Chapter 93: Ji Xiao, I’m Eighteen
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 night grew increasingly quiet. Ji Xiao sat by Wei Qingyu’s bed, and in her mind kept echoing the sentence she suddenly remembered just now.
As if the world was reminding her, presenting her with this poignant and cruel statement.
In the original text, the death of the original owner was a source of great satisfaction for Wei Qingyu, as it was a great revenge.
If she too were to leave this world at the time set in the original text, what would that mean for her and Wei Qingyu?
Ji Xiao gazed at the sleeping Wei Qingyu with a deep look in her eyes.
She didn't know, and she didn't want to know.
Perhaps it was because she had already gone through a long period of being surrounded by death before, when Ji Xiao realized this, her mind was unusually calm.
She once talked about this with Wei Qingyu on that lonely bridge on Christmas Eve.
Wei Qingyu told her that life certainly has its length, but what's more important is how to broaden its scope, rather than being crushed by fate and hesitating to move forward.
She just doesn't know what she should do in the future, to safely spend time with Wei Qingyu at the edge of this rule.
The room was extremely quiet. Ji Xiao leaned back in her chair, smelling Wei Qingyu's cool mint scent, which carried a hint of alcohol. She picked up the thoughts she had on the way to the Thanksgiving party, and tried to sort out in her mind the scattered things that had happened in the past year or more.
The girl’s memory flew in this frozen winter. She didn’t know if she had matched the right piece of the puzzle. Ji Xiao’s heart suddenly hurt for no reason.
It was as if they had touched a nerve by violating the rules of the world and were being punished.
The world was angered and punished the girl.
But the more it was like this, the more Ji Xiao felt she had grabbed a thread that could be used to peek at the rules.
She sat upright in the chair, her eyes tightly closed, letting herself fall into the palace of memories.
What if the length of everyone's life was predetermined, what if changing the plot would bring punishment, what if the world’s rules unconditionally favored the main characters…
Finally, amidst unbearable twisting pain, Ji Xiao clutched her chest and abruptly opened her eyes.
Light shone into her eyes, and the excitement that belonged to an Alpha made her golden-orange eyes shine like stars.
She felt as if she had grasped the rules of the world—
The punishment will be imposed promptly after the attempt to change the plot takes place, without delay.
People can't change the plot, but they can become substitutes.
Plot points that benefit the protagonist cannot be changed, while plot points that harm the protagonist can be changed.
Just like Qi Qi coughing blood at the same time as announcing death.
In the storyline, Wei Qingyu is supposed to develop feelings for someone, but now it's her instead of Jin Nanfeng, so there's nothing between him and Wei Qingyu.
Jin Nanfeng was supposed to meet Wei Qingyu at last year’s post New Year banquet and develop feelings. But now the person he met was her, and he didn't develop any emotion called “love”, so the one who changed the plot suffered a car accident, lost one arm, and later at the school celebration the plot once again pushed Jin Nanfeng in front of Wei Qingyu.
As for whom Jin Nanfeng's feelings of "love" were directed, Ji Xiao, considering the current stagnant relationship between Wei Qingyu and Jin Nanfeng, had no idea.
Anyway, neither of them, nor she as a participant, suffered punishment. Maybe it was just a random passerby.
As for the last point, Ji Xiao got it from herself.
—From the beginning, she had unknowingly changed the original behavior logic of the character in the book. She didn't abuse Wei Qingyu, and didn't fully mark her, yet she hadn’t received any punishment from the plot.
Her guess was confirmed, and two soft laughs came from Ji Xiao in the quiet room.
A sigh, a joy.
The girl clutched her aching heart, and once again thought of Qi Qi, who was buried in that sea of roses.
People like herself and Qi Qi, who are on the fringes of the plot, are just floating dust in the world of the book, and whether they benefit or not is irrelevant to them.
A child who is not blessed by God can never have their destined death changed.
But this is already very good.
She thought that she came from another world and was just a drifter here. Fortunately, she had glimpsed some of the secrets of heaven today, which made her no longer feel anxious and uncertain.
Ji Xiao lowered her gaze and quietly looked at Wei Qingyu, who had fallen asleep on her side at some point.
That obedient little face was facing her side, quietly showing dependence on her scent, dependence on her.
Ji Xiao carefully tucked the blanket again behind Wei Qingyu’s back. Her finger accidentally brushed her cheek, full of endless gentleness.
She thought that in the future she must take the place of Jin Nanfeng in the original story and protect Wei Qingyu.
Protect her until the very end.
….
Perhaps because of the busy high school senior year, or perhaps because of studying other things, time passed especially fast.
The first heavy snow of the new year blanketed the entire city, making it exceptionally beautiful in its silvery white coat.
The afternoon sun filled the room with bright sunlight, and a hint of spring warmth fell on Ji Xiao's bare back.
She sat on the sofa in a black off-the-shoulder evening gown, as if waiting for someone, idly looking at her iPad.
Her long hair was loosely tied up at the back of her head, adorned with an exquisite gold palm leaf hair clip.
Sunlight and lamplight collided, intertwining on her face.
The vibrant red of her lips contrasted sharply with the whiteness of her skin, while a faint scent of brandy lingered on her neck, exuding desirable and unattainable Alpha charm.
Today is Wei Qingyu's eighteenth birthday banquet, and the person she is waiting for is upstairs changing clothes.
“Click, clack.”
The sound of high heels hitting the floor came. Ji Xiao quickly put down what she was holding and looked up at the second floor platform.
Wei Qingyu’s long hair was softly gathered. White pearls were hidden in her black hair, showing her delicate features.
A light, smoky purple tulle draped over her shoulders, the shimmering fabric softening the light and making her skin appear exceptionally white. A simple pearl necklace was all it took to perfectly showcase the beauty of her shoulders and neck.
The pearl embellishments on her waist and elbows matched the pearls in her hair and neck, making it look from afar as if a goddess had carelessly scattered pearls, pure and untouched.
Wei Qingyu, holding her skirt trailing behind her, looked nervously at Ji Xiao downstairs. "Is it okay?"
Ji Xiao felt that no words were accurate enough to describe her, so she could only nod vigorously and say with a smile, "Absolutely beautiful!"
The voice was clear and bright, making people feel relaxed.
Wei Qingyu slowly came down the stairs and stood next to Ji Xiao: "Let's go."
Ji Xiao nodded and went out with her.
Just as she was about to get in the car, she couldn't help but ask softly, “Do you want to look at it one last time?”
As soon as the words were spoken, the brief moment of ease between the two was broken, and a faint sadness slowly surfaced.
Wei Qingyu turning eighteen meant she became an adult. Ji Qingyun is no longer her guardian. She had to move out of the Ji family and return to the Wei family.
Ji Xiao and Wei Qingyu both knew that this was the safest and most appropriate choice for her.
Even if Wei Qingyu still wanted to live with Ji Xiao, it would give Ji Qingyun a handle to control them.
She can't be so selfish and disregard the entire team.
Wei Qingyu turned around and looked at the house again. It had only been two years since she first desperately wanted to escape, to now not wanting to leave.
“Miss Wei, how about taking a photo with Miss before leaving?!”Just as Wei Qingyu was about to leave, the maid next to her suddenly suggested.
Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyu glanced at Ji Xiao, then looked at the house behind her. With a sense of reluctance, she nodded and said, "Okay."
“Aunt Wu, I’ll trouble you.” Wei Qingyu said, handing her phone to Aunt Wu.
Aunt Wu was also reluctant to part. With red eyes, she took the phone Wei Qingyu handed to her.
She was the one who packed Wei Qingyu’s luggage before leaving.
She knew Wei Qingyu’s room had not been emptied and that she would come back, but thinking about not seeing her for a long time with no set end, she unexpectedly felt very reluctant to part.
The sunset burned the sky behind them red. The hems of their dresses fell onto the snow in the yard that had purposely not been cleared.
Without the awkwardness from last time at the water park, Ji Xiao and Wei Qingyu were much more relaxed in front of the camera.
“Three, two…”
Aunt Wu called out the countdown.
At the moment “one” left her mouth, Ji Xiao boldly reached out and held Wei Qingyu’s arm.
The girls’ slightly cool arms overlapped and pressed tightly together, bringing much warmth.
Ji Xiao did not know how she suddenly became this bold. Under her calm face was full nervousness.
The little peach baskets that had not appeared for a long time bumped into each other, and two equally uneasy hearts matched rhythm.
Wei Qingyu looked at the arm Ji Xiao had wrapped around hers and calmly accepted her unexplained closeness.
The window paper no one had pierced faintly stood between them, unclear and ambiguous, yet letting both clearly see each other’s faces.
Aunt Wu and the little maid smiled knowingly without saying it out loud, then raised the phone again.
“Okay, then three, two, one!”
The orange glow of the sunset framed Ji Xiao’s nervous stiffness, and the gentle smile on Wei Qingyu’s usually cold face.
But while this side was quietly filled with budding ambiguity, hidden currents moved on the other side.
….
As early as the banquet preparations, Chen Linji, representing the Wei family, and Ji Qingyun, representing the Ji family, were already secretly competing.
The better the venue Chen Linji picked, the more luxurious the decorations Ji Qingyun prepared for Wei Qingyu’s banquet hall.
On the surface, it was the Wei and Ji families working together. In reality, it was a competition.
Just as the banquet started, Chen Linji and Ji Qingyun stood on the left and right of Old Master Ding, a veteran figure in A City’s top upper-class circle.
Back then, when Wei Lindong founded Manqing, it was with the help of his father’s friend, Old Master Ding, that it got on the right track. Because of this, Old Master Ding held a considerable amount of shares in the Wei family’s Manqing. Although he had been in poor health these past years and stepped away from politics and no longer interfered with Manqing, he still held absolute authority.
Now that Wei Qingyu had become an adult, the time for her to take back the inheritance she had “placed” with Ji Qingyun was getting closer, and the most important part of it was Manqing.
As Chen Linji pressed closer step by step, Ji Qingyun abandoned minor losses to protect the bigger picture and put all his focus on Manqing. If he wanted to possess Manqing under a proper name, he had to pass the shareholder election. The shares he currently held were only the largest portion, but less than half. Later, if he wanted to make use of returning Manqing to achieve restructuring and merging it again, he would still need Old Master Ding’s support.
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.
Chen Linji and Wei Qingyu also understood that if they wanted to take back Manqing, where Ji Qingyun had already influenced part of the shareholders, Old Master Ding would absolutely play a key role.
Chen Linji and Ji Qingyun deeply disliked each other, yet they shared the same goal.
To curry favor with Old Master Ding.
At that moment, the banquet hall doors were slowly pushed open from outside.
The star of this coming-of-age ceremony, Wei Qingyu, entered under everyone’s gaze, holding Ji Xiao’s arm.
The smoky purple skirt swayed with brilliant flowing light. Her cold and distant aura seemed, on this winter night, like a banished immortal stepping into the mortal world.
This Wei family hidden pearl, now just turned eighteen, appeared and made all the “fragrance” in the room, whether Alpha or Omega, lose its shine.
Ji Xiao looked at the surrounding gazes of admiration, shock, and daze. A mix of relief and possessiveness stirred in her.
Her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered beside Wei Qingyu’s ear, “You are the brightest star in this whole banquet today.”
Wei Qingyu caught the faint jealousy in Ji Xiao’s tone. She lightly pressed her lips together and spoke by her ear, “I only want to be your moon.”
The mint scent wrapped in lingering warmth brushed past Ji Xiao’s slightly cool earlobe, instantly making that soft skin turn red.
She blinked lightly, looking at Wei Qingyu, who kept a calm and straight gaze. She did not even know when Wei Qingyu learned to say such things so calmly.
“Qingyu really has grown into a fine young lady. She is becoming more and more beautiful.”
Old Master Ding’s voice interrupted Ji Xiao’s thoughts. Just as she turned her gaze back, she saw many people gathering around.
Wei Qingyu calmly nodded at Old Master Ding.
“Uncle Ding, has your health gotten better recently? When you were ill, it happened to be around the same time my father had his accident, so I didn't go to see you. I’m very sorry.”
Old Master Ding shook his head.
“There is no need to apologize. It was me, who failed to send Lindong on his final journey. Lindong was truly a very, very good child.”
As he spoke, he sighed. Wei Qingyu also couldn't help but turn her eyes red.
When old friends pass away, every mention brings deep emotion. Regret and sorrow wrapped around the mood, and the whole atmosphere became a bit heavy.
Ji Xiao quickly said, “Actually, Uncle would also feel relieved seeing Qingyu become an adult and would rest in peace in the sky.”
“Yes, Qingyu, this Uncle has come back now. Things will get better in the future,” Old Master Ding said and nodded.
His aged hand brushed over Wei Qingyu’s young skin.
“At a time like this, we must not make the birthday girl cry. I just saw a piano over there. I remember Qingyu learned piano when she was young. Was that prepared for you?”
Wei Qingyu adjusted her mood slightly and nodded.
“Yes.”
Chen Linji looked at Jin Nanfeng and asked meaningfully, “I heard Nanfeng also plays piano?”
Standing aside, Jin Nanfeng replied, avoiding the question, “I once heard Ji Xiao and Qingyu’s four-hand duet. It even caused a wave of admiration at school.”
Old Master Ding heard the name Ji Xiao and immediately looked toward the girl standing beside Wei Qingyu.
Even though he was old and had been ill, his eyes were still sharp. He looked up and down at the girl who had just eased the atmosphere and said,
“Oh? There was such a thing. I wonder if this old man could be lucky enough to hear it?”
A hint of surprise appeared in Ji Xiao’s eyes.
She knew this question was aimed at her, but she did not expect Jin Nanfeng to actively create a chance for her and Wei Qingyu.
Ji Xiao of course did not want Wei Qingyu to play a duet with Jin Nanfeng. She exchanged a glance with Wei Qingyu, and they very tacitly said in unison, “Then of course we can't refuse Uncle Ding’s kindness.”
The crystal chandelier in gold and jade brilliance lit up the whole banquet hall like a dream. The orchestra stopped playing under the conductor’s command on the side.
Old Master Ding looked at the backs of Wei Qingyu and Ji Xiao walking side by side, and a faint satisfied smile appeared on his deeply lined face.
Having already had one collaboration before, Ji Xiao now sat down at the piano stool with much less nervousness.
Wei Qingyu was the same.
She calmly adjusted her skirt and asked softly, “What to play?”
Ji Xiao looked at the sheet music placed on the piano, flipped back a few pages, and said, “Scarborough Fair.”
Wei Qingyu nodded after hearing this, a hint of a smile appearing on her face. After saying “okay,” she pressed the first key of the piano.
This time, she was the lead, and Ji Xiao played the supporting part.
The clear sound of piano keys rang out, and the surroundings quieted down.
Even though the lights around them were the same, people felt that the place where Wei Qingyu and Ji Xiao sat was especially dazzling.
The light and ethereal melody slowly rose with perfect understanding. Ji Xiao followed Wei Qingyu’s rhythm and matched her.
Her red lips stood out brightly. Even in the supporting role, the elegant heroic air around her could not be hidden.
Sounds of appreciation and whispers rose around them. Alphas were usually the leading side, and it was rare to see an Alpha yield to an Omega like this, especially when this Young Miss of the Ji family was an S-class Alpha.
Old Master Ding immersed himself in the elegant four-hand duet, yet still remembered to remind Ji Qingyun:
“Qingyun, Qingyu is already an adult now. It is time to return what belongs to her.”
“Of course. It’s just that the transfer procedures are rather complicated. Back then, the two families were treated as one, and the staff arrangements became somewhat mixed together. Later, they still need to be divided and reorganized, so it will take some time. After all, we never treated Qingyu as an outsider before, so now it has become troublesome.”
Old Master Ding glanced at Ji Qingyun beside him and said with dissatisfaction,
“Qingyun, you are just too loyal. Lindong may have been your good brother, but doing things like this is still not right.”
Ji Qingyun nodded, his emotions complicated.
He didn't know whether Old Master Ding was simply old now and no longer as sharp as before, or if he didn’t want to expose things in a setting like this and was subtly pointing at him.
Chen Linji also couldn't fully understand Old Master Ding’s attitude, so he simply spoke more directly.
“Old Master Ding, Manqing will still need you to oversee things when the time comes.”
Old Master Ding glanced at Chen Linji and nodded thoughtfully.
“Of course. I was never fated to have children in this life. Qingyu is Lindong’s child, so naturally I will favor her.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Qingyu and Ji Xiao completed a beautiful transition in their duet.
Watching Wei Qingyu’s long hair fall from her shoulders to the front of her chest, Old Master Ding continued,
“Qingyun, things like this really do make people sad, but your two families cannot grow distant because of it. Lindong valued you very much back then.”
Hearing Old Master Ding repeatedly bring up how Wei Lindong used to treat him, even though Ji Qingyun resisted it in his heart a thousand times, the smile on his face still stayed warm and gentle.
“Please don't worry. Xiaoxiao has even kept a room for Wei Qingyu at home. She did not take her things away and can come back to stay anytime. Our two families will not grow distant.”
Hearing Ji Xiao mentioned again, Old Master Ding’s drifting gaze landed on Ji Xiao, whose figure was partly blocked by Wei Qingyu.
Ji Qingyun had already spread word long ago that he intended to train Ji Xiao as his successor. Many people had already heard about it and thought highly of her. There was no way Old Master Ding didn’t know.
Watching Ji Xiao cooperate so naturally with Wei Qingyu, Old Master Ding rarely gave a satisfied nod during this conversation.
He lightly pointed at Ji Qingyun beside him and said with a half-smile, half-scolding tone,
“Xiaoxiao is more sensible than you.”
Ji Qingyun heard this and smiled along.
Chen Linji and Jin Changsong beside him also could not quite understand Old Master Ding’s attitude for the moment.
It seemed like he wanted to hand Manqing over to Wei Qingyu, yet at the same time hoped Ji Qingyun would help manage it together.
Under the brilliant lights and flowing glow, Wei Qingyu and Ji Xiao sat before the piano, far away from conflict, enjoying the world that belonged only to them at this moment.
Those slender fingers seemed to dance an ethereal ballet on the piano keys, slowly telling a tragic yet beautiful love story. Joy and sorrow intertwined, silently stirring certain deep memories in people’s minds.
The surrounding guests all took out their phones to record this beautiful moment, yet no one knew they had never even gone through practice together before.
The faint mint scent mixed with peach brandy, and their unspoken understanding became the only answer to tonight’s four-hand duet.
The banquet ended close to midnight. Stars sparkled across the dark night sky, as if offering birthday blessings to the girl.
Ji Xiao and Wei Qingyu walked side by side at the very back. The guests ahead gradually scattered, and the cars parked by the entrance drove away one after another. They had also arrived at the moment where they had to part.
The surroundings were overly quiet. Wei Qingyu stood beside Ji Xiao, the winter wind moving her hair, while traces of melancholy rested between her brows.
Ji Xiao looked at her, using her eyes to carefully draw this moment into memory. Then, looking at the headlights of the approaching car in the distance, she suddenly asked,
“Wei Qingyu, do you know the meaning of Scarborough Fair?”
Wei Qingyu looked a little confused after hearing this and gently shook her head.
“It means, even if I’m gone, please still remember me,” Ji Xiao said softly.
The distant lights came closer and closer, and the backlight slowly blurred and faded Wei Qingyu in Ji Xiao’s sight.
Clearly, she was only moving back to her own home, yet Ji Xiao felt like they were about to part forever.
Looking at the slightly blurry figure of the girl in front of her, Ji Xiao knew she couldn’t force her to stay. She could only awkwardly remind her, “If anything happens in the future, contact me right away. Even though you are an adult now, those new servants at your house may not know your habits, and don't put up with them. If they are no good, replace them. Also, you are living alone in such a big house, so be careful. Don't watch horror movies at night, or if you cry, no one will comfort you…”
“As if you comforted me when I lived at home.”
Before Ji Xiao could finish her reminders, Wei Qingyu directly interrupted her.
Her voice was cold and clear, yet the ending held a slight tremble, instantly grabbing Ji Xiao’s heart.
As the words fell, the backlight from the car headlights disappeared from Ji Xiao’s view.
Wei Qingyu stood alone in the cold wind. Without her hair blocking her face, her cold features showed clearly, and the redness at the corner of her eyes was especially obvious.
Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu, as if she could also see reluctance in her eyes.
The car had already stopped a short distance away, and the bodyguards at the back had opened the door for Wei Qingyu.
Ji Xiao knew she could not delay any longer, and she was also afraid that her act of pretending to be fine would no longer hold.
She rubbed her nose, forcing out a bitter smile, and urged her, “That’s good. Go back now. The car is waiting for you. It’s cold outside.”
Hearing this, Wei Qingyu stood there holding her skirt, staring at Ji Xiao for a long time.
She had many things she wanted to say, but her throat felt blocked by something, and she could not say a single word.
The cold wind kept flowing. Winter was clearly about to pass, yet tonight still felt cold.
After who knows how long, Wei Qingyu finally nodded and said, “Then I’m leaving.”
She became the first of the two to turn and leave.
The winter wind slowly passed through the corridor, carrying away the slim and light figure in Ji Xiao’s sight.
Ji Xiao turned her head away and looked at the car that had not yet arrived, suddenly feeling the air grow even colder.
At that moment, a small section of a pale arm with pearls on it appeared in her vision.
A mint scent mixed with champagne rushed into her lips, followed by two soft, warm lips.
Wei Qingyu had only taken two steps toward the car before suddenly turning back.
Catching Ji Xiao off guard, she took a kiss from her.
“Ji Xiao, I’m eighteen.”
Author's Note:
Double update delivered. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone!
