Jiang Ran grit her teeth so hard it felt like they might shatter.
She hated that Tao Xixue had answered the phone; now she was stuck in a compromising position with no way out.
“Hello? Jiang Ran, can you hear me?”
Su Wanqing’s clear voice came through the receiver.
Jiang Ran looked at Tao Xixue, who was mouthing words at her, seemingly saying, ‘Don’t move. You wouldn’t want Su Wanqing to worry, would you?’
Jiang Ran bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before replying, “I… I’m here. I was just a bit busy.”
“Busy? What are you busy with?”
“I… I’m working my part-time job.”
Tao Xixue’s smile grew even more radiant.
She used one finger to lightly pinch Jiang Ran’s arm, then gave it a sharp squeeze.
Jiang Ran couldn’t help but let out a soft groan.
On the other end of the line, Su Wanqing was about to breathe a sigh of relief, thinking it was just a job.
However, the soft moan from the phone quickly pulled her thoughts back.
She gripped her phone and asked anxiously.
“What’s wrong? Working a part-time job shouldn’t make you sound like that.”
“I…”
Jiang Ran shot a resentful look at Tao Xixue, but the latter had no intention of stopping.
Jiang Ran tightened her grip on the phone and explained, “I’m just tired. It’s just exhaustion from work. President, why did you call me?”
Su Wanqing cleared her throat.
“Didn’t I promise to help you apply for financial aid? Well, the application has been approved. When are you coming back to fill out the paperwork? Also… are you working that part-time job because you’re short on money?”
“Yes… that’s right. Can I really apply for financial aid without having filled out the forms yet?”
“You can. My family is in charge of the school’s financial aid department. I can give it to whoever I want. As for the interest rates, I’ll give you the lowest possible. If you need anything, just come to me.”
“Okay… sure. I’ll go see you when I have time.”
Jiang Ran nodded.
Beside her, Tao Xixue whispered, “Is she still offering you a loan? If you want…”
Tao Xixue pulled a blue bank card out of her pocket and stuffed it into Jiang Ran’s pocket, squeezing the girl’s stomach as she did so.
“I don’t… want it!”
“Jiang Ran… what don’t you want?”
Su Wanqing gripped the phone, having heard a woman’s voice in the background.
“The application process is very troublesome. It would be better if you just took it.”
Su Wanqing’s voice grew less confident as she spoke.
She held a bank card in her hand, feeling a bit troubled.
She had originally intended to use the paperwork as an excuse to convince Jiang Ran to come back so they could talk.
But when Jiang Ran asked about the procedures, she realized she was in a bind.
The student grant was something she had made up on the spot; now she had to keep up the charade.
One lie inevitably required many more to cover it up.
‘If I had known, I would have just given her the money directly.’
More importantly, Jiang Ran was clearly talking to someone else on the other end.
“Hello? Su Wanqing, are you still there? I’ll go find you tomorrow. I’m really busy with my job right now.”
Jiang Ran held the phone while simultaneously trying to push Tao Xixue away.
“Take that thing away!”
“Take what away?”
Tao Xixue held the bank card, taking the opportunity to pinch Jiang Ran’s stomach.
The card flipped around inside Jiang Ran’s pocket, but she couldn’t get it out.
Jiang Ran sniffled, and a whimpering sound escaped into the phone.
Su Wanqing grew more anxious the more she listened.
She couldn’t help but press further, “Jiang Ran, are you feeling unwell? Do you want me to send you to the hospital? My family has a car.”
“No… no need. Really, it’s fine. I’m okay.”
Jiang Ran couldn’t take it anymore and slapped Tao Xixue’s hand, trying to get her to behave.
To her surprise, Tao Xixue simply grabbed her hand and began to toy with it.
A few tears squeezed out of Jiang Ran’s eyes, a layer of mist welling up.
‘How can there be such a shameless person in this world?’
Jiang Ran was utterly shocked.
But that wasn’t even the most dangerous part; Su Wanqing was clearly becoming frantic on the other end.
“The more you say that, the more worried I get. Is it convenient to start a video call? I just want to see how you are.”
“No! Absolutely not!”
Jiang Ran shook her head like a rattle.
“Why?”
Jiang Ran bit her lip.
“I… I already told you I’m at work. Even talking to you quietly on the phone isn’t really allowed.”
“Oh, I see. Sorry about that, I misunderstood. Then work hard, Jiang Ran. Take care of yourself.”
The phone went dead with a series of beeps.
Jiang Ran turned to glare at Tao Xixue.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Why would I be satisfied? Though, I am a bit surprised. Why didn’t you just tell her you were with me? If you had, Su Wanqing wouldn’t call you so often. And why does she try to control you so much? Shouldn’t your time be yours to manage?”
Tao Xixue lifted Jiang Ran’s chin meaningfully, the provocation in her eyes unmistakable.
“If I told her I was with you, she would only ask more questions. Besides, you clearly did that on purpose. Is it really that fun to see me make a fool of myself?”
“It’s not that, but my opinion of you has changed a bit. It seems Student Jiang is quite popular with the ladies. Since you want to avoid the others, how about pretending to be my partner? I’ll help you shake off your pursuers, and I’ll even give you money. You just need to help me take some photos.”
“What on earth? Do you think I’m a three-year-old? I know you’re full of bad intentions.”
Jiang Ran retorted crossly.
She didn’t believe for a second that Tao Xixue was being kind.
The more a service seemed to be “free,” the more expensive it usually turned out to be.
“So, you plan to keep being ambiguous with several women at once? I didn’t realize you were that kind of person, Jiang Ran.”
“I’m not! I just want to be friends with everyone. And I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why would we pretend to be a couple? We’re both girls! What… don’t tell me you actually like women? That’s disgusting.”
Jiang Ran made a face of disgust, trying to make her expression look as genuine as possible.
Compared to the nervousness on Jiang Ran’s face, Tao Xixue appeared much more composed.
Tao Xixue pinched Jiang Ran’s chin, her thumb lightly brushing against her skin.
The smile on her face hadn’t faded for even a second.
Seeing Jiang Ran’s nervous, darting eyes, she pulled a mirror out of Jiang Ran’s bag.
“Look, the expression on your face is betraying you.”
“No, it’s not! And you can’t use that mirror!”
Jiang Ran hastily put away the Mirror of Expressions.
It was a mirror gifted by the system; if used, it could increase the favorability of those around her.
“How mysterious. Fine, use mine. Look…”
Tao Xixue gazed at Jiang Ran in the mirror, her heart thumping.
She checked the photos in her hand; none of the images had disappeared.
So why had she actually felt her heart flutter for Jiang Ran just now?
She almost wanted to tear her clothes open…
“What… what’s wrong with you? Hey, why is your expression so scary?”
“Heh, I understand now. You must be a monster in human skin. Tell me, is your Ability related to this?”
“Ability? What Ability? It’s just because you’ve been pinching me for so long. It hurts, so my face is just flushed.”
Jiang Ran was still making excuses.
However, Tao Xixue had a different perspective.
From the moment she had awakened her own Ability, she realized the world was not as simple as it seemed.
Looking at it now, Jiang Ran likely had some kind of Ability that even she wasn’t aware of.
Since awakening her own power, Tao Xixue hadn’t felt this kind of excitement for a long time.
But now, she felt that genuine heart-pounding sensation.
Tao Xixue naturally didn’t believe she was the only one with an awakened Ability.
For instance, Su Wanqing’s expressions would occasionally glitch, as if a specific point in time had vanished.
Therefore…
She suspected that Jiang Ran had some kind of Ability that made people feel favorable toward her.
Something like a natural-born charm!
“Tsk. Just saying you don’t have an Ability doesn’t count. I’ll believe it once I test you myself!”