Chapter 60

“The people downstairs seem to be looking for you.”

“Looking for me?” Xu Jinghe was utterly baffled, unable to imagine what connection he could possibly have to the police.

Moments later, a plainclothes officer showed up at the door.

The man was surprisingly amiable, his tone nowhere near as stern as Xu Jinghe had feared. “Student Xu, mind coming with us for a bit?”

Xu Jinghe froze in place. “Wait, what did I do wrong?”

The man let out a chuckle. “Nothing like that. But you know Baldhead, right? He’s dead—and word is he saw you right before he kicked the bucket.”

Meng Bai and the other two felt their hearts slam against their ribs.

No way—did Baldhead really get scared to death last night? That seemed too much.

The officer pressed gently. “Relax, we just need to hear your side of things. You’ll be back in time for afternoon classes.”

Left with no choice, Xu Jinghe followed the officer out.

Once he was gone, Zhou An couldn’t stay calm. “Baldhead’s dead?”

Xu Zhou turned into a parrot. “Baldhead’s dead?”

The same worry gnawed at everyone: Would Xu Jinghe be okay?

Meng Bai managed to keep her cool better than the rest. “I don’t think he’ll run into any trouble. Let’s head downstairs first.”

By the time they got there, they caught sight of Xu Jinghe climbing into the police car. They couldn’t exactly tail him, so the details remained a mystery.

This was getting complicated.

Zhou An fretted. “What now? We’re the ones who dragged him into it last night. If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Don’t panic.” Meng Bai glanced at the time—lunch break was nearly upon them, and she could probably make it back home and return in time. “I’ll go find Miao Bai.”

~~~

Had things ended on a sour note with Miao Bai last night?

Meng Bai wasn’t sure, but she went looking for her anyway.

Under the scorching sun, she sped along the country lane on her bicycle until the path narrowed, forcing her to ease off the pedals.

The air felt refreshingly cool near the Old Courtyard, shaded by the thick clusters of trees that kept the midday heat at bay.

Time was tight—Meng Bai had afternoon classes to get back for.

She hurried to the gate and rapped on it. “Miao Bai! Miao Bai!”

The courtyard lay silent.

Meng Bai pressed her face to a crack in the door, peering inside to see if Miao Bai was home.

She had to be, right? Always sticking around the place. Squinting through the foliage, all she could make out was the dense Walnut Tree, its ancient Star Lattice Gate taking on an oddly eerie vibe in the stillness.

Just as Meng Bai debated calling out louder, Miao Bai’s voice drifted from behind her. “What do you want?”

Meng Bai whipped around, startled. “How’d you get behind me!”

Sneaky as a ghost, not a sound—this would’ve given anyone else a real fright if it weren’t Miao Bai.

“I ran into you just now. Didn’t call out.” Miao Bai’s tone was flat.

“Huh? When?”

“Right when your bike turned onto the lane.”

Miao Bai spoke without inflection, a far cry from her usual self.

Meng Bai blurted it out. “What’s wrong with you?”

“What?”

“Last night—are you mad?”

“Not especially.” Miao Bai averted her gaze and drifted closer, step by unhurried step.

Today she wore black, her raven hair cascading over her shoulders in stark contrast to her pale cheeks. Beneath the dappled green shade, she exuded a beauty that seemed utterly detached from the everyday world.

Meng Bai stared, lost in the sight.

Miao Bai met her eyes. “What is it?”

“Oh, right—” Meng Bai’s brain short-circuited for a beat. “Xu Jinghe got hauled off to the station.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Wait?” Meng Bai blinked in confusion. “You knew?”

“I know. And Baldhead’s dead.”

Miao Bai gave the iron gate a light push; it swung open. She stepped inside first, with Meng Bai right on her heels.

Clang—the gate slammed shut the moment they crossed the threshold.

“How do you know everything?”

Miao Bai halted, turning to fix Meng Bai with an odd look, as if wondering why she’d even ask.

Belatedly catching on, Meng Bai explained. “I figured you weren’t around.”

“I was. All day today.”

Meng Bai’s pulse quickened as she puzzled over the words. She’d been around—where exactly?

The police had announced it at school; to eavesdrop, Miao Bai would’ve needed the rooftop. And given how she’d appeared from behind, not inside…

Did Miao Bai follow her to school today?

The thought tumbled out of her mouth. “You went to school?”

Miao Bai didn’t dodge. “Yeah.”

“But I didn’t spot you.”

“Didn’t want you to.”

That sealed it for Meng Bai—Miao Bai was upset from last night.

Upset for sure. This wasn’t how she talked before.

A mix of unease and secret delight stirred in Meng Bai, so long as it really stemmed from them not sharing a bed.

She closed the distance, flashing a smile. “What’s gotten into you today?”

Miao Bai stayed stone-faced, feigning ignorance. “What do you mean?”

“You seem kinda down.”

“I’m fine.” Her expression remained cool and composed, though she kept her eyes from drifting down to Meng Bai.

No eye contact? That screamed guilt.

Emboldened, Meng Bai edged nearer and tugged at Miao Bai’s sleeve. “You don’t usually talk like this, though.”

Pressing in too close forced their gazes to lock.

In that charged moment, a spark of warmth flickered in Miao Bai’s eyes. “This is how I always talk.”

Meng Bai’s lips curved into a soft smile, her voice gentle. “Nah, you know that’s not true.”

Maybe it was the proximity.

Close enough that Miao Bai found her almost blinding.

She half-wanted to pull back but couldn’t quite justify it—she hadn’t done anything wrong, so why act guilty?

Still, Meng Bai’s stare packed a punch, like flames licking at her skin, leaving her hot all over.

Miao Bai steadied herself. “Know what? I have no idea.”

She held Meng Bai’s gaze, privy to it all yet saying nothing—insisting Meng Bai drag it into the open.

And Meng Bai played right along, murmuring, “You’re mad about last night, aren’t you? That’s why you’re all icy with me today.”

Miao Bai leaned in. “What about last night? Spell it out.”

Lord, was she relentless or what?

Meng Bai let out a helpless sigh. “You’re bummed we didn’t sleep together, right?”

“No.” The denial hit so quick and hard that Meng Bai second-guessed herself on the spot.

But then hope flared anew.

She caught Miao Bai glancing away.

Meng Bai burst out laughing. She chased after Miao Bai’s gaze. “You’re angry.”

“No.”

“You’re angry.”

“No.” Miao Bai shifted her gaze to Meng Bai’s face and discovered that Meng Bai was smiling. “What are you laughing at?”

“Laughing at you.” Meng Bai leaned in a little closer. Her hands slid downward, slipping into Miao Bai’s sleeves to hold her hand. “Don’t be angry anymore. We’re still sleeping together tonight.”

Miao Bai didn’t pull her hand away, but she frowned uneasily. “I’m not angry.”

“Alright, alright, you’re not angry.” Meng Bai laughed even more happily. “So how are you feeling now? Are you still going to keep a straight face while talking to me?”

It was the tone of an elder lecturing a child.

Miao Bai couldn’t hold back anymore. The corner of her lips twitched upward, and as she smiled, she covered Meng Bai’s eyes, not letting her see.

“You talk too much, kid.”

Meng Bai leaned forward of her own accord, pressing her eyes against Miao Bai’s palm.

It felt very cool. This brief touch made Meng Bai’s heart feel at ease.

“Miao Bai—”

“What?”

“I’ve realized that whenever you’re by my side, my mood is always great.”

“And then?”

“But if I ever do something that upsets you, you have to tell me.”

Miao Bai didn’t speak.

She didn’t know how to respond, or rather, she didn’t know how to respond appropriately.

She always had this feeling of her heart not matching her words—even if she spoke, she wouldn’t be able to express herself properly.

Meng Bai said again, “Because you mean so much to me, I care a great deal about your feelings.”

Ah, she was too straightforward.

So straightforward that Miao Bai felt her heart heat up.

Not only did Miao Bai not remove her hand, but she pressed her palm even harder over Meng Bai’s eyes. “Alright, don’t talk.”

“Why cover my eyes if you want me to stop talking? Cover my mouth instead.”

Miao Bai used her other hand to cover Meng Bai’s mouth, so Meng Bai’s entire face was almost completely covered.

But she didn’t press hard, so Meng Bai could still speak.

Meng Bai was so amused by her that she giggled nonstop. “You’re not angry anymore. You’re not angry now—I can feel it.”

“One more time—don’t speak.” This time, Miao Bai covered her mouth for real.

“I—mmph—mmph—”

She couldn’t speak anymore.

The next second, Meng Bai’s tongue tip licked the center of Miao Bai’s palm. Miao Bai’s palm felt itchy, and she was so startled that she released her grip in an instant, completely shocked by the action.

Meng Bai belatedly felt a bit shy herself. She fidgeted restlessly, thinking she’d been too bold, so she pretended as if nothing had happened and immediately changed the subject: “So, about that Xu Jinghe situation… how are we handling it?”