Chapter 22: Everything Ends After a Good Night’s Sleep

White Li had no idea what fresh chaos had erupted on the live comment feed. She only knew that she’d tried to strike up a conversation with the cameraman, but to no avail.

With nothing better to do, she sprawled on the single sofa and closed her eyes, determined to catch up on sleep. As long as she set her mind to it, she could nap anywhere.

She still remembered that time she and Bai Chuan Yu had been kept after school. Bai Chuan Yu, the model student, diligently worked through the teacher’s assignments, while she, in the fading sunlight, drifted drowsily. By the time she came to, all she saw was Bai Chuan Yu’s smiling face.

“Seriously? You can fall asleep when you’re being kept after school? Aren’t you scared the homeroom teacher will come back, see you haven’t finished your homework, and make you stay even longer?” Bai Chuan Yu teased, grinning.

White Li blinked, took a moment to process the situation, then sat up abruptly and replied dryly, “I stayed up last night gaming with Duo Duo. Dozed off without meaning to. Why didn’t you wake me up? Oh no, I’m missing a ton of homework. When the teacher comes back to check, I’m doomed.”

When luck turns against you, even drinking water can choke you. Flustered, White Li scrambled to catch up on her homework, but after rummaging for ages, she couldn’t find her workbook. Panic rising, she instinctively looked up at Bai Chuan Yu.

He sat by the window, bathed in light, smiling as he waved her workbook at her.

She recognized it instantly and couldn’t help but snap, “When did you take my homework? Stop messing around, give it back! You wouldn’t want to see me get scolded, would you? What happened to brotherly loyalty?”

Bai Chuan Yu’s smile faded a touch. He didn’t move.

White Li grew anxious, clenching her teeth. “Why did you take my homework? Give it back!”

“Because I couldn’t bear to,” Bai Chuan Yu said, cryptic as ever, and tossed the workbook back to her.

White Li stared blankly. “Bear to what? Speak plainly.”

He couldn’t be bothered to elaborate. Picking up his own workbook, he rose and walked out, heading to hand it over to the teacher, ready to enjoy the Sunday that belonged to high school students.

Not to be outdone, White Li hurriedly flipped open her workbook to make up the missed assignments—only to find pages densely filled with writing. The work was already complete.

It didn’t take much to figure out who did it.

She chuckled, grabbed her backpack, and quickly caught up to Bai Chuan Yu. “Good brother, it could only be you! I was wondering why you’d bother grabbing my workbook. Turns out you finished my homework for me! So thoughtful. With this much charm, you’d have any girl swooning. I almost want to marry you myself!”

Even then, she’d vaguely sensed her own feelings, but dared not voice them directly, instead relating to Bai Chuan Yu in this ambiguous, brotherly way.

It was only because they were “brothers” that she felt free to catch up to him, throw an arm around his shoulder, and let her smile and banter express her heart.

She still remembered the corridor bathed in warm, orange light, and Bai Chuan Yu’s deep, intent gaze.

Back then, she hadn’t taken the time to ponder what Bai Chuan Yu meant by “couldn’t bear to.” Now, she seemed to understand, at least in part.

He couldn’t bear to wake her, so he let her sleep.

He couldn’t bear to let her be scolded by the teacher, so he finished her homework.

He couldn’t bear to let her stay after school alone, so he deliberately asked to be kept with her.

Bai Chuan Yu’s grades were much better than hers or Su Orange’s. Why had he been kept after school that day, too?

In her sleep, White Li understood it all, her lips curling into a gentle smile.

[Is there something wrong with me? I actually find her cute like this!]

[Come on, maybe she isn’t sleeping at all, just pretending!]

[She knows she’s pretty and is using it to tempt us!]

[What can she do? With no talent and no character, all she has is her face!]

[You’re all too conspiratorial. I don’t like LWB either, but she’s asleep now. Who can scheme while sleeping?]

[At least her face is a ticket to the entertainment world. Who wouldn’t feel pity seeing it? No wonder she’s famous!]

[I can’t take it anymore. How long will these empty shells monopolize the industry?]

[Serving people with beauty—how long can it last?]

[Enough fighting. Our Bai Chuan is here!]

Just as this comment appeared, the door of the small villa clicked open. Bai Chuan Yu was the first to step inside. He immediately spotted White Li, asleep and slumped on the single sofa, and froze. Instinctively, he turned around to block the program crew from following him in.

He lowered his voice, “Don’t come in. Just give me the task card.”

The crew hesitated, then quickly handed over the card and hurried away.

Only then did Bai Chuan Yu relax, tiptoeing into the villa with exaggerated care, even closing the door as softly as possible, fearful of waking her.

He sat gingerly on the adjacent sofa, his gaze at White Li layered and complex.

No one knew if they were both recalling the same moment, the same memory.

Bai Chuan Yu simply sat quietly beside her. It had been a long time since such peace existed between them.

In his recollection, whenever they met, it was endless quarrels and relentless pain.

White Li always accused him, heartbroken, of denying her freedom and disrespecting her pursuits. Bai Chuan Yu couldn’t understand—hadn’t he respected her?

Even if she messed around outside, as long as she someday returned and remembered this home, he would forgive and forget.

White Li wanted fame, wanted traffic, and he dutifully let her ride his coattails, let her siphon off his popularity. Everyone in the industry knew—if you wanted to stir controversy or take sides, never involve Bai Chuan Yu, or face the consequences.

But White Li was the exception. No matter how high Bai Chuan Yu climbed, it was all just a springboard for her. Even if she never admitted it, Bai Chuan Yu would do it anyway.

He had endured for so long. Even if White Li truly had divided loyalties, it didn’t matter to him. For others, he was just a hotel. For her, he was home.

He never expected White Li would bring Mu Sang right before him, tearing off the mask and making their rift public.

Did it bother him? Perhaps, a little. That small hurt became the final straw.

If being together only brought sorrow, then separation was better.

Bai Chuan Yu looked at White Li and suddenly smiled, a light, faint smile, as if mocking himself.

Their recent meetings had not erupted into conflict, nor argument, but Bai Chuan Yu was not naïve enough to believe their future would change.

It would end, inevitably.