Volume 1 Chapter 67: The So-Called Raising-Type Relationship
“No way, I’m being serious!” Bai Muxue said with a smile, blinking playfully, not knowing what Qin Xiyao was thinking inside.
“Tch…”
Qin Xiyao lightly huffed and said nothing more. She quietly moved her gaze away from Bai Muxue.
Even though she had just experienced the closeness she had always wanted, what Bai Muxue said earlier still felt like a thorn stuck in her heart, something she couldn’t forget no matter what.
Xiao Xue’s friend… is very important to her, right? Qin Xiyao thought to herself.
So important that… I probably can’t compare.
It wasn’t just polite words. She could feel that when Bai Muxue said those things, it came from real happiness and emotion.
Then… what should I do to become the most important person in Xiao Xue’s heart?
Qin Xiyao knew this thought was a bit dark and strange, but her messy feelings still kept rising like a flood that couldn’t be stopped.
She didn’t want Bai Muxue to know what she was thinking. That would definitely make Bai Muxue distance herself from her. But at the same time, she was also afraid that if she just kept watching from afar, someone else would take her place one day…
Was she going to keep hesitating like this forever, only to regret it later?
These conflicting thoughts made Qin Xiyao unconsciously twist her fingers together.
She secretly glanced at Bai Muxue, who was drinking milk tea with her head down, and still couldn’t stop herself from asking casually:
“By the way, Xiao Xue… was it because your friend gave you those tickets that you invited me out?”
When she said this, Qin Xiyao felt her body tremble slightly. She didn’t even dare to look at Bai Muxue’s expression.
“Mm… you could say that. Since I already got the tickets, it would be a waste not to go.”
So it really… was like that?
I was just someone she brought along casually…
Qin Xiyao quietly gripped the hem of her skirt, trying hard to hold back the urge to cry and forcing her voice to stay calm.
“So… I was just an extra person, huh… sigh…”
“Don’t take it seriously~”
Noticing something was off in Qin Xiyao’s tone, Bai Muxue quickly stopped teasing and looked straight at her.
“Whether there were tickets or not, I would still have asked you out. I know your mom hasn’t been home lately and you’ve been feeling down. And to me, Xiyao is someone very important… so I wanted to bring you out and cheer you up.”
Bai Muxue’s eyes carried a playful light, but her carefully chosen words clearly touched Qin Xiyao’s heart.
Even though she didn’t fully understand Qin Xiyao’s feelings, as someone who had worked in the real world for nearly twenty years, she could easily tell when a young girl was being moody.
And luckily, she had plenty of experience dealing with girls like that.
As expected, after hearing Bai Muxue’s “sincere” words, Qin Xiyao froze for a moment. Then she looked at her in disbelief before quickly turning her gaze away again.
“R-really?”
Qin Xiyao nervously played with a strand of hair near her ear and asked softly:
“You’re not just saying nice things to make me happy, right?”
Bai Muxue waved her hand casually.
“How could that be? When have I ever said something I didn’t mean?”
“……”
Qin Xiyao fell silent, trying hard to push all her messy emotions back into her heart.
Xiao Xue said I’m important to her… but what about that girl? What is she to Xiao Xue?
But she could never ask that out loud. She didn’t have the courage, and she was afraid of hearing an answer she didn’t want.
If Xiao Xue already said I’m important… then I should just be happy, right?
No one likes a girl who is too sensitive and keeps getting upset all the time.
Besides, for a rich young lady like Bai Muxue, what does it matter if it’s just two concert tickets? Wasting them or not shouldn’t matter at all.
She must have invited me out because she cares about me!
Qin Xiyao kept comforting herself over and over in her heart.
For her, someone who had grown up without much love or friendship, she needed this kind of self-comfort just to keep acting calm and graceful in front of Bai Muxue.
In her own view, Qin Xiyao didn’t think her looks were better than that unknown girl named Shen Jingyi, or that other girl Bai Muxue often talked about. So she chose to try from a different direction.
Just now… Xiao Xue also said that girl is lazy, a bit clueless, and hard to understand…
Then I will try to be calm and steady. I won’t cause trouble for Xiao Xue, and I won’t suddenly argue with her!
If I do that… I should be able to take a more important place in Xiao Xue’s heart, right?
Qin Xiyao believed this. She kept repeating it to herself as a kind of mental suggestion, like how a mother might like a daughter who is more worry-free, Xiao Xue would also prefer a well-behaved, obedient girl.
Yes, that must be it!
She tried hard to push away all the dark thoughts in her mind. When she lifted her head again, what appeared in Bai Muxue’s eyes was still that gentle, soft smile, shining slightly in the sunlight.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Should we hurry and go watch the show?”
Qin Xiyao stood up. Her skirt swayed lightly, bringing a faint scent of perfume that spread gently in the air.
“Let’s go.”
She smiled softly, walked in front of Bai Muxue in a light, graceful way, and naturally took her hand.
…………………………
The performance was held at an open-air stage.
After passing security checks and rushing over, the area was already full of people, packed tightly with a lively crowd.
That small stage… wasn’t this the same kind of place where school cultural shows were held before?
Holding Qin Xiyao’s hand, Bai Muxue found a seat and looked around at the excited audience, slightly raising her eyebrows.
Strictly speaking, this “concert” was far from what she had imagined a real concert would be like.
But if you compare a small girl band like this to a popular idol concert, that would be unfair to them.
Bai Muxue looked at the staff who were still setting up the stage and adjusting equipment, and let out a soft, self-mocking laugh.
“…Even though it’s just an outdoor show, the equipment seems pretty good.”
Beside her, Qin Xiyao looked at the instruments being carried onto the stage and said in surprise.
“Oh? Xiyao, you know about this kind of thing?”
Bai Muxue turned to her a little surprised, she knew nothing about music equipment. She was just here to listen for fun. She didn’t expect Qin Xiyao to actually know something about it.
“Not really,” Qin Xiyao shook her head gently. “I just once practiced performances with the school music club, so I know a little bit. The equipment looks complete, and the lighting also seems good. The overall show should be nice to watch.”
She smiled gently at Bai Muxue. At first, she was just here to accompany her, but now she also felt a bit of anticipation.
“I see…”
Bai Muxue nodded thoughtfully and looked around at the audience.
Just like them, most of the people here were girls around the same age. She didn’t really know how popular this band was, but judging from the size of the stage, it was probably a group that worked hard, but wasn’t top-tier in popularity.
Xingwan once told her that many fans liked to support small girl bands like this. It gave them a feeling like watching “their own child” slowly grow up.
‘I raised you so carefully, and I don’t feel anything special. But watching an idol band makes you so emotional?’
She remembered teasing Xingwan like that once.
‘Hmm, you just don’t get it,’ Tang Xingwan said proudly, straightening her chest. ‘Watching your favorite group climb step by step onto bigger stages feels like your own dream is coming true too! Girl bands and idols are both jobs that sell dreams, you know!’
She waved her little fist, eyes full of excitement. ‘It’s called the ‘raising-type’ feeling! Raising-type!’
So that’s what “raising-type” is…
Looking at the carefully prepared stage and the young faces full of expectation around her, Bai Muxue slowly came out of her memories and softly sighed.
I think… I’m starting to understand Xingwan’s feelings.