Lin Qingle didn’t want Xu Tingbai to live in darkness forever. Even if there was only a sliver of hope, she felt it was worth trying.
If his father couldn’t help, then she would find a way.
If money was the problem, she would save up slowly. If the issue was Xu Tingbai’s lack of confidence and hope, then she would work hard to make him believe that being able to see was still something wonderful.
The next day was Sunday. Lin Yufen bought breakfast, left it in the dining area, and called Lin Qingle to come eat before heading to work.
By the time Lin Qingle got out, Lin Yufen was already gone. She glanced at the breakfast on the table but didn’t eat it. Instead, she packed it up, grabbed her keys, and headed out the door.
She planned to visit Xu Tingbai while her mother wasn’t home. However, as she reached the intersection, she unexpectedly ran into Jiang Shuyi.
When Lin Qingle saw her, her first instinct was to avoid her. But as she walked past, Jiang Shuyi called out to her.
“Qingle, wait!”
Lin Qingle stopped in her tracks and turned around.
Jiang Shuyi walked up to her, hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice, “S-Sorry.”
Lin Qingle was taken aback. “What?”
Jiang Shuyi stammered, “That day at school… I’m sorry. I-I just couldn’t believe what I saw. But later, when I thought about it, we’ve known each other for so long, and we all know what kind of person you are…”
Jiang Shuyi was visibly awkward as she said this, especially since her hesitation that day had been genuine.
Lin Qingle hadn’t expected an apology from her. Over the past couple of days, she had mentally prepared herself for the possibility of losing her friends at school. If that happened, so be it. She wasn’t going to force anyone to accept her.
“Honestly, the person who posted that online must have issues. Your dad… um, I mean, that whole thing was someone else’s doing. What does it have to do with you? You’re the victim here. And those accusations about you intending to kill someone—how could that even be possible? You’re way too timid for that!”
Lin Qingle stared at her in surprise. “You really think that?”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve come to you sooner to say all this, but on Friday… I was just so overwhelmed.”
“Thank you.”
“No, no, you don’t have to thank me. I feel guilty, actually.” Jiang Shuyi bit her lip. “By the way, where are you heading now?”
“I’m going to visit a friend.”
“Xu Tingbai?”
“You know about him?”
“I guessed.” Jiang Shuyi seemed relieved after finally getting to see her and say what she needed to. “Alright, go ahead. I’ll head home.”
“Okay, see you.”
On the way to Xu Tingbai’s house, Lin Qingle felt a little dazed.
Honestly, it wasn’t true that she didn’t care at all about her friends’ opinions. Jiang Shuyi was the first person she’d gotten to know at this school, and someone she genuinely considered a friend.
When she saw Jiang Shuyi avoiding eye contact that day, it had hurt.
She hadn’t expected Jiang Shuyi to apologize to her now. Even though it came a little late, she couldn’t help feeling a bit thrilled.
This small thrill grew as it started to feel more real, and by the time she entered Xu Tingbai’s house, her excitement was evident in her voice.
“I brought you breakfast! Let’s share it!”
Xu Tingbai immediately picked up on it. “You’re in a good mood?”
“Hmm… a little.” Lin Qingle handed him a custard bun. “Here.”
“What’s making you happy?”
“Here’s a little secret: I ran into a classmate on my way here. She’s my best friend at school. She told me she doesn’t believe the things online and said that none of it was my fault.”
As she spoke, Xu Tingbai took a bite of the soft, sweet bun. The creamy custard filling spread across his tongue—a flavor he loved.
“Why didn’t she tell you this at school that day?” Xu Tingbai asked after swallowing.
“Not everyone’s like you.”
Xu Tingbai paused.
Lin Qingle added, “Not everyone can immediately think I’m completely innocent. It’s normal for people to hesitate or think things over. Honestly, I’m already more than satisfied. I’m really happy.” The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
Not everyone’s like you.
Xu Tingbai lowered his gaze and took another bite of the custard bun. “Oh.”
Maybe only someone like Lin Qingle would see things this way.
“Is it good?”
Xu Tingbai nodded.
Lin Qingle smiled. “My mom bought it. There’s soy milk too—here, take it.”
She gently guided his hand to the soy milk. Her actions and tone were meticulous and careful, almost like she was taking care of a child.
Xu Tingbai pulled his hand back, a bit exasperated. “Got it. Sit down and eat your own food.”
“Okay!”
The meal passed quietly. As they were finishing up, Lin Qingle remembered something she forgot to ask yesterday.
“Was Zhang Yikun coming to you because of Yan Dairong again?”
Xu Tingbai replied, “Yes.”
Lin Qingle frowned. “Can I ask you something?”
“If I say no, will you stop?”
Lin Qingle touched her nose and stayed silent.
Seeing her hesitate, Xu Tingbai’s lips quirked slightly. He knew she wouldn’t be able to hold back. Now that he’d blocked her once, she was probably stewing in frustration.
After a moment, he said, “Go ahead. What do you want to ask?”
Lin Qingle’s eyes lit up. “I just wanted to ask—what’s your relationship with Yan Dairong? I’m not trying to pry into your private life. It’s just that Zhang Yikun always causes trouble for you because of her. It’s so annoying.”
Xu Tingbai replied, “Our parents were close, so we met because of that.”
“A long time ago?”
“For as long as I can remember.”
She was surprised—it was way earlier than when she met him.
“Knowing each other for so long, you must’ve had a good relationship. Why does she visit you secretly, not wanting others to know, and why don’t you want her to come?”
“You’ve heard about my family, haven’t you?”
“Uh, yeah, I’ve heard…”
“Our company went bankrupt and was found to have engaged in illegal operations. Because the amount of money involved was enormous, my family completely fell apart,” Xu Tingbai explained plainly, as if it were someone else’s story. “The bankruptcy left many people unemployed. Ever since then—even now—the Xu family name is a stain. Yan Dairong’s parents won’t let her associate with someone from such a family. And she’s also afraid of being gossiped about.”
“But she still likes you, doesn’t she?”
“…”
“She likes you, Zhang Yikun likes her, so Zhang Yikun dislikes you because of that.”
Xu Tingbai pressed his lips together, looking uncomfortable as he turned his head. “What does that have to do with me?”
“So, you don’t like her at all?”
“…Why would I?”
“Great, I don’t like her either.”
Xu Tingbai: “…”
“I think she doesn’t respect you at all. If she really liked you, why would she care about what others say? And why would she let Zhang Yikun insult and bully you like that? Right?”
Lin Qingle spoke with such indignation that Xu Tingbai chuckled. “Why are you so worked up?”
His smile was faint, but Lin Qingle caught it.
She stared at the corners of his lips in surprise. She had seen him smile before, but it had been a long time since she’d seen one as light and genuine as this.
In that moment, Xu Tingbai shed the shadows he usually carried, revealing the youthful brightness of someone his age.
“Xu Tingbai.”
“Yeah?”
“You should smile more often.” This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
Xu Tingbai froze for a moment, then the corners of his mouth fell immediately.
Lin Qingle frowned and, without thinking, reached out to lift the corners of his mouth back up. She just wanted to see his smile a little longer. But before she could make him “smile” for more than two seconds, her fingers were caught in his.
Snapping back to reality, she stammered, “I-I just wanted to say, your smile is really nice. I like seeing you smile.”
Xu Tingbai held her fingers in his palm, his heart giving an unexpected jolt. For a brief moment, he felt her gaze firmly on him—clear and earnest.
“…Don’t get handsy.”
“Oh.”
Her fingers were soft and delicate, and he quickly let go.
She withdrew her hand as well, her fingertips brushing against his palm as she did, leaving behind a ticklish, tingling sensation.
Xu Tingbai clenched his hand, trying to shake off the strange feeling.
“I left my backpack at school the other day, so I didn’t bring any books. Maybe I’ll practice some listening comprehension later,” Lin Qingle said casually.
Distracted, Xu Tingbai gave a vague hum of agreement.
After breakfast, Lin Qingle turned on the TV and switched to a channel that often played foreign films.
Soon, crisp British English began streaming from the screen.
The movie was lighthearted, and Lin Qingle focused on the dialogue while occasionally breaking into soft laughter.
Xu Tingbai didn’t go back to his room today. He stayed on the couch instead.
Whenever he heard her laugh, he couldn’t help but think that the TV, for once, seemed to serve a purpose.
**Monday morning.**
As usual, Lin Qingle bought breakfast and ate on her way to school. On the way, Jiang Shuyi caught up with her, acting as though nothing had changed, and walked with her to school.
When they neared the school gates, a few familiar faces spotted her. Their expressions subtly shifted, a mix of curiosity and gossip.
Lin Qingle recalled what Xu Tingbai had said—that there was no need to care about people who believed those rumors. With that in mind, she ignored their stares with ease.
At the gates, she spotted Yu Tingting and Yu Jiayou. It seemed like they had been waiting for her, as they quickly approached when they saw her.
“Morning! Morning, Qingle!” Yu Tingting greeted enthusiastically.
Lin Qingle blinked in surprise. “Morning.”
Yu Jiayou commented, “You’re eating custard buns again, I see.”
“Ah… yeah.”
“Hurry up, or we’ll be late for morning self-study.”
It seemed like nothing had changed.
In that instant, Lin Qingle knew—they must have chosen to believe her, just like Jiang Shuyi.
“Okay,” she replied, lowering her gaze to take a bite of her bun. A smile slowly crept onto her lips.
So, the world was changing after all, little by little.
“Hey, Christmas is next Friday. How are we going to celebrate?” Yu Tingting asked, chattering as usual.
Jiang Shuyi chimed in, “It’s a school day. What else can we do?”
“Well, we should at least prepare some Christmas gifts, right?”
“Hmm… yeah, that’s true.”
“Qingle, are you planning to prepare any Christmas gifts? Do you have someone you want to give one to?”
Lin Qingle, caught off guard, looked up. “A gift?”
“Yeah! It’s so romantic to prepare a gift for someone important to you.”
Lin Qingle blinked.
Someone important… a gift?