Chapter 504 - The First Step of Light Chasing Garden (Double-Length)

After touring the first floor, the group went to the second floor. The crystal chandelier hanging from the atrium glowed softly, rose-red carpets lined the corridors, peacock green walls adorned with gold powder, floating book pages with words outlined by light forming floating knowledge. An unmanned corner grand piano was playing automatically, Angelina tapped her ear to switch it off, while Tang Xin silently turned it back on and changed the tune to something more soothing.Feeling uncomfortable under Tang Xin’s steady gaze, Angelina showed a troubled expression, and finally sighed lightly, giving up the thought of arguing with the other party.

Bai Youyou stopped and looked up, above her, books were arranged like circular staircases spiraling upwards, Chen Pu’s book covers emanated a faint glow, with a pinch of her fingertips, a book flew to her hand.

The contents written on them were mostly dry legal knowledge, a glance would make an ordinary person sleepy, but Bai Youyou enjoyed it greatly.

Chichu Chun chuckled and nudged Tang Xin’s shoulder, the two girls toured the second floor’s layout design with smiles and laughter.

Soon, this harmonious atmosphere was disrupted, and the group started arguing over room allocations again.

"Angelina, are you crazy?" Bai Youyou’s face was unpleasant.

"Why am I crazy, Miss of the Order Court? What’s wrong with me?" Angelina’s tone rose.

"I just want to get along with you, to improve our friendship, so I want to live next to you, is there a problem?"

"Missy, we are supposed to get along well from now on~ Let’s start with a morning wake-up service, if you can’t wake up, do I need to help you change clothes?"

Seeing Bai Youyou’s obvious disgust and discomfort, Angelina felt an indescribable pleasure, having previously been on the losing end in arguments with her, she finally found a way to irk the other, she must seize this opportunity to perform well.

"You... are unreasonable!" Bai Youyou looked at Angelina’s provocative face, biting down. This was the first time she felt such a deep sense of helplessness facing this person.

She glared fiercely at Xu Xiaoyou, not needing a second thought to know this kind of roguish behavior was definitely learned from her.

Xu Xiaoyou appeared unconcerned, whistling as she walked away.

As for Tang Xin and Chichu Chun’s room...

Tang Xin extended a finger, pointing expressionlessly at Xu Xiaoyou’s chest.

Xu Xiaoyou’s mouth twitched.

Later, Xu Xiaoyou sat alone in her room, finished browsing the guild log, confirmed everything was in order before nodding and taking off the round-framed glasses, placing them aside, rubbing her sore nose bridge.

Xu Xiaoyou had handed over guild funds allocation, daily activities, and the selection and training of talents to the glasses-wearing man’s management team; they were absolutely professional in this area. Her current state was one of near carefreeness, only getting involved in guild management when major events required decision-making, aside from having a role as a figurehead.

The Light Chasing Garden currently had nearly two thousand members, they are a level four guild, and after breaking through to level five, this number would increase several times.

Unlike other grand guilds, like Life Daylight, Frosty Winter Dawn, King Race, etc., many things could not be decided by the guild leader alone, there was a supervision team sent by the family internally, the leader’s power was restrained by the major forces behind, including but not limited to loans, declarations of war, contribution adjustments, and launching expeditions all required high-level meetings, deciding together with family elders.

However, in the Light Chasing Garden, all major affairs were decided by her alone, she was close to a dictator. Xu Xiaoyou believed firmly that only a dictator had a vision long enough, judgment sharp enough, and methods decisive enough for the machine’s operation to be closest to full power.

This night, for all the major guilds, was destined to be a sleepless one, with everyone preparing for tomorrow morning’s qualifying tournament, grand guilds assembling their men, small guilds praying for a lucky draw.

Xu Xiaoyou squeezed the last bit of money from the small treasury, opting to draw a card, and upon seeing the instant she’d drawn the , a sense of redemption arose within her.

She laid out the , , and skill cards in her hand, and felt an infinite appreciation. Great, the junkyard trio was complete, next she would once again use these three skill cards to break out of the upcoming league.

Xu Xiaoyou nodded, walking out of the room, and was somewhat surprised by the scene before her.

The first floor was dimly lit, a television screen played "Silver Wing Assassin," the flickering light casting the silhouette of two girls. Bai Youyou sat on the couch with a face full of black lines, while next to her, Angelina drank canned beer carelessly. As she reached for the popcorn bucket in the other’s arms, the black-haired girl unceremoniously swatted her hand away.

"Why be so stingy, it’s just some popcorn?" Angelina smirked, naturally draping an arm over Bai Youyou’s shoulders.

"Don’t bother me." Bai Youyou coldly watched the movie, simultaneously swatting the other’s hand away again, "Don’t talk to me, are we that familiar?"

If not for this booze-smelling individual’s deadpan persistence to follow her wherever she went, Bai Youyou could never tolerate how close the other sat.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen not far away, under the hazy white light, Chichu Chun held an eggbeater, stirring the batter in a bowl, and Tang Xin was at her side instructing her hand by hand.

"Did you add too little water, and too much flour?"

"No, it’s just right, you’re doing pretty well already."

"Really?" Chichu Chun’s eyes lit up, the girl’s praise instantly motivated her, she added more power to continue stirring.

The ding of baking resounded, the steaming cake base was out of the oven, emitting a rich aroma of milk and wheat that was tantalizingly close to the nose.

The glow in Chichu Chun’s eyes became brighter, her heart thrilled, it was the first time she had ever made a cake.

As soon as she touched the cake mold, she jumped from the heat.

Catching the red-haired girl’s eager look for help, Tang Xin smiled helplessly, gently holding the other’s hand, blew on it twice, and a soft stream of water drifted out, easing the burning sensation on the scalded part.

A Xiaohua band-aid slowly wrapped around the fingertips, Chichu Chun met those clear eyes, froze for a moment, then looked down bashfully. Sister Tang was obviously such a nice person, at first, she had even suspected her of being some dark and terrible existence...

Tang Xin took in her bashful demeanor fully, her indifferent eyes shifted, and she saw Xu Xiaoyou approaching.

"You, you’re not asleep either?"

"Want to try? Xiaoli just made a cake."

What is this, a fruit conference?

Xu Xiaoyou thought.

Chichu Chun piled a heap of cream and dried fruits onto her slice of cake, along with melted chocolate and colorful candy sprinkles, until later, the white cream surface was completely covered.

Eagerly scooping a large spoonful into her mouth, the soft cream and sweetness filled every taste bud inside, and a blush of satisfaction spread across Chichu Chun’s face.

"Eating such sweet things at night, aren’t you afraid of tooth decay, gaining weight, and insomnia?"

Xu Xiaoyou’s reminder was like a bolt from the blue for Chichu Chun.

She glanced at Tang Xin, only to find her casually taking a small spoonful from the bowl containing the cake base. Chichu Chun suddenly realized something, her expression turned incredulous, the corners of her mouth with lingering cream trembled, and even the blue-haired girl’s graceful smile became somewhat terrifying.

"You, you’re right, I, I won’t eat anymore!"

Chichu Chun hurriedly set the plate down and dashed upstairs.

Tang Xin looked puzzled: "What’s up with her?"

"Don’t bother me." Bai Youyou passed by with a black face. "Keep your distance, stay away from me."

Angelina followed closely behind, raising an eyebrow, gesturing an okay signal this way.

Xu Xiaoyou shook her head, accepted the cake plate from Tang Xin.

Tang Xin quizzically raised her eyebrows, "What happened to her?"

"Won’t happen, Xiaoli is so cute."

"I already look like that in your eyes?"

"No, Xiaoli is very cute."

She was trying to learn, Tang Xin took in Xioayou’s face fully, her indifferent eyes moved slightly, noticing Xu Xiaoyou walking towards them.

"You should get some rest, You."

She thought, what is this, a fruit council?

Chichu Chun piled the last of the small treasury’s candy onto her slice, taking spoonfuls until the cake’s white cream was covered with the toppings.

Satisfaction blossomed on Chichu Chun’s cheeks, blushing as she took a bite.

"Why so stingy, it’s just a handful of candy." Angelina’s lips curled as she nonchalantly swung her hand over Bai Youyou’s shoulder.

"Don’t bother me." Bai Youyou coldly watched the movie, swatting away the hand, "Don’t talk to me, do I even know you that well?"

If not for this person tailing her wherever she went, reeking of alcohol and shamelessly following her, she would never put up with her sitting so close to her.

At the nearby kitchen, under the dim white light, Chichu Chun was using a whisk to stir the batter in the bowl, while Tang Xin stood by, instructing her hands-on.

"Did you put enough water, and the flour, did you add too much of it?"

"No, it’s just right, you’ve done a really good job."

"Really?" Chichu Chun’s eyes brightened, invigorated by the girl’s praise, and she continued to mix vigorously.

The dinging sound of baking signaled, and the steaming cake popped out, with a rich aroma of milk and wheat lingering just near the nose.

The sparkle in Chichu Chun’s eyes grew brighter, her heart swelling with excitement; this was the first cake she ever made.

But the moment she touched the cake mold, the heat made her jump.

Realizing Chichu Chun’s desperate look for help, Tang Xin smiled in amusement, gently took the girl’s hand and blew on it twice, cooling the burn with a soft stream of water.

A band-aid with delicate patterns slowly wrapped around the fingertips, Chichu Chun caught the look in Tang Xin’s clear eyes and froze for a moment, bowing her head shyly. Sister Tang was so good-natured, she couldn’t believe that she had been so suspicious of her personality at first.

Tang Xin took in her awkward look, her calm gaze shifted, catching sight of Xu Xiaoyou approaching.

"Xiaoyou, you’re not sleeping either?"

"Want some cake? I made a lot," Chichu Chun eagerly offered, still brimming with excitement from baking her first cake.

This felt like a fruit party, didn’t it?

Xu Xiaoyou thought to herself.

Chichu Chun piled the last of her little treasure trove’s candy onto her slice of cake, until the white cream on the cake was completely covered by candy and chocolate.

Taking a bite, the rich flavors of milk and wheat burst into her taste buds, causing a delighted blush to spread across her cheeks.

"Why you got to be so stingy, it’s just some candy." Angelina pouted, nonchalantly throwing an arm around Bai Youyou’s shoulders.

"Get off me." Bai Youyou said coldly, giving the movie her full attention as she swatted the other girl’s hand away again, "We aren’t that close, are we?"

If it weren’t for the fact that wherever she went this boozy character was shamelessly tailing her, Bai Youyou would never tolerate her sitting this close.

In the dim kitchen, under the soft white glow, Chichu Chun held a whisk, stirring the batter in the bowl, while Tang Xin stood by, guiding her with a gentle touch.

"Didn’t you add a little too less water, and too much flour?"

"No, it’s just right, you’ve done really well."

"Really?" Chichu Chun’s eyes lit up, and with the girl’s praise, she began to whisk with renewed vigor.

The ding of the oven sounded, and the warm cake base emerged, filling the air with a rich fragrance of milk and wheat, delectably close to their noses.

The sparkle in Chichu Chun’s eyes gleamed brighter, her heart filled with excitement; it was the first time she’d made a cake.

Her hand barely touched the cake tin when she yelped with a start from the heat.

She shot a glance at Tang Xin, only to find her calmly taking the cake, with just a spread of soft water flowing out to soothe the burnt spot.

A slight band-aid wrapped around the burnt fingertips, and meeting Tang Xin’s calm gaze, she hesitated for a moment, ducking her head with some embarrassment. Sister Tang was so nice, she couldn’t believe she had doubted her character at first.

Tang Xin took note of her bashfulness, her indifferent gaze shifting slightly as she caught sight of Xu Xiaoyou who walked over.

"Xiaoyou, you’re not off to bed either?"

"What’s going on here, a fruit committee meeting?"

Xu Xiaoyou thought.

Tang Xin pondered quizzically, "What’s up with her?"

Angelina trailed behind, raising her eyebrows, flashing an OK gesture towards them.

Xu Xiaoyou shook her head, accepting the cake from Tang Xin: "You should rest early too, You."

Chichu Chun brightened as she placed the last candies from her golden hoard atop her slice, applying them until the white cream was completely hidden beneath candy and chocolate.

Taking a bite, the divine mixture of rich milk and wheat exploded across every taste bud in her mouth, a rosy flush of satisfaction blossomed on Chichu Chun’s cheeks.

"Why hoard everything, it’s just some candy." Angelina lifted an eyebrow, cheekily putting her arm around Bai Youyou’s shoulder.