Chapter 138: More Money Than Sense

After hanging up her communication with Moqi Lianhao, Xuan Xuan walked into the mecha training room.

Kuang Shao glanced at Xuan Xuan. Moqi Xuan Xuan once again paid him no mind, treating his class as if it were her own vegetable patch, coming and going as she pleased. He curled his lip, though he dared not actually do anything to her.

Xuan Xuan walked back to her seat. Kuang Shao was currently lecturing on team composition. He glanced at Xuan Xuan and said, "The most important aspect of a team combination is coordination, but the members within the team are also a crucial factor. A team needs complementarity, but you shouldn't overdo it. Take a certain squad among you, for example: a group with only two heavy assault members, and even among them, one is the primary commander cum secondary assault, while the rest are all supports. No matter how many support members such a team has, it simply won't work. Holding everyone back is a given. You can have support, but you can't overdo it."

As soon as Kuang Shao mentioned a certain squad, everyone's eyes turned toward the seats where Xuan Xuan and her teammates sat. Their bizarre composition was already known throughout the entire school.

Moqi Weijhao and the others simultaneously buried their faces in their hands, too embarrassed to face anyone because Kuang Shao just had to bring them up.

Xuan Xuan gritted her teeth and glared at Kuang Shao. What was wrong with their team? They were simply bound to win this upcoming competition.

Seeing Xuan Xuan's expression of dissatisfaction, Kuang Shao's mood instantly improved, the corners of his lips curling up slightly. The students below who had previously been looking at Moqi Weijhao and the others instantly shifted their gaze back to Kuang Shao. Kuang Shao offered a slight smile, his pair of phoenix eyes seeming to light up, dazzling the entire room. Every student in the class looked at him, their attention completely fixed on him, male students included.

To call him a femme fatale would not be an exaggeration at all.

Xuan Xuan glanced at him and decided she must feed him a dose of the Shape-Shifting Grass in reality so he could thoroughly play the femme fatale there.

Kuang Shao spent the rest of the class discussing the importance of teamwork and the optimal member ratios for the rookie tournament before finally dismissing the class.

When she reached the school gates, Xuan Xuan still wore a sullen expression. She told Moqi Weijhao and his companion to go home on their own, while she called over Zheng Chao, intending to head straight for the Kuang family estate. She wanted to modify her mecha as soon as possible so she could let those people see for themselves.

Glancing at her communicator, Xuan Xuan hesitated for a moment before calling Zhan Yu. For the first time, she did not shield her number when contacting him.

Zhan Yu was in the middle of a meeting when his communicator rang. He frowned slightly; he disliked any personal matters during meetings. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was an unfamiliar number. He hesitated before answering, as not many people knew his private communication number.

He looked at the person on the other end, his eyes pausing slightly for a moment before a hint of a smile appeared. He asked, "What is it?"

"I'm going to the Kuang family estate, and I need your help," Xuan Xuan said directly, without any pretense.

Zhan Yu raised an eyebrow, recalling the time Xuan Xuan had asked for his help in the Kuang family's mecha repair room. It was probably about the same matter again. A trace of mild frustration flickered through him—he figured that was about all he was good for to her. Still, he nodded and replied, "Alright."

A hint of a smile also appeared in Xuan Xuan's eyes. Zhan Yu was always quite efficient.

She nodded and hung up the communicator. Having Zhan Yu's help would make things much more convenient.

Zheng Chao glanced at Xuan Xuan. It turned out she wasn't just close with the Kuang family; she even knew Zhan Yu, and quite well at that.

Zhan Yu looked at the communicator in his hand, the smile in his eyes still not fading. Her being willing to ask him for help should count as significant progress, right?

The people sitting below Zhan Yu exchanged glances with one another. The voice from the other end had sounded like a very young girl. Could it be...?

Sweeping his gaze over the crowd below and noticing their probing looks, Zhan Yu gave a dry cough and said, "We'll discuss this matter next time."

The eyes of the people below lit up even more. There was definitely something going on.

Disregarding the intense gossip in the eyes of his subordinates, Zhan Yu gave a few brief instructions and stood up to leave, though the tips of his ears were faintly tinged with red.

Zheng Chao parked his hover-car at the main gates of the Kuang family estate. He didn't have the audacity to drive directly inside—that was the Kuang family residence after all.

Xuan Xuan didn't mind. She stepped out of the car and walked straight toward the main gates. Before she even took a step past them, she heard someone behind her call out, "Moqi Xuan Xuan?"

The voice was unfamiliar and carried a hint of uncertainty, yet it clearly belonged to someone confident. Xuan Xuan raised an eyebrow and looked back. This woman?

Xuan Xuan was not entirely unfamiliar with her; she had seen her before, and furthermore, she had seen her brother not long ago. She bore a striking resemblance to Bai Ruchen—it was none other than Bai Rumeng. She was still dressed in red, appearing a bit more mature than she had a few years ago. Her facial features were exquisite, though her brows and eyes held a trace of annoyance.

Seeing Xuan Xuan turn around, Bai Rumeng let out a cold sneer. It really was Moqi Xuan Xuan. Yet that little toddler from years ago had actually grown up. Ten years ago, she had foolishly thought the child was some illegitimate offspring Kuang Shao had left behind, but it turned out she was just someone trying to seduce him. To think a mere teenager had already managed to captivate both Kuang Shao and Kuang Hongyi, winning their endless praises and staunch protection.

Hmph, she certainly had plenty of tricks up her sleeve. The Moqi family truly produced no good things.

Xuan Xuan glanced at her and called Zheng Chao to head inside together. Seeing that Xuan Xuan completely ignored her, Bai Rumeng lost her composure slightly and snapped angrily, "Kuang Shao won't ever like a little brat like you! Stop coming to the Kuang family estate."

Xuan Xuan simply couldn't understand what was so great about Kuang Shao that made this woman like him so much. Without looking back, Zheng Chao desperately wanted to turn around and tell Bai Rumeng that it was Xuan Xuan who looked down on Kuang Shao, not the other way around. However, seeing Xuan Xuan's utterly calm expression, he swallowed the words that were right on the tip of his tongue.

Seeing Xuan Xuan walk away without even glancing back, Bai Rumeng's face cycled between shades of black and white. Remembering Kuang Hongyi's previous words, she clenched her teeth and glared at Xuan Xuan's retreating back. What gave her such confidence?

After walking just a few steps, Xuan Xuan's pace slowed slightly. Bai Ruchen.

No wonder Bai Rumeng was outside. She wondered what business they had coming here.

Zheng Chao had also met Bai Ruchen before. He gently pulled Xuan Xuan and walked to her left side, blocking Bai Ruchen from her line of sight.

When Bai Ruchen saw the two of them, he paused his steps. His impression of Xuan Xuan was deep indeed; she had ruined his grand plans. Coupled with what Kuang Hongyi had just said, Moqi Xuan Xuan truly could not be allowed to live. Though he harbored such thoughts internally, he maintained a smile on his face. "Xuan Xuan? What brings you to the Kuang family estate?"

She was just a teenage girl, and Moqi Lianhao and the others weren't around. It wouldn't hurt to probe her for some information.

Xuan Xuan acted as if she hadn't heard a thing and walked straight past him with Zheng Chao. Only one thought crossed her mind: as expected.

Bai Ruchen had indeed been parasitized by a Zerg larva—likely the very same one that had been on Xuan Guo. Judging by his demeanor, he was clearly completely unaware of it.

Seeing that Xuan Xuan showed no reaction whatsoever, Bai Ruchen offered an amused smile. This Moqi Xuan Xuan was quite interesting. Still, she couldn't be kept alive. Glancing back at Xuan Xuan one last time, he walked out of the Kuang family estate. Bai Rumeng hurried over and asked, "How did it go?"

Bai Ruchen shook his head. "Let's talk about it when we get back."

"It's all that Moqi Xuan Xuan's fault!" Bai Rumeng said, grinding her teeth. She added as a reminder, "She just went inside."

"We'll talk when we get back," Bai Ruchen replied, nodding to show he understood. He repeated the phrase once more before stepping into the car.

Looking thoroughly unwilling, Bai Rumeng glared at the Kuang family estate one last time before getting into the car as well.

Upon entering, Xuan Xuan saw Kuang Hongyi sitting in the living room, deep in thought. Hearing the sound of them walking in, he smiled and said, "Back so early?"

"No classes in the afternoon," Xuan Xuan nodded, then asked, "What did they come here for?"

"Who? Oh, the Bai family? Hmph." Kuang Hongyi was initially puzzled, but upon realizing who she meant, he let out a cold scoff. The Bai family certainly had ambitions well beyond their station.

Xuan Xuan widened her eyes. What had happened?

"What's wrong with the Bai family?"

"They think our Kuang family is full of money and lacking in brains," Kuang Hongyi sneered. What else could they possibly want?

Xuan Xuan still didn't understand. What did the Bai family want?

"The Bai family wants money, and they want potions," Kuang Hongyi said.

Xuan Xuan raised an eyebrow. So Kuang Shao was quite the prized catch after all. "But hasn't Bai Rumeng always liked Kuang Shao?"

Kuang Hongyi let out a cold laugh. Without money, would the Bai family's Bai Rumeng ever look at Kuang Shao? Would the Bai family ever look at him?

Zheng Chao tried his best to minimize his presence. One shouldn't know too many secrets of the major families, because knowing too much gets you silenced. Zheng Chao wanted to cry—he really hadn't heard a thing.

Kuang Hongyi glanced at Xuan Xuan and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely keep Kuang Shao for you. I'll make him marry into your family as a matrilocal husband, and I won't give him to anyone who tries to snatch him."

"No thanks," Xuan Xuan refused without a single shred of hesitation. "He has way too many wretched romantic entanglements."

Kuang Hongyi had intended to decline, but hearing Xuan Xuan complain that Kuang Shao had too many romantic entanglements left him feeling depressed. Wasn't Bai Rumeng prime among them?

Why did Kuang Shao always attract that sort of person? Why couldn't he just make himself likable to Xuan Xuan?

"Scumbags build character when you train them," Kuang Hongyi remarked.

Before Xuan Xuan could reply, a voice chimed in with a gritted, resentful bite: "Who are you calling a scumbag?"

Having just finished his classes and returned home, Kuang Shao arrived right in time to hear Kuang Hongyi suggesting that Moqi Xuan Xuan train him as a scumbag.

Kuang Hongyi looked back and, seeing Kuang Shao's thoroughly distorted expression, replied smoothly, "You, of course."

"What did I do to you this time?" Kuang Shao demanded angrily.

Kuang Hongyi countered, "Then who was that Bai Rumeng? Can't you attract someone decent for a change?"

"When did I ever attract her?" Kuang Shao shot back, glaring at Xuan Xuan as if suspecting she had snitched on him.

Xuan Xuan let out a huff. Was Kuang Shao really suspecting her?

"Bai Ruchen came by to propose a marriage alliance between you and Bai Rumeng."

Kuang Shao bounded straight up off the sofa as if his backside had been set on fire. "You didn't agree, did you?!" he demanded frantically.

"Hmph," Kuang Hongyi snorted.

"Old man, don't you dare agree! That woman is sick in the head," Kuang Shao said in a panic.

Xuan Xuan glanced at him. Even if he wanted to agree, Kuang Hongyi probably wouldn't allow it. She told Kuang Hongyi, "Bai Ruchen has also been parasitized by a Zerg larva. It must have been Xuan Guo's doing."

Kuang Hongyi paused slightly. "Are you certain?"

Xuan Xuan nodded. She certainly wouldn't have said it if she weren't sure. "Yes."