Chapter 29: The Secret

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Chapter 29: Secrets
In this ancient city, where drizzling rain often gives way to sudden, brilliant dawns, a parched and aching heart was dampened by the rain.
Bai Li rose and, limping slightly, watered the jasmine, marguerites, and red roses, even sparing a spoonful for the moss beneath the flowerbeds.
These fragile lives were more resilient than most people.
...
On a sweltering summer night, there was no rain.
Bai Li followed Fang Ye to the bar once again, taking a taxi to accommodate her injured foot.
The bar was bustling and lively.
Xiao Bai, Cheng Zi, and Xiao Ying were at their usual table, though this time there was a girl sitting beside Xiao Bai. She looked kind-hearted and well-behaved.
Her "well-behaved" nature was not about her actions, but her aura—like a princess who had just stepped out of an ivory tower.
She wore the trendiest dress, a beret, and a layer of light orange lipstick on her lips.
Seeing Bai Li arrive, the girl waved enthusiastically. After introducing herself, she pulled Bai Li to sit beside her.
Noticing the clothes Bai Li was wearing, she seemed to understand something.
"Is Brother Fang Ye your boyfriend?"
Bai Li caught the question unexpectedly. She froze for a long moment before rushing to explain, "No, he is my brother."

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Because she was flustered, a blush crept up her cheeks.
The girl laughed heartily, her voice clear and crisp. "Oh, my mistake! I'm Lin Qian. My partner is Brother Bai—you know him, right? Just call me Sister-in-law Bai."
Bai Li was a bit startled and nodded quickly. "Yes, I know him. Sister-in-law Bai, my name is Bai Li."
Hearing this, Xiao Bai spoke up, unusually argumentative. "Little sister, don't listen to her, don't let her teach you bad habits. She's my junior in school, not your sister-in-law."
Lin Qian wasn't having it; she stood up, cracked open a beer, and chugged it while gesturing at Xiao Bai.
Bai Li felt a moment of bewilderment. She watched the scene with wide eyes, suddenly feeling that the people here were becoming more vibrant and alive.
She glanced at the patrons around her and felt a sudden sense of relief—relief that she hadn't worn her faded school uniform. Everyone there was young, dressed in bright, stylish clothes.
Had she sat there in her oversized school uniform, she would likely have felt cramped and awkward.
A long-dormant sense of self-esteem flickered to life.
This time, however, it did not suffer the usual, agonizing blow.
Holding the pear juice the waiter had brought, she took a small sip and was surprised to find it tasted sweeter than it had that other day.
But she did not stay until the end of the night.
After the meal, Fang Ye seemed not to want her to linger, so he sent her home midway through.
Bai Li had no objections.
As soon as she reached home, she changed out of her new clothes, hung them carefully on a hanger, and tucked them away in the wardrobe before picking up her phone and lying on the bed.

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Opening WeChat, she saw gossip spreading like wildfire in the class group chat.
The gist of it was that a female student from their school had been caught dating, leading to her parents scolding and hitting her in the street.
There was even a video attached.
Bai Li hesitated for a long time, but instead of clicking on it, she quickly exited the chat box.
Her right eyelid twitched uncontrollably. She didn't know what she was panicking about.
But for some reason, she simply didn't want to witness such a spectacle.
At this age, affection was, in the eyes of others, the most trivial thing—and the easiest to be despised.
Fortunately, no one liked her... and she didn't like anyone, either.
At this thought, Bai Li turned off her phone and looked up at the desk drawer, where a roll of white paper lay hidden.
Her heart began to beat wildly.
Her earlobes flushed with the warmth of the stifling air. She quickly slammed the drawer shut, as if doing so could keep the secret of this entire summer buried away.