Chapter 60 Part 2

Oh, right—Yang Kuikui had mentioned earlier that she’d gone to Future Media today for some kind of test shoot…

Bai Kou stared into Yang Wanxi’s eyes up close, lost in thought.

This time, Yang Wanxi didn’t pull away. She blinked slowly a few times, as if she could see her own reflection in Bai Kou’s pupils.

…Are we just gonna keep staring like this? What’s that mean? Bai Kou wondered inexplicably.

Then she felt Yang Wanxi raise her hand and gently rub her ear.

“Get some rest early. Good night.”

Yang Wanxi said it in a low voice before stepping away.

Bai Kou frowned as her gaze followed Yang Wanxi’s back into the bedroom.

From that night on, something seemed to quietly change.

Bai Kou threw herself entirely into preparing for the school exams and didn’t notice, but Yang Wanxi started insisting on saying “good night” to Bai Kou face-to-face every evening.

Sometimes, before they went to their rooms, she would dodge Bai Yuqiao and tug at Bai Kou secretly, smiling as she said, “Good night.”

Other times, after they were in their rooms, she would use the excuse of getting water, patiently knock on Bai Kou’s door, and wait for Bai Kou to appear dazed in front of her. Then she would touch Bai Kou’s cheek: “Good night.”

On weekdays or weekends, whenever Bai Kou had time and felt like unwinding, Yang Wanxi would invite her out alone to catch a movie.

She photographed the ticket stub from every one and posted it to Moments.

No fancy captions—just the year, month, and day they saw the film.

“Ah? She likes me?”

Bai Kou nearly cracked a tooth laughing when Tang Baini said it. “Hahaha, no way! To her, I’m just a kid. She’s like my sister—used to hanging out with me. She doesn’t know anyone else in Beijing, so who else is she gonna watch movies with but me?”

Tang Baini just shook her head.

Had Bai Kou ever actually dated? She had zero sensitivity. Some things were obvious from a glance. Oh well, Tang Baini didn’t want to spell it all out.

Tang Baini only said, “But she’s not your sister.”

“Clink.” Bai Kou set down her chopsticks, stood up with a smile, as if to say she was overthinking it.

Perhaps someone else was overthinking it too.

Bai Yuqiao had been swamped with exams and experiments these past few weeks, forced to stay on campus most of the time. When she refreshed Yang Wanxi’s Moments again, her brows furrowed. She tapped on the photo.

She spotted the corner of Bai Kou’s sleeve.

She went to Yang Wanxi’s profile and scrolled down.

Bai Kou sitting across the table, head down drinking a beverage. Bai Kou’s phone on the table… In short, every photo showing off movie tickets had some trace of Bai Kou.

“Yuqiao, quick, look at this. ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away.’ Hahaha.” The classmate beside her swiped her screen and laughed at her. “Keep the apple doctor away from me every day, hahaha.”

“…”

Bai Yuqiao turned her head and gave a casual smile, her gaze not even landing on the neighbor’s screen.

That evening, Bai Yuqiao rushed home from school.

She happened to run into Bai Kou linking arms with Yang Wanxi as they walked into the neighborhood. Bai Kou, who had been looking glum as if complaining about something, lit up the moment she saw her. She raised her hand and waved it crossed: “Sis—”

Whoosh.

While showering, Bai Kou’s thoughts wandered everywhere. She suddenly remembered what Tang Baini had said to her that day.

“Your… Little Xi-jie? Does she like you? Or… are you two already…?”

“How could you think that…” Bai Kou chuckled, took down the showerhead, and rinsed off the foam.

She opened the bathroom door. Yang Wanxi seemed to stand up from the living room sofa in sync, looking a bit awkward as she glanced at her. “That was fast.”

“Didn’t wash my hair today.” Bai Kou walked out naturally.

“Oh…” Yang Wanxi nodded her chin.

“I’m off to bed. Good night!”

“Good night.”

Bai Kou headed to the bedroom, touched the door handle, then turned her head.

Yang Wanxi had already taken a few steps closer. Startled by the sudden turn, she jumped. “Wh-what?”

“Forgot to remind you.” Bai Kou turned back and stepped closer to Yang Wanxi.

Yang Wanxi retreated helplessly. “…Of what?”

Fresh from the shower, Bai Kou’s entire face looked dewy and moist, carrying a beauty in Yang Wanxi’s eyes that she couldn’t quite put into words.

“Dear Yang Kuikui.” Bai Kou cupped her face. “Next week is my eighteenth birthday. Don’t forget, okay? I’m looking forward to your gift.”

“…” Yang Wanxi swallowed, nodding.

Bai Kou let go and glanced left. “Sis is already asleep?”

“Ah, yeah.” Yang Wanxi nodded again.

“Alright, then I won’t bother her.” Bai Kou patted Yang Wanxi’s wrist lightly and cheerfully. “Good night.”

“…Good night.”

The moment Bai Kou closed the door, Bai Yuqiao—the one they thought was “already asleep”—opened her own door and stepped out.

She exchanged a glance with Yang Wanxi.

The next day at noon break, Bai Yuqiao went to the art studio to find Bai Kou.

Bai Kou was thrilled and dragged her sister to the cafeteria.

“There are only two stir-fry windows here, but the auntie is super skilled. Last time, I asked her to make a Heyan-style dish, just described it casually, and it was exactly like it—super super tasty.”

Bai Kou pulled Bai Yuqiao along, introducing as they walked to the window.

Though Bai Yuqiao had visited the school a few times, this was her first time going to the cafeteria with Bai Kou. She listened quietly, scanning the surroundings. Even the cafeteria in the art training base was decorated with students’ paintings.

During the meal, Bai Kou sat across from her, wearing that pale pink down jacket from Yang Wanxi’s photos.

Bai Yuqiao’s gaze lingered darkly on the jacket for a while.

Only when Bai Kou noticed she hadn’t eaten a bite did she pause her chopsticks, looking at her with clear, puzzled eyes. “What’s wrong, Sis?”

Bai Yuqiao finally withdrew her gaze and shook her head at Bai Kou indifferently.

Nearly finished eating, Bai Kou wiped her mouth and patted her belly. “Is it because I’m eating with you? I usually can’t eat this much!”

【You, school, thought about it?】 Bai Yuqiao asked.

“I’ve decided.” Bai Kou had fully adjusted herself. It was just one Joint Entrance Exam, and her recent homework scores had been rising steadily. She refused to believe she couldn’t improve with three more school exams. “Still those three.”

Bai Yuqiao nodded. 【Signed up?】

“Yeah, signed up with Tang-jie last week.”

Bai Yuqiao seemed puzzled. 【Who?】

“Tang-jie, you know, Tang Baini.”

Speak of the devil. Right after Bai Kou said it, she heard, “Little Kou.”

Bai Kou lifted her chin, looked around, and smiled behind Bai Yuqiao. “What a coincidence. I was just talking about you with Sis.”

“I just got out of class and saw in the group chat that you were eating lunch here with your sis, so I came straight over.” Tang Baini sat down beside Bai Kou.

Bai Yuqiao glanced at Tang Baini, then quickly back to Bai Kou, listening as Bai Kou introduced her. “Sis, this is the Tang-jie I mentioned. You’ve met before.”

Bai Kou’s birthday dinner that night was super lively.

Two big sisters, two roommates, and a video call on the table with Lu Tongtong and Qiu Miaoran.

As for Bai Xiaochu, Bai Kou’s biggest birthday sponsor, she had treated Bai Kou to a private lunch at noon. In the afternoon, she said she had to meet a friend and left the kids to their own fun.

Everyone crowded into a corner of a creative Chinese restaurant. Bai Kou wore a shiny golden birthday hat on her head, with Bai Yuqiao beside her and Yang Wanxi across.

Bai Kou closed her eyes.

“First wish: May all my friends and I achieve our goals this year and get into our dream universities.”

“Second wish: May everyone around me stay healthy and happy every day.”

The third one couldn’t be said aloud.

But this year was different for Bai Kou. She didn’t wish for Mom, Sis, or Yang Kuikui. Instead, she dedicated it to someone far away.

In her heart: Third wish, Pei Yue, I hope everything goes well for you.

“Hoo—” Bai Kou blew out the candles.

“You all think Bai Kou was obedient as a kid? Wrong.” Yang Wanxi raised her hand and pointed to her left wrist. “Right here—when Bai Kou was little and scared of shots, she’d bite me every time. Lucky I don’t scar easily.”

“Whoa, you’re exaggerating!” Bai Kou was speechless. She pressed on Bai Yuqiao’s thigh and glared across at Yang Wanxi. “You only took me for shots a few times. Plus, I was so little—what could I even bite?”

Yang Wanxi lowered her arm. “Then what’s that scar on Yuqiao-jie’s shoulder? I bit it.”

That was…

Back in elementary school, Bai Kou hadn’t been paying attention and got bumped by a kid on the swing. She fell onto a brick.

To this day, her left arm had a vaccination scar and a small stitched one.

The stitches didn’t hurt much, but the anesthetic shot beforehand was excruciating. Weirdly, Bai Kou refused to let Bai Xiaochu hold her and insisted on Bai Yuqiao.

At the time, their heights lined up just right for Bai Kou to chomp her sister’s shoulder.

So that day, Bai Yuqiao had to disinfect her shoulder too.

The faint scar lingered on her shoulder.

Bai Kou hung her head in shame and raised her hand. “Fine… yeah, that one was me…”

Now that Bai Kou was an adult, and everyone at the table was too, Tang Baini suggested a little taste of the restaurant’s lychee wine to celebrate. The birthday girl was first to raise her hand. “Yes, yes, yes! I wanna drink!”

Tang Baini had recommended the place. She got up to order more wine and brought back a spinner too.

At their age, the classic truth or dare.

After the wine arrived, they spun the wheel and drank. Lady Luck favored Bai Kou—the first few rounds were all her.

“Hmm, let me think.” Tang Baini eyed Bai Kou’s two big sisters mischievously. “Truth: How many times have you been dumped?”

“Pfft—” Bai Kou nearly spat. “I’ve never dated!”

“Hm?” Tang Baini fiddled with the spinner. “Then who was it that was at the basketball court every night before—”

“Ah, fine, fine.” Bai Kou didn’t want to dwell. She surrendered with raised hands. “Count it as once, then. Once.”

“Say it fully.”

Bai Kou closed her eyes. No sore loser here. She lifted her glass to hide her face and admitted, “Fine, I’ve been dumped once.”

Whew, answering that made her whole face burn.

Bai Kou stood up. “Okay, anyone need the bathroom?”

Golden: “Me.”

Left at the table: Tang Baini, Bai Yuqiao, and Yang Wanxi.

The mood cooled a bit.

Yang Wanxi took the spinner proactively. “No worries, us three can keep playing.”

She spun. The needle whirred and finally stopped on Bai Yuqiao.

Yang Wanxi: “Oh… sorry…”

Unexpectedly, Tang Baini raised her hand. “Can I ask?”

Yang Wanxi shrugged. “Sure, go ahead.”

Bai Yuqiao sipped her wine and nodded.

“Hmm…” Tang Baini licked her lips, leaned over the table, fingers interlaced. “Sis, do you have someone you like?”

Wow. Yang Wanxi was surprised, but only for a second before sipping her drink, thinking, Bold move.

Bai Yuqiao met Tang Baini’s direct gaze, twirled her glass a bit, and smiled faintly without answering right away.

Tang Baini pressed. She grabbed nearby paper and pen, handing them to Bai Yuqiao. “Do you? Mind saying?”

As bold as it was, Yuqiao-jie couldn’t possibly, right?

Yang Wanxi thought, but from the corner of her eye, she saw Bai Yuqiao take the pen and quietly write over the menu print—

【Yes.】

Yang Wanxi froze.

“Ah…” Tang Baini looked disappointed. “You do… Is it one of your friends…?”

Her second half slipped out unconsciously; she wasn’t expecting an answer.

But Bai Yuqiao picked up the pen again and wrote:

【No.】 She paused. 【Someone I’ve known a long time. Very important to me.】

“You all really should hit the bathroom!” Bai Kou and Golden returned, excited. “The bathroom here’s so artistic—like a gallery, and it smells great!”

“Real or fake? Like a gallery?” Tang Baini jumped in.

Bai Yuqiao instantly crumpled the menu paper in front of her and tossed it into the nearby trash.

When Bai Kou sat down, she calmly pulled over Bai Kou’s left hand and wiped the lingering water droplets from her fingers.