Campus Ace Girl

Bai Xun didn’t pay any more attention, he went straight upstairs.

Chu Ci was naturally downstairs, smoking and lost in thought.

He knew that at this moment, Bai Xun could go upstairs and hug her at will.

That night, Chu Ci sat in the car, sitting there for the whole night.

Upstairs, before Bai Xun went home, he stood at the door and smoked a cigarette before opening the door.

The house was quiet, with only faint sounds coming from the kitchen. When he poked his head in, he saw Chu Yan standing there handling ingredients, but she didn’t often do these things, so she seemed a bit clumsy.

Chu Ci smiled, walked over and hugged her from behind: "Making up for past mistakes?"

"I didn’t do anything wrong, why should I make up for anything?" She patted his hand: "You do it."

He smiled but pinned her against the counter to kiss her. After a short while, feeling it wasn’t enough, he lifted her up and continued kissing her. Only after a while did he say in a hoarse voice: "Aren’t you going to explain yourself?"

Chu Yan sat up, looked down at him, and awkwardly said, "There’s really nothing to explain."

Bai Xun didn’t mind, he just lifted her down, "Go wash your hands, I’ll do it."

He let her go so easily that Chu Yan was somewhat at a loss. She washed her hands and leaned to the side: "You’re not going to ask anymore?"

"There’s nothing to ask." He chuckled: "I believe that even if I didn’t come back, it wouldn’t be another story."

He knew Chu Yan’s temperament well. She wouldn’t be with another man just to spite Chu Ci or to avoid him; she didn’t wrong herself.

When he said this, Chu Yan also chuckled: "You’re that confident?"

Bai Xun glanced at her, and while handling the ingredients, said: "I’ve heard that men age 22-24 are in their golden years."

Bai Xun grinned: "I still feel you’re the lucky one."

He sighed: "Isn’t it much better than being with a man in his thirties? Once you compare, you can’t forget it."

Chu Yan was exasperated, she formed a fist and hit him. Bai Xun wasn’t angry, he just wrapped an arm around her and laughed: "Don’t make trouble, I haven’t had lunch yet. Let’s finish cooking first."

She glared at him.

He sighed: "I’m dieting, but it’ll be normal after the filming."

Chu Yan didn’t say anything else. She rinsed an apple for him and softly said: "If you don’t like this line of work, then don’t do it."

Bai Xun smiled: "I thought you liked it."

"Stop being the good guy, you think I don’t know? If you were really doing it for me, why make it known? Clearly, you’ve shown your true colors after achieving your aim." Chu Yan was no fool.

"I love how sharp you are." He smiled, finished half an apple, then turned back to continue with the ingredients.

Chu Yan actually had some tasks to take care of, but at this moment, she didn’t leave.

After not seeing him for so long, she was somewhat angry, but she just didn’t want to leave; she only wanted to watch him handle the ingredients.

Bai Xun glanced up and slowly said: "Is it really that hard to say you missed me?"

"I don’t want to say it." Her voice was somewhat willful yet soft, as she hugged his waist from behind.

Bai Xun was slender, naturally with a lean waist, but with nicely defined, thin muscles, making it very comfortable to hold.

Chu Yan didn’t know about other women, but she truly liked Bai Xun’s appearance, his face, and his physique. Liking him this much, she simply rested her face against his back.

Bai Xun didn’t say anything to her; he just continued with the conversation: "The house, didn’t you really like it?"

This time, she didn’t want to lie: "The house was chosen by Chu Ci, I don’t want it anymore."

He smiled softly: "Afraid I’d mind?"

"Partly." She laid against his back, hands placed in front, "Let’s look again in the future. If we really can’t find a suitable one, we’ll buy one and renovate it ourselves."

Bai Xun thought for a moment: "Leave it to me."

She raised her head: "You know?"

Then she went silent, recalling that Bai Xun had designs on her when he was barely 20. Surely he knew her preferences clearly; even his physique was probably deliberately built to entice her. Just thinking about it, she squeezed him tightly in frustration.

Bai Xun yelled out: "I’ve never seen someone like you."

He shamelessly said: "I know you’ve never seen such a handsome man like me. Alright, go outside and play for a bit. If you keep this up, I can’t cook."

Chu Yan pinched him again: "Shameless."

He turned his head, but she ran away.

Bai Xun watched her back for a long while, then shook his head and smiled.

He was really calm, not afraid of Chu Ci’s seduction or Chu Yan’s wavering. If you asked him, it was probably the confidence of a 24-year-old man.

He didn’t give Chu Yan any pressure, their interactions were as relaxed and natural as can be, so she had no reason to leave him to return to Chu Ci and that messy environment.

He had confidence not only in himself but also in her; she was a smart girl who wouldn’t put herself in a bad situation.

Bai Xun made a few homemade dishes, and when they were done, he called her: "Yan Yan, time to eat."

Chu Yan brought over a glass of juice; after sitting down, she asked him: "Do you want some?"

"No, thanks." Bai Xun poured himself a glass of milk.

Chu Yan looked at him for a while, muttered softly: "So pitiful. A diet must be tough."

He looked at her and smiled: "If you’re willing, it’s not a diet."

Chu Yan immediately understood, stopped looking at him, and concentrated on eating.

After the meal, Bai Xun lounged back on the sofa, ordering her to do the dishes. Chu Yan thought maybe it was better if he didn’t come back, otherwise, she’d usually put it off until tomorrow...

But Bai Xun was quite insistent, so she had no choice but to wash the dishes. While washing, she swore she wouldn’t talk to him tonight. But when she came out, he waved her over: "Come and look at this house."

Chu Yan dried her hands, walked over to sit next to him. As soon as she did, he encircled her in his arms and pointed at a house on his phone: "How about this one?"

Chu Yan glanced at it, then froze.

That house was even nicer than the one she saw this afternoon, even more to her liking.

She looked at him.

Bai Xun smiled: "It’s my house; I bought it a couple of years ago and haven’t lived in it yet. I thought you’d like squeezing in with me, plus it’s closer to your work."

Chu Yan softly said: "I also thought you’d like an independent gym space."

He chuckled.

Then, he reached out to touch her hair: "Yes, Yan Yan, you do know me well... So, on weekends, let’s live there, during the week, we’ll stay here. If we get married, we’ll move there, since we’ll have kids then."

He thought a bit: "Let’s have two kids?"

Chu Yan scrolled through pictures on his phone, casually said: "We haven’t even talked about getting married, have we?"

Bai Xun laughed: "Why buy a house if not for marriage?"

Chu Yan was stumped by his question and decided to procrastinate by saying she needed a shower. He held her in his arms.

Holding her close, he said softly: "Let’s talk a bit more."

He usually left first thing in the morning, and this time he’d probably be gone for half a month, until Chu Ci’s wedding day.

Thinking of this, he nudged her hair with his chin and softly said: "Chu Ci is getting married, did you know?"

She nodded: "I received the invitation."

Bai Xun looked at her but didn’t ask.

Chu Yan didn’t explain either. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck and softly asked: "Don’t you miss me at all?"

Bai Xun held her waist, his voice hoarse: "I thought you were angry, always wondering how to appease you."

But now it seems, there’s no need for much placating.

Chu Yan knows better than him what she wants...

After speaking, he carried her back to the main bedroom without turning on the lights...

At dawn, Bai Xun woke up, glanced at the time, and lay back down.

He had to leave.

Turning sideways, he looked at Chu Yan beside him; he was reluctant to go.

But, work always calls.

He got up quietly, made her breakfast, tidied up, and then left.

Downstairs, the sky wasn’t fully bright yet.

Downstairs, Chu Ci’s car was still there.

Bai Xun walked over and knocked on the car window.

Chu Ci lowered the window and looked at Bai Xun: "What, heading back to the set early?"

"Yes." Bai Xun’s voice was calm: "How about you, why spend the night in the car?"

He paused before saying, "Zhao Mo Ran seems quite cultured. Are you sure you want to juggle between options? I must tell your brother, my belongings are not for sharing, and if you can’t make a woman happy, why marry her?"

Chu Ci looked at him: "Isn’t my marriage good news for you?"

Bai Xun tucked his hands into his pockets, his white casual outfit in the early morning giving him an elegant presence. He smiled: "Between Yan Yan and me, the key is never you, but Yan Yan. Whether you believe it or not, I have never seen you as a threat. Your marriage doesn’t significantly affect our relationship."

Chu Ci squinted.

Bai Xun candidly confessed: "Whether Yan Yan likes me or not is what matters, just as your happiness with Zhao Mo Ran depends on your attitude and feelings towards her."

Bai Xun hesitated slightly before saying: "I like Yan Yan, but you’re my brother, and I don’t wish for you to sacrifice your own happiness for Yan Yan, and drag an innocent girl down as well. Brother, think carefully about whether you want this marriage."

"So confident, aren’t you?" Chu Ci’s smile was faint.

But in the next second, his smile was gone because he saw very apparent marks on Bai Xun’s neck.

Those were left by Chu Yan.

His fingers clenched, his voice raspy: "You two..."

Bai Xun spoke very softly: "I can’t say she loves me deeply, but I can say she finds no reason to leave me."

After saying that, he left, walked to his car, opened the car door, got in, and drove away.

He wasn’t shy about Chu Ci waiting for Chu Yan, nor afraid they’d interact.

This was not magnanimous but rather secure.

In other words, Bai Xun never saw him as a rival and never took him seriously.

His confidence indirectly implied his and Chu Yan’s relationship was strong... Chu Ci laughed, leaning back slowly in his seat, mocking his own wishful thinking, mocking his naivety.

He still thought he was an indelible scar in Chu Yan’s heart.

Turns out, her heart no longer held a place for him.

He sat quietly for a long while, until the sun fully rose... The agent called him, saying the paperwork was ready. Chu Ci requested hoarsely to have it delivered to him.

The agent was quite surprised, but for his commission, he quickly drove over, handing the property deed to Chu Ci: "Mr. Chu, everything is settled."

Chu Ci nodded: "Settle the commission directly with Secretary Yin, I will instruct her."

The agent left cheerfully and promptly.

Chu Ci gazed at the red booklet, dazed for a moment, just as Chu Yan was coming downstairs.

Her steps halted upon seeing Chu Ci.

Chu Ci also saw her and quietly observed her.

He admitted he was searching for traces left from last night, and indeed he saw them; she wore a high-neck, loose deep blue sweater, paired with a floral skirt, looking very feminine.

Chu Yan spoke helplessly: "Why haven’t you gone back?"

She added: "Aren’t you getting married? Chu Ci... please don’t seek me out anymore, I can’t bear the burden of your life."

Chu Ci replied coolly: "Let’s find a place to talk, for the last time. I won’t disturb you afterward."

Chu Yan checked the time, "There’s a café over there, not many people."

She headed over first, followed by Chu Ci.

He had to admit she was different from before; she used to be a little girl, now she had opinions and didn’t quite listen to him. But what he hadn’t expected was that she would be so tightly held by Bai Xun now.

At the café, after not eating all night, Chu Ci ordered a simple meal, and for her, he ordered a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea, which Chu Yan didn’t refuse.

When the milk tea arrived, she sipped it quietly, then softly asked: "What else do you have to say?"

Chu Ci put down the sandwich, handed her the document bag.

She opened it to find the deed to the house, already transferred to her name.

Without thinking, Chu Yan said: "I can’t accept this?"

"Afraid he’ll get mad?" Chu Ci’s voice was slightly chilly: "Do you care about him so much? Care enough to ignore past emotions?"

Chu Yan shook her head, "No, not because of him, but because there’s no reason to accept it."

She looked at Chu Ci.

Since she came back, she hadn’t looked at him this closely, always somewhat avoiding, but now she knew it was time to make things clear.

She said: "If it’s for sibling affection, that’s unnecessary. I’ve clarified I’m no longer a child of the Chu Family; if... it’s because of a past relationship, then it’s even less necessary. No man remains so generous so many years after a breakup unless there’s an ulterior motive. Mr. Chu, isn’t it fair for me to think this way? Furthermore, for the sake of your future family’s harmony, there’s truly no need to give such an expensive gift, so please change it back."

She looked into his eyes, speaking quite brutally and coldly: "You’re about to get married, and I have a boyfriend. We should both value what we currently have."

She finished speaking, confident that she had made things clear with him, so she stood up.

Chu Ci called out to her: "Yan Yan."

Chu Yan froze, but she didn’t turn around. She said softly: "I’ve moved on, I know you haven’t, but... I’m sorry."

Her apology was merely a refusal, not an actual regret toward him.

Chu Ci bitterly thought: Why would she have anything to apologize for; it’s just him insisting.

Maybe she was tired of it.

Before she could leave, Chu Ci grabbed her hand, saying softly: "Just one last sentence."

She looked at him.

’Sorry Yan Yan.’ As they stood face to face, he lowered his gaze to hers, whispered gently: "I’m sorry I didn’t have the courage back then to drop everything and protect you, sorry. I know you don’t need me anymore..."

After speaking, he closed his eyes, overwhelmed by heartache.

She was finally not his anymore.

He held her stiff body for just a second: "Yan Yan, sorry."

Before Chu Yan could react, he quickly left.

Chu Yan wasn’t sure if he was crying.

She only knew that she wasn’t feeling good either.