“Chaoyu, why has that Lian Huijie been coming to see you so often lately?” Taking advantage of the break between classes, Bai Pengpeng feigned curiosity as she asked.
As for that heir of the Lian family, the age gap was too large, and their social circles didn’t overlap, so Bai Pengpeng wasn’t very familiar with him. She only knew that before his paralysis, he had been someone highly sought after by noble ladies, just like her own brother.
But to be placed on the same level as her brother—even though her brother hadn’t yet taken control of the Bai family at the time—showed that he was a standard heir. For someone like that, raised as a perfect successor, to claim they had no ulterior motives and just wanted to befriend someone because they liked them? She wouldn’t believe it even if it were said outright!
Moreover, she’d heard he was recently taking over the family business. The transition of power within a family was undoubtedly the busiest time—how did he have so much free time to visit Qin Chaoyu so often? She was genuinely worried Chaoyu might get taken advantage of.
Qin Chaoyu was still mulling over the knowledge the teacher had just explained. It had to be said, even though many treasures had been lost over time, talented individuals kept emerging, and some had unique insights that gave her a refreshing perspective.
Hearing Bai Pengpeng’s question, Qin Chaoyu snapped out of her thoughts and replied casually, “Oh, him? I cured his illness. He’s probably just grateful and said he wanted to be friends, so he’s been coming to chat with me lately.”
“What?!” Bai Pengpeng shrieked before realizing she’d been too loud. She quickly covered her mouth and glanced around, relieved when no one seemed to be paying much attention. Lowering her voice, she asked excitedly, “You cured Lian Huijie’s paralysis?! You’re that legendary miracle doctor everyone in high society’s been talking about?!”
“Am I really being talked about like that in high society?”
“Of course! When Lian Huijie was paralyzed, they consulted so many famous doctors—both Eastern and Western—but none could cure him. Then you did it. Of course people are making it sound mystical!”
“Oh… That’s not bad. At least it boosts my reputation a bit.”
Bai Pengpeng nodded in agreement, genuinely happy for her friend’s rising fame. After a moment, she suddenly remembered something and opened her mouth to ask—but just then, the teacher walked in and announced the start of class. Bai Pengpeng had no choice but to hold her question in until after class.
She had never felt time pass so slowly. Usually, she’d play on her phone during class, and before she knew it, the period would be over. But this time, no matter how often she checked the clock on her phone, it refused to reach the end.
Finally, the class ended. The moment the bell rang, Bai Pengpeng didn’t even bother packing up her stationery or books. She grabbed Qin Chaoyu’s wrist and demanded, “Chaoyu, be honest—how do you know my brother?”
Qin Chaoyu had expected some important question, but it turned out to be this. Didn’t Pengpeng know she and her brother were acquainted?
“You didn’t know?”
“Should I have? Neither of you told me!”
“I guess I never mentioned it,” Qin Chaoyu muttered to herself before explaining seriously, “I thought your brother would’ve told you, so I didn’t say anything.”
Bai Pengpeng waved her hand dismissively. The important thing wasn’t why they hadn’t told her—it was how they’d met.
Qin Chaoyu set down the book she was packing and prepared to answer properly. “The first time I met your brother, he kindly helped me. I’d gone to a patient’s house to treat them, but they’d already found another doctor. They thought I was too young and that my skills couldn’t compare, so they turned me away. Your brother happened to be visiting that family at the time, and because of you, he offered to drive me back. That’s all.”
This version of her brother—who would go out of his way to help someone just because they were her friend—was this really the same person? The brother she knew was cold, indifferent, and utterly detached. He wasn’t even particularly warm to her, his own sister. Would he really extend kindness just because someone was her friend?
Bai Pengpeng was skeptical. “Are you sure you’re talking about my brother?”
Qin Chaoyu rolled her eyes. “Do you think I’m going blind or losing my memory? How could I possibly mistake him?”
Bai Pengpeng trusted Qin Chaoyu’s memory, but that only made it harder to believe.
“Oh, and by the way, Lian Huijie was actually introduced to me by your brother!” Qin Chaoyu added. “Honestly, I think your brother’s a pretty good guy—kind and discerning!”
Kind?
Have you lost your mind?!
Bai Pengpeng reached out to feel Qin Chaoyu’s forehead.
“What are you doing?” Qin Chaoyu swatted her hand away.
“Checking if you have a fever! You’re talking nonsense!” Bai Pengpeng scoffed. “I know my brother better than anyone. He’s cold and unfeeling—‘kind’ doesn’t even belong in the same sentence as him. In the summer, you don’t even need air conditioning around him! He might spare a fraction of attention for his sister, but for someone who’s just his sister’s friend? He’d treat you like a stranger! There’s no way he’d go out of his way to help!”
Qin Chaoyu sighed deeply. “Pengpeng, you’ve misunderstood your brother too much. Spend more time with him in the future, and you’ll see his true nature.”
Bai Pengpeng looked utterly defeated.
Right, right. She didn’t know her brother’s true self at all. It was all her fault for not caring enough. Her brother was actually a warm-hearted, helpful person—if she believed that, she’d have to be out of her mind!
But if her brother had left such an impression on Qin Chaoyu, it meant he’d acted that way in front of her. Hmm. Something was definitely up!
Bai Pengpeng stroked her chin, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of uncovering a major secret—like she’d stumbled upon a gold mine.
But to her, discovering a gold mine couldn’t compare to this revelation.
Her brother’s secret—and one related to pure, beautiful romance at that! Who would’ve thought her brother even had the capacity for love? Of course, she wasn’t entirely sure yet. She’d need to observe more closely. But if it turned out to be true, then it would be her time to shine!
Just imagining her brother having to curry favor with her in the future made her giddy.
“What are you thinking about? You’re practically drooling. Hurry up and pack your things—we need to go.” Qin Chaoyu nudged Bai Pengpeng, who was lost in her daydream.
Snapping back to reality, Bai Pengpeng quickly wiped her mouth, only to realize she’d been tricked. Unfazed, she giggled and swiftly gathered her belongings before following Qin Chaoyu out of the classroom.
~
Another weekend arrived. Qin Chaoyu hadn’t run into that overly enthusiastic senior who’d been pursuing her lately—it seemed he’d given up.
His quick surrender didn’t bother her. In fact, she felt relieved to be free of the hassle.
However, since both Tan Xiaohong (the senior) and Qin Chaoyu were well-known figures at school, his pursuit of her had drawn a lot of attention. Coincidentally, his withdrawal happened around the same time Lian Huijie started visiting Qin Chaoyu frequently. Many assumed he’d backed off after realizing he couldn’t compete with the wealthy heir.
Those who’d secretly envied Tan Xiaohong felt a twisted satisfaction. No matter how capable or outstanding he was, he still couldn’t measure up to a rich second-generation heir. He could only watch helplessly as the girl he liked fell into someone else’s arms.
Of course, they were smart enough not to say it out loud—unless they wanted to get beaten up by Tan Xiaohong’s supporters.
Qin Chaoyu didn’t care, but Qian Fangyuan was disappointed. She’d had such high hopes for him, but after being rejected a few times and seeing a wealthy suitor appear, he’d just given up. What a coward!
The real reason Tan Xiaohong gave up wasn’t because of Lian Huijie’s presence—it was because he genuinely felt Qin Chaoyu didn’t like him. Worse, his feelings had become a burden to her. In his view, if his affection was causing someone distress, it was better to let go cleanly. But if Qin Chaoyu had shown even the slightest interest, he would’ve fought to the end.
The rumors circulating at school never reached Tan Xiaohong. He rarely spent time on campus to begin with, and his recent attendance had been solely because of Qin Chaoyu. Now that he’d moved on, he saw no reason to return.
Ignorance was bliss—at least for him.
On this particular weekend, Lian Huijie’s signature black sports car pulled into the school, instantly recognized by onlookers.
“Look, isn’t that the guy pursuing Qin Chaoyu from the Chinese Medicine department?”
“Ah, being pretty really has its perks—even rich heirs chase after you!”
“He must really like her if he keeps coming to see her!”
…
This kind of attention was exactly what Lian Huijie wanted.
Ever since Qin Chaoyu cured his legs, he’d developed a vague fondness for her. Some might argue it was just gratitude, but he was an adult—perfectly capable of distinguishing between appreciation and affection. He was certain he’d fallen for her: her gentleness, her diligence, even the way she focused while administering acupuncture was mesmerizing to him.
Lian Huijie had always believed in acting on his feelings. Hesitation could mean missing an opportunity. So with Qin Chaoyu, he didn’t hold back.
By nature, he wasn’t the flashy type. Driving an expensive sports car to campus to chase after a girl was something he’d once scoffed at. Yet here he was, doing exactly that. But when the person you liked was as extraordinary as Qin Chaoyu, you couldn’t help but fear someone else might snatch her away. This was his way of subtly marking his territory—deterring potential rivals.
Love truly was a strange force. It could make even the most composed and courteous person resort to cunning tactics.
Parking outside the dormitory, Lian Huijie called Qin Chaoyu and waited patiently in his car.
“Who is it?” Bai Pengpeng demanded, eyes sharp, as if she wouldn’t let Qin Chaoyu leave without an answer.
“Yeah, yeah,” Qian Fangyuan chimed in, clearly enjoying the drama. “Out with it—is it that rich suitor?”
The moment Lian Huijie was mentioned, Bai Pengpeng went on high alert, her gaze locking onto Qin Chaoyu as she awaited her response.
She still wasn’t entirely sure if her brother had feelings for Qin Chaoyu, but based on what she knew of him, the likelihood was 80-90%. As his sister, it was her duty to help—starting with keeping an eye on Qin Chaoyu and making sure no shady outsiders snatched her away.
Sure, her brother was cold, emotionally stunted, terrible at expressing himself, and utterly lacking in sweet talk… but he’d make a great husband one day!
That was just how the Bai family was. They were known for their deep devotion in love.
Plus, she wanted to be Qin Chaoyu’s best friend for life. To prevent any unforeseen issues from straining their bond, having her marry into the family as her sister-in-law seemed like the perfect solution.
Little did Bai Jixi know, his future partner had already been decided for him—all that was left was for him to make his move.
Setting down the documents he’d just finished reviewing, he rubbed his temples, giving his eyes a break after a long day of paperwork. The exhaustion on his face made him seem slightly more human, less untouchable than usual.
*Knock, knock!*
“Come in.”
At the sound of the door, Bai Jixi immediately schooled his expression back into its usual detached, unreadable mask.
His secretary entered, eyes fixed straight ahead, careful not to let them wander. “Chairman, the Xiao family’s banquet is at seven. It’s already six—would you like to start preparing?”
“Mm. Make the arrangements. I’ll be out shortly.”
“Yes, sir.”
The secretary left to carry out his orders.
Bai Jixi gazed out the window, a thoughtful gleam in his eyes.
Xiao Yuchong, the newly appointed mayor of Yuzhou, had made quite the spectacle of his inauguration, inviting a flood of guests. Interesting.
By the time Bai Jixi arrived at the banquet, it was nearly seven.
Most guests had already arrived—after all, it was the mayor’s event. Some courtesy was expected.
The banquet was held at the Xiao family’s residence: a two-story Western-style villa with a small garden filled with rare, meticulously tended flowers. A few guests mingled outside, chatting in small groups.
Bai Jixi strode through the garden and entered the house.
Almost immediately, he ran into Director Pang, with whom he’d recently closed a business deal.
The man eagerly approached. “Ah, Chairman Bai! I didn’t expect to see you here!”
Bai Jixi gave a curt nod. “Just taking a look.”
Unfazed by the cold response, Director Pang prattled on cheerfully, seemingly content to entertain himself.
To Bai Jixi, it was like having a fly buzzing incessantly in his ear. He was not known for his patience. Just as he opened his mouth to tell the man to shut up—
He caught sight of someone he never expected to see.
And worse—they were together.
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