Chapter 48: Little Pitiful One Grows Taller – 2

The pain following her differentiation period kept Gu Xizhou bedridden for two weeks. By the time she returned to school, it was already late September.

On her first day back, Gu Xizhou was visibly excited. She arrived at school early that morning, sat at her desk with her backpack, and happily waited for her classmates to enter the classroom.

Every time a classmate walked in, Gu Xizhou would proactively greet them: “Good morning.”

But every single classmate would look at Gu Xizhou with a strange expression, as if observing an alien, before nodding and replying, “Good morning.”

After that, they would hurry away to their own seats.

This attitude left Gu Xizhou completely baffled; she couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Soon, Yan Qing arrived too. Gu Xizhou, seated in the first row, smiled and said, “Good morning, Yan Qing.”

Yan Qing gave her a subtle look. Unlike the other classmates who avoided her, she walked up to Gu Xizhou and looked her over from head to toe. “Are you fully recovered?”

Gu Xizhou’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “I was lying in the hospital for two whole weeks, so of course I’m all better now.”

The changes brought on by the secondary differentiation were significant. The most striking was that the little alpha’s previously somewhat baby-faced cheeks had completely matured. Her facial lines became much sharper and colder, carrying a faint aura of alpha authority.

Yan Qing scrutinized her features, clicking her tongue in admiration. “Not bad. Staying in the hospital, you’re still pale.”

“Unlike me, I’ve tanned.”

After a month of military training under the scorching summer sun, even children with the best complexions couldn’t withstand it. Yan Qing’s delicate, fair face had turned wheat-colored.

Gu Xizhou’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she consoled her: “Not dark at all, you’re still very fair, still very pretty.”

Yan Qing sighed, a bit helpless. “Ah, stop trying to cheer me up. I know what a frightful state I’m in right now.”

She lowered her hand, pinching her own wheat-colored arm, feeling very melancholic. “I wonder if this color can be covered up and whitened if I hide inside for a whole winter.”

As the two were talking, Su Zhiyi happened to walk in through the door with her backpack. The moment Gu Xizhou caught sight of her figure from the corner of her eye, 0820 became very excited: “Su Zhiyi is here!”

Gu Xizhou immediately turned her head, her voice involuntarily rising: “Su Zhiyi!”

The classmates in the room “whooshed” and looked over at them, their eyes gleaming with the light of gossip.

Su Zhiyi stood at the door, blinking. Meeting Gu Xizhou’s bright, sparkling eyes, she barely managed to calm herself under the intense gaze and nodded at Gu Xizhou: “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” Gu Xizhou smiled at her, her expression a bit shy. “Long time no see.”

After a full two weeks without meeting, seeing Su Zhiyi again, Gu Xizhou’s perception of her had completely changed.

Through their nightly WeChat conversations during those two weeks, she seemed to have built an extremely close, revolutionary friendship with Su Zhiyi.

Seeing her now, Gu Xizhou didn’t feel she was looking at a stranger who merely resembled Su Nanfeng. She felt she was looking at her closest friend.

0820 called this the power of teenage pheromone links!

An illusion brought on by adolescent hormones!

But Gu Xizhou didn’t see it that way. She just stared directly and earnestly at Su Zhiyi, like a little puppy, waiting for its owner’s comfort.

That expression…

How to put it? It was so pitifully adorable that even Yan Qing, standing beside her, felt an urge to rub her head.

The moment this thought arose, Yan Qing couldn’t help but rub her own arms and shiver: Ugh, how mushy.

She’d better leave. Although the gossip was entertaining, she shouldn’t be a third wheel at a time like this.

Still, Gu Xizhou was really brave. That day, in front of so many people, she had hugged Su Zhiyi, crying and yelling, completely losing face. Yet now, she could still greet the other so naturally. As expected of the first alpha in their class to have a rumored romantic interest.

Truly a woman who dared to resist school bullying; even chasing someone was this spectacular and vigorous.

Yan Qing patted Gu Xizhou’s shoulder. When Gu Xizhou turned her head to look, Yan Qing gave her a thumbs-up: A true woman.

Gu Xizhou blinked, looking utterly confused.

Yan Qing didn’t say more. She glanced ambiguously at Su Zhiyi, then picked up her backpack and returned to her seat.

Gu Xizhou turned her head back, her eyes sparkling brightly as she looked at Su Zhiyi.

Su Zhiyi, who had originally planned to use the moment Yan Qing and Gu Xizhou were talking to rush to her own seat, saw this eager, longing gaze. She had no choice but to convince herself, make a sharp turn, and walk over to Gu Xizhou’s desk.

In those few short steps, Su Zhiyi felt some regret. Why hadn’t she entered the classroom from the back door today? That way, she wouldn’t have run into Gu Xizhou.

Once the two of them started talking, who knew what kind of messy things the classmates from their class and grade would spread.

When that happened, Su Nanfeng, whom she had just managed to pacify, might go crazy again.

But this morning, she had known she would see Gu Xizhou. She still couldn’t help wanting to see her, to check what her situation was.

In a few breaths, Su Zhiyi built up countless mental defenses in her heart: So be it. It’s already been spread around like that. What new stories could she and Gu Xizhou possibly have to fear?

The most ridiculous rumor was already circulating—that she had an abortion for Gu Xizhou on the forums, which is why Gu Xizhou was always cornered and beaten in the restroom by Su Nanfeng.

Stories from third-rate pulp fiction, a hundred and eight versions. What else did they need to avoid?

Calming her thoughts, Su Zhiyi walked up to Gu Xizhou and smiled gently: “You’re here so early. Have you had breakfast?”

Gu Xizhou nodded and answered: “Yes, I have!”

Maintaining her image as a caring older sister, Su Zhiyi softly advised: “That’s good. Drink more milk in the morning, supplement protein, so your legs won’t hurt.”

Su Zhiyi exchanged a few pleasantries, all the while thinking about how she could politely, without losing her smile, return to her seat at the far end of the classroom.

Sigh, why was she so tall, with a seat in the back row? Why did she have to walk through the main door? And why couldn’t she refuse Gu Xizhou, having to greet her?

So frustrating.

Gu Xizhou smiled and agreed. Amidst 0820’s prattling, she unzipped her backpack, took out a small gift box, and offered it to Su Zhiyi: “Here, this is for you.”

Su Zhiyi looked at the item presented to her, somewhat surprised: “Why?”

Gu Xizhou smiled, looking shy: “You’ve helped me a lot. My mom said you… you’re not like your sister. You don’t owe me anything. Since you’re so kind to me, I should show some appreciation and cherish our friendship.”

“This is to thank you for looking after me when school started.”

Of course, these words were all from 0820, not Gu Jing.

Gu Jing would never think Su Zhiyi was different from Su Nanfeng. Even if Su Zhiyi was a good child, with that kind of original family, Gu Jing would still categorize her as part of the bad bamboo family.

Su Zhiyi was slightly taken aback and didn’t reach out to take Gu Xizhou’s gift.

Gu Xizhou looked up at her, her gaze extremely sincere, and pushed the gift forward again: “It’s nothing expensive, just a small token of appreciation. Just accept it, please.”

When she spoke the last few words, her voice even carried a hint of pleading.

Su Zhiyi’s hesitation didn’t last long, because the classroom was filling up. As classmates entered, they immediately fixed their gazes on her and Gu Xizhou, intensely burning with curiosity.

If this back-and-forth of offering and refusing continued any longer, there would probably be several more versions of the lively drama.

She reached out, accepted Gu Xizhou’s gift, and smiled sweetly: “Thank you, I won’t stand on ceremony then.”

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Su Zhiyi took Gu Xizhou’s gift and returned to her seat.

—

Having successfully gotten Su Zhiyi to accept her gift, Gu Xizhou was very happy, believing their friendship had taken another step forward.

The changes brought by military training were very obvious. Over half a month of interaction was enough for a group of students to get to know each other.

During break time, Gu Xizhou clearly sensed a huge shift in the class atmosphere.

Students gathered in small groups of three or five, all chatting with classmates they were familiar with, going to the restroom together.

The Omegas centered around Su Zhiyi. During the ten-minute break, there was always a group of Omegas gathered around her seat.

The alphas and some betas centered around Yan Qing. As soon as the bell rang for break, it was always lively around her, too.

Gu Xizhou sat in her seat, opened her book, and looked in Yan Qing’s direction, then in Su Zhiyi’s direction. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of abandonment.

Her absence during military training had made her out of sync with this class from the very start of school.

It was just like when she transferred schools in eighth grade.

Gu Xizhou was already used to this kind of thing. She quickly adjusted her mindset, opened her textbook, and started doing practice problems during the break.

Friends could be maintained outside of school; the most important thing inside school was still studying.

Only learning was her own. Diligently absorbing knowledge was the only way to have a bright future.

Watching her regulate her emotions so easily and dive into the most important task at hand, 0820 felt quite gratified: As expected of her.

Although her younger self was a bit naive and silly, she was still just as positive and motivated.

Morning classes ended quickly. As the dismissal bell rang, the students “whooshed” out in a swarm, rushing towards the cafeteria.

Gu Xizhou tidied her desk, putting her textbooks back into the desk cubby. Just then, Yan Qing came over, stood beside her, and tapped on her desktop.

Gu Xizhou looked up at her, her eyes surprised.

Seeing her expression, Yan Qing chuckled and said casually, “You kept looking over during the breaks. Did you want something from me?”

Gu Xizhou hadn’t expected her to notice that. “You knew I was looking at you.”

Yan Qing raised her hand and couldn’t resist ruffling her hair: “Of course I knew. Like a puppy with eager eyes, it was hard not to notice, right?”

Gu Xizhou: …

Yan Qing pushed up the glasses on her nose bridge and explained to Gu Xizhou: “My friends are just too clingy. I wanted to come ask you during the third period, but I couldn’t get away. Don’t mind it, okay?”

Gu Xizhou said, “I don’t mind.”

“So tell me, what did you need?”

Gu Xizhou felt a little comforted. She smiled and told Yan Qing: “I brought you a little gift.”

She opened her desk drawer and searched for a moment, quickly finding a small box. She took it out and offered it: “Su Zhiyi told me that morning when I had a high fever, you were the one who found me and took me to the infirmary.”

“Thank you for helping me.”

Yan Qing looked at the box Gu Xizhou held out, extremely surprised: “So, I get a share too?”

Gu Xizhou nodded: “Mm, you have one too.”

She smiled apologetically: “I was going to give it to you this morning, but you left so quickly, I forgot.”

Yan Qing accepted the gift, her face instantly breaking into a delighted smile: “You’re too polite. I’ll talk to my mom later, see if she can give you a 90% discount on the combat training registration.”

The two chatted and laughed. Sitting in the back row, Su Zhiyi, who had also intended to come over and ask Gu Xizhou something, saw the scene of Gu Xizhou handing Yan Qing a gift. A thought rose in her mind: Oh, so I wasn’t the only one who got this gift.

Other sisters got one too.

She felt relieved.

Kids are like that; they just like giving gifts to people they are close to and like. Why should she care so much about it?