After Teacher Zitong left, almost all the students in the class wanted to get close to her, but none of them dared.
Not to mention her overwhelming strength, even the forces backing her weren’t something they could afford to mess with.
To them, she was someone they could only look up to, but never reach.
Bai Ling really couldn’t stand those strange looks anymore.
The moment Zitong announced the end of class, she stood up, grabbed Lin Qiufeng’s hand, and practically dragged her out of the classroom like she was escaping.
Not long after the two of them left, another figure followed them out.
Bai Ling didn’t stop running until she and Lin Qiufeng reached a small path outside.
“Ugh! I really can’t stand those stares,” Bai Ling panted slightly, her chest rising and falling, a faint blush on her cheeks making her look especially cute.
Lin Qiufeng just let herself be pulled along, looking at Bai Ling with a weird expression.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you like this, Xiao Ling!” Lin Qiufeng grinned mischievously, teasing Bai Ling.
Bai Ling always gave her the impression of being calm, quiet, and unflappable.
But what was up with her now? “Uh…” Bai Ling’s face turned even redder at her words.
This really was something she couldn’t help!
“Looks like you really don’t like being the center of attention, huh?”
“Of course not.
I hate trouble, and I hate being famous.
But it looks like there’s no way out this time.
It’s going to be hard to stay low-key,” Bai Ling said honestly.
Because of her awakening, the whole continent was in turmoil, though she herself had no idea.
“Hehe, that’s what you get for trying to keep a low profile.
Life’s not going to be easy for you now.
So, what are you planning to do?” Lin Qiufeng asked with a sly look.
She was really curious—since Bai Ling hated trouble so much, how would she deal with all this in the future? Not to mention how many ‘hungry wolves’ her pretty face would attract, her abilities alone would drive people crazy.
Who wants to face death? If you had a healing mage by your side, would you still worry about dying?
“Ugh, what else can I do? If soldiers come, I’ll block them; if water comes, I’ll use earth to stop it.
Whoever messes with me, I’ll just smack them down,” Bai Ling said with a look of determination, as if she’d made some big decision.
“Oh~? You really aren’t the Xiao Ling I know.
The Xiao Ling I know isn’t this tough—she’s just a little uke!” Lin Qiufeng looked at Bai Ling like she’d discovered a new continent.
“…”
“I am who I am, and I’ll only ever be me.
I won’t change.
Maybe I can pretend around others, but with people I care about, I won’t fake anything.
I’ll be who I am, say what I want to say, and not worry about anything else, because they’re worth my trust and my sincerity,” Bai Ling said seriously, staring straight ahead.
That was her personality, her principle.
She could do anything for the people she cared about, even be ruthless.
But for those she didn’t care about, she’d just keep pretending, never showing her true self.
They didn’t deserve her sincerity.
“Once again, I’m seeing a different Bai Ling! Hehehe.”
“So, what am I to you? Someone you care about, or not?” Lin Qiufeng still had a big smile on her face, but she actually cared a lot about this question.
Bai Ling never gave her the feeling of a stuck-up noble, just someone approachable.
She really liked being friends with Bai Ling, and Bai Ling even felt a bit like family to her, making her realize she wasn’t alone—at least she had her.
Bai Ling ignored her first question.
“You’re someone I care about, so I won’t pretend in front of you.
I’ll say what I want to say, be who I want to be.
If you can accept that, then we’ll be great friends.” Bai Ling looked Lin Qiufeng straight in the eyes, and Lin Qiufeng didn’t see any hint of pretense—just pure seriousness and sincerity.
So Lin Qiufeng answered just as seriously, “I can accept it.
Actually, I really want to accept you as you are.
I don’t like friends who are too fake with me—it just makes me dislike them even more.”
“Great, then we’re still good friends!” Bai Ling smiled happily, as if she’d already forgotten about those annoying people who might come looking for trouble.
“Xiao Ling, you really are the best!” At that moment, a jarring voice broke the special atmosphere, making both of their faces darken instantly, like they’d just swallowed a fly.
“Xiao Ling, why’d you run off?” The newcomer was Qiao Shan.
“What are you doing here?” Lin Qiufeng was the first to snap.
She wasn’t about to be nice to Qiao Shan for interrupting that moment.
“I came to see Xiao Ling,” Qiao Shan said as if it was the most natural thing in the world, acting like he and Bai Ling were super close, even calling her by such a familiar nickname.
“Xiao Ling? Who said you could call her that? You two aren’t that close, are you?” Lin Qiufeng looked at Qiao Shan with disdain.
“Why can’t I? Xiao Ling and I are childhood friends, that’s what close friends do.
Besides, I can call her whatever I want—it’s none of your business, is it?” Qiao Shan shot back without missing a beat.
“Hmph, as far as I remember, you and Xiao Ling have only met a few times, right? Isn’t it a bit much to be calling her that already?”
“So what, you haven’t known her that long either, have you? I’ve known her since we were kids, so what do you have to say about that?”
“You wouldn’t understand the bond between girls.
Our relationship is way better than yours.
What, you jealous?” Lin Qiufeng finished with a smug smile.
“Heh, your friendship just started, but ours goes way back.
How can you even compare?” Qiao Shan wasn’t backing down at all.
Great, these two are hopeless.
Bai Ling was speechless.
Why did these two always butt heads the moment they met? Was this that legendary ‘dog eat dog’ thing? Even though neither of them were dogs (lol).
“Let me tell you, time doesn’t mean everything.
Sometimes, someone you just met can have a deeper bond with you than someone you’ve known forever.
Me, Xiao Ling, and you are the perfect example.”
“Then by your logic, sometimes that’s just curiosity about someone new, so the relationship seems close.
But after a while, you realize the people you’ve known longer are the ones you’re really close to,” Qiao Shan said proudly.
Bai Ling didn’t like hearing that—she hated being doubted.
But when Bai Ling looked at Qiao Shan, she didn’t see any real seriousness, just the kind of bickering kids do.
So Bai Ling didn’t think he really meant it.
If he had, she definitely wouldn’t bother with him anymore.
Why care about someone who doesn’t understand you?
“But there are genuine feelings too, aren’t there? That’s how it is with me and Xiao Ling,” Lin Qiufeng said, not believing Bai Ling was that kind of person.
Plus, Bai Ling had just said so herself, so Lin Qiufeng just scoffed at Qiao Shan’s words.
