Translated by: Queen Dei Mos
Update Schedule: Sporadic
Characters:
Ji Bai – MC
Ji Feifei – MC’s older sister
Ji Mingzhi – MC’s father
Tao Jiazhi – MC’s mother
Old lady Ji – paternal grandmother – Ji Mingzhi’s mother
Xie Sui – ML
Cong Yuzhou – ML friend
Jiang Zhongning – ML friend
Ai Xiaoxiao – MC’s close friend
Xu Huan – MC’s close friend
Yin Xiaxia – MC’s close friend
Madam Cheng – ML’s birth mother
Chen Zheyang – Childhood friend of MC and Ji Feifei
Chen Zhenheng – Principal of Dexin High School, Father of Chen Zheyang
Director Qin – Director of Academic Affairs
“If I catch you again, I won’t be gentle with you.”
Xie Sui used both soft and hard approaches, and this sentence did have some effect. Ji Bai was startled and pulled her hand back, taking a step back.
In her deer-like eyes, there was a hint of vigilance and fear.
“I know to be afraid. I’ll be more obedient in the future.”
Xie Sui was satisfied with her reaction and lectured her, “Don’t do things you shouldn’t do, be a good and obedient student.”
Ji Bai replied in a half-heartedly and somewhat dissatisfied manner, “Oh.”
Xie Sui held out his hand to Ji Bai. “Hand it over.”
“Hand over what?”
Xie Sui raised an eyebrow, “What do you think?”
Ji Bai pouted and very unwillingly pulled out a lady cigarette pack from her pocket, which she had just opened a moment ago and smoked only one from.
The cigarette pack was flat, Indicating that there weren’t many, in line with the refined and elegant taste of women.
Seeing his hand still outstretched, Ji Bai wrinkled her eyebrows and pulled out a lighter from her right pocket, slamming it heavily onto his hand.
This scene truly resembled a delinquent girl confessing her “crime” to the director of Academic Affairs.
Xie Sui was satisfied as he retrieved his hand, sniffing the cigarette, it had the scent of oranges.
He crushed the flavor capsule in the cigarette filter,1So apparently, there are cigarettes that have capsules in them that CAN be crushed to release its flavor. placed one between his lips, ignited the lighter, and lit the cigarette.
The nicotine content in the lady cigarettes was extremely low, and it seemed like the scent of oranges lingered in the air with every breath. Xie Sui suddenly found himself liking the fleeting sensation that smoking lady cigarettes brought.
Seeing this, Ji Bai muttered under her breath, “You’re like that yourself, so why can’t I?”
“I can, you can’t.” Xie Sui’s slender fingertips held the cigarette as he exhaled lightly.
Ji Bai was sprayed in the face with smoke, making her even more displeased as she said, “Why not ah?”
“Are you trying to compete with me in everything?”
Xie Sui pulled her closer, his hand cradling the back of her head, forcing her to gaze at him.
The girl’s body emitted a slight fragrance, and due to nervousness, it also exhibited a slight tremor.
“Take a good look, we are different people.”
His scorching hot breath lightly tickled her forehead.
She raised her eyes to look at him, feeling that in the dim night, his facial features were sharp, and his gaze exuded a sense of penetrating force, as well as a kind of coldness that reflected the hypocrisy of the world.
In Xie Sui’s eyes, Ji Bai saw herself as an ignorant, pure, and busy seventeen year old girl.
As if untouched by the ways of the world, not having any worries.
She glanced to the side, her voice soft and delicate, as she said, “Xie Sui, I’m not as good as you think I am.”
“No matter what you’re like, that’s the way laozi likes.”
The young man said these words with a serious and sincere expression.
The girl lowered her gaze, tightly pursed her lips, and chose to not say a word.
In the narrow space, he pressed close to her body, feeling the tension in every muscle.
His breathing became rapid, his voice somewhat probing as he asked, “Xiao Bai, I want to hug you…”
The thought was driving him crazy, and he felt like he was going to die.
Ji Bai lifted her gaze, her eyes looking at him, before she shook her head, “Xie Sui, I want to go home.”
She disagreed. Not daring to offend her, Xie Sui pressed her against the wall, greedily inhaling the faint fragrance of her body, suppressing the surging desire within him.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you home.”
“No need, I can go back by myself.”
As Ji Bai turned and walked away, Xie Sui naturally wasn’t reassured to let her go alone at this kind of hour. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and followed behind her at a slow pace, keeping a distance of two meters between them.
Ji Bai took a couple of steps then turned back to look at him. Seeing that he straight up refused to leave, it seemed like he really intended to escort her home.
After thinking for a while, she still decided to turn around and tell him, “Xie Sui, I have a lot of things to do later, I’m very busy. I won’t be able to date. You don’t have to waste your time on me.”
Xie Sui was slightly taken aback, immediately said, “Alright ah.”
“Huh?”
Ji Bai didn’t expect him to agree so easily, but then she saw a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips, he raised his voice and said, “If you’re not going to date me, then you can’t date anyone else either. I’ll be keeping an eye on you.”
“……”
“Although I don’t know what a high school student like you could be busy with, I’ll wait until you’re done. If not after high school, then after university. If not after university, then after graduating. There will come a day when you’ll need a man ba.”
Ji Bai was left speechless so she had no other choice but to respond half-heartedly, “If you want to wait, then wait.”
Xie Sui followed behind her and casually said, “I’ll make sure to stay in shape.”
Ji Bai’s face turned red again,and she quickened her pace to go home. “You focus on staying in shape, it’s…it’s none of my business.”
Watching the girl’s panicked figure fleeing, Xie Sui felt sweetness in his heart for the first time.
**
Soon, the matter of Ji Feifei’s extra points for the college entrance exam spread throughout the school, creating a buzz.
Originally, the school had kept this matter hidden and hadn’t announced it to the public. However, some students witnessed Chen Zheyang and Principal Chen arguing in the Yifu Building office. This led to the news spreading like wildfire, from one person to ten, then from ten to a hundred, eventually becoming known to everyone.
Chen Zheyang stormed into the principal’s office in anger. Emotionally agitated, he interrogated his father, asking why Ji Feifei’s name was on the list for the extra points on the college entrance exam instead of Ji Bai.
“I watched the video of that performance. Getting first place in the performance was all thanks to Ji Bai’s efforts, how could you guys do something like this?”
Principal Chen sat in a comfortable chair, holding a teacup, and calmly responded, “Both Ji Feifei and Ji Bai are your younger sisters from the Ji family. It doesn’t matter who gets the extra points. Is it necessary to be so worked up about it?”
Chen Zheyang now no longer harbored any affection for Ji Feifei. His restless prince complex2(Original Text): 王子情结 – wángzi qíng jié. (English): Prince complex – refers to wealthy, handsome boys who are overly confident, often appearing outstanding yet excessively arrogant, believing all women will fall for them. instead was directed towards Ji Bai. As a result, he was determined to seek justice for her.
“Dad, do you know what it means to have 10 extra points on the college entrance exam? It’s a chance to change someone’s fate ah! How could you carelessly replace someone just like that?! This is so unfair to Ji Bai!”
“Do you think I don’t understand the importance of those 10 points? However, the list from the Ministry of Education has already been finalized. You making a fuss here is useless. Ji Feifei is the spokesperson of our school, so it’s reasonable to give her the extra points! The social impact will also be positive. You don’t need to say anything more.”
“Dad! How could you guys do this?!”
“Enough, get out.”
After Principal Chen was finished speaking, he kicked Chen Zheyang out of his office.
Later, Chen Zheyang went to Ji Bai’s classroom again, called her to come out, and eagerly said, “Bai Bai, don’t worry. I’ll find a way. I’ll make my dad correct the list for you. Trust me.”
Ji Bai looked at his flushed and anxious face, but her heart remained unmoved.
She understood Chen Zheyang very well. This little prince who had never had to worry about clothes and food from childhood had always had a certain “knight complex”. He wanted to be the great hero who rescued the trapped princess.
In the previous life, he deceived Ji Bai for several years in order to help the fragile Ji Feifei, ruthlessly draining her of every drop of her blood. But in this life, the roles were reversed, Ji Feifei became strong and was no longer the fragile princess he had envisioned. As a result, Chen Zheyang had “shifted his affection” and started “protecting” Ji Bai.
In the end, he was still immersed in the role he played, moved by his own performance.
Whether it was being fond of him or being the object of his affection, perhaps it all led to a kind of sorrow.
“Chen Zheyang, it’s not necessary.” Ji Bai lightly said. “You don’t need to make a fuss with your father. This matter has already been decided, and there’s no room for negotiation.”
“Bai Bai, trust me, I’ll find a way.”
“No need.” Ji Bai didn’t want to waste more words with him, so she said, “If you really want to stand up for me, go beat up Ji Feifei and let off some steam for me.”
Chen Zheyang was dumbfounded. “Beat her up? How can I do that? I can’t possibly hit a girl. Bai Bai, don’t be impulsive. We can think of another way. There’s definitely another way!”
Indeed, Chen Zheyang was a gentleman with a warm demeanor. Regardless of any situation, he would absolutely never hit a girl.
Ji Bai was also just speaking out of anger, that’s all.
“If you’re not willing, then forget it. Don’t come looking for me again in the future. I’ll admit defeat in this matter.”
Ji Bai couldn’t truly admit defeat, but she also didn’t want to see Chen Zheyang’s hypocritical face anymore. With those words, she turned around and headed back to the classroom.
Chen Zheyang stared blankly at her retreating figure, his heart feeling twisted inside.
The incident with the extra points, because of Chen Zheyang’s actions, spread throughout the school, causing quite a stir. Many students who had watched the competition video began to sympathize with Ji Bai, even though in the previous life, they had firmly stood by Ji Feifei’s side, sympathizing with her and feeling sorry for her.
But now, this sort of unfairness to the naked eye stirred up a sense of justice among the young boys and girls. Many of them spontaneously complained about this matter on Weibo, and some even tagged numerous influential accounts, submitting their complaints everywhere trying to draw attention to the unfair situation with the extra points.
However, the school’s information department quickly sensed that something was amiss and called an emergency meeting with all the class teachers to put a stop to students spreading rumors and gossip online.
The class teachers returned to their respective classes and severely reprimanded them, stating that if any student was found posting anything that damages the school’s reputation on Weibo and were caught, they would be immediately expelled without any leniency.
Many students were frightened and quickly deleted their posts on Weibo.
That afternoon, Xie Sui passed by the school bulletin board and saw the huge poster of Ji Feifei. The poster advertised an interview featuring the inspirational Ji Feifei scheduled for next Friday in the school auditorium, urging students to attend and watch the interview.
Xie Sui remembered that day when Ji Bai was sitting by the stairs and crying. He suddenly understood why such a good student would go to a convenience store to buy cigarettes, not knowing how to smoke and ending up choking them.
So, there was a reason for everything…
The things that should have belonged to her were taken by others, and she was very unhappy about it. That’s why she cried.
Xie Sui’s blood boiled throughout his body, anger clouding his judgment, as he picked up a palm-sized stone from the ground and, with a fierce momentum, strode towards the bulletin board. From a distance of two meters, he hurled the stone, shattering the glass covering the bulletin board.
He tore down the huge poster with Ji Feifei’s hypocritical smile, tearing it to shreds. With a casual flick, he scattered the fragments, creating a flurry of snowflakes in the air.
The act of tearing down Ji Feifei’s poster spread quickly among the students. When Ji Feifei, the person involved, heard about it, she felt both embarrassed and wronged. As a result, that afternoon, she went to Class 19 to confront Xie Sui and seek justice for herself.
**
Yin Xiaxia hurriedly rushed into the classroom, gasping for breath as she said to Ji Bai, who was right in the middle of working on a problem, “Just a moment ago, Xie Sui dragged Ji Feifei to the rooftop! Oh my god! You didn’t see it, he held her by the hair and dragged her the entire way up!”
Ji Bai suddenly slammed down the pen in her hand and exclaimed, “What?!”
Yin Xiaxia looked excited, “Ji Feifei looked like a salted fish3(Original Text): 咸鱼 – xián yú. (English): It refers to someone passive, inactive, or lacking ambition. Basically lying there and doing nothing.in his hands, there was no way she could for resist! I used to extremely hate boys who bullied girls, but after the incident with the extra points, I damn well felt pretty good watching…There were many people watching at the time, but no one went up to help. With Ji Feifei in Xie Sui’s hands, she’s probably done for.”
She hadn’t finished her words when Ji Bai had already ran out of the classroom, madly running towards the rooftop.
**
Today, there was no sun, and the sky was filled with dense low-pressure clouds, creating a gloomy atmosphere.
On the rooftop, the chilly wind blew aimlessly.
Ji Bai ran upstairs only to find that the door to the rooftop was locked. Through the door, she could hear Ji Feifei’s incoherent cursing.
Ji Bai pounded on the door, shouting urgently, “Xie Sui, open the door!”
There was no response from the other side. Ji Bai gave him a call, but he also didn’t answer.
Having no alternative, Ji Bai trembled as she dialed Cong Yuzhou’s number.
Cong Yuzhou looked at his phone screen, then glanced at the gloomy expression on Xie Sui’s face. Afraid that he might actually do something extreme, he wordlessly walked over and opened the door.
Ji Bai rushed in and asked, “Where’s Xie Sui?!”
“Xiao Bai, your older sister is fine, don’t worry.”
Cong Yuzhou steadied her and led her to where Ji Feifei was standing.
Ji Feifei was in a corner of the rooftop and because of fear, couldn’t help but tremble uncontrollably.
Xie Sui stood on the steps in front of her, holding a brick in his hand, looking down at Ji Feifei from above.
Even though he hadn’t done anything yet, just weighing the red brick in his hand was enough to terrify Ji Feifei.
Xie Sui’s eyes lowered, with a sharp and cold glint, as a faintly chilling smile appeared on his thin lips——
“Did your parents ever teach you that what’s not yours will never be yours, even if you snatch it away, it still won’t be yours?”
Ji Feifei viciously glared at him.
He weighed the brick in his hand, “They didn’t teach you, so I will teach you.”
“Xie Sui, don’t come any closer!” Ji Feifei was thoroughly frightened, her voice breaking as she continued, “If you dare hit me, I’ll call the police! I’ll make sure you eat prison food for the rest of your life. Your dad’s a murderer, and so are you!”
As soon as she was finished speaking, the brick in Xie Sui’s hand was suddenly snatched away.
Before he could react, Ji Bai grabbed the brick and hurled it towards Ji Feifei!
The brick didn’t hit Ji Feifei, it shattered at her feet, causing her to jump back in fright.
Xie Sui looked at Ji Bai in surprise.
A gust of wind passed by, her sweaty bangs clung to her forehead, her cheeks flushed unnaturally, and she was panting heavily, anger burning in her eyes.
“Ji Feifei, I forbid you from mentioning those words again.”
Ji Bai’s voice was low and threatening, “Never mention them again.”
The son of a murderer.
She was fully aware of the harm this label inflicted on Xie Sui. It was a haunting shadow that accompanied him as he grew up and also almost ruined his entire life.
The look in Ji Bai’s eyes made Xie Sui’s heart tremble. No one had ever spoken up for him, no one had ever protected him. He had been fighting alone for so many years, enduring all kinds of hardships. He had never imagined that the first person to stand up for him…would be such a fragile girl.
Xie Sui felt as though the ice-cold world in his heart was slowly melting away.
Cong Yuzhou looked at Ji Bai, feeling for the first time that this girl was unexpectedly smart.
She snatched the brick from Xie Sui’s hand, preventing him from actually hurting Ji Feifei. At the same time, she taught Ji Feifei a lesson. At least for now, she was scared out of her wits.
Xie Sui’s shitty actions toward Ji Feifei had now already transformed into a confrontation between the sisters, at least…Xie Sui wouldn’t be held accountable anymore.
Without waiting for Xie Sui to speak, Ji Bai shouted at Ji Feifei, “You better leave quickly!”
Ji Feifei with tears streaming down her face, humiliatingly retorted to Ji Bai, “I won’t let you guys off! Just wait!”
Ji Feifei’s greatest weapon was her ability to manipulate the online public opinion.
Cong Yuzhou was well-prepared. He walked out holding his phone and said, “We didn’t lay a single finger on your head. I have video evidence of the entire incident here. If you dare to talk nonsense online, we’ll sue you for slander.”
Ji Feifei wiped her tears and angrily left the rooftop.
On the rooftop, several young men looked at each other and began to push and shove, claiming that they all had things to attend to and needed to leave.
In no time, the spacious and empty rooftop was left with only two people, Xie Sui and Ji Bai. Ji Bai stood with her back to him, refusing to turn around.
Xie Sui reached into his bag and pulled out a lighter. With a “click”, he ignited it, then extinguished the flame, then lit it again, and extinguished it once more…
Until the bell signaling the start of class rang, Xie Sui shifted uncomfortably and said, “Xiao Bai, I have to go back to class.”
He turned to leave, and only then did Ji Bai turn around, angrily walking over and giving him a strong push.
Her strength was very weak and soft. Xie Sui stood motionless in front of her, prepared to let her vent her emotions as she pleased.
“I know, I shouldn’t have treated your older sister like that…” He decided to apologize first. “But laozi was too angry.”
Ji Bai was so angry that her eyes turned red, and her throat also felt sore, her voice quivering as she said “You don’t know anything at all.”
Xie Sui saw Ji Bai wiping away her tears and his heart clenched in pain.
He was most afraid of seeing her cry.
Bending down, Xie Sui placed his hand on her slender shoulder, repeatedly trying to pacify her, “I was wrong, I won’t bully her any more. I was blinded with anger at the moment. Anyway, don’t cry. I apologize, alright? I’ll apologize to her. As long as you don’t cry, I’ll do anything you want!”
Ji Bai’s petite body shook with even more intense sobs, and she wiped her tears away with her sleeve.
He thought she was crying out of concern for Ji Feifei, but that wasn’t the case at all. Only heaven knew when she heard that Xie Sui had taken Ji Feifei to the rooftop, how terrified and dull her world felt.
Even she herself didn’t dare to easily do anything to Ji Feifei, so how could Xie Sui dare to!
Ji Feifei’s condition was the pass that allowed her to run amok in this world unobstructed ah. Anyone who dared to provoke her would be shunned and insulted by the entire world, even forced into a corner with no place to hide.
Ji Bai understood this kind of pain all too well, as it was almost capable of destroying a person.
How could Xie Sui be so impulsive? One wrong step can lead to a mistake and he would never be able to turn things around in his life!
Xie Sui didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t control the anguish and guilt in his heart, so he just hugged her tightly, holding her in his arms with all his strength.
He was afraid of losing her, consumed by endless fear. “Just give the word, laozi will jump off this building if it will make you feel better.”
Ji Bai was held so tightly by him that it made it hard for her to breathe, and started coughing violently. Xie Sui immediately released her, gently patting her back, feeling so distressed he felt like dying.
Not too hard, not too soft, he genuinely didn’t know how to handle her. He truly cared for her deeply ah.
“Xie Sui, can I make a request to you?”
Ji Bai wiped away her tears with her sleeve and looked up at him.
Seeing the dampness in her eyes, let alone one request, he would agree to ten thousand requests.
“En.” He was as obedient as a large polar bear now. “I can apologize. I’ll go apologize to her right now.”
What dignity, what face, these things meant nothing in front of her.
“No need to apologize.” Ji Bai tugged at the corner of Xie Sui’s clothes. “What I want to say is not about that.”
Confused, Xie Sui looked at her, listening to her small almost mute voice slowly say, “In the future, whenever you can’t control your temper, before doing anything, ask yourself one question.”
Xie Sui frowned. “What question?”
Ji Bai looked up, gazing at the gray clouds hanging heavily in the sky, and with a dark and quiet voice said——
“Is that person worth spending your whole life atoning for?”
T/N:
Being pulled by the hair hurts – but the B deserves it la la la la~Please comment and share if you like the story!
If you like what I do, please do support me thru ko-fi~ Every $2 is an extra chapter. |･ω･｀)Chapters Left: 65
