In August, Mu Yue arrived in the Arctic. The moment she stepped off the plane, she felt firsthand the biting chill in the air.
The boarding point was on an island. It was currently the season of the midnight sun, with only a very brief stretch of darkness each day. Tourists had to be extremely lucky to catch a glimpse of the aurora.
Fortunately, Mu Yue had not come specifically for that. Seeing it would be nice, but if she did not, it did not matter.
After resting locally for two days, Mu Yue finally boarded the ship. Compared with the cruise liner from the previous year, this icebreaker was not quite as massive, but its appearance was no less impressive—if anything, it carried an added air of dominance. The accommodations and entertainment provided for passengers were equally lavish and varied.
Champagne receptions, fireworks ceremonies, saunas, and open-air hot springs offered tourists the height of luxury.
Mu Yue was no longer particularly interested in such things. Her greatest daily pleasure was watching the icebreaker carve through the ice—a thoroughly satisfying sight and sound that left her feeling especially relaxed.
When they reached the first landing site, Mu Yue went ashore with the other tourists who wanted to try the activities on land. Just as everyone was having a wonderful time, there was a small surprise: three seals poked their heads out of the sea, flopped their plump bodies onto the shore, and lay there basking lazily in the sun.
There were three seals in all, including a little one. They were so adorable that the entire tour group let out a collective squeal. It was almost too much to bear.
After taking dozens of pictures in a frenzy, the seals still had not left, graciously continuing to pose for everyone. The tourists, however, could not stay for long. Seals might be adorable, but they were also a deluxe meal for polar bears. For safety’s sake, everyone had to head to camp first.
The camp had both tents and igloos. The main tent was spacious, equipped with heating facilities and cooking equipment, while the igloos were all about the novelty of the experience. Near the camp, visitors could go ice fishing, skiing, and more.
That day’s main course was Arctic king crab, so fresh it was almost indescribable. Its sweetness was the highest Mu Yue had ever tasted. The shellfish and shrimp were likewise remarkably fresh and sweet, requiring no elaborate preparation to bring out their finest flavor.
Mu Yue tried ice fishing and had pretty good luck, catching two fat fish that were promptly added to the meal. The other tourists and the guide praised her nonstop, giving her emotional validation in full measure.
After returning to the icebreaker, they continued along the route. Mu Yue saw polar bears and several other Arctic animals as well. The return journey ended in a different city, and her luck was exceptional—she even encountered whales.
Mu Yue returned to A City four or five days later than expected.
The reason for the delay involved a touch of danger. While passing through a small country, she ran into armed bandits. They had not been targeting Mu Yue; she had simply happened to pass by. But bandits did not care about such details. Since they had crossed paths with her, they naturally intended to rob her of something.
Then they discovered that this tourist possessed considerably more firepower than they did.
Mu Yue’s personal team of bodyguards and assassins had finally found a chance to put themselves to use.
The only downside was that the assassin squads were professionals: whenever they made a move, blood was bound to be spilled. The robbers were left in such critical condition that they could only hold on until the local police arrived, long enough to leave a few dying words.
What was rather thought-provoking, however, was that although Mu Yue had ample evidence on her side—not only a complete video recording of what had happened at the scene, but eyewitnesses as well—the local authorities still kept her there for three days. True, she was not held at the police station and was instead put up in a five-star resort hotel, but choosing not to leave on one’s own and not being allowed to leave were two entirely different things.
The local authorities claimed it was merely procedure, but Mu Yue had no intention of believing that explanation. After having the systems look into it online, she learned that the gang of robbers had ties to the police.
Public safety in this small country was admittedly not great, but it was not so bad that people could be robbed in broad daylight by fully armed criminals. There was clearly something suspicious about it.
Interestingly, another group of tourists had run into the same robbers that day. Amusingly enough, this second group had also completely derailed their plans.
Mu Yue had run into them at the police station. It was Xuan Heng, the travel companion she had once gone to Africa with.
Xuan Heng was also taken aback when he saw Mu Yue. After greeting her, he invited her to sit down for a cup of tea.
After chatting for a while, Xuan Heng told her that he was there on a business trip. Mu Yue could not be bothered to ask for details, but unlike her own encounter, the robbers who had targeted him had not simply been after money. The entire incident had been premeditated.
“I’m truly sorry. It seems I may have dragged you into this, Miss Mu,” Xuan Heng said apologetically.
“Ah...” With that explanation, Mu Yue understood.
Ye Luling had mentioned once or twice that this cousin of hers came from a family no less influential than her own, but that the family relationships were extremely complicated and tense. This unexpected incident had most likely been planned by one of his relatives to target him.
To make the robbers’ identities more convincing, they had even arranged for several additional groups of victims. Who could have expected Mu Yue to refuse to follow their carefully designed script and tear it to shreds instead?
Mu Yue accepted Xuan Heng’s apology, which came not only in words but in tangible form as well. Once the three days were up, she left with the gifts he had prepared for her.
She encountered no further trouble along the way and returned safely to A City.
There was only one week left until the start of the new semester.
Mu Yue took a proper rest at home before beginning her sophomore year. She had planned long ago to apply to live off campus during her second year, and she had already submitted all the necessary paperwork.
She had three stable residences in A City. Maple Grove Manor was a bit too far away, but the large flat and the home in Yujiang Garden were both perfectly suitable. Although her roommates were reluctant to see her go, Mu Yue still preferred sleeping in her own home.
Once sophomore year began, Fang Baiwei became thoroughly busy. She joined three projects at once. Mu Yue had no idea how she managed it, but Fang Baiwei was not merely making up the numbers in any of them; she practically spent all her time in the laboratory.
Mu Yue spent ten points to activate an electronic camera for Fang Baiwei. Whenever anyone other than Fang Baiwei was detected manipulating data on her computer, the camera would automatically begin recording.
This was mainly a precaution. Given Fang Baiwei’s uncanny tendency to attract scumbags, Mu Yue had no choice but to stay vigilant. Who knew which mentor or classmate might get some crooked ideas and make a move on her? With the automatic recording in place, Fang Baiwei would never be left unable to explain herself—she would have irrefutable evidence in her hands.
As it turned out, Mu Yue had been right to prepare for the worst.
Only two months into the semester, trouble broke out on Fang Baiwei’s side. Someone actually tried to tamper with her computer, intending to get her kicked off the project. Instead, they ended up becoming infamous and receiving a major disciplinary demerit.
Things settled down for a while, but a little over a month later, a second person appeared. This time, it was not some minor sabotage. They tried to claim all of Fang Baiwei’s hard work as their own, and the matter became even more serious. Having seen the first incident, the second person took their chances, assuming that the first culprit being caught on camera had merely been a coincidence.
So, through their own experience, they proved that Fang Baiwei’s computer really did have formidable anti-theft security.
After that, Fang Baiwei’s days in the lab finally became peaceful.
Just as the excitement on that front came to an end, Mu Yue eagerly hurried off to the next one: Wen Xue’s drama had wrapped filming.
She received an invitation to appear on a variety show. Having just finished several months of shooting, the timing could not have been better. Wen Xue accepted the offer, and the very next day, the official guest lineup was announced.
One of the guests was none other than Mo Yaru.
It was happening—it was happening! The stand-in and the white moonlight were about to appear on the same show!
