[Gold Powder GL] True Elegance Comes with Knowledge - Chapter 31

As it turned out, Yan Hui’s worries were entirely justified.

It didn’t take long—just waking up the next morning to find herself cheek-to-cheek with Qingqiu, nestled so closely together—it was more than enough to send her heart into a frenzy.
Was this the posture of mere friends?!

She jumped out of bed in a flash and darted out of the room, only regaining a bit of calm once she leaned against the hallway wall and took a deep breath. Just then, she heard Xiaoping’s voice behind her, “Miss, what’s the matter?”

Startled again—thankfully, not Qingqiu’s voice—she finally relaxed. “Why are you suddenly speaking from behind me like that? You gave me a fright.”

“I think you’re the one who’s all flustered,” Xiaoping replied with a grin. “What’s going on this morning? Where’s Miss Qingqiu?”

As she spoke, she peeked curiously into the room.

Yan Hui quickly pushed her back. “She’s still sleeping. Don’t wake her.”

Xiaoping giggled. “No wonder you ran out without even changing clothes or brushing your hair.”

Yan Hui reached up to touch her hair, suddenly realizing what a mess she must look like—and internally screamed. It’s all Cold Qingqiu’s fault! If not for her, why would she be acting so out of character?
Still, she forced a calm expression. “Go fetch me a comb.”

What she didn’t know was that the moment she left the bed, the person beside her had already woken up. Hearing the conversation through the window, Qingqiu buried her face into the pillow, laughing silently for quite some time.

How strange. She had always thought it was Yan Hui’s poised and effortless charm that she liked. But now, seeing her in a state of panic and disarray, she found a whole new kind of charm—something just as captivating.

Because it made Yan Hui feels more vivid, more alive—and more importantly, this change was brought about by her.

When Qingqiu finally got up and walked out of the room, however, she was back to her usual composed self. She greeted Yan Hui cheerfully, as though nothing had happened the night before—as if they were still the same best friends they had always been.

Yan Hui had been unsure how to face her, but seeing Qingqiu behave so naturally helped her settle down too.

So, they really could return to the way things were—just friends.

But soon, she realized: whether or not they remained friends was no longer a decision she could make alone. Their bond had grown too deep. Everyone around them knew how close they were—any distance between them would be noticed.

And besides, they still had to study together in preparation for the Peking University entrance exams. That had always been the path Yan Hui had planned for Qingqiu, and nothing—not even her own feelings—could be allowed to interfere with that.

So, they continued as before, going everywhere together, spending most of their time side by side except when they were in school.

Luckily, as long as they didn’t sleep over at each other’s homes, most of their interactions took place in the presence of others—making things less awkward. With joint effort, neither of them let anything slip, and no one suspected a thing.

Ironically, it was Yan Hui who ended up feeling most awkward.

She couldn’t stop herself from stealing glances at Qingqiu, studying every subtle expression, every tiny movement, trying to guess whether Qingqiu was truly this calm—or just pretending.

What was maddening was that Qingqiu gave nothing away.

Yan Hui suddenly realized: compared to half a year ago when they first met, Qingqiu had changed drastically.

She was more mature, more composed, and more resolute. These were qualities Yan Hui had once hoped Qingqiu would develop. But now that she had, it gave her a strange, indescribable feeling.

Who would’ve thought? All those things Qingqiu had learned—she applied them to her first.

Time slipped forward again in this delicate, awkward balance.

The day the cosmetics factory was finally ready, Peifang hosted a banquet to celebrate and entertain guests. Naturally, both Yan Hui and Qingqiu were invited.

Yan Hui drove to pick up Madam Leng and Qingqiu. Upon arriving at Luohua Alley, the moment she walked in, she saw Madam Leng dressed in a perfectly tailored qipao, with her hair permed and styled, admiring herself in the mirror in the main hall.

Because Yan Hui had been keeping her distance recently, Qingqiu was usually the one going to her house for lessons, and she herself hadn’t visited much. Seeing Madam Leng so made-up was a surprise. She couldn’t help but exclaim, “Auntie, you look absolutely fashionable! If we weren’t at your home, I wouldn’t have recognized you!”

Madam Leng chuckled, a little embarrassed. “Peifang said I’ll be attending more social events from now on, and my old look wasn’t quite appropriate. She encouraged me to reinvent myself. I’m still not used to it—do you think it looks alright?”

Yan Hui gave her a thumbs-up. “You look fantastic—graceful, elegant, and stylish all at once.”

She couldn’t help but feel a pang of emotion. It’s true—people need to go out and socialize. In the past, both she and Qingqiu had tried to get Madam Leng to dress more fashionably, but their efforts had little effect. Yet now that she had befriended Peifang, it had only taken a short while for her to undergo such a transformation.

Madam Leng smiled brightly. “As long as I don’t look ridiculous.”

Then she said, “Qingqiu’s still in her room getting dressed—hasn’t come out for ages. Go check on her, will you?”

Yan Hui felt hesitant, but under Madam Leng’s expectant gaze, her feet moved of their own accord and carried her into Qingqiu’s room.

Pulling back the curtain, the first thing she saw was a bare, porcelain-white back. She immediately turned away and let the curtain fall.

How strange. Back when they were closest, they had even bathed together—helping scrub each other’s backs. There wasn’t a part of Qingqiu’s body she hadn’t seen. But back then, everything had been innocent and open. Now, she didn’t even dare steal an extra glance.

Qingqiu finished dressing and turned around. Seeing Yan Hui still facing the curtain, she chuckled, “If you’re being punished, at least don’t do it in the doorway.”

Yan Hui rubbed her nose and cautiously turned around. Once she saw Qingqiu fully dressed, she let out a breath. “It’s about time. If you’re ready, let’s go.”

She looked like she was facing a deadly beast, but Qingqiu didn’t comment. She simply nodded. “Alright, let’s go.”

When the three of them arrived, the venue was already bustling. At the door to greet guests stood Cao San, who had the largest stake in the factory and also handled its daily operations. After a quick greeting, Yan Hui and Qingqiu supported Madam Leng on either side and walked her inside.

Peifang came over to greet them and quickly whisked Madam Leng away, saying she wanted to introduce her to some ladies.

Leaving Yan Hui and Qingqiu alone.

Before Yan Hui could say anything, Qingqiu said casually, “I’m a bit hungry. I’ll head upstairs to get something to eat. What about you?”

This was what frustrated Yan Hui the most. She had been trying to avoid being alone with Qingqiu—but Qingqiu always beat her to it, offering a reason to separate that sounded perfectly natural. It was as if she truly intended to just remain good friends, never once forcing the issue.

But to say she had given up? Yan Hui didn’t believe it for a second.

Because if Qingqiu had really wanted just friendship, she could have kept silent. Their bond was already strong enough—there was no need to confess. Yet she had confessed, then retreated as if nothing had happened, leaving Yan Hui completely uncertain about what Qingqiu truly felt.

So, when Qingqiu asked, she replied, “I’ll stay here and look around for a bit.”

Qingqiu headed upstairs, and Yan Hui found a quiet corner to sit. Inevitably, her thoughts drifted back to Qingqiu.

The entrance exams were coming up. Maybe once they passed, got into university, and became busier with studies and life, the intensity of their relationship would fade a little.

She was lost in thought when the seat beside her dipped—someone had sat down.

Turning her head, she met Bai Xiuzhu’s smiling face. “On such a festive day, what’s Miss Jin doing all alone here?”

“Nothing much,” Yan Hui replied casually. Just as she was about to return the greeting, a strange tension gripped her chest. She instinctively looked up—and there was Qingqiu, standing on the second-floor balcony, tray of food in hand, looking down at her from above.

Yan Hui stiffened and immediately slid to the side, increasing the distance between herself and Xiuzhu.

She hadn’t forgotten— it was Xiuzhu who had provoked Qingqiu last time, pushing her to make that bold confession.