ABFMV Chapter 8 Part 2

Miel turned back, staring hard at Xu Linlang. He hadn’t expected her to dismiss him so blatantly. Was this her way of saying the Xu family didn’t think much of the Peter family at all?

“Xu, wait a second.”

Xu Linlang turned around. “What else is it?”

Miel forced a friendly smile. “Xu, the little creature you’re holding—that’s a spirit beast, isn’t it?”

Xu Linlang denied it immediately. “No. Just a cat.”

The students watching all looked doubtful. With Xu Linlang’s flashy, arrogant personality, if it really were a spirit beast, she’d be showing it off in an instant—not denying it right away.

Could it be that the cat in her arms was really just… an ordinary kitten?

Miel clenched his teeth but kept the smile on his face. “Still, Lilan Academy doesn’t allow pets on campus. If it’s just a normal cat, you can leave it on the starship and send it home. Surely, Xu, you wouldn’t want to break school rules?”

The kitten lifted its head, pale-golden eyes locking onto Miel.

And for some reason, being stared at by that little cat sent a chill down Miel’s spine.

Xu Linlang stroked the kitten’s head with a gentle fondness. “Don’t be afraid. I won’t send you away again. Trust me, okay?”

Don’t be afraid.

It was such a soft reassurance, yet it washed away all the restlessness and unease in Qiye’s heart—like suddenly catching sight of light after wandering endlessly through darkness.

He had waited so long to hear those words, Don’t be afraid. But no one had ever said them to him—not once.

Only this girl said it to him with such unshakable certainty.

Qiye lowered his head, hiding the tangle of emotions in his eyes, not wanting her to see through him.

Xu Linlang raised her brows. “As for the cat-in-the-dorm issue—my mother already got the principal’s approval. So who should I listen to…”

Miel’s smile was strained. “…Of course, the principal.”

Since she dropped the word “principal,” there was no way for him to argue.

Meanwhile, the watching students’ stares grew even more hostile. Wasn’t this just waving her privilege right in everyone’s faces?

Sure, they all knew the truth anyway, but her shamelessness about it still rubbed them raw.

Yao Mo’s lips curled. As she expected, Xu Linlang’s domineering streak was showing.

Go on, be even more arrogant. That way, everyone will hate you.

Miel raised his voice slightly. “You’re the marshal’s daughter. Having you at Lilan Academy is an honor for the school. I’d be delighted to personally welcome you. Would you do us the honor of serving as the freshman representative at the welcome banquet?”

The way he said it, it was obvious he was up to something.

Still, since such a big target had already been painted on her, if she refused, it would only fuel more rumors.

Xu Linlang hugged her cat and said flatly, “Fine, I’ll go.”

Miel hadn’t expected her to agree so easily. “I forgot to mention—freshman reps have to perform a talent on stage.”

Xu Linlang didn’t care. “Then I’ll perform. But at your age, to already be so forgetful—you should really see a doctor before it turns serious.”

Miel: “…”

After that, Xu Linlang asked the dorm manager to show her the way. Not once did she glance at Miel again.

Her “dorm” was actually a private single. Calling it a single room didn’t even fit—it was practically a stand-alone villa.

Forget the cat. That was the real privilege.

Lying on her bed, Xu Linlang didn’t regret agreeing to perform. She didn’t want to come across as too overbearing at the academy, but neither did she care to play nice and win others’ approval.

Her ideal was to live freely, doing whatever made her comfortable.

Which meant correcting one thing right away—the stereotype that the original Xu Linlang was a useless good-for-nothing.

The welcome banquet performance was the perfect chance to prove otherwise. That was why she had accepted so decisively.

…

Soon, word spread across Lilan Academy: Xu Linlang would be performing at the freshman banquet.

Qiye felt a twinge of concern. What exactly was she planning to perform?

On the night of the banquet, Xu Linlang got ready and left her villa.

Qiye perched at the window, listening to passing students gossiping.

One boy said carelessly, “What, you guys don’t know? My aunt used to tutor Lady Xu herself. She’s hopeless—doesn’t study at all. What talent could she possibly perform on stage? She’s bound to mess it up.”

Qiye’s body tensed, his back arching defensively.

So… Xu Linlang really had no talent to perform at all?