Chapter 25

Bai Shuangshuang found it amusing. “Bai Tongsheng, now who’s forcing whom? You wouldn’t let me stay at Jiang Chan’s home, so tell me—what have I forced you to do?”

“You really want to know?”

She was about to instinctively say yes, but the words caught in her throat, stifled by something heavy.

“If you want to know, I’ll tell you. Even if now isn’t the right time, if that’s what you want, nothing else matters.”

Bai Shuangshuang fought to steady her trembling body. She pushed a little harder with her hands, and this time, she managed to shove Bai Tongsheng away.

“No need. I don’t want to know.”

Something flashed in Bai Tongsheng’s eyes—like a meteor streaking across the sky, vanishing in an instant.

She said, “Fine, then. I won’t say it. Not now.”

She bit down hard on those last two words.

~~~

As soon as Bai Tongsheng got home, she took the initiative to move her things back into her long-vacant room.

Bai Shuangshuang had once desperately hoped that Bai Tongsheng would do just that. But now that she had, Shuangshuang felt strangely unaccustomed to it.

She said nothing about it. Even when Yu Xichi quietly asked her, she brushed the topic aside with, “We’re both grown up now. We should each have our own private space.”

Even so, she clearly sensed a subtle shift between herself and Bai Tongsheng.

On the surface, everything seemed the same as before. Yet she couldn’t shake the feeling that Bai Tongsheng no longer cared about her.

Such things always showed up in the details.

Bai Tongsheng no longer welcomed any physical contact with her and went out of her way to avoid being alone with her in the same space. It was just like in her previous life.

Shuangshuang didn’t know where things had gone wrong. But now that she’d finally adjusted to the situation, she reminded herself inwardly: if their paths were destined to converge once more, she still had a chance to turn things around.

Bai Tongsheng was about to start high school, which meant Shuangshuang would soon be heading to university herself.

No matter if it was Bai Tongsheng’s sudden aloofness or the strange, sour ache in her own heart from those changes—she needed to take the initiative and leave.

She had to go somewhere that would sever all ties with Bai Tongsheng. Only then could she become the Bai Shuangshuang she’d been at the start of this life: the one determined to draw a clear line between them.

~~~

“Shengsheng, are you really not choosing No. 1 High School? Are you sure you didn’t mess up? Shuangshuang’s at No. 1 High. Were you just too nervous and said it wrong?”

Bai Tongsheng kept her head down, tapping away at the little character on her tablet screen. “No mistake. Second High it is.”

Yu Xichi and Bai Bingyang exchanged a silent glance. Seeing that she was set on it and had no intention of changing her mind, they relented. “If this is truly what you want and you’re certain you won’t regret it, then fill it out that way.”

“Mm.”

~~~

Bai Shuangshuang had no idea about Bai Tongsheng’s decision. The night before school started, she knocked on Bai Tongsheng’s door. “A-Sheng, it’s me.”

After Bai Tongsheng had moved back to her own room, Shuangshuang had gone in a few times. But she’d noticed that while Tongsheng never said anything outright, her brows were always slightly furrowed. So gradually, Shuangshuang had stopped dropping by.

Coming to see her tonight was a last resort. After all, as the older sister, it was only proper to check in.

Bai Tongsheng opened the door with an indifferent expression, leaving just a narrow gap before returning to sit on her bed.

Shuangshuang walked over to her side. It had been so long since they’d talked like this; she felt inexplicably nervous. Tongsheng was completely absorbed in her tablet and showed no sign of asking why she was there, so Shuangshuang gritted her teeth and spoke up. “A-Sheng, tomorrow when you go to register, can I wait for you at the school gate? Auntie should be driving you there—we could meet up then, okay?”

“No need.”

Shuangshuang’s expression stiffened for a moment, but she quickly forced a smile. “You’re right. The first day will probably be hectic. Auntie will want to take you to meet the homeroom teacher too. How about the second day? I can come find you, show you around the school, help you get your bearings.”

Bai Tongsheng turned her head. “Bai Shuangshuang, I’m going to Second High.”

She froze, her smile twisting into something ugly.

“A-Sheng, you weren’t going to tell me?”

If she hadn’t come tonight, would she have only found out when the truth could no longer be hidden?

The girl seemed utterly unconcerned by her shock, her face betraying no extra emotion. “When you decided to live on campus, did you tell me?”

Bai Shuangshuang froze. This version of Bai Tongsheng felt strangely unfamiliar, making her suddenly want to flee. She took a small step back, forcing her voice to sound calm. “I-I just remembered I still have some things to pack, s-so I’ll head back first. Good night.”

Once the girl had vanished, the mask slipped from Bai Tongsheng’s face. She gazed at the half-finished portrait of the girl on her screen and reached out to caress it tenderly.

~~~

Bai Shuangshuang’s sleep was restless. Something seemed to be constricting her body, binding her so tightly she could barely move.

Yet she couldn’t open her eyes. She struggled helplessly in the grip of an uncomfortable nightmare.

As if sensing her distress, the binding eased slightly. Then a warm softness gently pressed against her forehead, lingering there for a long time before reluctantly pulling away.

It felt like someone whispered in her ear, but she couldn’t make out the words. Exhaustion crashed over her like an avalanche. Unable to resist, she sank back into deep slumber.

~~~

“Auntie, does A-Sheng’s school let out this late?”

Bai Shuangshuang glanced at the clock on the wall. It was exactly six.

Bai Tongsheng was only in her first year of high school. She should have gotten out earlier than this. Shuangshuang had been home for half an hour already—why wasn’t Tongsheng back yet?

Yu Xichi set the last dish on the table. “Has Shuangshuang washed her hands? If so, let’s eat. Uncle won’t be home for dinner tonight.”

“Aren’t we waiting for A-Sheng?”

Yu Xichi dropped a beef meatball into her bowl and shot her an odd look. “Didn’t A-Sheng tell you? She applied to stay on campus over the weekend. She won’t come home until the end-of-term break. I don’t know if the kid got some sudden inspiration, but she’s working so hard already in her first year. I’m actually pretty pleased. Oh, by the way, next week I’m planning to pick up a few things and swing by Second High to see her. Want to come with Auntie?”

Bai Shuangshuang barely registered the latter part of what she said. Her mind was entirely consumed by the earlier words.

Her heart throbbed with pain—not the sharp stab of a knife, which she could grit her teeth and endure.

No, this was a deeper ache, one that made breathing labored and her whole body go limp with exhaustion.

Had A-Sheng grown so weary of her that she didn’t even want to see her face anymore?

“Shuangshuang? You want to come with me?”

She snapped back to attention, struggling to keep the smile on her face. “Sorry, Auntie, I didn’t catch that.”

Yu Xichi repeated herself.

Shuangshuang shook her head bitterly. Bai Tongsheng probably didn’t want her there anyway.

“I’ll pass. Auntie, just give her my regards for me.”

“Fair enough. You’re hitting the home stretch too. Senior year is intense, but don’t pressure yourself too much, Shuangshuang. Auntie believes in you.”

“Mm. I won’t.”

~~~

“Just you?”

Bai Tongsheng stared desperately at the closed door. If that person appeared right now, she would surrender without a fight—even if it meant enduring the agony of looking but not touching, she would bear it.

It had only been two weeks, but she already missed her to the brink of madness.

Yu Xichi chuckled. “You think Shuangshuang has time to spare? She’s a senior now—time is more valuable to her than anything. How’s she supposed to visit you? And you—settling in okay?”

Bai Tongsheng ignored the question. “Did you keep her from coming?”

“Shuangshuang chose not to come herself. What, missing her already? Shouldn’t have picked staying on campus then. If you’re regretting it, pack up—we can head home right now.”

“No need.”

She reverted to her aloof demeanor, as if her earlier urgency had been a mere illusion. “Just drop the stuff and go. I like studying alone.”

Yu Xichi huffed, half exasperated, half amused. “Your mom comes all this way to see you, and that’s your attitude? Bai Tongsheng, you ungrateful brat—you’re getting less adorable by the day. Actually, you were never adorable, even as a kid!”

Bai Tongsheng stayed silent, letting her vent her grievances alone.

“Fine, whatever. It’s not like this is news to me. Loving to study is good—your mom supports it, naturally. So hit the books. If you need anything, tell me. Got it?”

“Mm.”

“I just don’t know who you take after with that personality. Your dad and I aren’t like you at all. Sigh. A minute of silence for your future partner ahead of time. Wonder if anyone can even put up with your temperament. Anyone who starts liking you will get scared off by that icy front eventually. Sigh, it’s gonna be tough. Real tough.”

“Still not leaving?”

“Yes, yes, yes! I’m off! No need to rush me. Hmph, I’ve made up my mind—no sleeping with your dad tonight. I’m going to cuddle up with Shuangshuang instead. She’s such a sweetheart. I’ll have her comfort me and make up for all the aggravation I’ve taken from you.”

“Hold on.”

Yu Xichi shot her a glance. “What? Changed your mind and want me to stay? Sorry, this old lady’s not in the mood anymore.”

She set her book aside and sat up on the bed. “I’ll walk you downstairs.”

“Oho? That’s a first. So thoughtful? Out with it—what’s the catch? Allowance? Some shopping spree?”

Her expression blank, she replied, “No sleeping with Bai Shuangshuang tonight.”

Yu Xichi: “…”

“Bai Tongsheng! I’m your mom, and you’re jealous of your own mother?!”

“Mm.”

“You’re insane! When Shuangshuang gets married someday, are you going to tag along like a buy-one-get-one-free deal, you hopeless siscon?”

“No.”

“I know you won’t, obviously. Fine, just messing with you. I want to bunk with Shuangshuang—she’s fine with it—but your dad says no. You two are just alike in that way, father and daughter both so possessive. God knows where you picked up that nasty habit. Anyway, I’m leaving. Get back to your book.”

“Mm.”

Bai Tongsheng picked up the pen resting by her leg and wrote three elegant characters on the page with heavy strokes.

At the end, she drew a circle around the “Bai,” as if that simple act could confine the name’s owner to a single place.

—I won’t follow her into marriage.

—Because I know.

—The one she marries can only bear the surname Bai.