Strategy to Tame My Dimwitted Older Sister A - Chapter 9

“I want to drink it.”

Bai Xia tugged her hand forward. “No, you don’t! You’re supposed to be playing sick right now. If you go over there to queue up and a drill instructor happens to see you, you’ll be waiting for a school-wide reprimand tomorrow. Also, as someone who’s been through this, your senior advises you since you’re faking it, you’d better commit to being a convincing patient. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.”

Chu Nanqiao only realized belatedly what Bai Xia was implying and immediately denied it. “I really don’t feel well. I’m not faking it!”

Bai Xia chuckled. “Stop right there. Back in the day, your senior here did the same thing. Others might not notice, but I know all the tricks. But fine, I’ll let it slide this time. Who told me to be so easygoing? Just don’t let it happen again.”

The military training only lasted a month, what “next time” was she even talking about? Bai Xia was just saying it for the sake of it. Normally, she couldn’t be bothered with things like this. First, it didn’t really concern her, so there was no need to be ruthless. Second, it never hurt to leave some leeway. If Chu Nanqiao ever decided to come after her in the future, she might spare Bai Xia out of gratitude for this small favor at least not stab her to death like in their past life.

Thinking this way, Bai Xia felt she was doing pretty well. Actively paving her own way to survival wasn’t such a bad strategy.

Wait.

If that was the case, maybe she didn’t have to avoid Chu Nanqiao entirely. After all, they were in the same school, the same department, they were bound to run into each other sooner or later. If she kept trying to dodge her, she wouldn’t be able to avoid Chu Nanqiao forever, and the tragedy from their past life might still happen. But if she changed her approach, if she made sure Chu Nanqiao only remembered her kindness then over time, she might actually alter Chu Nanqiao’s mindset. No matter what happened later, Chu Nanqiao might be inclined to show her mercy.

Having figured this out, Bai Xia decided to stop obsessing over avoiding Chu Nanqiao. Instead, she started thinking about how to make Chu Nanqiao remember her fondly.

And right now, there seemed to be a perfect opportunity.

Didn’t Chu Nanqiao want milk tea? She could queue up for her!

Bai Xia stopped in her tracks and asked, slightly awkward, “You really want that milk tea?”

Chu Nanqiao blinked in surprise, then nodded eagerly. “Y-yes! Are you taking me there to buy some?”

If they went together and got spotted by an instructor, wouldn’t Bai Xia also get reported and punished? That would be a nightmare!

Bai Xia firmly refused. “You go wait for me at the infirmary. I’ll buy it for you.”

Chu Nanqiao blinked her big, sparkling eyes in confusion. “Why? We can go together!”

Bai Xia didn’t explain. “You have two choices now. Either go straight to the infirmary and get no milk tea, or go wait for me there and get some. Pick one.”

Chu Nanqiao seemed to understand Bai Xia just didn’t want to be seen with her, probably to avoid suspicion. She could accept that. “O-okay, then.”

They continued walking.

After crossing a long stretch of grassy lawn, they arrived at the school infirmary.

After sending Chu Nanqiao inside, Bai Xia made her way back alone. Without Chu Nanqiao by her side, she felt much more relaxed.

It was strange, really. Chu Nanqiao was the one who had stabbed her to death in her past life, yet Bai Xia didn’t harbor even a trace of hatred toward her. That night after returning from the bar, lying in bed, she even felt that her past life had been full of regrets though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what exactly she regretted.

She had fulfilled her duties as a person in this world studying hard when she was supposed to, working diligently after graduation, climbing step by step to better and higher positions, and then tackling the biggest milestone in life: marriage and children.

By all accounts, she shouldn’t have had any regrets. She had done everything she was supposed to do, and she had done it better than most. Yet, at the wedding venue, when she saw Chu Nanqiao walking toward her, her emotions had been incredibly complicated. For a fleeting moment, she even wanted to tear off the groom’s wedding suit.

This feeling was truly bizarre.

Bai Xia couldn’t make sense of it.

But she couldn’t ask anyone about it either. Ask Xu Mo, that troublemaker?

No way. If she dug another pit for her, Bai Xia would surely fall right into it and never climb out.

Just thinking about it made Bai Xia grit her teeth in frustration, wishing she could storm back to the dorm right now, drag Xu Mo out of bed, and toss her onto the field!

Ah, forget it. What’s done is done. No amount of words could change it, and beating her up wouldn’t heal her wounded heart.

Bai Xia was so angry.

Might as well buy herself a drink to cool off.

She hadn’t taken Chu Nanqiao’s money not because she was pretending to be generous, but because Chu Nanqiao had given her cash, and Bai Xia wasn’t in the habit of using physical money. There was a good chance she’d forget about it after taking it back, casually toss it into the trash, and just like that, the money would be gone.

They say no amount of spending hurts, but losing even a single penny can sting for days, let alone over ten yuan. She’d probably sulk for a whole week. So, it was better not to take it at all.

Consider it leaving a good impression on Chu Nanqiao.

The line for milk tea was long, mostly filled with sophomores and juniors, stretching into two queues. Bai Xia had arrived late and ended up at the very back, waiting over half an hour before finally getting her order.

She had expected Chu Nanqiao to obediently wait for her in the infirmary, but halfway back, she spotted Chu Nanqiao standing there waiting for her from afar.

Small in stature, holding a blue-and-white umbrella, the oversized military uniform making her look twice her size. Yet, her skin was so fair and smooth that even under the shade of the umbrella, she still seemed to glow under the sunlight.

Bai Xia remembered that Chu Nanqiao hadn’t brought an umbrella during military training just a water bottle and a pack of tissues so this umbrella must have been borrowed from someone.

For some reason, Bai Xia’s nose tingled with an inexplicable ache.

There was nothing particularly special about this scene, yet Bai Xia remembered it for a long time.

“I told you to wait for me in the infirmary. Why did you come out?” Bai Xia said as she handed the milk tea over. “And didn’t you say you weren’t feeling well? At least find someone to accompany you. If you collapsed halfway or something, I’d be held fully responsible!”

Chu Nanqiao stammered anxiously as she tried to explain, “I was inside, and they kept staring at me. I didn’t like it. And you took so long to come back. I thought you were just going to leave me there.”

Bai Xia helped her fold up her umbrella, then shielded Chu Nanqiao with her own. “I told you I’d bring you milk tea, and I meant it. Do I really seem like the kind of person who doesn’t keep their word?!”

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