Chapter 6

Bai Jiajia had always thought of Yun Zhuoqing as her own kind. After all, they had so much in common: admitted as special students, from poor families… She imagined Yun Zhuoqing would be just as anxious as she was when she’d started at Yuying, terrified of people’s strange stares. That’s why she’d plucked up her courage and invited her to eat together on the second day, high schoolers didn’t really know a better way to show goodwill.
But Yun Zhuoqing had turned her down.
Just as she was doing now, as if she were brushing off something utterly unimportant, a decision not worth a second thought, a word that wouldn’t haunt her, or leave her worrying she’d offended someone.
Bai Jiajia was terrified of being that kind of person, so she almost never said no to anyone.
Seeing Bai Jiajia still standing there, blank and lost, Yun Zhuoqing didn’t overthink it. Remembering how desperate she’d seemed before, she simply suggested, “If you don’t know who to go to, ask Jiang Nuan.”
Snapping out of her daze, Bai Jiajia heard her words, gave a bitter little laugh, and shook her head sadly. “Forget it.”
How could she go to security? Ask everyone to watch her public humiliation? She’d worked so hard not to be this pathetic. And as for Jiang Nuan, she’d never let her see her looking so pitiful.
Yun Zhuoqing didn't say anything else after hearing that, this was Bai Jiajia's own issue, not hers to interfere with. She could only decide her own path, not the choices of others.
After a while, it became clear Bai Jiajia had no intention of leaving. Left with no other option, Yun Zhuoqing scooped up the slice of cake Jiang Nuan had given her and went searching for another quiet corner.
Bai Jiajia didn’t dare stop her, but Yun Zhuoqing had barely walked away before Xiaoxue popped up behind her. “Did you get it done?”
“……”
Xiaoxue could already read her answer in Bai Jiajia’s silence. Clicking her tongue, she shot her a look of pure disdain. “Seriously? That useless? You’re classmates, and you can’t even pull off a little thing like this? Your social life must really suck, huh?”
Bai Jiajia didn't bother to explain that Yun Zhuoqing had only transferred here a week ago. She didn’t want to drag Yun Zhuoqing into more trouble. “She and I… we aren’t close. She won’t listen to me. I, I can’t do it,” she mumbled.
Maybe that would stop Xiaoxue from pushing her any harder?
No such luck. Xiaoxue never cared for logic, she was great at bullying, but thinking was beneath her. Bai Jiajia’s stammered excuse only made Xiaoxue press harder. “Don’t care. You’re getting her over here or I’ll spill all your secrets, and then let’s see how your parents’ business survives!”
Bai Jiajia’s eyes reddened, she couldn’t even remember how many times she’d cursed herself for letting this mess follow her here.
If she’d known it’d come to this, she’d rather have crossed Chen Huo. At least word was, Chen Huo never raised a hand against girls.
Across the room, Yun Zhuoqing found a quiet, empty corner to savor her cake. But as if fate was out to get her, no sooner had she settled in than a couple sat down nearby, laughing, flirting shamelessly, the guy’s doting voice and the girl’s giggles ringing out at full volume, drenching Yun Zhuoqing in secondhand sweetness.
And more importantly, the guy’s voice sounded awfully familiar.
Yun Zhuoqing glanced over. Sure enough, it was Huo Jing.
Whether by accident or design, Huo Jing chose that exact moment to turn her way, grinning as he lifted his glass in a mock-toast.
Apparently he was still holding a grudge from their earlier run-in. Yun Zhuoqing wasn’t surprised, nor was she bothered.
But when she remained utterly unmoved by him, something in Huo Jing’s interest flickered out.
After all, hunters only enjoy the chase when the prey runs. If the prey never so much as flinches, not even a flicker of panic, then all the fun is gone, and the hunter loses interest, snuffing them out with a single bite.
He was suddenly bored, and a little amused at himself for ever getting worked up about her.
Someone could ignore him this thoroughly either because they were mind-numbingly dull… or because they were faking it for attention.
Either way, neither made for a worthy target.
“Huo Jing, you know her?” the girl beside him cooed, edging closer as she snuck a measuring look at Yun Zhuoqing, finding nothing that seemed likely to catch Huo Jing’s eye.
Huo Jing had already made up his mind to drop this little game. He was about to brush the question off, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Yun Zhuoqing, who had been quietly focused on her cake, finally polish off the last bite and rise to her feet, heading straight toward Bai Jiajia and Xiaoxue.
He didn’t finish his sentence. For the first time, she reacted.
For reasons he couldn’t explain, despite having resolved to stop caring what her angle was, Huo Jing’s gaze kept snapping back to Yun Zhuoqing, whether he liked it or not.
Earlier, while calmly eating cake, Yun Zhuoqing had analyzed the situation.
To begin with, she was sure she’d never crossed paths with Huo Jing before. That meant today’s issue started today, no quick fix via talking, she’d just have to weather it.
The last thing she wanted during her time at Yuying was to get dragged into the orbit of any of these spoiled rich boys.
Arriving at Bai Jiajia’s side, Yun Zhuoqing turned bluntly to Xiaoxue. “All right, let’s go.”
Bai Jiajia went pale. Did Yun Zhuoqing already know she’d been sent over on Xiaoxue’s orders?
Xiaoxue had still been half-finished threatening Bai Jiajia, caught totally off-guard by Yun Zhuoqing’s sudden interruption, not to mention her cocky attitude, which made Xiaoxue’s blood boil. So she snapped back with a cold laugh, “Fine! Looks like you’re ready for this.”
She already had humiliation planned out: a swollen face, stripped clothes, a video posted for the world to see, let’s see if this girl dared look smug after that.
Xiaoxue stalked off with Yun Zhuoqing trailing behind. At first, Bai Jiajia just stood there, but by the time she realized what was happening and tried to catch up, the two were already out of reach.
What should she do? Was she really about to just stand by and watch Yun Zhuoqing stumble into Xiaoxue’s trap? All of this started because of her. If something really happened to Yun Zhuoqing…? But Bai Jiajia knew even if she chased after them, it wouldn’t help, she was powerless against Xiaoxue.
Suddenly, Bai Jiajia was furious at her own cowardice. If only she could be a little braver. She didn’t need to be a fighter like Chen Huo, just a little bit more like Yun Zhuoqing, willing to refuse, to stand her ground, even walk off to save a friend.
Bai Jiajia had no idea why Yun Zhuoqing suddenly agreed to Xiaoxue’s terms. The only explanation she could come up with was that her pleading had sparked some sympathy in Yun Zhuoqing, forcing her to agree to go to the pool.
Wait, Chen Huo!
Maybe it was the sight of Yun Zhuoqing’s calm, unhurried back that gave Bai Jiajia some courage. She scanned the room, spotted Chen Huo, gritted her teeth, and hurried over to him.
At the same moment, a figure darted past her, moving so quickly the breeze actually ruffled a strand of her hair. Clearly that person was in a hurry, though Bai Jiajia, equally panicked, didn’t spare a glance for who it was.
Huo Jing also hadn’t noticed Bai Jiajia heading for Chen Huo. In his original script, Bai Jiajia was never even a player in this game, but even with her unexpectedly stepping in, it didn’t bother him. He shifted gears, his plan changing from brushing off the girl next to him, to sending her away entirely, because frankly, Yun Zhuoqing kept surprising him. Like there was some invisible, tantalizing carrot dangling in front of him, and he just couldn’t help but chase it, desperate to know how it tasted.
One last time. He’d give her one last chance, Huo Jing told himself.
Let’s see what trick she tries to use to catch his eye.
On the outside, Huo Jing looked perfectly calm; on the inside, he was rushing after her like a man trying to get front-row seats to the drama.
But what he didn’t know: tonight’s show would not be one he’d miss, because Yun Zhuoqing was going to wait for him.
As soon as Yun Zhuoqing left the hall, before they even reached the pool, Xiaoxue dropped the fake act.
Now that no one else was around, Xiaoxue’s voice sharpened, full of venom: “You and Bai Jiajia sure are close, huh. Must be best friends. Funny, you seeing her as a real friend, but there she is, helping set you up. Hurt much?”
“We’ve only known each other a week,” Yun Zhuoqing answered honestly.
Xiaoxue’s next sentence choked in her throat. “...Wait, you’ve only known her a week? And you’re going this far for her? What, are you some kind of saint?”
“It’s not for her.” Yun Zhuoqing was matter-of-fact, though Xiaoxue’s words did give her pause. “An accomplice? Her? Then who’s the mastermind? You? You’re trying to harm me?”
Oh, right, failed confession, misdirected anger. That actually made perfect sense.
Yun Zhuoqing quickly supplied Xiaoxue with her own excuse.
Her confusion sounded so genuine, Xiaoxue was sure she was being mocked.
Xiaoxue spun and slapped at Yun Zhuoqing. “Bitch! Who told you to talk?”
The sharp smack echoed across the empty grounds, ten times louder in the silence, reaching everyone present, including the rapidly approaching Huo Jing.
Huo Jing frowned, he hadn't expected the girl to be that rough. Her solution was to slap people?
He was suddenly, inexplicably annoyed, quickening his pace without even knowing why.
But the reality was quite different from what he imagined.
Xiaoxue clutched her wrist, face swinging from pale to angry red, gaping at Yun Zhuoqing in disbelief.
Her slap had landed, just not where she’d intended. Instead of Yun Zhuoqing’s face, she’d hit Yun Zhuoqing’s palm.
Xiaoxue hadn’t even seen Yun Zhuoqing move. All she'd felt was a blur, her “surprise attack” effortlessly blocked. But the force in that palm had shocked her. By the time she realized what happened, her own hand was burning all over, and her wrist was throbbing with pain.
Yun Zhuoqing, for her part, seemed completely unfazed by batting away Xiaoxue’s slap. She just frowned, a bit puzzled by how things had escalated so quickly. “So… you brought me out here to fight?” she asked, a little hesitant.
What kind of maniac asks before a fight?! Xiaoxue, predictably, took it as one more round of provocation. Grinding her teeth, she lunged with her other hand, grasping at Yun Zhuoqing’s face, the long, immaculate nails gleaming with venom. Even if Yun Zhuoqing knocked her hand away again, she'd scratch her across the face. That'd teach her to act so smug.
But Yun Zhuoqing’s reflexes were even quicker this time. She didn’t block, just swept Xiaoxue’s forearm aside. Xiaoxue, off balance in her heels, landed squarely on her butt, her precious nails caught fast in the poolside drain, stuck tight.
The scene that greeted Huo Jing as he arrived: Yun Zhuoqing sitting calmly by the chair at the water’s edge, perfectly composed. Xiaoxue sprawled on the ground, hunched over trying to pry her nails loose, muttering curses no one wanted to hear.
Despite it all, Yun Zhuoqing seemed entirely untouched, bathed in silver moonlight, almost soft around the edges. Her conservative glasses perched firmly on her nose. Huo Jing, watching from the shadows, suddenly noticed that beneath the oversized hoodie, her posture was rigidly, almost elegantly straight.
Conflicting vibes tangled around her, icy and soft, and Huo Jing’s Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously.
A beat later, those eyes behind the glasses slid over to him. Huo Jing suddenly grew tense. Maybe it was the gentle moonlight, or maybe the darkness casting a dreamy haze over everything, but a stray thought surged uninvited into Huo Jing's mind,
Her eyes. Damn, they're gorgeous.
The owner of those dazzling eyes parted her lips, her voice gentle: “You’re here?”
Huo Jing replied before he could think, “Yeah. Were… you waiting for me?”
“I was, actually.” Yun Zhuoqing gave a perfunctory little nod and, with businesslike composure, turned to the task at hand. Just then, Xiaoxue finally managed to yank her own sharp nails free, though one broke off with a snap.
Wait, is she about to confess to me? Should I say no? If I say yes, do I seem too easy?
In that moment, Huo Jing could see no one except for himself and Yun Zhuoqing. The whole world faded into background noise.
Yun Zhuoqing stood up and moved off to the side, making sure there was no one to block the line of sight, just Huo Jing and Xiaoxue, nothing in between.
“Sorry for interrupting you two earlier.” Yun Zhuoqing said it with deadpan formality.
She looked at Xiaoxue and said, “I don’t know if you called me out here to fight, but since he’s here now, no need. The fight’s off.”
Then she turned to Huo Jing: “I know you’re in a hurry. I’ll leave you guys to it and get out of your way.”
Yun Zhuoqing gave her final instructions like a determined matchmaker desperate to push two lovebirds together, except, with that totally expressionless face, no one would ever take her for Cupid. That career path was officially closed.
This world really does judge everything by appearances. Hopeless!