100: Three-player ranked matches are stable.

After running away from the Imperial Capital Academy, she went straight back to her best friend's house and rushed into her room.

Jiang Ruolai threw herself onto the large bed.

The tips of her ears were still stained with a lingering crimson blush.

At this moment, she was clutching her pillow and repeatedly smacking it against her face.

She was attempting to beat out the filthy mental clutter that threatened to ruin their friendship from her mind.

"I'm dying, I'm dying, I'm dying!!!"

"I lost so much face today!"

Jiang Ruolai thought about how Shen Pan had simply changed the way he addressed her normally.

Yet she had fled in panic like a low-defense small fry.

She had even been mocked by that hateful Nan Liang.

She felt a surge of annoyance in her heart, wishing she could beat that Purple-Haired Person into the hospital!

However, Jiang Ruolai felt that her own problem this time was indeed quite significant.

She was too easy to coax!

Clearly, she was the true protagonist who held the System; she should have questioned Shen Pan with full confidence.

Instead, a single sentence from him had instantly diverted her attention.

She had ignored the fact that her [Sword of Secrecy] was suspectedly learned by Shen Pan.

"Sigh~"

"It seems I can only let this matter slide. If I'm leeched off, then I'm leeched off; we're teammates anyway..."

"But why did the way Qingshu looked at me at the end seem a bit strange?"

Could it be because she ran too fast, and Qingshu was angry at her for being so useless?

But she and Shen Pan really weren't in that kind of relationship!

Before becoming a powerful councilor of the Blue Star...

And before changing the future where she was casually killed by the Immortal wearing a Golden Mask...

How could she possibly be a 'love brain' and give herself away for free?

Just as Jiang Ruolai was about to sort out her chaotic thoughts and review what impact her actions just now might have...

*Ding-dong!*

A new text message popped up.

"Who is it at this hour?"

Jiang Ruolai scanned it with a bad mood, then her body suddenly froze, and she frowned slightly.

Her decadent 'salted fish' aura vanished instantly, and she transformed back into the School Beauty Jiang everyone knew!

Her vibrant and light voice was reloaded and ready.

"Unknown... and they sent it to my private number. Who exactly is this?"

Aside from her Aunt, Qingshu, and Shen Pan, no one else knew this number!

Could it be that she had been doxxed again?

But this was the Imperial Capital; who would dare investigate a top Prodigy of a Clan!

Jiang Ruolai warily pulled out another phone and started recording.

She cautiously tapped open the text message.

The content of the message was simple—just one plain, unadorned photo.

It was just that she was exceptionally familiar with the subject of the photo.

"Eh?"

Jiang Ruolai's pupils dilated suddenly, her thin lips parted slightly, and emotions of shock and disbelief surged in her chest.

Her pure and pristine best friend, Ruan Qingshu...

Was shamelessly sitting on Shen Pan's lap, obediently eating a cold drink!

And on that exquisite face that was usually expressionless, there was actually a hint of blush and shyness?

Unfortunately, the photo only showed Ruan Qingshu's expression; Shen Pan's face wasn't fully in the frame.

Therefore, she couldn't judge the specific circumstances of the two when they struck this pose.

"This is photoshopped, right?"

"How could Qingshu possibly do something like..."

Jiang Ruolai's words were swallowed back halfway.

Because she suddenly thought of her best friend's almost possessed-looking demeanor this afternoon.

"No, no, maybe it's just an accident..."

Out of her understanding of Shen Pan and her trust in her best friend...

Jiang Ruolai believed the person who took this photo had malicious intentions.

They wanted to sow discord in the pure and sacred friendship between the three of them!

Besides, simply sitting on a lap didn't mean much.

They were all adults; this level of contact was normal.

Making a big fuss would instead expose the fact that she was a fledgling!

Jiang Ruolai took several deep breaths, her gaze gradually turning from hesitant to firm.

In the past, Qingshu also liked to hug her while watching movies, so Shen Pan and Qingshu probably just didn't notice!

"I'll call Qingshu first to confirm where she is."

For some things, clearing up misunderstandings early is better for everyone.

With slightly trembling fingers, Jiang Ruolai tried a few times before successfully dialing her best friend's number.

*Du—*

In less than two seconds, the call was connected.

"Hello? Ruolai, is something wrong?"

"You're home by now, right? Why aren't you saying anything?"

Qingshu's usual cold voice rang out.

There was no heavy breathing, nor the feeling of something being suppressed in her throat.

And certainly no sounds of impact similar to clapping!

Listening closely, she could even hear the conversation of a delivery rider picking up an order in the background noise!

At this moment, most of the tension in Jiang Ruolai's heart relaxed.

As someone proficient in various pos... knowledge, before she made the call...

She was worried she might hear suppressed moans from the other side.

And then her best friend would say she was exercising with Shen Pan and tell her not to misunderstand.

While she could only huddle silently under her covers, listening to the rhythm from the other side and weeping!

Fortunately, none of that happened!

"As expected, I was just overthinking. I knew Classmate Shen Pan didn't look like a lolicon at all~"

The corners of Jiang Ruolai's mouth curled up, and she felt the sunlight outside the window was much brighter.

"Ruolai?"

"If there's nothing, I'm hanging up. I have things to do in a bit."

A slightly milky, highly distinct voice pulled her back to reality.

"Ah, it's nothing. I just wanted to ask what you're eating for dinner, Qingshu."

"Also, I left in a bit of a hurry earlier; there wasn't any major gossip afterward, was there?"

Jiang Ruolai laughed it off, successfully hiding the reason for her silence.

"After you left, basically nothing happened."

"As for what to eat for dinner... that depends on what Shen Pan eats."

???

Wait!

The corners of Jiang Ruolai's eyes twitched repeatedly; she felt the direction of things had changed.

"Qingshu, are you coming home tonight?"

"I don't know."

Ruan Qingshu's answer was quite characteristic—very honest!

And she thoughtfully added another sentence:

"Once I'm satisfied, I'll probably be back early, but it'll be after dinner."

"..."

Satisfied?

Jiang Ruolai's face darkened. You two aren't even pretending anymore, are you?

You're not even hiding it from people; you're speaking about topics too explicit to pass censorship!

Also, you didn't even invite her for the two-player co-op!

Whether it was knowing Shen Pan or becoming close friends with Qingshu...

It was me who was here first!

And now these two were going to abandon her, the middleman, and go solo?

"Shen Pan wants to change positions, it's not convenient to hold the phone, I'm hanging up."

*Du! Du! Du!*

*Pa!*

Jiang Ruolai expressionlessly crushed her newly replaced phone.

She decided she was going to raid Shen Pan's house right now.

Then she would be a third wheel the whole time, forcibly following the two of them.

She was going to stop this kind of thing that affected the team's harmony from happening!

She wanted to see if they'd have the nerve to conduct coaching and training sessions right in front of her!

Jiang Ruolai hissed in a low, jealous voice:

"Hmph! If you're really that capable, then carry me in a trio!"