Bibi Dong: I've Had Enough!

"So I told you, I'm not very good at this." Jiang Bai scratched his head.

Qian Renxue carefully put the two hand puppets into her storage Soul Tool, as though she were storing away priceless treasures.

Then she raised her head, her purple eyes surging with complicated emotions—joy, gratitude, shyness, and the determination of someone who had made up her mind.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Jiang Bai.

The embrace came suddenly. Jiang Bai's body stiffened for a moment before relaxing.

He could feel Qian Renxue's arms around his waist, smell the faint fragrance in her hair, and sense her slightly quickened heartbeat through their clothes.

"Thank you, Jiang Bai." She buried her face against his shoulder, her voice muffled. "I really like them—"

Before she could finish, she suddenly lifted her head, her face flushed. Closing her eyes, she gently pressed her lips to his.

The kiss was soft, carrying a young girl's unique innocence and trembling uncertainty.

Yet in that instant, Jiang Bai's mind went completely blank.

By the time he came back to his senses, his hand had already moved of its own accord to rest on Qian Renxue's waist.

Slender, soft—he could feel her warm body heat even through her clothes.

And his other hand—unable to resist—slid upward along her back.

Qian Renxue's body suddenly trembled. Her beautiful eyes flew open, her long lashes fluttering.

Her face was red enough to bleed. Her entire body froze, yet she did not push him away. Instead, she slowly closed her eyes and let the unexpected contact continue.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

At the same time, in a certain shadowed corner.

Fine cracks had already spread across the crystal cup in Bibi Dong's hand.

Her nails dug deeply into her palm. Blood seeped out, yet she did not notice it at all.

Every detail of what had just happened had fallen clearly into her eyes.

"Heh—"

She suddenly let out a low laugh, hoarse and broken.

Many years ago, there had been a night just like this.

It had also been in Yelin City. Back then, she had looked at Yu Xiaogang and smiled so happily, as though she had grasped all the happiness in the world.

And then?

Then Qian Xunji had appeared.

Then Yu Xiaogang had cowardly left—

Then the nightmare had begun.

But now, the daughter she had always hated and always tried to ignore was enjoying the sweetness that should have belonged to her.

The way that boy looked at Qian Renxue was so focused, so gentle, just—just like how Yu Xiaogang had once looked at her.

Why?

Why did she have to struggle in endless hatred and pain while Qian Renxue could possess such pure affection?

Why had her love been crushed into pieces, while that little bitch could embrace someone amid the dim lantern lights?

"Xiaogang—" She unconsciously murmured the name, her dry eye sockets aching.

If those things had not happened back then, if Yu Xiaogang had not left, if—if they had had a child, that child should be this old by now, right?

Perhaps they too would have released lanterns together on some lantern festival night, recited poetry together, and shared sweet pastries in a teahouse.

Instead of her hiding alone in the shadows as she was now, spying on someone else's happiness and chewing over her own pain.

Bibi Dong's gaze remained fixed on the two figures on the teahouse terrace.

Qian Renxue was taking small bites of osmanthus cake. Every so often, she would glance up at Jiang Bai, then quickly lower her head again, her ears still red.

Jiang Bai, meanwhile, was saying something that made her laugh softly.

That smile stabbed into Bibi Dong's eyes.

She remembered that when Qian Renxue was little, she had smiled at her like that too.

Back then, the child had known no better. She would always stumble toward her, stretch out her little hands, and ask to be held.

But every time, Bibi Dong had coldly pushed her away and turned to leave, abandoning that small figure where she stood, unable to understand why her mother did not like her.

When had Qian Renxue stopped smiling at her?

Forget it—

It did not matter.

None of it mattered.

What mattered was that when she looked at the smile on Qian Renxue's face now, all she felt was an unbearable glare—and jealousy.

Yes, jealousy.

She envied Qian Renxue for having such pure affection. She envied her for being able to accept someone else's love without any burden—

While she, Bibi Dong, could only sink deeper and deeper into darkness, even her memories stained with poison.

Sharp fragments from the cup cut open her palm. Blood dripped through her fingers, blooming into dark red flowers across the dark floor.

Yet Bibi Dong seemed unable to feel the pain. She only stared fixedly at the teahouse opposite her, her eyes churning with nearly crazed resentment and killing intent.

That boy named Jiang Bai—had to die!

Not only because he might affect Qian Renxue's future, not only because Qian Daoliu tacitly allowed him, not only because he had offended Hu Liena.

But because he had made Qian Renxue smile.

But because he had given Qian Renxue the warmth she herself had never given her.

But because—the way he looked at Qian Renxue reminded her of a past she could never return to.

"You will regret this."

She spoke softly to the air, her voice as cold as the ice of the Far North.

She cast one last glance at the pair on the teahouse terrace, then turned and vanished into the shadows.

Up in the teahouse, Jiang Bai suddenly shivered.

"What's wrong?" Qian Renxue asked with concern. "Are you cold?"

"It's nothing." Jiang Bai shook his head and instinctively looked toward the building across the street outside the window.

There was only profound darkness there. No one stood behind the window.

Yet he could not shake the feeling that an incomparably cold gaze had fallen upon him just now.

Was it an illusion?

"It's getting late." Qian Renxue looked at the sky. "We should head back."

After paying the bill and going downstairs, the two of them merged back into the crowd in the street.

On the way back, Qian Renxue naturally took Jiang Bai's hand again.

They rode a carriage back to the academy.

Still holding hands, they walked into the academy together.

At the fork in the dormitory district, Qian Renxue stopped and turned to face Jiang Bai.

"Today—I was very happy."

She spoke softly, her purple eyes especially clear beneath the moonlight.

"Me too." Jiang Bai smiled.

Qian Renxue bit her lip, then stepped forward and hugged Jiang Bai again.

"Jiang Bai," she said softly, burying her face in the crook of his neck, "we'll be together forever, right?"

Jiang Bai's heart stirred. He hugged her back and said solemnly, "We will!"

Qian Renxue released him and smiled with a trace of shyness.

"That's good. Good night, Jiang Bai."

"Good night, Sister Xue'er."

Qian Renxue turned and walked back toward the villa.

Jiang Bai stood where he was, watching her figure disappear into the depths of the buildings before slowly letting out a breath.

He turned and headed toward his own dormitory, but his steps could not help becoming lighter.

Tonight truly felt like a beautiful dream too good to be real—

It was late at night.

Jiang Bai had just returned to his dormitory and was preparing to rest when an icy voice transmission suddenly sounded by his ear.

"Jiang Bai! Come to the back mountain!"