Chapter 45: The Tsundere Twin Tails

It was late afternoon at Trelan Junior High School’s cafeteria. Sunlight streamed through the glass doors, casting a warm glow across the group of students inside—Dekola and his entourage.

Unlike his earlier sarcastic jabs toward Chen Kong, Dekola was now holding back. With no clear grasp of Tian Dao’s true standing, he wasn’t about to make a move just yet. Instead, he played the part of the silent observer—cleverly waiting to see how things unfolded.

But someone else wasn’t about to miss such a golden opportunity to up the drama.

“Kong,” a voice chimed in, “I just heard you two talking about buying drinks for the whole class, trying to win over everyone’s favor, right?”

“Huh?” Chen Kong blinked, caught off guard. “No, Tian Dao, that’s actually—”

Before he could finish, Tian Dao cut him off smoothly.

“Let me handle this. I’ll buy the drinks for the entire class!”

“Come on, I mean, I did get assigned to your class, didn’t I? So technically, your classmates are mine too.”

He reached into his pocket and handed Chen Kong a card—stolen, of course, from Yun Meng’s wallet.

“Here, take it. Don’t just stand there like a statue—go get the Blue Melody Mountain City!”

With a firm shove, Tian Dao practically pushed Chen Kong toward the door.

Chen Kong stared at the card in his hand. He had no idea what Tian Dao was planning. But knowing Tian Dao, if he’d overheard their conversation, then this was definitely a setup. A little revenge. A little humiliation.

And Chen Kong had no doubt.

He’d seen Tian Dao do this before—back at Yujin Base, where he’d faced down a pack of arrogant Stellar Prodigy brats. And while Dekola was just an ordinary human, the kind of kid who’d be easy prey in a world of cosmic geniuses… Tian Dao never needed to lift a finger.

No, his genius lay in his mind—a wild, unpredictable, and utterly ruthless imagination. He’d twist the rules, exploit loopholes, and turn the smallest slip into a public disaster—without ever breaking a single rule.

The result? The bullies always ended up humiliated. And they feared him—deep down, they knew they’d never win.

So the title “King of the Starlight Troublemakers” wasn’t just a nickname. It was earned.

Chen Kong couldn’t help but feel a pang of pity for Dekola.

Sure, he was a Stellar Envoy—bound by duty, unable to abuse his power against an ordinary human. But Tian Dao? He didn’t care about that.

To Tian Dao, ordinary people and Stellar Envoys were all the same. Just pawns in a game he played for fun.

Meanwhile, Dekola’s tension melted away the moment Tian Dao offered that cheerful, “Let me buy it!” vibe.

He’d been nervous—thinking Tian Dao was some kind of threat. But now? He saw him for what he was: just another country boy with good looks and a bit of flair. Nothing more.

Easy to handle.

A smirk tugged at his lips. He imagined the moment he’d finally show Tian Dao who was in charge.

But just as he was lost in his fantasy, Tian Dao spoke again.

“Hey, classmate. Here.”

Dekola snapped back to reality. Tian Dao stood there, smiling warmly, holding out a bottle of Blue Melody Mountain City.

The drink’s bottle was icy cold, its body a deep, shimmering blue. Dekola, still wary but playing the part of the polite classmate, reached out—just as the bottle exploded in Tian Dao’s hand.

Boom!

The plastic cap shot past Dekola’s cheek like a bullet. A geyser of thick, bubbly blue soda erupted, drenching him from head to toe.

His perfectly styled hair turned into a soggy mess—like seaweed. His custom school uniform was now a patchwork of foam and sticky liquid. He looked like a disaster.

Chen Kong let out a dry chuckle. Of course. He’d known Tian Dao wouldn’t be so kind. This was exactly the kind of prank he’d pull.

And Tian Dao? His performance was over-the-top.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry, man! I didn’t know this thing was so fragile—it just popped at the slightest touch! You okay?”

Dekola glared at him, face dark with rage. He fumbled for his expensive silk handkerchief, wiping the syrupy mess from his face. His expression was icy.

“You did that on purpose.”

Tian Dao just grinned. “Well, what else would you expect? You really thought that was an accident?”

He said it with such casual confidence, so utterly unbothered—like he’d just handed someone a gift and been insulted for it.

To Dekola, raised in luxury, used to being the center of attention, this was unbearable.

His fists clenched. Veins bulged on his forehead. He was seconds away from charging Tian Dao—ready to teach him a lesson.

But before he could move, a cold, clear voice cut through the air.

“Dekola. What are you doing?”

The sound froze him mid-step.

The crowd around them parted like water.

Dekola turned—his face paled.

There she stood.

A girl with golden twin tails, her face sharp and elegant, her shoes gleaming like polished steel. She walked toward them with effortless grace.

Seeing her, Dekola’s voice cracked.

“Is… Isabelle-sama…”

Isabelle didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes swept over the mess—soda-stained floor, ruined uniform, the humiliated boy.

“Go back to your dorm,” she said, voice calm. “I’ll pretend I didn’t see anything. But if you don’t, you’ll face school disciplinary action.”

“But—”

She turned to him, and her gaze turned sharp—dangerous.

Dekola flinched. No choice. He shot one last venomous glare at Tian Dao—You’re lucky this time. We’ll settle this later.

Then he turned and fled.

Once the door closed behind him, Isabelle gave a subtle, almost imperceptible glance at Tian Dao and Chen Kong.

Then—like a queen dismissing a servant—she flicked her golden twin tails with a flourish and strode out of the cafeteria.

She was cool. She was classy. She was the kind of girl who could command a room without saying a word.

And it worked—especially on Chen Kong, who had just stepped out of Yujin Base for the first time.

But Tian Dao? He’d read the original story.

He knew the real Isabelle.

She wasn’t cold. She wasn’t distant. She was actually a little vain, a little flashy, a very proud girl who loved the spotlight.

A classic tsundere—someone who craved attention, who needed to be admired, even if she’d never admit it.

And that kind of girl? She’d be perfect for someone like Chen Kong.

Someone who’d been lonely. Someone who’d never felt worthy.

Tian Dao smirked, then turned to Chen Kong.

“Alright, stop staring. She just did you a favor. She didn’t think twice.”

Chen Kong blinked, shaken from his trance. “Huh? I—I wasn’t—”

Tian Dao cut him off again.

“Wait. I was struggling to find a way for you to get close to her. But now? This—this is perfect. A rescue. A moment of heroism.”

He clapped Chen Kong on the shoulder.

“Kong, I’m assigning you the mission: become Isabelle’s friend. Stay close. Protect her. Be her shadow.”

“Wha—?!”

“Don’t ‘wha’ me. You don’t think we should do it, do you?”

He leaned in, voice low. “Think about your sister. Think about Kalolin. If they tried to ‘protect’ her, they’d scare her half to death before the first day was over.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “No. The one who can actually blend in, who can stay close without making waves? That’s you.”

“But Tian Dao, I feel like you’re better suited for this—”

Tian Dao cut him off again—this time, pulling a bottle of Blue Melody Mountain City from the box Chen Kong was holding.

“Whatever. I’m not into being a dog,” he said, tossing the bottle into the air and catching it with a smirk. “That’s settled.”

Chen Kong stared, baffled.

Tian Dao suddenly softened, patting his shoulder.

“Relax, Kong. I was just kidding. About the ‘dog’ part, anyway.”

He paused, then added, “Besides… not everyone gets to be a dog. Some people don’t even have the right to be.”

He turned, already walking away. “Anyway, I’m off to report. You handle the drinks—tell everyone you bought them. See you later.”

No chance to argue.

No chance to say no.

Tian Dao was already gone.

Only when the last trace of his figure vanished from sight did Chen Kong mutter, voice uncertain.

“Tian Dao… is being a dog really not an insult?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end