Bai Xi was about to leave the dormitory through the east gate for the cafeteria when she ran into Li Qi, who was just returning from outside.
Li Qi was carrying many things, bags and packages, all daily necessities. When she saw Bai Xi, she was stunned for a moment, then quickly averted her eyes, a hint of guilt in her avoidance.
Bai Xi glanced at her indifferently and continued walking out.
"Bai Xi!"
A voice, neither too loud nor too soft, called from behind, making her stop. She turned her head, meeting Li Qi's eyes directly. "Is something wrong?"
Li Qi gritted her teeth slightly, seeming to muster great courage before saying, "Thank you."
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow, her gaze very faint, and said nothing.
Li Qi added, "Thank you for avenging Wang Lan, and... I'm sorry. Whether you believe me or not, we didn't know what kind of medicine it was before we drugged you, at least... I didn't know."
If she had known what kind of medicine it was from the beginning, if she had known the consequences, she would never have dared.
She admitted she was greedy, yearning for that exquisite dress, which led her to decide to drug a stranger like Bai Xi.
She thought it was just something to make Bai Xi embarrassed.
Such as diarrhea, hair loss, or a face full of rashes – just typical pranks among students. But she hadn't expected Sun Mei to go that far, ultimately harming Wang Lan.
When she saw Wang Lan, covered in injuries and so mentally disoriented that she didn't even recognize her, Li Qi regretted it and became fearful. Wang Lan was also one of the few people she could talk to at school. When she had escaped, all she thought about was Wang Lan's harsh words and insults towards her, but now... seeing her like this, her heart was filled with remorse and fear.
Yesterday, hearing from the martial arts department that Bai Xi had dealt with Wu Yu, and had even had Wu Yu, Sun Mei, and those who harmed Wang Lan imprisoned by the security bureau, she felt an indescribable sense of comfort.
Bai Xi said indifferently, "If you truly feel regret, then take good care of Wang Lan."
According to her usual practice, she would have taken the person to the security bureau. However, since she wasn't the one who administered the poison, nor the mastermind, but an accomplice, she didn't want to deal with her.
Of course, the most important thing was that the physically and mentally devastated Wang Lan needed care, and she was currently the best choice.
Li Qi immediately replied, "I will."
After speaking, she picked up a paper bag in her hand. "I bought you breakfast to express my apology."
Bai Xi glanced at the paper bag in Li Qi's hand and said faintly, "Once bitten by a snake, ten years fear ropes; I won't eat your things."
With that, she turned and left.
Her not dealing with Li Qi didn't mean she forgave her; it simply meant she believed taking care of Wang Lan was the best punishment and atonement for her.
Li Qi watched Bai Xi turn and leave, a hint of loneliness flashing in her eyes, quickly replaced by a self-mocking expression. "Yes, the things I give, she naturally wouldn't dare to eat."
Trust, once broken, is difficult to mend.
Inside the school cafeteria.
Han Mo had to attend a meeting to prepare for the joint class opening that morning at six. Han Mo knew Bai Xi would definitely not be able to wake up, so he postponed today's feeding.
Looking at the cafeteria before her, Bai Xi slightly raised her eyebrows.
As expected, given Wei Changhe's lifestyle, the cafeteria at Black Gold Academy would not be lacking.
Even for breakfast, there was a full spread of Chinese and Western dishes, and a wide variety of drinks.
Not only were there already prepared items laid out, but several chefs wearing white toques were elegantly presenting new dishes, fulfilling students' and teachers' ordering requests.
To Bai Xi's left was the beverage area, with different types: sodas, milk, teas, soy milk...
Each type was further divided into many varieties.
The types of coffee beans alone numbered seventeen, all capable of being blended into various flavors.
Bai Xi raised an eyebrow, feeling that the scene before her once again validated a truth: no matter when, the higher the level of an academy, the better its hardware and software would be, both in ancient and modern times... it was always so.
With that thought, Bai Xi walked towards the coffee machine and politely said to the female staff member brewing coffee, "A cup of milk, please. Thank you."
The female staff member was taken aback, then showed a gentle smile. "Little sister, are you new to Black Gold Academy? It's alright. If you want to order, you need to swipe your identity card here first. Once your identity is displayed, you can choose your desired meal according to your status."
Bai Xi had either been fed by Han Mo, or followed Wei Changhe to freeload at his private kitchen, or been forcefully given packed lunches by Jiang Wei... This was Bai Xi's first time entering the Black Gold Academy cafeteria in her third day at the school.
Therefore, she really didn't know the rules here.
However, after the staff member explained, she immediately noticed a ordering machine not far away. After swiping her card, she used the buttons on it to order, and then it was displayed to the staff members on a backend screen: "Order meals according to status?"
Wei Changhe had mentioned before that the identity cards had different points based on the student.
Points could be used as currency within Black Gold Academy, for the cafeteria, shopping, anywhere.
At that time, she had thought that this Black Gold Academy identity card, in addition to being an access card, was also a meal card.
She just hadn't expected that ordering meals would also be based on status?
The staff member, with a professional smile and excellent professional ethics, and also quite good-looking, said, "This is the principal's rule, to encourage all students to strive for opportunities and special dishes. Special dishes can only be ordered by students and teachers with special honors."
Bai Xi's mouth twitched involuntarily: "..."
Wei Changhe's incentive buffs were truly everywhere.
Seeing Bai Xi not speak, the female staff member assumed she was worried that she wouldn't be able to order what she wanted because she had just entered Black Gold Academy and didn't have any points. She quickly reassured her, "Little sister, don't worry, you can have milk regardless of which milk source you want the raw milk processed from."
Bai Xi knew she had misunderstood her intention, but she didn't explain. She went directly to the ordering area. Just as she was about to order, she suddenly felt a gust of wind near her ear. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she raised her hand to intercept the "hidden weapon" that was attacking her.
It was a metal fork used for eating Western food.
At the same time, an angry voice sounded: "Bai Xi, you actually have the nerve to come here?"
Bai Xi looked up and saw a face that was both familiar and strange. She raised an eyebrow slightly.
Familiar because her memory was actually quite good; generally, she could quickly remember people and objects she had seen once. Strange because her brain storage was limited, and some people and things she defined as useless "waste" needed to be "metabolized" from her mind!
The woman glaring at her was exactly the "waste" she had chosen to metabolize.