Bai Ziyuan woke up because of delicious smells. Still groggy, Bai Ziyuan caught a whiff of something enticing and sprang up from the bed. Bai Ziyuan yawned and wandered into the kitchen. "Ranran, it smells amazing. What are we having for breakfast?"
Gu Qianran patted Bai Ziyuan's fluffed hair and answered warmly, "Scallion egg rolls on the griddle. Be good, go wash up, then call those two across the hall to come eat."
"Mm." Bai Ziyuan answered, then realized a beat later. Why invite Ji Tang and that silly big sister over to mooch breakfast.
While Bai Ziyuan was thinking that, Bai Zilu had already banged the door open, sniffing the air like a little dog. "Smells so good. What is it. Can I mooch."
"No, get lost." Bai Ziyuan glared at her sister. Bai Zilu did not mind. Bai Zilu headed straight into the kitchen. Although Bai Zilu and Ji Tang had fussed half the night, Bai Zilu usually slept early, so she woke up a new person.
Ji Tang had it worse. After Bai Zilu pestered Ji Tang half the night, Bai Zilu got sleepy and rolled straight into Ji Tang's arms, leaving Ji Tang restless and sleepless.
Ji Tang also found it odd. It was not the first time they had slept, but somehow Bai Zilu felt extra soft and sweet in Ji Tang's arms last night.
Washed up, Ji Tang also showed up at Gu Qianran's door. Although Ji Tang hid it well, a closer look showed the dark bluish shadows under Ji Tang's eyes.
Gu Qianran brought out the griddled rolls, and the whole living room filled with toasty fragrance. The Bai sisters tore through the food like a whirlwind, while Gu Qianran watched Bai Ziyuan with openly doting eyes.
Out of the corner of her eye, Bai Zilu noticed Ji Tang looking over, so Bai Zilu slowed down, switching to dainty, leisurely bites.
Ji Tang's head did not move. Bai Zilu smirked inside. See, mesmerized already. If you covet elder sister's beauty, then come on. Do not chicken out.
Bai Zilu turned back, ready to give Ji Tang a wink, only to find Ji Tang's eyes closed, with the faint sound of sleeping breaths.
Bai Zilu: so she was self indulgent again.
So Ji Tang was catching up on sleep here. Being ignored poked at Bai Zilu's mood. Bai Zilu nudged Ji Tang. Ji Tang did not wake.
Bai Zilu nudged again. Ji Tang suddenly grabbed Bai Zilu's hand, eyes closed, brows knit, and mumbled, "Quit it. Last night Bai Zilu was too noisy. I did not sleep well." In that unguarded state Ji Tang's voice carried an unusual softness.
Seeing this, Gu Qianran quickly tugged the now well fed and watered Bai Ziyuan back into the bedroom, leaving the stage to those two frenemies.
Bai Zilu paused, then felt a fine ache of distress. Had Bai Zilu been too unreasonable, clinging and pestering Ji Tang. It was Bai Zilu's fault, always messing with Ji Tang without considering that Ji Tang was actually younger than Bai Zilu.
Bai Zilu cradled Ji Tang gently and poked Ji Tang's cheek in a mock scold. "Little junior playing at being the mature one, making it look like I am the one being taken care of."
So they stayed like that, half embracing, Ji Tang curled docilely in Bai Zilu's arms, fast asleep. The picture was so lovely that breaking it felt wrong.
In the end, Bai Zilu rubbed her head. "Feels like I forgot something."
Gu Qianran came out holding hands with Bai Ziyuan. "Of course you did. Do not forget seniors start fifteen minutes earlier than we do. Congratulations, you are late."
Bai Ziyuan added a slow, surgical cut. "And today your morning reading is supervised by the demon you call Old Man Duan."
Bai Zilu: what. punctuation. string.
Bai Zilu, perished.
Old Man Duan was the new senior year head. New official, three fires. Bai Zilu was unlucky enough to be made an example, got a full period's lecture before being released.
At noon, Bai Zilu drifted out of the classroom, thoroughly aggrieved. Bai Zilu urgently needed some Ji Tang energy to restore HP and patch that wounded heart.
At the stairwell, Bai Zilu was about to head down when she heard whispering. Being the clever sort, Bai Zilu ducked aside. Everyone knows the bathroom, the office door, and the stairwell are the three best places to overhear juicy gossip. Maybe this was a big melon.
Especially since Bai Zilu heard Li Junyao's voice. The other voice Bai Zilu also knew. It was Tan Linpeng from Class 2, the campus playboy. Tan Linpeng leveraged his good looks, fake witty lines, and CEO acting to attract flocks of admirers of all genders.
The guy went for men and women both, changing partners like changing shirts. Was Tan Linpeng trying to hook up with Li Junyao. Bai Zilu's lip curled. Best if these two scumbags consume each other, so they stop harming the world.
Unfortunately, Tan Linpeng had not come to flirt. He declared, chest out, "Relax. It is only a dance party. I will definitely charm that Ji Tang into attending. This young master is famous for a hundred conquests. You think I do not understand what little girls think."
Li Junyao's face stiffened a bit and he warned, "Do not underestimate Gu Qianran at her side. I did not come away clean."
Tan Linpeng made a greasy OK sign. "Relax. No one understands a woman's heart more than me."
Then Li Junyao nodded, handed Tan Linpeng a small packet, and left. Bai Zilu turned sideways and headed upstairs at once.
Bai Zilu went to Class 5 Grade 2 and told Gu Qianran everything. Gu Qianran looked baffled. "A dance party. Is his head alright. Is that a student thing." And calling in outside help. A hundred conquests.
Ji Tang looked unconcerned. "It is fine. I am their target anyway. I am curious to see what a hundred conquests looks like."
"No." Gu Qianran and Bai Zilu spoke in perfect unison. Bai Zilu simply did not want a scumbag to get near Ji Tang. Gu Qianran, on the other hand, had already devised a counter.
Gu Qianran's eyes narrowed, the smile like a dangerous fox. "What a great chance. Not only should you go, we should all go together. Let us see who really walks away with the advantage."
Recently, investments seemed to have made Li Junyao quite a bit of money. Perfect. Time to bleed him.
Seeing Gu Qianran smile so happily, the other three relaxed. Right. When had someone as sharp as Gu Qianran ever taken a loss. People who tried to mess with her were the only ones who lost.
"The venue is Green Lime Bar, yes." Gu Qianran smiled a little wider. That place was where the original male and female leads got drunk and slept together. Back then, wary of the plot, Gu Qianran bought the little bar outright, and then…
Gu Qianran called the bar manager. The smile at Gu Qianran's lips deepened. Do not let rich gravy flow to outsiders. Li Junyao, you picked this bar yourself. Such a coincidence must be fate.
When the time comes, do not blame me for peeling a layer off you.
Watching Gu Qianran coordinate with the bar, Ji Tang remembered company matters. Ji Tang looked at Bai Zilu. "Bai Zilu, come to the office with me this weekend. Our game company."
Bai Zilu blinked. "You mean Stormfall. Stormfall has started operations already. I thought it would take longer." But going to the company made Bai Zilu very happy. Seeing characters she drew being loved by the masses was a rush of achievement.
Ji Tang nodded. Ji Tang had no idea why Gu Qianran insisted on naming Ji Tang's company Stormfall, but it did sound nice.
Especially when said in Bai Zilu's voice.
"Stormfall. Stormfall is operating already." Gu Qianran leaned in, curious. "Want to consider working with my company or Li Junze's. Mine is called Black Hole. His is called Slap."
"Slap. What kind of name is that. I guess mine would be Fist." Bai Zilu sniped. Gu Qianran thought, you actually guessed right. Li Junze was copying Riot's League of Legends.
"Black Hole. A game company. Sorry, for now our firm is not considering a partnership with a black hole in games." Ji Tang smiled and teased.
Many years later, Stormfall, Black Hole, and Slap became the three unshakable giants of the game industry. Their subsidiaries Rendi Fu, Tengyou, and Wangjian made names for themselves all over the world.
With eyes keen enough to spot golden fingers, Gu Qianran still did not realize that in this world, Gu Qianran herself was the biggest golden finger.
===
Author's Note:
Ji Tang is finally about to get a clue.
Four-person joyful cohabitation is about to begin.
Four times the silliness, four times the fun.