Translated by: Queen Dei Mos
Novel 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
Lu Weiwei – Ex-girlfriend of Jiang Zhongning
Assistant Qin – Assistant of Old Lady Ji
Ji Jing – Cousin from Eldest Uncle (Brother of Ji Mingzhi)
Li Chen – Young master of the Li Group
In the infirmary, under the strong insistence of the doctor and Ji Bai, Xie Sui took off his shirt and let the doctor conduct a comprehensive physical examination.
Ji Bai didn’t look away. She stood by the infirmary bed, inspecting Xie Sui’s upper body.
His upper body was muscular, something that might not have been apparent when he was wearing clothes. Without them, his muscular physique was on full display. His six-pack was perfectly sculpted, and his mermaid line extended all the way down below, exuding an undeniable sex appeal.
Even the young nurse standing nearby couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration that it was rare to see a high school student with such a physique ah.
The bruises on Xie Sui’s body were much more severe than those on his face. His abdomen, back, and chest were also covered in bruises, the most noticeable one was a large purple bruise on his chest.
Just looking at these shocking bruises, Ji Bai could imagine how intense the fight must have been. She averted her gaze, unable to bear to look any longer; it was too painful.
The doctor carefully examined the injuries on Xie Sui’s body and advised, “These are all superficial wounds. “I’ll give you some medicine to help reduce the bruising.”
Feeling uneasy, Ji Bai inquired, “Doctor, he got these injuries from a fight. Are you sure it’s nothing serious? Could there be any internal injuries? Has his internal organs been damaged? Would he need a more detailed examination?”
“They’re just superficial wounds. If there were any internal injuries, he wouldn’t be able to stand up right now.”
The doctor glanced at Ji Bai and told Xie Sui, “Don’t go out and get into fights anymore. Look, you’re making your girlfriend worry too much.”
When Xie Sui heard the word “girlfriend” he lowered his head and the corners of his lips subtly pressed into a smile.
Ji Bai felt utterly miserable. Even though the doctor said Xie Sui was fine, seeing the many bruises all over his body were simply too much for her to bear.
Before leaving, the doctor urged Xie Sui to apply the medicine every day without fail.
Naturally, Xie Sui wouldn’t dare be negligent. Even though the rest of his body was fine, the bruise on his lip had to disappear as soon as possible. Otherwise, he really wouldn’t be able to attend the dinner party with Xiao Bai.
Once the doctor was gone, a heavy silence fell over the cold and empty infirmary as Ji Bai and Xie Sui were left alone.
Xie Sui felt uncertain and didn’t dare to look the girl in the eye. He reached for his jacket and was about to put it on when Ji Bai suddenly grabbed his clothes and said, “Wait a minute.”
Her voice was stuffy, with a heavy nasal tone.
Xie Sui helplessly watched as the girl sat on the edge of the hospital bed, facing him directly. She kept her eyes lowered, looking at the large bruise on his chest.
“Does it hurt?”
“What’s there to hurt? I don’t feel a thing.”
Xie Sui was trying his best to save his face. He’d gotten his ass kicked so badly the other day, he nearly felt like he was ascending to the heavens, but he’d be damned if he’d admit it.
Ji Bai unscrewed the cap of the medicine and said to Xie Sui, “Let’s start with your face. Lower your head a bit.”
Xie Sui watched as Ji Bai coated her fingertips with the milky-white ointment. Realizing that she was about to apply the medicine on him, he felt a bit overwhelmed by her favor.
Ji Bai saw that this guy had a foolish expression on his face, and decided to take matters into her own hands. She pressed his head down and carefully applied the ointment on the corner of his lips.
Xie Sui felt the girl’s soft fingers rubbing the ointment on the wound at the corner of his lips in a circular motion. The minty scent of the ointment filled his nose, and made his breathing easier.
The girl’s movements were gentle, as if afraid of hurting him. She was very careful, her large, dark, round eyes fixed intently on the wound at the corner of his mouth.
Xie Sui stared at the girl’s cherry-pink lips and couldn’t help but lean closer.
Ji Bai, who had been kissed twice in a row, was as alert as a small deer. Sensing his intentions, she instinctively turned her head away to avoid him.
“Xie Sui!”
As if possessed, Xie Sui grabbed the back of her head and pulled her towards him. Ji Bai pushed against his chest, blocking his aggressive kiss.
“If you do that again, I won’t care about you anymore!”
Snapping back to reality, the boy quickly released her, his long lashes fluttering as he explained, “I was just trying to get a better look at you, nothing else. Don’t overthink it.”
“……”
She would be a fool to believe him!
Xie Sui watched the girl’s face turn a blushing shade of red, feeling somewhat pleased.
Ji Bai slapped the bruise on his chest hard, causing him to “hiss” in pain. “You’re too fierce.”
“Not as fierce as you.” She said in an unhappy mood. “Turn around, I’ll put the ointment on your back first.”
Xie Sui did as he was told and turned around. The girl scooped some ointment into her palm and gently rubbed it on the large bruise on his back.
The bruises still hurt when touched. Xie Sui’s body involuntarily twitched, but he didn’t say anything.
Seeing him in pain, Ji Bai paused for a moment, then leaned closer to him, blowing gently on his back as she applied the ointment.
Xie Sui felt a cool sensation on his shoulder blades, refreshing and comforting.
“Xiao Bai is suddenly being so nice to me, I’m not used to it.”
The girl didn’t respond, simply continuing to massage the ointment into his skin. Xie Sui lowered his head and murmured to himself, “That suit looks really good. I fancied it the moment I saw it displayed in the window.”
“I won’t stay poor forever. Trust me, I can become worthy of you.”
……
Xie Sui sensed the girl behind him stop her movements. Turning his head, he met her gaze.
The girl kept her head down, nervously biting her pale pink lower lip. Her eyes were squeezed shut beneath her bangs, tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, and clinging to her fine eyelashes, shimmering with moisture.
Her frail shoulders trembled as she tried her best to suppress her emotions, but she didn’t cry out loud.
Xie Sui’s heart exploded with a “bang”, shattering into pieces.
Her hand was still on his stiff shoulders as she took a deep breath. A sob escaped from her, and she coughed twice, turning away to hide her face.
Unable to bear it any longer, Xie Sui turned and knelt in front of her. Flustered, he grasped her hand tightly and said, “I won’t talk nonsense anymore, don’t cry!”
Ji Bai struggled to free her hand from his grip, but Xie Sui held on tightly, refusing to let go.
“Xiao Bai, I won’t say such things anymore, okay?”
He thought Ji Bai was crying because of what he said, but the truth was, she had been holding it in for a long, long time, and had finally reached her breaking point.
Since her rebirth, she sincerely had never shed a single tear because tears were pointless, the weapon of the weak.
Ji Bai wanted to be strong, and the strong didn’t shed tears.
However, when she saw the large bruise on Xie Sui’s body, all the sadness and grievances she had accumulated in her past and current lives flooded her mind. She finally couldn’t bear it anymore.
Xie Sui didn’t know what was going on in Ji Bai’s mind. He thought he had made her cry by talking nonsense, so he frantically wiped away her tears with his sleeve, the pain in his heart made his eyebrows knit together, like a little mountain.
Ji Bai cried for a while before composing herself. She pulled him up to sit beside her and continued to apply ointment to his wounds without saying a word.
Xie Sui looked down at the girl.
Her eyes were red and puffy, her eyelashes were wet with tears and her breathing was noticeably heavier.
Xie Sui took out a tissue from his bag and handed it to her, considerately asking, “Do you need to blow your nose?”
Ji Bai knocked it away from his hand. She had tried to hold it in, but couldn’t help but laugh.
He’s such a devil ah!
Seeing her laugh, Xie Sui finally felt a little relieved. He took Ji Bai’s hand and placed it over his heart.
“Xiao Bai, do you feel sorry for me?”
Ji Bai didn’t speak. Her hand slowly unfolded, caressing the bruises on his chest. Through the hot, taut skin, she could feel the steady thump of his heart.
“You shouldn’t do boxing anymore.” Ji Bai said, her tone unusually serious. She repeated each word slowly, as if biting down on them, “Do-not-go-anymore.”
Xie Sui let out a helpless sigh. “Your Brother Sui needs to make money ah.”
Ji Bai lowered her eyes, her lips drawn into a thin line. Her dark gaze was fixed on the extensive bruises on his chest. “Xie Sui, I’ll support you.”
Xie Sui was amused by her three words, ‘I’ll support you.’ He lowered his head and laughed for a long while. The laughter made the bruises on his body hurt a little, but he couldn’t stop himself.
This little girl…what kind of joke was she making?
However, when he saw the girl’s serious expression, without any hint of a joke, the smile on his lips froze.
After a long pause, he murmured in a low voice, “Fuck.”
She was fucking serious!
“Ji Bai, do you realize what you’re saying?”
This was the first time he had called her by her full name.
“I’ll support you.”
Xie Sui grinned, “You can barely take care of yourself. How can you possibly support me?”
Ji Bai solemnly said, “You just need to focus on your studies. It doesn’t matter whether you can get into a good university or not. I…I will work hard. I will become the successor of the Ji Group!”
When she said these words, not only Xie Sui, but even Ji Bai herself was startled.
She had never thought about competing with the others for anything. Their open and hidden struggles had nothing to do with her. Her original intention had always been to rely on her own abilities to become independent and break away from her blood sucking family.
Becoming the successor of the Ji Group was a completely different path, a completely different life.
Ji Bai didn’t know why she had said these words. The seed buried in her heart sprouted at this moment, and she felt incredulous about her own ambition.
By becoming the successor, she could change her fate, change Xie Sui’s fate, and she could allow them both to live a better life.
But this was easier said than done. The Ji Group had a vast extended family, and there were many outstanding individuals among them. This path was destined to be……fraught with danger.
Xie Sui was completely fucking dumbfounded.
Embarrassed, Ji Bai turned around, crumpled the jacket and threw it at him, “Put your clothes on first.”
Xie Sui caught his clothes, staring blankly for a while before reacting. Then, he looked at Ji Bai with a mixture of joy and disbelief, “You’re not fucking thinking about marrying me, are you?”
Ignoring his expression, Ji Bai turned back and said, “You’re way too young to be thinking about marriage.”
Xie Sui hurriedly got dressed and tugged at her sleeve. “I don’t want to get married, but I want to marry you.”
“Jeez.” Ji Bai blushed, shook his hand off. “You little brat, what on earth is going on in that head of yours? Can’t you think about something serious?”
A smile gradually spread across Xie Sui’s lips. He pulled Ji Bai to sit beside him and they sat side by side. Knowing that Ji Bai was thin-skinned, he didn’t say anything more.
A gentle breeze blew through the thin curtains, and the sunlight seeped in through the cracks, enveloping the surroundings in a warm glow.
In the quiet infirmary, the heartbeats of the two people were pounding inexplicably fast, and the air was filled with a hint of an ambiguous atmosphere gradually fermenting.
After a long pause, Xie Sui seemed to have thought of something. He looked at Ji Bai, his expression one of disbelief. “Shit, do you want me to become a kept man?”
Ji Bai shot him a furious glare and stormed out.
Take it or leave it.
**
At the window side of the classroom hallway, Jiang Zhongning nervously poked his head out and watched Xie Sui approaching.
He had his jacket slung over his shoulder and didn’t bother to wear his mask. His eyes were downcast, a strange smile tugging at the corner of his bruised mouth, leaving one to wonder what he was thinking about.
Jiang Zhongning called out nervously, “Brother Sui, are you alright?”
Xie Sui gave him a glance, ignored him, and returned to the classroom with an air of aloof elegance, where he opened his English textbook as usual.
After looking at a few words, the corner of his mouth curled up again——
That little girl, who wasn’t even a grown up yet, wanted to support him?
Cong Yuzhou was slumped on the desk, watching Xie Sui sitting there with a strange smile, his own mouth twitching. What the heck was he up to…
“Right, I might not go to the boxing arena for a while.”
The two boys looked at him in surprise——
“What? You’re not going?
“For real?”
Xie Sui flipped through his English vocabulary book and casually remarked, “Xiao Bai doesn’t want me to go, and besides, the midterm exams are coming up soon. I need to review.”
The two of them looked at Xie Sui as if they had seen a ghost.
Jiang Zhongning blankly asked, “No way. Brother Sui, you’re kidding right ah? You’re not going to box anymore because of something like the midterms?”
Cong Yuzhou said, “You pig, the important part was in his first sentence.”
Jiang Zhongning thought back to his first sentence, “Xiao Bai doesn’t want me to go.”
Seeing the sweet expression on Xie Sui’s face that looked like he was asking for a beating, the two boys seemed to realize something.
“Are you two all good now?”
“Yeah.”
Jiang Zhongning slapped his leg “Nice, playing the wounded victim card, 666.1Meaning/Purpose: Awesome, cool, excellent etc.”
Cong Yuzhou knowingly said, “It’s obvious Xiao Bai still has feelings for Brother Sui. Otherwise, why don’t you try playing the victim to get her attention and see if she even pays attention to you?”
Xie Sui was in a very good mood, allowing the two of them to tease him and joke around without getting angry. Looking out the window at the endless green mountains, he mused to himself——
“Yes, she loves me.”
She even wanted to support him.
**
During those days, Ji Bai would call Xie Sui to the quiet and empty small garden every day to treat his wounds.
The bruises on his body were one thing, but the purple marks on his back were out of his reach. With his pride, he probably wouldn’t ask anyone for help. He left Ji Bai with no choice but to supervise and apply the medicine for him every day.
Cong Yuzhou watched as Xie Sui started counting down every minute and second on the wall clock in the front of the classroom half an hour before the last class ended every afternoon. As soon as the bell rang, Xie Sui would be the first one out of the classroom.
Xie Sui was quite wild by nature. It was as difficult as climbing to the sky to get him to agree to something against his will. For example, applying medicine. Even after several attempts by his brothers to persuade him, he adamantly refused to go to the hospital.
He was stubborn and believed he could endure anything. No amount of pain or suffering could make him give in.
But with just one sentence from Ji Bai, it instantly broke Xie Sui’s stubbornness.
Such a terrifying love.
……
Xie Sui ran all the way to the small garden. Ji Bai was already sitting on a wooden bench, waiting for him, holding a booklet of ancient poetry in her hands.
She had her head down, the side of her face looking soft. A few strands of hair were tucked behind her ear, and her long lashes veiled her dark brown eyes, giving her a serene and elegant appearance.
Noticing the cherry blossom tree in full bloom nearby, Xie Sui casually broke off a branch with green leaves and walked over to Ji Bai. He held the branch in front of her, giving it a gentle shake.
A few pink cherry blossom petals fell onto her booklet of ancient poetry.
Ji Bai looked up in surprise and saw the handsome face of the young man smiling gently.
Xie Sui showered her hair with petals.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Looks especially beautiful.” Xie Sui murmured to himself as he continued with his “good work”.
Ji Bai swatted his hand away, patted the small pink petals off her hair, and said , “Picking flowers randomly will get your conduct points deducted.”
Xie Sui snorted in amusement, completely unconcerned——
“Believe it or not, in the director of academic affairs little black book, laozi’s points have already been negative for a long time.”
“And you have the nerve to say that ah.” Ji Bai angrily told him, “If you don’t earn enough conduct points, you won’t be able to graduate.”
Xie Sui straddled the chair, and squatted beside the girl, “It’s all just a damn trick to deceive people. You really believe this stuff?”
“Yeah.” Ji Bai’s eyes were clear as water, “Isn’t it good to be a good student?”
“What’s so good about it?” Xie Sui said, “You like being told what to do?”
Ji Bai closed the booklet of ancient poetry, and in a leisurely tone, said, “I’ve been told what to do since I was young. If no one was there to control me, I might even feel a bit uncomfortable.”
Coincidentally, Xie Sui had never been controlled since he was young. He did whatever he wanted, lived however he pleased. Free and unrestrained, yet…lonely.
“If no one controlled you, what would you want to do the most?” he asked Ji Bai.
“I want to…” The girl looked down at the cherry blossom petal between her fingers, pondering for a moment and said, “I want to take off all my clothes and go for a swim in the clearest lake, where you can see the bottom.”
Like a fish, free and unrestrained.
Xie Sui smirked, “You…at least wear a swimsuit.”
“……”
“It’s just a fantasy, why take it seriously!”
Xie Sui laughed, seemingly lost in some kind of deep thought.
“Xie Sui, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing at all.” He flatly denied.
“You’re thinking about it.” Ji Bai slapped him, and scolded, “You’re thinking about it!”
“Alright, alright, I am.”
He was thinking about what she would look like without clothes on.
Ji Bai stood up to leave, but Xie Sui quickly grabbed her arm. “Hey, can you apply the medicine for me? The end of the month is coming, and this bruise on the corner of my mouth still hasn’t healed yet.”
The girl tossed the ointment into his hand, “Do it yourself.”
Xie Sui opened the ointment and squeezed a long strip onto his hand, like he was squeezing toothpaste. He then patted it directly onto his face. Ji Bai hurriedly stopped him, “Who told you to squeeze out so much? Are you an idiot?!”
Xie Sui chuckled, “Then you help me.”
Ji Bai angrily sat down, took a tiny amount of ointment from his hand, and rubbed it on the corner of his mouth in small circles.
Her gentle breath fanned against his face, mingled with the fresh mint of the ointment, causing Xie Sui’s heart to race uncontrollably.
He was thinking of…doing something bad again.
“Xie Sui, if you dare do anything to me again, you’ll be in big trouble.” She massaged his face while threatening him in a deliberately fierce tone.
“I won’t do anything.” Xie Sui’s lips curved into a smile. “Just looking at you is enough. Laozi can imagine the rest.”
“……”
She suddenly pressed down hard with her fingertips, causing Xie Sui to hiss in pain, “Be gentle! Do you want to kill your man?”
“Talking nonsense again!” Ji Bai directly pinched his cheek, “Whose man? Say it again.”
Xie Sui winced in pain from her pinch, “You still think…laozi really won’t dare to hit you?”
“You wanna try?”
Xie Sui held onto her delicate hand. With just a little more force, he could have made her let go, but he still didn’t do it. This was the girl…he couldn’t bear to use force against no matter what.
“I’m sorry, alright? Let go quickly, it really hurts ah!”
Ji Bai released Xie Sui at the right moment. Xie Sui indignantly rubbed his face, “I wonder who it was before who was scared of me to death, and now you think laozi is going soft on you.”
Ji Bai continued to apply medicine, ignoring him.
“What are you guys doing?”
A stern voice cut through from behind, causing Ji Bai’s figure to stiffen. She recognized it as the voice of her homeroom teacher, Teacher Liang.
Ji Bai was so scared that she dropped the ointment she was holding and quickly stood up.
“Teacher Liang.”
Teacher Liang walked over from the path with Chen Zheyang by his side. Chen Zheyang was holding a math textbook, probably asking Teacher Liang some questions.
Looking at Ji Bai and Xie Sui, a trace of complexity flashed in his eyes.
Teacher Liang was infuriated to see his student hanging out with a good-for-nothing like Xie Sui. His face turned green with anger as he shouted, “Are you two dating?!”
Hearing the words “dating”, Ji Bai trembled. For high school students, these two words carried immense destructive power and were almost taboo.
Ji Bai recalled the last couple who had been caught dating and caused a scandal throughout the school. One was kept at school under supervision, and the other transferred schools. The consequences were terrible.
Ji Bai didn’t know how to respond, so she simply bit her lip and remained silent.
Xie Sui, however, calmly stood up, took a cigarette pack from his bag, and tossed it at her, coldly saying, “Miss Goody-two-shoes, who are you to control whether laozi can smoke or not? Fine, you want to earn conduct points, right? Here, take it. Don’t bother laozi again.”
Ji Bai was momentarily stunned, then realized Xie Sui was so putting on a show. His quick response was unmatched.
“What are you looking at? Keep staring and I’ll beat you up.”
Ji Bai picked up the cigarette pack from the ground, looking at him with hesitation. His fierce eyes clearly indicated that he wanted her to cooperate and continue the act.
Ji Bai didn’t utter a word.
Xie Sui wanted to sacrifice himself to protect her reputation.
She found it difficult to play along and put him in a difficult situation.
Seeing that the little girl wasn’t cooperating, Xie Sui lifted his foot and lightly kicked Ji Bai’s butt. He didn’t use any force, but just pretended.
Ji Bai’s face turned beet red, her eyes widened in shock as she looked at Xie Sui.
“Get lost, you hear me? Stop bothering laozi!”
Teacher Liang, witnessing this, was instantly furious. He rushed over and pulled Ji Bai behind him. “Xie Sui, you’ve gone too far bullying a female classmate! Come with me to the director of academic affairs!”
Xie Sui shrugged indifferently, adopting an attitude of indifference as if he weren’t afraid of anything. “Fine.”
Teacher Liang told Chen Zheyang, “You take Ji Bai and go. I must teach this guy a lesson today!”
Chen Zheyang nodded and walked over to pull Ji Bai away.
“No, Teacher Liang, Xie Sui didn’t…”
Ji Bai struggled to tear her gaze away from Xie Sui. Xie Sui’s gaze was very intense as he silently mouthed something to her——
“Shut up for laozi.”
T/N:
Hey guys, I’m really sorry, our electricity has been flickering like Christmas lights, and I’m a bit worried about my computer getting fried and never opening again. So updates might be a bit slower/sporadic for a while. Thanks for understanding!
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: 48
