"Yesterday or the day before..."

Bai Yi felt silly as soon as she asked that.

Come to think of it, just now she thought she was acting very aloof.

But in reality, before, she always ignored Sakuragi Hitomi’s attempts to start a conversation. She wouldn’t have responded like she just did.

Perhaps it was because of this that Sakuragi Hitomi hadn’t been able to tell her about this earlier...

Besides, Bai Yi had already deleted that person’s plane.

"Okay, got it..."

"Hmm, as long as you know."

Speaking, Sakuragi Hitomi nodded, picked up a cup of hot water, and was about to head out.

"Wait, Sakuragi... why are you telling me this..."

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, Sakuragi Hitomi turned back and looked at Bai Yi, then turned around.

When she seriously talks to others, she always does it like this, face-to-face, making eye contact.

Maybe it’s because of her upbringing, but it always makes people feel her sincerity,

"Rather, why wouldn’t I tell you this?"

"..."

"We’re not enemies, and you haven’t used the modifier for anything bad, right?"

Bai Yi blinked, looking at Sakuragi Hitomi, who was smiling, and felt a slight shiver in her heart.

"Alright, go check it out... good luck with the upcoming variety show."

"Hmm..."

Bai Yi dumbly waved her hand, watching the small but formidable Sakuragi Hitomi leave.

Not just her, but also Yan Huan on her shoulder, as she watched Sakuragi Hitomi leave, couldn’t help but feel a tug at her heart.

There’s actually a very counterintuitive phenomenon:

The closer you are to someone you know well, the more you overlook the good qualities they possess.

The same goes for lovers, family, and friends.

The closer the relationship, the more fixed your perception becomes.

But sometimes, looking at them from a third-party perspective can surprisingly reveal new shining points about them.

Just like Yan Huan at this moment.

Being around Hitomi for a long time, she slowly forgot what initially attracted her.

Instead, the impression left was all about Hitomi’s frailty and her insecurity.

Only at critical moments, like when chaos erupted after she ’died’...

Or in subtle moments when she wasn’t present, like now...

Only then could you see the good she kept hidden.

"Phew..."

Watching her leave, Yan Huan took a deep breath.

Although she was by Bai Yi’s side, she suddenly inexplicably missed Hitomi a bit.

Not sure if... after being gone in reality across time and space for so long, would she be worried about me.

Yan Huan, oh Yan Huan, you’re really...

"Alright meow, we should con..."

Even so, Yan Huan shook her head and turned to Bai Yi.

She saw Bai Yi, hands on her hips, nose in the air, wearing a victorious expression, pointing at the spot Sakuragi Hitomi just left, saying smugly,

"Yan Ye, not only did I not use the modifier for anything bad, but I also used it to save Yan Huan!

"Far better than her... oh no, better than them all!"

"..."

Yan Huan covered her face, speechless.

At least Bai Yi, after her big win, was ready to take action.

Yet before activating Indifference, she pouted as if compromising to Yan Huan, saying,

"But... well, fine, I’ll let you stop calling her ’loser-chan.’"

Do you even need permission for that?!

"Hurry and start, meow!!"

"I know, alright!"

With that, Bai Yi finally started winding her pocket watch.

"Tick-tock... tick-tock..."

In an instant, an invisible wave covered Bai Yi’s body, making her semi-transparent.

She then swaggered out of the hallway, looking towards Lemon’s temporary dressing room.

"Click~"

She pushed the door open, looked around the empty room, and let out a light hum,

"Yan Ye, once I steal back my sheet music, I’m going to teach her a good lesson."

"Like what?"

Yan Huan didn’t wait for Bai Yi to go on and flew to the tables around, helping her search.

"Hmm... let me think... make her trip and fall?"

"...don’t have kids do such things."

"You..."

Bai Yi realized she was being called childish.

While Bai Yi was searching for something, her ears perked up, catching a voice outside...

Her own voice.

"Oh, why can’t I... summon my pocket watch?"

Hmm?

Upon hearing this, Bai Yi, who was in Indifference mode, blinked and turned her head towards the door.

Since acquiring this magical ability at the start of the spring semester, she’d gotten into the habit of regularly summoning the pocket watch to hold onto.

Most of the time, even without activating Indifference or Time Stop, she’d keep it in her hand.

But right now, she didn’t recall ever having trouble summoning the pocket watch...

Could it be...

Was it because she traveled here?

Bai Yi furrowed her brow, looking at the constantly moving minute hand on her pocket watch, maintaining the Indifference effect, as she thought.

She couldn’t figure it out for the moment, planning to mention it to Yan Ye later for his insight...

As she was about to set the pocket watch aside and continue her search...

Two files appeared in her view, markedly different from other entertainment industry documents.

"Hmm, what’s this?"

She instinctively picked them up and began to carefully read them.

Surprised by what she read, her eyes narrowed slightly.

The top read:

"Zuo Jiangqin, illegally entered the country, records with the immigration missing a visa, criminal records; later married Jiang Xiong, obtaining legal status in Linmen through marriage..."

"Bai Letian, detained in Linmen Second Prison, faced with charges of fraud, illegal fundraising, among other accusations, sentenced to 22 years in prison...."

In silence, her gaze fell onto the second file.

Reading that unfamiliar name made Bai Yi’s breath catch.

Blinking, she pondered for a moment...

Although unrelated to the sheet music she was looking for, Bai Yi still folded the two files and tucked them into her chest.

"Ah, found it meow."

Just then, Yan Huan located the sheet music, holding it in her mouth, and spoke.