Chapter 19 - 19: Threat

Although everyone looked down on Ning Shu and felt she didn't belong at Ace Academy, Ning Shu thickened her skin and insisted on staying. She was determined to stay rooted at the school until they formally expelled her.

How could she save that foolish prince if she left? Besides, the female lead was currently an Ace student, so at least she would restrain herself a little while within the school. Outside the gates, however, the female lead would return to her unrestrained behavior as a cultivator.

The nickname "Queen of the Night" wasn't just for show.

Ning Shu felt a headache coming on. She had no idea how to carry out her tasks. Her confidence was already shattered from facing such a difficult first mission.

Ning Shu recalled Ling Xue's murderous gaze, and after some deliberation, she signed up for a Taekwondo course in hopes of strengthening her body. Although it might not make much difference, having greater agility would definitely help her in fleeing for her life.

It was truly disheartening. She felt like a mouse cornered by Ling Xue, engaged in a desperate struggle for survival.

Ning Shu suspected that Ling Xue was toying with both her and the original host, treating them like mice in her palm. Ling Xue had used the original host to enhance her own reputation, leaving the original host to become a trash can for all the slander thrown her way, until her reputation was irreparably damaged.

The Taekwondo course turned out to be much more challenging than Ning Shu had anticipated. The cool moves she had seen on TV were extremely difficult to execute in practice.

During a stretching exercise, the instructor even pressed a brick on her head while she was trying to do the splits. It was painfully uncomfortable. Fortunately, the original host had a background in dance, so her body was still relatively flexible.

Every day after school, Ning Shu would attend Taekwondo class and devote all her free time to practice.

Exhausted, she would drag herself to class each day. However, she couldn't understand much of what the teachers were saying. Ace Academy was different from regular schools; its courses focused on topics like economics, etiquette, and social interactions.

The students produced by this academy were the elite of society. Naturally, these students came from illustrious family backgrounds and were already well-suited to occupy the upper echelons of the social pyramid.

Since Ning Shu couldn't comprehend the courses, she gave up trying to listen and spent most of her time focusing on Taekwondo. While these academic subjects were undoubtedly beneficial, her life was currently in danger, so she prioritized her survival over these trivial matters.

As for Ling Xue, she had clearly noticed that Lin Jiajia, who sat behind her, was now different. However, she couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly had changed.

Turning around, she narrowed her eyes and said, "Let's go to Leng Ao's birthday party together."

"What?" Ning Shu stared at Ling Xue in shock. She genuinely couldn't understand what the female lead was thinking by suggesting they attend the party together.

This was something that hadn't occurred in the original storyline. After all, how could Ling Xue, who was so aloof, lower herself to walk alongside someone she considered an insignificant existence like Lin Jiajia?

Ning Shu felt an uneasy premonition. The female lead couldn't be targeting her now, could she?

Ling Xue was indeed starting to set her sights on Ning Shu. Her keen instincts told her that in the past, Lin Jiajia had harbored malicious intent towards her. However, since Lin Jiajia had been weak and powerless, Ling Xue had merely toyed with her occasionally when she was bored.

Now, though, this ant-like figure seemed to have become more subdued, and her resentment was less apparent. This development irritated Ling Xue and made her suspect that the current Lin Jiajia might not be the original.

Having had the chance for rebirth herself, Ling Xue realized it was possible for other cultivators to transmigrate to this world as well.

Ling Xue had already savored the sweet taste of being the unrivaled peak existence in her realm. She absolutely refused to allow another cultivator to appear and steal her spotlight.

However, she didn't sense any spiritual energy within Lin Jiajia's body, nor did she behave like a cultivator. Ling Xue decided to probe Lin Jiajia further.