Chapter 8

On an afternoon of torrential rain, the two of them shared the classroom in a strange, silent arrangement.

Bai Nianqiu had just texted Bai Muxia that she would be home a little late when Yu Qi finally finished cleaning.

He stood at the door, watching her with quiet eyes.

She knew he was asking whether she was leaving.

She quickly packed up her things and followed him.

Sure enough, his hands were empty. It really did look as though he hadn’t brought an umbrella.

Bai Nianqiu had already told her driver to bring two.

When the driver arrived, Yu Qi was about to walk straight out into the rain.

“Yu Qi,” she called, stopping him.

She held out the umbrella.

“I don’t need it,” he refused, his expression rather cold.

Hadn’t their relationship improved a little? Or did his pride prevent him from using her umbrella?

No, that wasn’t right. Yu Qi wasn’t Yu Lengye. He was a good kid. He wouldn’t respond so coldly to someone’s kindness. Otherwise, the heroine could never have used him so cruelly in the original story.

“You’ll catch a cold… Or is it because it’s from me?” Her voice grew quieter, and she looked utterly pitiful.

She handed the umbrella back to the driver and gave him a meaningful look.

He caught on immediately. Taking it, he pushed it into Yu Qi’s hand. “Here, young man, just take it. In rain like this, you’ll definitely have a cold tomorrow if you go without an umbrella.”

Unable to resist the driver’s firm grip, Yu Qi accepted it. He looked at the girl standing opposite him.

Bai Nianqiu looked a little sad, but she still rallied enough to give him a small smile.

As though saying: I know you hate me and don’t want anything from me. That’s all right. If someone else gives it to you, you can take it.

Something trembled in Yu Qi’s heart. No one had ever gone this far for him. Perhaps he ought to be a little less harsh with her.

All she’s done is like me…

By the time he came back to himself, Bai Nianqiu had already left. He watched the slender girl through the curtain of rain, his feelings tangled.

Bai Nianqiu, meanwhile, was delighted.

Aha! Now Yu Qi wouldn’t catch a cold. She was so capable.

Count on yours truly, Qiuqiu, to get the job done.

Back home, she looked around the room that felt both familiar and strange, then began searching.

Sure enough, all her childhood things were gone.

She called a servant over and questioned them carefully.

The servant thought for a moment. “I remember now. One day a few years ago, you suddenly had everything in this room thrown away. You even wanted to change rooms, until the young master reassured you that this was the best room in the house.”

Aha. That sounded like something the original owner would do.

Now she was certain. Before she had jumped ahead to eighteen, the soul occupying this body had been its original owner.

Who knew when that girl might regain control of the body? Hopefully, she wouldn’t start making trouble for Yu Qi again.

Life was hard. Qiuqiu sighed.

After dinner, Bai Muxia came to see her.

“Qiuqiu, do you not like Yu Lengye anymore?” He got straight to the point.

She had guessed he would come and immediately produced the explanation she had prepared.

“That’s right. He likes Ye Xinyuran. Why should I keep making myself miserable?”

“I want the person I like to be devoted to me too, big brother.” Finally, she put on a worried look and added, “Will this hurt our family?”

Bai Muxia said nothing. The answer was yes, but he couldn’t help aching for his little sister. Even if Yu Lengye was his close friend, there was no denying that his behavior was wrong.

He stroked her soft hair and said firmly, “If you don’t want to marry him, I won’t push you into it. I’ll find a way to convince Father and Mother.”

Deeply moved, Bai Nianqiu nodded. Her brother really was an angel!

Seeing her gazing at him with those beautiful round eyes, so trusting and sweet, Bai Muxia couldn’t help puffing out his chest.

Aaaaah, his little sister was just too cute! He wanted to give her a good squish!

It looked as though he had something new to add to today’s Qiuqiu observation diary.

Outwardly, he merely cleared his throat, told her to get some sleep, and closed the door behind him. Then he walked away with a spring in his step.

Once again, the doting Bai Muxia was troubled by the question of why his little sister was so adorable.

Only when he was going to sleep did he realize he had forgotten to ask her about Yu Qi.

Damn it.