The Friend’s Tickets and Lingering Suspicions

“Ah haha, it’s a friend, so it was a friend who gave Xiaoxue the tickets…” The tickets were from a friend, that’s why Xiaoxue asked me out.

So, if Xiaoxue’s friend hadn’t given her the performance tickets, would I not have had the chance to be alone with Xiaoxue today?

I thought Xiaoxue had actively asked me out… but the reality was…

A series of bleak thoughts gradually consumed Qin Xiyao’s mind, causing the smile on her face to stiffen.

‘No, no! I shouldn’t think this way, Qin Xiyao!’

The young woman slammed the brakes on her rapidly deteriorating thoughts, then vigorously shook her head.

‘How could I harbor such dark thoughts! Honestly!’

It was precisely because Xiaoxue’s friend gave her the tickets that I had the opportunity to “date” Xiaoxue, wasn’t it?

In fact, she should be thanking Xiaoxue’s friend!

Wait, Qin Xiyao suddenly recalled something else; Xiaoxue’s “friend”… could it be her tutor?

She remembered Student Tang (TL Note: Referring to Tang Xingwan) mentioning that the tutor… seemed to be a cool and aloof beauty?

If those two tickets were given by her… Qin Xiyao, her internal alarm bells ringing furiously, lowered her gaze slightly, an unusual gleam flashing across her pretty face.

“I actually know absolutely nothing about girl bands or anything like that… but that person said to just go and soak in the atmosphere, and that it would be a waste not to go… something like that.”

Noticing Qin Xiyao’s changing expression, Bai Muxue, fearing that someone was getting carried away with strange notions, quickly began to explain earnestly:

“Besides, going to a performance alone always feels a bit odd… so I thought about inviting Xiyao along.”

“Think about it, if we hear some beautiful music, it might even spark some creative inspiration for Xiyao, right?”

“That’s true…”

Gazing at Bai Muxue’s captivating face so close to her own, Qin Xiyao, her mind a whirl of unspoken thoughts, fell silent for a moment before restoring her usual gentle smile.

She lowered her head, taking a few sips of milk tea, allowing the cool, subtly sweet taste to linger in her mouth before casually pushing back a strand of hair from her ear and asking,

“Speaking of which, is Xiaoxue’s friend the tutor you found last week?”

Despite her efforts to keep her tone calm, the way her fingertips incessantly caressed the milk tea cup betrayed her inner disquiet.

“I didn’t realize you two already had such a close relationship; I thought Xiaoxue only found a tutor to appease her family…”

‘Hold on, what tutor? It’s just two concert tickets; why would you associate them with Shen Jingyi?’

‘This is a test, isn’t it? A blatant test! And where did you even hear about me getting a tutor, Xiyao?’

Bai Muxue’s mouth twitched slightly as she listened, and she quickly shook her head, forcing a strained laugh. “No, how could it be her? Xiyao, don’t talk nonsense.”

“Actually, it’s a friend I met occasionally when attending an event… later, through some coincidences, we found we got along quite well, and slowly started chatting more.”

Bai Muxue’s expression was sincere as she spoke the absolute truth—her identity as “Young Miss Bai” had indeed led her to meet Tang Xingwan at a memorial service; there was nothing wrong with that!

“Oh~ someone you met by chance, how nice.”

“Exactly,” Bai Muxue nodded. “It’s the same for you, Xiyao; it’s not good to always be immersed in the world of books.”

“You should occasionally come out, walk around, and meet new friends.”

“Alright, alright.”

Qin Xiyao, holding her milk tea cup, responded with an indifferent agreement. She turned, her face beaming with a smile, to look at Bai Muxue. “Since Xiaoxue said so, may I get to know your friend? I have a feeling she and I would get along well.”

For some inexplicable reason, Qin Xiyao had a faint premonition that this “friend” Bai Muxue spoke of was entirely different from the wealthy young ladies she usually socialized with.

‘Get along well? Really get along well? It feels like you and Xingwan have absolutely no common interests… Sigh, speaking of which, Xingwan’s personality is so scatterbrained, I wonder if she’ll ever make friends in the future.’

Bai Muxue, suddenly afflicted by a “doting parent” mentality, sighed softly to herself.

“So, what do you say? If there’s a chance, let me meet her.”

Qin Xiyao’s smile was serene and elegant, so gentle that Bai Muxue found it impossible to refuse… or so it seemed.

The young woman merely chuckled softly upon hearing this. “Alright, we’ll see if there’s an opportunity.”

Honestly, Bai Muxue truly didn’t want Qin Xiyao to get involved with Tang Xingwan…

After all, she had initially kept her distance from Qin Xiyao for the sake of her safety; if she were to become friends with Xingwan now… wouldn’t all her previous efforts be for naught, like drawing water with a bamboo basket?

“Eh, I feel like Xiaoxue is brushing me off…”

Seeing Bai Muxue suddenly fall silent, Qin Xiyao pouted slightly in displeasure. “Xiaoxue, don’t misunderstand; I don’t have any ill intentions. I genuinely just want to meet new friends…”

She lowered her head again, taking another sip of milk tea, cautiously observing Bai Muxue’s expression. Only when she saw no sign of displeasure from the young woman did she continue to ask,

“Speaking of which, what kind of person is Xiaoxue’s friend?”

“What kind of person, you ask…” Bai Muxue pondered for a moment, then offered a faint smile. “She’s a very adorable girl, with a lively personality; she seems to get along with everyone.”

“Oh, is that so…”

‘Qin Xiyao thought to herself, ‘How is that any different from saying nothing at all? These are all vague platitudes that could apply to any girl!’

But before she could speak, Bai Muxue turned her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “Speaking of which, Xiyao, you seem very interested in this. Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing at all! I was just curious to ask!”

Qin Xiyao’s shoulders dropped, her fingers nervously intertwined. After a moment of hesitation, she looked up again and continued to ask, “So… could you tell me a little more about Xiaoxue’s friend?”

“Please! I really want to know!”

Faced with Qin Xiyao’s earnest gaze, Bai Muxue shyly averted her eyes, then rested her chin in her hand, pondering with a troubled expression.

‘Even if you ask like this, Xiyao… I don’t feel like there’s much to say…’

‘Heh, whenever I think of that little girl, I always recall her various flaws, but…’

As if something had just occurred to her, Bai Muxue let out a soft chuckle, then slowly raised her head and said, “If I had to describe her, she’s someone who loves to sleep in, is quite lazy, very scatterbrained, often leaves me wondering what she’s thinking, talks a lot, and doesn’t behave like a girl at all… right?”

“However…”

The young woman’s tone carried a hint of sentimentality. “While she’s always causing worry, constantly has this or that problem, and always loves to argue with me, I must admit, she truly is an excellent and very strong girl.”

“Yes, very, very strong… much stronger than I am.”

The image of that troublesome little girl resurfaced in her mind, causing Bai Muxue to unconsciously reveal a bright smile, and she found herself speaking a bit more than intended.

‘Oh dear… I probably couldn’t say all this to Xingwan’s face. But how does that saying go? It’s fine to talk about your own child’s faults at home, but outside, they’re the best! No one should dare to bully her!’

“CRUNCH!”

A harsh sound reached her ears, pulling Bai Muxue back to reality from her bittersweet memories of the past. She instinctively turned her head, only to hear Qin Xiyao let out a soft cry.

Qin Xiyao’s cup, tragically, had been squeezed out of shape in her hand, the overflowing milk tea splashing out and mercilessly drenching the young woman’s entire pretty face.