Just the thought of going out—and seeing that Xue Ji was planning to wear nothing but shorts and a T-shirt for the whole trip—gave Xue’s mom a headache.
“Xiao Ji, what exactly are you planning to wear to the beach?” she asked tentatively.
“Just this is fine. A few T-shirts and a hat should be enough.” Xue Ji was glued to her phone, answering carelessly.
Her mom watched her act so nonchalant, propped her head on one hand, and let out a soft sigh.
“Fine. At least remember to bring sunscreen.”
If the kid didn’t want to fuss, then so be it.
“Are you going to buy a swimsuit?”
“I already have one.” Xue Ji leaned her head back on the sofa.
“You already have one? Did you buy it yourself?”
Her mom looked at her in disbelief. Even though her daughter had gotten used to her current life by now, the idea of this girl going out to buy a swimsuit on her own?
Absolutely impossible. Even her mom could barely picture such a scene.
“Did someone give it to you?”
Xue Ji was in the middle of a team fight in her mobile MOBA game and didn’t have time to answer her mom right away.
Her Varus had just taken down the enemy jungler and mid-laner when the enemy Sett—with Heartsteel—flashed in and took her and her mid-laner out with one fully-charged Haymaker.
Xue Ji wanted to curse, but since her mom was right there, she held it in with great difficulty.
Her breathing quickened, her teeth clenched, her cheeks flushed with frustration, and tears faintly glistened in her eyes.
Her Grandmaster promotion match had just been shattered by that Sett punch. She slumped back onto the sofa, utterly deflated.
Her mom, seeing that mix of anger and exasperation on her face, found it rather amusing.
“Xiao Ji, if you lost, just put the game down for now. Let me see your swimsuit.” She patted her daughter’s shoulder.
Xue Ji let out a long sigh and slowly sat up, still mentally cursing her top laner from that match.
‘If I ever run into that guy again, I’m finding his address and teaching him a lesson. Playing Vayne top—what a joke.’
At the exact same moment, in a rented room in the ancient capital, a blonde, blue-eyed priestess was getting flamed by her teammates over voice chat while staring at her own 0/16 scoreline.
“Ah-choo~” She wiped her nose with a tissue. “Did I set the AC too low?”
She got up to grab the remote but noticed the origami lion sitting on the table.
Looking at it made her think of him. It was only with the help of her old companions from the hero’s party that she’d managed to come to this world—to find Xue Ji and see how she was doing now.
“Oh dear… Mr. Xue Ji—no, Miss Xue Ji… where in the world are you?”
——-
Inside the bedroom, Xue’s mom looked at the three swimsuits in her daughter’s closet and nodded approvingly.
Even though she had major issues with Ling Xiaoxiao, she had to admit—the girl had genuinely good taste.
Especially when it came to picking clothes for Xue Ji.
The first set was a blue-and-white floral lace swimsuit—pure and fresh. Then a pink one—sweet and adorable, like a perfectly ripe peach that made you want to take a bite. And finally, a black one-piece with a light-yellow UV jacket—modest, but brimming with youthful energy.
“Mhm, mhm—Xiao Ji, you’d look great in anything.” Her mom held the swimsuits up against Xue Ji, thoroughly pleased.
The white-haired girl’s skin was as fair and smooth as fine porcelain—she was simply the type of person who looked good in everything.
That afternoon, her mom’s best friend Lin Xi came over with her daughter.
The moment Xue Ji opened the door, Lin Xi’s eyes lit up—what a gorgeous girl.
“Wow, big sister, you’re so pretty!”
Lin Xiaoyu’s eyes went wide, her expression exaggerated. Her twin tails bounced as she blinked her big, sparkly eyes—adorable.
“You’re really cute too.” Xue Ji smiled back at her.
“Come on in, Aunt Lin, and—”
“Pretty big sister, my name is Lin Xiaoyu!” She planted her hands on her hips, looking up at Xue Ji with a clear praise me expression.
Xue Ji ruffled her hair and said, “I’m Xue Ji.”
“Ah—little miss, what did you say your name was?” Lin Xi thought she must have misheard.
Wasn’t her bestie’s kid a boy? She’d even held him as a baby—how did he end up like this?
“Aunt Lin Xi, I really am Xue Ji.”
Lin Xi took another good look at her. The girl’s features did have traces of the child she remembered—but the shock was still overwhelming.
“Mom, come in already!” Lin Xiaoyu tugged at Xue Ji with one hand and her mom with the other.
She was clearly thrilled to see Xue Ji.
The whole family sat around the living room with Lin Xi and her daughter, eating fruit and watching TV.
“Xue Ji big sister, I want to play Plants vs. Zombies: Guardians!”
Lin Xiaoyu fed a grape to Xue Ji, who was still on her phone, then snuggled up beside her like a perfect little angel.
“Alright, alright, I’ll download it for you.” Xue Ji felt her heart melting.
Lin Xiaoyu clung to her the entire time, while Saya and Lilith watched from the side with barely concealed resentment.
“That spot should be mine—I was here first! Ugh, so unfair~” Lilith grumbled, gnawing on a peach.
Saya didn’t care—she wasn’t about to get jealous over a little kid.
“You’re hilarious, getting all worked up over a toddler.” Saya snatched the second peach Lilith was about to bite into and took a chunk out of it.
Lilith shot her a death glare. Their supposedly unbreakable alliance had already cracked on day two.
Xue’s mom and Aunt Lin chatted, filling Lin Xi in on what had happened to Xue Ji.
“Oh my, is that so.” Aunt Lin covered her mouth, deeply moved.
Even as a former member of the special ability unit, she was still taken aback by Xue Ji’s story.
“That poor kid must have been through so much. So… does she like guys or girls now?” Aunt Lin suddenly leaned in and whispered.
The question caught Xue’s mom off guard. After all these years of friendship, Lin Xi still had a way of blindsiding her with her unpredictable thinking.
“Um… probably girls.” Xue’s mom didn’t want to bring up Ling Xiaoxiao, so she was a bit vague.
“Nope—your expression just now said otherwise. Don’t tell me Xiao Ji already has a girlfriend?” Lin Xi raised an eyebrow, clearly pleased with herself.
Xue’s mom’s mouth twitched slightly. When her bestie kept quiet, she looked like some refined young lady from a noble family. But the moment she opened her mouth—all that poise went straight out the window.
“No, no! Stop asking!” Xue’s mom waved her hand, irritated, and ended the topic.
Who would have thought—Lin Xi just turned straight to Xue Ji and asked.
“Xiao Ji, are you dating someone?”
“Huh? I-I…” Caught completely off guard, Xue Ji froze.
Seeing her hesitate, Lin Xi already had her answer.
“So it seems you are seeing someone. How do they treat you?” The gossip train had officially left the station.
Xue’s mom covered her face with her hand, refusing to watch.
Hearing this, Lin Xiaoyu piped up curiously, “Big sister, is your boyfriend handsome?”
Thinking back to Ling Xiaoxiao’s polar-opposite personas, Xue Ji couldn’t help but sweat a little. Fortunately, the little one unknowingly helped change the subject.
“She’s beautiful too.”
“Beautiful? Can you call a boy ‘beautiful’?” Lin Xiaoyu didn’t understand.
How was she supposed to answer that? She couldn’t exactly come out to a child in front of everyone.
Xue Ji fell silent. Lin Xiaoyu sensed something was off but couldn’t quite figure out what.
“Alright, let’s just drive to the beach now.” Xue’s mom chose to end the conversation right there.
“Yay—let’s go see the ocean!” Lin Xiaoyu bounced happily into Xue Ji’s arms.
Seeing that, Saya bit down so hard on her peach pit that it cracked.
“Damn it—that spot is mine.”
Lilith patted her on the shoulder, mimicking her earlier tone in a smug, teasing voice: “Don’t go getting jealous over a little kid, now.”
“Hmph—by age, you might not even be older than her, so don’t act so high and mighty.” Saya shot back.
“You!” Lilith couldn’t take it anymore. “Once we get to the beach, I’m settling this with you!”
“Bring it on—who’s scared of who.” Saya stood up and headed to her room to pack.
‘Hmph. I already bought a sexy swimsuit. Lilith—you’ve lost this round.’
