Did the Top-Ranked Girl Get Exposed Today? [HoloVerse] - Chapter 9

Under the night sky, a girl in red and a woman in white were releasing a Kong Ming lantern together. These were two of the three protagonists of Feng Xiaoxiao’s mission: Tian Ci and Hua Yue.

Both were in the prime of their youth, and even without excessive words or actions, anyone could sense the ambiguous tension floating between them.

But the Kong Ming lantern was not so fortunate. From a high tower, a young woman who had been observing Tian Ci and Hua Yue raised her hand, and a servant behind her respectfully presented a bow and arrow.

Nocking the arrow, she drew the bow and let it fly,

The arrow cut through the air, accurately striking the ascending Kong Ming lantern and preventing it from continuing its journey skyward, along with the beautiful wishes the two had entrusted to it.

“Lin Lang?”

Tian Ci exclaimed in surprise, while Hua Yue looked up in confusion, following Tian Ci’s gaze to Lin Lang, who stood imposingly atop the tavern.

Lin Lang handed the bow and arrow to a nearby attendant and, unhurriedly, made her way down to Tian Ci under the watchful eyes of five people: the two before her, Feng Xiaoxiao and Di Xiang hidden in the shadows, and Yumi Chang (Wu Shixian) concealed behind the tavern.

“So, you rejected my invitation to the Lantern Festival today,” Lin Lang shifted her gaze to Hua Yue, a faint, mocking smile on her lips, “just to accompany this young lady?”

Feng Xiaoxiao, who had just delivered a love letter to Tian Ci, couldn’t help but gasp. Lin Lang, one of the three protagonists, exuded an overwhelmingly dominant aura!

In the game, the annual Lantern Festival in Shengjing City was widely regarded as the unofficial “Valentine’s Day.” Eight out of ten couples who met on this day were romantically involved, while the remaining two might have already broken up.

Seeing Tian Ci, her childhood sweetheart, with another woman on this day, Lin Lang maintained the poised and elegant demeanor of a noble young lady on the surface. However, the keen-eyed players noticed her trembling hands hidden within her sleeves.

Her nails dug into her palms, her knuckles turning white from the force of her grip.

For some reason, the confrontation among the three resembled a scene of catching a cheating spouse.

Tian Ci was the unfaithful wife, Hua Yue the “wildflower” she had picked outside, and Lin Lang the betrayed wife.

Feng Xiaoxiao attributed this impression to Lin Lang’s overpowering “first wife” aura.

“Do you enjoy watching this sort of thing?”

Di Xiang, who had remained quiet until now, suddenly spoke up, thoughtfully observing the apprentice she had recently claimed.

Do I enjoy watching this? Watching what? A love triangle between three women?

Though curiosity is a natural human instinct, and Feng Xiaoxiao had to admit it was quite entertaining, she was a former top-ranked player with more refined interests.

Like challenging others to duels and striving to be the best under Tianxia.

Feng Xiaoxiao denied Di Xiang’s assumption and promptly posted the mission in the team chat, declaring, “This is just part of my mission completion.”

She definitely wasn’t here for the gossip.

“I can take you to grind monsters in the wild.”

Di Xiang elegantly reached out to catch Feng Xiaoxiao’s guide butterfly, Bingbing Lan, the moonstone ring on his finger glimmering faintly in the dim light.

“It’s more efficient than squatting here watching a love triangle.”

That way, she could finish the apprenticeship mission sooner and tackle that dungeon.

Feng Xiaoxiao felt a shameful temptation, but at the moment, she was more curious about how the situation between the three would unfold.

Gossip truly is human nature, and one cannot defy nature.

“Let me finish watching their story first.”

Di Xiang cast a cold glance at her. Such a contradictory woman, still denying she enjoys it?

Di Xiang watched the trio across the way with little interest. Tian Ci was busy coaxing her jealous childhood sweetheart, and under Tian Ci’s playful teasing, Lin Lang finally calmed down, her expression no longer as stormy.

As for Hua Yue, she watched the two familiar and natural individuals before her like an observer, her expression calm, her lowered gaze fixed on the Kong Ming lantern that had fallen into the river.

The ink marks gradually blurred as they were washed by the water, and her heart sank along with the drifting lantern, plummeting to the depths.

Yumi Chang couldn’t help but shake her head and sigh. She had initially thought this would be a story where childhood friends couldn’t compare to a new arrival, with Hua Yue coming out on top.

But now it seemed Hua Yue was more like the outsider.

Unlike Lin Lang, who had grown up with Tian Ci and shared endless topics of conversation, Hua Yue merely watched as the two exchanged knowing smiles over familiar things.

The plot development felt somewhat strange, as Tian Ci had invited Lin Lang to join her on an outing to comfort her, and Lin Lang had agreed.

Just as the three figures gradually faded into the distance, Feng Xiaoxiao stealthily tried to follow the three NPCs. But as soon as she poked her head out, her collar was grabbed by Di Xiang. She turned back in confusion.

Di Xiang glanced at her, her thin lips parting,

“Tian Ci ended up with neither of them in the end, she-”

“Don’t spoil it, hey!”

Feng Xiaoxiao jumped up in a panic, covering Di Xiang’s mouth. Spoilers were the worst!

Thanks to the game’s high level of realism, her palm touched Di Xiang’s soft lips, which felt like flower petals.

A random thought popped into her mind,

No matter how cold your face is or how hard your words, your lips are still soft when kissed.

Your lips are still soft when kissed…

Her gaze lingered blankly on Di Xiang’s face, and at that moment, Di Xiang happened to look down at her.

Their eyes met in the air, but it had nothing to do with romance.

The finale fireworks of the lantern festival exploded overhead, and the distant cheers and laughter of the crowd had nothing to do with the two of them. They stood apart from everything, and in that moment, their eyes held only each other.

“Hmm?”

With her mouth covered, Di Xiang’s eyes remained unperturbed as she allowed Feng Xiaoxiao’s actions. Her dark hair cascaded down, and her long, delicate eyelashes fluttered as if ready to take flight.

Feng Xiaoxiao withdrew her hand as if electrocuted. She felt her palm burning, and even the spot where Di Xiang’s gaze lingered seemed to flush with redness.

Her ears tinged with red, Feng Xiaoxiao felt inexplicably guilty. Had she just, perhaps, felt a flicker of desire for Di Xiang?

As if in a daze, she stepped out of the shadows and immediately bumped into Yumi Chang (formerly known as Wu Shixian), who had been standing outside, watching for who knows how long.

Feng Xiaoxiao: “…”

Yumi Chang: “Hey?”

Outwardly calm, Yumi Chang was privately going wild in the guild chat.

[Return and Depart World Channel]

[Member] Yumi Chang: Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!!

[Member] Yumi Chang: Full-sugar, no-wheat bread screaming.jpg

[Vice Leader] Danhuang Liuxinbao: What’s going on? Do you need an exorcist?

[Member] Yumi Chang: You’ll never guess what I just saw!

[Right Protector] Xian Yun: What did you see?

[Left Protector] Wang Mo: @Xian Yun. Stop running, come back.

[Right Protector] Xian Yun: The me from yesterday, you ignored. The me from today, you can’t reach.

[Right Protector] Xian Yun: Side-eye#

[Right Protector] Xian Yun: @Yumi Chang. So, what did you see?

[Member] Yumi Chang: Image#

[Vice Leader] Danhuang Liuxinbao: ???

[Vice Leader] Danhuang Liuxinbao: !!!

[Vice Leader] Danhuang Liuxinbao: My cabbage! No, my piggy!

Ignoring Danhuang Liuxinbao’s wails in the guild channel, Yumi Chang calmly walked away under Feng Xiaoxiao’s silent gaze, then couldn’t help but let out three screams on the spot.

The startled passerby player: ???

[Current Channel]

[Healer’s Realm] Xue Mei says to you: Hey friend, need an exorcism? I’ll give you a 30% discount.

Yumi Chang paid no attention, simply admiring the screenshot she had just taken,

In a secluded corner far from the bustling world, the tall and graceful Di Xiang, clad in pristine white robes as if an immortal banished to the mortal world, gazed down quietly at the young girl touching her. The girl’s ears flushed red as she looked up at her.

Their faces were so close they were almost kissing.

Yumi Chang, who had been present at the scene, was practically dying of impatience, wishing she could rush over and press their heads together.

The atmosphere was perfectly set, why aren’t you kissing? Hurry up and kiss!

But intimidated by the reputation of the top-ranked player on the Celestial Feathers leaderboard, she could only fret silently on the side, clawing at the wall in frustration.

Given Di Xiang’s usual aloof demeanor, keeping strangers at a distance and acquaintances even farther, Yumi Chang had assumed she was truly detached from worldly desires, especially when it came to romance. But now, it seemed the rumors might not hold water.

After a few seconds of locked gazes, the fireworks faded, and it was Feng Xiaoxiao who finally broke eye contact.

“Let’s go!”

She marched forward stiffly, “Let’s go kill some monsters!”

The collar of her robe was gently tugged as Di Xiang pulled her in the opposite direction.

“The teleportation point is this way.”

“Of course I knew that. I was just testing whether you, as my master, know the way.”

Feng Xiaoxiao nonchalantly changed direction, still trying to save face.

“Hmm.” Di Xiang neither confirmed nor denied it.

As their figures vanished into the teleportation point, Yumi Chang emerged, clicking her tongue and shaking her head in lingering fascination.

“Who would’ve thought, who would’ve thought.”

“Who would’ve thought what?”

A woman’s amused voice sounded beside her.

“Who would’ve thought that Di Xiang, with her cold face and icy heart, actually cares so much for her disciple? She’s a guild leader, yet she’s personally taking her out to grind monsters!”

She rubbed her chin. “If it were me, I’d just dump my disciple on the guild members to level up.”

“Oh, really?” the woman chuckled. “Who would’ve thought a level 15 newbie like you has such grand ambitions.”

Yumi Chang felt indignant. What newbie? She had just abandoned her old account and started over! Not long ago, she was the famous top-ranked player on the String Song server, okay?

She turned to glare, ready to defend herself, but the moment she saw the woman’s face, she fell silent, forcing composure as she glanced at her empty wrist.

“Oh, look at the time! My mom’s calling me to log off for dinner.”

As she spoke, she frantically mashed the log-off button in her mind, pretending nothing was wrong.

The woman took a few steps closer, her skin like ice and jade, leaning against Yumi Chang’s shoulder as if boneless, and whispered, “You seem afraid of me?”

“Why would I be?” Yumi Chang laughed awkwardly, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead while screaming internally.

Damn it, what kind of twisted fate is this?!

How could she run into her even more damnable ex-romantic partner on her very first day with a new account?! Ahhhhh!!!

The woman, whose ID was Hua Sinian and bore the title [Server’s Top Beauty], smiled ambiguously and sent Yumi Chang a friend request.

[System Prompt：Player [Hua Sinian] has sent you a friend request. Accept?]

Yumi Chang pretended to be AFK and didn’t move.

[System Prompt：Player [Hua Sinian] has sent you a friend request. Accept?]

Yumi Chang had only five seconds left before she could log off.

[System Prompt：Player [Hua Sinian] has sent you a friend request. Accept?]

Accept? Accept? Accept? Accept? Accept??

In the final five seconds, the system seemed to go haywire, repeatedly popping up friend requests from [Hua Sinian].

Just as the woman reached out toward her, Yumi Chang finally managed to log out of the game and return to reality.

The girl’s figure vanished on the spot, leaving Hua Sinian’s fingers grasping at empty air.

She curled her fingers slightly, a faint, inscrutable smile playing on her lips.

[Private Chat Channel]
[Server’s Top Beauty] Hua Sinian: Keep watching. Notify me the moment she logs back in.
[Healer’s Realm] Xue Mei: Understood, Boss!
[Healer’s Realm] Chi Mei: Copy that, Boss!
[Healer’s Realm] Xue Mei: We’ll get it done!
[Healer’s Realm] Chi Mei: Mission accomplished for sure!

[System Notification: Player [Hua Sinian] has sent two in-team red envelopes worth 1,000 gold each!]
[System Notification: Players [Chi Mei] and [Xue Mei] have claimed the red envelopes from Player [Hua Sinian]!]