烟绯少女之事件簿：自新的逆转 档案1
The File of Young Yanfei: Turnabout New Leaf, File 1
That letter…
My Feifei kept it with her all these years, even when she was still Eula's.
I'm sure you've already read it by now, Yanyan.
But please…
Please don't be too hung up on the issue of memories.
I hope you'll realize that…
Even though you're light years away from your world's Taotao…
And me probably being light years away from my Feifei…
It's the memories you and I each made with our beloved that we should cherish…
While we continue making new ones that we'll also equally cherish as we wait for the stars…
Moving forward and charged by all we've each experienced and will experience…
I know that in telling you this story…
We'll be able to nurture our newfound relationship.
My dear, dear Yanyan.
— — 16 Years Ago — —
提瓦特国立中学
璃月校区
Te-hia-tik Kok-lip Tiong-Oh, Le-gue Hau-Khu
Tehiatik National High School, Legue Campus
The sky. Seems like it's gonna rain real hard later on, but hopefully not at lunchtime. Won't you rain later on once I'm done with it, dear clouds? I still gotta do this dare.
An easy yet kinda daring… dare.
The loser in the game gets to do a dare that's decided by the group, and this time, I have to give my crush a letter and then talk with them for a few minutes — this being the first time I actually lost.
Dang it, never thought you three'd have the nerve to gang up on me! I thought, half-jokingly.
And of course, I'm not the type to chicken out in front of my besties. I mean, it's only just a few minutes, right? Good thing this game's just between me and my besties 'cus I dunno how anyone else would react if they found out my crush's a girl.
Whew, I'm getting goosebumps and real sweaty just thinking about it. But, first things first, I gotta wrap up this thing that I'm gonna give her.
"Aw, again, Hu Tao?" Xiangling asked, sighing pretty loudly. "I'm running out of staples already."
Ai-yo, stingy with her stuff as usual, this Xiangling. But, who else has got a cool stapler besides her? Cha-cha-chan, that's right: nobody!
"Xiangling, c'mon. You know I lost our game, so I gotta do this dare, remember?" I turned to my back, seeing Chongyun and Xingqiu some steps away from us two, whispering stuff to each other with their backs turned on us, again. "This'll be the last time, I promise! Cut me some slack, would ya? Thinking about her got me kinda… y'know…"
"Oh, ri~ght." Suddenly, Xiangling's face turned smug. "Use as much as you need, Tao, but don't use it all up."
Blushing, I quickly thought of a comeback. "Thanks for giving me the idea, hee-hee."
"Hey!"
"Nyeh, kidding!" I pulled my eyelid down and stuck my tongue out at her, probably making her a wee bit madder.
Ah, this girl? Her name's Mao Xiangling. She's a class 6C student, and one of my besties! Xingqiu and I constantly prank her and Chongyun, but we get a good laugh in the end… uh, most of the time.
Lemme tell you this, her cooking's just the best. Ah, and I hear she's gonna go study in Fleuve to become the greatest chef in Tehiatik — wait, no, the entire world! I'm really rooting for her, 'cus she deserves it!
Finally stapling my poor excuse of a letter cover and putting my letter for her inside, someone just had the guts to creep up behind me — even tickling my back, causing me to jump and squeal like a moron. Of course, it's those two lovely idiots.
"O-ya, o-ya. Which one of you was it?" I asked the boys, raising my drooping hands and tilting myself downwards a bit, like a jiangshi preying on the living.
"Chongyun," Xingqiu immediately barked as he hid his face behind an open booklet.
"Yeah, it's — wait, what? Hey, you told me to do it, Qiu!" Chongyun worriedly replied, then turned to me. "Uh-oh."
"Thine fate's been sealed, young acolyte!" I yelled, quickly circling around to his back.
"Oof, dangit, Tao!" Chongyun yelped as I piggybacked him.
I then pointed to the boy holding his booklet. "I command thee to deliver retribution upon this bowlcut transgressor, onwards!"
"This is all your fault, bowl-cut trans-whatever-you-are!" Chongyun managed to say, panting.
"B-bowlcut?" Xingqiu, probably flustered, shut his booklet and ran away from us, starting another cat-and-mouse game — only now with two cats on piggyback mode, ha-ha!
This gullible little boy I'm piggybacking's Dong Chongyun. He's also a class 6C student, plus one of my besties, again! Xingqiu and I prank him a lot, and he's got this nice, sunny aura around him, making it really cool to hang out with him. Yeye said that it must be the Yang energy, and I think that just might be it. He kinda spends more time with Xingqiu, though.
And the bowlcut guy? He's Ye Xingqiu. He's yet again a class 6C student, and once more, one of my besties! He's got good pranking skills, like me! He also writes good poems, like me! I can't write stories, though, but his stories are pretty good to read, too. He kinda spends more time with Chongyun, though.
Pfft, put those two boys together in a room alone, and one of them'll end up complaining or crying like a baby. Spoiler alert, it's always Chongyun.
"Hey, I do not cry like a baby!" is what Chongyun'd usually say, and Xingqiu'll most definitely argue back.
"What's that? Oh, sorry. I don't understand baby-speak," is one of Xingqiu's many snide responses before the two start acting like a weird couple. Xiangling and I'll just laugh at those two.
Oh, and as for me?
The name's Hu Tao. That's right — the one and only spooky 11-year-old Hu Tao! Also the upcoming 77th Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director many years from now!
One'd think I'd also be in Class 6C with my besties, but actually, I'm a Class 6A student, where smartypants lurk — that includes her. Though, I was originally a Class 6C student.
Truth is, I shifted sections after doing the resectioning exam 'cus I got one of the highest grades among my Grade 6 batchmates. How'd I do it? Well, before I say the real reason, lemme tell you a little secret that only my besties and one more person know:
Cheating.
Yep, you heard me right. Sudden change in mood too, I know.
I cheat to pass — a skeleton behind my own closet. Ever since a few years ago, that habit of mine just developed. To tell the truth, I'd get this bad-taste-in-my-mouth feeling whenever I do it. But hear me out, I've got a very, very good reason for it that kinda blurs out those feelings: family obligations.
With my Baba gone into the afterlife at around the same few years ago, and Yeye being the acting 75th and 76th director of the funeral parlor, I gotta balance the funeral parlor stuff and my academics.
It sucks. It's 'cus this responsibility of mine was planned by my Shushu, my uncle named Hu Fanren, and Junpeng-shu, Yeye's secretary. Both of them said that I gotta learn — by heart and mind — the history, the specific business rituals and practices, and those oh-so boring reports that pop up. Rinse and repeat, if I need to. I am in line to be the 77th Director when I'm an adult, of course. Oh, I also have to go to the manor every single weekend just to do those tasks, too. I could only count the times I'd stayed at home on the weekends with one hand.
Luckily, Zhong-daren and his good friend, Ajax, help me out with that when they need to. Did I mention that I also live alone in my parent's old home in Legue? At least Zhong-daren and Ajax keep me company, sometimes. Other times it's just me, and the spirits that I feel around my lonesome self at home.
Still, a heavy chunk of the family business's workload's on me. I can't really complain, too, since family is family.
And, more importantly, there's the part where I need to prove myself, too.
That I'm not just some dumb granddaughter being doted on by her Yeye…
Or a misguided magnet for misfortune…
Or a disrespectfully sharp-tongued kid…
Or an insensitive ingrate…
Or whatever… mean and horrible things they call me!
Ngh…!
I… hate it. I really hate it.
I'd be lying if I said those words don't get to me. Good thing I have my besties, my family, and other things to keep them away, to some extent.
And spending time with her really keeps my spirits up…
Those naysayers really, really annoy me to death. I'll show them. I'll prove them ALL wrong, someday. Just you wait.
Maybe.
Just maybe.
Maybe she can… No, scratch that. I don't wanna drag her into this.
Ahem, so yeah. As I was saying, that's the main reason why I cheat in class, among others.
Save for one, I never told anyone outside my besties, and not even Yeye and Zhong-daren — not even her. Honestly, I just feel that telling the first two wouldn't sit right with me. Like, if they did know, they'll get too worried, and they're the ones I don't wanna see worrying a lot 'cus of me.
Worse, if she finds out… it'll also be the end of me. Knowing her dreams, she won't ever forgive me.
I did tell Ajax, though, 'cus he looked like he'd understand without flipping out too much. I was right; he said that it's alright as long as I don't get caught, ever. Plus, he also said it's justifiable, knowing what I'm kinda going through, and that "the school system's due for a climactic turnabout".
Above all, I never got caught! If I did, getting expelled isn't the worst; I could NEVER re-enroll in ANY school in the future, not even the private ones. That's how Tehiatik schools work, and I really hate it. I guess this is what Ajax meant with that school system stuff he told me.
A lone single chance, and if I blow it, I could possibly destroy all opportunities for my future — maybe even ruining the Wangsheng name, methinks.
Still… just imagine the sweet, sweet adrenaline rush whenever I do it, y'know? This also helps get rid of that bad feeling I get whenever I do it.
Then, one day, you could say the stars aligned in my last year of elementary school. Yeye wanted me to focus more on my academic studies, saying that I've already learned more than enough for my age about the family business. Should've seen the look on Junpeng-shu's face; his mouth was really wide open when he heard that!
Anyways, that's one of the two important reasons why I started becoming what teachers call 'a better student'. And, it's also because of those two that I decided to go the 'traditional' way of being one: studying to get good grades and trying to be goody-two-shoes, with her helping hand.
That's right, she is my role model.
Midway into the year, I managed to overcome this habit of cheating and improve my academics! And bada bing bada boom, the first time I actually got high grades without cheating was the resectioning exam! It felt amazing, lemme tell you. My besties were shocked, like seen-a-ghost kinda shocked, and they didn't believe me at first.
Now, this is something I haven't told anyone: I always thought of cheating as a 'necessary evil' — I learned the word from Zhong-daren, with him and Ajax explaining it to me. Even though it's 'necessary', I feel my soul tainted each time I do it, as if it was building up a road for me that has something worse waiting for me in the end. I just know that doing something bad or naughty, no matter how small, tempts one's soul to do worse, even if it's what one's gotta do to survive.
So, when I was able to get it out of my system, my mind felt… a little more peaceful and clear. Like a wandering soul finding its long-awaited repose.
That's where it takes us to the other important reason for these changes.
The truth is, along with Yeye lessening the responsibilities and stopping myself from going down 'that' path, I wanna turn over a new leaf.
'Cus what she'd like, right?
And so, as for what — no, who that other important reason is, that would be…
There we go… Notes finished and just in time for the next class, Siansi Yelan's history classes.
As Class 6A prepared to leave the classroom to get to the next subject's designated classroom, a girl with twintails, each bound by two striking plum blossom hairclips, approached my desk. I smiled, since she's a good friend and studious tutee of mine.
"Um, Yanfei? Do you have a sec?" she said.
"Sure thing, Hu Tao. Did you need something?" I replied.
"Think you and I can have a little chat after lunchtime on the rooftop?" Hm, that's where she and her three other close friends hang out. "Let's just have our study session after it." Hu Tao's eyes seemed to avoid my own sharpened ones when she asked me.
"What for? And please, eye contact, Hu Tao."
"Ai-ya, sorry…" She then locked eye contact with me, quite shyly, though. I think I was too imposing, urgh. I unsharpened my gaze on her. "It's 'cus… I wanna tell you something."
"Well, can't you say it right now? I'm all ears."
Hu Tao, pausing and fidgeting in place for a bit, then moved to whisper to my ear. "Um, I can't. It's just that… It'll be quick, I promise!"
Of course, I quickly guessed what she's going to do, judging from this suspicious and unclear way of talking. Slowly, a frown started to replace my smile. Is this how she's going to repay all the times I've hung out with and tutored her — by pranking me? This is Hu Tao, an ex-Class 6C student who's quite known for her antics. I should know better.
Sighing, I stood up and put my book and pen on my arm. "If you're planning to prank me, then no thanks. Sorry, Hu Tao, I—"
"Please, Yanfei! I'm not gonna prank you, promise!" D-drat, she said that quite loudly!
Upon folding her hands and bowing her head, my other classmates — especially that puffed-up Keqing — turned to our direction. I've got no choice but to trust her. Drat, should've said 'alright' before this happened.
Why do you have to be so cautious, Yanfei? Urgh, thinking about it, Hu Tao's never pranked me before. I silently blamed myself for not believing her. You're better than this, Yanfei.
Plus… she wouldn't like it if I'm overly cautious or untrusting of my friends.
"A-alright, Hu Tao. I'll go. J-just relax. You're kinda making a scene."
She noticed others were staring at us, and she blushed. Sadly, I had a hand in this. Before darting towards the exit, she managed to say a very quick "Thank you, Yanfei!"
"You're welcome, I guess…" But this line I mumbled didn't reach her ears. Oh well.
Sighing, I got my things and headed to the next room, only to tag along with Keqing. Of all the people.
"So… What'd you get for the math quiz, Yanfei?"
"Just one mistake."
"How sad. I got perfect." Hear my prayer, oh gods above, please do something about her smug attitude. Zap some sense into her, or bonk her with a gem-hard pillar. "You should try asking for my help, Yanfei."
Me? Ask her for help? Impossible.
"Maybe when you say 'I like you' to Aether in front of me"
Hit a mark, didn't I? Now she's turned red. Of course, Keqing, despite being that snobby, prideful student, has her weak spots. Heh, and when the issue of Aether comes up, you'll always tense up.
Speak of the devil, he just passed by us, and he's on his way to his next class, too.
"Hey there, Yanfei, A-Qing." Naturally, Keqing became flustered. "Got Du-laoshi up next, right?"
Counterattack time, Keqing. Get ready.
"I dunno, what do you think," I turned to my blushing classmate, "Keqing?"
"I… I think I'm gonna be late! G-good luck in your exam, you dork!" And there she walks away. Score one for me, 'A-Qing'. Aether and I chuckled at her flustered reaction.
"Scared her away again, Aether?" That voice, it's Ganyu's. Woah, it sounded pretty menacing. "I think it's time for you to head for Siansi Ningguang's business exams. You wouldn't want to be late."
"C'mon, Ganyu. I was just asking her a question," Aether replied while I giggled.
Aether was about to put his hand on Ganyu's shoulder when she quickly stopped his arm and gave him an icy stare.
"Uh, I mean, right! S-see you, Yanfei, Ganyu!" Aether quickly walked away.
All of a sudden, Ganyu's serious face turned into a ditzy one when she turned to me. Now that's some change you don't see everyday with her; at least, if you're not one of her close friends.
"Uh, um. Did… did I kinda overstep myself, Yanfei?"
"N-no. Not really."
"Oh, thank you. I just didn't like the way he was talking to his… friend." Was that a hint of jealousy there, Ganyu? But it's alright, I know how you feel towards our smug-faced classmate. "W-what's that look for, Yanfei?"
"Nothing. Let's go before Siansi Yelan starts her classes."
"Right," Ganyu replied as she straightened her posture.
Just a few meters before the history classroom doors, she appeared. I felt myself warming up. Ngh, why now, of all times? I stopped to adjust my collar and dust skirt off quickly.
Wait a minute, why do I even need to do this?!
"Yanfei?" Ganyu asked, probably worried about my sudden change in behavior.
"G-go on ahead, Ganyu. I still need to talk to somebody."
When Ganyu turned around to her, she nodded with an 'o' on her face before walking to the classroom.
"Fei," Eula, in her white lab suit and gloves, called me before running to me.
Oh my gosh… looking at her outfit, why does she look unusually pretty in it?
"There's not much time before my exam starts. Here," she handed my phone. "Sorry for returning these to you so late. I'll remember this mistake of mine, and I won't make the same one again, mark my words!"
Earlier, Eula borrowed my phone during recess to transfer some images — some pictures she took using my phone the other day — to her own.
"N-no need, Eula." Even for the littlest of mistakes, you're very conscious… a really likeable trait of yours.
"Lunch at the same spot, Fei?"
"Y-yeah, good luck in your chemistry exams, Eula. And, nice outfit. You look really pretty…" I mumbled that last line, hopefully she didn't hear it.
"Heh, thanks, Fei. I know I'll ace it, just because you said 'good luck' and 'pretty'." With a wink, she ran to the chemistry lab, her hair and lab suit fluttering as she went. Gosh, she heard it!
Urgh… and right in front of the classroom, too… No, I don't think anyone heard it inside. Stop worrying, Yanfei!
Soon, Siansi Yelan entered the room right before I got seated. Whew, I thought I'd be late. While setting up her laptop, Hu Tao, seated right next to me, seemed rather unhappy — even resting her cheek on her hand. Strange, she looked giddy a few minutes ago, and she's not one to change moods that easily… or maybe I'm wrong?
Still, I gotta cheer her up to make up for making her flustered moments ago.
"Hu Tao? You look glum. What's wrong"
She flustered up at my response. "W-who's glum? Not me! Nothing's wrong!"
"Uh, okay then."
Turning her head away from me, she seemed to whisper something.
"Ngh, why is it her…" I didn't quite catch that last part she mumbled.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
"Um! Nothing, nothing."
A little later, we greeted Siansi Yelan a good morning before getting our things ready.
"Good morning, class. Be seated." She took a sheet of paper and read it as she continued,
"Before we start, I'd like to remind you all again — since I'm your homeroom advisor — that there's a storm coming later this afternoon. To be exact, it'll make its landfall in Legue at around four. However, this won't excuse you to submit your research papers later on. I've already given you time to prepare; the whole school year, to be exact. And so—"
She wrote down 'DEADLINE UNTIL 3:30' on the chalkboard.
"—you have until this time to submit before I mete out the necessary," her gaze on us got sharper, "consequences."
Soon some of my classmates were murmuring among each other. I took this opportunity to talk to Hu Tao.
"Are you gonna submit it now, Hu Tao?"
"How about you, Yanfei?"
"Hey, I asked first."
"Yeah, but right back at ya." She playfully stuck her tongue out at me.
Ngh, this girl can be a handful sometimes. "I'll submit around three."
"Let's submit it together!"
"Huh? Why?"
"Why not? You also helped me out in researching, so I think we should go do it together."
"I…" Hm, there's no harm in doing it. Plus, it kinda feels nice submitting something with a friend. "Alright, you win. Let's meet up in the homeroom… Well, here. At around three, okay?"
"Hee-hee, got it, Atty. Yanfei."
I chuckled at that title, "Hey, I'm not a lawyer."
"'Not yet', you mean?" Again with her tongue out at me.
Suddenly, three loud wooden thumps rang out in the room — it's from Siansi Yelan's personal gavel, a gift from Siansi Ningguang.
"Settle down, class. Now, your dismissal is, again, at 2:30 due to the storm, so I'm expecting this table," she pointed to her desk, "to be filled with your research papers at around that time. I won't be forgiving to those who'll submit late." Gaze still sharp on us, Siansi Yelan slowly tapped her gavel on her hand, like a judge. "Are we clear, Class 6A?"
We all agreed before we continued with the class, being our last review for our upcoming exams.
My name is Yu Yanfei, a Class 6A student and vice-president of the school's Student Council Regiment B, AKA: SCB, under Cheng Keqing's leadership.
My dream is to become a prosecutor, a dream that's inspired after seeing my father in action, who's also an attorney himself and a proud member of the Legue Sianjin Sia, also known as Club Adeptus.
My father may be a defense attorney who defends his clients wrongfully accused of crimes, but he told me that I don't have to follow in his footsteps, saying that a prosecutor, defense attorney, or whatever law practitioner all have the same end goal — to pursue the truth no matter what.
That's why, I will become a prosecutor to enforce the law righteously and to see that everyone deserves a just ending, hopefully a happy one.
Earlier, you've seen me come across some friends of mine. Let me introduce them to you.
The first one's my good friend and tutee, Hu Tao. She's originally from Class 6C until scoring unusually high points in the resectioning exam every term. She's a very, very interesting classmate, and she's really studious. She also told me that she's going to take the title of 'Director' in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor one day, and I think that's really neat! I offered to guide her in the legal processes when I become a lawyer soon.
Though, there's this rumour around her that she cheats. Hmph, impossible. I know her well to say so. Ever since knowing her since the start of Grade 6, she's hardly the type of student that'd turn to cheating. Rumours are usually the reason why people start doubting of feeling jealous of others, something my mother and Ama would tell me.
Later, you've seen Cheng Keqing. She's a close 'frenemy' of mine and the president — my 'second boss', unfortunately — of the SCB. I've known her since Grade 1, and my gosh, she's one of the smartest people I've ever met. Of course, no one tops Eula in smarts, but Keqing's really, really something else.
Because of that, she and I've been eternal rivals, competing almost at every single thing that comes through us — Hu Tao'd tell me it sounds like something straight from a donghua or manhua.
The boy who's able to break through this puffed up student council president's defenses is the cool Aether Faramund, a Class 9D student and the president of the SCA. He and Keqing are currently dating. I think pretty much everyone in the school knows him — probably even likes him, just like Keqing.
That said, he knows what's going on from one end of the school to the other. Must be because of his charisma, looks, and overall attitude. He's a good friend of mine, too, and I often get the latest school buzz through him.
He also has a younger sister whom he hasn't seen in a long time. Lumine was her name, I think? I do hope those two'll reunite one day. Maybe I can help him when we grow up.
Next is Yang Ganyu, another Class 6A student and the secretary of the SCB. She's a reserved but extremely hardworking student. Keqing and I — Keqing especially — would tell her to take it easy, but she'd still insist on continuing. She also gets nervous when people touch her shoulders, but not with Keqing, as seen earlier when she quickly stopped Aether's hand.
By the way, she once told me she has a crush on Keqing, but I wonder when she'll tell her? I guess that's why she gets a bit jealous when Aether comes along, but the two're still good friends.
Last of the students, and definitely not the least, is Eula Lawrence. Okay, it's pretty obvious that I have a crush on her. Class 9A student and the vice-president of the SCA. Under that resting scowl face and fierce attitude lies a cheerful and kindhearted soul.
We first met each other when she helped me confront some hooligans before finding my way back home after doing some errands last year, and since then, we've been talking about anything under the sun. I think I might confess to her, but not now, of course! Studies first, as my parents and Ama would tell me.
Lastly, we have Siansi Du Yelan, a member of the school's faculty, Class 6A's homeroom advisor, and our history teacher. Others, like Aether, call her 'Du-laoshi'. Siansi knows every single thing about the school from her 'eyes and ears'. These are all for the better, and through Siansi, we avoid conflicts in school because of it. She might not be the school director, the principal, or the guidance counselor, but it's like she's all those three combined — maybe even more than them. Mysterious, but we have a good relationship. I'd say I'm her favorite student.
Who are Siansi's 'eyes and ears', though? That brings us to the school's student council, where me, Keqing, Ganyu, Aether and Eula 'work'. We help students from throughout all grade levels with whatever is it they need, as long as we can handle. The SC is divided into two: Regiment A deals with the students from Grades 7 through 12, while Regiment B's for Grades 1 through 6.
Think of us as the 'big brothers and big sisters'. In the sidelines, we report Siansi any anomalies, and she'll never reveal anything to the school's board, faculty, staff, management, or students unless necessary. I even think she's the puppeteer of the school, and some of the council members think so, too. That's how mysteriously powerful she is, but we, the student council members, know that Siansi Yelan means good.
The Tehiatik school system is flawed — listen, when you get expelled for whatever reason, you'll have ZERO chances of getting a decent career. You can even get expelled if you cheat at least once. It's crazy, so some things have to be taken into our hands so that it'd be fair for all students as much as possible, that's what Siansi told the student council.
With all that said, we resolve conflicts through this method: secret classroom trials. Siansi's the judge, while the defense and prosecution of the trial are the student council members. A few also become the court reporter and the case detailer. I've only ever acted as the prosecution, since it's pretty obvious. If you say that Keqing regularly acts as the defense, then it's a spot on guess. Though, she does become the prosecution sometimes, and she and Eula'd often butt heads.
One would think that these're all fun and games, but the fact that we were able to avoid major school conflicts through this method begs to differ. Once, there was a student that brought a knife with bad intentions, and we managed to resolve that issue before the school caught wind of it.
It's a rigorous method, and it can get dead serious. That's why the student council only has members who are personally handpicked by Siansi Yelan. I consider it a great honor.
Honor should, of course, require its bearer to act upon the duties the honor carries, something Siansi Yelan, my parents, and Ama would tell me.
Though…
I'd never have thought, that I'd stand behind the defense's bench of our council so soon.
Standing in the same position as my father, huh.
To my greatest surprise, I would be defending a good friend of mine.
Accused of something I thought she wouldn't dare to do.
And, on this soon to be stormy day…
My views on this good friend of mine would change.
Greatly.
"What've you done with my research papers?! I thought we were besties!"
"N-no! Xiangling, I was just—"
"Shut up! I've been covering for you but then… this is going too far!"
"No, I…! Xiangling, please, listen to me! I can explain—"
"Keqing, the rumors are true! She cheats and sabotages! Now I'm gonna fail because of her!"
"Eula, get Siansi Yelan. It's a code orange, maybe red."
"No, Keqing! That's not true! W-wait, Eula! Stop, don't go!"
"Hu Tao…?"
"Yanfei! Please listen to me! I beg you, please! I… I didn't do it!"
"Please believe me!"
List of People (Yanfei's Side)
People I know (Hu Tao's Side)
Hu, Tao (11, F)
↪ Class 6A student, originally from Class 6C until scoring unusually high points in the resectioning exam. She's a very interesting classmate. But, there's a rumour that she's a cheater, though no one's been able to prove it. Should I look into this further…? But then, this friendship we have… No, don't overthink it, Yanfei.
↪ That's me — the one and only spooky Hu Tao! Class 6A student, but originally a Class 6C student. I shifted after the resectioning exam 'cus I got one of the highest grades among my 6C classmates. Well, I cheat to pass, yeah. But, but! That's the first time I actually got high grades without cheating! Truth is, I wanna turn over a new leaf, 'cus what she'd like, right…?
Yu, Yanfei (12, F)
↪ My name is Yu Yanfei. Class 6A student and vice-president of the Student Council Regiment B (SCB), under Cheng Keqing's. My dream is to become a prosecutor to enforce the law righteously, and to see that everyone deserves a just ending, hopefully a happy one.
↪ Class 6A student. Yanfei likes to talk a lot and sound all smart. Hmph! But I gotta admit, she's hell-a wise and cunning, like a lawyer! She's also the vice-president of the Student Council Regiment B (SCB). Really wish she was the president instead. Gosh, she's kinda pretty, too… Wait, what am I saying?
Cheng, Keqing (12, F)
↪ Class 6A student and president of the SCB. My rival, kind of. I admire how she's really strict and rigorous, but she ticks me off the wrong way, sometimes, mostly because we've got different ways of doing things. We have a good relationship, though. Oh, and she likes Aether Faramund of Class 9D, too; talking to him's the only time she'll act a lot less aloof.
↪ Class 6A student. Kinda like Yanfei, but way stricter. Sheesh, what does she think she is, a dictator? Eh, Yanfei's way better than her. She's also the president of the SCB. Oh! Did you know she'll loosen up when talking to Aether? When she does, she gets all flustered and crap, ha-ha!
Yang, Ganyu (12, F)
↪ Class 6A student and the secretary of the SCB. A reserved and extremely hardworking student. Keqing and I — Keqing especially — would tell her to take it easy, but she'd still insist on continuing. She also gets nervous when people touch her shoulders, but not with Keqing.
↪ Class 6A student. A quiet and a 'very' hardworking student. It's like Ganyu can't take a break at all! She's also the secretary of the SCB. Oh, she doesn't like anyone touching her shoulders, but she lets Keqing do so. I wonder why?
Faramund, Aether (16, M)
↪ Class 9D student and the president of the SCA. He and Keqing are currently dating. I think everyone in the school knows him — probably even likes him, and he's one cool customer. That said, he knows what's going on from one end of the school to the other. Must be because of his charisma, looks, and overall attitude. He's a good friend of mine, too, and I often get the latest school buzz through him.
↪ Class 9D student. I'm sure he and Keqing're dating; it's like she's another person when she talks with him! He's pretty chill and fun to be with, too. I dunno, but he's got this weird magnetic aura about him. He's literally everyone's crush! Oh yeah, he knows all the juicy gossip in school. He's also the president of the SCA, and he deserves that title, mhm.
Mao, Xiangling (12, F)
↪ Class 6C student. According to Hu Tao, she's a good friend of hers, and her skills in the culinary arts are exemplary. I believe Xiangling wants to study abroad or in another region in the future.
↪ Class 6C student. One of my besties! I prank her and Chongyun with Xingqiu, but we get a good laugh in the end. Even though I shifted to 6A, we'd still hang out, and her cooking's just the best!
Dong, Chongyun (12, M)
↪ Class 6C student. According to Hu Tao, he's a good friend of hers, and it's as if he radiates sunshine when talking to him. He and Xingqiu seem to be really good friends.
↪ Class 6C student. One of my besties! Sure, Xingqiu and I prank him, but he's got this sunny aura around him. Yeye said that it must be the Yang energy, and I think that might be it! He kinda spends more time with Xingqiu, though.
Ye, Xingqiu (12, M)
↪ Class 6C student. According to Hu Tao, he's a good friend of hers, and he has a knack in literature, maybe even beating Hu Tao in poem-writing. He and Chongyun seem to be really good friends.
↪ Class 6C student. One of my besties! He's got good pranking skills, like me! He also writes good poems, like me! I can't write stories, though, but his stories are pretty good to read, too. He kinda spends more time with Chongyun, though.
Lawrence, Eula (15, F)
↪ Class 9A student and the vice-president of the SCA. Under that resting scowl face lies a cheerful Eula. She's… my crush. We first met each other when she helped me confront some hooligans before finding my way back home after doing some errands last year, and since then, we've been talking about anything under the sun. I think I might confess to her, but not now, of course! Studies first, as my parents would tell me.
↪ Class 9A student. Eula seems to be angry every day for some reason, but Yanfei seems to vibe with her, like, a lot… Ngh, I dunno why, but it just ticks me off seeing them together. She's also the vice-president of the SCA.
Du, Yelan (24, F)
↪ Member of the school's faculty, Class 6A's homeroom advisor, and our history teacher. Others, like Aether, call her 'Du-laoshi'. Siansi knows every single thing about the school from her 'eyes and ears'. These are all for the better, and through Siansi, we avoid conflicts in school because of it. She might not be the principal or the school director, but it's like she is. Mysterious, but we have a good relationship.
↪ One of the school's teachers and Class 6A's homeroom advisor. She's our history teacher, and she's one of the best teachers I've ever had! Still, Siansi Yelan gives me the heebie-jeebies; it's like she knows what I do every night before I sleep, but at the same time, she's like a mother to the class. Weird, I know, but you know what else is weirder? I once saw Yanfei meeting up with Siansi Yelan in the café I'd once passed by, but that was the only time.
Translation notes:
阿妈/阿嬷 (POJ: "a-má")
↪ grandma (father's side), granny, can be used to address old women with a close relationship to one's parents
先生 (POJ: "sian-siⁿ")
↪ teacher
仙人 (POJ: "sian-jîn")
↪ adeptus (via Genshin Impact), sage
僵尸 (Pinyin: "jiāngshī")
↪ zombie, Chinese mythical vampire
动画 (Pinyin: "dònghuà")
↪ animation, cartoon, Chinese anime
漫画 (Pinyin: "mànhuà")
↪ comic book, Chinese manga
Guest B
Nice eye! I'm glad you notices the parallelism between the two when dealing with Yanfei in the previous chapter.
Truly, Keqing seems rather relentless and forceful, no? At the very least, Teyvat's Yanfei has Tehiatik's Hu Tao.
Thanks for staying tuned, again! Hope to see you in the next chapter, as usual~ :D