Volume 3 Chapter 31

Volume 3 + Chapter 31: Bai Yuxuan’s Decision

After Duan Haichen finished speaking, Bai Yuxuan did not immediately tell him about the relationship between her and Qianxue. Instead, she walked up to him, held his gaze for a moment, and only after confirming that his eyes did not seem to be lying did she speak again.

“Ouyang Qianxue is my only friend.”

“Friend? How is that possible? How could Senior Ouyang become friends with someone with such a vile personality like you?” Duan Haichen did not believe Bai Yuxuan, because in his view, Bai Yuxuan and Ouyang Qianxue were completely opposite kinds of people, one gentle and considerate, the other cold and heartless. How could two such people ever become friends?

Seeing the skepticism on Duan Haichen’s face, Bai Yuxuan merely smiled and continued.

“Although when she first came to our class, we did have some minor conflicts, at my most desperate moment, she unhesitatingly reached out to help me. It was because of her that I experienced for the first time in my life what warmth truly means, and it was because of her that I have never been lonely since.”

After saying this, Bai Yuxuan placed her hand over her chest, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, because whenever she thought of Qianxue, she felt a warm glow in her heart.

Seeing the smile on Bai Yuxuan’s face, Duan Haichen was stunned. He had never imagined that the usually cold and stern student council president could reveal such a gentle smile. Only then did he believe what Bai Yuxuan had said.

(Ah, should I say, as expected of Senior Ouyang? She can even move an iceberg like Bai Yuxuan!) 

Looking at Bai Yuxuan before him, Duan Haichen was filled with silent admiration.

“But…” At this point, Bai Yuxuan’s tone shifted, and her eyes were filled with guilt.

“Although I became friends with her, I lack the ability to protect her.”

“What do you mean?” Duan Haichen asked in confusion.

“The power behind Ouyang Qianxue seems to greatly fear my Bai family, and therefore forbids her from associating with me. But as I am now, I cannot overcome that power. That is why we keep our relationship hidden and meet in secret.”

“So you’ve been making Senior Ouyang take risks for you just to satisfy your own emotional need for a friend? Bai Yuxuan, you are so selfish!” At this, Duan Haichen was boiling with rage. He grabbed Bai Yuxuan by the collar and spoke.

“…” Bai Yuxuan fell silent. Although it would have been effortless for her to shake off Duan Haichen’s hand, she did not do so, allowing him to hold onto her collar.

“And yet, even for someone as selfish as you, Senior Ouyang still unhesitatingly chose to become your friend!” With that, Duan Haichen released Bai Yuxuan’s collar.

“I may not have the power to oppose the forces behind her right now, but one day I will. So until then, you must keep this secret for me. If you leak this matter, even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I will not let you off!”

“You don’t need to tell me that. I’m nothing like you, only unilaterally accepting Senior Ouyang’s kindness!”

“I…” Hearing Duan Haichen’s words, Bai Yuxuan felt deeply ashamed. Indeed, including the time Qianxue had taken a bullet for her, she owed Qianxue far too much.

“Bai Yuxuan, before I leave, let me ask you one last question. Do you… like Ouyang Qianxue?” By now Duan Haichen had reached the door and asked with his back to Bai Yuxuan.

“You’re overthinking it. We’re just friends.”

“I didn’t ask what your relationship with her is. I’m only asking whether you like her!”

“I… I…” Just as Bai Yuxuan was about to deny it, she found that she simply could not bring herself to say the word “no.”

“I see. If you don’t even dare to admit that you like her, what can you ever do for her? Let me tell you, from the moment I first saw Senior Ouyang, I fell hopelessly in love with her. I am willing to give everything for her. Although I am not strong enough now, one day, for her sake, I will become stronger than you, capable of protecting her, and become the only person who can stand by her side!”

With that, Duan Haichen walked out of the student council office, leaving behind a dazed Bai Yuxuan.

“Like…?” Later, after returning to her apartment, Bai Yuxuan lay alone on the sofa and murmured to herself.

She was extremely agitated, her mind completely filled with Duan Haichen’s words.

“One day, for her sake, I will become stronger than you, capable of protecting her, and become the only person who can stand by her side!”

“That’s right. Ouyang Qianxue will someday find her ideal boyfriend, then get married, have children, and start her own family. When that time comes… will there still be a place for me, her friend, by her side?” Thinking this, Bai Yuxuan felt unbearably restless. It was the same feeling as during the culture festival, that sense of Ouyang Qianxue being taken away from her.

“No! Absolutely not! I will never let Qianxue leave my side!” At that moment, Bai Yuxuan instinctively clenched her fist and slammed it down on the coffee table. In an instant, the glass top of the table was shattered into pieces.

The sharp pain in her hand brought Bai Yuxuan back to her senses. Looking at the blood dripping onto the broken glass, she thought of that night, the scene of Qianxue being injured. Back then, seeing Qianxue covered in blood, she had felt like dying herself. Could such intense feelings for Qianxue truly still be merely on the level of friendship?

So she quickly opened her computer and searched, typing: “What are the feelings of liking someone?”

A post titled “5 Feelings You Have When You Like Someone” caught Bai Yuxuan’s attention.

1. You constantly want to find excuses to chat with her.

The first point fits! Ever since becoming friends with Qianxue, no, ever since the night Qianxue celebrated her birthday for her, Bai Yuxuan had wanted Qianxue to spend more time talking with her at every opportunity.

2. Whenever you encounter something beautiful, you want to share it with the other person immediately.

The second point also fits! Every time she talked to Ouyang Qianxue, it was about the things she loved most.

3. No matter what others think of her, in your heart she is the best.

This went without saying, in Bai Yuxuan’s eyes, no one else could compare to Ouyang Qianxue in the slightest.

4. You constantly worry that you are not good enough, afraid that you do not deserve the other person.

This was even more true, ever since her relationship with Ouyang Qianxue had grown closer, this thought had always accompanied her.

5. When she is happy, you are happy, when she is unhappy, you feel down.

Although Qianxue had never shown a sad expression in front of her, whenever Qianxue smiled, Bai Yuxuan felt a surge of happiness well up in her heart.

So she had already liked Qianxue since a long time ago. Was it the time Qianxue took a bullet for her? Or the first time Qianxue celebrated her birthday? Bai Yuxuan could no longer recall exactly when these feelings had arisen.

“So this is what it feels like to like someone?” At this, Bai Yuxuan suddenly saw things clearly, but soon fell into distress once more.

“But why am I, after all…” Troubled again, she undid her chest binding and touched her own raised bosom.

“Damn it! Why? Why was I born a woman!” Bai Yuxuan had never hated her gender as much as she did now. Even when she had been berated by her father since childhood over this very matter, it had never caused her as much anguish as this.

“But even so, I do not intend to give up on Qianxue. Even if I have to keep on deceiving everyone!”

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