Chapter 49: Toys

“Qiqi, come here quickly.”

The girl behind her urged.

But Qi’s gaze was still fixed on Bai Qiaoyu.

She wasn’t surprised by the woman’s appearance—Bai Qiaoyu always kept track of her whereabouts.

She must have known the moment Qi left the school.

Still…

Seeing the black-haired girl frozen in place, Jiang Wanli could only step forward, take her hand, and pull her close.

“Look at you two. Am I really that scary?”

Bai Qiaoyu’s tone was casual.

She took two steps forward, shifting her gaze from the black-haired girl to Jiang Wanli.

“Miss Jiang Wanli, though this is a bit unexpected, I’m still very happy to see you again. I always thought we had a chance to become friends.”

“But Qiqi doesn’t want to be your friend.”

The girl’s tone was blunt.

“Oh?”

Bai Qiaoyu’s eyes landed back on Qi.

“Really, Qiqi?”

The focus returned to her, but Qi didn’t answer.

Her original goal was to wait for Bai Qiaoyu to come to her.

Now that she had met her, it was what she wanted.

But why was Jiang Wanli here?

Had she been followed?

Feeling the tight grip Jiang Wanli had on her wrist, Qi couldn’t help but suspect.

“It seems Qiqi doesn’t think that way. Miss Jiang Wanli, being too possessive isn’t good either.”

Bai Qiaoyu gave a soft laugh.

“Can I borrow Qiqi for a day?”

“Qiqi doesn’t want to go with you.”

“Don’t be so hostile. You and I are the same kind of people. We have plenty to talk about.”

Jiang Wanli ignored her words, still shielding the little one beside her.

But then, the girl felt her hand pushed away.

Qi stepped out from under her protection on her own.

“Sister Xiaoli, you should go back.”

The black-haired girl’s eyes were complex.

“Sister Bai isn’t a bad person. Don’t worry about me.”

“Why?”

Jiang Wanli looked at Qi, her brow slightly furrowed, as if she didn’t understand.

She stepped forward, trying to pull the black-haired girl back, but Qi stepped back to avoid her.

“I asked Sister Bai to come find me!”

Qi lied.

“Sister Bai promised she’d return my campus card this time.”

“Why do you have to get that card back? I told you, you can rely on me!”

Jiang Wanli’s voice unconsciously rose.

“If it’s really too much trouble, I can apply for a new one for you. Why do you have to do this?”

Jiang Wanli was anxious.

This was the first time Qi had felt such strong emotions from her.

‘When did Jiang Wanli start caring about the black-haired girl so much? Strange. They haven’t even been through that much together.’

‘She’s way too easy to win over. Even among the other girls Qi pursued in her past life, none were as easy to make progress with as Jiang Wanli. If that’s true, then Jiang Wanli is just too naive.’

But at the same time, Qi often found her hard to read. Contradictory.

The black-haired girl’s heart was complicated now—a little happy, but also uneasy.

“Sister Xiaoli, I don’t want to keep troubling you like this. I’m sorry…”

With that, Qi gave Jiang Wanli one last deep look, then turned and walked over to Bai Qiaoyu.

“How interesting.”

Bai Qiaoyu, who had watched the whole exchange, smiled.

Then she reached out her hand to the black-haired girl.

Qi hesitated for just a moment, then took it.

“Well then, I’ll be taking your little girlfriend away~”

Watching the two figures walk away, the girl couldn’t help but clench her fist, only to loosen it helplessly.

Her expression was downcast, and a little bitter.

“Still not allowed this time, either?”

On the other side, Qi was being pulled forward by Bai Qiaoyu, but the image from moments ago refused to leave her mind.

“Why the long face? You make me sound like the villain breaking you two up.”

Seeing her expression, Bai Qiaoyu couldn’t help but say.

“With that stunt you just pulled, aren’t you afraid she’ll be upset with you later?”

The black-haired girl looked up at her.

“Isn’t that something someone in your position—CEO Sister—shouldn’t be saying?”

“My position? Oh, right. I’m your suitor, and she’s your suitor too.”

Bai Qiaoyu deliberately acted as if she had just remembered.

“But honestly, I don’t hate her. And I don’t mind you being with her.”

Bai Qiaoyu leaned down slightly, bringing her lips close to Qi’s ear, and whispered.

“If you become my girlfriend, I won’t even stop you from seeing other people. How about that? Someone as tolerant as me is rare nowadays~”

“You just want my body?”

“I know you’re a very conservative girl, Qiqi. I can be patient. We can spend a month in the honeymoon period first, and only then think about that kind of thing.”

Bai Qiaoyu was straightforward, not denying it.

And it was exactly that attitude that made Qi feel utterly disgusted.

Her expression unconsciously cooled.

“That’s just wishful thinking on your part.”

“How could it be? I think someone as charming as Qiqi could definitely conquer the both of us.”

Bai Qiaoyu straightened up, her finger lightly tapping her lips.

“A Qiqi this cute—even if she’s destined to be shared, I still want a taste no matter what.”

“She’s not pursuing me.”

“Is that so? Then the news on the forum is just rumor?”

Bai Qiaoyu shook her head with some regret.

“What a pity~”

The black-haired girl looked at her.

Bai Qiaoyu’s attitude toward her seemed different from before.

There was less aggression, and this change seemed to have come about because of Jiang Wanli’s appearance.

It was like a person facing a favorite toy when they’re alone, then suddenly encountering another competitor who’s also interested in the same toy—so they switch to a new game.

But no matter how the attitude changed, a toy was still a toy.

Qi understood that perfectly.

Bai Qiaoyu suddenly stopped walking.

Qi looked up instinctively and saw the hair salon before her—the one that had closed because of Bai Qiaoyu, and now had reopened.

“Your hair must be due for a trim, right?”

Bai Qiaoyu said to her.

Qi wasn’t sure what she was planning, but she nodded slightly.

So Bai Qiaoyu pulled her into the shop.

“Hello, Boss.”

When the shop employees saw Bai Qiaoyu, they immediately greeted her.

Boss?

The black-haired girl was confused, and Bai Qiaoyu explained.

“I bought this place. So from now on, whenever Qiqi gets a haircut here, it’s free.”

Her tone was casual, as if stating something perfectly normal.

“Take her to wash her hair, then trim and condition it. Give her the highest-tier service.”

“Yes, Boss.”