Volume 3 Chapter 15

Volume 3 + Chapter 15: Xia Bingdie’s Feelings

“I’m here, what is it?”

At that moment, Ouyang Qianxue walked up to Xia Bingdie and asked.

“Ouyang-senpai, I’m terribly sorry!”

The moment she saw him, Xia Bingdie immediately bowed deeply in apology.

“It’s all my fault that you were injured. You can punish me however you like, or make me do anything!”

“Hmph, how insincere. I think you’re only here to apologize because you’re afraid Qianxue will tell Bai Yuxuan that you’ve failed as a maid, right? After all, whether you stay in the student council depends entirely on a single word from Qianxue.”

The vice president of the music club snorted coldly.

“N-no, that’s not it. I came to apologize sincerely. The moment Ouyang-senpai got hurt because of me, I already ceased to be a qualified maid.”

Xia Bingdie hurriedly explained.

“Qianxue, don’t believe her. Have you forgotten what she said about the vice president of the Go club that day?”

“I…”

Xia Bingdie lowered her head in shame.

“That’s enough, stop picking on her.”

Qianxue stepped in, stopping the vice president.

“Let me talk to her alone. You can all head out for now.”

After he spoke, the vice president cast Xia Bingdie an annoyed glance before leaving the classroom with Duan Haichen, leaving only the two of them behind.

“I… I…”

Xia Bingdie was visibly agitated. She was desperate to express what she felt inside, yet didn’t know where to begin.

“Before we start talking, how about listening to a piano piece first?”

Noticing her expression, Qianxue smiled gently and sat down at the piano.

The moment his slender fingers touched the keys, it was as if a subtle magic flowed through them, merging him and the piano into one.

The graceful melody soon drew Xia Bingdie in, allowing her to momentarily forget her worries. It carried her into an autumn forest, where a gentle breeze brushed past her cheeks, stirring golden leaves into the air.

“That piece… was Whispering in Autumn, wasn’t it?”

Only after a long while following the performance did Xia Bingdie slowly open her eyes and speak.

“To make a piece feel so immersive… as expected of Sakura Academy’s number one talent, Ouyang Qianxue. Only now do I truly understand how foolish it was to challenge you back then.”

“You flatter me. I simply love music. The ethereal sound of the piano always helps calm me when I’m restless.”

“I see…”

“Now that you’ve calmed down, let’s talk properly.”

“Alright. Actually, aside from apologizing today, I also have some questions for you, Ouyang-senpai. But before that, I’d like to tell you about my past. It might be a bit long, would that be okay?”

“I’m listening.”

And so, Xia Bingdie began to recount her past to Ouyang Qianxue.

It turned out that ever since she was young, she had often been mocked and bullied because of her height. Even in middle school, the situation had never improved.

Thus, becoming strong became her most fervent desire at the time.

And then, by chance, she encountered the senior she would come to deeply admire, Bai Yuxuan.

Bai Yuxuan’s physique was not particularly more robust than that of other boys at school, yet the boys around her all looked at her with unmistakable awe.

This filled Xia Bingdie with hope. The answer to the problem that had plagued her for so long might lie within this cold-eyed “boy.”

So, not long after, she gathered her courage and went to the student council office to ask Bai Yuxuan directly.

“Senior Yuxuan, because of my height, I’ve always been looked down on and bullied. I want to know, how can I become as strong as you?”

“Hmph.”

Faced with her question, Bai Yuxuan merely gave a cold snort.

“The reason you’re bullied and looked down upon isn’t just because of your height. It’s also because you yourself are not outstanding enough. Society only acknowledges those who are exceptional, and school is no different. But saying this now won’t help much, since you wouldn’t understand. How about this, follow my instructions. Work hard to rank within the top three in the remaining exams this semester, and then see what changes.”

So Xia Bingdie threw herself into relentless effort, managing to place within the top three in several subsequent exams.

Only then did she realize that the attitudes of those around her had changed dramatically.

Some of the classmates who once mocked her began treating her with respect, while teachers who had previously ignored her started showing concern, even taking the initiative to discipline those who used to bully her.

“This is changing. Now you understand, don’t you? Excellence equals strength. The reason you were weak before was because you weren’t outstanding enough.”

When Xia Bingdie returned to see Bai Yuxuan again, this was what she was told.

“Alright, I’ve answered your question about how to become strong. If there’s nothing else, you may leave.”

“Wait!”

Xia Bingdie called out hurriedly.

“Senior Yuxuan, I have one more request, please allow me to join the student council!”

“I have no need for weaklings without ability.”

“Then I’ll work hard to become the kind of strong person you acknowledge.”

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Bai Yuxuan revealed a faint smile.

“So that’s how it was…”

After hearing her story, Qianxue let out a soft sigh of realization.

“And when I came to my senses, I realized I had already fallen deeply in love with that quiet, cold, yet powerful senior.”

Xia Bingdie’s cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.

“So I believed that as long as I stayed by his side, I would eventually become as strong as him. And perhaps, at that point, he would finally notice me. But…”

“But what?”

“But after meeting you, Ouyang-senpai, I realized it wasn’t that simple. From the anger in Senior Yuxuan’s expression that day, I could tell how much he cares about you. I’ve never seen him lose his temper like that for anyone before. In my eyes, the reason you’re able to attract his attention isn’t just because you’re outstanding. I want to know, what is it about you that makes him care so deeply?”

“…I’m not sure I can explain it either. That guy, Bai Yuxuan, you might think he’s overwhelmingly strong on the outside, but sometimes, he’s actually very lonely inside. I just happened to offer him a bit of comfort when he was at his lowest.”

“I see… Now I finally understand why Senior Yuxuan cares so much about you. It’s because of the gentleness you carry within you.”

After a brief pause, she continued,

“There’s just one last question I’d like to ask, Ouyang-senpai.”

“What is it?”

“Are you… dating Senior Yuxuan?”

“How could that be!”

“I see… then that means I still have a chance. Ouyang-senpai, please allow me to apologize once again for everything before.”

Xia Bingdie bowed deeply once more.

“But I won’t give Senior Yuxuan up to you!”

With that declaration, she turned and ran out of the classroom.

“Even if you wouldn’t give him up, I wasn’t planning to compete with you over a man anyway…”

Watching Xia Bingdie run off, Qianxue pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation.

“But in that case… even if I’m no longer around, there will still be someone by your side, Bai Yuxuan. After all, ‘Ouyang Qianxue’ was always a fabricated existence, one day, she’s bound to disappear…”

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