Chapter 42: The Schemed School Beauty (12)

Time has never been something that waits for anyone.

Spring Festival came and went.

Which meant the College Entrance Exam was drawing even closer.

Bai Qian had thought she no longer needed to keep track of the timeline, but on the very day they returned from B City, Fu Siwan took the initiative to bring up resuming her classes.

“Sister, you don’t need to keep accompanying me on those so-called trial runs anymore. I’ve made up my mind—for the next few months, I’m going to work hard and see if I can scrape my way into university.”

Bai Qian blinked in surprise. “Didn’t you hate studying? You even argued with me before, saying it would take a miracle?”

With a teasing smile, she added, “Don’t tell me the miracle has actually happened?”

Fu Siwan didn’t smile back. Her gaze burned with fervor, laced with a depth of emotion that tugged at the heart. “The miracle really did happen. And its name… is Bai Qian.”

Ever since that night in the car, when her confession had been rejected, the girl had kept herself in check. No more improper actions or words.

Bai Qian had assumed she’d truly given up. Now, caught off guard, she fell silent for a couple of seconds before snapping back to her usual demeanor. “Fu Siwan, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t say things like that anymore?”

“I did say that if Sister doesn’t abandon me, I’ll assume she’s chosen the latter.”

The woman shot her a coquettish glare. “That’s not what you said at the end of that night!”

Fu Siwan put on her most innocent, harmless expression. “I won’t force Sister to choose anymore, that’s true. But I never said I’d stop liking her. I haven’t tried to kiss you by force like I did that day. I’m following your lead now— isn’t that enough for Sister? Or do you want me moping around, completely broken, drained of all passion for life… and guilting you for the rest of your days?”

“…” If only you put half that silver tongue to use in your studies, you wouldn’t just get into university—you could aim for any top school you wanted!

“From now on, I won’t kiss Sister without her permission. So don’t worry—I’ll behave.” Little Rabbit’s eyes sparkled like pools of water as she spoke.

Bai Qian let out a cold huff, ignoring the feigned pitiful look. “Rest assured, I’ll never give you permission in this lifetime!”

Fu Siwan blinked, smart enough not to argue the point.

“But if my College Entrance Exam scores fall short, will Sister stick with me for a retake next year?”

“Mm.” Bai Qian was more than willing—as long as the girl kept her affections off her, she’d support anything that fostered real growth.

“Then what if I overperform by accident this year and actually get into university? Will Sister be my girlfriend?”

One simple question, and the warm atmosphere shattered.

Bai Qian gritted her teeth. “Don’t even dream of it! Fu Siwan, no more talk like that—ever!”

The girl pouted softly at her. “Sister can either kiss me to shut me up… or let her ears take the punishment.”

“…”

In the original plot, the female protagonist had never been this shameless. So where exactly had things gone off the rails?

…

Bai Qian might have been exasperated by Fu Siwan’s pop-up confessions, but she was genuinely thrilled by the girl’s steady progress in her studies.

It proved that old truth: the only one who can truly wake you up is yourself.

When someone’s dead set against studying, no amount of beatings, scoldings, or pressure will change that.

But once they decide to buckle down on their own? No need for anyone to push them—they’ll handle it with focus and drive.

This world had golden fingers too.

Nothing as overpowered as those of other protagonists, but enough to give Fu Siwan a solid boost all the same.

She wouldn’t need to retake the exam.

When Bai Qian saw Fu Siwan’s scores, the weight on her chest finally lifted.

She decided to give the girl a gift.

Fu Siwan went straight for the stars. “I want Sister to date me.”

“Impossible.”

“Then be my girlfriend.”

“Not a chance.”

“When I hit legal marriage age, marry me, Sister.”

“…” Bai Qian tamped down the impulse to stuff her into the nearest toilet and flush. “Fine—how about a trip instead? A few days out. Where do you want to go?”

“Into Sister’s heart.”

Bai Qian: I’m beyond words.

In the end, they settled on Y City.

Xie Chao had recommended it enthusiastically, even going so far as to craft a detailed itinerary. He’d packed their entire week to the brim.

The young man’s plan was spot-on. The two of them had a wonderful time in Y City.

The check-in spot for the night before heading home was just a quiet bar in Plum Sister River Town, according to Xie Chao’s itinerary.

Bai Qian hadn’t wanted to go at all, but Fu Siwan had seen the itinerary too. After some soft pleading and stubborn coaxing, she finally wore her down.

Unlike the throbbing energy of rowdy nightclubs, this quiet bar had no clamor of voices or pounding DJ beats, no provocative performances to set the blood racing. Instead, there was only the soft, nightingale-like melody from an unnamed singer, and a pristine ambiance that seemed to settle the soul itself.

Bai Qian ordered two cocktails, both house specials created by the bartender—one called No Solution, the other Deeply Hidden.

She brought them over and let Fu Siwan pick. The girl showed no particular reaction to the names Bai Qian recited, choosing purely by color: the one named Deeply Hidden.

Deeply Hidden evoked an intense, unspoken love, its hue far from clear. It shifted from a lighter blue at the top to a deeper shade below, with a heavy, murky cluster at the bottom—like a dark cloud shrouded in the ocean depths, profoundly weighty.

No Solution, by contrast, was far simpler: a clean, pale yellow, reminiscent of an irresolvable affection that stayed true from beginning to end, straightforward and unwavering.

Its flavor was pure, too—a subtle sweetness laced with lemon’s tartness and slight bitterness, like the taste of a secret crush: a faint ache blended with a sweetness that made the heart quiver.

“Good?”

Fu Siwan’s cheeks flushed a soft pink from the low-alcohol content. She blinked and answered with a smile.

“Shall we listen to two more songs from her, then head back?”

“Sure.”

Bai Qian turned her gaze to the girl with the messy bun perched on a high stool, clutching the microphone as she murmured an obscure indie tune.

The singer’s beauty was vibrant and bold, her lip gloss a vivid orange that few could pull off.

Yet on her delicate features, it looked perfectly natural.

Her voice didn’t match her face at all—low and husky, the kind of smoky timbre that wrapped around each note.

Bai Qian watched her without blinking.

She was simply admiring the girl’s vocal talent, but to the one sitting beside her, that rapt expression took on all sorts of displeasing implications.

Her hand was suddenly gripped. Feeling someone draw near, Bai Qian turned her head and locked eyes with Fu Siwan, who had scooted right up beside her.

Their gazes met so closely that the woman froze for a split second. Snapping out of it, she tried to pull her hand back and lean away.

But the girl held on tight, refusing to let go, though she kept her body at a sensible distance. Her eyes darkened, her tone flat and emotionless. “So Sis likes this type, huh? No wonder you won’t say yes to me.”

Bai Qian: ?

“Sis, I’m jealous. You’ve never looked at me that gently before. You’re so mean to me.”

Bai Qian: Spouting nonsense with eyes wide open again!

“Will Sis let me kiss you?”

The topic leaped so abruptly that Bai Qian nearly lost the thread. Fortunately, Fu Siwan only asked without lunging in unannounced, giving her a chance to refuse. “No way.”

Fu Siwan betrayed no hint of disappointment. “Then will Sis kiss me?”

Bai Qian rolled her eyes without mercy. “In your dreams—forever!”

Fu Siwan kept her grip on the hand, her gaze sliding past the woman’s face toward the singer behind her, who had set down the mic for a break. “Let me give Sis a choice, then.”

“Does Sis want me to march over, snatch the mic, and confess to you in front of everyone? Or should we do it right here—secretly, where no one else will notice?”

Bai Qian’s eyes widened. “Fu Siwan, are you threatening me?”

She smiled. “I like Sis way too much to threaten you. I’m just… purely jealous, that’s all.”

Bai Qian itched with irritation at the girl’s airy attitude, but she knew all too well that this scheming little devil could absolutely pull off something as shamelessly embarrassing as a public spectacle.

She wanted to cry. She’d only been raising the kid normally—how had she ended up twisting her like this?

Fu Siwan gave her no time to agonize. “Sis, I’m counting down. If you don’t pick, I’ll choose for you.”

And just like that, she began counting in a grim voice, like the Grim Reaper hovering over a dying elder with scythe in hand, each number sending a chill down the spine.

“Ten.”

“Nine.”

“Eight.”

Bai Qian gritted her teeth. When the count hit two, she squeezed her eyes shut and leaned in, resigned to her fate.

She’d calculated the angle perfectly—just a brush against the corner of the girl’s lips. But the moment they touched, something felt off. Her eyes flew open, meeting the girl’s sly, laughing gaze.

Fu Siwan calmly clamped a hand on the woman’s head as it tried to pull away, deepening the long-coveted kiss without a shred of hesitation.

A sharp click echoed through the air. Bai Qian, convinced she was being secretly photographed, shuddered and whipped her head toward the sound.

What she saw instead was Fu Siwan snapping a selfie with her phone.

Satisfied, the girl released her and, right in front of the woman’s eyes, set that kissing photo as her lock screen wallpaper.

Blushing furiously, Bai Qian snapped, “Fu Siwan, are you out of your mind? Delete it right now!”

She lunged for the phone, but her grab fell short—her hand was caught and held fast instead.

“If Sis agrees to date me, I’ll change it,” Fu Siwan said. “Otherwise, fat chance, Sis.”

“Keep dreaming! Don’t forget I bought you this phone. Fu Siwan, I order you—change it now!”

The words had barely left her mouth before Bai Qian regretted them, even as Fu Siwan blinked in surprise.

She’d thrown barbs like this before. The insecure little rabbit would always end up in tears, needing long minutes of coaxing before her emotions settled.

This time, the woman glanced over with real worry.

But the girl showed not a hint of hurt or self-doubt. Instead, she offered a helpful suggestion with genuine kindness: “Since everything about me belongs to Sis, then naturally I myself should belong to Sis too, right?”