The Cold Sister Is Too Flirtatious - Chapter 26

Leng Yao waited in the bathroom for ages, but no one came in.

Peeking out, she found the dormitory completely empty.

In the staff break room, Lin Tingxue watched Su Zhizi, wondering why she had been called out. She remembered this yellow-haired girl was close to Little Rabbit, so she had agreed to come.

Su Zhizi locked the door and checked around to make sure the break room was empty before finally sighing in relief. “Classmate Lin, I know you like Junior Sister. But you two are being too obvious. This is a live broadcast, and you nearly slipped up several times today. I genuinely support you both, but not all viewers will.”

“Is it that obvious?” Lin Tingxue’s eyes were clouded with faint confusion.

She had been trying her best to restrain herself, following Snow and Little Shell’s advice. She hadn’t been constantly watching Little Rabbit or clinging to her side. Even today, when she sat in Class B, separated from Little Rabbit, she hadn’t used any tricks to sit together.

Seeing Lin Tingxue’s silent, thoughtful expression, Su Zhizi knew she hadn’t grasped the proper balance at all. “Anyway, in front of the cameras, try to avoid any intimate gestures with your Junior Sister.”

“Like…” Su Zhizi hesitated, torn between her own desires and what was best for them. With a sigh, she reluctantly abandoned her own fantasies. “Like kissing or anything like that.”

But Lin Tingxue felt a pang of unfairness. She hadn’t even kissed Little Rabbit since arriving here. I haven’t even gotten a kiss…

Still, she knew Su Zhizi was trying to help her and Little Rabbit. She asked one last question: “Then… can we do other things when the cameras aren’t rolling?”

“Cough, cough!” Su Zhizi, who was drinking water, choked violently at Lin Tingxue’s question.
He’s still up to no good! Su Zhizi thought. I never imagined Classmate Lin, who seems so detached, would be so smitten with her Junior Sister.

As the self-proclaimed “CP Leader,” Su Zhizi was delighted to see this development. “Off-camera, what you do is your business. Don’t worry, Classmate Lin. Even if you slip up in front of the cameras, I’ll cover for you!”

“Thank you,” Lin Tingxue replied.

After leaving the staff break room, Lin Tingxue didn’t return to her dorm immediately. There was still one matter to resolve:

The Mortal who might harm Little Rabbit.

She extended her spiritual awareness, enveloping the entire dormitory building.

Opening her eyes, the spiritual energy dissipated from Lin Tingxue’s dark pupils. She had found him.

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks was grinning maliciously as he gripped Wu Chuxia’s shoulder. “Wu Chuxia, as an independent trainee, it’ll be tough for you to get ahead. The others all have agencies backing them and partnerships with us. Want to rise to the top? Then you’ll need to show me some appreciation. I’ve been working at this station for over a decade.”

Wu Chuxia recoiled in fear. He had initially claimed he was just scheduling tomorrow’s itinerary, but then he’d led her to this deserted storage room. By the time she realized what was happening, the door was locked, trapping her.

“You bastard! Let me go!”

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks slapped Wu Chuxia across the face. “You ungrateful bitch! Don’t push your luck. Plenty of girls would kill to be with me. You’re doing it today, whether you like it or not! If Miss Lin hadn’t been keeping such a tight leash on that trainee Leng Yao, you wouldn’t even be getting this chance.”

Wu Chuxia’s shirt was ripped off as she desperately clawed at her attacker, screaming, “Help!”

“It’s useless,” he sneered. “We’re too far out here. No one can hear you.”

Bang!

The locked door burst open with a kick, sending Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks flying across the room like a ragdoll.

Wu Chuxia scrambled to put her clothes back on, then fled in terror without a second glance.

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks felt his insides churning into a knot. When he saw who had arrived, he forced a sickly smile. “Miss Lin, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

Lin Tingxue didn’t understand his strange address, but the thought of him not only harming others but also trying to lay hands on Little Rabbit ignited her fury.

With a wave of her hand, the iron door slammed shut.
Objects flew off the shelves, hovering in mid-air.

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks’ eyes were wide with terror as he stumbled backward, a yellow liquid seeping between his legs.

His voice trembled, “Monster! Monster!”

Countless objects flew toward him, slamming into his body with brutal force. Each impact echoed with the sickening thud of flesh colliding with solid matter.

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks was on the verge of passing out from the pain, yet the assault showed no sign of letting up, the debris piling into a towering mountain.

The worst part was the suffocating lack of space. Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks’ face turned crimson and purple as he struggled to breathe.

Lin Tingxue yanked Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks out of the debris. He had already lost consciousness, but that wasn’t enough.

She pulled out her phone and uploaded several photos of Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks attempting to assault a girl. The photos showed only his face; the girl’s back was turned.

Little Rabbit had warned her that killing was forbidden in this world. So she decided on a different approach: public humiliation and disgrace. For a person, true death came with the destruction of their reputation.

Back in their dorm, Leng Yao had already showered, drying her wet hair with a white towel. “Older Sister, where did you go just now?”

Lin Tingxue naturally took the towel, motioning for Leng Yao to sit down. She began drying Leng Yao’s hair, omitting the details of her encounter with Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks. She simply said:

“Su Zhizi just spoke with me, asking us to be more reserved in front of the cameras and avoid excessive displays of affection. So, I’m planning to reduce physical contact with you.”

Snow had told Little Shell that relationships between two girls are often met with public disapproval, and the Little Rabbit might get hurt because of it. Even though she desperately wanted to be close to the Little Rabbit, she had to maintain distance in front of the cameras, leaving no room for suspicion.

Leng Yao’s face paled. Was her Older Sister trying to distance herself because she was too eager and made her uncomfortable?

But her Older Sister never seemed to mind her hugs and kisses…

Noticing the Little Rabbit’s prolonged silence, sitting motionless as she dried every strand of her hair, Lin Tingxue pulled up a chair and sat across from Leng Yao. “But outside the cameras, we can still be like this. Or… would you like some strawberries?”

As she said the last part, the tips of Lin Tingxue’s ears flushed slightly, a subtle change Leng Yao immediately noticed.

Older Sister… is she blushing?

She’s such a shy darling! So adorable, and this side of her is only for me to see.

Leng Yao twirled the Star Kirby hair tie around her finger, her eyes brimming with amusement as she watched Leng Yao’s mood swing wildly between dejection and elation.

A fickle little rabbit.

At eleven o’clock that night, Zeng Zhile and Xia Zhuo returned almost simultaneously. Zeng Zhile, drenched in sweat, rushed straight to the bathroom for a shower, while Xia Zhuo approached Leng Yao.

“Leng Yao, I’m sorry. I misunderstood you today.”

The sudden 180-degree shift in Xia Zhuo’s attitude stunned Leng Yao. She couldn’t help but suspect that the person before her wasn’t Xia Zhuo at all, but some twin sister named “Winter Zhuo” or something similar.

“Tuanyuan told me everything. It was her who asked you to help, not you trying to steal her identity.”

“Tuanyuan? She’s here too?” Leng Yao exclaimed in surprise.

“My dearest roommate, and Classmate Lin Tingxue—that’s right, it’s me! Surprised? Shocked?” Shangguan Tuanyuan burst through the door. “I told my mom I’d found an internship, but she doesn’t know I’m actually here. So, from now on, I’ll be Xiaxia’s exclusive assistant!”

“So…”

Before Leng Yao could finish her question, Shangguan Tuanyuan cut in, her face beaming with pride. “That’s right! I was the one protecting Xiaxia during the day too!”

Xia Zhuo turned her head, a hint of fondness in her eyes.
Leng Yao had already noticed Xia Zhuo’s affection for Shangguan Tuanyuan. Her roommate, however, seemed rather oblivious, acting purely on instinct.

Zeng Zhile emerged from the bathroom in her pajamas, completing the group.

The others gathered on the carpet. Zeng Zhile, the most experienced, spoke first. “Based on typical survival show formats, the next round of evaluations will likely involve mentor scoring, followed by regrouping and eliminations.”

Leng Yao added, “Yue and I are in A-Class, while Xia Zhuo and Older Sister are in Class B. Yue and I are likely to be chosen as team leaders for the song selection. We need to avoid being matched up against each other, or one of our groups will definitely end up in the danger zone.”

“Alright, I understand.”

After the discussion, only Lin Tingxue remained detached from the group, meditating with her eyes closed.

A mischievous idea struck Leng Yao. She signaled the others to surround Lin Tingxue. She struck a kneeling prayer pose first, and the others, understanding her intent, joined in with laughter.

“Divine Protector Lin, bless us all to advance safely!”

Lin Tingxue opened her eyes to this familiar scene and instinctively channeled her spiritual energy. The others, still prostrate on the ground, didn’t notice the energy flow, but they felt a warm, comforting sensation wash over them. Zeng Zhile’s post-dance soreness vanished instantly.

Only Leng Yao understood what was happening. She hurriedly looked up and pressed her hand over Lin Tingxue’s.

Lin Tingxue was puzzled. Weren’t they asking for her help? Why was Little Rabbit stopping her? But as she looked at their clasped hands, a faint smile curved her lips.

The next day, the group piled into a van and headed to the headquarters of Starry Sea Journey.

Leng Yao teased with a laugh, “Yue, you’re such a workaholic! Getting up at 4:30 AM to practice?”

Zeng Zhile retorted, pointing at Leng Yao’s dark circles, “Look who’s talking! I remember someone else arriving at the practice room at 4:45 AM.”

Xia Zhuo shook her head, sighing as she watched Lin Tingxue meditating with her eyes closed, looking utterly detached from the world.

Some people are obsessed with working hard, while others are ridiculously detached. What kind of roommates did I end up with? I miss my Tuantuan Yuanyuan so much~

Before entering headquarters, each member was assigned a makeup artist.

Xiao Cai, the makeup artist, scrutinized Lin Tingxue. She looked left, then right, but couldn’t find a single flaw that needed correcting.

Foundation? The woman’s skin was flawless, practically poreless.

Contour? Her already delicate face would disappear if she tried to sculpt it further.

Xiao Cai silently set down the contour palette and picked up false eyelashes, then paused.

These lashes are longer than her natural ones. There’s no need, absolutely no need.

The makeup artist emerged with a mournful expression. A colleague noticed and asked, “What’s wrong, Xiao Cai?”

Xiao Cai burst into tears. “Sister Li, I think I’m going to lose my job!”

Meanwhile, Leng Yao’s makeup artist worked quickly, marveling at her natural beauty. “You barely need any makeup at all!” she exclaimed.

Leng Yao skipped over to Lin Tingxue, gushing, “Older Sister, your makeup looks so natural! It’s like you’re not wearing any at all, yet you look as stunning as ever!”

Xiao Cai, who had finally managed to compose herself and was packing up her supplies nearby, couldn’t hold back any longer. She covered her mouth and fled the room.

“Older Sister, did I overdo the praise? The makeup artist seemed really upset.”

Lin Tingxue, seeing Little Rabbit’s bewildered expression, said, “She didn’t put anything on my face.”

“Ah!” Leng Yao gasped, her eyes wide with guilt. “Did my words just hurt the makeup artist’s feelings? I’ll never say that again!”

After everyone finished their makeup, they moved to the interview preparation room, and filming officially began.

Lin Tingxue sat in the preparation room, surrounded by staff members. Irritated, she longed to see Little Rabbit or focus on her cultivation.

The familiar male director asked, “Sister Tingxue, what ranking are you aiming for?”

“99th place.”

Sharp-Mouthed Monkey-Cheeks had been dealt with. The shock, prolonged oxygen deprivation, and public backlash had driven him completely mad. He now screamed daily, “Miss Lin is a monster!”

With Little Rabbit safe, Lin Tingxue decided it was time to return to her original plan: stepping back into her role as manager.

The male director stared in disbelief, stammering, “But there are only 99 trainees in total! Sister Tingxue, were you really just brought in by the production team to fill a quota?”

Recalling her experiences that day, Lin Tingxue realized he was right.

“Yes, can I leave now?”

The male director nodded dumbly. As expected of Sister Tingxue, always so cool.

Meanwhile, Leng Yao had styled her hair into a neat princess braid, her big eyes fluttering like a doll’s. “Older Sister Director, what questions do you want to ask me? About my hopes for the future?”

The female director glanced down at her script. The exact question was written there. This is the first time a rookie trainee has proactively asked about the interview flow, she thought, nodding.

Leng Yao pondered for a moment. “I want to make it to the end and become the most dazzling star.”

The director smiled. Many trainees gave similar answers. Confidence is a good thing. Just as she was about to ask the next question, Leng Yao continued:

“I want my performances to bring joy to those who are sad. I want to encourage dreamers to chase their dreams. I want everyone to know that each of us radiates our own unique light.”

Leng Yao’s words stunned the director. Yet the girl’s gaze was unwavering, filled with genuine sincerity. There wasn’t a hint of insincere flattery or empty promises meant to please the audience.
A thought crossed her mind: this adorable and sweet contestant might truly become a new source of spiritual support for some people.
With all the interviews concluded, the trainees walked together down the corridor leading to the headquarters.

Leng Yao turned to look for Lin Tingxue, but she wasn’t walking beside her as expected. Instead, she was trailing far behind at the very end of the group.

I forgot, Leng Yao thought, in front of the cameras, Older Sister has to act like we’re strangers. The thought of her older sister’s endearing contrast off-camera made Leng Yao chuckle inwardly, finding it inexplicably amusing.

If I could win Older Sister over, she mused, wouldn’t that be the perfect novel plot?

On camera, her eyes icy: “Leng Yao, stay away from me.”

Off camera, the corners of her eyes flushed red: “Leng Yao, why are you keeping such a distance?”

At this thought, Leng Yao’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly banished the fantasy from her mind and focused entirely on the recording.

The trainees took their assigned seats as the host announced the rules, which turned out to be exactly as Leng Yao and her group had predicted.

The only difference was that instead of A-Class members automatically becoming team captains, captains would be randomly selected from each class. Then, one member would be chosen from each class to form balanced teams. For once, Lychee TV was being fair.

The host drew the names one by one. “A-Class Captain: Leng Yao.”

Leng Yao stepped forward, accepted the captain’s armband, and slipped it onto her wrist. She smiled and waved it at the camera.

“Next, B-Class Captain: Lin Tingxue.”

Older Sister! Leng Yao was stunned. She had just been planning to pick her sister for her team, but now they were going to be opponents.

The other trainees couldn’t help but laugh. It wasn’t hard to see why. Everyone had watched Lin Tingxue’s pre-interview, which was quite unique, and they were all aware of the persona she had cultivated online recently.
They knew she was the only one who just wanted to clock out and go home. But as captain, she was bound to get more screen time. Now, even if she wanted to escape, she couldn’t.

Why does this sound so deliciously wicked?

Lin Tingxue walked forward, took the armband, and found it rather cumbersome. She tucked it into her pocket. Then she remembered Little Rabbit wearing it on her wrist, and a sudden fondness stirred within her. She took the armband out again and put it on alongside the bracelet.

Zeng Zhile chatted with Xia Zhuo beside her. “She really just wants to clock out, huh? Xue’s face is totally blank, but I swear she looked like she was grinding her teeth at the captain’s armband at first. Ha ha!”

The captains of Class C, Class D, and Class F were quickly drawn next. The host approached them with a microphone, asking, “Captains, how are you feeling right now?”

“Excited!”

“Annoyed.”

Support The Cold Sister Is Too Flirtatious