Chapter 27 “Is It a Complete Transformation…”

Xu Lian Yi had indeed been extremely busy these past two days. Xia Mi La met with her the next day and spent half a day together.

Sunday passed quickly, and Monday arrived the start of another school week.

The novelty of the transfer student had somewhat faded, but the pranks targeting Pei Duo Xing continued.

However, no good opportunity presented itself this morning.

It was assumed Pei Duo Xing would walk to school like last time, but today she arrived with Jin He.

Stepping out of Jin He’s car, she wore a brand-new school uniform and hadn’t forgotten to pin the Azure Dragon Hall badge on her chest.

Other students at the school gate immediately began gossiping upon seeing this.

“Pei Duo Xing really has flown up the branch and become a phoenix.”

“Hmph, some people just don’t look the part even if dressed in imperial robes.”

“I heard Pei Duo Xing ran errands to deliver alcohol to the White Tiger Hall last Saturday?”

“Ugh, don’t even mention it so embarrassing!”

“The Xia Hong Faction must be thrilled she left quickly.”

“Why would they be happy? Did Xia Mi La leave willingly? She was forced out by the sponsored student. Shouldn’t the Xia Hong Faction find this even more humiliating?”

“If you can’t speak properly, then shut your mouth. Our Xia Hong Faction’s affairs are none of your concern.”

Two students from the Xia Hong Faction passed by and coldly retorted upon hearing this.

The sarcastic speaker was a neutral party and didn’t dare provoke the Xia Hong Faction seriously, so they could only obediently fall silent after being rebuked.

Only after the two walked away arrogantly did they exhale and mutter discontentedly, “What are they so proud of?”

“Keep your voice down,” someone advised. “The Xia Hong Faction has become even more united after this incident.”

“What good is unity?” the person still grumbled. “Everyone knows Xia Mi La…”

Just then, Xia Mi La arrived.

She stepped out of her parked car, her long curls cascading over her shoulders with only a small section tied loosely at the top with a hair tie. The same school uniform looked exceptionally crisp and proper on her. From head to toe, her tasteful fashion items and accessories made her appear sparkling, fragrant, stylish, and beautiful.

Her demeanor was also cheerful. Her gaze swept over and met their eyes watching her, and she generously flashed them a bright smile, raising her hand to greet them openly. “Good morning!”

It was hard not to be affected by her mood. Everyone returned the greeting: “Mira, good morning.”

Even the previously resentful boy who had been gossiping could no longer utter any disparaging remarks.

What fault did Xia Mi La have… everyone thought in unison. She had always been so gentle and kind.

Xia Mi La’s virtues were evident to all. If Jin He made such a choice, the problem lay with him.

The brief interlude passed in a flash.

Morning classes ended, and after lunch, students emerged from the cafeteria in small groups to spend their lunch break as they pleased.

Jin He and Cui Zhe led Pei Duo Xing toward the lounge but unexpectedly encountered members of the Xia Hong Faction on the stairs.

Since their split, Xia Hong members hadn’t set foot in this building.

“You…” Cui Zhe began to ask, “Where are you headed?”

As a result, Xia Hong’s people acted as if they hadn’t heard and continued walking upstairs without paying any attention.

Jin He immediately frowned.

“What are they doing?” Pei Duo Xing whispered softly beside him. “Could it be that they want to return to the Azure Dragon Hall?”

Jin He let out a light scoff.

Truth be told, the moment he saw them, he had guessed the same thing.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t come back, but the attitude they had just shown was definitely unacceptable. He had thought Xia Mi La would hold out a bit longer… Feeling somewhat smug, he ultimately kept these thoughts to himself.

Pei Duo Xing, on the other hand, was in a slightly sour mood. She certainly didn’t want Xia Mi La and her people to return.

One feeling smug, the other worried but when they actually went upstairs to the lounge, they realized they might have overthought it. There wasn’t a single member of the Xia Hong Faction in their lounge.

“What’s going on?” Cui Zhe also expressed surprise. “Could it be that…”

Could it be that they went to the White Tiger Hall?

Meeting Jin He’s displeased gaze, he voluntarily took out his phone. “Let me ask.”

But everything was normal at the White Tiger Hall. Zhao Taihe had even brought a girl into the lounge today.

The girl nestled meekly in his arms.

This felt more like it, everyone around Zhao Taihe thought. His act last week of pretending to stay clean and proper had been out of character.

Bian Junye, being straightforward, voiced exactly what he was thinking.

“Get lost,” Zhao Taihe scolded with a laugh. “What do you mean ‘pretending’?”

Bian Junye chuckled and didn’t say another word.

Zhao Taihe reached out and idly stroked the long hair of the girl in his arms.

Last week was the start of the new semester. He had originally intended to use Xia Mi La to annoy Jin He, but now it was clear that Jin He cared about Pei Duo Xing. Besides, Xia Mi La had already said on Saturday that her engagement with Jin He would be canceled.

Xia Mi La’s personality wasn’t really his type to begin with, and her status wasn’t something he could mess with casually and then walk away. If she took it seriously, his family might even force them to get engaged… That was definitely not the outcome he wanted.

So, staying on good terms with Xia Mi La but keeping his distance was the best strategy.

That’s what he thought, and that’s what he did. Yet, as he sat there, he couldn’t help but think of Xia Mi La.

He remembered how he had cornered her against the wall that day, the look in her eyes when she lifted her chin to glare at him… For some reason, every time he recalled that gaze, his heart felt strangely agitated, as if scalded by a faint itch.

“Hey, don’t you guys think,” he asked the people around him, “that Mira seems a bit different from before?”

Before Ding Yuan and the others could respond, the girl in his arms pouted and complained coquettishly, “How can you think of someone else while holding me?”

Zhao Taihe laughed out loud.

“Sorry,” he apologized to the girl in his arms with a smile. “Next time, I’ll ask when you’re not around.”

“…”

Over at the Azure Dragon Hall, Pei Duo Xing wasn’t particularly concerned about the matter. As long as Xia Mi La didn’t return, she didn’t care where she had gone. She just wanted to focus on her own tasks.

Staying busy was the only thing that made her feel she had value here.

She took the account book that Cui Zhe had brought back and began restocking supplies for the Azure Dragon Hall.

The accounts were clearly documented, with even the suppliers’ business cards tucked inside. All she had to do was follow the records it was quite straightforward.

Two guys came over to the fridge to grab drinks.

“Huh,” one of them said, “there’s only one bottle of water left. What’s going on? Did no one take care of this after Mira and the others left?”

“No,” Pei Duo Xing, who was standing nearby, came over to explain, “I’ve already ordered more water. Someone will deliver it soon.”

Exactly the same water.

Although she felt the items in the lounge were overpriced and impractical completely unnecessary she wasn’t foolish enough to arbitrarily change everyone’s long-standing habits at a time like this.

But the two boys weren’t having it. They exchanged a glance and simultaneously smirked mockingly.

They had gone to the party on Saturday and ended up losing face in front of the White Tiger Hall because of Pei Duo Xing. Now was exactly when they were most annoyed with her.

Coincidentally, Jin He wasn’t around either, so the two of them didn’t hold back with their words.

“Hey, Pei Duo Xing, you’ve probably never had this kind of imported water before, right?”

“Are you feeling pretty proud of yourself right now? Think you’re something special?”

“Whatever, why bother saying so much to her? Just feels like anything she touches loses its value.”

The two of them didn’t take her seriously at all. After saying their piece, they turned and walked away without waiting for any response.

Pei Duo Xing stood rooted to the spot, unable to say a word.

It had been almost a week since she entered Tanming High School. She had experienced worse bullying, but none of it compared to this moment.

Right now was when she felt the most humiliated.

Being so easily dismissed made all her aspirations for the future and her current efforts feel utterly ridiculous.

She stood there for a long while before slowly turning to leave.

At that moment, Cui Zhe returned with some news.

“Mira and the others didn’t go to the White Tiger Hall,” he said. “They…”

But he didn’t need to finish his sentence, because everyone’s phones started ringing simultaneously.

Every student at Tanming received a video notification at the same time.

The camera in the video panned slowly across an exquisite coffee table, then a plush, luxurious sofa. Further back was a spacious floor-to-ceiling window bathed in warm sunlight. Finally, the camera focused on a French-style high-backed armchair.

The person seated in the chair lifted her eyes to the camera, a faint smile curling at the corners of her lips.

“This is the Vermilion Bird Hall,” she said, raising her hand with an elegant, composed gesture of invitation. “Everyone is welcome to come and visit.”

It was Xia Mi La.

She was wearing her school uniform, still impeccably dressed and beautiful. But compared to the morning, there was now a small golden badge pinned to her chest. The badge featured the emblem of a Vermilion Bird spreading its wings, glinting brilliantly in the sunlight, impossible to miss.

There were no lengthy declarations, no passionate slogans. It was just a simple announcement video, yet through Xia Mi La’s demeanor and the Vermilion Bird Hall’s ambiance, it exuded an undeniable authority.

Jin He held his phone tightly. After the video ended, he unconsciously pressed play to watch it again.

Only now did he truly believe the words Xia Mi La had said back then.

She had told him she wouldn’t join the White Tiger Hall, and that she wouldn’t be coming back.

He truly hadn’t expected her to start her own faction.

On the other hand, Zhao Taihe wasn’t all that surprised.

Although Xia Mi La hadn’t given him any prior warning or preparation, when he saw the video on his phone, he wasn’t taken aback at all. It felt entirely natural exactly the kind of thing the present-day Xia Mi La would do.

He sat up, played the video again, and laughed. “Impressive.”

Xia Mi La was currently in the restroom of the Vermilion Bird Hall, accompanied by her first invited guest, Jin Can.

After all, the two of them had just visited this place together last week.

Back then, the place was dusty and chaotic, but now it was bright, clean, elegant, and luxurious.

Xu Lian Yi had spent the entire weekend working on this.

Clearing out a restroom wasn’t particularly difficult the main challenge was the tight timeline.

But as long as one was willing to spend money and hire enough people, it could still be accomplished.

“So,” Xia Mi La asked Jin Can with a smile, “doesn’t it look completely new?”

—

Author’s Note: The previous chapters were part of an inverted V (paid section), so if you’ve already read them, don’t purchase them again~

Thank you all for your support~ Comments on this chapter will receive a red envelope~ [hugs]

No updates tomorrow or the day after~ Three chapters will be posted the day after that~ Daily updates from then on, mwah~