Unexpected Visit and Misunderstandings

“Xiyao…?”

Bai Muxue gazed at the young woman before her, a flicker of bewilderment crossing her features.

With the driver gone, she was alone in the car, and she had truly not anticipated this young woman seeking her out.

The young woman wore a simple, unadorned long dress, her lustrous black hair meticulously coiled at the back of her head.

Devoid of any superfluous adornments, a solitary necklace graced her elegant neck, perfectly complementing her serene demeanor and exuding an air of reserved grace.

Yet, at this moment, the young woman’s brown eyes brimmed with tears, their reddened rims unsettling Bai Muxue.

—When she had first reincarnated as the Bai family’s eldest young lady, her unfamiliarity with a girl’s body had led to more than a few comical mishaps.

The one who had helped her quickly acclimate, allowing her to seamlessly step into her role within a week of her rebirth, was none other than Qin Xiyao, whose parents both held high positions in the Anomalous Phenomena Investigation Department.

At a family banquet, Bai Muxue’s gaze had immediately fallen upon this young woman, who squatted by herself, clutching a book, utterly out of place amidst the bustling surroundings.

“Do you like her books too?”

“Eh? Mm…”

Leveraging her extensive social experience, Bai Muxue quickly befriended the gentle, friendless young woman, who was utterly captivated by poetry and prose.

With Qin Xiyao’s assistance, Bai Muxue had swiftly settled into her role, successfully embodying the persona of the Bai family’s eldest young lady.

However…

Qin Xiyao, it seemed, was a little… *too* enthusiastic.

Aside from frequently showing up at her door and even secretly monitoring her movements, the sheer volume of twenty-four-hour message bombardments alone left Bai Muxue feeling rather overwhelmed.

“The exquisite dice hold crimson beans, a deep yearning known to the bone… Little Xue, do you understand what ‘yearning’ truly means?”

“Little Xue, it’s been three hours since I last saw you. Since we parted, I recall our meetings, how many times have my soul and dreams been with you…”

“Little Xue, the moon tonight is truly beautiful…”

Feeling somewhat bothered but unsure how to handle the situation, Bai Muxue could only offer casual replies while gradually decreasing the frequency of her conversations with Qin Xiyao.

—She was bound to get entangled with those magical girls later, and perhaps even be targeted by the Special Investigation Department and those strange individuals. For Xiyao’s safety, it would be better not to get too close to her from now on.

This conviction intensified, particularly after Shen Jingyi’s identity as a magical girl was confirmed.

Consequently, Bai Muxue had gradually cut off contact with Qin Xiyao over the past two days, but she never expected Xiyao to actively seek her out.

And to claim they were already ‘dating’… When had *that* happened?

Bai Muxue pressed her lips together, a hint of awkwardness gracing her pretty face.

After a moment of hesitation, she spoke softly:

“Uh, well, Xiyao, please don’t cry…”

Confronted with Qin Xiyao, who was weeping like a rain-soaked pear blossom, Bai Muxue’s mind was a complete tangle.

If it had been a stranger, she would have simply maintained her persona as the Bai family’s eldest young lady and ignored them.

But Qin Xiyao was the first friend she had made since her rebirth, and she simply couldn’t bring herself to be cruel.

Yet, spurred by Bai Muxue’s gentle concern, the tears brimming in Qin Xiyao’s eyes immediately surpassed their threshold, slowly tracing paths down her cheeks.

“It’s only been a few days, so why…?”

Clear tears streamed down the young woman’s face, her voice acquiring a slight hoarseness.

“No, that’s not it. I think Xiyao must have misunderstood something. Besides, when did we ever start dating…?”

Bai Muxue gently clasped Qin Xiyao’s small hand, her mind frantically trying to formulate appropriate words.

‘How did I used to coax that little girl?’ she wondered.

‘Don’t cry, don’t cry. How about we do today’s homework after watching TV? I’ll even buy you that magical girl badge you wanted!’

‘Ugh, that doesn’t feel right…’

Bai Muxue’s thoughts drifted slightly, but in Qin Xiyao’s eyes, this silence became a clear sign of guilt and wavering resolve.

It was obvious that Bai Muxue wasn’t usually this quiet, yet now she remained silent.

This stark contrast immediately transformed into an unnamed emotion that surged within Qin Xiyao.

“No, that’s not right…”

Qin Xiyao bit her lip, shaking her head in disbelief.

“Little Xue, you must be lying, right? You always loved to tease me…”

“We’ve always been so… so close. Does that not count as being together…?”

‘No, at most I’ve just chatted about poetry and prose with you online, and we’ve held hands while shopping. I even firmly refused when you suggested bathing together… How does that count as being together?’

Nevertheless, it would be a lie to claim that Bai Muxue felt absolutely no affection for Qin Xiyao.

Obedient, sensible, well-read, and understanding… Qin Xiyao was truly a wonderful young woman, one who easily inspired fondness in others.

However, Bai Muxue believed this fondness was merely appreciation for an excellent young woman, not love.

‘Come to think of it, my mental age is already quite advanced. Can I truly fall in love with someone anymore…?’

‘Not to mention, the other person is a girl like Qin Xiyao, roughly the same age as my troublesome little sister…’

Despite hearing the hoarse sobs, Bai Muxue’s mind went blank.

She could only clumsily continue to comfort the crying young woman.

—’Good heavens, it’s a good thing Shen Jingyi hasn’t arrived yet. If she or any other acquaintance were to witness this scene, my persona as the Bai family’s notorious eldest young lady would be utterly shattered…’

“Alright, stop crying. We can talk about whatever it is slowly, okay?”

Her words, rather than calming Xiyao, caused the tears brimming in the other’s eyes to burst forth once more.

Qin Xiyao gazed directly at Bai Muxue, offering a pained smile that was like a rain-soaked pear blossom.

“Little Xue, I truly, truly am useless…”

“Perhaps I’ve overthought things, but when you first approached me, I was so surprised and happy that I still remember it clearly now.”

Qin Xiyao took a deep breath, trying hard to compose herself with a relaxed expression.

“I’m sorry, Little Xue, I… I don’t feel too well. I need to go back first…”

She cast a deep glance at Bai Muxue, then turned and ran off without looking back, leaving Bai Muxue with only a slender, solitary figure disappearing into the distance.

“Xiyao!”

Bai Muxue instinctively reached to open the car door and give chase, but her peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of a graceful figure in a white dress in the distance.

‘Shen Jingyi?’

‘Had she already arrived? Had she… seen everything?’

Bai Muxue froze instantly.

Then her vision blurred, and an unspeakable pain filled her chest, causing her to slowly sink back into her seat after having already stood up.

…’For now, the priority is still to attend the funeral, check on that little girl’s condition, and absorb more negative emotions from Miss Shen while I’m at it.’

‘Otherwise, who knows how long this frail little body can hold out…’

‘As for Xiyao… I’ll find her to explain things clearly once she calms down.’

The young woman leaned back in her seat, breathing softly.

Her already fair face had turned deathly pale, sweat dampening her bangs and slowly tracing paths down her temples and cheeks.

And in a corner she hadn’t noticed, the crimson death countdown silently shifted from 24 days to 30 days.