My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 41

Chen Xingyue never expected that hiding in the restroom to play on her phone would lead to witnessing such a scene. Her usually meek and fragile desk mate didn’t seem so simple after all?

Back in the classroom, her desk mate was still buried in her test papers. Chen Xingyue sometimes wondered just how many practice sheets this girl had stashed away.

Aside from the ones assigned by the school, she seemed to have an endless supply of exercises. Every time Chen Xingyue looked over, she was solving problems, earnest and harmless.

Well, except for what had just happened in the restroom.

At this thought, she couldn’t help but glance at the girl beside her again.

Truthfully, when she first saw Shen Baiyi, her initial reaction had been one of resistance.

Because this girl was too beautiful.

Far more beautiful than her, with a natural kind of beauty. Unlike Chen Xingyue, who had to put on light makeup every day to cover her flaws.

Shen Baiyi didn’t have such worries.

Her face was fair and flawless, looking as delicate as if it could be bruised by a mere touch. Her features were exquisite thick lashes, large eyes, a straight nose, and even her lips were rosy and adorable.

Suddenly, Shen Baiyi’s cold gaze swept over. “What are you looking at?”

Before Chen Xingyue could respond, the other girl spoke again, her tone icy, “You should know I hate people causing me trouble.”

Chen Xingyue froze, quickly realizing Shen Baiyi already knew she’d been in the restroom.

She was stunned. “You knew I was there?”

If she knew, then why had she acted so boldly in the restroom?

Shen Baiyi didn’t answer, lowering her head to focus on her problems again.

A big part of why she disliked Chen Xingyue was the perfume she wore, it smelled too much like her sister’s.

She was overly sensitive to that scent, so the moment she entered the restroom, she’d known Chen Xingyue had been there. Aside from Chen Xingyue, no other students dared to wear perfume in school.

And with that one stall tightly shut, it was impossible not to notice.

“How did you know?” Chen Xingyue’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I didn’t make a sound.”

Annoyed, Shen Baiyi shut down her curiosity with one sentence: “You stayed in the restroom too long. You reek of it.”

Her words were calm, but the impact was devastating.

Chen Xingyue stiffened in her seat, unable to speak for a long moment.

By the time she gathered herself to say something else, Shen Baiyi had already immersed herself in her work, shutting out the outside world.

Left with no choice, Chen Xingyue closed her mouth.

Just when she thought her desk mate would ignore her forever, Shen Baiyi suddenly handed her an autograph card during evening self-study.

She blinked. “You’re a fan of mine too?”

Lately, many people had come asking for her autograph, but she never expected Shen Baiyi to be one of them.

Before, she’d assumed Shen Baiyi wouldn’t because the girl seemed like a study machine. Now, she thought Shen Baiyi wouldn’t because she came off as someone ruthless with few words someone who showed her no courtesy and even dared to threaten her.

How could she possibly be a fan?

She waited for Shen Baiyi’s answer, but the other girl merely said coolly, “I heard you wanted chemistry notes? I have some, very detailed ones.”

Chen Xingyue didn’t hesitate. “Got it. Is one autograph enough? Do you want a personalized message?”

–

“What’s this?”

As Shen Baiyi shoved something into her arms, Zheng Yao picked it up, baffled.

On the postcard was a still photo of the girl, beside which was a beautifully written message in flamboyant handwriting:

“To Big Sister Zheng Yao, remember to eat on time OvO, Chen Xingyue,”

Zheng Yao: !!!

She turned to Shen Baiyi in astonishment: “Did you get this autograph for me?”

Shen Baiyi’s expression remained unchanged: “Doesn’t elder sister like her?”

As she spoke, she carefully studied the expression on her sister’s face: “Are you happy, elder sister?”

Happy?

Zheng Yao pursed her lips, feeling an indescribable emotion. She remembered how someone had claimed yesterday that they weren’t close to Chen Xingyue, yet today they’d managed to get her a personalized autograph.

Unable to resist, she cupped Shen Baiyi’s face with both hands and gave it a firm squeeze: “Shen Baiyi, oh Shen Baiyi.”

How could she be so utterly endearing?

Looking into Shen Baiyi’s startled yet bright eyes, Zheng Yao couldn’t help herself, she leaned down and planted a kiss on Shen Baiyi’s forehead: “Thank you, elder sister really likes it.”

She liked how much Shen Baiyi cared about her.

She liked how Shen Baiyi’s eyes were always full of her.

Releasing Shen Baiyi, she waved the postcard in her hand and laughed: “Why did you ask her to write this? ‘Eat on time’, do I look like a child to you?”

Shen Baiyi still looked dazed.

Her ears were burning so hot they might as well have been on fire. Belatedly, she raised a hand and lightly touched the spot where her sister had kissed her, her face slowly growing scorching hot.

Elder sister, kissed her?

Recalling the soft yet searing sensation that had just brushed her forehead, Shen Baiyi’s eyelashes fluttered.

“But this is my first time getting a celebrity’s personalized autograph,” Zheng Yao’s attention was still on the signed photo in her hand. “Should I get it framed?”

Receiving no response, she turned to see Shen Baiyi touching her forehead, looking like a silly goose, and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow: “Xiao Bai?”

“Huh?” Shen Baiyi looked up blankly. After a few seconds, she snapped out of it and nodded hurriedly. “Frame it, yes, we should frame it.”

If only she could frame her own forehead.

She wanted to preserve her sister’s kiss forever.

Though she knew it was unlikely, for the next few days, Shen Baiyi made sure to avoid washing that spot when she cleaned her face.

She had hoped her sister might kiss her again, but unfortunately, right up until the college entrance exams, Zheng Yao never kissed her even once.

Three days before the exams, the school closed for preparation.

During this time, Zheng Yao was even more nervous than Shen Baiyi.

To give Shen Baiyi the quietest and most comfortable environment possible, she even lent her study to Shen Baiyi.

It was common knowledge that she guarded her study fiercely, never allowing anyone to set foot inside.

This was the first time she had ever let an outsider in.

Of course, Shen Baiyi had no idea what a privilege she was being granted otherwise, she would have been so overjoyed she wouldn’t have been able to focus on her studies at all.

In truth, even without knowing, she was so elated she could barely contain her excitement.

This study felt like her sister’s secret hideout, filled with her sister’s presence everywhere. There were even many childhood photos of her sister, each one unbearably adorable.

A knock sounded at the study door, followed by it opening.

Shen Baiyi immediately lowered her head in a fluster, pretending to be engrossed in her work.

“Eat whatever you like,” Zheng Yao walked in and placed the snacks and fruit she had prepared on the side. “Focus on your studies, give it your all for the final push, but don’t stress too much just treat it like any other day.”

The advice was somewhat contradictory.

But Zheng Yao had no choice. On one hand, she hoped Shen Baiyi could work harder to achieve good grades and get into University A. On the other hand, she was afraid of pushing Shen Baiyi too hard, causing excessive stress.

In the end, reason prevailed over emotion. She said sternly, “You must get good grades, only success is allowed, no failure. The college entrance exam is your biggest goal, both in the past and now.”

The scene from last year, when the girl had pitifully declared her wish to leave the mountains, was still vivid in her mind.

Even though Shen Baiyi had lost her memory, the original goal or dream still needed to be taken seriously now.

“I understand, sis,” Shen Baiyi nodded obediently, suppressing her previous restlessness.

Zheng Yao didn’t disturb Shen Baiyi further, and the study soon fell quiet again.

She decided to leave the remaining time entirely to Shen Baiyi.

Yet, even though it was Shen Baiyi taking the exam, Zheng Yao herself seemed unbearably nervous, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone.

Unable to resist, she took out the materials she had used to tutor Shen Baiyi in English.

Shen Baiyi was particularly weak in listening comprehension. Zheng Yao had drilled her with numerous exercises recently, and while there was improvement, time was too tight her listening still lagged behind.

After some thought, Zheng Yao checked her finances. Another book of hers had recently sold its copyright, leaving her with substantial savings, so she allocated another sum to children in the mountainous regions.

Shen Baiyi’s poor English listening skills were simply due to the lack of proper practice conditions in her mountain school.

At this thought, Zheng Yao grew distracted.

She wondered if the money she had donated years ago had been put to good use. Had the roads been built? Were people still eating yellowed rice?

They say it’s better to teach someone to fish than to give them fish. She could only do so much, what happened to those people afterward was no longer her concern.

Yet, thinking of the children there, Zheng Yao couldn’t help but frown.

–

On the last day before the college entrance exam, Zheng Yao didn’t let Shen Baiyi stay cooped up in the study.

After dinner, she called out to her, “Come on, let’s go for a walk.”

With the exam the next day, she worried Shen Baiyi might be too stressed to sleep, so she decided a stroll might help ease the tension.

She had expected Shen Baiyi to refuse and choose to study instead, but to her surprise, the girl agreed without hesitation.

All the words of persuasion Zheng Yao had prepared stuck in her throat, unspoken.

Fine.

The two took the elevator downstairs.

Before they could step out, someone outside the elevator suddenly exclaimed, “Isn’t that little Zheng?”

Zheng Yao looked over.

Her gaze lingered on the woman’s face for a few seconds, a flicker of surprise crossing her expression before she averted her eyes and nodded coolly in greeting.

It was an old neighbor from their previous home.

But she remembered their families hadn’t gotten along, they’d even had several disputes.

For someone to clash with her easygoing father, they couldn’t have been a good person.

“My, how you’ve grown,” the old woman seemed eager to catch up, murmuring a few words before turning to Shen Baiyi beside Zheng Yao. “And this is?”

Zheng Yao was not one for reminiscing, so she outright ignored the old lady’s earlier remark. Yet, out of courtesy, she said, “If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way now. Goodbye.”

With that, she took Shen Baiyi’s hand, who had been glancing back and forth between her and the old lady and strode out.

The little incident didn’t dampen Zheng Yao’s mood much. She led Shen Baiyi to the park, only to notice the girl still seemed distracted. Raising a brow, she asked, “What’s on your mind?”

Shen Baiyi shook her head. “Nothing.”

She wouldn’t mention someone her sister disliked.

Sensing her sister’s subdued mood, she slipped her hand into Zheng Yao’s palm and beamed. “Sister, Zhu Xiaofu said her mom’s wearing a qipao tomorrow to wish her a triumphant start.”

Zheng Yao shot her a glance. “What, do you really see me as your mom now? Expecting me to wear a qipao for you?”

She had never worn a qipao before.

Not that she disliked it, she just didn’t think it suited her. It wasn’t her style.

“No.”

Hearing her sister’s tone, Shen Baiyi deflated.

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