Alice

"Boom!"

"Pop!"

Fireworks bloomed in the sky above the academy, a full seventy bursts, symbolizing the school's seventieth anniversary.

For the past week, fireworks had been set off every evening at dusk.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ye Shuang sat in the car and couldn't help but smile when he noticed the girl leaning against the window.

Bai Yuyou nodded softly. "Beautiful..."

"But... they fade too quickly..."

Ye Shuang simply said, "The more beautiful something is, the harder it is to hold onto."

"Is that so?" Bai Yuyou seemed to half-understand before straightening up in her seat. They were on their way to meet Zhou's Mother for dinner at a nearby restaurant with decent reviews. She had apparently reserved a private room there.

As Ye Shuang drove, the fireworks gradually disappeared from view behind them. Bai Yuyou stopped gazing out the window and instead toyed with her phone, her slender, jade-like fingers scrolling through the screen.

On the display was a photo of her and Ye Shuang. The girl stared at it quietly.

Only when a car horn blared outside did Bai Yuyou slowly look up. "Ye Shuang..."

"Hm?"

"Will we ever be apart?"

"No."

Bai Yuyou murmured, "Liar..."

Ye Shuang was momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to say that. Over time, the girl had come to understand many things.

With a faint, proud smile, he replied,

"Maybe. But if we are, it’ll only be temporary."

"Temporary?"

"When you grow up, you’ll be able to see me anytime you want."

"Every separation is just a prelude to a better reunion."

Bai Yuyou fell silent, her head lowered as if deep in thought.

Ye Shuang didn’t disturb her and simply focused on driving.

Less than half an hour later, they arrived at the restaurant. A server approached them.

"Hello, how many in your party?"

"We have a reservation—the Hibiscus Room. Where is it?"

"This way."

The server led them to a private room. Ye Shuang pushed the door open—

"You’re here, Rou Nü."

Inside the round-table dining room, Zhou's Mother sat with a few others—two adult men and a girl around eleven or twelve years old.

"Aunt Xian." Ye Shuang greeted her with a smile.

Bai Yuyou hesitated before softly adding, "Auntie..."

Only when Ye Shuang gently patted her head did the girl correct herself. "Mom..."

"Rou Nü, these are your two uncles." Zhou's Mother seemed delighted at Bai Yuyou calling her "Mom" and introduced the two men.

"Wow, what a beauty! You’ve got your mom and dad’s genes for sure," one uncle remarked cheerfully.

After introducing the uncles, Zhou's Mother gestured to the little girl. "This is your... cousin, Alice."

The girl was clearly mixed-race—pale skin, a high nose bridge, and golden twin-tails that made her look like a delicate doll.

But when Zhou's Mother introduced her, Alice’s expression flickered with discomfort, and she let out an almost imperceptible huff.

Ye Shuang noticed the girl’s odd reaction and glanced at her again, inadvertently summoning his system window.

But when he skimmed the information displayed, he froze—

[Character: Alice

Officially adopted by the Zhou family. In truth, Zhou Feng’s illegitimate daughter.]

Zhou Feng’s illegitimate child?

This girl was Bai Yuyou’s half-sister? Then why did Zhou's Mother introduce her as a cousin?

"Could it be to avoid making Bai Yuyou uncomfortable about her being adopted? But does Aunt Xian even know Alice is Zhou Feng’s biological daughter?"

Ye Shuang chose not to pry. Meanwhile, Bai Yuyou showed no interest in whether the men were her uncles or whether the girl staring at her was her cousin. She simply sat quietly beside Ye Shuang.

Despite the lavish spread on the table, Bai Yuyou seemed to have no appetite, unlike her usual self.

"Here, sweetheart, try some white-cut chicken." Aunt Xian placed a piece in Bai Yuyou’s bowl. The girl murmured a quiet "thank you" before nibbling at it.

Noticing her daughter’s indifferent attitude, Aunt Xian turned her attention to Ye Shuang. "Shuang, you two arrived quite early."

"The school’s anniversary events are basically a seven-day holiday in disguise," Ye Shuang explained.

As conversation flowed, Ye Shuang effortlessly warmed up to the two uncles with his social ease.

Meanwhile, the only ones eating in silence were Bai Yuyou and Alice.

Bai Yuyou occasionally chimed in when Ye Shuang spoke, but Alice remained completely mute, sulking.

Aunt Xian finally noticed and added some vegetables to Alice’s bowl. "Alice, why are you only eating rice? Have some dishes."

"Not hungry," Alice replied coldly.

"You need nutrition to grow."

"Whatever. It’s not like you want me anyway!" Alice suddenly slammed her chopsticks down and bolted from the room.

"Where are you going?!"

The outburst stunned everyone. Ye Shuang stood immediately. "I’ll go after her. Yuyou, stay here and chat with Aunt Xian and your uncles."

Bai Yuyou nodded. "Come back... soon."

"Of course."

Once outside, Ye Shuang scanned the hallway and asked a passing server, "Excuse me, have you seen a little foreign-looking girl?"

"She went down the stairs that way."

"Thanks."

Following directions, Ye Shuang eventually found the girl in the parking lot, leaning against a car and fiddling with her golden hair.

Hearing footsteps, she tensed—but upon seeing Ye Shuang, she scowled.

"What do you want?"

"Why did you run off like that? Aunt Xian and the others are worried." He held out a hand. "Come back with me."

"None of your business." Alice turned away. "It’s not like..."

She muttered something under her breath—what sounded like Russian.

From her fragmented words, Ye Shuang pieced together a rough idea. He leaned against the car beside her, mirroring her stance.

Alice shot him a puzzled look before realizing he was just standing there, smiling at her.

"W-what are you doing?!"

"Nothing. Just enjoying the breeze."

"Ugh." Alice puffed her cheeks like an angry bun. "Go away!"