The girl who ran in wore a blue princess dress, playful and cute without being overly flashy. With her cheerful demeanor, she looked like the kind of well-behaved little girl that adults adore.
At least, judging by Jiang's mother's expression, she clearly liked Chu Tiantian.
However...
Lin Xingzhu glanced at Jiang Yeyue, whose expression was a mix of shock and frustration, and her brow furrowed slightly.
Because Jiang Yeyue had previously confided in her, Lin Xingzhu instinctively had a bad impression of Chu Tiantian.
Bai Xiying, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned when she saw the newcomer.
But she was quite perceptive and quickly captured the subtle expressions of those present in response to the girl who had just come through the door.
What she didn't understand was the connection between Chu Tiantian and the Jiang family.
"Auntie, is Yeyue back?!" Chu Tiantian exclaimed upon seeing the familiar girl sitting next to Jiang's mother, her smile widening in surprise.
Jiang's mother nodded with a smile and beckoned her to sit. "Yes, she just got back a couple of days ago, so you don't have to wait any longer."
When they used to play together, Jiang Yeyue often brought Chu Tiantian home, so Jiang's mother was already familiar with her.
Since Jiang Yeyue announced her intention to drop out and go to City A, Chu Tiantian had occasionally come to visit her on weekends, trying to find out where Jiang Yeyue had gone.
However, since Jiang Yeyue had insisted that her parents keep her whereabouts a secret, Jiang's mother, despite her confusion, respected that confidentiality and didn't tell Chu Tiantian where Jiang Yeyue was.
Even though she hadn't disclosed anything, Jiang's mother had gleaned from Chu Tiantian's remarks that the two were having a falling out. To an adult, it was normal for young girls to quarrel, so while she didn't inform Chu Tiantian of Jiang Yeyue's whereabouts, she didn't mind her occasional visits.
Chu Tiantian's round eyes immediately sparkled as she looked toward Jiang Yeyue.
She had already managed to find out where Jiang Yeyue was; if Jiang Yeyue hadn't returned, Chu Tiantian would have likely snuck back to City S without telling her family.
As Chu Tiantian gazed at Jiang Yeyue, whom she hadn't seen for a long time, just as she was about to flatter her with kind words, her gaze suddenly fixed on someone very familiar but unexpected.
Noticing Chu Tiantian's focus shift to Bai Xiying, Lin Xingzhu was briefly puzzled and quietly asked Bai Xiying, "Do you know each other?"
Bai Xiying nodded slightly. "I suppose so."
Considering their past life, they had indeed met a few times.
Especially in her previous life, when Chu Tiantian had deceived her sister, Chu Xiang, stealing the key and secretly letting her go.
But those events hadn't occurred in this timeline.
What Bai Xiying remembered most vividly was Chu Tiantian's often sullen expression, which was completely different from her sunny demeanor now.
Then Lin Xingzhu saw Chu Tiantian speak to Bai Xiying. "Sister Xiying, what are you doing at Yeyue's house?"
Jiang Yeyue, still feeling pent-up frustration since seeing Chu Tiantian, retorted, "What's wrong with being at my house?! And sister Xiying is my cousin's girlfriend!"
As she said this, she cast a wary glance at Chu Tiantian, clearly recalling how Chu Tiantian had secretly tried to steal her boyfriend.
Her cousin and Sister Xiying were such a perfect match; Jiang Yeyue wouldn't allow Chu Tiantian to disrupt that!
Chu Tiantian was momentarily speechless.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly, as she clearly sensed Jiang Yeyue's defensiveness.
But what caught Bai Xiying's interest wasn't Jiang Yeyue; she wondered if her dear sister knew this information.
Thinking this, Chu Tiantian's eyes glimmered as she feigned innocence. "I was just asking, Yeyue. Sister Xiying used to tutor my sister, so I was curious about her being here."
"If you don't like me asking, then I won't."
Hearing this, Jiang's mother shot a glare at Jiang Yeyue, thinking about how she should treat guests!
Jiang Yeyue was silent.
How frustrating!
That drama queen Chu Tiantian was at it again!!
Lin Xingzhu observed the exchange between the two girls, feeling her brow twitch.
Meanwhile, Bai Xiying lowered her head, fiddling with Lin Xingzhu's long fingers, seemingly uninterested in everything happening around her.
After a while, Jiang's mother stood up to leave. Before she went, she told Chu Tiantian to stay for dinner, then turned to head to the kitchen, leaving the space for the young people.
Once she was gone, Jiang Yeyue couldn't hold back anymore!
"What are you doing here?! You're not welcome!"
"Yeyue, don't be angry. Can I apologize to you?"
"I don't care about your apology!! Just leave, I don't want to see you. We're done!"
Lin Xingzhu listened to their argument, exchanged a glance with Bai Xiying, and then silently stood up to walk outside.
Let the kids handle their squabbles.
Once in the small garden, Bai Xiying finally asked, "What was that all about?"
Lin Xingzhu blinked. "Hmm... just a conflict between kids?"
Despite saying that, she went on to explain the situation between Jiang Yeyue and Chu Tiantian to Bai Xiying.
After listening to the whole story, Bai Xiying pondered, "Chu Tiantian is... a bit strange."
Moreover, from her behavior, it seemed reminiscent of Chu Xiang. If what Jiang Yeyue said was true, then Chu Tiantian's actions—first stealing her boyfriend and then designing situations so that Jiang Yeyue had no other friends besides her—were strikingly similar to what Chu Xiang would do.
In her previous life, when Bai Xiying was entangled with Mu Muqing, she had learned that Chu Xiang had used her influence to pressure Mu Muqing, and even caused trouble for Xie Yunya, trying to ensure that Bai Xiying had no one else around her except for herself.
Although she was young, her behavior was quite ruthless and even shameful.
This lifetime, since their last meeting, the reason Chu Xiang hadn't continued to find her was entirely due to Bai Xiying having subtly sabotaged her from behind.
She had once stumbled upon information about how Chu Xiang had bullied a girl in school, and while she was busy dealing with that sudden revelation, it was Chu Tiantian who had stolen the key and let her escape.
However, it was only after her escape that Bai Xiying learned about this from Chu Tiantian.
In this life, after unexpectedly meeting Chu Xiang at the banquet, Bai Xiying had taken it upon herself to investigate the matter, discovering that the girl's family hadn't yet found the true culprit due to her concealment, and she decided to help them by exposing the issue in advance.
This way, Chu Xiang naturally had no chance to come after her.
Lin Xingzhu nodded. "You feel the same way, right? I think so too. To do such things at such a young age..."
Lin Xingzhu frowned, clearly disliking Chu Tiantian's way of doing things, but she had asked Jiang Yeyue, and Jiang Yeyue didn't seem to harbor any thoughts of revenge.
Bai Xiying glanced at her, noticing Lin Xingzhu's displeased frown, and her lips curled slightly. "But I have a different perspective."
Given her current relationship with Lin Xingzhu, her cousin was indeed just her cousin. Since she was aware of this situation, it wouldn't hurt to give a little hint.
Lin Xingzhu looked at her. "Hmm?"
Bai Xiying said, "Is it possible that Chu Tiantian did all this because she really likes your cousin Jiang Yeyue?"
Lin Xingzhu: "..."
Lin Xingzhu: "???"
She frowned in confusion.
But Bai Xiying's expression didn't seem to indicate she was joking.
"... Is this how you express liking someone?"
Lin Xingzhu felt deeply perplexed. As a sensible person, she found it hard to understand.
If you like someone, shouldn't it involve respecting them, caring for them, and genuinely wanting the best for them?
But looking at all the things Chu Tiantian had done, which of them matched that standard?!
Seeing Lin Xingzhu's conflicted and peculiar expression, Bai Xiying immediately understood what she was thinking and couldn't help but chuckle.
Yet as she laughed, her amusement faded, and she looked at Lin Xingzhu with a softness that could almost melt.
Look at this—this is Lin Xingzhu, the Lin Xingzhu she admires.
"Of course, that's not how you show you like someone," Bai Xiying said. "So I'm not saying her behavior is right; I'm just speculating based on her actions."
Having encountered too many odd individuals, Bai Xiying had unwittingly started to understand their true intentions.
In a way, she had been gradually colored by the abnormality of her past life's bizarre fate.
But in this lifetime, having met Lin Xingzhu—a genuinely upright gentlewoman who unknowingly softened her edges—she found her own bitterness wearing away.
Hearing Bai Xiying's perspective, Lin Xingzhu couldn't help but imagine Jiang Yeyue's reaction to this statement; she might explode.
Being liked by someone like that was incredibly suffocating and uncomfortable.
In films and novels, Lin Xingzhu had heard of people categorized as "yandere," but witnessing it firsthand in real life was a first for her.
In reality, it was the kind of thing that should warrant a call to the police.
Translator's note~ I don't mind yanderes, they're so cute^^
Didn't Jiang Yeyue have to transfer schools because of Chu Tiantian's harassment?
"Still troubled by them?"
Bai Xiying smoothed Lin Xingzhu's brow, which had furrowed in thought.
She suggested, "Why don't you share our speculation with your cousin? Jiang Yeyue doesn't seem to truly hate Chu Tiantian from what I can tell."
Even though Jiang Yeyue had been arguing, her attitude was cold and unpleasant, but her eyes and expression didn't show any signs of hatred.
As they were talking, they suddenly saw Chu Tiantian coming out with a beaming smile.
She approached them slowly, her tone polite as she said, "Auntie Jiang wants you to come back for dinner."
Lin Xingzhu nodded. "Okay, we'll head back now."
On the way back, Chu Tiantian suddenly raised her eyebrows and glanced at the intertwined hands of Lin Xingzhu and Bai Xiying, then abruptly asked, "Sister Xiying, does my sister still not know you're dating?"