Chapter 12

“I’ll give a vote to pass. What about you two?” After a minute spent regaining composure, the penguin mascot turned to the other two for their opinions.

After a quiet discussion, the penguin mascot announced, “Alright, it’s settled. Please exit the stage and walk straight to Room 103 for a promotional photo. The official results will be posted this afternoon, and successful candidates will also receive a text notification.”

“You basically told her she passed by mentioning the photo shoot, didn’t you?” Zhao Xiaojue grumbled quietly as the next contestant prepared to go onstage.

“Ah, what a blunder. This year’s level is so high—I got too excited, had to lean forward in gratitude, and forgot to keep that under wraps. She probably didn’t catch on, right?” the penguin mascot replied.

“Perverted penguin,” Zhao Xiaojue muttered under his breath.

Yan Ning walked off the stage, still a bit dazed. Was that it?

“Hey, over here for the photo!” Another penguin mascot peeked halfway out of a door and waved her over.

This one was dressed as a blue penguin.

As Yan Ning approached, the blue penguin mascot looked at her with amazement and exclaimed, “Ah… this is… truly… too beautiful… Please, let me take a few perfect photos to capture your unparalleled beauty. This way, please. Just a moment.”

Yan Ning entered the room and watched as the penguin mascot bustled around. She stepped forward. “Do you need help with anything?”

“No, no, no, absolutely not! Please, allow me. Ah, sorry, I can’t control my emotions when faced with something so beautiful—I get overly excited. Just a moment, just a moment. I’ll find the perfect props to match your noble aura,” the penguin mascot huffed breathlessly. “Ah, these gems, these accessories, and your flawless self—they make me far, far too thrilled~~~!”

“Are… are you okay?”

Why did this feel like she’d encountered a weirdo? Yet, something about their tone and attitude felt strangely familiar—it reminded her of the Amelian race.

Somewhere in the universe, there is a very tiny planet called Amela, so small that it houses only a few thousand inhabitants. The Amelians are short in stature, adorably cute in appearance, and have a deep love for all things beautiful.

Whenever they encounter something beautiful that moves them—be it a living creature, a plant, or even an inanimate object—they take great pleasure in tending to it with the utmost care.

However, the Amelians have one troublesome quirk as a species: they particularly enjoy watching handsome men and beautiful women make fools of themselves, finding entertainment in their missteps. Although they are instinctively drawn to beauty, they harbor a latent destructive streak, relishing the spectacle of beauty gradually falling into ruin.

“Not to worry, not to worry, everything’s almost ready.” The penguin mascot finished setting up the photoshoot and bowed, gesturing toward Yan Ning. “Please, have a seat.”

Yan Ning glanced at what was supposed to be an elegant throne—a single-seat sofa. She wanted to say something but found it too troublesome, so she stayed silent and obediently sat down.

“Could you put on this crown, please?” The penguin mascot held out a tray lined with deep red velvet, upon which rested a golden crown adorned with a row of vibrant gemstones.

Judging by her extensive experience, Yan Ning was certain the crown was the real deal. The red gemstone embedded in it was a rare gem native to the Amela planet, incredibly valuable.

Her suspicion deepened. Could the person beneath the penguin mascot’s headpiece really be an Amelian? She hesitated to ask.

Asking would reveal her own identity. But on second thought, if the other person was an Amelian, then the accessories she was wearing would have already given her away.

Ah, what a blunder.

This unexpected oversight left Yan Ning feeling uneasy.

But since the other party had chosen not to expose her, she decided it was best to follow their lead. Amelians, despite their inherently cruel tendencies, were generally mild-mannered aliens. For now, maintaining this mutual silence seemed like the wisest course of action.

Yan Ning lowered her head, allowing the penguin mascot to place the crown on her. It was remarkably heavy.

“Now, could you please cross your legs and rest your chin on your right hand? Yes, yes, just like that. And the expression—makes your gaze a bit more melancholic. Perfect, perfect!”

“Could you also strike this pose? Yes, exactly! Wonderful, absolutely flawless!”

—

Ten minutes later, the penguin mascot finally finished taking pictures. Holding the camera, it flipped through the photos one by one, chuckling foolishly.

“Hehe… hehe… look, look! This one, this one, and these are all so stunning. I’m just… just so satisfied!”

Yan Ning leaned over. She had to admit, despite the penguin mascot’s clumsy and slightly creepy demeanor, its photography skills were impeccable. Every shot was flawless, capturing a beauty in herself she had never seen before.

“Especially this one, and this one of the person who came before you. Putting them together is just… so, so breathtaking!” The penguin mascot showed her a photo of Lu Fengfeng it had taken earlier.

So that was his style. It really suited his personality.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to make a poster of the two of you. Of course, I’ll ask for his permission later as well,” the penguin mascot added.

Yan Ning looked again at Lu Fengfeng’s photo. It seemed fine to her, and the photos were of such high quality that she was curious to see what the penguin mascot would come up with.

“Alright, if he agrees, I don’t mind. By the way, could you send me a copy of these photos?” Yan Ning scratched her head, feeling a little shy. “It’s my first time having such beautiful pictures taken. I’d like to keep them as a memento.”

“Of course, absolutely!” The penguin mascot happily ran off to grab its phone, and they exchanged contact information. “Once I transfer everything to the computer, I’ll send you a copy.”

“Thank you!”

—

“She’s out!” Shi Lei shouted, running toward the main hall’s entrance. After a few steps, he stopped. “Hey, isn’t that Yan Ning?”

“Isn’t that Ningning?” Qiao Yingxue hesitated.

“It’s definitely Ningning,” Zhao Xiaolu confirmed.

“What are you guys doing here?” Yan Ning was surprised. “Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting here since this morning.”

“That’s not important. Ningning, what’s with your look?” Qiao Yingxue asked eagerly.

“Ah—!” Shi Lei suddenly let out a strange cry.

“What’s wrong?” Yan Ning looked at him.

Shi Lei abruptly squatted on the ground, utterly dejected.

He couldn’t bring himself to admit that Yan Ning’s taste was this refined. Her entire ensemble of extravagant jewelry perfectly complemented her elegant and radiant features, elevating her beauty several levels above the pure and innocent style he had always imagined for her.

What frustrated him most was that he had always thought Yan Ning, though beautiful, couldn’t compare to the school belle’s pure charm. But this outfit had shattered his expectations. Her supposedly less delicate features somehow subdued the brilliance of the luxurious jewelry. What would make others look gaudy and ostentatious turned her into a noble, breathtaking figure, so exquisite that one wouldn’t dare approach her.

“I’ve lost,” he muttered.

“What’s wrong with him?” Yan Ning asked the others. The other three shrugged, showing neither understanding nor interest in his behavior.

“Ah~!” A voice, melodious like a musical instrument yet brimming with lively energy, suddenly interjected.