Volume 3 Chapter 32

Volume 3 + Chapter 32: A Gradually Changing Relationship

The next day, Bai Yuxuan entered the classroom after the bell rang, just as usual. But the moment she saw Qianxue, she suddenly froze. There sat the familiar golden-haired youth, one hand propping up his chin, the other turning the pages of a textbook. His snow-white skin and red-golden long hair shone especially brilliantly under the morning sun.

“So… so beautiful!” Gazing at the youth before her, Bai Yuxuan could not help but sigh in admiration. Whether it was because she had become aware of her feelings of liking Ouyang Qianxue, in her eyes today, Qianxue looked like a heavenly fairy.

After standing dazed for a while, Bai Yuxuan gradually came to her senses. She walked to her seat and sat down right next to Qianxue. But even after sitting, she could not restrain her emotions, her eyes kept drifting toward Qianxue involuntarily.

Qianxue, beside her, vaguely noticed Bai Yuxuan’s gaze.

(It’s only been two days since we went to the game center, is Bai Yuxuan feeling lonely again?)

So Ouyang Qianxue leaned his face closer when no one around was paying attention and whispered to Bai Yuxuan, “Good morning.”

Seeing Ouyang Qianxue’s slender eyelashes and almond-shaped eyes from such close range, Bai Yuxuan’s heart trembled.

“So… so cute!” Immersed in Ouyang Qianxue’s adorable smile, Bai Yuxuan accidentally spoke her thoughts out loud.

“Huh?” If they hadn’t been sitting very close, and if Bai Yuxuan hadn’t spoken so clearly, Ouyang Qianxue might have thought he had misheard. In Qianxue’s eyes at that moment, Bai Yuxuan was acting extremely strange this morning, first secretly staring at him, then saying such inexplicable things.

“Ah, I…” Only then did Bai Yuxuan realize she had let something slip. She quickly began thinking of how to cover it up.

“Are you okay? Why are you talking nonsense so early in the morning? And your face is a bit red. Oh, I know, do you have a fever?” Before Bai Yuxuan could come up with any excuse, Ouyang Qianxue placed his hand on her forehead.

Touched by Qianxue, Bai Yuxuan’s face turned even redder, and she hastily slapped his hand away.

“There are people watching around us right now. Be careful not to reveal our relationship!” Bai Yuxuan turned her face away and said coldly to Qianxue.

“Oh, sorry. But you’re acting weird this morning. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep enough yesterday and was still a bit drowsy.”

“I… I see.” After that, the two did not speak for the rest of the day. But Ouyang Qianxue felt that Bai Yuxuan seemed to be sneaking glances at him intentionally or unintentionally all day long.

“Senior Ouyang!” As soon as school was out, Duan Haichen appeared at the door of Class 6, Grade 11.

Duan Haichen’s voice immediately drew Bai Yuxuan’s attention. Upon seeing him, Bai Yuxuan did not head to the student council office as usual. Instead, she continued sitting beside Qianxue, reading a book. Seeing Bai Yuxuan next to Qianxue, Duan Haichen wore a displeased expression.

“Duan Haichen, what brings you to the classroom to see me?” Qianxue’s words interrupted Duan Haichen’s thoughts.

“N… nothing. I just couldn’t wait for Senior Ouyang to come to the club room, so I came to escort you,” Duan Haichen said with a silly grin, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh, isn’t this the underclassman who played the hero in the culture festival? He really is handsome when you look at him!”

“Qianxue, impressive! You’ve captured such a handsome underclassman so quickly,” the girls around teased.

“No, no, I didn’t mean anything else by what I said. I just can’t wait for Senior Ouyang to teach me piano,” Duan Haichen hastily explained upon hearing the older girls’ remarks.

“Senior Ouyang, I’ve been learning Liszt’s ‘La Campanella’ lately, but I just can’t achieve that crisp, bell-like yet powerful effect. So I was hoping Senior Ouyang could give me some private guidance…” As he spoke, Duan Haichen glanced at Bai Yuxuan and deliberately emphasized the word “private.”

Bai Yuxuan showed nothing on her face, but her hand, hidden under the desk, had already straightened the metal hook used to hang her school bag.

“Private guidance? What kind of private guidance?” The other girls in the class covered their mouths and snickered.

“Like this, of course,” one girl said, placing her hand on another girl’s chest.

“Underclassmen, this issue of finger strength might be hard to explain with words. You need to feel it with your body.” The girl mimicked a piano-playing motion with her hand on the other girl’s chest.

“How could I ever do something like that to an underclassman! You girls are so perverted!” Qianxue finally couldn’t take it anymore and slammed the desk in anger.

“What do you mean ‘you girls’? Aren’t you one yourself?”

“I…” Ouyang Qianxue was momentarily speechless at the retort.

“All right, we were just joking. But seriously, Qianxue, this underclassman is handsome and clearly likes you. Won’t you at least consider it?” The girl pulled Qianxue aside and whispered.

“No way!” Qianxue answered decisively.

“Ah, what a shame. Are you a lesbian, Qianxue? Because I notice you’re always with Wang Qian and Ning Caiwei when you’re free. Especially Ning Caiwei, everyone can tell she has that kind of interest in you.” The girl’s question immediately put Bai Yuxuan on high alert. She pricked up her ears, afraid of missing even a single detail.

“I… of course not. I’m not interested in the same sex,” Qianxue said with a somewhat stiff expression.

Hearing Qianxue’s words, Bai Yuxuan felt somewhat disappointed. But then, thinking that she was currently presenting herself as male, she felt a hint of relief.

“Enough of that. Duan Haichen, didn’t you want me to teach you piano? Shall we go to the music club now?”

“Yes, Senior Ouyang!” Duan Haichen agreed cheerfully, casting a triumphant glance at Bai Yuxuan.

Seeing the two walk away and Duan Haichen’s provocative look, Bai Yuxuan burned with anger.

That evening, inside the training hall of the Bai family’s main residence.

“Hah!” Bai Yuxuan punched through five layers of wooden boards in a single strike. Yet even this level of venting could not calm her down.

“All of you, come at me together. If you can’t beat me, none of you will eat tomorrow!” Bai Yuxuan pointed at five muscular men sitting by the side of the hall.

“Yes, Young Master!” The five burly men then lunged at Bai Yuxuan. But to her, these fierce attackers were nothing more than moving targets.

In less than three minutes, all five men were knocked to the ground.

Despite defeating them, Bai Yuxuan’s anger was not appeased. She resented Duan Haichen for openly showing affection to Qianxue right in front of her. Even more, she resented herself, knowing her own feelings for Qianxue, yet daring not to take the initiative.

“No, I have to take action. Just you wait. Qianxue belongs to me alone. None of you even think about laying a hand on her!” Bai Yuxuan clenched her fist and declared fiercely.

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