Campus Ace Girl

Bai Xun looked at her profile and smiled faintly.

In the car on the way to the hotel, he occasionally glanced at her while driving. Chu Yan was looking down at her phone: "Focus on driving."

He smiled lightly and agreed.

Before eight o’clock in the evening, his car arrived at the hotel’s parking lot. Chu Yan got out of the car and watched Bai Xun take out gifts from the trunk. She stood there waiting for him.

Suddenly, she saw Chu Ci talking to someone less than two meters away, it was an elder from the Chu Family.

Just as Chu Yan was about to turn her head away, Chu Ci saw her, and so did the elder who smiled: "It’s Yan Yan, you’ve grown into a young lady. It’s been a long time."

The elder was a distant relative and wasn’t aware of the history between Chu Ci and Chu Yan. He just thought Chu Yan went abroad to study and had no idea about all the things that had happened.

He was warm and friendly, and Chu Yan could only smile without saying much.

At this moment, Bai Xun came over with the gifts, looked at Chu Yan and then at Chu Ci, and greeted the elder.

The elder realized only then, and couldn’t help laughing: "Ah Bai Xun, you rascal, not only are you making money in Chu Ci’s company, but you also managed to get his sister. You’ve always been a clever little rogue, and you’re still restless as an adult."

Words spoken without thought, but still taken to heart.

The atmosphere on the scene was quite strange.

Bai Xun was thick-skinned enough and put an arm around Chu Yan: "We just got together not too long ago."

The elder chuckled: "Later, you must toast us a few more times."

"Certainly." Bai Xun smiled charmingly.

Chu Yan whispered: "Can your body handle drinking?"

"Red wine’s fine," he said softly, touching her cheek.

Chu Yan was still worried, but in front of others, she had to maintain his pride. Even though he was two years younger than her, she didn’t want to treat him like a child.

Chu Ci, standing to the side, was staring at Bai Xun, having heard Chu Yan’s concern, he laughed coldly.

Bai Xun was doing well, previously he could down a jin of white liquor; the past couple of years of faking illness must have been tedious. He was merely curious, was Bai Xun planning to pretend for life?

Bai Xun met Chu Ci’s gaze and saw the mockery in it, but he didn’t mind.

Holding Chu Yan, his voice was quite gentle: "Let’s go inside, it’s a bit cold out here."

Chu Yan nodded.

Bai Xun naturally wrapped his arm around her and walked inside. Chu Ci, watching from behind, tightened his gaze.

The elder, still unaware, laughed: "Ayy, Yan Yan and Bai Xun really do look compatible. I used to think Yan Yan would find someone with a temper like yours since she always clung to you. Who knew it would be Bai Xun?"

He nudged Chu Ci, "A long time ago, I thought you two would end up together. Who knew Bai Xun would act so quickly? Chu Ci, now that Yan Yan’s life matters are settled, you better not fall behind. Hurry up, your mother’s been worried sick these past few years."

Chu Ci lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, then tossed it away and stamped it out, his voice faint: "Perhaps."

He followed them into the hall.

As he entered, he saw Chu Yan talking to Chu Changhe, who was very emotional, truly fond of his daughter. Because of his wife’s malaise, he hadn’t seen Chu Yan in years.

Now, the little girl stood before him, tears in his eyes though he had to hold them back, repeatedly saying: "It’s good you’re back, it’s good you’re back."

Chu Yan’s nose reddened slightly, but she restrained herself.

She was no longer the little girl she once was; she had learned to protect herself.

She still softly called him dad and presented a gift.

Chu Changhe was quite moved, but when he accepted the gift, he paused, feeling even more sorrowful.

The gift from his child was expensive, but distant.

She was cautious to the point of... unwillingness to get too close to them.

The feelings in Chu Changhe’s heart were indescribable, a mixed bag of emotions...

Chu Yan remained composed.

Now, the relationship with the Chu Family could only be... they would probably stay out of contact till death, unable to break ties, at least on the surface— but nothing more.

In this delicate atmosphere, a voice sounded: "Is it Yan Yan who’s come back?"

Chu Yan’s body tensed. She slowly turned her head, seeing Madam Chu approach with some of the ladies of her age group.

Bai Xun tightened his grip on her shoulder, wearing a charming smile that was quite likable to elders, he said briskly: "Aunt."

Then he held Chu Yan closer and instructed: "Call her Aunt."

Madam Chu’s gaze flickered, then she said to Bai Xun: "You’re such a rascal."

Then she looked at Chu Yan, speaking softly: "Yan Yan was raised by us since she was little, what’s with calling me Aunt? If she really said that, people would say we Chu Family are harsh on foster daughters. Where could we justify our position, Yan Yan, don’t you think?"

She meant for Chu Yan to call her mom.

Chu Yan’s face turned slightly pale, that word ’mom’ just wouldn’t come out.

The dark past flashed in her memory now—the pills, the hospital, the antiseptic smell, the darkness alone, and the cup of tea she disliked... Her lips moved, but before she could speak, Bai Xun’s hand tightened on her shoulder, and he said: "Aunt is absolutely right."

He looked down at Chu Yan: "In that case, I’ll call her mom along with you."

Chu Yan was stunned.

Everyone around was stunned.

You see, everyone could tell how difficult Madam Chu made it, secretly thinking she treated Chu Yan unjustly. Speaking of the past, wasn’t Chu Ci largely at fault? Chu Yan was so young.

The little girl had been driven to leave for a foreign country for years, she didn’t cling to your son upon return, yet you make it difficult— quite artfully so. Who’d have thought Bai Xun would be bold enough to call Madam Chu mom to her indifferent face?

Everyone covered their noses, finding it both amusing and inappropriate.

Bai Xun looked at Chu Yan, "If you agree, I’ll call her mom too, it would clear things up. Likewise, you’ll change how you address my parents later."

Chu Yan looked at him.

Bai Xun’s eyes were warm.

He usually wasn’t serious, but at this moment, his unserious words made her feel secure, like she wasn’t facing things alone.

Just then, a gentle female voice reproached: "Look at you, scared Yan Yan, what’s like you."

Everyone saw it was Bai Xun’s mother, Mrs. Bai.

The Bai couple were both professors at the law school. Mrs. Bai had retired, while Mr. Bai was still in a prominent position.

Mrs. Bai, carrying herself gracefully, came over and looked at Chu Yan with satisfaction.

Then Bai Xun said: "What’s inappropriate? Yan Yan and I live together, we’re just waiting to set a date."

The words caused a few elders to cough lightly.

My goodness! Bai Xun is bold, isn’t he worried Chu Ci might fight him?

They sneaked a look at Chu Ci, his face indeed looked quite awful... hehe, he’d pined for years, only for her to come back and be snatched away by a younger family member. His heart must ache, but with a mother like that, Chu Yan would be foolish to wait for him.

At this moment, Chu Ci stood there, unable to get a word edgewise.

Even if he spoke for Chu Yan, it would only worsen her situation.

He could only watch Bai Xun protect her while the distance between him and her grew ever greater.

Over there, Mrs. Bai held Chu Yan’s hand for a moment, then slipped a jade green bracelet onto it. Her voice was gentle, "You can call me whatever you like, depending on your feelings with Bai Xun."

Chu Yan called out softly, "Auntie," and Bai Xun cleverly handed over a scarf, "Yan Yan bought this for you."

He proudly added, "I used my card."

Mrs. Bai laughed, "Of course, it should be on your card. She’s your wife to cherish, why should she spend money?"

Bai Xun immediately shouted, "I’ve given her all my savings. How am I not cherishing her?"

Mrs. Bai nodded in agreement, "That’s how it should be; only then will the girl feel safe being with you. Otherwise, what would she see in you, your slick tongue?"

Bai Xun lightly coughed, "In me being young and handsome!"

He narrowly avoided saying out loud his physical appeal...

Mrs. Bai could barely stand it, this shameless kid!

However, she could see clearly that her son was genuinely very fond of Chu Yan. Initially, she and Bai Xun’s father weren’t supportive of this, considering the intense history between Chu Ci and Chu Yan.

They weren’t concerned about her past relationships, mainly worried whether Chu Yan could move on, fearing that their son might be heartbroken. But Bai Xun was quite insistent, so they let him be. Unexpectedly... things progressed so quickly. Meeting this time, it seemed Chu Yan also liked Bai Xun a lot. She could not mistake the look she gave Bai Xun; it was a woman’s look at a man, not a sibling’s.

Moreover, her son spoke so plainly... something must have happened.

Now, Mrs. Bai wouldn’t oppose them; in fact, she would wholeheartedly support them, giving her son a helping hand.

Feeling happy, Mrs. Bai examined the scarf intently, gestured a few times and said to Mr. Bai, "Girls are indeed more thoughtful."

Mr. Bai was typically serious, yet privately quite fond of his son; he liked whoever his son liked. Smiling at Chu Yan, he said, "Tomorrow, let Bai Xun bring you home for dinner, let Auntie cook some dishes for you."

He added, "You’ve become quite thin."

Bai Xun winked at Chu Yan.

Mrs. Bai jokingly scolded her son, "Such a lovely young girl, truly a steal for you."

In her memory, Chu Yan was still that young girl, treating her like a child, not sensing at all she was two years older than her son.

After all, her son... although only 24, had incredibly deep cunning.

Like this matter, for instance, it was somewhat hurtful.

Although Yan Yan was originally going to donate bone marrow; still, her son was too willful!

Thinking about it gave Mrs. Bai a headache, so she decided not to dwell on it. Whatever trouble happened, let her son solve it himself...

Under these circumstances, both Mr. Bai and Mrs. Bai gave Chu Yan warmth in her heart.

For a long, long time, she hadn’t felt this way.

She looked at Bai Xun, who gazed back at her, smiling, and flicked her forehead.

Bai Xun recalled someone who visited him a couple of days ago.

The person told him that what Chu Yan needed more compared to a man was a family.

That person wasn’t anyone else but Gu Anxi.

Thinking it over, Bai Xun understood...

At this moment, Chu Ci’s voice lightly interrupted, "The banquet is about to begin, please take your seats."

Chu Changhe escorted his wife to their seats; Chu Ci followed for a few steps then turned—

Chu Yan leaned against Bai Xun in conversation with Mr. Bai, who seemed quite interested in the internet while Chu Yan knew a lot about it. Speaking a few words, Mr. Bai slightly smiled and gently patted Chu Yan’s head.

In that instant, Chu Ci realized he had lost to Bai Xun, not losing to affection or time.

But because Bai Xun provided Chu Yan with something he could not...

He quietly watched until Mrs. Chu called him softly, "Chu Ci, why don’t you ask your sister to come over?"

Chu Ci went over, whispering lightly, "Let her sit with the Bai Family."

Mrs. Chu gently persisted, "That’s where you’re wrong; since your sister has just returned from abroad, sitting apart from us would invite gossip..."

Chu Ci suppressed himself.

Mrs. Chu continued, "Is it she has issues with me, or with our Chu Family? Chu Ci, is there something I’ve done wrong as a mother?"

Veins bulged on Chu Ci’s forehead, his hands tightened, relaxed, then tightened again...

At that moment, Chu Changhe lightly called, "Chu Ci! Look at the occasion."

But Chu Ci couldn’t hold back anymore; he gritted his teeth and whispered, "Mom, don’t you understand?"

Tears welled up in Mrs. Chu’s eyes, "Chu Ci, what are you saying?"

Chu Ci closed his eyes slightly, "Dad, I apologize, but even on your birthday, I must speak some truth."

Mrs. Chu became anxious, "Chu Ci, what are you doing?"

Chu Ci rose and went over to Bai Xun’s table, reaching over he gently pulled Chu Yan up—

Chu Yan tightened her face, staring at him.

Chu Ci looked at her, then at his parents, and spoke softly, "I’ve wanted to say for a long time, Chu Yan isn’t a child of our Chu Family... my mom doesn’t like Chu Yan."

Everyone was shocked.

Though this was widely known, Chu Ci had broken this unspoken truth...

Mrs. Chu was tearful.

Chu Ci forced a bitter smile, "From today on, Chu Yan is no longer part of our Chu Family. She won’t have to call me brother, or call my parents. She has no relation to us anymore."

Then, he addressed Bai Xun, "From now on, take care of your fiancée yourself, if anything happens don’t look to the Chu Family."

At that moment, Mrs. Chu’s voice became piercing, "Chu Ci, do you know what you’re saying? That’s your sister."

Chu Ci laughed coldly, "She hasn’t been my sister for a while now! And, can’t I make even this decision at home?"

He looked towards Chu Changhe.

Only then did Chu Changhe come to realization, he closed his eyes slightly and exhaled deeply, "The child has grown up, let him make the decisions at home."

Mrs. Chu was stunned.

Chu Ci then lowered his gaze to Chu Yan, speaking softly, "Did you hear, don’t self-delude into visiting the Chu Family anymore, even if invited, you don’t need to go, because you are not part of the Chu Family."

Chu Yan met his eyes, and all around, silence reigned.

She wasn’t foolish; she understood why Chu Ci did this...

At this moment, she felt like laughing, yet felt like crying.

Bai Xun slowly stood, gently wrapped her waist, then tenderly said, "Why do you feel like crying? Calling Aunt in front of me embarrasses you?"

"No." Chu Yan sniffed, "I’m just not ready to call with you yet, so addressing Mrs. Chu feels more appropriate."

Mrs. Chu’s expression immediately turned as though she lost her husband!

She was about to lose her temper when a light laugh sounded from the door, "A fine address! Shows respect while keeping some distance!"

Everyone looked and was dumbfounded.

At the door, Gu Anxi leaned there, playing with a token in her hand.

In her heart, she thought about Chu Changhe’s woman, this old woman, if she dared to be impudent, she would strip her of her Mrs. Chu title, and she would make Chu Yan the family head, forcing her to bow down to Chu Yan all the time!!!