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
Ji Bai returned home and distinctly felt that the atmosphere tonight was a bit strange.
The auntie had already placed all the dishes on the table, but their parents and Ji Feifei were still sitting on the sofa, as if deliberately waiting for Ji Bai.
Previously, they never waited for Ji Bai to eat. As long as Ji Feifei came home from school, they would start eating.
According to their mother, Tao Jiazhi, Fei Fei’s health wasn’t good, so it was only right for her to eat on time. Ji Bai also needed to be more understanding and accommodating.
Tonight, the whole family was sitting on the sofa, waiting for Ji Bai. Obviously, it wasn’t just to wait for her to have dinner.
Ji Bai suspected that it was most likely still about the matter of the extra points for the college entrance exam.
The director of the Academic Affairs office made it very clear that the matter of the extra points had already been settled. Ji Feifei and their parents must have known about it long ago.
Ji Bai observed her family’s preparedness for her arrival, most likely assuming that she would be the first to react strongly, returning home to kick up a fuss. Therefore, they were ready and waiting for her in advance.
Ji Bai unexpectedly didn’t want to quarrel because their parents had always favored Ji Feifei. Quarreling and shedding tears were meaningless.
She didn’t linger in the living room. After entering the house, she went straight to the dining room, sat down, and prepared to have dinner.
In the living room, the family exchanged glances, not understanding what Ji Bai was up to.1(Original Text): 葫芦里卖的是什么药 – hú lu lǐ mài de shì shén me yào. (English): what has (he) got up (his) sleeve? What’s going on?
Ji Feifei got impatient. She walked up to the dining table and said to Ji Bai, “I know you’re upset. If you’re dissatisfied with something, just say it.”
Ji Bai didn’t even look at her and said, “I’m a bit hungry. Dad, Mom, aren’t you coming to eat?”
Ji Mingzhi and Tao Jiazhi awkwardly made their way to the dining room and sat down, nervously watching Ji Bai. “Bai Bai, I’m sure the teacher has already talked to you about the extra points for the college entrance exam.”
“Said it.” Ji Bai replied nonchalantly, “My older sister is sick. I should give in to her.”
Originally, their parents had prepared a whole set of arguments. They planned that if Ji Bai fiercely resisted, one of them would play the good cop while the other played the bad cop2Meaning: any two people try to achieve something together, by one of them being friendly and pleasant and the other using threats or force, to compel Ji Bai to give in.
Ji Bai’s indifferent attitude made them feel quite uncomfortable.
Tao Jiazhi, without delay, served Ji Bai some food and softly said, “Bai Bai, aren’t you hungry? Quick, eat a little more.”
Ji Mingzhi also sat down, his face filled with happiness and contentment. “It seems like Bai Bai has really grown up and become more sensible.”
Ji Feifei felt a little unhappy seeing her parents being “bribed” by Ji Bai. They had obviously agreed earlier to “deal with” Ji Bai together when she came back, which would surely make her willingly accept the facts. She hadn’t expected her parents to switch sides so quickly.
Ji Feifei looked at Ji Bai with vigilance, “In the end, what exactly are you trying to scheme?”
Ji Bai’s chopsticks poked at the glutinous white rice in her bowl as she indifferently said, “What kind of scheme could I possibly have?”
“Knowing you, you absolutely wouldn’t just give in so easily. You must be scheming something behind the scenes.”
“I’m not.” Ji Bai said calmly, “Older sister, from childhood to now, haven’t I always given in to you? Today is no different. I gave in with the extra points for the college entrance exam. What else could you be dissatisfied with?”
“What do you mean you gave in to me! Everything I have is rightfully mine!”
Ji Bai gave a sarcastic smile and didn’t argue with her any further. She knew Ji Feifei’s tricks too well. She wanted to force Ji Bai into an argument, and once they argued, she would cry and their parents would think Ji Bai was bullying her.
A healthy child bullying a sick child, how could that be allowed! So, no matter who was at fault, it always became Ji Bai’s fault.
This kind of trick, Ji Feifei has used it since she was young, and it has never failed her.
In the past, Ji Bai was too naive, so she suffered losses, both obvious and in secret, at the hands of Ji Feifei. Now, she won’t fall for her tricks anymore.
Seeing that Ji Bai wasn’t taking the bait, Ji Feifei turned to her parents once again——
“Dad, Mom, don’t let her deceive you! Let’s interrogate her thoroughly tonight and figure out what she’s up to!”
All of a sudden, with a loud “bang”, Ji Mingzhi, who had been enduring for a long time, slammed the table and angrily shouted at Ji Feifei, “Enough! Your younger sister has already compromised to this extent, what more do you want?! Go back to your room and reflect on yourself!
Ji Feifei looked at her father in disbelief, “What? She compromised? Clearly, this is all a part of her scheme! Don’t let her deceive you!”
“Ji Feifei, how did you become like this?!” Ji Mingzhi raised his hand, ready to slap her. but Tao Jiazhi, who had sharp eyes and agile hands, blocked his hand. “Calm down.”
Ji Mingzhi shook his head. Disappointed, he said, “She’s just been spoiled by you!”
Tao Jiazhi looked at Ji Feifei, her expression turning serious. “Ji Feifei, you’ve really gone too far. Go back to your room and reflect on yourself! If you don’t reflect properly, then don’t join us for dinner!”
This time, Ji Feifei really started crying. She had never suffered such grievances before. She kicked the chair beside her and stomped upstairs in anger.
“You have quite the temper, don’t you!” Ji Mingzhi pointed at her and angrily said, “Believe it or not, I’ll call the school right now and have your extra points for the college entrance exam revoked!”
Ji Feifei’s steps faltered, and she turned around and said, “You don’t have the authority to do that!”
“How did you win first place in the city’s performance competition back then? It was your younger sister’s cello solo performance that won that award. What did your dance look like? Do you think others are blind?!”
“Enough!” Tao Jiazhi repeatedly pulled on Ji Mingzhi’s clothes, “Fei Fei is sick! Just stop!”
Ji Feifei stormed back to her room, slammed the door shut with a “bang” and burst into tears.
With trembling hands, she took out her phone, opened Weibo, and started to type out incredibly malicious words cursing Ji Bai. However, remembering the incident of her Weibo post going viral and ruining her image, Ji Feifei controlled herself from hitting the post button.
She threw her phone away and let out a frustrated shriek.
Ji Bai sat at the table, quietly eating a tasteless meal. Tao Jiazhi and Ji Mingzhi kept putting food on her plate, their hearts overwhelmed with guilt and a sense of indebtedness towards her.
Ji Mingzhi even had the urge to call President Chen.
Both sisters were his daughters, and he couldn’t deny that he had been overly biased towards Ji Feifei, leaving him indebted to Ji Bai.
Both parents were well aware of this in their hearts, however, they couldn’t accomplish being fair. How could they? Ji Feifei was born with hemophilia which inevitably meant she was always going to be the one they valued the most.
Ji Bai was also well aware of this, so she no longer hoped for her parents to change their minds. She could only rely on herself.
In the dead of the night,3(Original Text): 夜深人静 – yè shēn rén jìng. (English): In the dead of night (idiom) – There was no voice in the middle of the night and it was very silent Ji Bai was hunched over her desk, doing her schoolwork.
Even with the extra points for the college entrance exam, it wouldn’t exceed 10 points at most. She could put in more effort, and even without those 10 points, she could still get into the university of her choice.
She just couldn’t accept it. On what basis, could Ji Feifei be able to take away everything that rightfully belonged to her, with a clear conscience?
Ji Bai set down her pen and pushed the window open, letting the cool breeze fill the room. She tightened her collar and gazed at the cold and clear crescent moon in the deep night sky.
The document about Ji Feifei’s extra points had already been sent to the Ministry of Education. No matter how much she argues with her parents or files a complaint to the school now, it wouldn’t make a difference. According to Director Qin, in a few days, there would be a reporter coming to have an interview with Ji Feifei, and at that time, even leaders from the Ministry of Education would also be present.
Ji Bai looked at the video on her phone of Ji Feifei stealing the cello and fell into a momentary daze.
Feeling unhappy, she decided to go out for a walk.
It was very late at night, and both her parents and Ji Feifei had already gone to bed. No one noticed as Ji Bai left the house.
It was the time when the city’s nightlife was beginning to come alive. The streets had unending flows of vehicles, and occasional pedestrians hurrying by.
Bearing the weight of memories from two lives, nobody understood her. The overwhelming sense of loneliness made it difficult for her to breathe. Every time she woke up from a nightmare, she felt like she had returned to her previous life, slowly waiting for the arrival of death in despair.
The world was difficult and dangerous, and living might not be easy, but she didn’t want to die.
Ji Bai stepped into the convenience store and bought a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
……
Xie Sui and his friends came out from the underground boxing gym, several boys laughed and joked as they planned to grab a midnight snack. Jiang Zhongning came out of the convenience store and without thinking the matter through said, “Doesn’t that girl smoking across the street look like Ji Xiao Bai from Class 1?”
Cong Yuzhou said, “Are you blind? Ji Xiao Bai is such a good girl. How could she be out on the streets smoking late at night?”
“It really does look like her.”
Xie Sui looked across the street.
The girl stood by the tightly closed roll-up door of a shop, her petite figure loosely wrapped in an oversized down jacket.4Maybe something like this. 
– Moncler HK She wore a hooded dress, and a furry collar covered half of her face. Her eyes were deeply buried in the shadow of the hood, casting a row of fine and irregular shadows on her nose.
She held a slim lady cigarette in her hand, and her rosy lips gently blew out a puff of white smoke, shrouding her in a kind of vague and unreal haze.
Perhaps due to her body not being used to it, Ji Bai choked on the smoke, coughing suddenly. It dawned on her that her current body had never smoked before.
Just as she was coughing, someone snatched the cigarette from her hand. Ji Bai looked up to see Xie Sui standing in front of her with a cold expression.
He was only wearing a thin V-neck sweater, which outlined his strong and well-defined physique.
Under the streetlight, his deep eyes reflected a faint coldness.
“What are you doing?” he asked in a deep voice.
Suddenly being caught red-handed doing something bad, Ji Bai actually felt quite embarrassed. She looked at Xie Sui holding the slim lady cigarette and softly said, “You saw everything, didn’t you?”
Xie Sui’s eyes bubbled with anger as he asked in a deep voice, “Who taught you this?”
Wasn’t it you who taught me?
Ji Bai almost blurted out before realizing that it was something from her previous life.
In the previous life, when she and Xie Sui lived together, he was much more self-indulgent than he was now.
Ji Bai moistened her dry lips and asked, “Why are you asking about this?”
“Laozi will kill him.”
“……”
Ji Bai felt a bit guilty and short of breath, and yet she couldn’t help but want to laugh a little. She thought, why don’t you kill yourself then.
Xie Sui looked at the slim lady cigarette in his hand, noticing that the end was slightly damp.
He resisted the urge for a moment but couldn’t hold back and chewed on the end of the cigarette.
Ji Bai was a bit speechless. “What on earth are you doing?”
Xie Sui blew out a puff of smoke. With a “sizzle”, he extinguished the cigarette directly with his finger——
“I forbid you to smoke.”
“Why do you care?”
“As your best friend, I have the right to care.”
Xie Sui patted the back of her head and fiercely delivered a harsh warning, “If I catch you again, I’m really going to beat you up, no joke.”
He sounded like a father lecturing his daughter.
Ji Bai pushed his hand away, thinking to herself that he was quite the hypocrite.
“You can do it, but I can’t? That’s too much!”
“I can, you can’t.” Xie Sui confidently patted her cheek with righteousness and his eyes unusually serious. “We are different people, Xiao Bai.”
The “Xiao Bai” at the end was pronounced with a hint of huskiness, making it sound particularly seductive.
Ji Bai felt that he was straight up making trouble without reason. She pushed him away and turned to leave. However, Xie Sui still seemed quite uneasy and caught up to her, gripping her slender wrist. “Xiao Bai, listen to me, don’t smoke. It’s really not good.”
Ji Bai had never realized that there were times when Xie Sui wasn’t cool and charming; he could actually be quite naggy.
“Fine, I won’t smoke.” Ji Bai, reigning in her temper, said. “Let go of me, okay?”
“I’m not joking with you.” Xie Sui was still very concerned, holding onto her tight. “If you dare to smoke behind my back, I…”
He pondered what ruthless words he could use to make the girl realize the seriousness of the matter.
After a long pause, Xie Sui pulled her closer to him, and with a menacing tone, he said one word at a time——
“If I catch you again…”
He held her hand and touched the hard belt buckle at his waist. “I won’t be gentle with you, got it?”
“……”
T/N:
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Chapters Left: 66
