Chapter 76 Part 2

A single drop of oil slipped from the meat and fell onto the base of Sang Wan’s middle finger, right on the back of her hand.

The dark yellow blot stood out starkly against her pale skin.

Sang Wan’s gaze flickered.

The corner of Yue Bai’s mouth twitched. She pulled back her chopsticks.

For some reason, she didn’t grab a napkin right away. Instead, she simply held Sang Wan’s gaze in silence.

Sang Wan’s light brown eyes reflected Yue Bai’s rigid expression.

“Wipe it clean,” Sang Wan said, her lips barely moving as she uttered the three words.

Yue Bai went still for two seconds. Then she shoved back her chair with her foot, strode around the edge of the table to Sang Wan’s side, and firmly twisted her around. With one long stride, she swung a leg over and straddled Sang Wan’s lap.

“Senior Sister, what’s really going on with you?” Yue Bai wrapped both arms around her neck, pressing their foreheads together. She drew out the last word in a long, wheedling whine, her voice soft and sticky-sweet.

A shiver ran up Sang Wan’s spine. As expected, she thought, I can’t stay mad at Little Bai.

She kept her face impassive as she raised the hand still smeared with oil. “Wipe it clean.”

Yue Bai glanced away, then pulled a napkin from the dispenser.

But she didn’t use it on Sang Wan’s hand. Instead, she dabbed at her own lips, where a faint trace of oil lingered, before tossing the napkin into the trash.

Sang Wan lowered her gaze.

Was her junior deliberately trying to provoke her?

Yet in the next instant, warm softness enveloped the base of her finger. Plump lips pressed against the back of her hand, inching slowly toward the oil spot with delicate kisses.

Sang Wan yanked her hand away as if shocked by electricity. She snatched a napkin and scrubbed at the spot.

“What are you doing?” Her voice carried a new edge of emotion.

Yue Bai lifted her head with a smug little grin, her eyes sparkling brightly. “Didn’t Senior Sister tell me to wipe it clean? I’m just doing what you said.”

“Who said to use your mouth? It’s dirty—don’t you know that?” Sang Wan frowned.

“Is it?” Yue Bai blinked up at her with wide, innocent eyes. Her left hand—the one looped around Sang Wan’s neck—slid down to intertwine their fingers, Sang Wan’s freshly cleaned hand clasped in hers. “Senior Sister’s hand is spotless. The oil just fell on it. Where’s the dirt? Hm?”

Yue Bai pitched her voice low on purpose, trying her best to sound sultry.

Sang Wan stared at her for a long moment. “You’re… so greasy.”

“…” Yue Bai’s facial muscles twitched involuntarily. She jerked her head up. “Senior Sister, have some manners!”

Sang Wan replied evenly, “From childhood until now, you’re the first person who’s ever asked me that.”

Yue Bai studied the familiar face before her, feeling more lost than ever. How could her gentle, water-like Senior Sister speak to her this way?

If not for the raw affection shining unmistakably in those eyes, Yue Bai might have thought someone else had taken over her body.

“Just tell me what you’re mad about. I’ll fix it,” Yue Bai said, frustration bubbling up.

Sang Wan narrowed her eyes and tugged her hand free from Yue Bai’s grip. “Getting impatient with me already?”

“No! I’m not—I’m just anxious. Senior Sister, hear me out.” Yue Bai grew more frantic at the words. She hugged Sang Wan even tighter. “I don’t want to upset you or make you sad. I don’t even know exactly what I did wrong, but I know it was something that bothered you.”

Sang Wan’s thin lips parted. “So you think I’m the one overreacting?”

Yue Bai’s head was spinning. “No, I just want to know why.”

Sang Wan said nothing, nudging at her gently in an attempt to get her off her lap. But she also feared Yue Bai might lose her balance, so one hand hovered protectively at the small of her back.

Yue Bai had no idea how to respond. Steel settling in her chest, she grabbed the collar of Sang Wan’s shirt and yanked her forward with bold dominance.

Sang Wan’s body tipped ahead instinctively. Her arms came up to cradle Yue Bai, shielding her from any fall.

“What are you doing?” Restraint flickered in Sang Wan’s eyes.

Yue Bai said nothing. Her lips pressed forward.

Sang Wan turned her face aside, but Yue Bai cupped her head firmly and held her in place.

A rush of soft, sweet breath flooded in, sweeping through Sang Wan’s mouth. Yue Bai’s tongue tip grazed her lower teeth before delicately seeking out Sang Wan’s unmoving tongue, drawing it into a slow, entwining dance.

Sang Wan stirred.

Satisfied, Yue Bai released her hold on Sang Wan’s head and deepened the kiss. Only when Sang Wan’s breathing grew ragged and she let out a soft hum did Yue Bai pull back, still hungry for more.

“Senior Sister, will you tell me now?” Yue Bai gazed up at her with pitiful eyes, taking in the flush at the corners and the soft pants escaping her lips.

“Get down,” Sang Wan rasped.

“No.” Yue Bai leaned in as if to kiss her again.

Sang Wan licked her lips in helpless surrender. “I’m not mad.”

“Really? Then why are you being so cold to me?” Yue Bai didn’t buy it. She sounded even more aggrieved. “Last night, you didn’t hold me while we slept. You left this morning without a word. You’ve never done that before.”

Her voice grew quieter with every word until it took on a faint sob.

She pressed her forehead to Sang Wan’s neck. “You just bully me. You ignore me—you’re mad at me. You won’t even smile at me. Boo hoo, you’re awful.”

Tears shimmered in Yue Bai’s aggrieved eyes, hovering on the brink of falling.

Sang Wan’s heart ached. “I’m sorry. I’ll pay attention to you. I’ll smile at you. Okay?”

She took the initiative to apologize.

Yue Bai swiped at the tear threatening to spill from the corner of her eye and sniffed hard. “Then why did you suddenly start ignoring me? Why the cold shoulder?”

She needed to know.

Sang Wan pressed her lips together awkwardly. After twenty-one years without a feeling like this, the words stuck in her throat.

“Did I do something wrong…” Yue Bai mumbled, head drooping.

“No.” Sang Wan pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s my fault.”

Yue Bai shook her head. “You wouldn’t just change like that out of nowhere.”

Sang Wan sighed and straightened Yue Bai up to face her properly. “You signed up for CET-6?”

“Yeah.”

“And you made a study punch-card deal with someone else?”

“Yeah…” In that moment, Yue Bai glimpsed the reason behind Sang Wan’s attitude.

Her eyes, still glossy with unshed tears, met Sang Wan’s. “Senior Sister, is this about that?”

Sang Wan didn’t want to admit how petty she was being. She pressed on: “Why? Why make a punch-card pact with someone else? You’re only a freshman. If you don’t pass this time, you can always retake it next year.”

Yue Bai understood completely now.

She explained, “But if I pass CET-6, it’ll exempt me from English credits. That way, for the next three years, I’ll have way more time to spend with you, Senior Sister…”

She offered her answer carefully, watching for the reaction.

Sang Wan’s throat worked. “But I’m right here. You could have me supervise you instead.”

Yue Bai saw it all too clearly now—the exact knot her Senior Sister was tangled in. Gazing at the equally aggrieved woman before her, she suddenly found it utterly adorable.

It wasn’t just the gentle surface; it was these little hidden quirks that only she knew about.

She loved her Senior Sister like this.

“My bad. No more punch-card pacts with anyone.” Yue Bai nuzzled her cheek against Sang Wan’s. “Don’t be mad at me, okay?”

“I’m not mad,” Sang Wan insisted.

“Mm, Senior Sister’s jealous,” Yue Bai teased with a curved smile.

“Absolutely not.”

“Yeah, yeah, not at all.” Yue Bai pretended to sniff the air. “Senior Sister, did you add extra vinegar to the food? I smell something sour.”

Sang Wan narrowed her eyes and nipped at her. “Little Bai.”

“Heehee, I got it,” Yue Bai promised. “I didn’t consider Senior Sister’s feelings—that was my mistake, and I admit it. This whole thing was my oversight. I see Senior Sister every day, so I should’ve asked her to keep an eye on me instead.”

Sang Wan hesitated, her lips parting slightly. “Little Bai, do you feel like I’m restricting your freedom?”

She couldn’t help wanting Little Bai all to herself, but Little Bai was her own person with her own social circle. Wasn’t she being a bit too possessive like this?

Yue Bai could tell what was on her mind and hurried to reassure her. “It’s not the same, Senior Sister. I’m doing this willingly. Besides, I really didn’t think about your feelings this time. I’ve given it some thought—if you were checking in like that with someone else every day, I’d be upset too.”

Sang Wan’s heart eased a little.

“And Senior Sister hasn’t stopped me from making friends anyway,” Yue Bai added with a grin.

“But…” She trailed off.

Sang Wan’s heart, which had just settled, leaped back up. “But what?”

“But from now on, Senior Sister has to tell me straight up. You can’t be like last night and this morning—I get sad too, and I overthink things.” Yue Bai’s lashes trembled lightly, a few clinging together from the dampness.

“Okay,” Sang Wan replied softly.

They lingered in the embrace a while longer before Yue Bai finally pulled away, satisfied, and returned to her seat. She picked up another piece of meat for Sang Wan, who this time didn’t refuse and even lifted her bowl to catch it.

After the meal, Yue Bai cleared the table with great enthusiasm, scrubbing the dishes clean.

In the afternoon, during class, Sang Wan walked Yue Bai to the foot of the Art Building and watched her head inside before turning toward the Music Education Building.

Her phone’s notification light blinked. Sang Wan glanced down at the message: “Senior Sister, I made it to the classroom.”

A smile curved Sang Wan’s lips. “Good.”

Seated in the Art Studio, Yue Bai thought for a moment before texting Qian Fan: “Sorry, but we can’t do the study check-ins anymore.”

The reply came quickly: “Okay.”

Yue Bai was relieved that Qian Fan didn’t press for details.

During evening self-study, Yue Bai pored over a thick stack of English materials. Near the end of the session, she sent Sang Wan a message: “Senior Sister, today’s study check-in.” She attached a photo of the materials spread out on her desk.

“Impressive,” Sang Wan replied.

“Heehee, what are you up to, Senior Sister?” Yue Bai asked, curious.

“I’m in the Student Council Office. Want to come over?” Sang Wan asked.

“Heading there right after self-study,” Yue Bai answered.

“Made up already?” Zhou Qingyan asked, catching the radiant smile on Sang Wan’s face.

“What’s going on?” Wen Mo inquired.

“Little Bai made a study check-in pact with someone, and this one got jealous,” Zhou Qingyan said with a shrug.

A flicker of disbelief crossed Wen Mo’s cool features, but she didn’t say anything more.

“See, Wen Mo’s too good to you—that’s why you’ve got so much time on your hands,” Sang Wan said, shoving a stack of documents her way. “Little Bai’s coming by soon. Watch what you say.”

Zhou Qingyan rolled her eyes. “Watch how?”

“Don’t fill her head with bad ideas,” Sang Wan replied without sparing her a glance.

Zhou Qingyan sneered and turned to Wen Mo. “Mo Mo, she’s bullying me.”

Wen Mo set down her mouse and tugged at Zhou Qingyan’s hand. Her words were directed at Sang Wan. “Yan Yan knows how to act like a proper senior sister.”

Sang Wan said nothing.

When evening self-study ended, Yue Bai headed to the Administrative Building. She took the elevator to the third floor and found the School Student Union Office, knocking on the door.

Sang Wan opened it from inside.

“Senior Sister,” Yue Bai said brightly.

Peering past her, Yue Bai spotted Wen Mo and Zhou Qingyan still there.

“Hi, Senior Sister Wen. Hi, Senior Sister Zhou,” Yue Bai greeted politely.

“Hey, Little Bai,” Zhou Qingyan replied with a smile.

“We’ll head out then,” Sang Wan said, turning back without any intention of going inside further.

“Mm.” Wen Mo nodded.

“Senior Sister, is it okay if I just got here and you’re already leaving?” Yue Bai asked once the office door closed. The other two showed no signs of leaving yet.

“It’s fine. I only came here to wait for you so we could go back together,” Sang Wan said with an indulgent smile.