Chapter 384 : Chapter 384

Chapter 384: Guan Qiuling's Little Secret

Since I had temporarily decided to research that Compound Rune, I naturally wouldn't waste any more time at the Witch Cat Cafe.

Although I called it research, it was just a slow, personal exploration.

I didn't want to run into Teacher Ji Niang at the main lab and have her find out what I was up to.

Just as I snapped my fingers and teleported back to the villa entrance, I suddenly saw an unfamiliar figure standing there.

However, after a quick glance at the words "Courier" and "Club" on her uniform, I realized this was the academy's package delivery club.

"Mhm hm hm."

At this moment, the senior student was humming a lively tune, preparing to stuff a package into the delivery box by the villa door.

Then, her keen sixth sense made her instantly shiver.

Turning around instinctively, she saw me standing right behind her.

"Wh... wha—You! You scared me to death... Whew Whew."

My sudden appearance startled her so much that she nearly cursed.

She had just scanned the area and saw no one, so a sudden, silent appearance nearly made her lose her professional composure.

But after recovering, she maintained her professionalism and asked me tentatively, "Um, are you a resident of this dorm?"

"Mhm, yes."

I nodded.

"Alright, may I ask if Miss Yang Yuehan... also lives here? Please help me tell her that there is a package for her."

"No need, I am Yang Yuehan."

I said with a hint of surprise.

When I saw a package being delivered here, I thought it belonged to one of my roommates.

It turned out to be for me, but... I didn't recall ordering anything online.

"Really? That's great! How about you sign for it right now? It saves me a lot of trouble!"

The courier senior student quickly picked up the package and handed it over.

"Please verify the information."

"Mhm, the information is correct."

I took it and checked.

There were indeed no problems, and I quickly signed for it.

After seeing off the timely courier senior student, I went to the trash can to tear open the packaging and discard the waste.

Instantly, a finely bound "book" with an excellent cover texture appeared before me.

"Mhm... Graduation Photo Album Collection- Bai Yu... Oh!"

I read the note on it and instantly realized what this was when I saw Big Sis Bai's name!

This was the photo album Big Sis Bai had promised to send me!

The album with just me and Big Sis Bai!

But recalling the scenes we photographed together, my old face flushed... This kind of thing!

I absolutely cannot open it in public!

I subconsciously looked around, confirmed that no one had seen the activity, and quickly scurried back into the villa, holding the photo album.

"Eh? Little Han Sis? Why are you back so early?"

As soon as I entered the door, a sudden voice startled me, making my movements halt.

"Um... Guan Qiuling? Why are you in the living room this late in the afternoon?"

I looked at Guan Qiuling, who was lazily lying on the sofa, feeling a bit awkward.

I had to say, Guan Qiuling was currently wearing loose, slightly disheveled pajamas.

Her long hair was draped behind her, and her clean, fair thighs were exposed, with her small feet resting on a cushion on the sofa... She looked like a weak, submissive figure waiting for pity.

"I'm bored... I almost fell asleep during my nap just now..."

"You're taking a nap here?"

"Mhm. I was going to watch TV, but I couldn't find a show I liked."

"Alright... I have to say, Guan Qiuling, you are truly becoming more and more... how should I put it?"

A sexy loli?

Would that be too blunt an adjective?

"It's okay, Little Han Sis, just say it directly. I know what the general perception of me is in the dorm now..."

"But those seniors are so enthusiastic... the old me could never have been surrounded by so many beautiful sisters. This is the result of my own choice..."

"Um... alright, then take care of yourself."

I was awkward and didn't know what to say for a moment.

I hadn't expected Guan Qiuling to openly reveal this to me.

"Actually, my past self was the same... Anyway, don't get lost in it, Guan Qiuling. No one will wait forever to pamper others. The moment you lose your value in their eyes, you'll fall very hard."

"I know... what the seniors want from me, but... at least the current me can't leave them anymore..."

At this moment, I quietly put the photo album into the four-leaf clover storage accessory.

I felt that the topic Guan Qiuling had opened up was leaning more and more toward the restricted-only category.

This reminded me of the time I took Guan Qiuling away from that senior, only for her to voluntarily seek out the senior a few days later.

That incident brought me great shock, causing a severe impact on my young mind.

"Alright, then do you plan to dedicate your entire life to them?"

I sighed and thought for a moment, finally deciding to chat with Guan Qiuling.

After all, the opportunity was rare, and she was my roommate.

I'd just... gossip and learn about the fun stuff.

I hadn't looked for fun in too long.

Of course, the main reason was that I had nothing else to do.

As for researching that Rune Ritual?

There was no rush for that.

I couldn't get anything useful done in just one afternoon.

The plan to go back and research the rune was simply a choice born out of necessity when I had nothing else to do.

But now, I had something to do.

"I'd like to... but they won't accept it..."

"Huh?"

"They said I'm the most perfectly transformed boy they've ever worked on... I, I'm trying too..."

"..."

At this moment, I didn't even know what to say.

What was this?

An innate submissive saint body?

Stockholm Syndrome?

Or something else?

"Then... um, I mean, is your effort for them, or is it for yourself?"

After struggling for a long time, I finally asked my question.

"I... I don't know."

"If you don't know, then that's the answer."

"Eh?"

"When your very first thought isn't about striving for others, then you are striving for yourself."

I cleared my throat.

At this moment, Life Mentor Little Han Sis was on the stage!

"I'm... striving for myself... effort? But..."

"You can't believe it?"

"Mhm."

Guan Qiuling nodded slightly.

This was something even she didn't believe.

"Then imagine this: when those seniors no longer cherish you in the way you like, will you still like them?"

"I... I will change myself..."

"Um..."

Guan Qiuling's words choked me up.

"Alright, it seems you are very good at making up your mind. Then let's look at the initial starting point: you want to please them, right?"

"Yes... maybe?"

At this moment, Guan Qiuling was also unsure.

"But isn't that just you wanting to find some emotional comfort?"

Judging from Guan Qiuling's unintentional words, she never had so many beautiful seniors surrounding her before, but now those seniors were willing to 'accompany' her.

Was this a kind of retaliatory compensation complex?

"It seems... yes..."

"What you told me just now is that the old you never experienced this feeling. The beauty you feel now is all a filter you've added yourself—a form of retaliatory compensation for what you couldn't experience in the past. Would you say that description... is accurate?"

My tone started firm, as if stating a fact, a form of aggressive concept-implantation.

This was an excellent 'first impression' strategy for introverted and timid people.

It was like telling someone who is feeling down that their symptoms are depression; most people will have the illusion of "Oh my God! That's exactly me!"

As long as Guan Qiuling hadn't been through too much manipulative emotional abuse, she would likely think I was right, especially with the soft-toned rhetorical question at the end, which contrasted with the previous forceful guidance.

In her confusion, most people tend to selectively agree.

"Retaliatory... compensation... it does seem so."

Guan Qiuling, who had been lazily lying down, now sat up, curling up in the corner of the sofa, looking like... no, she was a weak, insecure loli.

Seeing this scene, I couldn't help but sigh at the impressive tactics of that senior.

I remembered... that senior had given me a business card?

I wondered where I put it.

"All your effort and cooperation is just to fill your own needs, but... have you thought about the future?"

"The future... I'll worry about that later..."

Guan Qiuling said.

"Then now is the later. Those seniors are clearly old hands. They can have many new first-year girls, but you have no choice. What comes too easily won't be cherished. Do you really want to wait until they lose you before they start reminiscing about your goodness?"

"Then... what should I do? What about my future..."

At this moment, Guan Qiuling started to feel anxious.

Sure enough, showing someone immersed in past comfort a miserable future can make them anxious in the present.

"Have you heard a saying?"

"What saying?"

"Life is like sex. If you can't resist, just enjoy it. Those who are weak inside can only let life manipulate their posture and endure; but those who are strong inside can choose the posture that life manipulates them into and enjoy it."

"Wh... what does that mean?"

"It means that as long as you become powerful, you can choose the lifestyle you want. Don't be constrained by the word 'powerful.' It doesn't prevent you from enjoying yourself as you are now, as long as your original intention doesn't change."

"Little Han Sis... are you telling me to... become stronger?"

"The concept of 'becoming stronger' is too broad. I'm telling you to become strong inside. Strength might just mean physical power, which is meaningless. The confidence gained from physical power leads to internal strength—that is what you need to pursue."

I said, but before Guan Qiuling could say anything, I spoke again, my tone slightly seductive.

"Imagine this scenario: right now, you have ten thousand Magic Power Sources, and many High Consumption Spellbooks, even Super Consumption Spellbooks. Those seniors invite you to go out and have fun together."

I looked at Guan Qiuling's expression.

She was clearly entering the fantasy moment.

I struck while the iron was hot.

"But when you get there, you find out that those seniors actually invited other first-year girls. They tie you up there, motionless, and do to those first-year girls the things they used to do to you. You can only watch, unable to do anything, and they are enjoying your embarrassment. How would you feel inside?"

"I... I..."

At this moment, Guan Qiuling was a bit flustered by my sudden twist and looked visibly anxious.

Even though all of this was hypothetical, she took it seriously and became anxious.

It seemed she had foreseen this possibility but was instinctively resisting and refusing to accept it.

Now that I pointed it out, she had to face it.

At this moment, I really wanted to tell Guan Qiuling, "Very good, keep it up," but I held back.

"You'd feel desperate, right? At that time... they say they're tired of playing with you, that you're too submissive, and there's no sense of conquest anymore. What would you do then?"

"I, I don't know... Little Han Sis, what should I do?"

"Do you remember the premise we assumed just now?"

I reached out and pressed my hand on Guan Qiuling's shoulder, smiling to soothe her emotions.

"You currently have ten thousand Magic Power Sources. You might not realize it, but ten thousand Magic Power Sources is the maximum capacity before advancing to Transcendent Witch status. At this moment, you possess the power to crush almost all students in Witch Academy, and you have so many Spellbooks. You have the means to crush them. Would you strike out at them? You can easily break free from the ropes they tied you with. What would you do to them then?"

"I... I couldn't hurt them..."

"Exactly! You wouldn't strike out!"

I affirmed her words firmly, but I was subtly changing the concept.

"Because the mentality of a powerful you is different. Power can do many things, but it doesn't necessarily need to do many things. Because from that moment on, you become the first-year girl they can't have—the white moonlight they can't reach. The unattainable is always stirring up trouble. That is when you truly become someone they can't live without."

Of course, if Guan Qiuling truly had such strength, would she still care about these seniors?

There were many seniors better than those seniors in Witch Academy, but clearly, Guan Qiuling only had eyes for those seniors, which was like an old farmer imagining the emperor plowing the field with a golden hoe.

A powerless Guan Qiuling's fantasy could only be limited to this.

"But... but I don't have that kind of strength. They are seniors... How could I possibly catch up to them..."

"Then am I your senior? Do you think they can beat me?"

"..."

Guan Qiuling stared at me blankly, as if only just realizing this.

"A horse won't grow fat without night grazing. Following the curriculum step-by-step at Witch Academy won't do anything. You'll only become the most ordinary student, with no distinct characteristics. What would you have to show for yourself then? If you continue like this, you will eventually be abandoned by others!"

"I... I don't want to be abandoned!"

"Yes, that's it!"

"But... but... I don't know what to do..."

"It's okay. Don't you have me? After all... I am your roommate."

"Little Han Sis, are you willing to stand up for me?"

Guan Qiuling asked, looking at me with hope.

"I will only help you when you are at the lowest point in your life, but I won't directly stand up for you. I won't save someone who willingly gives up. As long as you have the desire to become stronger now, I will help you change bit by bit."

"But... but I don't know how to do it... The things taught in class don't teach us how to become stronger..."

"Becoming stronger is a broad concept. Your goal is to become strong inside, and there are many channels for that. It just depends on whether you are willing to take them."

"I... am willing... I think..."

"Alright..."

Hearing Guan Qiuling's lack of confidence, I realized that my chat couldn't instantly change her nature.

So, at this moment, I rose from the sofa, looking down at Guan Qiuling, who was still curled up on the sofa.

"Studying step-by-step at Witch Academy is pointless. Since the start of the semester, I've come into contact with many paths: spells, runes, alchemy, potions, planting, Physical Arts..."

"There are too many paths to becoming stronger in Witch Academy, but they won't appear in your classrooms. The academy's goal is for you to advance to Transcendent Witch status, and the first three years of curriculum are for you to learn Transcendent Common Knowledge and identify the path you want to take. It won't teach you how to become stronger. To become stronger, you can only rely on yourself. You must remember that if something is not forbidden, it is permissible. The classroom didn't teach you how to become stronger, but it didn't forbid you from becoming stronger. In the Transcendent World, the weak can only barely survive and will eventually lose their value and end up on the trash heap. You understand that, right?"

"..."

At this moment, Guan Qiuling's face showed some struggle.

She seemed to be contemplating what I had said.

"Believe in yourself. The fact that you were able to enter Witch Academy means you have at least a recognized talent."

"But... I was lured here... originally... originally I was planning to go to Aphrodite Academy..."

"Aphrodite Academy is a top-tier academy. Doesn't that further prove your talent? There's nothing more regrettable than squandering your own talent."

"Then... what should I do?"

I looked at Guan Qiuling's uncertain question and sighed inwardly.

Was this what I had to do for a roommate?

"This cannot be rushed. Let's analyze it slowly. Perhaps what you need right now is not necessarily to become stronger, but to endow yourself with additional value."

But the fact that Guan Qiuling was willing to step out and express the desire to become powerful meant there was still hope for her.

The only people to blame... were those senior students who were so adept at manipulating young people.

They had Guan Qiuling completely wrapped around their finger.

I wonder what kind of sparks will fly when that group of master manipulators meets a chaos-loving person like me?

Anyway... thinking coldly, even if I was outmatched, the only one who would ultimately suffer would be Guan Qiuling.

But I believed that having power and inner strength couldn't solve everything, but it could solve most things.

I had indeed pointed out a clear path for Guan Qiuling.

It just depended on whether she could seize the opportunity.

Besides... once you are powerful, choosing to be the dominant or submissive one is just a matter of a single thought, isn't it?

As the saying goes, if you are weak, you can only be manipulated into various positions by your seniors, but if you are strong, you can choose the position you are put into by your seniors.

Wasn't that Guan Qiuling's little secret desire all along?

She just hadn't seen through it yet.