At school, the search headquarters for the Miss Bubble case continued its investigation.
Xinghai was also anxious on Fan Li’s behalf, fearing that Sa Ke might have another sudden whim and drag her off for more blood tests. One day, he simply asked Ye Jia to take him and Fan Li to visit Miss Bubble’s family to look for new clues. Ye Jia agreed without hesitation.
More than seven months had passed, and Lu Qiudeng, Miss Bubble’s father, still hadn’t moved past the grief of losing his daughter. Entering their home, Fan Li noticed three large, artistic portraits of Luweiya in the living room. However, Luweiya was absent from the family photo; it only featured Lu Qiudeng, Mrs. Lu, and their young son. Fan Li placed the candies she had bought on the table—because they were lightweight, the candies floated inside the box, immediately catching the young son’s eye. He stole a glance at his parents, wagged his little tail, and rushed over to grab a handful of candy, stuffing them into his mouth.
“What are you doing?!” Mrs. Lu happened to see this. She dove over, slapped his hand hard, and sent the candies flying. “How many times has Mommy told you? No sweets! If you eat sweets again, you’re not having dinner!”
“What a cute child. Why won’t you let him eat sweets?” Ye Jia asked curiously. Although Miss Bubble was his cousin-in-law, this was his first time visiting her maiden home.
“His mother and I are quite strict with him,” Lu Qiudeng said, patting his son’s head. “He just can’t seem to control his little mouth.”
“What about Luweiya? Were you strict with her?”
“Not at all. I pampered Luweiya like she was my own flesh and blood,” Mrs. Lu said, glancing at Luweiya’s photo and sighing.
“Your own flesh and blood?” Fan Li caught the keyword. “Was Luweiya not your biological daughter?”
Lu Qiudeng looked embarrassed. Mrs. Lu, however, spoke candidly. “No, she was the daughter of my husband’s ex-wife. I was very lucky; I married a husband and gained two children.”
The case had been going on for so long, yet such a vital piece of information had been overlooked. If Mrs. Lu wasn’t Miss Bubble’s biological mother, many things started to make sense. Fan Li probed further: “Mr. Lu, do you believe Luweiya committed suicide?”
“No. My daughter’s life was just beginning. Why would she want to kill herself?”
Lu Qiudeng was the first to speak, and Mrs. Lu followed with a denial. Fan Li then turned to the young son. “What do you think? Is it possible your sister committed suicide?”
The son looked at his parents and shook his head.
No matter how many times they were asked, this was always their answer.
Fan Li had always felt that the dynamic between Miss Bubble and her father was unusual. Her own father, Papa Fan, had once said: “Daughter, I don’t want you to achieve ‘Chinese-style success.’ When you marry, don’t marry up for status, and don’t settle for less. Just find a devoted man who loves you.”
Fan Li felt that was true fatherly love.
Even though Lu Qiudeng constantly told the media that his daughter was his treasure, his little princess, that his son wasn’t important and his daughter was the successful one, was it really love to repeatedly use her fame for publicity and keep her in a state of suppressed "peak performance"?
Furthermore, he kept emphasizing that his son wasn’t important, yet he was so strict with the boy that he wouldn’t even let him eat sweets. That didn't look like a lack of concern.
Lu Qiudeng’s so-called “love” felt insincere and bizarre.
And this bizarreness became even clearer after learning that the young son and Miss Bubble did not share the same biological mother.
Because she kept thinking about this, Fan Li suffered from insomnia and didn't fall asleep until half-past two in the morning. When she woke up the next day, she was already late for class. She rushed to school, only then realizing she had forgotten to drink her transformation potion.
It was a terrible day. She was worried that her appearance had changed too much for people to notice, and between the thoughts of Miss Bubble and the lack of sleep, she was exhausted. During class, she fell asleep leaning on Xinghai’s shoulder. Then, she had a dream about Miss Bubble.
In the dream, she swam toward the school’s entrance exam thesis submission point and placed a stack of papers on top of the assignment box. The box opened its mouth and “ate” her thesis. At the same time, someone behind her saw the student’s name on the cover and whispered, “So, you’re Fan Li, the top scorer from the Stormy Sea?”
Looking up, she saw it was actually Miss Bubble. The surrounding students cast envious or complicated looks at Fan Li, but Fan Li’s reaction was flat. “Yes.”
“I’ve heard much about you,” Miss Bubble said softly. “My name is Luweiya. I’ve been having some emotional difficulties lately. I was wondering if it would be convenient for you to help me find some answers?”
“I can help with academics, but probably not with emotions. I know nothing about that. I suggest you find an emotional counselor or Professor Bu Ke. The latter might be better.”
“I’ve asked many people, but no one has an answer. I’ve also asked Professor Bu Ke. Talking to him made me feel comfortable in the moment, but the problem remains unsolved,” Miss Bubble said humbly. “Please, at least listen to my problem first.”
“I’ll try.” Fan Li used a soundproofing spell to encircle them. “Go ahead.”
Then, Miss Bubble told her all about her relationship problems. While dating the Seaweed senior, they were always fighting over trivial matters. Moreover, based on family background and appearance alone, everyone said the Seaweed senior wasn't good enough for her. After her father’s company faced a capital chain rupture, the senior was even more at a loss. She was in pain every day, but the Seaweed senior could do nothing but comfort her and keep her company. Even so, she never thought about breaking up; she was just in a constant slump. That was until Bu Keni began to pursue her aggressively, opening a window to a new world for her. He showed her the charm of high society and gave her a level of maturity and pampering that was worlds apart from the Seaweed senior. But the Seaweed senior was her first boyfriend, and she didn't want to break up.
She had asked her father. Lu Qiudeng said, *“Daddy can’t help you with this sort of thing. As your father, I will respect your wishes and give you my greatest blessings regardless of who you are with.”*
She said, *“I feel like I only like Bu Keni’s money and status...”*
Her father said, *“Darling, you’re thinking too lowly of yourself. A man’s looks aren’t important at all; what matters is his capability. Do you think that little boyfriend of yours truly loves you? When such a big thing happened to our family, what did he do for you?”*
She was momentarily speechless.
Her father added, *“I think I see stars in your eyes when you look at Bu Keni, but not when you look at that boyfriend. However, being with Bu Keni requires you to endure a lot. Daddy doesn't want you to take this step.”*
At school, everyone thought she was single. Coupled with the unique nature of Bu Keni’s identity, she had no one to talk to about her feelings and could only turn to her father. She felt very sorry for her father because her emotions were so volatile during that time; she felt she shouldn't dump all her terrible feelings on him like trash—he was already working so hard for the company’s recovery. However, instead of blaming her, her father said something that made her very sad.
*“I’m sorry, Luweiya. Daddy hasn't done well enough. I used to think that no matter how hard it got, Daddy would earn enough to take care of my little princess so she could beautifully marry the boy she loves. I didn't expect the company to run into such trouble... Anyway, don't worry about the business. Just focus on chasing your true love.”*
She had been hesitant, but after hearing her father’s words, she felt he was right. A boyfriend who couldn't help with anything and only knew how to provide company wasn't true love. True love was tolerance and sacrifice, regardless of looks or age.
In the end, she dumped the Seaweed senior and chose Bu Keni.
After actually being with Bu Keni, she became even more convinced that he was her destiny. With a wave of his hand, he solved all her difficulties. His performance during mating allowed her to experience what passion truly was.
But as time passed, she felt something was missing, and she couldn't help but lose her temper with Bu Keni. She desperately told herself: *A man who can provide both passion and material security—isn't that true love? What exactly am I dissatisfied with?*
There was no answer.
Having reached this point in the story, Miss Bubble looked at Fan Li mournfully. “I’ve asked many people, and their answer is always ‘follow your heart.’ But I don’t even know what I’m thinking or what I want.”
“I believe you truly don’t know what you want. But I don’t think you’ll want to hear the truth.”
“I do!”
“The truth is cruel. You won't be able to take it.”
Miss Bubble was stunned for a moment, then she clasped her hands and said nervously, “It’s fine. I want to hear it.”
“Alright.” Fan Li turned to face her directly. “Everyone defines ‘love’ differently. It’s a broad concept, so we won’t discuss it here. Let’s talk about the ‘passion’ you mentioned. If you think your ‘passion’ for Bu Keni is equivalent to ‘sexual desire,’ then our understanding might differ. All desires are very similar and easily confused. ‘Desire’ is not the same as ‘sexual desire.’ This is simply a desire to be conquered by material wealth, triggered after Bu Keni provided massive resources and solved your father’s crisis. Offering a male the chance to conceive in exchange for resources to ensure a wealthy environment for offspring is a biological instinct for all females. But this is just a transaction; it has nothing to do with love. Your father is also trying hard to convince you that you love Bu Keni, but instinct doesn't lie. Once the transaction is over, instinct tells you that without the material halo that guarantees your offspring’s security, Bu Keni is just an elderly male whose looks fall severely short of your standards. You have no shared experiences, no shared childhood memories, and you are mentally incompatible. You can only lower your posture by looking at him with ‘stars in your eyes,’ displaying a submissive state that satisfies his male ego to ensure he marries you and gives you more material security. However, whether he is your optimal choice from the perspective of reproductive ability or genetics... your anxiety has already given you the answer.”
Miss Bubble turned pale, but she still nodded. “That makes sense. But when you say my father is trying to convince me, I have to disagree. My father loves me very much and has always respected me. Regarding choosing a partner, I firmly believe in the traditional saying—listen to your parents, and you won't go wrong. Parents won't harm you.”
“Harm you? Perhaps not. But saying he’s considering your best interests isn't convincing. Unless he controlled his instincts and didn't persuade you to be with Bu Keni. But based on your description, your father’s actions are all following his own instincts. Parents’ aesthetics are different from ours. Compared to a beautiful and smart partner, they prefer one with abundant resources because it’s better for bringing honor to the family.”
“Nonsense. My offspring are also their descendants. How could parents not care about the quality of their own descendants? My father and I are in the same boat.”
“Have you noticed that in most cultures, a man often wavers between two types of women: one with a good family background but average looks, and one with a poor background but beautiful looks? When faced with this choice, why do men always prefer the latter, while their mothers prefer the former?”
“Because the mother-in-law is jealous of the daughter-in-law?”
“Of course not. How can you be so cute?” Fan Li smiled. “It’s because a grandchild only inherits 25% of the grandmother’s genes, but the son sees 50% of his own genes in the child. Naturally, the son cares more about the partner’s genes than the mother does. If you flip the genders, that’s the situation between you and your father.”
Miss Bubble was stunned. A long time later, she whispered, “After I got together with Bu Keni, I wanted to wash the dishes, but Daddy wouldn't let me. He told me: ‘Now, you are the treasure of our family.’”
Fan Li thought for a moment and said, “You have siblings, right?”
“Yes, I have a younger brother.”
“Then that’s it,” Fan Li said flatly. “Once you marry into the Bu clan, your brother, who gains the Bu clan’s resources and connections, can receive the best education and become a male at the top of the food chain. He can use those resources to cast a wide net among females, giving your father many, many grandchildren. But you are just a girl; you can’t ‘cast a net.’ You can only carry one man’s child at a time, can’t you? So, whether your lineage ends with you isn't important to your father. Because your children and your brother’s children are all just that 25% to him. He might not be doing it intentionally, but his instinct is telling him: many, many 25%s are far more attractive than whether you and your husband are actually in love.”
Miss Bubble remained silent. Her clasped hands trembled slightly until her entire body was shaking.
“I told you, the truth is cruel.” Fan Li raised an eyebrow. “But it’s not too late to leave Bu Keni.”
“It is too late. Bu Keni proposed to me, and I accepted.” Miss Bubble’s eyes were hollow, and she spoke like a ghost. “And, I’m pregnant.”
“So what? Are you going to waste your whole life for a child destined to have no future?”
“No, I still believe in my father.” Miss Bubble shook her head, seemingly trying to clear her mind. “You make family love sound too cruel and selfish. I don’t believe he would truly harm me. Maybe I don’t love Bu Keni enough, but being with him means my life is guaranteed.”
“Marrying into the upper class is indeed a way for women to survive. In that case, I wish you a happy marriage in advance.” Fan Li smiled.
Fan Li didn't know what happened after that in the dream. Because the professor had walked nearby, Xinghai nudged her, pulling her back to reality.
Then, for about two minutes, Fan Li couldn't snap out of it. Because she had two very terrifying theories.
After class, she found Ye Jia at school and said she had a question for him.
“What is it, commoner fairy?” Ye Jia smiled slightly. “I’m touched that you’re still thinking about asking your teacher questions this late.”
“Do you know why Miss Bubble sent me a handwritten wedding invitation?”
Ye Jia immediately called Bu Keni and provided the answer.
“My cousin-in-law said you once helped Luweiya and gave her some guidance, but he doesn't know exactly what you two talked about.”
Her first theory was correct. That incredibly realistic dream just now was Sui’s memory.
Including the past she dreamed of after forgetting to take her medicine last time—those were all Sui’s memories.
In other words, this body originally possessed Sui’s memories. The medicine Sui had her take wasn't just a transformation potion. It was also an amnesia potion. Once she stopped taking it, she might complete a literal “soul transmigration”—she would know all of Sui’s past, including Sui’s knowledge and the secret of the soul exchange.
However, Sui had lived for over two hundred years, while she had only lived for nineteen. If those two hundred years of memories were layered over her own, would she still be herself?
She looked at Xinghai beside her and felt this method was undesirable. She didn't want to become Sui; she only wanted to be herself. Seeing as the case was about to be solved, once the killer was found and the police stopped investigating Luoya University, she wouldn't have to worry about them watching her anymore. Unless it was absolutely necessary, she didn't plan on becoming Sui.
She recorded everything she saw in the dream in her notebook and then drank the transformation potion. Sure enough, the medicine took effect quickly. She forgot the dream and could only find clues through her handwritten notes.
Then came the second theory—the person who killed Miss Bubble was very likely Miss Bubble herself. Because her father needed the Bu clan’s resources to cultivate his son in the future, if it were revealed that she committed suicide, everyone would know Miss Bubble didn't love Bu Keni. If that happened, they likely wouldn't receive any further resources. Therefore, this was probably why Lu Qiudeng refused to admit his daughter committed suicide.
Even after Miss Bubble’s death, the entire nation condemned her greed and vanity. But no one thought about how young she was. Her entire worldview was built on her father’s education; a father’s influence on a daughter’s choice of partner is subtle but profound.
An old fox like Lu Qiudeng surely knew what kind of person Bu Keni was—divorced three times with a bunch of kids. Yet he hinted to his daughter that looking at this old man with stars in her eyes could lead to a better life. As for whether she would be cheated on, whether the son-in-law was ugly, or whether his daughter was sacrificing her first pregnancy to an old man at such a young age, he probably didn't care much about those things.
Miss Bubble’s half-brother was so lucky; he had a sister to pave the way for him, allowing him to be born right at the finish line.
But regarding this matter, Fan Li felt it was utterly absurd that so many people believed the words of this hypocritical father.
Indeed, in any culture, a father’s true love for his daughter is protection, not so-called “win-win.” As long as he pushes his daughter to do something that makes her unhappy, there is no “win-win,” only his own win.
The more Fan Li thought about it, the more she felt Miss Bubble had been driven to suicide by them, even if they wouldn't admit it.
Finally, June 12th, the day of the promotion exam for St. Yegana University, arrived. For every single exam, Fan Li turned in her paper at least half an hour early.
Seeing her incredibly calm demeanor inside and outside the exam hall, her classmates cast envious glances—it looked like Fan Li was going to create another legend and score another double S.
A week later, when the results came out, everyone was shocked.
In the large lecture hall, the Dean announced loudly to everyone: “Congratulations to Lina for achieving the top rank in our grade with a total score of 377 and an S rating!”
Lina’s almond eyes widened. Then, she crossed her arms, leaned back comfortably in her chair, and raised an eyebrow.
Despite this, the entire class was silent. Three hundred heads didn't turn toward Lina; they turned toward Fan Li. Fan Li rested her chin on her hand as if nothing had happened. It wasn't until the Dean announced “Congratulations to Lina” again that the students sluggishly began to applaud.
“Second place, Feisi, 375 points, S. Third place, Liuxiang, 372 points, S. Fourth place, Xinghai, 369 points, S.” Another round of applause rang out. The Dean coughed twice. “The boys in this year’s class aren't doing so well; none of you made the top three. The Ocean Race’s performance is particularly outstanding. Children of the Hunter Race, don't you feel ashamed?”
However, no matter which student’s rank the Dean read, the entire class would involuntarily glance at Fan Li. Finally, her name was spoken by the Dean.
“Now, I must single out one student for criticism: Fan Li. 270 points, C rating.”
The class erupted.
Even Lina couldn't control herself; she turned back to look at Fan Li with a look of bewilderment.
“Fan Li, can you explain why you left so many blank questions on your papers? Yet, for every question you did answer, you received full marks.” The Dean picked up a test paper and shook it twice, looking displeased. “You didn't write the thesis at all, leaving it completely blank. You landed exactly on the passing line of 270. You clearly could have gotten a double S. Why didn't you? Is your rebellious streak so strong that your puberty hasn't ended yet?”
Various discussions and laughter broke out in the classroom, with most comments being like these:
“The God of Study is incredible.”
“The big boss hasn't even reached St. Yegana yet and she’s already challenging their education system. She won't have to worry about having no one to rely on once she gets there.”
“Holy crap, as expected of Fan Li. Exactly 270 points—it’s like she was copying the answer key.”
“Fan Li is my idol for life. If any Poseidons mock us Red Moon Sea students in the future, I’ll just throw ‘Fan Li was in our year’ in their faces.”
However, Fan Li maintained her original posture and gave a calm, slight smile. “Because I promised a girl in class that I wouldn't score higher than her in the final exam. I didn't know how many points she would get, so I figured just passing would be enough.”
Although she didn't mention a name, everyone knew who she was talking about. For a moment, the scene was incredibly awkward.
Like the rest of the class, Lina’s little clique all looked timidly at their leader. Fan Li’s casual sentence had ground Lina’s recent pride into dust. Under the table, Lina clenched her fists so hard her beautiful wrists trembled, but she forced a fake smile onto her face.
The Dean also instantly understood who she was talking about. He didn't intend to embarrass Lina further, only saying with a frown, “Exams are fair competition. Don't make such promises in private in the future. Once you get to St. Yegana, study hard.”
“Alright, thank you, Dean.”
Seeing Fan Li smile sweetly, her small face looking clean and full of youthful energy as if lit by the sun, many boys in the class felt their minds wander. Some boys glared unhappily at Xinghai beside her. “Xinghai really hit the jackpot.”
“Exactly. What’s so good about him? Why would the God of Study agree to be his girlfriend?”
“Because he’s more handsome than you. Shut up!” You Can, sitting nearby, snapped.
***4.3 Mini-Theater***
Ye Jia: “Who is the male lead of *Her 430 Million Years*? This is the topic our little mermaids care about most. Everyone has a different understanding of ‘male lead.’ What does ‘male lead’ actually mean? Is it the one with the most screen time? Male lead with the most screen time, please raise your hand.”
Xinghai raises his hand.
Ye Jia: “The one who influences the plot the most, please raise your hand.”
Su Shiye raises his hand.
Ye Jia: “The one who loves the female lead the most, please raise your hand.”
Everyone raises their hand.
Ye Jia: “The one the female lead loves the most, please raise your hand.”
Everyone raises their hand.
Ye Jia: “Actually, the female lead loves Xinghai and her ideals, doesn't she... Why are the rest of you being so narcissistic?”
*“Her 430 Million Years” by Junzi Yi Ze, To be continued...*
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 露丘登 | Lu Qiudeng | Miss Bubble's father. |
| 露夫人 | Mrs. Lu | Lu Qiudeng's current wife, Luweiya's stepmother. |
| 海草学长 | Seaweed senior | Luweiya's first boyfriend. |
| 布可逆 | Bu Keni | A wealthy man from the Bu clan who pursued Luweiya. |
| 绝对凝冰阵 | Absolute Ice Array | A high-level arcane technique used by Fan Li. |
| 丽娜 | Lina | A rival student of Fan Li. |
| 尤灿 | You Can | A classmate of Fan Li. |
| 琉香 | Liuxiang | A student who ranked third in the exam. |
| 霏思 | Feisi | A student who ranked second in the exam. |
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