Chapter 46:

Bai Jixi was still lost in thought about his recent restlessness, so he nodded absentmindedly, “Got it. Thanks.”

Qin Chaoyu: “No need to thank me. If we’re being serious, I should be the one thanking you.”

Indeed, after Lian Huijie was cured and reappeared in high society, his status as a member of the Lian family served as a living advertisement. Combined with the previous incident involving Old Master Gu, she was one step closer to success. And she knew exactly who had brought her this opportunity.

Bai Jixi snapped out of his thoughts, paused for a moment, then said solemnly, “No need to be polite. You have the skills—otherwise, I wouldn’t have chosen you.”

Qin Chaoyu suddenly laughed, relaxing. “I feel like the two of us complimenting each other here is pretty ridiculous. Anything else? If not, I’ll take my leave.”

Few people in Yuzhou—or even the entire country—could act so casually around Bai Jixi, and those who could were all influential figures in their own right. But Qin Chaoyu was the only one who seemed eager to leave and avoid further conversation with him.

Her eagerness to leave didn’t sit well with Bai Jixi. His displeasure showed on his face as he stiffened and said coldly, “No.”

Qin Chaoyu was taken aback, muttering to herself. She had no idea what was wrong with this man—his mood had seemed fine just moments ago, but now it had shifted so abruptly.

“Then… alright, I’ll be going now?”

“Go.”

As soon as Qin Chaoyu stepped out of the café, she gasped at the cold, hunching her shoulders and wrapping her arms around herself. The night of New Year’s Eve was still bitterly cold.

She glanced back at Bai Jixi, who remained seated inside, stirring his coffee. Under the warm lighting of the café, his usually sharp and cold features seemed softer, making him appear less unapproachable.

But Qin Chaoyu knew it was just an illusion. From their few interactions, she had already discerned the essence of his personality—arrogant, indifferent, and too accustomed to power to care about others’ thoughts.

A gust of cold wind made her shiver. *Enough thinking.* No matter what Bai Juixi’s personality was like, it had little to do with her. It was freezing—better to go home, curl up under the blankets with Tuantuan, and flip through medical books. That sounded much more pleasant.

Qin Chaoyu had arrived by bicycle. Though Yuzhou’s winter nights were indeed cold, her martial arts training since childhood made the temperature bearable.

Given Bai Jixi’s current mood, she couldn’t expect him to drive her back.

So she mounted her bicycle and headed toward Yuping Garden.

Bai Jixi stayed in the café a little longer before suddenly feeling foolish for wasting time on something so meaningless. He left money on the table, put on his coat, and strode toward his car.

*How ridiculous—spending so much time on pointless things.*

By the time Qin Chaoyu got home, it was almost 11 p.m. Normally, the crackling of firecrackers would have filled the air as the New Year approached, but in recent years, the government had promoted environmental protection, banning fireworks in urban areas. While it reduced pollution, it also diminished the festive atmosphere—a trade-off.

“Chaoyu! Chaoyu!”

Qin Chaoyu wondered if she was hallucinating. Why else would she hear Bai Pengpeng’s voice at this hour?

“Chaoyu! I’m outside!” The voice was accompanied by loud knocking.

Qin Chaoyu hurried to the door. *Well, this isn’t a hallucination.* She had no idea what was up with these siblings—first Bai Jixi, now Bai Pengpeng, both coming to see her one after another.

She opened the door to find Bai Pengpeng’s face flushed red from the cold. “What are you doing here? It’s so late, and it’s New Year’s Eve. Shouldn’t you be with your brother?”

Bai Pengpeng shivered. “Ch-Chaoyu, d-don’t ask now. L-Let me in first. I’m f-freezing to death.”

Qin Chaoyu took in Bai Pengpeng’s outfit—a dress and coat chosen for style over warmth. No wonder she was cold. It looked good, but wearing it on a winter night was just asking for trouble.

She stepped aside. “Come in.”

Only after settling on the couch did Bai Pengpeng feel like she was coming back to life.

Qin Chaoyu fetched a cup of hot water from the kitchen and handed it to her before sitting down. “You still haven’t explained. It’s New Year’s Eve—why are you here? And how did you even get in?”

Bai Pengpeng grinned, taking a sip. “I’ve been here so many times the security guards recognize my license plate. They just let me in.”

Qin Chaoyu knew Bai Pengpeng’s license plate—five eights, flashy and unmistakable, paired with a red Lamborghini. Anyone could tell she wasn’t someone to mess with. The guards weren’t idiots—if her identity checked out, they wouldn’t give her trouble. Letting her in directly was the easiest way to avoid angering her.

“As for why I’m here,” Bai Pengpeng set the cup down and scooted closer, hugging Qin Chaoyu’s arm. “I wanted to celebrate New Year’s with you! You’d be lonely alone, but with me here, it’s much livelier.”

She looked proud of her decision.

But for some reason, Qin Chaoyu suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for Bai Jixi. His own sister chose to spend New Year’s with someone else instead of him—even if that someone was herself.

Still, Bai Pengpeng might be immature, but Qin Chaoyu couldn’t indulge her. “What about your brother? Did he agree? If you’re here with me, what’s he supposed to do?”

Bai Pengpeng rubbed her nose dismissively. “My brother doesn’t care whether I spend New Year’s with him or not. He hates crowds. After becoming head of the Bai family, he banned the extended family from returning for the holidays, saying there were too many people and it annoyed him. He even said they should visit less often in general. If I don’t go back this year, he’ll probably be relieved.”

She spoke with conviction, convincing herself more and more that she was right, brushing aside her initial guilt.

Qin Chaoyu had no choice but to give in.

By the time they finished getting ready and crawled into bed, it was just a minute or two before 11:30 p.m.

Bai Pengpeng excitedly pulled out the tablet she’d brought and turned on the New Year’s Gala. “I’m not sleepy yet. Let’s watch the show for a bit. It gets more boring every year, but it’s tradition.”

Tuantuan had been sleeping quietly by Qin Chaoyu’s pillow, but the commotion woke him up. Small animals were energetic by nature, and since he’d already napped, he wasn’t sleepy anymore. He hopped onto the tablet screen, pretending to understand what was happening as he stared at it.

Bai Pengpeng didn’t mind him blocking her view. She encircled him with her arms, holding the tablet steady.

As soon as the show started, the hosts’ standard greetings filled the room. Qin Chaoyu forced herself to stay alert. She usually went to bed around 10 p.m., but between Bai Jixi summoning her and now hosting Bai Pengpeng, she’d missed her usual bedtime. She was genuinely tired now.

Unaware of Qin Chaoyu’s exhaustion, Bai Pengpeng remained energetic, watching the performances one after another.

As midnight approached, the hosts enthusiastically counted down:

“Five!”

“Four!”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“One!”

A chime rang out, marking the arrival of the New Year.

Bai Pengpeng flipped the tablet over and turned to Qin Chaoyu, whispering, “Chaoyu, Happy New Year!”

Qin Chaoyu had been on the verge of dozing off, but the words snapped her eyes open. If she still didn’t understand why Bai Pengpeng had insisted on waiting until now, she’d be an idiot.

Her gaze softened, warmth filling her heart. “You too. Happy New Year.”

Bai Pengpeng smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged pink. She lay down and patted the blanket. “Chaoyu, you’re sleepy, right? Lie down and get some rest.”

Qin Chaoyu obeyed. “Let’s sleep.”

Tuantuan tilted his head, watching as his owner prepared for bed. He leaped gracefully back to her pillow, curling up and tucking his fluffy tail over his face.

Now, the space beside Qin Chaoyu’s pillow was Tuantuan’s designated sleeping spot.

The room was quiet, save for the faint glow of moonlight seeping through a crack in the curtains—serene and cozy.

Bai Pengpeng found the feeling novel. As a child, she’d seen on TV how close friends would share a bed, chatting and gossiping before sleep, not caring about appearances. Even if one kicked the other in their sleep, they’d just tease each other and laugh it off the next day.

She’d envied that kind of bond, finding it so warm. Back then, she’d thought if she ever had a friend like that, she’d be overjoyed and treat them incredibly well. But as she grew older and faced more of the world, she’d stopped hoping for such a friendship. With her family background, too many people approached her with ulterior motives. Even those who started with pure intentions eventually changed.

She never imagined she’d experience this long-coveted moment today.

The gentle rise and fall of Qin Chaoyu’s chest, her soft breathing—everything filled Bai Pengpeng with happiness.

She closed her eyes. *Time to sleep. Tonight, I’ll definitely have sweet dreams.*

—

Lu Yaoqing returned home after midnight, exhausted. He collapsed onto the sofa, rubbing his temples.

Though tired, the effort hadn’t been in vain.

*Ring—*

Lu Yaoqing checked his phone. It was his mother.

He answered, forcing energy into his voice. “Mom, you’re still up?”

“I was waiting for you, my boy. You must be exhausted.”

“Boy” was his mother’s term of endearment for him. She was from Xiping, where parents often called their children that.

“Mom, it’s fine. It’s just busier because it’s New Year’s Eve. Other times, I have people helping me.”

His mother sighed. “My boy, you must work hard. Don’t disappoint your father. And those illegitimate children outside are just waiting to take your place. You have to prove yourself.”

“Mm. I know, Mom. I’m tired after today, so I’ll hang up now.”

After ending the call, Lu Yaoqing lay back, covering his eyes. He suddenly felt worn out—not physically, but mentally. Sometimes, he wondered how much longer he could keep going.

His mother was a pitiable woman. Born into an ordinary family, she’d met his father in college and fallen in love at first sight. His father had insisted on marrying her, and their early years were sweet. But she wasn’t Cinderella, and her story didn’t have a fairy-tale ending. His father, a wealthy man, was constantly surrounded by women. Over time, he succumbed to temptation and cheated. They say infidelity is either zero times or infinite—his father was the latter. After the first time, any guilt faded, and he became unrestrained, even believing he was being merciful by not divorcing her.

His mother’s background meant she couldn’t control his father’s affairs. Once cheerful, the constant humiliation made her increasingly timid and bitter. She clung to the hope that if he returned to her, she’d once again be the admired Huang Binghui. From the moment Lu Yaoqing understood the world, she’d pushed him relentlessly, hoping to regain his father’s attention through his achievements.

Lu Yaoqing’s excellence did earn some of his father’s regard, fueling her hope and deepening her bitterness.

But a heart that had strayed wasn’t so easily reclaimed. The only one who truly suffered was Lu Yaoqing.