My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 11

Life had been going so smoothly that Song Yuehua had nearly forgotten about Song Yuelan.

Just after seeing Bai Qingyu off that evening, her phone buzzed violently, the screen flashing with the name “Song Yuelan.”

This time, she answered swiftly, afraid that a delay of even a second would subject her to Yuelan’s verbal machine-gun fire.

“Next Saturday, we’re going camping,” Song Yuelan’s voice came through the receiver, carrying its usual tone of unquestionable authority.

“Great, great!” Song Yuehua’s eyes lit up, her voice instantly lifting with excitement.

She had never experienced camping before, and just the thought of a bonfire and stars made her giddy.

There was a brief silence on the other end before Yuelan’s tone abruptly turned cold. “Ask Bai Qingyu.”

“Okay.” The excitement in Yuehua’s voice deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle.

“Give me an answer by tomorrow.”

“What if… Bai Qingyu is busy?” Yuehua murmured softly, clutching her phone as she walked to the window, gazing at the elongated shadows cast by the streetlights below.

During their recent tutoring sessions, she had already pieced together Bai Qingyu’s schedule.

Bai Qingyu’s mother was still hospitalized. Although Bai Qingyu wasn’t confined like before, the book hadn’t specified exactly when her mother’s condition might suddenly worsen. Still, the daily medical expenses weighed heavily on Bai Qingyu like a mountain, leaving her with little free time.

Fortunately, university courses weren’t overly demanding, allowing Bai Qingyu time for part-time work. She alternated shifts between a cat café and a coffee shop during the day, squeezed in time to collaborate with classmates on coding projects, and still managed to come over in the evenings to tutor Yuehua.

Despite being so busy, Bai Qingyu never showed a hint of fatigue during their sessions. Her patience while explaining problems was like the gentle thaw of spring snow. Even when Yuehua grew frustrated with her own mistakes, Bai Qingyu would smile and say, “It’s okay, let’s go through it again.”

Every time Yuehua saw the light in Bai Qingyu’s eyes, she couldn’t help but admire her from the bottom of her heart: How could someone live such a demanding life and still carry such gentle resilience?

She suddenly recalled the polarized opinions readers had about the two protagonists in the original novel. Most praised Song Yuelan’s domineering strength, finding her wealth, power, and decisiveness the most captivating. They criticized Bai Qingyu as being too saintly and weak, viewing her part-time jobs to support her family and her patient, gentle demeanor as signs of spinelessness.

But Yuehua disagreed. To her, Bai Qingyu’s ability to shoulder her family’s burdens was anything but weakness. Maintaining kindness through life’s hardships, whether helping her with tutoring or treating strangers with warmth, wasn’t saintly; it was strength.

With the phone still pressed to her ear, Yuehua sighed softly. “I’ll ask her tomorrow, but she’s really busy lately…”

“Then I’ll go ask her myself.”

“No, no, no!” Yuehua hurriedly objected. If Song Yuelan were to approach Bai Qingyu directly, it would likely only make her more resistant. “Saturday is still days away. Let me ask her gradually. If she can’t make it, I’ll figure something else out, alright?”

“Fine.” Song Yuelan’s tone remained rigid. “My time is precious. I specifically cleared my schedule for Saturday.”

“Of course, of course.”

“Alright.” With that, Song Yuelan hung up.

Yuehua let out another sigh.

At least this time, she managed to say a few words before the call ended.

She found a sliver of comfort in that thought.

In recent days, Bai Qingyu’s tutoring had shown immediate results. As expected of a top student who won scholarships every year, she always pinpointed the key points when explaining problems. Song Yuehua grew more confident with each session, feeling that with a bit more tutoring, her goal of changing majors might actually become achievable.

But how should she bring up the camping trip? Bai Qingyu was so busy, would she find it troublesome? Tossing and turning in bed, Song Yuehua hugged her pillow and eventually drifted off to sleep, still agonizing in her dreams over what tone to use when asking.

The next day, after class, Song Yuehua stepped out of the teaching building, squinting as the sunlight dazzled her eyes.

She pulled out her phone, opened the chat with Bai Qingyu, and typed, “Are you free on Saturday, Senior?” Staring at the message for two seconds, she quickly deleted it.

Too abrupt.

She changed it to, “There’s a camping event I wanted to ask you about,” but it felt like a sales pitch. After hesitating for a long time, she locked her screen.

Biting her lip, she headed toward the cafeteria. Just as she reached the roadside, she suddenly paused. Under the camphor tree across the street, Bai Qingyu stood there, talking to a girl with short hair.

The girl wore black-rimmed glasses, her ponytail perfectly straight, clutching a thick professional book. Her brows were furrowed as she spoke, as if debating some issue.

Bai Qingyu stood opposite her, back straight, her expression calm and unruffled, as though patiently explaining something.

After Bai Qingyu said something, the short-haired girl suddenly fell silent, froze for a moment, and then her furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

The next second, as if suddenly grasping the key point, the girl hugged her book and dashed off like a gust of wind.

Song Yuehua stood rooted to the spot, stunned. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on Bai Qingyu, who was tidying the strands of hair ruffled by the wind. Her expression was serene and composed, making Song Yuehua inexplicably feel that she resembled a strategist calmly mapping out her plans.

Even… more like the “domineering CEO” type from TV dramas than Song Yuelan?

The thought startled Song Yuehua, and she quickly shook her head. Bai Qingyu was clearly the gentle type, soft-spoken, even careful not to hurt someone when handing them something. How could she be associated with a “domineering CEO”?

While lost in these thoughts, Bai Qingyu, as if sensing her gaze, suddenly turned and looked directly at where Song Yuehua stood.

For a moment, Song Yuehua caught a faint trace of aloofness in her eyes, like a thin layer of ice. But the next second, Bai Qingyu’s eyes brightened, clearly recognizing her. She immediately raised her hand and waved, a familiar gentle curve forming at the corner of her lips.

Song Yuehua’s heart skipped a beat, wondering if the sunlight had tricked her eyes. Gripping her backpack strap, she hurried across the street and walked quickly up to her, “Senior.”

“You were so far away, I wasn’t sure from your silhouette.” Bai Qingyu said, a hint of recognition still in her eyes. “I didn’t expect it to really be you.”

So, she was just trying to identify someone. Song Yuehua breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, nodding. “It took me a few glances to be sure, too. You were standing under the tree, and the light made it hard to see clearly.”

“Are you done with classes for the day?” Bai Qingyu turned slightly to walk alongside her, her light brown pupils exceptionally clear in the sunlight.

“Not yet, I have another class first period in the afternoon,” Song Yuehua replied honestly, kicking a small pebble on the roadside.

After taking just two steps together, they spoke almost simultaneously: “Shall we grab a meal together?”

As soon as the words were spoken, both paused for a moment, then exchanged a knowing smile. Sunlight fell on Bai Qingyu’s eyelashes, glinting with fragmented light. “Seems we’re on the same page.”

Just as they reached the corner leading to the cafeteria, the short-haired girl suddenly rushed back like a gust of wind. “Qingyu! Once I finish modifying that module on Saturday, could you take a look at it for me?”

Bai Qingyu clearly hadn’t expected her to return. She nodded and replied, “Sure, just send it to me then.”

“Thanks! I’ll go work on it now!” With that, the short-haired girl dashed off again like a whirlwind.

Song Yuehua, standing nearby, hadn’t managed to get a word in and couldn’t help but freeze in surprise.

Bai Qingyu turned to her and explained softly, “Sorry, Yuehua. That’s Shi Li, my teammate. She’s really passionate about coding, and once she starts discussing problems, she tends to overlook others around her. But she’s actually very kind-hearted.”

“It’s fine.” Song Yuehua shook her head but sighed inwardly.

Saturday… Bai Qingyu had just agreed to help Shi Li. It seemed the camping plan was in jeopardy.

“Was the question she asked very difficult?”

“Not particularly, but it requires careful attention and might take some time.” Bai Qingyu turned to look at her, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. “Why? Are you interested in this too?”

Song Yuehua quickly waved her hands. “No, no, I was just asking casually.”

“Then why do you look so troubled?” Bai Qingyu stopped walking. The sunlight fell into her light brown pupils, making her gaze especially clear. “Is something wrong?”

Pressed like this, Song Yuehua decided to be honest. “Actually… I wanted to invite you to go camping on Saturday.”

“I see.” A trace of apology surfaced on Bai Qingyu’s face as she gently patted Song Yuehua’s arm. “What bad timing. Besides helping Shi Li with her code, I also have to clean up at Yu Xian’s cat café that day.”

“Alright.”

“How about we go another day?” Bai Qingyu smiled, her eyes curving gently.

Song Yuehua forced a smile but couldn’t stop thinking about Song Yuelan’s request. “My sister only has time that day recently. Ah… She was actually really hoping you could come.”

“Song Yuelan is going too?” Bai Qingyu paused briefly, a subtle complexity flashing in her eyes.

“Mm-hmm.” Song Yuehua quickly tried to salvage her sister’s image. “Actually, my sister is quite generous. Last time we had a meal together, she insisted on paying.”

Bai Qingyu looked at her and suddenly chuckled softly. “Yuehua, are you and your sister not very close?”

“Well…” Song Yuehua had initially wanted to stubbornly deny it, but under Bai Qingyu’s clear gaze, the lie died on her lips. She could only nod honestly, her toes scraping a small pit in the ground. “When we were kids, our parents always arranged for her to live separately, saying she needed to focus on studying. We rarely saw each other, so we’re not very close.”

“But you’re sisters,” Bai Qingyu said innocently. “Spend more time together and talk more, and you’ll grow closer gradually.”

Song Yuehua opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words to respond.

Sisters? She lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes, her thoughts in disarray.

If the original Song Yuehua were still here, could she really have gotten along with Song Yuelan? That sister of hers, always so assertive and awkward, it seemed she had never learned how to speak kindly.

“Oh.” Bai Qingyu’s eyes lit up as if she’d suddenly understood something. She leaned closer to Song Yuehua, her warm breath brushing past the other’s ear as she whispered, “You want to use this camping trip to get closer to Sister Song, right?”

Song Yuehua appeared to have been seen through, though in reality she guiltily nodded with hesitation, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum: “Mm…”

“Let me think.” Bai Qingyu tapped her chin lightly with a fingertip, pondering seriously for a few seconds. “If I finish work early at the cat cafe that day, I should be able to make it.” Her tone carried a playful note. “How’s that?”

“Thank you, senior.” Song Yuehua was so moved she nearly cried.

What a wonderful person, making time specifically to help improve her relationship with her sister, even agreeing to go camping with someone who had previously rejected her advances.

“It’s nothing.” Bai Qingyu took her hand, her palm warm. When their eyes met, her light brown pupils were as clear as stream water, appearing exceptionally harmless. “Yuehua, you’ve already helped me so much.”

“The tutoring fee you gave me is much higher than what I earned from private tutoring before. We’re friends, so I really shouldn’t accept your money, but I urgently needed it for medical expenses, so I shamelessly took it.”

“You’ve helped me, so let me help you in whatever way I can too, alright?” She looked at Song Yuehua, the sincerity in her eyes softening hearts.

“Mm.”

At this point, Song Yuehua couldn’t help but want to give Bai Qingyu a hug.

Bai Qingyu lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting fan-like shadows beneath her eyes, concealing the fleeting emotion within. She simply patted Song Yuehua’s shoulder gently. “Don’t overthink it.”

“Oh, right!” Song Yuehua suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed her wrist. “I’m free on Saturday, let me help you at the cat cafe! It’ll be a good chance to learn how to take care of Song Xiaomi too. Please don’t refuse me!”

Bai Qingyu: “Alright, but don’t overexert yourself.”

After parting ways with Bai Qingyu at the cafeteria, Song Yuehua hurriedly sent a message to Song Yuelan.

[Song Yuehua: Bai Qingyu agreed!]

[Song Yuehua: But she might be a bit late, she has to clean the cat cafe in the morning. I plan to go help. Do you want to come too?]

The message seemed to vanish into the void. It wasn’t until that evening, after Song Yuehua finished studying, that she saw Song Yuelan’s reply.

[Song Yuelan: Well done.]

[Song Yuelan: Why would I go? You don’t need to either. Just hire someone to help Bai Qingyu finish her work, wouldn’t that be simpler?]

[Song Yuehua: Don’t you want to get closer to her? Cleaning together is a great opportunity! If you go help, she’ll definitely be touched, and her favorability will go up, right?]

Song Yuehua held her forehead, feeling utterly exasperated.

Here she was, still single herself, yet already playing matchmaker for the two of them.

The next morning, Song Yuelan finally replied with two slow, drawn-out words: “Fine then.”

On Saturday morning, the late summer breeze carried a chill, dispelling the last traces of stifling heat. The weather forecast promised a cloudless day, with sunlight so bright it dazzled the eyes, perfect weather for camping.

At six o’clock sharp, the alarm clock on the bedside table chimed “ding-a-ling.”

A hand emerged from under the summer quilt, fumbling to silence the alarm. Song Yuehua let out a big yawn and sat up, her hair a messy tangle.

Song Xiaomi lay curled at the edge of the bed, tail wrapped around her paws, fast asleep, not even the tips of her ears twitched.

Although she had bought it a soft cat bed, the little one only took short naps there during the day. At night, it always preferred to sneak back onto the bed and sleep curled up against Song Yuehua’s ankle.

Song Yuehua got out of bed quietly, tiptoeing her way to the bathroom to wash up. By the time she had combed her hair, changed her clothes, and was ready to leave, she pushed open the bathroom door to find Song Xiaomi crouched right outside, its amber eyes fixed intently on her, the tip of its tail swaying gently.

Thinking about her plan to visit the cat café, Song Yuehua suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She quickly crouched down and scratched its chin with her fingertips:

“Be good, alright? When I come back, I’ll be able to take better care of you.”

Song Xiaomi narrowed its eyes contentedly, a soft purr rumbling in its throat, and let out a gentle “meow,” as if giving its approval.

Although Song Yuelan had agreed to come, she said she would meet directly at the cat café later, so Song Yuehua had no choice but to take a taxi there by herself.

Yu Xian’s cat café was tucked away on a bustling pedestrian street, surrounded by rows of shops.

Song Yuehua stood at the entrance of the cat café, peering inside through the glass. Bai Qingyu, wearing a white apron, was standing by the window brushing an orange-and-white cat. Sunlight fell on her profile, casting a soft golden glow on the ends of her hair. Her movements were so gentle, it was as if she were handling a fragile treasure.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside.