Chapter 17

“Auntie, I’m heading out first. See you next week.”

Bai Shuangshuang called out to the person in the kitchen. Once she got a response, she pinched the cheeks of Bai Tongsheng standing in front of her.

“I’m off. See you next week.”

Bai Tongsheng had grown as tall as her and didn’t stop the gesture. Instead, she tapped her own forehead. “This month’s.”

The habit of planting a kiss on Bai Tongsheng’s forehead before school had been abandoned when Yu Xichi returned to the country. Bai Tongsheng had sulked for several days over it. With no other choice, Bai Shuangshuang had compromised, negotiating it down to once a month.

Bai Tongsheng wasn’t thrilled, but she knew that if she pushed too hard, Shuangshuang might not agree to it even once. In the end, she reluctantly consented.

Bai Shuangshuang could no longer simply bend down to reach her as she used to. She stood on her tiptoes and lightly touched her forehead to Bai Tongsheng’s. The latter curved her brows in satisfaction, like a cat that had been petted just right.

“A-Sheng, you’re starting middle school next year. We’re all growing up, and we can’t keep doing things like this. So from now on, not even once a month.”

She withdrew the warmth radiating from her body, her thin lips pressing into a straight line. “I won’t agree to that.”

Bai Shuangshuang had already opened the door. She tossed back over her shoulder, “Whether you agree or not, this is happening. My call. See you next week.”

Bai Tongsheng stared at the spot where she had vanished, then reached up to touch the warm spot still lingering on her forehead.

A certain corner of her heart—one that only stirred because of Bai Shuangshuang’s actions—began to tremble uncontrollably once more.

She had a premonition that she was on the verge of grasping exactly what this feeling was.

~~~

When Bai Shuangshuang came back on Friday, something was clearly off about her.

Yu Xichi was chatting with her at the dinner table. They hadn’t exchanged many words before Shuangshuang’s expression grew dazed, her mind obviously drifting elsewhere.

Even Bai Bingyang noticed. “Shuangshuang, is something going on at school? You can tell us. We’ll help you sort it out.”

Bai Shuangshuang shook her head vigorously. “No, no, Uncle, don’t worry. I’m really fine.”

They fussed over her a bit more. Seeing that she was truly focusing again, they finally relaxed.

Only Bai Tongsheng, sitting off to the side, watched Shuangshuang intently, her thoughts unreadable.

~~~

When Bai Shuangshuang entered her room, she unusually closed the door behind her.

She crept to her desk like a thief, let out a long breath, then opened her schoolbag and pulled out the pink envelope that some unknown person had slipped into her drawer that day.

It was obviously a love letter.

This was the first time in her entire life—or even across two lifetimes—that she’d received something like this.

She got along well with the girls in her class but didn’t interact much with the boys, so when she saw the extra item in her drawer, her only reaction besides surprise was simple curiosity.

In her previous life, her heart had been entirely fixed on Bai Tongsheng. In this one, though she was steadily changing her path forward, she had never delved into matters of romance.

She hadn’t met anyone she liked, but a love letter struck her as novel. So she brought it home, not for any other reason than to see what a real one looked like.

The reason for all the sneaking around was, of course, fear that Yu Xichi and the others would find out. They were usually open-minded, but she couldn’t guarantee they’d stay calm about a love letter.

After all, to most parents, receiving one meant getting tangled up in puppy love—and puppy love was one of the great taboos of adolescence.

Bai Shuangshuang tore open the envelope and carefully unfolded the pink paper inside. She silently read the neat ballpoint handwriting.

【Dear Student Bai Shuangshuang:

Hello.

I am—】

Before she could read further, a hand shot out from beside her and snatched the letter away.

Startled, Bai Shuangshuang whipped her head around. “A-Sheng?”

Bai Tongsheng’s face was dark and joyless. She jabbed a finger at the paper in her hand and asked coldly, “Bai Shuangshuang, are you in puppy love?”

Bai Shuangshuang shook her head frantically. “No, no, I’m not.”

“Then what’s this?”

Under her sullen gaze, Bai Shuangshuang confessed, “I don’t know who stuck it in my drawer. I just brought it home.”

Bai Tongsheng’s grip tightened on the paper, crumpling it in her fist.

“Are you going to say yes to him?”

Curious, she replied, “I don’t even know who it is. Say yes to what?”

Bai Tongsheng stared at her, her young voice carrying an unnaturally deep gravity as she warned, “Bai Shuangshuang, you are not allowed to have puppy love.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I wasn’t planning to. Now give the paper back— you’ve wrinkled it all up.”

Bai Tongsheng’s brows furrowed. Just as Bai Shuangshuang reached out to take the paper, she gripped it tightly, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it straight into the trash bin.

“Since this kind of thing would affect you, I’ll throw it away for you.”

Bai Shuangshuang: “…”

She realized that Bai Tongsheng, now all grown up, wasn’t nearly as cute as she’d been as a child!

Looking at her like this, anyone who didn’t know better might mistake her for her older sister!

But Bai Shuangshuang had lost all interest in the love letter. She wasn’t upset by the action. Instead, something occurred to her, and she adopted an instructive tone. “Don’t just lecture me—you’re not allowed to date early either. Hmm… anything before college counts as early dating.”

Bai Tongsheng: “Mm.”

~~~

Bai Tongsheng had a dream.

In the dream, Bai Shuangshuang was the center of everyone’s attention.

She stood amid the crowd, watching as she exchanged rings with a blurry figure. Just as that figure leaned down slightly to kiss her, a flash of white light erupted, revealing the person’s face. She jolted awake.

Her chaotic, heavy breaths filled the pitch-black room, coming in waves more violent than the frantic pounding of her heart.

In the darkness, she lifted her left hand. There was nothing there—nothing visible in the blackness—yet she seemed to see a silver gleam shimmering on her ring finger.

The person beside her slept soundly. It had been ages since Bai Tongsheng had snuggled into her arms like she used to as a child. But now—

She reached out carefully and drew her into her own embrace.

—Bai Shuangshuang, I’ve unilaterally started dating you early.

~~~

Yu Xichi had risen early and gotten busy. She’d bought heaps of groceries and all sorts of ingredients for making a cake.

Bai Shuangshuang wasn’t like other kids, who invited school friends over every year for a little birthday party at home.

She wasn’t all that enthusiastic about birthdays. In her previous life, she’d poured all her passion for them into Bai Tongsheng’s special day.

This life was no different—except now, one more person was willing to celebrate with her.

For the past few years, Yu Xichi had handled all her birthdays herself.

Nothing elaborate: just the four of them sharing a hearty meal, with the added ritual of blowing out birthday candles and making a wish.

While Yu Xichi prepared the cake in the kitchen, Bai Tongsheng came downstairs for a glass of water.

“Shengsheng, it’s your sister’s birthday today. What gift did you get her?”

Bai Tongsheng’s expression remained impassive at the question. “I didn’t prepare anything.”

Yu Xichi chuckled to herself. The kid was keeping little secrets now. In past years, she’d have proudly boasted about whatever handmade gift she’d crafted. Her silence meant she’d grown up.

Yu Xichi didn’t press. If Bai Tongsheng wanted to surprise Bai Shuangshuang, she’d play along.

“Has your sister gotten up yet?”

Bai Shuangshuang was an early riser, except during her period. It didn’t hurt much—she just liked lingering in bed a little longer.

Unfortunately, her period had started yesterday.

Bai Shuangshuang had no need to mention it to Yu Xichi, so she thought nothing of it. “She must’ve stayed up late reading last night. Don’t wake her later—let her sleep in.”

“Mm.”

Bai Tongsheng offered no further explanation. She finished her water and headed upstairs.

When she entered the room, Bai Shuangshuang was still asleep. Bai Tongsheng lifted the covers on one side and slipped in beside her. The soundly sleeping figure beside her opened her eyes.

Bai Shuangshuang’s eyes were half-lidded as she murmured softly, the sound making Bai Tongsheng swallow reflexively.

“A-Sheng, what time is it?”

Bai Tongsheng turned to her, eyes aglow with gentle warmth. “Just seven. Go back to sleep.”

Bai Shuangshuang nodded and closed her eyes again. The day was special. Her stomach didn’t ache, but she felt a dull heaviness all over, so she wanted to laze in bed for once.

She’d just tugged the covers higher when Bai Tongsheng called her name.

“Bai Shuangshuang.”

A shadow fell across her vision. She blinked open drowsily and heard the smile in her voice. “Happy birthday.”

The words came low and soft, the final note lilting upward like willow branches swaying in a spring breeze, sending ripples across the water’s surface.

Bai Shuangshuang froze for a moment. Then Bai Tongsheng leaned down, and her thin lips brushed the corner of Bai Shuangshuang’s mouth by accident.

Her eyes flew wide—only to see Bai Tongsheng looking even more flustered. “I meant to kiss your cheek.”

Bai Shuangshuang burst out laughing. The odd feeling in her chest vanished amid her embarrassment. She reached out on instinct to ruffle her hair, but Bai Tongsheng’s childhood outburst echoed in her mind, and reason halted her hand.

“Do you want to pat my head?”

Bai Shuangshuang, fearing that Bai Tongsheng might be upset, shook her head. “No.”

Bai Tongsheng had already gripped her hand—the one trying to slip back under the covers—tightly in her own. Then, taking the initiative, she lowered her head and guided it to rest atop her own.

She gazed at her. “No more petting anyone else. From now on, you can only pet me.”

“I’ll only let you pet me.”