Chapter 81: It Was At This Moment She Realized She Really Likes Her, Likes Her So Much
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.
Wei Qingyu broke through the hallway's light, half her body bursting into Ji Xiao's world.
After that sudden confession, she choked a bit, calmed her rush, then gathered courage, and went on, "The day we came back from the water park, I said I'd tell you something after your birthday. That includes, I like you."
"I like you so much, so much."
I like you so much, I can't bear to lose you again.
Like you so much, I'm willing to be the first to take this step.
Wei Qingyu looked at Ji Xiao's dim, lowered eyes, voice full of stubbornness, "I don't care what they will say about me, I just want to be there when the person I like needs me most."
"To stay with you."
Wei Qingyu paused, eyes sincere, looking at Ji Xiao, "And you, didn't you say on your birthday, you had something to tell me?"
The girl's voice was soft, laced with gentleness, like it was full of hope for their future.
But Ji Xiao was the one who pushed that beautiful future down.
Her lips trembled slightly, struggling to say, "Wei Qingyu, you can't like me."
Ji Xiao stood outside the game of fate, saw everyone's ending, and today understood the cost of forcing the plot to change.
She doesn't know what punishment the plot gave the heroine for changing its course, but she didn't dare take the risk.
The Grim Reaper stood by her side, its sharp blade gleaming cold under the moonlight.
Each glint reminded her of the month of torment Qi Qi suffered before death.
That one simple sentence, six words, cut through Wei Qingyu's eardrums like a knife.
She couldn't believe her ears, her eyes full of shock.
"Ji Xiao..."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Ji Xiao said, gripping the doorknob tighter.
She kept her gaze down, avoiding Wei Qingyu's eyes, afraid she would soften.
Wei Qingyu felt something carved out of her heart, pain making her hands shake.
The unspoken warmth these days wasn't fake, her and Ji Xiao's pheromones matched perfectly, that was real too.
All the signs pointed to Ji Xiao liking her, so how could it now be dislike?
Wei Qingyu gripped the door tightly, eyes rimmed with red, "Ji Xiao, do you swear, what you planned to tell me that night, today, was this?"
Though Ji Xiao looked down, she felt the unrest from Wei Qingyu, always so calm.
The light made her shadow small, Ji Xiao gave in to fate, nodding against her heart, "Yes."
But Wei Qingyu is still unwilling to believe it.
She stared hard at Ji Xiao's side face, that dim girl's face covered with lies.
She didn't even dare look at her once, so why should she believe the answer thrown at her.
Wei Qingyu asked again, "Then look in my eyes and tell me again."
The air fell silent, so quiet only their uneven breaths remained.
Each step Ji Xiao took back, Wei Qingyu pressed forward.
She looked around, lost, but found Wei Qingyu had cornered her with no escape.
The light made Ji Xiao's shadow small, like it took great effort to lift her head.
Wei Qingyu's red-rimmed eyes crashed into her gaze.
The word "yes" hooked and stuck in Ji Xiao's throat, each breath a piercing pain.
After a long struggle, Ji Xiao couldn't look into Wei Qingyu's eyes and give that answer.
Only then she realized, she really likes her, likes her so much.
Likes her so much, just one sad, fragile look could crumble her entire fortress.
"It's late, go back to sleep," Ji Xiao said evasively, exerting a little force to close the door.
But Wei Qingyu wouldn't allow it.
She braced her arm on the door, refusing to let go, and pressed, "Ji Xiao! Don't run away, answer me!"
Dark clouds drifted heavy on the black sky, hiding moonlight and stars.
The two at the door, one Omega, one Alpha, were stuck in a deadlock.
Ji Xiao gripped the doorknob tight, veins bulging on her skin, but she didn’t push.
She couldn’t use any force on Wei Qingyu, like the original text said.
Instead, her struggling look made Ji Xiao feel unwilling pity.
Finally, Ji Xiao gave up.
She let go, shouting downstairs like venting all her anger, “Aunt Wu!”
But her voice hit soft cotton, no reply in the quiet hallway.
Ji Xiao, not giving up, yelled louder, “Aunt Wu!!!”
This time, quick footsteps echoed from the stairs.
A shadow jumped into view, then Aunt Wu rushed over, stumbling, “Miss… what… what’s wrong?”
Hearing Aunt Wu’s gasping breath, Ji Xiao pointed at Wei Qingyu calmly, “Take her to her room.”
She couldn’t bear to force her, so she asked someone else to take her back.
“Yes, Miss,” Aunt Wu said, confused, but seeing the heavy mood between them, she obeyed and took Wei Qingyu’s arm, “Miss Wei, it’s late, you’ve had a long day, let’s go rest.”
“Ji Xiao!” Wei Qingyu called, the hole in her heart growing bigger.
Her eyes red, tears spilled from them.
Round, clear tears crossed her pale face, leaving a cruel, shining trail, cutting deep into Ji Xiao’s heart.
She pretended to be annoyed, looked away, forced a cold, low voice, “If you’re not tired, I am. I’m going to sleep.”
The light mixing hallway and room was cut off, leaving only a door with a cartoon pig smiling at Wei Qingyu.
Ji Xiao leaned on the door, sliding slowly to the floor.
Big tears rolled unstoppable from her eyes, melting at her lips.
Each drop was bitter.
On this night when she needed Wei Qingyu most, Wei Qingyu said she liked her.
And at this moment, she chose to refuse.
Outside, the camphor tree rustled in the night wind, a hoarse, trembling sigh rising in the quiet room.
Ji Xiao leaned back on the door, no matter how much warm yellow light fell on her golden-orange eyes, they stayed dim, like still water.
Wei Qingyu, my luck’s never been good.
I made a bet against fate, but I lost, so I have to give you back.
….
Qi Qi’s funeral was held on a clear August day, the sky blue as if welcoming her.
Neatly trimmed green grass held mourners, red roses blooming by the black tombstone.
This wild rose girl slept forever in her favorite sea of roses.
Black weighed the wind low, everyone lost in deep sorrow.
Qi Qi’s mom, held by Qiao Ni’s mom, stood by the tombstone, white strands in her black hair showing silent weariness.
Qiao Ni looked at Qi Qi’s black-and-white photo, unstoppable tears falling fast.
Ji Xiao stood at the crowd’s back, face dim.
Then a girl in black clothes hurried into view, Ji Xiao’s blank look finally shifted a bit.
Fang Yiming, dusty from travel, rushed up, “Sister Xiao, I’m late.”
Her voice carried a sob, red eyes showing she had already cried.
Ji Xiao shook her head, hugging Fang Yiming tightly.
The same sadness, only more.
After the hug, Fang Yiming looked at Qi Qi’s tombstone, choking through clenched teeth, “If I knew this would happen, I would never have gone home, I should’ve stayed here.”
Despair dressed as hope fooled everyone, thinking this was just a normal summer, no one expecting death to strike Qi Qi.
Ji Xiao stared blankly at Qi Qi’s photo.
Even in black and white, that girl still smiled smugly.
So smug, like she had step out from the woods next second, grinning at everyone, laughing, “You've all been fooled by me!”
“Yiming, why do things you care about always go wrong?” Ji Xiao asked, letting out a half-laughing breath.
Fang Yiming looked at Ji Xiao, seeing only gloom around her.
The bold, wild girl lost all her light somewhere along the way.
Fang Yiming patted Ji Xiao’s shoulder, comforting, “Sister Xiao, don’t be like this. Qingyu said you haven’t slept well for days. How can you go on? There’s a saying, right? Some people live, but they’re already dead. Some die, but they’re still alive. Don’t we say a person dies three times before it’s real? As long as we remember Qi Qi, she will live in our hearts.”
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.
“But Yiming, isn’t that too cruel?” Ji Xiao asked back.
“Dead is dead, gone forever. What does it matter if she's still living in my heart? Can she jump out of her urn now, shouting ‘I tricked you’ like before?”
“She won’t… she’s gone, Yiming.”
Ji Xiao looked up at Fang Yiming, a tear slipping from her eye.
Heavy wind blew, silencing even the cheerful Fang Yiming.
“What’s the point of her living in my heart? Every time I think of her, I’ll face this stone. What’s this dumb rock do? No matter how much I tell it my heart, Qi Qi won’t ever answer back.”
Mist covered Ji Xiao’s eyes, her voice choking again.
“Yiming, I couldn’t do anything, and I let her suffer so much. I should’ve known sooner, why didn’t I have any self-awareness…”
Fang Yiming heard Ji Xiao’s near self-loathing words, quickly shaking her head, “Sister Xiao, it’s not your fault. None of us knew this would happen.”
But the more others comforted her, the less Ji Xiao could forgive herself.
In her twenties, not a teen anymore, how could she be so blindly hopeful?
“You don’t get it,” Ji Xiao lowered her gaze, shaking her head, “I couldn’t do anything. I shouldn’t have gambled with Qi Qi’s life…”
Before finishing, a sharp pain hit Ji Xiao’s chest, bending her waist in agony.
The world ran by its harsh rules, not letting her spill any plot.
Sunlight shone, green lake water rippling.
Wei Qingyu stood nearby, watching, fingers tightening.
It sounded so spineless.
Even though Ji Xiao rejected her that night, she still came.
She still wanted to comfort Ji Xiao.
“Qingyu.”
As Wei Qingyu stepped forward, a man’s voice came from the nearby woods.
Chen Linji, wearing a dark hat, stood straight under a big evergreen tree.
