Ch. 107 - Even Advisors Have Secrets

“What’s that face for? Afraid I’ve stumbled onto your little secret?” Ji Niang’s smile didn’t falter, her eyes reading me like an open book. “Relax. It’s just [Transcendent Knowledge]. I’m not about to go coveting your toys. In fact, I’ll help you keep it under wraps—maybe even help you study that untapped power.”

She’d clearly caught the shift in my expression. She knew exactly how much weight that talent carried. It was obvious Bai Yu had already given me the ‘talk’ about how dangerous that kind of power could be; otherwise, I wouldn’t be looking like I’d just seen a ghost.

“Then… thank you, Ma'am,” I managed to squeak out.

I let out a breath, but the relief was minimal. People say one thing and think another all the time. Bai Yu had made it clear: this talent was a target on my back. If someone wanted to steal it, would they have to kill me first? The thought sent a chill straight to my marrow.

“No need for ‘thank yous’ with me, darling. It’s part of the job,” Ji Niang chirped. “Oh, right! This is my first time as an advisor, so I probably need to set up a group chat for the class. I’m leaving that in your capable hands, Madam President. Consider it your first official assignment: find your classmates and get them into the chat.”

“Wait, what? But Ma'am!” I panicked. I’d barely set foot on campus. “How am I supposed to do that? I don't even know who they are, let alone where to find them!”

“Don’t stress. I’ll finalize your appointment as Section 14’s lead in the system. Once that’s done, you’ll get ‘Presidential Access’ on your phone. You’ll be able to see the basic profiles of everyone in your cohort. Just go from there.”

“Okay… I’m on it,” I said, trying to sound a lot more confident than I felt.

As long as there was a system to follow, I could manage. Hopefully, it all depended on whether my new classmates were actually willing to cooperate, which was always a toss-up.

“I’ve got high hopes for you. Oh, and don’t forget to add me to the group. If I have any announcements, that’s where I’ll drop them.” Ji Niang checked her watch, already looking ready to vanish. “Anyway, I’ve got things to do. See you around.”

“Goodbye, Ma'am. Have a good one!”

I didn’t stop smiling until she was out of sight. The moment she vanished, the "polite student" mask crumbled. She seemed nice enough, but the pressure she radiated was suffocating.

“Phew… Bai Yu, that woman is terrifying,” I said, leaning my head against Bai Yu’s shoulder—a little peace offering for ignoring her while I was busy dealing with the whirlwind that was Ji Niang.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” Bai Yu said, her voice softening instantly. She leaned into me, but her eyes remained sharp. “If anything happens, anything at all, you call me. And Yuehan? Keep your guard up around her.”

“Is she really that dangerous?”

I knew Bai Yu had a history with her, and given the cold shoulder she’d been giving the professor, I figured Ji Niang had done something to earn that distrust.

“It’s not just her,” Bai Yu said, looking down as if lost in a dark memory. “She might actually be sincere about helping you, but you need to be careful with every Transcendence instructor in this academy. None of them are exactly what they seem.”

“I hear you. I’ll be careful,” I promised. Then, a nagging thought resurfaced. “But Bai Yu… she already knows about the [Transcendent Knowledge]. Is that really going to be okay?”

“It has to be,” Bai Yu said, though her voice lacked its usual certainty. “I can’t say for sure. Just… remember what I said. If something feels off, contact me. I don’t care where I am—I’ll get to you.”

She sounded frustrated, almost powerless. It was a strange look on her. And it hit me right then: in a world of scripts and shifting shadows, she was the only one truly in my corner.

“Well, if I’ve got you in my corner, I guess I’ve got nothing to worry about! Come on—now that the enrollment drama is basically over, let's go have some actual fun.”

“Deal,” Bai Yu said, her mood brightening instantly. “Let’s hit the campus mall. We need to get you a new wardrobe for the semester. You’re a Class President now, Yuehan; you can’t keep running around in the temporary outfits I threw together for you.”

“You know what? You're totally right!”

For once, I was 100% on board with a shopping spree. Usually, the idea of spending hours in stores sounds like a nightmare, but if the mission is to find cute girls' clothes? Sign me up.

Plus, I was actually sitting on a decent pile of cash. The academy provides a generous stipend for male students, and I had more than enough to splurge.

Besides, my "Witchification" was progressing... noticeably. My chest had reached a point where my old tops were starting to feel a bit claustrophobic. I definitely needed to size up if I wanted to breathe properly.

“Hehe~ I’m going to find the cutest dresses they have!”

“Go for it,” Bai Yu laughed. “I’ll buy you whatever you want. You look gorgeous in everything anyway.”

“Okay, let’s not exaggerate, Bai Yu. I have some self-awareness. But seriously, you’re not paying this time. I’ve got my own money now!”

“Your own money?” Bai Yu paused, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Yuehan, where did you get cash? You didn’t… behind my back…”

“Stop right there!” I cut her off before her imagination could run wild. Given that we’d literally just left Charm Alley, I knew exactly where her head was going. I lowered my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “It’s the stipend, okay? The 'Male Student Support Fund.'”

“Oh. Right. That,” she said, looking visibly relieved. “I almost forgot about that.”

“Uh-huh. And what exactly did you think I was doing?” I teased, planting my hands on my hips and giving her my best provocative look.

“I… uh… well…” Bai Yu rubbed the back of her neck, looking genuinely sheepish. “Okay, okay! My bad. I have a dirty mind. Tell you what—to make it up to you, today is still on me. Keep your stipend for a rainy day.”

“Wait, no! That’s way too much—”

“Consider it a formal apology for doubting your virtue!”

“Bai Yu, seriously, it’s not that deep!”

I facepalmed. At this rate, I was going to be in her debt for the rest of my life. I know people say you shouldn't worry about what you owe your best friend, but this was getting ridiculous. I was starting to feel a massive wave of "friendship guilt." How was I ever supposed to pay her back for all of this?

“Decision made! No arguments!”

Bai Yu ignored my protests and grabbed my hand. Today had been an emotional rollercoaster—from the creepy alley to the mystery advisor—and she clearly needed to blow off some steam. What better therapy than turning me into her personal dress-up doll?

I hopped onto the back of her broom, sitting sideways as we took off toward a new part of the map.

This time, Bai Yu headed for Witch’s Plaza. It was a massive commercial district, a sprawling complex that acted as the heart of the academy’s social life. 

Even from the air, the architecture was breathtaking—everything seemed to orbit around a central landmark like planets around a sun.

I felt like a total tourist. Everything here was so much more vibrant and sophisticated than anything I’d seen in my past life.

The sky was buzzing with upperclassmen on brooms, all converging on the plaza like it was the place to be.

“Here we are,” Bai Yu said as we began our descent. “The famous Witch’s Plaza. Once you make some more friends, this is where you’ll be spending all your weekends.”

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