Chapter 016: Campus Mary Sue 14

More than an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Ke Yuandao finished his shift right on time and trotted over to Le Yixian with sparkling eyes. “Senior, I’m done,” he announced, standing before her.

“All right, then let’s go.”

In the real world, the Tianchao school anniversary was just a matter of a few performances, some singing, and an extra chicken drumstick at the cafeteria—nothing more. But the school celebration in this world was inspired by a cultural festival, much like the ones Le Yixian had seen in anime during her school days.

The prestigious academy was buzzing with excitement. Temporary stalls lined both sides of the main avenue, each run by students who had applied in advance to set up shop on the day of the celebration. Many groups of students had banded together to open small booths, selling all manner of things.

There was plenty of food for sale, but since Le Yixian couldn’t eat most of it and Ke Yuandao didn’t buy any either, the two opted for a few odds and ends instead. Before long, both of them were carrying quite a collection.

Suddenly, Ke Yuandao stopped in his tracks. “Senior, can we play that game?” His eyes sparkled as he pointed excitedly.

Le Yixian followed his gaze and saw a target shooting game. The wall behind the booth was covered in balloons, with an array of plush toys hanging below them. The adorable plushies were especially attractive to the girls gathering around.

“You want to play?” Le Yixian asked after a pause.

“Yes!” Ke Yuandao replied without hesitation.

“...Let’s play, then.”

Ke Yuandao practically skipped to the shooting game, and Le Yixian followed at a more leisurely pace. She honestly couldn’t imagine Ke Yuandao enjoying a game clearly meant to charm young girls.

The booth owner spotted Ke Yuandao approaching and called out, “Hey there, want to give it a try?”

“I do,” Ke Yuandao nodded, pointing at the balloon wall. “If I pop those balloons, do I get the plush below?”

“Exactly!” the booth owner confirmed. “Just hit the balloons for the prize you want.”

“What about that rainbow caterpillar?” Ke Yuandao asked, pointing at the colorful, oversized plush.

“The same rules!” the owner replied, then added with a touch of flattery, “Great choice! That rainbow caterpillar is one of a kind here. Its vibrant colors were specially designed on my request to match the famous rainbow hair of our school’s star, Miss Kricence Violet Galileo Victoria Alexander Lee Muxue.”

“I know,” Ke Yuandao’s eyes shone even brighter. He turned to Le Yixian, “Senior, could you hold my things for me?”

“Sure,” Le Yixian replied, a little speechless at the booth owner’s sales pitch, but happy to indulge the still-childish boy in her care.

She couldn’t help but feel like she was looking after her own son. Though she was already twenty-five, Le Yixian mused quietly to herself.

She took the bag from Ke Yuandao and glanced inside. When she saw the colorful contents, she paused.

Why were they all so brightly colored? Was everyone using her rainbow hair as a selling point? Shouldn’t she be charging a fee for that?

Ke Yuandao, oblivious to the subtle changes in the girl’s expression behind him, paid up enthusiastically and received a toy gun and thirty bullets.

The long rainbow caterpillar had thirty balloons attached to it.

Ke Yuandao lifted the gun, took aim, and fired!

Bang! The bullet struck the wall beside the balloon.

Ke Yuandao frowned and tried several more times. Once or twice, the bullet grazed the edge of a balloon only to be deflected away.

His cheerful smile was now a firm, straight line.

He managed to pop two balloons, but the caterpillar remained securely on the wall.

Gritting his teeth, Ke Yuandao bought fifty more bullets.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After another round, the caterpillar still hung firm.

He set down the gun. The booth owner, sensing just how badly Ke Yuandao wanted the plush that matched Miss Kricence Violet Galileo Victoria Alexander Lee Muxue’s rainbow hair, kept up his sales pitch. “So close! Want to try again?”

“I’ll buy—”

“Let me try!” Le Yixian interrupted him. Ke Yuandao turned to look at her, his expression tinged with grievance. “Senior, it’s impossible! They’re cheating!”

“Hey now, you can’t just say that!” the booth owner protested. “Everything’s aboveboard here, all the rules are clear.”

“It’s fine, I’ll take care of it.” Le Yixian reached out and ruffled Ke Yuandao’s soft hair. “Be good! Stand aside and let me win it for you. Thirty bullets, please.”

That last part was directed at the owner.

The owner, seeing someone else step up, said, “If you’re switching, I’ll have to replace the popped balloons.”

“That’s fine,” Le Yixian replied, unfazed.

“Senior,” Ke Yuandao called out softly.

Le Yixian glanced back at him, a hint of helplessness on her lips. “Really, I’m right here and you still want a replica?”

“...No, I—I don’t,” Ke Yuandao stammered, his ears turning crimson.

The booth owner reset the balloons, and Le Yixian took the gun and bullets, ceasing her teasing.

“This gun is a decent imitation,” she remarked, weighing the toy rifle in her hands.

“Of course,” the owner said proudly.

Le Yixian didn’t reply further. She loaded the gun with practiced ease, her eyes narrowing as she aimed.

She fired.

The plastic bullet shot out, striking a red balloon dead center with a pop.

“Wow,” Ke Yuandao gasped, eyes shining.

Le Yixian continued, bang, bang, bang!

Thirty bullets, thirty hits, not a single miss.

The rainbow caterpillar fell from the wall.

The booth owner picked it up with a woeful look and handed it to her. “You must have practiced at home.”

“In a way,” Le Yixian replied, passing the caterpillar to Ke Yuandao. He accepted it, delighted, clutching it to his chest. Seeing how happy he was with his prize, Le Yixian found him adorable and asked, “Is there anything else you want? I’ll win it for you.”

“No, no, please, spare my little stall,” the booth owner pleaded, his expression even more miserable. “How about this—I won’t charge you for those thirty bullets you just used.”

“The ones I just paid for?”

“I’ll refund you, all of it, all right?” The owner, realizing the girl in the frog cloak was not to be trifled with, was eager to see her go. He returned the money without hesitation.

“Let’s go,” Le Yixian said with satisfaction. She turned to Ke Yuandao, who was still hugging the caterpillar tightly. “You like it that much?”

“Yes!” Ke Yuandao nodded emphatically, hugging it even tighter. After all, it was a gift from his senior.

The booth owner watched them leave and muttered, “Why does that girl look so familiar?”

A breeze lifted a corner of the green frog cloak, revealing a flash of dazzling rainbow hair.

The booth owner froze—he suddenly realized he’d witnessed something truly extraordinary.