It wasn’t that Fengguang wanted to dump all the work on Yan Bai—she wasn’t that kindhearted. The real reason was that Yan Bai looked pitiful enough as it was. Her conscience told her she shouldn’t keep bullying a wounded boy like him. He needed to feel that there was still genuine warmth in this world, so he’d have the motivation to keep going.
She went to the stairwell to collect the cleaning supplies, resigned herself to her fate, and headed to the first floor, deciding to start there.
Osiris Academy was built entirely in a European style, so even just the first floor was enormous. The spiraling staircase that seemed to stretch endlessly upward was especially overwhelming.
After working tirelessly for an hour, Fengguang had only managed to clean half of the first floor. She found a spot to sit down and take a short break, and couldn’t help worrying about Yan Bai upstairs. With his spirits so low, he might be working even slower than she was.
Just as she finished sighing, Yan Bai suddenly appeared right in front of her.
She jumped in fright, nearly flinging the cleaning rag at him.
“How did you get here?” she asked.
“I’ve already finished cleaning the top four floors.”
“…What?”
Thinking she hadn’t heard him clearly, Yan Bai repeated himself.
“I’ve finished cleaning the top four floors.”
“No…” Fengguang said in disbelief. “How could you be that fast?!”
“My talent is speed…” Yan Bai said softly. When Fengguang suddenly raised her voice, he shrank back in fear. “Didn’t you know?”
As if she would know!
This boy gave off puppy-dog vibes half the time—she had even wondered if his ability involved turning into some kind of animal. And now he was telling her it was speed?!
“I originally wanted to help you clean…” Yan Bai said timidly, sounding like a wronged little lamb. “But… but you said men and women should be equal, and that you shouldn’t get special treatment just because it’s you, so…”
“So what are you here for, then?” she demanded.
Yan Bai seemed to perk up a bit.
“Even though I can’t help you clean, I can stay here and cheer you on.”
Fengguang finally understood what it meant to lift a rock only to smash your own foot with it. She flung the rag straight at his face.
“I don’t need your encouragement. Get lost!”
Yan Bai caught the rag, looking deeply aggrieved, and said timidly,
“Yes, my lady…”
Then he really did disappear from the area.
Fengguang: “……”
A long, long time later, the girl standing in the main hall clutched her head and shouted,
“I’m so mad!”
Before she realized it, night had fallen.
The man in the infirmary slept until he woke up naturally. Lazily sitting up in bed, he glanced at his wristwatch. The hands pointed to seven o’clock. He scratched his head.
“It’s already this late. Time to get out of work.”
After leaving the infirmary and heading down to the first floor, he saw a young girl sitting on the stairs, clutching her stomach tightly, her body nearly curled into a ball.
The scene felt strangely familiar.
Ming An walked over and asked in confusion,
“Hey, kid, why are you still here?”
At this hour, students from Division A should have already gone to class.
So why was she still here?
Hearing his question, the girl lifted her head and tossed the rag in her hand. But she had no strength left, so it didn’t go very far. She bit her lip and said,
“It’s all your fault…”
Even her voice sounded weak and drained of energy.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152