Ning Shu dove headfirst into her shooting practice. Under the watchful eye of Instructor Headshot, she fired the gun and missed spectacularly, the bullet flying off into the unknown.
Instructor Headshot rubbed the gun at his waist, eyeing Ning Shu with an eagerness that sent chills down her spine. "Let me try again. I definitely won't miss this time," she said, her voice shaky.
Instructor Headshot: Ha. Ha.
Ning Shu practiced as if her life depended on it. At first, her bullets seemed to go everywhere except the target. Everyone in the shooting range steered clear of her, knowing it would be an injustice if her stray shots hit them.
She held the gun steady with both hands, and if her posture wasn't right, Instructor Headshot would whip out his gun and point it at her head. The terror had her close to wetting her pants, but it made her improve rapidly.
From a starting point of always missing, she gradually got to where she could hit the target consistently.
Ning Shu spent all her time at the shooting range—eating, drinking, and even using the bathroom there. She practiced non-stop until her arms felt like lead weights. She joked that she was turning into an otaku with bulging muscles.
Yet, she never complained about the exhaustion. This was a skill that could save her life. The more skills she had when facing the dangerous female lead, the better her chances of survival.
One day, Instructor Headshot handed her a bottle of medicinal oil, forcing a contorted smile. "What's your relationship with Psycho?" he asked.
No relationship at all. But Ning Shu didn't dare say that. If she did, this uncle, who seemed to have a penchant for headshots, might actually shoot her.
She laughed awkwardly, trying to look profound and mysterious. Instructor Headshot rubbed his gun again, and it was clear he was itching to put a bullet through her head.
Every time Ning Shu saw this fiendish uncle fiddling with his gun, her heart raced with fear. She felt genuinely grateful to the school doctor for being so fearsome; it allowed her, a mere fox, to exploit the tiger's might.
Ning Shu practically lived at the shooting range now. She practiced every day and could consistently hit within the five rings.
It was awesome!
Then, one day, she received a notice from the school: if she didn't attend class, she would be expelled.
No way! She definitely couldn't let that happen.
After spending so long at the shooting range, stepping back into the school's peaceful atmosphere felt a little jarring.
When Ling Xue saw Ning Shu, she sensed a change in her. Ning Shu seemed more reserved and exuded a dangerous air, though it was more like a stronger ant sporting enhanced pincers.
Ling Xue was displeased and met Ning Shu's gaze. Noticing Ling Xue's glare, Ning Shu rolled her eyes dramatically.
Ling Xue's expression instantly darkened, filled with a dangerous aura. She subconsciously began releasing spiritual pressure.
Ning Shu couldn't help but feel like she was courting death. Being so brazen in front of the female lead—if that wasn't asking for trouble, what was?
In the past, Ling Xue had merely watched Ning Shu like a clown making a fool of herself. But now, the current Ning Shu felt like a fishbone stuck in her throat. Ling Xue sensed that if she didn't deal with this "clown," her life would take a turn.
Ling Xue trusted her instincts.
Ning Shu later found out why the school had summoned her to class: Prince Leng's birthday was tomorrow. They reminded her not to forget to attend Leng Ao's party since he had invited her.
When she realized this, she felt like she was about to fall apart. She had genuinely thought she was important enough for the school to care. The reality hit her hard: she had seriously expected too much.