“Qianqian, you’re not planning to take these clothes with you, are you?” Qi Yu pinched a handful of Yu Qian’s old non-mainstream outfits, her eyes full of disdain.

“I’m not taking those. I don’t really want them anymore either. Let’s sort them out and put them in the old clothes box.”

Those were clothes Yu Qian had deliberately bought in the past just to spite her mother. Though the styles were rather bizarre, the quality was undeniably good.

“Uh…… I doubt anyone would appreciate this style.” Qi Yu’s mouth twitched. Back when Yu Qian bought these, the shop owners had been overjoyed. After all, these were the unsellable stock they had been holding onto for ages!

“Qianqian, are you taking all these little things with you?” Wang Jiajia pointed at the various stuffed animals and decorative trinkets scattered across the bed and desk.

Yu Qian glanced at them, furrowing her brows. “See if there’s anything you like. If not, I’ll take them all with me.”

“I’ll take this bear.”

“I want this little deer figurine and that storage rack.”

“Then I’ll take that box.”

None of the three hesitated to speak up, casually picking out what they wanted.

The four of them spent the entire morning sorting everything out. Finally, Yu Qian and Wang Jiajia struggled to drag a large bag of trash to the dumpster.

Qi Yu and Fang Yan helped place the old clothes and other reusable items into the donation box.

Looking at the several packed bags before them, Qi Yu asked, “Qianqian, are you mailing these, or will someone come to pick them up?”

“My mom said a car will come tomorrow.”

“That’s good. It’ll be convenient for you to go to the Bai family’s house together.”

Qi Yu and the others stayed at Yu Qian’s house the whole day, keeping her company. Just before leaving, Wang Jiajia suddenly remembered something she had left in Yu Qian’s kitchen.

“Oh, right, Qianqian! My mom made some spicy sauce for you. I left it in the kitchen. Don’t forget to take it with you tomorrow!” She pointed toward the kitchen.

It had to be said that while Yu Qian acted rebellious in front of her mother, she maintained a good image with everyone else and was quite popular with other adults.

Otherwise, Wang Jiajia and the others’ parents would have long forbidden them from associating with her.

Wang Jiajia still vividly remembered a parent-teacher meeting in primary school when Yu Qian’s mother had pulled her own mother aside, lamenting how Yu Qian was mischievous and had a terrible temper, asking for their patience.

But her mother had been utterly baffled, saying that Yu Qian was well-behaved, sweet-tongued, and hardworking. She even helped out whenever she visited their home— such a likable child.

At that moment, Yu Qian’s mother’s face had turned black.

“I won’t forget. I’ll pack it in the box tonight. Help me thank Aunt.” Yu Qian said cheerfully.

“Alright, then. We’ll come to see you off tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

None of them said anything sentimental. They bid farewell as cheerfully as always and went their separate ways.

────ρя


Finally, the day arrived for Yu Qian to leave for the capital.

Wang Hui had gotten up early to prepare breakfast and called Yu Qian to get up.

Just as they finished eating, Wang Jiajia, Fang Yan, and Qi Yu arrived at her house.

Wang Hui greeted them, letting them play on their own while she checked if anything had been left behind.

After a long while, the sound of a car engine came from outside. The four girls exchanged glances before rushing to the door.

The moment they saw the car parked outside, they let out a gasp.

“Wow, it’s a Bentley!” Fang Yan pointed at the sleek white car in the lead. Her idol owned one just like it, so she recognized the emblem, though she had no idea about the specific model.

Yu Qian could only recognize BMWs, but that didn’t stop her from thinking this car looked grand and stylish.

As they were still marveling at it, the car door opened and Bai Qiming stepped out, dressed in a crisp white casual outfit.

“Qianqian, you hit the jackpot! Your new brother is so handsome!!” Wang Jiajia shook Yu Qian’s arm excitedly.

“His expression is just a bit cold, though.” Qi Yu frowned slightly, noticing Bai Qiming’s indifferent expression.

Yu Qian nodded. The male protagonist, after all, was set up as a cold and aloof person in Wang Jiajia’s novel, indifferent to everyone except the female protagonist. She had no problem accepting this.

Under the gaze of four pairs of eyes, Bai Qiming walked toward them at a steady pace. He looked directly at Yu Qian and said, “Hello, I’m Bai Qiming.”

Yu Qian blinked. Fang Yan quickly nudged her, prompting her to respond sluggishly, “I’m Yu Qian.”

“Qiming, you’re here. Have you had breakfast?” Wang Hui had heard the sound of the car and came downstairs.

“Aunt Wang, I’ve already eaten.” Bai Qiming nodded at Wang Hui, his tone cold but respectful. “If everything is packed, I’ll have them start moving the things now.”

“Alright, alright. There are some things upstairs, start with those first.”

Upon hearing that, Bai Qiming signaled to the four men behind him to go upstairs and move the items. Wang Hui instructed Yu Qian to entertain Bai Qiming before heading up to oversee the process herself.

Yu Qian and her three friends sat side by side on the large sofa, stealing glances at Bai Qiming, who remained silent on the left. They looked at each other, unsure how to start a conversation.

A faint awkwardness lingered in the air.

“Uh…… Bai Family’s Brother, does your family eat spicy food?” Under the intense gazes of her friends, Yu Qian had no choice but to bite the bullet and find a topic.

“My father and I prefer mild flavors, but you don’t need to accommodate us. Just ask the auntie to make a few extra dishes.”

“Oh…… haha, I see.” Yu Qian laughed dryly and reached out to grab Wang Jiajia’s hand which had been frantically pinching her. She had already tried her best, but the male protagonist was just that cold. What could she do?

“You can call me Brother from now on.” Bai Qiming suddenly said while looking straight at Yu Qian, completely ignoring the silent eye signals exchanged among the girls.

Yu Qian felt a slight headache and reluctantly said, “Then I’ll call you Brother Bai from now on.”

Just then, Baibai, who had been running around outside, dashed back in. Yu Qian, worried it might run off again and get lost before they left, quickly called out, “Baibai, come here!”

Normally, this wouldn’t have been an issue, but she had just called Bai Qiming Brother Bai moments ago.

Brother Bai and Baibai.

This was getting awkward.

“Pfft—” Fang Yan finally couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Wang Jiajia and Qi Yu also turned to look at Yu Qian.

Noticing Bai Qiming’s gaze shift to Baibai, Yu Qian awkwardly explained, “Uh…… my dog has always been called Baibai. Maybe I should just call you Brother Ming instead.”

Bai Qiming glanced at the little black-and-white dog, unable to understand how it could possibly match the name Baibai^[1]Whitey.

Just as Yu Qian was about to die from embarrassment, her mother finally came downstairs.

Everything upstairs had been moved, leaving only two packages in the living room. Yu Qian quickly found an excuse to stand up and help with the packing.

Once everything was ready, Yu Qian hugged Baibai and got into the car with her mother. Looking out the window at her friends, she found herself at a loss for words. She had never had to say goodbye to them before.

“Qianqian, take some pictures of Peking University for me, will you? I’ve never been to my dream school.” Wang Jiajia stood outside the car, fists clenched, looking hopeful.

“Oh, and me too! Qianqian, my idol is having a concert in the capital next month. Can you go watch it for me?” Fang Yan’s eyes sparkled at the mention of her idol. She resented the fact that she was still a student and had never seen him perform live. “If you could get me an autographed photo, I’d be beyond happy!”

“Ahem, me too. I heard Jiang Yuan’s new book is having its first release in the capital. Can you help me get a signed copy?” Qi Yu asked a little shyly.

The three of them spoke in an upbeat tone, making their requests as if nothing was out of the ordinary, completely devoid of any sadness about parting ways.

Looking at her friends through the car window, Yu Qian suddenly felt a wave of emotion. Her eyes turned red. These three had been by her side through the hardest times.

She had spent more time with them than she had with her own mother. At that moment, she almost wanted to change her mind and say she wasn’t leaving.

Sensing that something was off, Wang Hui quickly bid farewell to the girls and urged the driver to start the car, afraid that if they delayed any longer, Yu Qian would throw a tantrum.

It wasn’t until she could no longer see the figures of her three friends that Yu Qian finally sat upright, absentmindedly petting Baibai.

Sitting in the front passenger seat, Bai Qiming glanced at her through the rearview mirror and frowned slightly.

“Qianqian, do you want to eat something?” Wang Hui asked cautiously, feeling a bit heartbroken as she looked at her daughter, who seemed downcast.

“I’m not hungry, Mom. I’ll take a nap. Wake me up when we arrive.” Yu Qian murmured before closing her eyes.

Seeing this, Wang Hui didn’t disturb her and instead started replying to messages on her phone.

At first, Yu Qian had only closed her eyes because she didn’t feel like talking, but unexpectedly, she actually fell asleep.

From the front seat, Bai Qiming occasionally glanced at her through the mirror and ended up witnessing her ever-changing sleeping positions.

Watching her head bump against the car window every now and then, he couldn’t help but smile slightly. This stepsister of his wasn’t as difficult to get along with as he had imagined.

When his father had first started pursuing Aunt Wang, he had already been aware of their relationship. However, he had never opposed it, as it was simply his father’s personal matter and had nothing to do with him.

He had no particular opinions about Aunt Wang, but he had been somewhat concerned about her so-called rebellious daughter. After all, barring any surprises, he and his new stepsister would be living under the same roof for a long time. If things went poorly, having a girl of a similar age around could easily disrupt his life.

But so far, everything seemed within an acceptable range.

────ρя


Yu Qian woke up with a sore neck, rubbing her eyes as she mumbled, “Mom, where are we now?”

“We’re almost at the airport.” Wang Hui said, handing her a bottle of water.

After a long journey and multiple transfers, they finally arrived in the capital.

Looking out of the car window at the luxurious villa of the Bai Family, Yu Qian’s eyes widened in astonishment.

She was suddenly acutely aware of the vast gap between her family and Bai family. Internally, she sighed once again. Wang Jiajia had really written her mother into the role of a middle-aged CEO’s love interest.

Compared to the Bai family’s estate, her old home was nothing more than a self-built house at best.

As soon as Yu Qian got out of the car, she saw a man walking toward them who bore a striking resemblance to Bai Qiming.

Unlike Bai Qiming’s youthful sharpness, his father carried an air of refined warmth that had been mellowed by time.

“So this is Qianqian? You really are as beautiful as your mother.” Bai Jin said gently, his eyes filled with anticipation, as if he had been looking forward to Yu Qian’s arrival for a long time.

Under her mother’s expectant gaze, Yu Qian obediently greeted, “Hello, Uncle Bai.”

Bai Jin nodded and said, “You must be tired from the journey. The food is ready inside. Come in quickly.”

Then, he glanced at Wang Hui, saying nothing, but the smile on his face grew noticeably warmer. Wang Hui responded with a smile of her own.

Seeing this, Yu Qian couldn’t help but take a few extra glances at her mother. So this was her mother’s ‘in love’ expression, huh? She actually looked kind of shy.

As they entered the house, Yu Qian casually scanned her surroundings. Just in her immediate view, she spotted four household staff. Compared to the part-time housekeeper her mother used to hire, it was clear that her living standards were about to skyrocket.

At the very least…… if she ever got mad and threw things, someone would be there to clean up after her. Finally, she wouldn’t have to pick up after herself anymore……

Wait, no! What was she thinking on her very first day at the Bai family’s house?!

Yu Qian quickly shook the thought from her mind. She was determined to be a good, well-behaved daughter. There was no way she would get into any arguments!

Robbin: One chapter will be released/unlocked every Monday and Thursday.