningbing shook her head—well, what could she do? Family is family, so she gave in.

She picked up Lin Guanqi and carried her inside the hotel.

After she set Lin Guanqi down, she headed to the kitchen alone. They hadn’t eaten all day—they had to be starving, right?

So, Bai Ningbing decided to make a late-night snack before Lin Guanqi woke up.

She planned to prepare a specialty dish—one that requires a five-star chef abroad.

But here, Bai Ningbing herself was the five-star chef.

No need to worry about a thing.

With that thought, she began her preparations.

Her cooking skills had long since reached perfection; her knife work was so practiced, it almost made your heart ache for the ingredients.

An hour later.

Bai Ningbing finished the dish, and, unexpectedly, it looked especially appetizing.

It really did look good.

Soon after, Lin Guanqi seemed to catch a whiff of the aroma and woke up from bed.

She walked to the living room, planning to ask if there was any food left, but after seeing what was on the dining table, Lin Guanqi was actually touched—or at least, she said she was touched.

Getting Lin Guanqi to feel something in her heart was basically impossible.

Because she was a foodie.

“Wow, what’s this? You actually made me a midnight snack—you’re the best, baby!”

Did you hear that? Just making a midnight snack got her called “baby.” Worth it.

Bai Ningbing was secretly delighted, but Lin Guanqi didn’t care about what she said; she was focused on eating.

Tonight’s food was especially delicious, which surprised Lin Guanqi a bit.

Hunger is the best seasoning.

The first bite wasn’t overcooked; it was light and sweet. Yes—Bai Ningbing hadn’t used fire for this dish; she just made it as it was.

In the country, you’d call this a salad. But abroad, it wasn’t a salad.

The ingredients weren’t the same, so naturally, she couldn’t make a real salad.

But it tasted great.

Bai Ningbing tasted it herself before serving it.

Because if it didn’t taste good, Lin Guanqi, the foodie, wouldn’t touch it—no matter how famous it was abroad. In her eyes, food was simply divided into “good” or “bad.”

For that reason, Bai Ningbing never dared to be careless.

Fortunately, the results were good.

Lin Guanqi looked genuinely happy eating.

“Is it tasty? I learned this in half an hour—when we get back, I’ll make it for you in the country too.”

Learning to cook something so delicious in just half an hour—is that even possible?

Lin Guanqi didn’t want to admit it, but Baili Mingque clearly had more talent for cooking than she did.

“It’s tasty, but compared to me, your skills are still lacking—I just think my cooking is better.”

Bai Ningbing smiled, lips pressed together. “Of course, of course. My baby’s cooking is the best—I actually picked up this idea by secretly watching you, isn’t that right?”

When it came to coaxing people…

Lin Guanqi was like a three-year-old, instantly appeased.

“Of course! If you hadn’t learned from me, how could you cook something so delicious? You must’ve been secretly learning while I cooked—right?”

Hearing that, Bai Ningbing wanted to laugh even more.

But she managed to hold it in.

If she laughed now, who knew how long it would take to be forgiven.

Those short videos were right: if you want to win someone’s heart, you have to win their stomach first. Once she’s used to your food, she’ll never want to leave.

“I really need to tip the author of that short video.”

After they ate their fill, she remembered their flight tomorrow at noon.

Bai Ningbing told Lin Guanqi, “You’d better sleep early tonight—don’t sleep through and miss the flight. If you miss it, be careful, or Old Li the Skinner will dock your credits.”

Why bring up what you shouldn’t?

Thinking of that Skinner Li made her angry—was her credits that easy to dock? Every time, she seemed to be the only one getting docked. What’s that supposed to mean?

Bai Ningbing almost smashed the salad in anger, but managed to calm down.

“But seriously, if she keeps docking my credits, can’t I dock hers too? Why don’t you just buy the whole school?”

Bai Ningbing did want to buy the school.

But that school couldn’t be bought just with money—you needed power and influence.

The Magical Girl Academy was a state-run enterprise. Anyone wanting to acquire it would need state approval. But why would the country ever agree?

After all, it was the country’s core foundation.

So, it was impossible.

“Let’s not talk about buying the school—it’s impossible. No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy it.”

Lin Guanqi scratched her head. She didn’t get the full meaning.

But she knew what power and influence were.

“I never realized the school had such deep connections?”

“Seems I really underestimated it.”

So frustrating. If Skinner Li dared dock her credits again, she’d go all out.

If Bai Ningbing knew what she was thinking, she’d laugh herself into a roly-poly.

The next morning, they got up early to catch their flight. Of course, they’d bought a ton of stuff abroad—arriving with one bag, going home with three or four. Since they couldn’t carry everything, they arranged for air freight.

Oh, and about the fines.

When Bai Linbin returned the rental car, he was fined several hundred, but there was an unwritten rule abroad: you had to pay triple for fines and demerits, so ten thousand was paid just like that.

Anyone would feel the pain—rent a car, pay a ten-thousand-yuan fine.

But the Bai family had a huge business—what’s ten thousand to them? As long as they had fun, it didn’t matter.

In fact, that ten thousand wasn’t even as valuable as a single gift they bought.

“This place is so much fun. Next time, I want to come again. When I make money, I’ll treat you—how about it?”

Of course, that was good.

It was just a question of when “making money” would actually happen.

Bai Ningbing was really looking forward to it.

To make it back for afternoon classes, Bai Ningbing bought an express flight.

It would only take an hour or two to return home.

—

Baizhi Laboratory.

“These research results… aren’t looking good…”

Baizhi looked at the readings with some concern.

She was developing a neural interface device—a “brain-machine”—capable of implanting memories.

It could also help those with amnesia recover their memories, so her research was truly a boon to the nation and its people.

But naturally, such research came with many problems and bottlenecks.

Like the one she was facing now.

It seemed almost unsolvable.

But Baizhi had chosen this research—she wouldn’t give up easily.

She was determined to see it through. The brain-machine she was developing wasn’t just good for the nation; it would be especially helpful for Lin Guanqi.

Since her little sister liked that person, she was bound to do her best for her sister’s happiness.

“Our great researcher, shouldn’t you eat something?”

Ling Xue had been staying by Baizhi’s side these days—Baizhi would lose herself in research, forgetting to eat or rest. She didn’t seem to have any sense of balance.

So, as her best friend, Ling Xue had to supervise her.

“I’m skipping food today. I have to crack this brain-machine interface.”

Ling Xue just shook her head. She ignored Baizhi’s words and went out to buy food, returning because she knew breakthroughs weren’t achieved by brute force. If Baizhi waited until she was done to eat, she’d be a dried corpse.

“Come on, put your research down for now and eat. If you get sick, your sister will worry.”

“By the way, did Bai Ningbing and Lin Guanqi say when they’d be back from their trip?”

Baizhi took the meal from Ling Xue’s hands.

“They haven’t said, but according to the plan, it should be this afternoon, right? Didn’t they mention it before?”

Baizhi thought about it—yeah, they had said so.

“I think they did say that. If I can finish the brain-machine interface before they return, then wouldn’t that be…?”

Ling Xue shook her head—just started eating, and Baizhi was thinking of the brain-machine again. How obsessed was she?

“Alright, alright, don’t think about anything else—eat first. Only with energy can you keep researching. If you collapse, your sister will be so worried.”

That was true. After Ling Xue finished speaking, Baizhi, unexpectedly, listened and finished her meal.

But only just that.

As soon as she finished, she jumped back into her research.

She began her first test of the brain-machine interface.

She pressed it onto a mechanical head, which reflected various data—this time’s data was better than last.

But fatal.

Though the readings had been corrected, it would still damage nerves.

There was a high chance that after wearing the interface, one would never awaken again.

“How could my technique be this poor? There must be another problem with this brain-machine interface, or why would it keep happening?”

Baizhi still couldn’t figure out the principle.

She was a renowned genius, confident in her operations—it had to be some material problem.

But she’d used only top-grade materials.

Why would it fail? Was it a matter of quantity?

Baizhi was a woman of action.

Once she had an idea, she put it into practice. If it was a materials issue, she’d split the materials into five parts, each with different quantities for testing, until she found the perfect mix. If it wasn’t a material issue, some change would show among the five, and by recording each result, she’d find the best outcome.

After dividing into five portions, she started her first test—result: explosion. Too much nano.

She reduced the nano content.

Second test: less nano.

This time, the results matched her expectations.

Baizhi glanced at the report, made further adjustments.

Third test—clearly better, so she moved to the fourth.

After seeing the fourth test’s results, Baizhi grew excited—they were almost a complete success. But after the fifth, her excitement crashed.

No matter how she tweaked the mix, the brain-machine interface behaved like it was purposely sabotaged, or simply refused to let her succeed, showing no response at all.

“What’s going on…? The material quantities are exact—why is it still like this?”

For the first time, Baizhi doubted her own skills.

If she couldn’t solve this problem—who could?

She wrestled with herself, then jumped back into the experiments.

Because giving up wasn’t her style—and since Lin Guanqi was her sister’s chosen one, she had to take responsibility. Even if she’d only met Lin Guanqi a few times, they counted as friends.

Ling Xue handed Baizhi a cup of warm coffee. “Don’t overwork yourself—rest is what lets you make breakthroughs. Right now, I barely recognize you; the Baizhi I know balances work and rest.”

Baizhi took the coffee. “If I don’t figure this out today, I might never be able to experiment again in this life.”

Ling Xue wanted to keep persuading her, but research was Baizhi’s lifelong wish—only if this succeeded would she have peace of mind.

Time passed quickly. When Bai Ningbing and Lin Guanqi returned from class to the lab, Baizhi was still at her bench.

“Baizhi’s gone crazy? She’s still experimenting?”

Bai Ningbing was stunned at the sight. Ling Xue had already told her that Baizhi was obsessed with the brain-machine interface.

To return and find her still at it—this wasn’t obsession, it was possession.

Bai Ningbing walked to Baizhi, patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t overdo it.”

Baizhi saw it was Bai Ningbing and only smiled faintly.

Bai Ningbing probably didn’t know.

Baizhi was doing all this for her.

“Mm, I’m resting—don’t worry.”

She didn’t elaborate, just bent back to her brain-machine experiments.

“I can’t persuade her.”

Bai Ningbing walked to Ling Xue’s side, while Lin Guanqi, observing, understood what was going on.

“What experiment is she doing that’s so difficult?”

Lin Guanqi might not know experiments, but she knew making a product was tough.

She had no idea the brain-machine was for her.

The reason Baizhi hadn’t told her was simple—until it succeeded, she didn’t want too many people to know, or to add more pressure to herself.

“Baizhi, you don’t need to overdo it. Experiments matter, but so does rest. If you get sick, Bai Ningbing will be worried.”

Baizhi’s eyes paused for a moment when she heard that—perhaps “Bai Ningbing will worry” was the reason she was saying it.

But she only hesitated briefly.

Then she set down her work and said, “You and Bai Ningbing go have some fun. I have to finish this experiment, or it’ll be my stain forever.”

Lin Guanqi knew Baizhi’s stubbornness was unshakable.

But Lin Guanqi was famous for her clever tricks—she had a solution, and that solution was Bai Ningbing.

She slipped over and whispered, “Hey, I have a way to make your sister rest, but you’ll have to sacrifice yourself. Are you willing?”

Baizhi was her sister, after all, and often treated her well—of course she didn’t want Baizhi getting sick.

So, she agreed to Lin Guanqi’s plan.

“Tell me, what is it?”

Lin Guanqi grinned slyly.

“You act cute—if you act cute, Baizhi will give in.”

Bai Ningbing froze. What? Act cute? Maybe she could in front of Lin Guanqi, but in front of her own sister—how?

After a round of internal struggle, Bai Ningbing made up her mind.

“Alright, I’ll do it!”

She went to Baizhi, obviously a bit awkward.

She’d always been the “cool” sister, never once acting cute.

Now, suddenly, she had to act cute…

“Sis… aren’t you going to rest? Always working like this, you’ll hurt yourself, and I’ll worry…”

Baizhi burst out laughing.

She’d never imagined her sister could be like this—completely unheard of.

“Hahaha! Who taught you to act cute? I’ve never heard you speak like this—are you being threatened?”

Her clumsy attempt at cuteness made even Baizhi laugh; Bai Ningbing’s face, usually icy, turned red as an apple.

“Me, this, you—you’re just…!”

She dragged Lin Guanqi away. “Let’s go, let her work herself to death. I care about her, and she treats me like this? She’s a jerk!”

“If you ever make me coax that jerk again, I’ll wipe you out!”

It was clear how angry Bai Ningbing was.

But it worked.

Baizhi put down her experiment, opened the window, and looked outside—the scenery was perfect; the wind felt wonderful.

“Come on, Ling Xue, let’s go out for a bit.”

Ling Xue, who’d been dozing, perked up instantly.