Chapter 30

“I swear I didn’t say anything to her!” Zhou An explained afterward.

Meng Bai curved her lips upward. “Then why did her face turn so red?”

Zhou An looked equally baffled. “Was her face really that red? I just said I’d treat her to something after school.”

Recalling her conversation with Xu Zhou just moments ago, Zhou An had actually noticed something unusual about her.

They had been standing quite close, and Xu Zhou already had such a delicate, refined look with her fair skin, making any blush stand out vividly.

“Are you feeling hot?” Zhou An had asked her at the time.

Xu Zhou stared straight at Zhou An and shook her head stiffly. “No, I’m just thinking about what to eat after school.”

“Whatever you want, I’ll take you to get it.”

Xu Zhou had agreed right away, and then the class bell rang.

Anyway, Xu Zhou had been acting pretty strange.

That was the consensus between Meng Bai and Zhou An.

~~~

Friday afternoon was the joyful time for all the students.

After school, everyone started packing their bags, chattering noisily in a lively buzz. Zhou An glanced toward the back of the classroom, her eyes meeting Xu Zhou’s once more.

Zhou An mouthed the words: Follow me!

Xu Zhou yanked a backpack from her drawer at lightspeed, signaling that she was already packed and ready.

Meanwhile, Zhou An started urging Meng Bai. “Meng Bai, hurry it up! Why are you dawdling like this? We’re all set, just waiting on you.”

“Almost done, no rush. Take it slow.” Meng Bai had a touch of organizing OCD; she wouldn’t stop until every test paper and book was neatly tucked into her bag.

It delayed them just a little.

“Let’s go, let’s go!” Zhou An grabbed Meng Bai and headed toward the back. As they passed Xu Zhou’s desk, she looped an arm through Xu Zhou’s as well.

Xu Zhou squirmed a bit at being linked arm-in-arm but went along with it.

The three of them walked out of the classroom side by side.

Dusk was settling in, the sun dipping behind one corner of the school building. The sky blazed with vibrant colors stretching from the horizon.

Figures dashed across the basketball court amid the thump-thump of balls hitting the pavement. Girls leaned on each other, shoulders brushing, hands linked, strolling leisurely toward the school gate.

Meng Bai squinted against the light, basking in its warmth, as Zhou An’s soft voice drifted to her ears.

“How about we dip into those two hundred yuan after all? Not much—just thirty. Ten bucks each.”

Don’t underestimate thirty yuan; in a small town like theirs, it could buy plenty.

“Save your two hundred. Today, it’s on me.” Meng Bai fished a roll of change from her pocket—the leftovers from last night when she and Miao Bai had hit Night Market Street.

“Where’d you get this from?” Zhou An asked, surprised. “You don’t usually have much pocket money.”

None of them did, really.

“Dad gave it to me.” Meng Bai brushed it off with that.

After some back-and-forth, Zhou An insisted on treating.

Meng Bai and Xu Zhou were considerate too, keeping spending low. Zhou An picked up three portions of fried potatoes and Coca-Colas in town.

Fifteen yuan total—right on budget.

Not much spent, but utterly satisfying. The three strolled along the cobblestone streets of the small town, munching and chatting idly.

“Hey Xu Zhou, why do you keep sneaking peeks at me~” Zhou An teased.

“Uh—” Xu Zhou nearly spat out her Coke but managed to swallow it. “I didn’t!”

“You totally did!” Zhou An latched on, nagging playfully. “Every single time I catch you looking, you’re staring right back at me.”

“Well, I only look because I feel you looking first…”

“Bullshit—you looked at me first!”

“I didn’t, I didn’t.” Xu Zhou flushed beet red, thoroughly embarrassed.

“See? Your face is red again! Admit it—is it because I’m just too good-looking?”

“Pfft!” Meng Bai, who had stayed quiet until then, burst out laughing. “Zhou An, aren’t you a little too full of yourself?”

When it came to self-love, Zhou An was maxed out.

“Me, narcissistic? I am good-looking! Don’t believe me? Ask Xu Zhou!”

To her surprise, Xu Zhou didn’t fire back. She just stammered, “Eh, I-I won’t argue. You always win anyway!”

Meng Bai: ?

She figured Xu Zhou would deny it at least.

This evasive, half-hidden vibe felt off. For a split second, Meng Bai remembered what Miao Bai had said.

[Women can like women too. Why can’t women like women?]

It hit her like a thunderbolt.

Once she entertained the idea, looking at Xu Zhou stirred something strange in her chest.

No way Xu Zhou…?

“Haha, can’t help it—I’m blessed with natural beauty. You staring is totally normal. I give permission!”

Just like that, Meng Bai shot down the thought.

Who’d fall for a narcissistic dork like Zhou An? Xu Zhou wouldn’t. No way!

The three kept chatting as they headed homeward. The sun dipped low, its glow bathing the small town in warm light, cozy as a dream.

Xu Zhou lived in a different direction, but she tagged along a ways anyway.

“You know, Xu Zhou, you saved me that day. Without you, who knows what that old creep Zhang Gou would’ve groped me into!” Zhou An grimaced in disgust at the mention of him.

Xu Zhou’s eyes hardened. “If he dares touch you, I’ll kill him.”

Meng Bai’s heart thudded hard.

She wasn’t kidding.

“Hahaha, but for real—if he tries, I’ll kick his balls into next week!” Zhou An’s blunt streak shone through as she cracked up.

Xu Zhou watched her laugh, a smile tugging at her own lips.

Their peals of laughter echoed around Meng Bai, leaving her dazed.

Was Zhou An’s line even that funny? Meng Bai didn’t get it.

If it wasn’t, why was Xu Zhou playing along so hard?

What the heck.

All the way home, Meng Bai’s mind fixated on Xu Zhou.

One minute, it seemed like Xu Zhou had a thing for Zhou An. The next, she’d talk herself out of it.

Girls liking girls was still alien territory for Meng Bai. She saw Miao Bai as the exception—Miao Bai was one of a kind.

This stuff didn’t happen in her world.

Better not jump to conclusions.

Before she knew it, they were at her doorstep. Meng Bai stopped. “Alright, I’m home.”

“Alright.” Zhou An turned to glance at Xu Zhou before adding, “Come on, Xu Zhou, I’ll walk you home.”

Xu Zhou hesitated. “No need, is there?”

“Pfft, what do you mean no need? I’m walking you home—I haven’t finished chatting with you yet. Come on, come on!” With that, Zhou An reached out to grab Xu Zhou’s arm.

The moment Zhou An’s arm brushed Xu Zhou’s, Meng Bai noticed Xu Zhou’s body go rigid.

Meng Bai: “……”

She had tried not to suspect anything, but now she really had to wonder!!

“Meng Bai, we’re heading out first!” Zhou An, ever the scatterbrain, waved cheerfully at Meng Bai. “See you tomorrow!”

And so Meng Bai stood in the doorway, watching the pair’s figures merge with the encroaching dusk.

Orange lamplight bathed the road ahead in a golden glow. Zhou An bounced along in front of Xu Zhou, gesturing animatedly as she spoke.

Xu Zhou, for her part, simply nodded or smiled throughout.

Meng Bai watched the scene unfold. Far from feeling out of place with Xu Zhou there, she actually thought the two of them looked surprisingly harmonious together?

Everything was fine, aside from…

Aside from the possibility that Xu Zhou actually liked Zhou An.

If that was the case, that total airhead Zhou An would be scared speechless for sure.

Whatever.

Meng Bai felt like she was overthinking things.

She lingered in the doorway for a moment before heading back inside.

Lin Li wasn’t home—she’d gone to visit relatives—and Meng Xingzhong was still at the construction site, leaving the house empty.

Meng Bai had the run of the place.

She ambled into her room and changed into a fresh set of clothes. Dinner was off the table; she was already full from earlier.

Next, of course, was finding Miao Bai.

Going to see Miao Bai had somehow become a habit.

It felt perfectly natural to cross paths with her every day.

Meng Bai grabbed her keys and stepped out.

Twilight had deepened, and the sky was darkening by the minute.

Only when she emerged did Meng Bai realize how chilly it had gotten. It had been days since her last visit to Miao Bai, and the path to the Old Courtyard felt oddly unfamiliar now.

Hardly anyone came this way, so the weeds and grass grew wild and tangled, making the going rough underfoot.

But the sight of that courtyard chased away any discomfort.

The solitary Old Courtyard was downright endearing in Meng Bai’s eyes. She quickened her pace, the rustle of grass beneath her feet sending her spirits soaring.

Mid-stride, her foot landed on something strange.

“Hiss—”

A sound slithered up from the grass.

Meng Bai sensed she’d stepped on something. Before she could react, agony lanced through her ankle.

She looked down to see a long snake—black with red markings, about three feet in length—coiled in the grass, its triangular head clamped viciously onto her ankle.

!!!!!!

It hurt like hell!!!

Meng Bai jerked her leg, but the snake held fast. Peering closer, she saw the red markings; these were the kind that lurked in the undergrowth and didn’t let go easily.

“Miao Bai!!!” Meng Bai had always been terrified of snakes, and now that one had bitten her, she teetered on the edge of hysteria. “A snake bit me! Miao Bai!!! Waaah!!!”

This time, she really cried.

She was standing just a short distance from the courtyard, and her cries rang out loud and clear.

In the blink of an eye, the courtyard’s iron gate creaked open. Before Meng Bai could even process it, a black shadow streaked toward her.

It moved like lightning.

“Miao—”

“Don’t move!” Miao Bai thrust out her hand toward the Red Chain Snake. The creature flew off her ankle, snapping into three pieces mid-air.

The crimson segments thudded to the ground in a spray of blood. The air reeked of it.

The snake’s end had been brutal.

Even so, Meng Bai remained paralyzed with fear, rooted to the spot with tears streaking her face—something she rarely did.

“Waaah, is it poisonous? Am I dying, Miao Bai? It’s black and red!!! Super venomous, right?!”

“It’s fine, barely any toxin.” Miao Bai steadied the trembling Meng Bai. “Just a Red Chain Snake, mild stuff.” She knelt to inspect the ankle, revealing the puncture wounds. “Does it hurt?”

“It hurts…” Meng Bai’s lip quivered. “And it’s so gross!”

Miao Bai rose. “Come on, let’s get inside. I’ll put some medicine on it.”

Meng Bai shuffled forward a step and winced. It was probably mostly in her head.

“What now? It hurts too much to walk…”

Without a second thought, Miao Bai said, “No problem. I’ll carry you.”