Mature Fantasy Power Invasion

Chapter 32

Yan Huan glanced at the already seated Tong Tingting with a look that said, "Are you sure?"

Although it was a good thing that Tong Tingting—who usually lounged around the store doing nothing all day—was finally stepping up, given her reputation as the "little idea machine"...

She might just blow up Bai Yi's metaphorical fuse with a few words.

*Ding ding!*

Seeing Yan Huan still standing there, Tong Tingting pressed the bell in her hand and stared at him.

That look—if she added a pointing gesture, she’d be the spitting image of that husky emoji from her past life.

The message was clear: "Cut the crap. Go now!"

.

'Fine,' Yan Huan thought. 'Anyway, Sis Tong hasn’t had a drink yet today. Her head’s usually clear before she starts drinking. Probably.'

"Alright, I’ll go get busy then."

He raised an eyebrow but didn't argue further.

After all, the shop needed help, and Sis Tong didn’t know anything about domain expansion. He could come back anytime.

He gave Bai Yi one last look, then turned and walked away.

As Yan Huan left, the sadness inside Bai Yi—briefly soothed by a cup of hot water and some comforting words—rushed back in.

She instinctively wanted to sniffle, but under Tong Tingting’s sharp gaze, she held it in.

Ever since Yan Huan left, Tong Tingting’s gaze had grown noticeably sharper.

She exhaled, opened a cigarette box, and revealed several neatly arranged lady's cigarettes.

A flip lighter spun skillfully between the fingers of her left hand, sparking a flame that lit the cigarette she pulled out.

Beneath her slightly tilted red bangs, her eyes seemed to ignite along with the cigarette on her lips.

Through the drifting smoke, her gaze shifted from dull to lazy and alluring.

Still, Tong Tingting gave off the vibe of someone hard to get along with—a typical southern district aura.

Then, Bai Yi watched as she reached into the inside of her jacket, as if searching for something.

*Pa!*

A stun baton was placed on the table.

Bai Yi's eyes widened. She glanced cautiously at Tong Tingting, who was still rummaging.

*Pa!*

Another item—a folded butterfly knife—was slapped onto the table.

.

Seeing Tong Tingting about to pull something else from her chest, Bai Yi quickly stood up and said timidly,

"...I’ll leave right away. No need to trouble you all."

"What's the rush? Sit."

Bai Yi didn’t dare to sit, but in the end, Tong Tingting didn’t pull out a Smith & Wesson M1917—instead, she took out a small iron flask.

She even glanced more cautiously than Bai Yi in the direction Yan Huan had left, then opened the flask and took a small sip.

So it was just a drink.

But why so secretive?

Bai Yi didn’t understand, but after a moment’s hesitation, she sat back down.

After a sip of warm liquor, a satisfied look appeared on Tong Tingting’s face. Even her tone softened.

"Dressed like that this late at night—mask, sunglasses—seriously, someone might think you're a stalker. And now you want to leave? Can you even see where you're going?"

.

No joke—Bai Yi’s day really had gone just like that.

Fully geared up, she had followed Yan Huan all the way here to the southern district.

Feeling guilty, Bai Yi turned her eyes away.

"Mm, it's fine."

Hearing that, Tong Tingting immediately rolled her eyes.

"Didn’t get the hint? I meant take off the sunglasses and mask so we can talk."

"It’s not convenient."

"Oh, so you're ugly and afraid to show your face?"

.

Bai Yi lowered her head, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Seeing her stay silent, Tong Tingting suddenly leaned in closer.

'Gotcha.'

In the next second, she reached out and snatched the sunglasses right off Bai Yi’s face.

As the glasses came off, they revealed Bai Yi’s beautiful eyes—already filled with tears.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

Bai Yi was startled and tried to take the sunglasses back.

But Tong Tingting leaned back in her chair, refusing to return them, and looked somewhat surprised.

"You’re actually quite pretty. What’s there to hide?"

"I..."

"And what are you doing at a bar crying in the middle of the night? This isn’t a kiddie playground at a fried chicken joint. We don’t serve minors."

Bai Yi turned her face to the side and muttered softly,

"Didn’t your store also hire a minor part-time?"

"...You kids are all slick with words. All aiming for grad school, huh?"

Tong Tingting placed the tear-dampened sunglasses on the table and casually grabbed the ashtray from the seat behind her.

"Linmen’s part-time laws allow up to 28 hours of work per week. My hiring practices are fully legal and compliant. Got a problem with that?"

.

Flicking her ash, Tong Tingting looked down at the sunglasses on the table, her expression turning more serious.

"Weber sunglasses—over five thousand a pair. If you can afford these, you’re not from around here, are you? Where are you from? Wandering around crying at night, looking like that—don’t you know how dangerous that is? Take off the mask. Maybe I can help."

Bai Yi didn’t respond. She just reached out and took the sunglasses back.

As she stood up, she said softly,

"No need. I’m leaving now."

"Suit yourself. I’m calling the police once you're gone anyway."

Tong Tingting waved her hand dismissively, bored, and pulled out her phone to scroll through videos.

"Call the police? Why?"

Bai Yi turned around in disbelief and looked at Tong Tingting, who stared back like she was looking at an idiot.

"Are you crazy? Your phone’s broken, you’re wearing that raggedy outfit, and it doesn’t look like you’re carrying any cash. Where could you even go? Can you guarantee your safety? This is the southern district! If I don’t report it now and the police come asking questions tomorrow, it's my business on the line."

Bai Yi looked down at the phone in her hand. Its cracked screen was facing Tong Tingting—it was obvious at a glance.

She opened her mouth, but her eyes just stung more.

Tong Tingting’s concern wasn't really an issue for someone like her, someone who had a pocket watch.

But right now, she truly didn’t know where to go.

Onee-sis had gotten caught by her mom—probably because of her. Her mom would definitely be furious.

She’d argued with her mom and smashed her phone in anger. Now she had no cash, no way to pay for anything, and no one to turn to.

.

Thinking about it, Bai Yi couldn’t stop the tears from falling again.

She didn’t know what to do, yet she still kept trying to leave.

Why?

Because she didn’t want to go home—not even a little.

She just wanted to hide somewhere her mother would never find her.

Two silent tears slid down her cheeks. Her grip on the pocket watch tightened.

Tong Tingting had still been looking at her phone, but suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.

She frowned and put down her phone. From the corner of her eye, she saw the girl now standing, her eyes filled with tears—as if a few words had been enough to make her cry.

???

'Wait, girl, you—'

'You’re crying already?'

"For f’s sake..."

Just as she was about to curse, Yan Huan’s voice called from the cashier,

"Thanks, that'll be 298. Plane or—"

Tong Tingting’s usual Cantonese sass instantly vanished. She straightened up and tapped her cigarette on the ashtray in awkward silence.

She hooked a finger at the still-crying Bai Yi and said softly,

"You’re still young—if you came here crying, it’s probably 80% family drama, 20% school stress."

(*) Note for line 65: Linmen is likely a fictional or local city where the story is set, with specific labor laws.

(*) Note for line 68: Weber is likely a fictional or luxury brand of sunglasses used to indicate the character's wealth.

(*) Note for line 100: The 80/20 split is a colloquial way to estimate the cause of someone’s distress.

Bai Yi looked up in a daze at Tong Tingting, meeting her scrutinizing gaze.

Tong Tingting gave a slight smile and said,

"Got it right—it's because of problems at home?"

"Mm."

"What's the big deal? I'm not young anymore and still argue with my family every day. They used to look down on me, and it's still the same now. In their eyes, there's always something wrong with me. But look at me—I'm still doing just fine. Eating well, drinking well, and admiring handsome guys."

Bai Yi blinked. Her expression shifted slightly at Tong Tingting's words.

After a brief silence, she sat back down across from Tong Tingting and slowly removed her mask.

Tong Tingting glanced over, raising an eyebrow in surprise.

The girl sitting in front of her was truly beautiful.

"That’s because you’ve already grown up and can be independent. My situation’s a bit different from yours."

Tong Tingting took a sip of alcohol and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I’ll understand once I reach your age."

"That’s not what I meant."

Bai Yi sniffled and said,

"I just don’t know how to get along with my mom. All I want is a little affirmation from her. But to get that, I have to give so, so much of myself. Every time, she just compares me to other people. Sometimes, I wonder if she even wants me—or just someone better."

"So, you don’t want to live such an exhausting life, but you still crave her approval?"

"."

Bai Yi didn’t reply, but Tong Tingting propped up her cheek and asked,

"What about your dad?"

Bai Yi shook her head and said,

"My mom remarried. Uncle is always busy with work and rarely comes home."

"How does he treat you?"

"Actually... he’s good. He’s not like my mom—at least he listens to me."

As she drank, Tong Tingting’s eyes suddenly lit up like two small light bulbs.

She raised a finger and grinned.

"Hey, I’ve got an idea!"

"Huh?"

Bai Yi opened her mouth, about to say something, when she sensed someone approaching.

She turned and saw the expressionless Yan Huan walking over.

"Sis Tong."

Tong Tingting’s cheerful expression froze as she held up her finger mid-thought.

She quickly dropped her hand, curled her lips, and turned to Bai Yi with open palms.

"Well, there it goes."

She stubbed out the remaining half of her cigarette in the ashtray.

Tong Tingting quietly pulled the flask on the table back into her arms. Yan Huan glanced at Bai Yi—now maskless and without sunglasses—and looked surprised.

"Wait a sec, why do you look kinda familiar... are you Bai Yi from our school?"

His expression slowly shifted from surprise to excitement.

"Ah, ah?"

Bai Yi froze, looking a little nervous.

"No... I... um..."

'Yan Huan actually recognizes me?'

She avoided his gaze, about to stammer out a reply, when Tong Tingting asked,

"She’s your classmate?"

"Not just that—she’s a celebrity. She’s even acted in movies. I’m a fan of hers. She sings really well. It’s just a pity she rarely comes to school."

'A s-singing fan?'

Bai Yi’s face turned bright red in an instant. She looked up at Yan Huan and asked in disbelief,

"Yan Huan... no, President Yan, have you really heard the songs I wrote?"

Tong Tingting blinked, her gaze bouncing between Bai Yi’s blushing face and Yan Huan’s smiling one.

Same schoolmates. Handsome boy and pretty girl. Idol and fan. A good-looking, age-matched couple...

*Tsk.*

'Why does it feel like I’m the shady older woman tricking a young boy?!'

"Of course."

Yan Huan nodded with a smile, opened his phone, launched his music app, and showed her his playlist.

In a playlist titled "Bai Yi" were two songs—both sung by her.

[PS: He’d actually added them just that afternoon in the car. But now, he acted like a longtime fan who’d been listening for years.]

"I’ve been following you for a long time. When I heard you were enrolling at Yuanyue, I thought it was awesome—just a shame we haven’t run into each other once this semester."

(*) Yuanyue is the name of the school Bai Yi and Yan Huan attend.

Ten-year veteran fan, showing up uninvited!

'So, the Yan Huan Mom keeps going on about—'

'Turns out he’s a fan of the songs she looks down on the most?!'

"But it’s been a while since you released a new song, and I was wondering—"

"I will! I’ll be uploading a new one very soon!!"

Bai Yi cut him off before he could finish, blurting it out.

"Is that so."

Bai Yi’s heart pounded wildly. At that moment, she wished she could record every word Yan Huan was saying.

'Then whenever Mom complains about Yan Huan again, I’ll just play her this video!'

'No!'

'I’ll have to record it and play it on loop by her bedside every night!'

Feeling Bai Yi’s intense gaze, Yan Huan realized his guess had been right.

Earlier, he’d overheard Bai Yi arguing with her mother outside, though he hadn’t caught her mom’s words.

From her reactions, he inferred she disliked being pushed into other activities.

In recent years, she’d joined many variety shows and films, but none were her own choices. Yan Huan guessed what she truly loved was singing, even if it wasn’t trendy right now.

As for why she disliked him...

Yan Huan had picked up on subtle hints during her conversation with Tong Tingting.

It probably had something to do with her mother.

"Is that so, then that’s—"

"Hey, hey, you two, hold up a sec."

The atmosphere was starting to feel like a scene from a youth romance where the leads meet for the first time.

Tong Tingting, nearly at her wit’s end, rubbed her temples and quickly interrupted.

"Isn’t the real issue that she ran off to the southern district alone? You’re a celebrity, your family’s rich, and you still enrolled in Yuanyue—and now you’ve run away from home?"

"Mm."

Bai Yi nodded sheepishly.

Tong Tingting’s eyes lit up again, her face full of another “great idea.”

"Then it’s simple—call your family right now and have them pick you up."

"No, I can’t!"

Bai Yi immediately refused. She clutched the pocket watch in her hand tightly. The once-still hands of the watch began to tremble.

*Tick... tick... tick...*

The sound echoed like dripping water. Maybe it was just an illusion, but even the background chatter of the customers seemed to slow.

'No. I don’t want to hear Mom deny me again.'

'If it ends up like before again...'

Sensing her rising urge to use the modifier, Yan Huan’s pupils contracted slightly. He quickly interrupted Tong Tingting, who was starting to get annoyed.

"No need to rush—just sit here and think it through a bit more."

And once again, her brilliant idea was rejected by the handsome boy and beautiful girl, making a vein pop on Tong Tingting’s forehead.

Her hands itched—the kind of itch only a stun baton could satisfy.

"She can’t stay out forever, right? It’s a hassle to be out here, and I can’t take responsibility if she stays in the shop."

Bai Yi clenched the hem of her skirt. Of course she knew this kind of standoff couldn’t last forever.

"Sis Tong! Something’s up over here—can you come take a look?"

Just then, Tian Li’s voice called from behind the bar, making Tong Tingting’s already annoyed mood even worse.

She scratched at her red hair, then stood up with a grumble.

"Fine, fine. You two are the smart ones—talk it out. I’m just an old lady who can’t keep up with your genius brainwaves."

As Tong Tingting walked off, Yan Huan turned to Bai Yi with a warm expression and asked,

"By the way, are you going to the weekend game expo too, Bai Yi? Will you be singing there?"

"Ai."

Bai Yi paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"Probably not. I'm just going to meet everyone."

"I see."

"I've never sung in public before, and I haven't been to a recording studio in a long time."

"Really? That's such a pity. I was hoping to hear you sing. The student council accountant had two tickets, and I asked for one just to see you."

Yan Huan smiled slightly as he pulled a ticket from his pocket—the one Yaqiao Mu had given him—and showed it to Bai Yi, his tone tinged with regret.

Bai Yi's pupils contracted slightly. She glanced at Yan Huan, then quickly looked away.

The weekend event was scheduled for Sunday, with rehearsals on Friday and coordination starting Thursday. And now, it was already Wednesday night.

Besides, her mother would never agree to let her sing there.

After all, to her mother, her songs were nothing more than childish amateur attempts.

But Yan Huan had gone out of his way to get a ticket—just to see her?

For some reason, the resistance in her heart began to waver. The idea of going home and participating in the weekend event slowly took root.

"Xiaohuan, over here!"

"Coming, just a sec!"

"Hurry! It's urgent!"

Staying here any longer would only get in the way.

Bai Yi opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then whispered to Yan Huan,

"If I call my mother later, could you talk to her for me?"

Yan Huan turned and raised an eyebrow.

"Of course."

"..."

"You want to call your mom?"

"Mm."

Yan Huan smiled and handed her his phone. Bai Yi reached out with her fair fingers and began dialing.

*Click*—the call started dialing.

Yan Huan took the phone back and held it to his ear. A few seconds later, the call connected.

"Hello? Hi, Auntie? Is this Bai Yi's mother? I'm her classmate, Yan Huan. Here's the thing..."

As she listened to Yan Huan's polite tone, Bai Yi lowered her head, not daring to listen. She was afraid of hearing her mother scold her.

At that moment, her stomach let out a loud growl.

*Gululu~*

Her face turned bright red, and she quickly covered her stomach with both hands.

She had only eaten once that morning at her best friend's house and had been out all day. By evening, she was starving.

She sneaked a glance at Yan Huan. Seeing that he was still talking on the phone and hadn’t noticed her embarrassment, she let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Alright, I'll hand the phone over to her now."

As the call neared its end, Yan Huan said this and passed the phone back to Bai Yi.

Bai Yi shrank back slightly, hesitant to take it.

But when she looked at Yan Huan, she paused, then reached out and accepted the phone.

"Hello."

"Stay where you are. I'll come pick you up. Get ready for tomorrow; there's an event this weekend."

No scolding, no emotion. Zuo Jiangqin’s voice was cold and mechanical—like a system notification.

That coldness pierced Bai Yi’s heart. She opened her mouth and replied quietly,

"Mm."

But deep down, she was filled with regret—regret for making the call in the first place.

*Doo doo doo~*

The call ended.

Bai Yi felt completely drained. She handed the phone back to Yan Huan and, after a moment, finally whispered,

"Thank you."

"No problem. Sit here for a bit. I still have something to do."

"Mm."

Bai Yi nodded.

It wasn’t until Yan Huan had left that her emotions started to flood back.

What if she ended up arguing with her mother again after going home?

Or worse—what if they didn’t even fight? What if her mother had already given up on her?

Maybe she really wasn’t meant to sing. Maybe her dream had always been just a fantasy.

Maybe she had no talent. No one would ever like her songs.

She hated it.

Other people’s judgments.

'It would be better if I didn’t exist.'

But wasn’t that already what she was now?

She had 'No Concern'—yet she still felt this much pain.

(*) 'No Concern' could be a reference to an emotional state or a specific title/ability within the story's context.

'If that’s the case…'

'Why should I be the one to disappear?'

'Wouldn’t it be better if everyone else did instead?'

*Kakakaka*

As that dark thought surfaced, the clock in her hand began spinning faster.

The hour hand, which had been still, began to tremble—as if something within her had awakened.

Around her, the clocks on the walls inside the pub began to slow, as if being pulled down by a mysterious force leaking out of her.

*Tick tock tick tock tick tock... tick tock tick tock... tick tock.*

*Tock.*

Just as Bai Yi was lost in thought, a plate suddenly appeared in front of her.

She snapped out of it. The cold aura around her vanished instantly.

Bai Yi looked up. A plate of caramel pudding had been placed before her.

Pudding?

She turned and saw Yan Huan smiling beside her.

"I..."

Looking at the pudding, Bai Yi quickly raised her broken phone.

"Thank you... but my phone is broken. I’ll pay you back when my mom gets here."

"No need. You were hungry earlier, right? Go ahead and eat."

"Eh?"

He had heard her stomach growl?

Bai Yi’s face turned crimson. She looked flustered and didn’t know what to do.

Just then, Tong Tingting’s voice called out again from across the room,

"Xiaohuan! Come take the money and print the receipt!"

Bai Yi opened her mouth to say something, but Yan Huan raised a finger to his lips.

"Shhh. I made it for you secretly. If Sis Tong finds out, I’m in trouble."

(*) 'Sis Tong' is a casual way of referring to an older female acquaintance or coworker, commonly used in East Asian cultures.

"That’s too much... I..."

Yan Huan smiled gently and said,

"I’m your fan. What’s wrong with treating my idol to something to eat?"

Fa...fan?!

I...

Bai Yi felt her breath quicken. She quickly bowed her head and murmured,

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Yan Huan smiled and turned to leave, but then paused and looked back.

"Oh right, Bai Yi."

"Huh?"

Bai Yi looked up at him, unsure of what he was about to say.

Yan Huan turned his head and said sincerely, "Your songs are really beautiful. I’m looking forward to your next upload—and good luck this weekend. I’ll be there to see you live."

"Xiaohuan!"

"Coming!"

Bai Yi simply stared at Yan Huan, watching as he responded and walked off to attend to his own tasks.

Yet his words seemed to linger in the air, drifting along with the scent of the caramel pudding he had left behind, infusing the space with a soft vanilla aroma.

Feeling a little hungry, she parted her lips slightly and gently scooped a spoonful into her mouth.

The perfectly sweet richness blossomed on her tongue, echoing the warmth of the words she had just heard.

As expected, everything he wanted to say was hidden in that pudding.

This was the first time Bai Yi had ever heard someone say they liked her songs.

Her mother's voice of denial still rang in her ears. The endless daily comparisons had filled her with resentment—

Resentment toward that boy who had always been better than her in every way.

Yet she never imagined that the recognition she had longed for would come from the very boy she had grown to despise.

"Wuwu... wuwu..." *(*sound of quiet sobbing*)*

After just one bite, her head drooped, and silent tears began to fall.

The pocket watch in her hand seemed to melt into the pudding, its hands slowing down with visible reluctance.

*Tick-tock... tick-tock...*

Then, everything fell into complete silence.

[End of this chapter]