Chapter 38 In An Instant, Wei Qingyu's Heart Softened

The spacious small auditorium was filled with stagnant air, and Liu Yue stood on the platform, her expression visibly stiff. She held the attendance register in her hand, the crumpled paper filled with her momentary indecision.

Indeed, judging from the grades, Wei Qingyu was the best choice to assist Ji Xiao.

But personally, she hesitated to let Wei Qingyu help such a little overlord.

Seeing Liu Yue on the platform remaining silent, Ji Ning suggested, "Teacher, since it's like this, why not let Ji Xiao choose for herself? After all, in a one-on-one situation, shouldn't this student being helped also have the right to choose?"

With that, Ji Ning confidently looked at Ji Xiao.

She felt that Ji Xiao was still the same person who hated Wei Qingyu and always bullied her in the first half of the year, and would definitely not choose the annoying Wei Qingyu.

"Well then," Liu Yue conceded and nodded.

She also believed that with Ji Xiao's personality, she would definitely not choose Wei Qingyu.

"Ji Xiao, who do you want to help you one-on-one?" Liu Yue closed the attendance register and asked.

Ji Xiao stood up from her seat quite unexpectedly. She never expected that Wei Qingyu, who had been angry with her in the morning, would voluntarily stand up at this moment to be her helping classmate.

For some reason, when she heard Wei Qingyu interrupting Liu Yue and saying she wanted to help her, Ji Xiao's heart was unexpectedly filled with sweetness.

As if a wish had come true.

All the students in the auditorium directed their gazes toward Ji Xiao, but her eyes remained fixed on the cold-looking girl.

Then, she lightly pursed her lips and without hesitation said to Liu Yue, "Teacher, I choose Wei Qingyu."

As soon as she spoke, the classroom erupted into murmurs of discussion, and both Ji Ning and Liu Yue wore expressions of surprise.

The distant wind passed through the windows above the small auditorium, carrying in the bell signaling the end of the morning break from the nearby teaching building.

Upon hearing the bell, Liu Yue composed herself and said, "The bell for class is ringing. Let's end today's class meeting here. Everyone, return to your classrooms and prepare for lessons."

The students in the class obediently got up from their seats and the once quiet auditorium instantly filled with the sound of students discussing.

As the crowd dispersed, Liu Yue stood on the platform watching Wei Qingyu, who was about to leave, and said, "Wei Qingyu, come with me for a moment."

Ji Xiao, particularly sensitive, heard Liu Yue's somewhat soft call amidst the chatter.

Without showing any reaction, she turned her head to look towards the platform, where Liu Yue now wore a much gentler smile than before, beckoning Wei Qingyu to come to her.

Wei Qingyu's face, as usual, showed little expression as she walked toward Liu Yue, against the flow of the crowd.

The bright lights shone on her straight back, creating a sense of distance for those who watched her from afar.

Ji Xiao watched as Wei Qingyu moved farther and farther away from her, suddenly feeling afraid that Liu Yue might say something negative about her.

She feared that Liu Yue might persuade her to give up her choice to be paired with her.

Although she knew Wei Qingyu wasn't someone who made promises lightly, and she knew that Wei Qingyu had chosen her willingly just now, Ji Xiao still felt a bit unsure of herself.

"Ji Xiao, aren't you going back?" 

At this moment, a girl from the class approached and patted Ji Xiao's shoulder.

“Mm, I'm going back," Ji Xiao quickly snapped out of her thoughts.

She looked at the girl's eyes, filled with concern and anticipation, and couldn't help but find an excuse to politely decline, "You go ahead, I need to use the restroom."

"Okay," the girl nodded, slightly disappointed, and left.

Ji Xiao watched the girl's retreating figure, secretly relieved, then looked up towards the platform.

But Wei Qingyu and Liu Yue were nowhere to be seen.

The empty platform was illuminated by several bright lights, clearly revealing the sense of loss in the girl's eyes. Ji Xiao stepped down from the audience seats, covered with a red carpet, and looked back at the empty platform a few times. After confirming that there was really no one there, she withdrew her gaze.

The sun gradually climbed to the zenith of the sky, and a gentle breeze passed through the corridor of the teaching building, bringing a hint of autumn warmth.

Liu Yue knew that the next class for the experimental class was self-study. She walked calmly with Wei Qingyu along the quiet corridor.

One was as calm as still water, the other was free and easy-going.

Like roses blooming under the lush rose vine, exceptionally eye-catching.

Liu Yue, burdened with worries, asked with concern, "Qingyu, I heard that the former Director Liu was dismissed because his niece maliciously released pheromones on you? Are you okay? Have you been bullied at this school?"

Wei Qingyu shook her head. "Auntie, I'm fine."

"Auntie really didn't know such a thing happened around you. As soon as I heard that the school was vacant for the position of Director of the Guidance Office, I immediately contacted Old Chen. I've been busy for more than half a month, and now it seems worth it."

Liu Yue then placed her hand on Wei Qingyu's shoulder and continued, "Qingyu, Auntie will be your reliance in this school from now on. With Auntie around, you will never be bullied again."

“Mm," Wei Qingyu nodded.

In fact, this semester was much better for her than the last, aside from Liu Meina being killed to warn others, the more important reason was Ji Xiao.

Despite her usual grumpy demeanor, Ji Xiao hadn't done anything excessive to her anymore and had even protected her several times.

"Qingyu, you don't really have to tutor Ji Xiao." Liu Yue's tone was full of dissatisfaction towards Ji Xiao and concern for Wei Qingyu. "People like her, who are accustomed to being arrogant and domineering, don't know how much mental energy they will drain from you. It won't be good if your grades decline because of her.

Listening to this, Wei Qingyu pursed her lips lightly.

She realized that she had indeed been a bit impulsive and rude just now.

But Wei Qingyu couldn't understand it herself. The moment she heard Liu Yue's voice, she anticipated that there would be another Omega at home in the future, she couldn't restrain her impulse and stood up immediately.

It was like the territorial awareness that only Alphas had.

But she was clearly an Omega…

"Ah, Sister Xiao, let me taste yours!"

"No! Can't you drink yours?!"

"Yours looks tastier!

….

Hasty footsteps and laughter echoed from the first-floor corridor, interrupting Wei Qingyu's thoughts.

Two pairs of eyes unconsciously turned towards the rarely visited first-floor corridor.

Ji Xiao, Qi Qi, and Fang Yiming each held a cup of milk tea, walking and playing around while sipping.

The small courtyard framed by a small square was bathed in the warm sunlight, with the central ginkgo tree casting a golden hue upon them.

The girls wore carefree smiles on their faces, the sunlight adorning their high ponytails.

The scorching sun, accompanied by the aroma of peach brandy, burned Wei Qingyu's throat and eyes.

Liu Yue was quite displeased with Ji Xiao's behavior, saying, "Look at that, they're supposed to be having self-study, yet they're skipping class again. Such students are truly the most headache-inducing, especially that one in the experimental class, showing no sense of urgency at all."

With that, Liu Yue came up with an excuse for Wei Qingyu, "How about this, I'll have Ji Ning tutor Ji Xiao instead. And externally, we'll say you need to prepare for next semester's biology competition, so you don't have much time."

Upon hearing Liu Yue's words, a pang of unease gripped Wei Qingyu's heart, and the scene behind the girl in her line of sight turned into the small auditorium.

Just as Wei Qingyu followed Liu Yue away from the platform, she inexplicably looked in Ji Xiao's direction.

In the dim audience seats, a pair of anxious and lost golden-orange eyes suddenly appeared in her line of sight.

It was as if a dog, afraid of being separated from its master who made a promise, would be taken away by someone else.

In an instant, Wei Qingyu's heart softened.

She pursed her lips and said, "Auntie Liu Yue, let's forget about it."

"Forget about it?" Liu Yue was puzzled by Wei Qingyu's decision.

"Well... Ji Xiao and I are living together now, so it's convenient for tutoring and won't take up much of my time," Wei Qingyu explained.

Then, she thought for a moment and came up with an even more reasonable excuse. "Most importantly, Auntie Liu Yue, I don't want other classmates to know that I'm living with Ji Xiao now."

Liu Yue understood Wei Qingyu's concerns.

Indeed, it was better not to let more irrelevant people know about the situation of an underage Omega living with another Alpha.

"Alright, let's leave it at that," Liu Yue compromised with a nod, then added, "If that little troublemaker bullies you or gives you a hard time, come find me. Auntie can provide her with one-on-one doorstep tutoring."

With that, Liu Yue tapped her knuckles twice.

A powerful and intimidating creak-crack sound echoed in the quiet corridor.

The school's clock tower turned heavily, and the pure black minute hand moved from the Roman numeral "X" to "XII."

Wei Qingyu chatted with Liu Yue about the events of the past six months, and just as the bell for the end of class rang, she returned to her classroom.

The classroom was no longer quiet, but bustling like any other parallel class.

Wei Qingyu entered the classroom through the back door, and before she had taken two steps, she was called out by a voice.

"Wei Qingyu."

Ji Xiao sat at her own seat, mysteriously beckoning Wei Qingyu to come over.

Wei Qingyu was somewhat puzzled, and a rare trace of wariness appeared in her turquoise eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, she walked over.

However, to Wei Qingyu's surprise, Ji Xiao produced a cup of pink milk tea from behind.

"Ding ding! It's the new product from the milk tea shop at the school gate, Peach Snow Cap Milk Tea for you."

The girl's eyes sparkled with starlight, instantly illuminating Wei Qingyu's face.

A hint of surprise appeared on her normally calm face, and she said in astonishment, "For me?"

"Yes. Thank you for choosing to help me just now," Ji Xiao said as she placed the milk tea into Wei Qingyu's hands.

She didn't know what Wei Qingyu liked, but since Wei Qingyu didn't like cupcakes, she decided to give her a cup of milk tea instead.

Sweet and warm, it was simply the perfect match for an autumn day.

The cup of Peach Snow Cap Milk Tea that Ji Xiao ordered was still warm, clinging to the palm of the girl's hand and forming a small patch of moisture where it met the cold air.

The scent of peach drifted along with the steam from the milk tea, landing on Wei Qingyu's tongue and making her heart beat a little faster in her chest.

It was a strange feeling.

So strange that Wei Qingyu couldn't accurately describe it with any single word.

Seeing Wei Qingyu's prolonged lack of response, Ji Xiao couldn't help feeling uneasy.

She looked at the expressionless girl in front of her and tentatively asked about the purpose of buying her the milk tea. "You... haven't changed your mind, have you?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyu discreetly recovered from her distraction.

She glanced at Ji Xiao and the milk tea in front of her and said, "No. I will tutor you."

With that, Wei Qingyu took the milk tea back to her seat.

The classroom was still bustling with noisy students, but amidst the chaos, Wei Qingyu remained uniquely calm.

Ji Xiao watched as Wei Qingyu sat down, and in her golden-orange eyes, there was a joy that she hadn't even noticed herself.

The next day, the faint light of dawn fell upon the evergreen bushes, adorned with dewdrops, and filled with the freshness of an autumn morning.

Ji Xiao emerged from her room with disheveled hair, intending to greet Wei Qingyu, who was already seated in the dining room as usual, only to find her absence.

"Where's Wei Qingyu?" Ji Xiao asked the busy housekeeper in the kitchen.

"Miss Wei left early this morning," the housekeeper replied. "Don't worry, Miss, I packed a sandwich and warmed milk in her bag today."

"Oh... you're smart." Ji Xiao looked somewhat forlornly at the window behind her, murmuring softly, "Why leave so early? It's not even the end of term yet?"

A flock of sparrows flew across the azure sky, chirping noisily as they landed in the courtyard of the school building.

In the quiet corridors of the school, a few students had already arrived early and entered their classrooms, and the lights in the experimental class were now lit.

The student responsible for opening the door for the experimental class set down their backpack took their vocabulary book and water bottle, and headed towards the water room.

At this moment, a girl stealthily entered the empty classroom of the experimental class.

With practiced ease, the girl made her way to Ji Xiao's seat and took out a box of mangoes from her backpack, placing it on the note Ji Xiao had deliberately left for her.

Her slender fingers carefully adjusted the butterfly bow that had been slightly flattened on the way.

‘thunk!’

Suddenly, the sound of someone stepping on the iron door frame reverberated through the air.

The girl's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked up towards the back door.

The morning light bathed the corridor in a golden glow, outlining the graceful figure of the girl.

Expressionless, Wei Qingyu stood at the back door of the classroom, her backpack slung over her shoulders.

Author's Note:

Darlings, don't give the pigeon negative points, it will lower the article's score. Let's talk nicely, pretty please! 

On this Qixi Festival*, are you willing to make the lonely and bald pigeon sad? QAQ

*Chinese Valentine's Day or Double 7th, is celebrated on the 7th day of the 7th Lunar Month (around August in Gregorian)