Most of the candidates had gathered in the waiting area, their spirits clearly dampened.
The second phase of the exam had truly been a brutal trial.
As Yao stepped out, she immediately felt the weight of many eyes on her.
Understandably, for she had lost a staggering six thousand points—plummeting from first place straight to eighteenth.
Her face, of course, reflected her displeasure, especially since Blue Ice shot her a mocking smile. "Oaks, such a pity."
At this point, there was no need for subtlety. Zhang Jun and Mike had already gathered behind him.
The influence of the Blue family was all too evident.
In comparison, the Teng family had it the worst—completely wiped out, reduced to mere spectators, while the Xie family... was divided in heart.
Even with Oaks in such a state, none of the Xie family members had come to his aid. Yao, however, was unfazed, leaning against the wall and glancing at Blue Ice.
"You're rather strange. When you scored first, you didn't mock me for my 1299. But now that I've dropped to eighteenth, you're here laughing. Did your brain grow sideways?"
Who could be more adept at striking at the heart than her?
Lately, the pretentious scoundrels had reached new heights. Even their tone carried an air of distaste. Blue Ice had clearly suffered a blow as well. Seeing the mastermind's downfall, he couldn't hide his joy, momentarily forgetting his own abysmal score of 999.
Now, reminded of his own failure, he sank into a mood of frustration.
Finally, the second phase concluded, and the rankings were reshuffled.
First place: Lin Hangjing, second: Zhang Fulan, third: Chen He, fourth: Yun Cangcang, fifth to tenth: Yuqin... sixteenth: Guan Zizai, eighteenth: Oaks.
The remaining twenty or so were filled with people like Jian Feilan.
It was over.
Yao had lost too much blood, feeling utterly drained. Her head spun with dizziness. Just as she prepared to leave, her communicator buzzed. She looked down at the message.
It was from Zhou Linlang.
"Though your situation isn't ideal, I still have some information to provide."
Below was Qin Minfeng's current profile. It was obvious he was thriving, in far better circumstances than she was.
"I don't mean anything by it, but this person is rather peculiar. I sense he might pose a significant threat, even though it's hard to pinpoint why."
Yao opened the profile, and her mood immediately soured.
This damn protagonist bug!
How could he rise to such heights? He had managed to climb into the elite circles of the richest and most powerful families. And not just any family, but the ones with more influence, to boot.
Look at him, and look at herself.
Yao felt bitter, as though a humble worker had been defeated by some dazzling young man who had fallen from the sky.
She dialed the phone immediately. "So, the one who told Blue Ice about my lack of arcane aptitude at X5 Star was him, right?"
Zhou Linlang: "Most likely, as there aren't any other possibilities."
She had suspected as much.
Yao had always been wary from the beginning, but she hadn't anticipated Qin Minfeng would rise so quickly, infiltrating that circle. With the protagonist's halo, his progress was undeniable. Once he overtook her in the mid-term exam... he'd have the opportunity to use his connection to that heiress to target her.
Disaster!
Yao's mind raced, but she quickly calmed herself.
"Are you warning me to fight him on my own, or do you want to collaborate?"
She knew that Zhou Linlang had already anticipated the kind of threat Qin Minfeng would pose once he rose to power.
"Do you trust me?" Zhou Linlang asked.
Yao replied, "I just want to know why, given your family's background, you haven't moved against him yet. Is it because you're a public servant and can't act on personal matters? But your family could intervene."
Zhou Linlang seemed to have foreseen this question, contemplating how to respond before finally replying, "You might find it hypocritical, but I believe that unless he poses a real threat to me, punishment before guilt contradicts the spirit of the law. I've informed you for two reasons: One, because you have the right to know. Two, because I don't possess the moral fortitude to turn a blind eye to his threat and wait for him to harm me. So, I'd like to use you, leverage your position, to deal with him, as you're in the best position to counter his rise, just as he is trying to suppress you in the exams."
In short, she was openly admitting she intended to use her.
That wasn't an issue—after all, wasn't everyone using each other?
This prosecutor was far from naïve. In fact, she seemed to possess a cool, calculated mindset independent of rigid moral standards.
Yao wasn't bothered by it. After all, she needed Zhou Linlang's help to fend off Qin Minfeng's oppressive influence.
After thinking for a moment, Yao replied, "Alright. You fend off the pressure from his rise, and I'll take care of him. We'll each do our part and handle this problem together."
"Of course, given your current situation and the fact that you're still rising, I can help you. I'll make a statement to lessen the probes and threats from the Xie and Blue families, helping you transition smoothly through the remainder of the exams. Is that acceptable?"
Zhou Linlang was certain that Xie An wouldn't be pleased to see Oaks thriving, though she wasn't sure why.
Smart people didn't need too many connections to figure things out.
Yao replied, "Yes, but this may affect your reputation."
Zhou Linlang smiled, finding it somewhat amusing. In her eyes, this young girl was surprisingly mature, though for some reason, she had taken on the persona of Oaks. Perhaps it was because the original owner wasn't exactly a saint.
"That's alright." Zhou Linlang wasn't overly concerned.
Yao had nothing more to say. If Zhou Linlang was willing to step in, it would save her a lot of trouble.
Just then, the exam ended, and an announcement was made.
"The exam has concluded. The top 500 students from both rounds of the assessment are eligible for tomorrow's third phase. Those who have lost items during the exam may collect them at the announcement desk..."
Yao recalled her bag, which had been exploded by the giant goose during the "Dragon Unveiling" phase. She made her way toward the desk, with Jian Feilan and the others following behind.
Though they were competitors, the shared fear of the giant goose created a strange camaraderie among them.
They gathered at the desk to retrieve their belongings.
Those were their treasures! Their livelihoods!
Yao, her calves aching, walked slowly and suddenly smelled the scent of something being fried.
"Brother, was that giant goose really that terrifying?"
Lin Hangjing, supporting Lin Chengxiu, whispered as they walked by.
Lin Chengxiu: "Yes, it's formidable. No one can withstand it."
"I wish I had stayed with you..."
"Fool."
The sibling bond was heartwarming. Yao, lost in thought, was reminded of her youth when she ran the 3000-meter race, with a few friends by her side.
The pure, fiery emotions of youth.
During exams like the mid-term or the college entrance exam, one always had companions.
Unlike here...
She was alone.
While Yao was distracted, someone suddenly tugged at her sleeve.
Thinking it was Zhou Linlang, she turned, but saw no one.
"Here!"
She looked down to see Pang Ci, his face twisted in annoyance. "Can you stop looking up and down every time you look at me?"
Yao sighed inwardly and glared at him. "Then should I just look down at you without raising my eyes? You wouldn't be happy with that either."
Pang Ci's expression was exasperated, muttering, "Your mouth is really sharp. I came to check on your injuries..."
Other people were surrounded by close friends or relatives, offering comfort and care.
But she was stuck with someone who only sold health supplements.
"You're quite the fighter, sticking it out till the end."
"Of course. I've been in the streets since I was young. Know when to assess the situation. But seriously, what's with this giant goose? What makes it so powerful? Tell me."
Pang Ci's expression was inquisitive, though many gathered around them, seeking information.
This year's Ministry of Education was incredibly strict!
Yao didn't feel like sharing any details with them, intending to brush them off. "Sorry, I'm talking to a friend right now..."
She hadn't even finished her sentence when she heard footsteps. Looking up, she saw Zhou Linlang entering through a small door from the second-floor balcony, walking toward them.
According to the plan, Zhou Linlang was about to make a show of comforting her like a friend or a brother, so others would have reservations.
Yao was prepared with polite words when, just then, a door behind the announcement desk opened. Deputy Director Zhang Ruo appeared, holding the giant goose.
What the hell!
The crowd instinctively took several steps back.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. This is the Dragon Goose, a newly born pet. It's the guardian boss of the second phase of this exam. It can break space to collect items, then swallow them. More details on its mechanics will be disclosed on the official website later. Now, let's return your
belongings."
"Those who lost items, come forward."
Most people had already gone up, but Yao, still talking to Pang Ci and struggling with her aching legs, lagged behind.
She glanced at the goose, which arrogantly raised its head, then opened its beak and vomited a pile of things.
"Item number 5256, Jian Feilan, this is yours!"
Jian Feilan, a bit trembling, took his pile of items. It was a large amount, full of high-end resources, including many medicines.
Though background wasn't everything, it still determined most things.
The sheer quantity of treasures left many people stunned.
Then, one by one, the goose continued to vomit.
Those who minded others seeing their resources quickly grabbed them up, hiding them from view, while those who didn't care took their time, collecting their things at their own pace.
In contrast, Lin Chengxiu's pile was meager... just a few things, including very few medicinal items.
Yao glanced at it, her expression thoughtful as she continued to walk over. Just then, she heard Lin Hangjing's voice.
"How could it even destroy the folding bags for clothes? Does the Dragon Goose's Dragon Unveiling skill ignore secondary space?"
Pang Ci seemed to remember something, his expression faltering. "Oh, my stomach suddenly hurts, I'm going to leave now, Second Brother Xie, excuse me."
Yao froze. She saw that the clothes Lin Chengxiu was packing were from Lin Chengxiu's pile.
Suddenly, she remembered something, her nerves tightened. She hurried toward them, calling, "Sorry, wait a minute, I'll be right there..."
But it was too late. The giant goose, sensing Yao's obvious distaste, didn't wait for her and opened its beak, vomiting another pile of items.
Her resources weren't few, but they weren't plentiful either. Most had already been sold or consumed, but still, compared to most students, they were considerable.
"Looks like this person really is a cross-dresser mastermind, gathering so many resources, but..."
"Hey, what's that?"
Lin Hangjing and his sister froze for a moment when they noticed the pile of clothes among the equipment and medicines.
Some things stood out.
Clothing.
Mostly men's clothes?
No, at least a lot of people immediately noticed the champagne-colored silk camisole slipping out from the pile of clothes, its silky texture flowing like water... It slid across the edge of the table, almost about to fall.
And it did.
Landing silently.
The camisole was delicate, its color elegant and soft, like a tender, flowing stream. The silk shimmered, giving it a cool, detached quality, hinting at a sophisticated distance.
A strange silence descended.
Jian Feilan and others had difficult expressions. Were they not all middle school students?
Why did everything suddenly seem... different?
Yuqin paused, seeming to recognize a pair of pants.
The silence was broken.
Indeed, someone broke it. A slender, pale hand reached out and picked up the camisole, inspecting it with a calm gaze.
It was Xie Qingyan.
He had just arrived, probably after finishing the exam.
Was he picking up his younger brother?
As Zhou Linlang descended the stairs, she spotted the scene and seemed somewhat surprised. Her expression froze for a moment. She tapped her communicator and spoke softly, "You..."
"What are you going to do, little sister Yao?"
She walked away, leaving Yao standing still.
Yao's gaze swept over Xie Qingyan and his brother before scanning Zhou Linlang as she walked away. Frowning, Yao took a few steps, reaching for the camisole in Qingyan's hand, but didn't hurry to collect the rest. She took her time, as though worried something might get lost.
In fact, her mind was elsewhere: Having arrived in this world alone, though she had disguised herself with two personas—one of an eighteen-year-old rogue and another of a young maid—she was truly a thirty-year-old mature woman, with her own habits and preferences.
She had always been lonely, unable to fully cast away her true self.
But she hadn't expected that very same true self to become her flaw.
The unexpected came faster than lightning... and that damned goose caught her off guard.
So many changes had occurred, too many suspicions had arisen. She hadn't even considered the clothing.
But now, she could only react and handle it as best as she could.
So, Lin Hangjing, his sister, and Xie Qingyan all saw some women's clothing and lingerie.
They were all new, high-quality material, clearly very expensive.
Others expected her to offer an explanation, but she seemed entirely unfazed. Only after gathering everything did she glance at Xie Hezhou, casually saying, "Two older brothers, please don't look at me like that. Though you're a few months older, I've already outgrown this stage of purity where I didn't know women."
"I'm eighteen, isn't that normal?"
Xie Hezhou felt a pang of disdain, realizing this was directed at his masculinity.
Xie Qingyan remained calm, a faint smile curling at his lips. "Well, I was beginning to think..."
His tone became more languid, stretching out the final syllable before he slowly said, "I thought Ah Li had a cross-dressing fetish."
What the hell, a cross-dressing mastermind! No wonder she had so many clothes!
Yao chuckled. "Oh, Big Brother understands so much. Do you want to see? Next time I'll wear it for you, though the size might be wrong, I'll get a larger one, but you'll have to pay extra."
Xie Qingyan: "..."
Xie Hezhou: "!!!"
The elders of the Xie family turned dark.
Others: "..."
Yao was utterly exhausted today, both physically and mentally. Seeing Zhou Linlang approach, she was ready to play her part.