Tuesday morning.
A tall, fair-skinned girl in a black academy-style dress walked toward the library with an expressionless face. Carrying a small bag and holding a phone in one hand, her beauty magnetically drew the attention of passersby, both male and female.
Yet, as soon as they noticed her frosty deanor, those gazes quickly turned away.
This was Ye Shiyu from Year 2, Class A.
Non-club-affiliated students had been invited by Ying Gong Tong to gather on the top floor of the school library, in seminar room L502, to et with club recruiters.
Ye Shiyu swiped her student card to enter the library and was just about to step into the elevator when the doors began closing. Inside were two familiar faces: Park Shuwen and Hua Zhaofeng.
“Ow! Look at this—it’s all because of Spencer. She punched
so hard I’m still in pain,” Park Shuwen whined.
“Don’t worry, Shuwen. If she gets into the Track and Field Club, I’ll eat my own shoe!”
“But isn’t it a school rule that everyone has to join a club? What if—”
“Relax. With the Club Competition around the corner, no club aiming for a top rank would take new mbers now.”
“Oh, really? Thanks for sticking up for , then.”
“It’s nothing. I’m just an upright guy who stands up for what’s right—uh, oh!”
Hua Zhaofeng was cut off mid-sentence as his peripheral vision caught sight of a breathtaking figure approaching the elevator. Instinctively, he reached out to block the closing doors, causing them to reopen.
“Thank you,” Ye Shiyu said softly, nodding as she stepped inside.
“N-no problem.”
Hua Zhaofeng’s face reddened as the faint floral scent from the tall girl filled the elevator.
Beside him, Park Shuwen clicked her tongue in annoyance. She shot Hua Zhaofeng a disdainful look and directed a faint glare at Ye Shiyu.
Park Shuwen had always been vain about her appearance, but seeing soone more beautiful—especially after Spencer had left her with a swollen, bruised face—made her seethe with jealousy.
“...”
Ye Shiyu seed to sense the hostility and glanced at Park Shuwen with an icy gaze.
A shiver ran down Park Shuwen’s spine, leaving her pale and visibly unsettled. This fear was on par with what she’d felt when Spencer punched her, yet she had no idea why Ye Shiyu evoked the sa terror.
Ding!
The elevator reached the fifth floor. Ye Shiyu stepped out first, her exit still holding Hua Zhaofeng’s dazed gaze until Park Shuwen pinched his arm.
“Don’t forget, no way is Spencer joining Track and Field!”
“Got it!” Hua Zhaofeng said quickly, snapping out of his trance.
Ye Shiyu soon spotted Ying Gong Tong standing by the door to L502.
“Vice President Ying Gong...”
“Vice President,” Hua Zhaofeng and Park Shuwen greeted her before walking past into the classroom.
As the two girls locked eyes in the hallway, the tension was palpable. The echoes of last Friday’s disagreent in the student council office still lingered in their minds.
Ye Shiyu tightened her grip on her phone, her presence growing darker.
“Where’s Little Huan?” Ye Shiyu asked, frowning after glancing into L502 and not seeing Yan Huan.
Ying Gong Tong chuckled softly, covering her mouth.
“Oh my, if I hadn’t heard otherwise, I’d think the President was your older brother, not the other way around. You’re like a helpless little sister who needs constant care.”
“This is between us. What gives an outsider like you the right to comnt?”
“How unfortunate. Today’s not about family business, Ye Shiyu. It’s about official student council matters.”
“So what? Siblings are siblings, and outsiders will always be outsiders.”
“...”
A vein twitched on Ying Gong Tong’s forehead as Ye Shiyu’s hand tightened around her phone. Just as the tension between the two reached a breaking point, the door to L501 suddenly opened.
Both girls turned to see a defeated-looking Yaqiao Mu walk out.
“Oh, Vice President Ying Gong—ah, isn’t this the President’s sister?”
The entire student council had seen Ye Shiyu and Yan Huan eating together in the cafeteria the previous Monday.
Ye Shiyu nodded politely and took out a box of snacks from her bag.
“Hello… I’m here to find Little Huan. I brought him so snacks and have so club-related business to handle as well.”
Hearing this, Yaqiao Mu’s face lit up with envy.
“Wow, the President has such a beautiful, kind sister who even brings him homade treats! He must be thrilled.”
Ye Shiyu froze for a mont, recalling Yan Huan’s faint reaction when she’d previously brought him cookies. She had assud he didn’t like them, but Yaqiao Mu’s words suggested otherwise.
“...Really?”
Imagining Yan Huan smiling warmly at her gifts, Ye Shiyu blushed faintly, feeling unexpectedly pleased.
“What’s your na?”
“Oh, I’m Yaqiao Mu, the student council treasurer. Nice to et you, Senior.”
“Yaqiao Mu, you’re quite thoughtful. Thank you for telling
these little secrets about Little Huan.”
“Ye Shiyu, Year 2, Class A.”
“Haha, may I try one of those treats later when the President eats them?”
“Of course, no problem.”
Nearby, Ying Gong Tong maintained her composed smile, though the vein on her forehead pulsed more visibly.
“Yaqiao, we’ll be eting with the President soon. Perhaps eating snacks can wait for a more appropriate ti?”
“Huh? But these are his sister’s handmade treats. Surely a bite now wouldn’t hurt?” Yaqiao Mu said with a cheerful wave, oblivious to the darkening aura around Ying Gong Tong.
In her mind, Ying Gong Tong’s irritation reached a boiling point.
Yaqiao, just like You Anlina… useless. The student council doesn’t need soone like you. Perhaps a transfer to so remote overseas location would suit you better.
As Yaqiao Mu’s fate silently teetered on a knife’s edge, Yan Huan erged from L501, still wearing an expression of mild exhaustion.
“...Shiyu.”
He paused briefly before offering a gentle smile.
“~”
Ye Shiyu’s eyes flickered, her usually stoic expression softening ever so slightly.
“Little Huan, I brought you so snacks.”
“Ah, thanks, Shiyu.”
Yan Huan walked over and accepted the box, glancing at the group around him.
“Perfect timing—I didn’t eat much this morning.”
He opened the box to reveal neatly arranged cookies. Taking one for himself, he handed another to Ye Shiyu.
Blushing faintly, Ye Shiyu accepted the cookie, her gaze lingering on the one he held in his mouth. The faint warmth in her cheeks betrayed her emotions as she took a bite.
However, Yan Huan turned next to Ying Gong Tong.
“Ying Gong?”
“Huh? Oh, no need, President,” she replied, caught off guard.
“Co on, have one. You never eat breakfast, and you had stomach pain before, right?”
“Eh? Th-thank you, President.”
Ye Shiyu’s slight blush froze, her mood plumting as she turned to glare at Ying Gong Tong, who was now nibbling on a cookie.
Little Huan knows so much about her?
And to think, these cookies were ant solely for Little Huan. At most, that sweet-talking Yaqiao Mu could have one.
But now, Little Huan gave one to the woman she despised?
If that’s not betrayal, what is—
“Here, Yaqiao.”
“Thanks, President! Thanks, Senior!”
Ye Shiyu quietly bit into her cookie as Ying Gong Tong’s sidelong, triumphant glance nearly made her face turn red with rage.
Just as Ye Shiyu’s phone screen flickered with ominous purple light, a cheery voice interrupted from L501.
“What’s everyone eating? Gim one!”
Before Yaqiao Mu could react, a pale hand darted out and snatched a cookie.
“Hey! You can’t just—”
“What? It’s just a cookie. Not like it’s so priceless treasure. Chill.” Spencer nonchalantly took a bite as she stood between a fuming Yaqiao Mu and a scowling Yan Huan.
Suddenly, she felt two piercing gazes from outside the door. Turning, she t the eyes of two won: the calm yet frosty Ye Shiyu and the ever-composed but smiling Ying Gong Tong.
For a mont, Spencer froze—not from the intensity of their gazes but out of sheer excitent.
“Heh…”
Her golden hair shimred faintly, subtly forming what looked like two antenna-like protrusions.
An unseen ripple spread through the room, halting Yan Huan mid-motion as he tried to scold her.
What’s the big deal?
Even if these were world-class cookies, if Spencer wanted to eat them, why not?
This thought suddenly echoed in the minds of everyone present.
Spencer grabbed a few more cookies and devoured them with an impish grin, placing a hand casually on Yan Huan’s shoulder as she spoke.
"Thanks for the treat, whether it was the cookies or President Yan’s personal tutoring session…"
Yaqiao Mu blinked, completely unfazed by Spencer stealing the cookies. He even mumbled, "Wait, didn’t I just teach you math too?"
Ye Shiyu and Ying Gong Tong both glanced at Spencer’s hand on Yan Huan’s shoulder. A shared thought imdiately ford in their minds:
So, she was being tutored just now?
That makes sense—her putting a hand on Little Huan’s/President Yan’s shoulder is just her way of expressing gratitude…
Like hell it is!
The realization jolted both girls out of the strange thought. A wave of disgust surged in their hearts as their expressions simultaneously darkened.
Ying Gong Tong maintained her poised smile, but her gaze had turned icy cold. Ye Shiyu, however, showed a more pronounced reaction—her phone screen lit up, and an intense, illusory shadow began to rise from her body.
“Roar!”
The spectral black cat on Yan Huan’s shoulder materialized, its fur bristling as it growled at Ye Shiyu, who was now striding toward Spencer.
The hunt had begun.
Yan Huan’s pupils contracted. Even without ow-chan’s warning, he could feel the oppressive aura radiating from Ye Shiyu. Her hostility toward Spencer was far beyond what he had anticipated.
It made sense—Ye Shiyu’s ticulous, possessive personality was bound to clash explosively with Spencer’s Modifier, which thrived on taking things that didn’t belong to her. If left unchecked, Ye Shiyu might actually resort to using hypnosis in broad daylight!
And what about the restriction? That the app could only target one person at a ti?
She wouldn’t care!
Every Minotaur in this world deserved to die! Full Modifier Mode—activate!
Imagining this likely outco, Yan Huan quickly deployed his perfect expression managent. His already displeased expression grew colder as he casually shook off Spencer’s hand.
Her balance faltered for a mont, and just as she looked up, ready to protest, Yan Huan glared at her and said,
"Who said you could eat it? Are we close enough for that?"
“Huh?”
Spencer scoffed, folding her arms. “It’s just a few cookies. If it’s such a big deal, I’ll pay for them. Problem solved, right?”
Just as Ye Shiyu was about to close the distance between her and Spencer, Ying Gong Tong’s eyes flashed, and she reached out to pull Ye Shiyu back. The sudden tug dragged Ye Shiyu sideways a few steps.
“...”
Ye Shiyu turned expressionlessly, confusion evident in her gaze. But Ying Gong Tong didn’t appear to want a direct confrontation. Instead, she gave Ye Shiyu a quick look before addressing Spencer with a faint smile.
“She doesn’t get to eat much, and her brain isn’t exactly… functional. Poor thing. Just let her have a bit.”
“What?!”
Yan Huan knew exactly where this was going. Spencer was extrely sensitive about being called dumb—it always made her see red.
This ti was no different. After the direct insult from Yan Huan and the veiled jab from Ying Gong Tong, Spencer’s fists clenched, and her expression turned fiery.
anwhile, Ye Shiyu froze montarily, glancing between Spencer and Ying Gong Tong.
That golden-haired girl…
Ye Shiyu recalled their previous encounter outside the aquarium, where the sa girl had tried to snatch her jellyfish keychain. For so reason, she felt an instinctive aversion toward Spencer.
But Ying Gong Tong?
Ye Shiyu stopped in her tracks, eting Ying Gong Tong’s gaze briefly before both turned away in silent agreent.
Temporary alliance.
Though Ying Gong Tong already had a ticulous plan to get rid of Spencer, she knew better than to underestimate the golden-haired girl’s Modifier. That brief lapse in rationality earlier was evidence enough of its power.
As for Ye Shiyu, while she disliked Ying Gong Tong, Spencer was undoubtedly the bigger threat for now. Aligning forces with the vice president seed like a logical move.
Their silent exchange of glances carried a clear ssage:
"Take down Spencer first?"
"Deal."
Completely unaware of the exchange, Yaqiao Mu shivered. The temperature in the hallway seed to have dropped by several degrees. He glanced nervously between the fierce golden lion on one side and the two coldly beautiful girls on the other.
I… I just wanted a cookie…!
Before the tension could boil over, the door to L502 opened. A club recruiter peeked out and smiled at Ying Gong Tong.
“Vice President Ying Gong, are we ready to start?”
“Yes, of course. We’ll be right in,” she replied gracefully.
Saved!
Yaqiao Mu, seizing the opportunity to escape the heavy atmosphere, hurried toward the seminar room.
“Haha, I’ll head in first! You’re all coming, right? Haha…”
As he rushed inside, the frozen tension in the hallway began to thaw. Ying Gong Tong turned to Yan Huan with a smile.
“President, shall we?”
“Alright. You go ahead.” Yan Huan’s gaze briefly landed on Spencer.
“You too. Go grab the study materials we left for you in L501.”
“Yes, yes, President Yan…” Spencer replied with a hint of impatience, turning to retrieve her things.
Yan Huan handed the remaining cookies to Ye Shiyu, smiling.
“Shiyu, you go in first. I need to use the restroom.”
“I…”
Ye Shiyu started to offer to accompany him, but Ying Gong Tong, still smiling, gestured toward the classroom, signaling she had sothing to discuss privately.
“...Fine. Go ahead, Little Huan.”
With everyone else in L502, Yan Huan made his way to the restroom.
The quiet library corridors felt especially tranquil during the early morning. Yan Huan washed his hands at the sink, removing the slight oiliness left from the cookies.
He sighed, addressing ow-chan internally.
“The choice of Modifier hosts probably isn’t random. It’s not just about desires—it feels like the effects of the Modifiers perfectly align with their hosts’ personalities.”
ow-chan owed in agreent, her voice tinged with concern.
“That’s true. These Modifiers are selective. They seek hosts with particular weaknesses, amplifying their desires to fill those gaps…
“Yan Huan, I have a theory. While the Modifiers co from the sa place, they might not be working together.
“In fact, their hostility toward each other could rival their fixation on you.”
Yan Huan narrowed his eyes, contemplating her words.
Interesting…
He dried his hands and was about to leave the restroom when a familiar golden-haired figure stepped into his line of sight, grinning mischievously.
“Spencer?” he began, frowning. “This is the n’s—”
Bang!
Before he could finish, Spencer had closed the distance between them.
Her hand pressed firmly against his chest, pushing him back toward the wall. One hand pinned his wrist while the other landed beside his ear, caging him in completely.
“Ugh…”
The soreness from last night’s workout flared up. He winced slightly, his expression stiffening as he found himself face-to-face with Spencer.
“ow?!”
ow-chan yelped in surprise, watching as Spencer leaned closer with a wicked smile. Her lips curled, revealing her signature sharp canine tooth.
Her pale, striking face took on a faint blush, her head tilting just so under the restroom’s lighting, illuminating her golden, slightly wavy hair.
With a soft exhale, she spoke, her voice laced with teasing:
“Upset because I ate your cookies? Were they special since they were from your sister?
“Don’t be mad. What’s done is done… If you don’t want money, I can give you… another kind of compensation.
“What do you say, President Yan?”
A faint, sporty fragrance lingered in the air, her closeness carving the scent sharply into his mind.
Yan Huan stilled, staring at her with a newfound clarity, as if truly seeing the audaciously beautiful blonde for the first ti.
“…Compensation?” he murmured, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
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