Volume 4 Chapter 1

Volume 4 + Chapter 1: Nocturne

After leaving Wang Shiman’s office, Ouyang Qianxue appeared somewhat absent-minded. Beside him, Wang Qian looked as though she wanted to say something but kept hesitating. Only after a long silence did she finally gather the courage to ask him.

“Qianxue… how about you just refuse that contract altogether?”

“Huh?” Wang Qian’s words caught Ouyang Qianxue completely off guard. He had expected her to persuade him on Wang Shiman’s behalf to sign it, yet instead she was advising him to give it up. It seemed she truly regarded him as a genuine friend from the bottom of her heart.

He gave her a grateful look, yet at the same time gritted his teeth and replied.

“I can’t. Right now, my mother can only stay alive through medication and dialysis every single day. If this could free her from that suffering…”

“But it’s ten years! Ten whole years! And those ten years are the very prime of your youth, the most precious decade of a person’s life. You’re just going to hand it away like that? Have you even thought about what happens after those ten years if you really become one of Auntie’s contracted artists? How are you supposed to survive in society afterward? Once people find out you were crossdressing as a girl, so many will think you deceived them. Just the accusations and curses from the public would be enough to keep you from ever stepping outside!”

The more Wang Qian spoke, the more emotional she became, until she directly stepped forward and grabbed Ouyang Qianxue by the collar.

“Then… what else can I do?”

Although Ouyang Qianxue’s voice was soft, those words instantly drained all strength from Wang Qian’s hands. More than a question, his tone sounded like a weary sigh.

Yes… what else could he do?

Right now, Wang Shiman’s offer was the only thing capable of saving Ouyang Qianxue’s mother. Was she really supposed to tell him to abandon his mother instead?

Wang Qian could not do that.

“I’m sorry…” Wang Qian lowered her head and spoke quietly. At that moment, she did not dare raise her eyes to look at Ouyang Qianxue’s face. She did not know what kind of expression a fifteen-year-old boy would wear when preparing to trade away ten years of his youth in exchange for his mother’s life.

“There’s no need to apologize. I know you’re saying this for my sake.” After speaking, Ouyang Qianxue gently patted Wang Qian on the shoulder.

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to school first. See you after the holiday ends, and enjoy your vacation.”

Unlike Wang Qian, Ouyang Qianxue had no home to return to, so he would be spending the entire holiday at school. Thinking about that while watching his departing figure, Wang Qian once again felt an aching sense of sorrow and heartache rise in her chest.

Meanwhile, at the Bai family estate.

The moment Bai Yuxuan stepped into the main hall, a voice rang out.

“Young Master Bai sure seems to have plenty of free time lately, coming back here so often.”

Bai Yuxuan followed the voice toward the main reception room and saw a fat, thick-faced man sitting arrogantly on the sofa, staring at her with disdain.

“Well, if it isn’t Third Uncle,” Bai Yuxuan replied with exaggerated surprise. “Yuxuan doesn’t quite understand. The Bai family estate is originally Yuxuan’s home. If I wish to return, I return. Since when did coming back to one’s own home too often become a mistake?”

“T-This…”

“On the other hand, Third Uncle, the Bai family is currently managed by my father. As my father’s brother, you belong to a branch family. That makes you the guest here. So isn’t it rather inappropriate for a guest to lecture the master of the house like this?” Bai Yuxuan said as she slowly walked up before him, smiling pleasantly.

“Y-You…!” Seeing the smile hiding knives beneath its surface, Bai Yuxuan’s third uncle trembled with anger.

“Enough, Yuxuan. He is still your third uncle. You shouldn’t speak with such disrespect.”

At that moment, a thin man walked over from the side in an attempt to mediate.

Ouyang Qianxue, or rather, Bai Yuxuan, recognized him all too well. This was her second uncle.

A flash of killing intent swept through Bai Yuxuan’s eyes. She knew very clearly that when Third Uncle previously attempted to have her killed. Second Uncle had secretly provided plenty of assistance from the shadows. Although the bullet had ultimately struck Ouyang Qianxue instead, that only made her hatred toward the two men even deeper.

But now was not yet the time to completely tear off the mask.

Thinking this, Bai Yuxuan concealed the murderous intent in her eyes once more.

“Yuxuan never intended to humiliate Third Uncle. I was merely stating a fact.”

After saying that, she turned and left the main hall.

The instant Bai Yuxuan disappeared from sight, her third uncle suddenly felt something trickling down his face. Raising a hand to touch it, he realized he was drenched in cold sweat. That single murderous glance from Bai Yuxuan had terrified him so badly that his entire back had gone cold.

He could hardly believe it.

In the past, no matter what he said, Bai Yuxuan would simply ignore him. But now… she felt like an entirely different person.

(Hmph. He’s probably still wondering why I’ve changed so much. That’s because I’m no longer alone anymore. Today was merely a warning. Before long, I’ll prepare an even greater “gift” for all of you. Just wait. I won’t forgive a single person who dared hurt Qianxue. And anything that stands in the way of me being with her… I’ll personally sweep it aside.)

With those thoughts in mind, Bai Yuxuan stepped into the waiting car. As far as she was concerned, she did not want to remain at the Bai family estate for even a second longer.

Meanwhile, back on Sakura Academy’s campus. 

Because it was currently the National Day holiday, and because the night had already grown deep, the teaching buildings stood completely empty.

Then, with a soft creak, the door to the Music Club slowly opened.

Under the moonlight, a golden-haired figure sat before the grand piano. Ouyang Qianxue slowly lowered his hands onto the keys and began to play.

A beautiful and ethereal rendition of Serenade flowed through the air, making the already quiet campus feel even more hauntingly melancholic.

At that moment, a shadow arrived before the school gates. The instant she heard the elegant melody drifting through the campus, the tense expression on Bai Yuxuan’s face was instantly replaced by a smile. She unconsciously lightened her footsteps as she entered the school grounds, afraid that even the slightest sound might shatter the tranquility of the moment.

Ouyang Qianxue was the type of person who only liked sharing joy with others while silently carrying his burdens alone. And the way he released those burdens… was by pouring them into music, just like now.

As the final note faded, Ouyang Qianxue let out a soft sigh.

Then suddenly, applause sounded behind him.

“Who’s there?” Ouyang Qianxue immediately turned around, only to see Bai Yuxuan standing behind him with a smile on her face. He had been so absorbed in his performance that he had not sensed her arrival at all.

“So it’s you. If you were coming, you could’ve at least said hello. Appearing silently behind me like that nearly scared half my life away!” Ouyang Qianxue complained unhappily.

“I was afraid of ruining your mood.” The murderous hostility Bai Yuxuan had shown earlier at the Bai family estate was already completely gone from her eyes. In its place remained only a tenderness soft as water.

Moonlight spilled gently across Bai Yuxuan’s face. Looking at her pale features, Ouyang Qianxue found himself momentarily dazed.

“What’s wrong, Qianxue? Why are you staring at me like that?”

“It’s nothing… I just zoned out for a moment.”

“Really? Actually, while listening to you play just now, I wanted to ask something. Qianxue… do you have something troubling you?”

Ouyang Qianxue’s shoulders trembled slightly. He had not expected Bai Yuxuan to hear the sorrow hidden within his music.

“I-I was just affected by the piece itself…”

“But no matter how I listened to it, it didn’t sound like you were merely immersed in the song. It felt more like you were pouring your emotions into it.”

“…”

Hearing Bai Yuxuan’s words, Ouyang Qianxue fell silent.

“Qianxue, even though you didn’t accept my confession, we’re still friends, aren’t we? You can tell me what’s troubling you. Let me help carry some of that burden.”

“But…”

“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s alright too. Friends should understand each other. I won’t force you to say anything. I’ll wait until the day you personally want to tell me.”

As she spoke, Bai Yuxuan took out two boxes of Go stones.

“So? Want to play a match? It’s been almost half a year since we last played after that Go tournament, hasn’t it? I still remember the unwilling look on your face back when you lost and had to become my maid. Well? Don’t you want revenge?”

“Bring it on! Who’s afraid of you?!” Bai Yuxuan’s teasing instantly wiped away all the gloom from Ouyang Qianxue’s face.

Watching the adorably fierce expression on his face, Bai Yuxuan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

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