Chapter 201 - 200: Yin Jiu: A Good Chance

"A dress?" Jian Yu stared wide-eyed at the long dress draped over Pei Yin’s arm.

"My mission today is to hunt for Beast Crystals of five different attributes," she said with a frown. "If I wear this, people will definitely talk about me."

’I already don’t like socializing and kind of avoid it. If I wear this, people will be pointing and staring. How am I supposed to show my face?’

Jian Yu eyed him. "Besides, this is a summer dress, and it’s winter now. Are you trying to make me freeze to death...?"

"What are you talking about? Why are you getting so harsh with me?" Pei Yin said, shoving the dress into her hands.

"This one is different. The dress has a Defense Barrier that can block one attack from behind."

He took off his Space Ring and poured out a pile of dresses. "You love looking pretty, so of course you have to look good while fighting, too."

Pei Yin raised an eyebrow. "It’s warm, lightweight, and won’t weigh you down."

He proudly presented his creation. "Sheng Yue and I developed this together. Look here—press this before a fight, and it’ll self-clean, so the dress won’t get dirty."

Jian Yu gave him a thumbs-up.

She picked fifteen dresses, every one to her liking, and stuffed them into her Space Ring.

She chose a light cyan one that reached her ankles, pulled on a pair of long boots, and then started to work on her hair.

’Without Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi here, it would take forever to get a nice hairstyle.’

Jian Yu didn’t have that much time and was worried she’d be late, so she simply tied her hair into a ponytail.

Just as she tied it up, Pei Yin stopped her. "Let me."

A medical student’s hands were very nimble.

The hairstyle was simple, yet absurdly pretty.

Jian Yu looked in the mirror at her twin pigtails, accented with small braids, and swayed her head from side to side.

She jumped onto Ting Ying’s back and wrapped an arm around Pei Yin’s. "Let’s go!"

「The Mission Plaza.」

Half the people still hadn’t arrived when she got there.

Jian Yu waved goodbye to Pei Yin.

She joined the group and waited for roll call.

The crowd stirred with soft whispers, and several pairs of eyes landed on Jian Yu.

Jian Yu looked up, forced herself to be sociable, and flashed a standard, polite smile. "Hello, seniors. Please look out for me."

Amid some shy laughter, the upperclassmen all waved and greeted her.

"Of course, junior."

"Don’t worry, junior, we’ve got your back!"

"Good morning, junior."

"Junior, you’re so cute."

"Don’t be scared. This is my second time on a mission outside the academy. Your senior here will protect you!"

"Stop bragging. She’s a Level 3S. The Alliance even put out the word for the academy to focus its resources on training her."

"Junior, I heard your Soul Beast’s Healing is really good. I’m counting on you so I can go all out this time."

Jian Yu couldn’t get a word in edgewise. She just kept a smile plastered on her face, the corners of her mouth growing stiff, occasionally managing to say, "Okay, okay."

"Quiet." A cold, sharp voice cut through the noise, and the plaza fell silent.

Jian Yu looked up and saw an agile figure flash onto the central high platform.

Sheng Yue was wearing a blue and white casual uniform today, his expression even more solemn than usual.

Roll was called, and equipment was distributed, along with a Mutant Beast catalog and a map of the Beast Forest.

The one hundred forty-five students boarded the medium-sized Starship in an orderly fashion.

’It’s so awkward sitting alone,’ Jian Yu thought. ’It makes me look like a loner, but I don’t know anyone here.’

While she hesitated, many people started to take their seats.

Afraid of blocking the people coming up behind her, Jian Yu hurriedly found a seat and sat down.

Every time someone came aboard, she couldn’t help but glance at them.

On the Starship, Jian Yu thought, ’It’s fine. Maybe my reputation has reached the upperclassmen, and Pei Yin is pretty intimidating, so no one dares to sit with me.’

Outside the Starship, Sheng Yue noted Jian Yu’s location and sent a message to everyone: "Do not sit in seat 43."

The headcount was complete.

Sheng Yue ignored the empty seat reserved for him in the command room.

He walked straight to Jian Yu’s side. "May I sit here?"

Jian Yu looked up, realizing that no matter how many times their eyes met, her attention was still instantly captivated by his blue irises.

"Yes."

"Thank you." Sheng Yue sat ramrod straight, exuding an invisible sense of pressure.

Jian Yu leaned slightly toward the window, her hands placed on her dress, doing her best not to touch him.

And so, the two of them waited in silence for the Starship to take off.

They were separated by a distance that was neither far nor near, and could even feel each other’s breath every second or two.

They were so close, yet a clear line was drawn between them.

Jian Yu was as quiet as ever, as well-behaved as ever, and still didn’t know how to refuse others.

Yin Jiu was completely smitten.

’I like her so much. I want a hug. Master, you... forget it. Actually, I’m okay with the baby hugging me, too.’

The more Yin Jiu thought, the angrier it got.

’Look at you, Master! The baby isn’t even rejecting you, and you’re still here hesitating and wavering.’

’Can’t you be a bit more bold and straightforward? If you don’t step it up, Duan Feifei is going to take your place.’

’And Little Flying Bear! It actually ran over and told me that the baby hugged it on her own initiative! And because of that, she even hugged its master.’

Listening to Yin Jiu’s words, Sheng Yue lowered his gaze, hiding the thoughtful look in his eyes.

His long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath his eyes.

’She doesn’t refuse, but she’s always so compliant and well-behaved... It makes me feel like I can’t touch even a sliver of her true self.’

Jian Yu shifted slightly.

Sheng Yue turned his head to look at her.

Jian Yu smiled awkwardly. "My hand fell asleep."

As she moved, the collar of her dress gaped open slightly.

Sheng Yue’s gaze fell on her neck, and his breath hitched.

Several distinct red marks stood out on her snow-white skin, jarring to the eye.

Sheng Yue hummed coolly. "Good."

Jian Yu blinked, the gloom that had surfaced in her eyes slowly receding from view.

She raised her hand to adjust her dress, covering the marks.

As her wrist moved, a bracelet fell off.

Jian Yu pursed her lips, saying and doing nothing.

Yin Jiu shrieked, ’[A perfect opportunity!]’

Sheng Yue finally moved.

He bent down, picked up the red-gold bracelet, and held it out.

Jian Yu didn’t take it. Her large, limpid eyes stared right at him.

She extended her right hand. The sleeve of her dress slid back, revealing her pale wrist.

"Are you going to help me put it on?"

She didn’t ask if he could, but rather stated her need in an inviting tone.

Sheng Yue’s gaze froze. With his eyes lowered in submission, he took both ends of the bracelet and slowly fastened it back onto Jian Yu’s wrist.

His movements weren’t gentle; they were even a bit stiff and clumsy.

Whispers rustled around them. Jian Yu pricked up her ears, listening carefully.

She wanted to hear if anyone was talking about her dress.

The words that reached her ears were dripping with jealousy.

"Don’t tell me Chairman Sheng likes the Little Fairy too? Suddenly, I kind of hate Chairman Sheng."

"He’s just a bit taller, a bit paler, a bit more handsome, and his Soul Beast is a bit stronger than mine... What’s so great about that?"

"Chairman Sheng actually made the Little Fairy come help fight Mutant Beasts? She’s only a freshman! He’s not thoughtful at all. I’d be way better."

"If it were me, I’d definitely keep the Little Fairy completely safe. Is the Chairman just not up to it? The Little Fairy is so pretty, how could he have the heart to bring her out here? He’s a monster, ruining such a delicate flower."

"I’ve decided. As of today, I’m kicking the Chairman off my list of most admired people."

"Who cares."