Chapter 60: It's Not As Good As The Peach Snow Cap You Bought Me Last Semester

Source: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5896087
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

The last note of the song playing on the distant stage faded, and there were still thirty minutes until the school's anniversary art performance began.  

Students entered the auditorium one after another, adding a touch of noisy chaos to the scene. No one noticed that Wei Qingyu, who had been preparing backstage moments ago, bypassed Qiao Ni and nonchalantly sat down beside Ji Xiao.  

The mint brushed against the girl's calves as her skirt swayed, stirring a tingling sensation.  

Ji Xiao glanced in slight surprise at Wei Qingyu, who was sitting beside her, but the girl's expression remained calm as if she had only helped her out in passing.  

In the dim light, that lingering sense of unease surfaced in Qiao Ni's heart once more.  

She looked at Ji Xiao's left wrist, which had clearly already removed the little peach basket. The last drop of hope squeezed from her heart just now fell to the dim ground, shattering silently.

In the small space, an eerie silence filled the air, leaving Ji Xiao momentarily unsure how to resolve the situation.  

Since sitting down, Wei Qingyu had not spoken again. Her cherry-pink lips held a straw as she sipped nonchalantly.  

Qiao Ni, on the other hand, stood to the side with her fingers clutching the fruit platter inside her backpack. Her feet felt as though they were nailed to the steps, unable to move up or down.  

"Didn’t I tell you to wait for me at the door?"  

A familiar and gentle voice came from behind the three of them, breaking Qiao Ni’s awkwardness.

The light from the doorway shone on the newcomer, outlining a graceful figure.  

Qi Qi walked over leisurely, carrying two cups of milk tea.  

"I bought you a succulent grape cheese milk tea."  

As she spoke, Qi Qi placed the fruit tea, still covered in cold condensation, on top of Qiao Ni's head. "Come on, I just asked—someone in our class took leave, so you’ll sit with me later."  

After finishing her words, Qi Qi didn’t encounter the resistance she had expected from Qiao Ni.  

The young girl quietly took the fruit tea off her head, nodded, and followed Qi Qi toward their class seating area.  

The two walked together in an almost overly silent manner.

Qiao Ni looked at the two shadows on the ground and awkwardly asked, "Hey, is Ji Xiao together with Wei Qingyu?"  

Hearing this, Qi Qi tilted her head slightly and asked, "What made you think that?"  

Qiao Ni rubbed the cold milk tea in her palm and said dejectedly, "It just feels like it..."  

"I thought I was mistaken last semester, but just now, when I saw them standing together, I still felt like they matched so well."  

"Do you like Ji Xiao a lot?" Qi Qi asked.  

Her seaweed-like long hair cast shadows over her cheeks, making her expression unreadable.  

Qiao Ni thought for a moment after hearing the question. Her small head, still holding the straw in her mouth, gently shook.  

The sourness of the out-of-season grapes bloomed on her tongue, giving her voice a hint of bitterness. "I think I probably don’t like her anymore."

"I was just watching her sit there again today and thought about whether I should try approaching her one more time. Maybe it’s just a matter of unwillingness, unwilling to admit that the first Alpha I liked after my differentiation only existed in my heart for two or three short months before I was forced to give up."  

"Ai." Qiao Ni let out a sigh, but the expression on her face no longer carried the gloom she had last year when she saw Ji Xiao and Wei Qingyu wearing the same little peach baskets from across the street. "When will I meet someone who likes me?"  

"Don’t be sad. There are Alphas who like you, this Omega, and there are also Alphas who have been forced to give up liking you," Qi Qi said as she raised her hand to ruffle Qiao Ni’s hair. Her eyes were filled with a warmth she never showed to others.  

With her hair completely tousled by Qi Qi, Qiao Ni raised her head to look at her. "Really?"  

Qi Qi nodded as she looked at her. "Really."  

Perhaps truly comforted by Qi Qi’s words, even the sound of Qiao Ni drinking her fruit tea became much lighter and more cheerful.  

Her bright, sparkling eyes were filled with the innocent, hopeful stirrings of a young girl’s budding heart.

Suddenly, ill-adjusted lights flashed across Qiao Ni's eyes, and that conviction turned into doubt at this moment.

She looked up at Qi Qi, with a look of anger in her eyes: "Are you lying to me again? If someone really likes me, how could I not know it?"

"How do you know?" Qi Qi smiled vaguely at Qiao Ni after hearing this, "You hold your head high and always only look far away."

That shallow smile faced the light of the stage behind her, like a rose blooming proudly in a colorful flower field.

It was so breathtakingly beautiful that one couldn’t look away to admire any other bouquet.

Qiao Ni's pupils trembled slightly as she looked at Qi Qi, her gaze momentarily dazed.  

It felt as though something deeply buried in her heart had made a crisp sound. A flush of heat surged onto the young girl’s face.

She held the succulent grape tea in her hands without speaking and went straight to the seat allocated to Qi Qi's class.  

Her heart thumped wildly, just like that night long ago when she ran out from home and sat on the swing set with Qi Qi.

….

More and more students entered, and the bustling crowd quickly swallowed up the figures of Qiao Ni and Qi Qi.  

Ji Xiao looked at the disappearing back of Qi Qi and then withdrew her gaze.  

Wei Qingyu, still with a calm expression, was focused on the speech she would soon give. Her upright posture exuded an otherworldly, aloof aura.

It's just that this otherworldly fairy, who seemed untouched by the mundane world, was holding a cup of pink milk tea.  

Her freshly painted lips gently rested on the white straw, which, while crystal clear, still hinted at the softness pressed by the straw.  

It was as if a soft pink had been brushed across a glacier floating in the deep blue abyss.  

Although it seemed a bit out of place, Ji Xiao still found it strangely fitting.

Ji Xiao stole a glance and then took the initiative to bring up a topic, "Aren’t you supposed to be rehearsing? How come you’re back so soon? The show’s about to start. Don’t you need to wait backstage?"  

The straw that the girl had in her mouth was gently pulled out. Wei Qingyu, upon hearing this, first raised her head and silently looked at Ji Xiao.  

She wouldn’t tell Ji Xiao that just as she was about to step on stage and go through the motions, she saw Qiao Ni coming.  

At first, Wei Qingyu simply stayed still, quietly watching.  

But when that familiar box appeared, she immediately grabbed the bag she had left backstage, slipped the script into her pocket, and walked over.

The young girl secretly hid her possessiveness in her heart and said faintly, "The final rehearsal is just a formality. My part is already over."

Wei Qingyu glanced at the person beside her and retorted, "Don't you... welcome me coming over?"

Then she remembered that Ji Xiao had almost agreed to Qiao Ni's request earlier, so she added, "Or is it that I ruined your good plans?"

Hearing this, Ji Xiao quickly shook her head. "How could that be?"

I wished for you to sit next to me.

Heaven knows how happy I was when I saw you.

But Ji Xiao did not dare to say these words to Wei Qingyu.

She could only hide them secretly in her heart and take them out to savor them when no one was around.

Thinking this, Ji Xiao looked at the milk tea that Wei Qingyu had drunk halfway through and changed the topic, asking, "Is the milk tea I bought for you this time good?"

Wei Qingyu nodded. "It's good."

Then she looked at the strawberry pulp hanging on the inside of the cup, thought of the first cup of milk tea Ji Xiao had bought her, and added, "But... it's not as good as the peach snow cap you bought me last semester. The peach pulp in that one was very fresh and in large chunks. It tasted sweet."

Source: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=5896087
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.

The young girl's voice was calm and serious as if she was simply giving an objective evaluation of the two milk teas.

But as Ji Xiao listened from the side, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, as if the speaker had no intention but the listener took it to heart.

Her pheromone scent was that of peach brandy, and knowing this, Wei Qingyu still mentioned liking the peach snow cap in front of her.

Ji Xiao felt that Wei Qingyu's words were definitely not meant to flirt with her, yet her heart still inexplicably started beating faster.

This was not the first time Ji Xiao had shown such an expression.

Wei Qingyu watched from the side, clearly remembering the hot pot gathering after the last exam. When she commented on Ji Xiao's pheromone scent, Ji Xiao also showed a shy and embarrassed expression.

The young girl slightly lowered her gaze, her face flushed with the pinkness of being teased by words.

Her fair and translucent skin was like the juiciest, most beloved peach of summer.

In the dim audience seats, Wei Qingyu's eyes curved slightly, and her turquoise eyes were filled with a cunning smile.

She tilted her body toward Ji Xiao, about to say something to her, when she was interrupted by someone.

The junior who had bumped into them when entering appeared in front of them again. She cautiously said to Wei Qingyu, "Senior Qingyu, the performance is about to start. The teacher asked us to go backstage and prepare."

"Now?" Wei Qingyu felt a bit disappointed.

The junior sensed the invisible pressure from Wei Qingyu, the S-level Omega, and helplessly nodded, saying, "Yes... actually, it was four minutes ago. The teacher already notified the group, and I also sent you a message. You just didn’t see it because you were busy..."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyu could no longer say anything. She simply said "Okay" and put down her milk tea, and stood up.

Just as she was about to walk out of the aisle in the audience, she turned back to glance at Ji Xiao and softly said, "I’m leaving now."

"Mm." Ji Xiao nodded. "Don’t be nervous."

Hearing this, Wei Qingyu also nodded at Ji Xiao, holding the script in her hand as she walked toward the stage with the junior.

But before she had even stepped down two stairs, Wei Qingyu was stopped by a call from behind.

"By the way, Wei Qingyu." Ji Xiao called out, as if there was something important, standing up from her seat.

Wei Qingyu didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt a bit of anticipation in her heart toward Ji Xiao’s action. She feigned calm and asked, "What’s wrong?"

"Here."

A casual tone escaped from Ji Xiao’s throat, and a small object, sparkling with light, traced a beautiful curve through the air as it followed her outstretched hand.

Wei Qingyu, exceptionally skilled, reached out and caught the small object.

A candy with familiar packaging once again appeared in her hand in the same manner.

Ji Xiao lifted her chin, pretending to be casual as she instructed, "Don’t embarrass me up there. If you get nervous, eat one. It’s lemon-flavored."

Wei Qingyu listened to this familiar awkward tone, nodded at Ji Xiao, and said, "Got it. Thank you."

She then clenched the candy in her hand and turned to follow the junior out.

The surroundings were filled with the noisy sound of conversations, yet Wei Qingyu walked alongside the junior in a rare silence.

It wasn’t until they reached backstage that the junior, seeing Wei Qingyu about to enter the resting room, cautiously looked up at her and asked, "Senior... don’t you think Senior Ji Xiao is so tsundere?"

Wei Qingyu, hearing this, let out a vague smile from her turquoise eyes. "Even you noticed?"

Although the young girl was the most aloof and distant in the hearts of those who knew her, her plain little face now carried a mischievous, lively look.

The bright white light between the junior and Wei Qingyu illuminated their faces, and without the need for pheromone temptation, it instantly made this newly differentiated Alpha lose her composure.

….

Not long after Wei Qingyu left, students from the Discipline Committee entered, accompanied by several teachers.

As the school's anniversary cultural performance entered its final countdown, the students, seeing the red armbands on the Discipline Committee members' arms, all fell silent, no longer daring to speak loudly.

The stage lights lit up under the watchful eyes of the crowd. After the heartfelt opening speeches from two student hosts, the principal walked out.

However, the school's anniversary speech was lengthy and tedious, which immediately cooled the atmosphere that had been lively just moments ago.

The students leaned lazily on each other’s shoulders, secretly playing on their phones to avoid the eyes of the Discipline Committee, waiting for the speech segment to pass.

But unexpectedly, before the speech segment had even finished, all of their attention was drawn to a young girl.

Wei Qingyu, holding a black folder with her speech inside, walked gracefully and calmly up from the right side of the stage.

The girl’s long, proportionate legs were barely visible beneath her swaying skirt, and her delicate, slender ankles shone with a cold white, fine texture.

As soon as she stood in front of the small podium, the light fell on her fair, serene face, perfectly embodying the natural beauty that needed no embellishment.

Seeing this, many students in the audience put down their phones and sat up straight, eagerly waiting for the first syllable to come from the girl.

All the eyes were focused on Wei Qingyu, but in her gaze, there was only Ji Xiao.

She glanced sideways at the girl sitting in the crowd, and as she unfolded the speech, a sparkling stream of light appeared in her palm.

The candy Ji Xiao had given her had been held tightly in Wei Qingyu's palm since she began preparing to step onto the stage.

Although it was a rather childish act, Wei Qingyu felt as if she had suddenly gained a great deal of strength.

After adjusting the microphone in front of her, Wei Qingyu, under everyone's gaze, began her speech with calm composure: "Teachers, students, hello..."

As soon as her cool, serene voice rang out, the audience burst into a series of exclamations and murmurs.

The suppressed voices surrounded Ji Xiao from all directions, and for a moment, her ears were filled with the name "Wei Qingyu."

"Damn... Who is this? Pretty little sister, I’m in love."

"You don't know her? She's Wei Qingyu from the second-year experimental class."

"Isn't she the one whose family had that issue recently?"

"Yeah, yeah, that's her, that's her."

"But now it seems she's not as miserable as the rumors say, still this beautiful. She even broke the school record in the 1500 meters at the last sports meet."

"That was her!"

"Wow, our baby! Are you dumb or something? You don’t know anything."

"Hmph. But if such a beautiful and talented person had become an Alpha back then, that would’ve been great."

"Haha, you're over here lamenting she's not an Alpha, while over there, the Alphas are lamenting that such a beautiful person is thankfully an Omega."

"Damn it, I’m so envious."

"Actually, if you ask me, double O would be fine too. As long as the younger sister is willing, elder sister can do anything!"

"Right! Right!"

….

Listening to the whispers of a few senior girls from the third year behind her, Ji Xiao let out a sneer tinged with disdain. 

Sorry, but Wei Qingyu is definitely not interested in you all.

A sip of milk tea with a hint of mint slid down Ji Xiao's throat, bringing her a sense of satisfaction known only to herself. 

The feeling of knowing more than others, especially when everyone else was just finding out, gave Ji Xiao a sense of pride.

Looking at Wei Qingyu standing on the stage, shining brightly, Ji Xiao's heart trembled slightly.

As described in the original text, no matter the situation, as long as she stood on the stage, she would always be the center of attention.

She would always make people's hearts race.

At that moment, Ji Xiao's phone, which had been resting on her lap, vibrated.

Qi Qi had sent several photos from the event in their group chat: [[Image][Image][Image][Image]]

[Qi Qi: Inviting everyone to appreciate Miss Qingyu's beauty up close.]

[Fang Yiming: Oh, nice. Did you borrow a DSLR for this?]

[Qi Qi: Of course, I borrowed it from a senior in the art stream from the third year.]

[Qi Qi: Didn't you just complain about my photography skills? How about now? @Your Universe's Invincible Ji Cutie.]

Ji Xiao looked at Qi Qi's almost accusatory tone and silently scrolled through the photos Qi Qi had sent earlier.

It had to be said, that with the help of the DSLR, Qi Qi's already good composition and shooting skills were enhanced.

Wei Qingyu was just standing there delivering the school anniversary speech, yet Qi Qi managed to capture her in a way that made her look like a big star at a press conference.

The long black hair poured down like a waterfall, and the superior and exquisite facial features emerged.

Especially those turquoise eyes were as clear as pool water. The light shining down from above seemed to fall into her eyes as if thousands of stars had fallen into them.

The girl's slender body is still as straight as a bamboo even if she has been occupied for more than half an hour. Her overall style is exactly the same as the well-bred chaebol* lady depicted in Korean dramas.

*SK’s family-owned conglomerates

Ji Xiao’s eyes slightly widened as she stared at the screen. She gently tapped on the picture, the crisp sound of the screen echoing with each tap.

Wei Qingyu’s delicate face was enlarged on the phone screen. The girl’s lips appeared clearly in Ji Xiao’s line of sight.

The faint cherry pink on her cold, fair skin didn’t look tacky at all. 

The light reflecting off her lip’s shine made it look so glossy and inviting, one couldn’t help but feel it was soft and tempting. 

After staring for a moment, Ji Xiao felt her mouth go dry.

The dim lighting helped conceal the faint blush on her cheeks. She hurriedly grabbed the milk tea with one hand and swiped the picture away with the other.

However, before Ji Xiao could take a sip of her milk tea, her phone vibrated again.

Seeing that Ji Xiao hadn’t replied, Qi Qi impatiently tagged her in the group chat: [Sister Xiao, say something, Sister Xiao? @Your Universe's Invincible Ji Cutie]

After seeing the picture earlier and feeling her face flush, Ji Xiao couldn’t find any fault to pick with Qi Qi now. 

She tried to calm herself down and typed two words with one hand on the screen: [Good looking.]

Qi Qi was slightly dissatisfied, and replied: [What’s good looking? You have to be clear. Is it my photography that’s good?]

Ji Xiao smiled at Qi Qi’s question and retorted: [Of course, it’s because our Qingyu is beautiful!]

Hearing this, Qi Qi sent a crying cat emoji and said: [Does that mean none of it is because of my photography skills? Wuwuwu...]

Ji Xiao had just made a joke earlier, but now she seriously commented: [Of course, there is! Our Qi Qi's contribution cannot be overlooked. It is precisely because your skills are good that such atmospheric photos could be taken.]

Fang Yiming chimed in at this moment, teasing: [Sister Xiao, truly a master of balance!]

….

After the speech ended, the cultural performance officially began. The stage showcased a variety of spectacular acts, while Ji Xiao and her friends were chatting enthusiastically in their group chat.

Following Liu Yue's instructions, Wei Qingyu went to the backstage conference room to rest. As soon as she restarted her phone, she saw their four-person group chat marked with a red circle and a "99+" message notification. 

Ji Xiao and the other two were, as usual, discussing something at an incredibly fast pace. The rapidly increasing unread message count in the corner was dizzying to look at.

However, Wei Qingyu, who was already accustomed to this interaction pattern, did not find the flurry of messages annoying. On the contrary, she sometimes silently enjoyed watching the conversation unfold.

This time, however, her plan to stay silent and observe failed. Instead, it ignited a fire in her once calm and tranquil heart.

The three of them had been enthusiastically discussing one topic from start to finish—her speech on stage earlier. 

The glowing screen reflected in Wei Qingyu's turquoise eyes, the clear depths of which held a single chat message in full clarity.

——[Your Universe's Invincible Ji Cutie: Of course, it’s because our Qingyu is beautiful.]

Our...  

She actually placed herself together with her, using the word "our" to frame them as one.  

Wei Qingyu tried to persuade herself that Ji Xiao had just said it casually, that the words simply came naturally in the flow of the conversation. However, the pounding of her heart became more intense, beyond her control.  

Wei Qingyu never imagined that a single phrase or choice of words from someone could make her blush and her heart race to such an extent.

That simple sentence was etched into her heart as she carried the sweetness of the candy Ji Xiao had given her today.  

Almost at the same moment, Ji Xiao caught a faint whiff of mint in the air. She quickly looked up but found nothing.  

Just as she was puzzled by her own reaction, her phone vibrated for a long moment.  

[Wei Qingyu: I’ve stepped off the stage.]

Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu's message and suddenly felt a bit flustered. Nervously typing, she made a couple of typos: [Do you need to come fat here?]  

Wei Qingyu saw Ji Xiao's mistake and could almost picture her hurriedly typing with one hand to reply.  

A soft smile appeared at the corners of Wei Qingyu's eyes as she mimicked Ji Xiao's phrasing: [I’ll come fat in a bit.]  

Ji Xiao's cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn’t help finding Wei Qingyu on the other side of the screen amusing. She replied: [You did amazing just now. I heard so many people around me praising you.]  

Wei Qingyu smiled faintly at this and asked Ji Xiao with a hint of anticipation: [What about you?]  

"Me?”

Ji Xiao was a bit surprised that Wei Qingyu tossed this question to her.  

The words she'd used earlier in the group chat to praise Wei Qingyu suddenly escaped her mind. She licked her slightly dry lips and hesitated, typing her reply slowly: [I also think you did pretty well.]  

After sending it, Ji Xiao felt it lacked impact, so she added: [You were amazing.]  

When the message arrived, Wei Qingyu felt as if a genuine and unpretentious smile from a young girl had bloomed before her.  

The taste of peach brandy seemed to settle on Wei Qingyu's heart at that moment. Looking at Ji Xiao's two messages, she took the initiative to invite her: [Do you want to come backstage later? I’ll show you around.]

Ji Xiao saw the message and instantly found the long-awaited stage performances dull in comparison. She nodded eagerly and replied: [Sure, I’ll come find you right away.]  

Wei Qingyu smiled faintly and said: [Alright, enter from the back door of the hall; it’s closer, and there’s no inspection from the discipline committee there.]  

[I'm in the second meeting room on the left from the entrance on this side.]  

“Qingyu, you came early.”  

At that moment, Liu Yue’s crisp voice came from behind Wei Qingyu, unexpectedly interrupting her typing.  

Hearing Liu Yue's words, Wei Qingyu quickly sent the message in secret and then asked casually, "Aunt Liu Yue, is there something you need me here for?"

"It’s not a personal matter. Our school’s partner institution, Hualan Private High School, just sent some second-year students to join our school celebration. Their visit was sudden, and the principal and I thought it would be best for you to represent us for this friendly exchange. What do you think?"  

"Sure," Wei Qingyu agreed without much surprise. She was used to being assigned such tasks.  

However, she had just made plans with Ji Xiao and didn’t want to break her promise. She asked, "But do we need to go there now?"  

"No need. The vice principal has already brought them over."  

As Liu Yue spoke, the door within Wei Qingyu’s line of sight was pushed open from the outside.

The sound of leather shoes striking the tiled floor echoed coldly and crisply.  

A group of students dressed in Western-style uniforms, even more refined than those of the Affiliated High School school, walked in.  

Wei Qingyu watched the visiting group, her hand at her side unconsciously tightening slightly.  

Leading the group was Jin Nanfeng, appearing squarely at the center of her gaze.  

No wonder she had found the school’s name familiar earlier.  

It turned out to be the very school Jin Nanfeng attended.  

"This is Teacher Zhao from Hualan Private High School, along with the student representatives," Liu Yue introduced.

"We just listened to student Wei Qingyu's speech and gained a lot from it. Your school truly lives up to its reputation as a prestigious institution with a sixty-year history," Teacher Zhao said politely, extending a hand toward Wei Qingyu.  

Wei Qingyu also extended her hand courteously and replied, "Teacher Zhao, you're too kind."  

"Let me make some introductions," Teacher Zhao continued, gesturing to Jin Nanfeng, who stood at the very front.  

"This is Jin Nanfeng, one of our top students and the gold medalist in the youth division of this year's Science and Technology Innovation Competition."  

"Hello, I am Jin Nanfeng," Jin Nanfeng said with a slight nod, politely extending a hand toward Wei Qingyu.

Although Wei Qingyu did not have much goodwill toward this person, she still had to follow social etiquette and extended her hand to Jin Nanfeng. "Hello, my name is Wei Qingyu."  

However, no one had anticipated that just as the girl’s slender, defined hand lightly touched Jin Nanfeng’s palm, the door was once again pushed open from the outside.  

Unaware of what was happening in the meeting room, Ji Xiao walked straight in.  

Before she could figure out what was going on, the first thing her eyes landed on was Wei Qingyu’s hand clasped with Jin Nanfeng’s.

Author's Note:

Two in one, happy weekend everyone!