My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 8

Song Yuehua leaned against the leather car seat, her fingers unconsciously tapping the window as her gaze idly followed the sycamore leaves whizzing past outside.

Before she could figure out how to broach the subject, Song Yuelan had already parked the car steadily beneath a camphor tree at the university entrance.

“We’re here,” Song Yuelan said, turning her head slightly. Her fingers paused on the steering wheel, and she lifted her chin slightly. “Go pick her up.”

“Aren’t you coming?” Song Yuehua clutched the hem of her clothes, trying to stall.

“You go,” Song Yuelan replied without looking up.

“Fine.” Song Yuehua dawdled as she pushed the car door open. The midday sun, laden with heat, rushed at her, making her instinctively squint.

Not far away, under the camphor tree, Bai Qingyu stood with a canvas bag slung over her shoulder. Her light blue shirt billowed slightly in the breeze, and her dark, silky hair swayed gently in the wind. A few stray strands clung to her fair cheeks, half-hidden in the shade and half-bathed in sunlight, as elegant as a light ink painting.

As Song Yuehua walked over, she caught several passing students sneaking glances back at Bai Qingyu out of the corner of her eye. Even students hurrying to class with armfuls of books couldn’t resist stealing a second look. Her palms instantly grew clammy.

To deceive someone so pure and gentle into attending this deliberately arranged meal under the pretense of “something important” felt utterly despicable.

Clenching her fists, Song Yuehua mustered her courage and walked up to Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyu, who had been standing on tiptoe and looking around, brightened the moment she saw her. A gentle curve graced her lips, and even the smile in her eyes radiated warmth. “Yuehua.”

“Se… Senior,” Song Yuehua stammered, staring at the ground as she shuffled her feet. It took her a long moment to gather the courage to look up and meet Bai Qingyu’s clear, bright eyes.

“What’s the important matter you mentioned?” Bai Qingyu asked. “Where are we going?”

Seeing the complete trust in Bai Qingyu’s eyes, Song Yuehua felt guilt welling up inside her.

She nervously closed her eyes, her long lashes casting delicate, fan-like shadows beneath them.

“I… I don’t have anything important,” Song Yuehua stumbled over her words. “I just wanted to invite you to have a meal with me and my sister.”

One second, two seconds…

The air seemed to freeze. One second, two seconds… When no response came, Song Yuehua nervously cracked her eyes open, only to find Bai Qingyu tilting her head, a faint smile dancing in her eyes. Her eyelashes shimmered faintly in the sunlight.

Song Yuehua pressed her lips together and widened her eyes, staring back.

Suddenly, Bai Qingyu reached out, her fingertips gently brushing Song Yuehua’s forehead. The faint scent of gardenia, mingled with the warmth of her palm, drifted into Song Yuehua’s nostrils, making her head feel slightly dizzy.

Song Yuehua instinctively closed her eyes, feeling a faint itch at her temple like the gentle tickle of stray hairs brushed by the wind, accompanied by a subtle warmth.

“Am I that intimidating?” Bai Qingyu withdrew her hand, pulled a pack of tissues from her canvas bag, and handed one over. Her fingertips lightly brushed the back of Song Yuehua’s hand. “You’re sweating.”

Song Yuehua’s face flushed crimson instantly, the blush spreading all the way down her neck. She hastily took the tissue and wiped her forehead, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s hum. “N-No, I’m not scared of you, Senior… I just walked too fast, that’s why I’m sweating.”

“Next time, no need to rush like that,” Bai Qingyu’s voice was soft and gentle, like cotton soaked in warm water.

Song Yuehua wiped the sweat from her brow and looked up at the person speaking softly in front of her, her guilt deepening. “I’m really sorry, Senior. I… I lied to you.”

“It’s alright.” Bai Qingyu offered a faint smile, her gaze gentle as it swept over Song Yuehua’s adorably flushed earlobes. “But next time, you have to tell me the truth, okay?”

“Mm, mm!” Song Yuehua nodded eagerly, like a little pecking chick, then cautiously asked, “Then… will you still go?”

“Of course.” Bai Qingyu finally couldn’t resist reaching out to gently pinch her earlobe, retracting her fingers as soon as they brushed against the warm, soft skin. Her tone carried a hint of teasing. “Otherwise, wouldn’t your lie have been in vain? It really is hot today, your ears are burning up.”

How… how could she just pinch her earlobe like that?

Song Yuehua froze for a moment, and by the time she processed it, her earlobes flushed an even deeper red.

In all her years, aside from the matron from her childhood orphanage, no one had ever touched her earlobes like that…

The faint, cool sensation felt like an electric current, traveling from her ear straight to her chest, leaving a tingling numbness.

Before she could fully recover from the sudden intimacy, Bai Qingyu waved a hand in front of her face. “What are you spacing out for? Has President Song arrived?”

“She’s here, she’s here!” Song Yuehua snapped back to reality and quickly tugged at Bai Qingyu’s sleeve, pulling her toward the parking area. “Let’s hurry, we shouldn’t keep her waiting!”

The spot where Bai Qingyu had been waiting was along the main thoroughfare frequently used by university students. While it was convenient for pedestrians, it was difficult for cars to navigate through the constant flow of people.

So, Song Yuelan had parked her car in the closest available spot near the intersection. The black sedan gleamed with a cool sheen under the shade of the trees.

“Over there.” Song Yuehua pointed at the conspicuous luxury car and led Bai Qingyu toward it.

Just as she was about to open the passenger door, her wrist was gently held back. “Yuehua, sit in the back with me.” Bai Qingyu’s voice was soft and tender, her fingertips carrying a faint, cool touch.

Song Yuehua paused, glancing toward the driver’s seat where Song Yuelan was leaning back, her brows furrowed into a knot, her face clearly displaying irritation, though she said nothing.

Well, it made sense, after having just lied to Bai Qingyu, she really ought to keep her company.

“Okay.”

The two of them settled into the back seat together.

Song Yuelan’s car was, of course, a top-of-the-line luxury model, with a back seat spacious enough to fit two more people.

Song Yuehua and Bai Qingyu sat side by side, with a significant gap still between them.

“Qingyu, are you still busy with many classes?” Song Yuelan broke the silence first, her tone deliberately light, though her eyes were fixed intently on the rearview mirror.

Bai Qingyu gently twisted the strap of her canvas bag and replied softly, “Not many.”

“Do you like seafood?”

“It’s alright.”

“What do you usually do besides attending classes?”

“Part-time work.”

Listening to this interrogation-like conversation, Song Yuehua felt as if the air in the car was freezing over.

Song Yuelan, however, seemed completely unaware and continued asking questions with a serious demeanor.

They finally arrived at the restaurant, and both Song Yuehua and Bai Qingyu let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.

A server led them to a private room.

Song Yuelan took her seat first, forcing Song Yuehua to sit opposite her, while Bai Qingyu naturally settled in beside Song Yuehua.

“Try this, the lobster here is very fresh.” Song Yuelan used serving chopsticks to place a piece of lobster meat onto Bai Qingyu’s plate.

Bai Qingyu picked up a shell spoon and took a delicate sip, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly. Yet, she still smiled and nodded, saying, “It’s quite tasty.” She then picked up a portion with her chopsticks and placed it into Song Yuehua’s bowl. “Yuehua, you should try some too.”

Song Yuehua looked at the food in her bowl, feeling Song Yuelan’s gaze piercing through her from across the table. She quickly picked it up, stuffed it into her mouth, and chewed rapidly.

“President Song…” Bai Qingyu began to say something but was immediately cut off by Song Yuelan.

Song Yuelan’s eyebrows furrowed sharply as she set down her chopsticks. “Wait, ‘President Song’?”

Song Yuehua’s heart sank.

“Don’t you think that sounds too distant?” Song Yuelan leaned forward.

Bai Qingyu hesitated for a moment before tentatively correcting herself, “Then… Sister Song?”

Song Yuehua inwardly groaned: That just made her sound ten years older.

Sure enough, Song Yuelan’s face instantly darkened. “Just call me President Song.”

“Try this king crab, the meat is very tender,” Song Yuehua quickly interjected, placing a piece of crab meat onto Song Yuelan’s plate in an attempt to distract her with food.

Bai Qingyu tactfully closed her mouth, offered a polite, faint smile, and lowered her head, swallowing the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.

The air conditioning in the private room was on full blast, but it couldn’t dispel the awkwardness in the air.

By the end of the meal, not one of the three had a smile on their face.

After eating, Song Yuelan drove them back to the university.

“Thank you for the meal, CEO Song.” Bai Qingyu stood by the car door after getting out, bowing slightly in thanks.

Song Yuelan just waved her hand without even fully rolling down the window, and the black sedan slowly drove away.

“My apartment isn’t far from here, go…” Just as Song Yuehua was about to give Song Yuelan directions, she felt the car stop.

Song Yuelan: “Get out.”

“Huh?” Song Yuehua was baffled. “We’re not at my place yet…”

“I said get out,” Song Yuelan said.

Song Yuehua dazedly pushed open the car door. The moment her foot touched the ground, the sedan shot forward, leaving behind only a cloud of exhaust and her figure standing dumbly by the roadside.

“…Fine.” Song Yuehua rolled her eyes at the car’s taillights and resignedly patted the dust off herself.

Fortunately, her apartment really wasn’t far from the university. The navigation app showed it was a fifteen-minute walk. It was just that the afternoon sun was truly vicious. The glaring sunlight baked the asphalt road until it seemed to steam, the air was filled with the smell of tar, and even the wind was hot, feeling like a warm quilt wrapped around her face as it blew.

Song Yuehua shielded her forehead with her hand and dragged her feet as she walked slowly.

“Song Yuehua?” A crisp, female voice suddenly came from the side, tinged with a bit of uncertainty.

Song Yuehua turned her head and saw a girl with a high ponytail.

“It really is you!” The girl’s eyes lit up, and she walked over quickly. “I was afraid I got the wrong person!”

Judging by her familiar manner, she must be a classmate. Song Yuehua scratched her head and replied with a smile, “It’s me. What’s up?”

“Our group is doing a course project, and we’re short one person. Do you want to join us to make up the numbers?” the girl asked, shaking the book in her hand.

“Sure,” Song Yuehua agreed immediately.

“That’s great.” Guo Feifei took out her phone. “Can we add each other as friends?”

“Okay.” Song Yuehua took out her phone.

Wait, what was her name?

In the moment she was thinking, Guo Feifei had already sent the friend request. “I’ll get going then.”

Song Yuehua: “Hey? How do you write your name?”

Guo Feifei took Song Yuehua’s phone. “I’ll type it for you.”

“Then I’ll be off.” Guo Feifei waved goodbye as she left.

Song Yuehua watched her retreating figure, thinking how lively this classmate was.

Finally making it to her apartment building, Song Yuehua rushed straight to the bathroom after unlocking the door. Only after showering did she dare pick up Song Xiaomi, who was dozing on the sofa. She buried her face in its soft belly and took a deep breath: “Our Xiaomi is still the coolest, so fluffy and not hot at all~”

Song Xiaomi purred contentedly under her nuzzling.

Settling on the sofa, she unlocked her phone to find two unread messages from Bai Qingyu.

[Bai Qingyu: I’ve gathered enough money for the shirt. ]

[Bai Qingyu: Yuehua, could you pass it to President Song for me?]

Looking at the substantial transfer amount on screen, Song Yuehua felt like she’d been handed a hot potato.

[Bai Qingyu: By the way, are my clothes still at your place?]

Song Yuehua instinctively replied: “Yes.”

[Bai Qingyu: Great! Are you free tomorrow? I’d like to come get them.]

Song Yuehua had no choice but to accept the transfer.

Tomorrow happened to be the first day after break. Checking her class schedule, she saw she was free in the afternoon.

[Song Yuehua: Free in the afternoon.]

[Bai Qingyu: Okay.]

Now came the money issue… Song Yuelan had clearly been angry today.

If Song Yuelan found out Bai Qingyu had asked her to pass along the shirt money, she’d probably get even angrier.

Better to wait a few days before telling her.