When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 37

Li Xingcan was utterly overwhelmed, massaging her temples as she returned to the classroom. Lifting her gaze, she immediately spotted Ou Jin and her group chattering excitedly beside Jiang Qingyue. Her scalp prickled with tension.

Had they actually dared to spread those rumors directly to Jiang Qingyue’s ears?

Which version of the gossip had they shared?

Her mind racing, Li Xingcan’s heart pounded with unease. She stood up and edged closer, pretending to be casual while straining to catch their words and gauge Jiang Qingyue’s expression.

The classroom was too noisy, and their whispers were too hushed—Li Xingcan couldn’t make out anything. Still, she could see Jiang Qingyue’s face, which appeared calm and unbothered.

Not entirely reassured, Li Xingcan was about to inch even closer when Jiang Qingyue suddenly turned and looked straight at her. After a brief glance, Jiang Qingyue stood and walked directly toward her.

Li Xingcan froze like a frog caught in headlights, stiff as a wooden board.

Jiang Qingyue didn’t seem to notice her reaction. Slowing her steps as she approached, she said, “Come with me. There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out, expecting Li Xingcan to follow.

Li Xingcan nodded hastily, her peripheral vision catching the exaggerated, gossip-fueled expressions of Ou Jin and her friends as they huddled together, watching the scene unfold. Their faces practically screamed “DRAMA” in bold letters.

This was bad. Who knew how distorted the rumors had become? Li Xingcan smacked her forehead—Jiang Qingyue was definitely going to hold her accountable for this mess.

Turning to follow, Li Xingcan studied Jiang Qingyue’s back, mentally rehearsing an apology. Maybe she should just admit fault first?

Before she could decide, Jiang Qingyue stopped by the railing ahead, gazing at the distant sky. This area was quieter, with fewer people around.

Li Xingcan stepped up beside her, resting her arms on the railing. She cautiously glanced at Jiang Qingyue. “Jiang Qingyue, I—”

“I’ve decided to discuss taking a leave of absence with our homeroom teacher,” Jiang Qingyue cut in, voicing the reason she’d sought Li Xingcan out. “When Zheng Wenbai came to class today, she completely forgot about me—she couldn’t even recall my name. The other students didn’t notice, but if this keeps happening, it’ll raise suspicions. Everyone knows how close we used to be.”

While Li Xingcan hesitated, Jiang Qingyue laid out her thoughts.

Staying in school as long as possible had been her hope, but if it risked causing unnecessary complications, it wasn’t worth it. After considering it all morning, she’d resolved to leave early.

“Wait, what?” Li Xingcan hadn’t expected this topic. Her brain short-circuited for a second before processing Jiang Qingyue’s words.

Though Jiang Qingyue’s concerns were valid, the idea of her leaving school so abruptly didn’t sit right with Li Xingcan. “It’s not that difficult to handle. I can talk to my family and have Zheng Wenbai transferred to another class. We’ll just get a new English teacher—it’ll be sorted quickly.”

“Is that really appropriate?” Jiang Qingyue hesitated.

“What’s inappropriate about it? It’s just hiring another English teacher, a trivial matter. Did you call me out just for this?”

Li Xingcan asked tentatively with her last sentence, her heart involuntarily tightening.

Jiang Qingyue nodded. “What else did you think it was?”

“I thought the same! Relax!” Li Xingcan laughed nervously, scratching her head. Her gaze flickered toward the classroom door, where a row of curious heads peeked out. She immediately glared at them, relieved that Jiang Qingyue hadn’t noticed the scene behind her.

Retracting her gaze, Li Xingcan still felt uneasy. She glanced at Jiang Qingyue and probed, “I saw Ou Jin and the others chatting with you earlier. Did you have a good talk?”

“They just came to ask why I hadn’t been in class lately—routine concern among classmates. They also asked why you were absent with me. I said I didn’t know and brushed it off. Better to say less and avoid mistakes.”

Jiang Qingyue was also puzzled. Today, her classmates seemed unusually enthusiastic.

“Haha, don’t worry. They’re just bored.”

Li Xingcan forced a dry laugh, quietly sighing in relief. Fortunately, Jiang Qingyue hadn’t caught onto their whispered gossip. For now, the secret was safe. All that was left was for Fu Duosui to help clear up the rumors.

With nothing more to say, Li Xingcan walked back to the classroom with Jiang Qingyue. Though not overt, the covert, gossip-filled stares still made her skin crawl.

Fu Duosui was once again whispering with Ou Jin. Li Xingcan could only hope that this time, Fu Duosui would articulate things clearly and finally set the record straight. That would be ideal.

Jiang Qingyue returned to her seat, while Li Xingcan meandered back to hers. She first took out her phone to message home, requesting a new English teacher for their class—ASAP—then tossed the phone into her desk and leaned against the wall, watching Jiang Qingyue, who was already engrossed in solving problems again.

How nice it must be to have a clear, unwavering goal—to focus without distraction, unbothered by anything else.

But what about her?

The entire day, Li Xingcan found herself disinterested in everything, her mind wandering in all directions. For the first time, she was thinking so much—genuinely contemplating the future.

After school ended in the afternoon, only Li Xingcan and Jiang Qingyue, as day students, remained in the class. Still lost in thought, Li Xingcan had completely forgotten about this.

Jiang Qingyue packed her bag and glanced at Li Xingcan, who was sprawled over her desk, lost in some reverie. She walked over and tapped the desk. “Let’s go.”

Li Xingcan snapped back to reality with a dazed “Oh,” then stood and followed Jiang Qingyue out.

For the first time, the classroom was eerily quiet after dismissal. The students gaped as the two walked out one after the other. Combined with the rumors that had been spreading like wildfire, everyone seemed to have already settled on their own “definitive” version of events.

Li Xingcan didn’t notice any of this. She trailed behind Jiang Qingyue mechanically, her mind still adrift.

It wasn’t until they got into the car that Jiang Qingyue realized something was off with Li Xingcan. Even during the short ride, she propped her chin on her hand, staring blankly out the window, so lost in thought that she didn’t even realize they’d arrived home.

“What’s on your mind? You’re so absorbed,” Jiang Qingyue finally couldn’t help but ask.

“Thinking… about the future.”

Li Xingcan snapped out of it, her eyes unusually clouded with uncertainty.

Jiang Qingyue couldn’t understand. “Isn’t your future already clear? You’ll attend the university you’re recommended to, continue studying computer science, then join your family’s company after graduation. Your path is smooth sailing.”

“But is this what I want?” Li Xingcan’s question seemed directed both at Jiang Qingyue and herself.

“Then what do you want?”

“That’s exactly what I’m trying to figure out. What do I really want?” Li Xingcan leaned back against the seat, turning to look at Jiang Qingyue who sat upright beside her. “This is something I envy about you—you know exactly what you want, completely focused on your studies.”

“I’m just good at setting goals for myself. It’s just a shame this particular goal is destined to remain unfulfilled.”

Jiang Qingyue felt herself infected by Li Xingcan’s mood, which was why her spirits had sunk again. Here they were, sitting in the car, idly chatting away their limited time together.

Li Xingcan fell silent, realizing she’d inadvertently brought up Jiang Qingyue’s painful subject again.

“Can’t Aunt Xuan stay in the human world with you? That way you wouldn’t have to be separated, and you could still achieve your dreams.”

The hardest part was the choice—forcing Jiang Qingyue to leave Xuan Yu’s side was too cruel, but having her abandon everything to become a half-bl00d marginal demon in the demon realm was equally tragic. After all, the demon race didn’t develop science at all, meaning Jiang Qingyue would inevitably feel unfulfilled there.

“But Mother has her own responsibilities. She can’t leave just because of me.”

Jiang Qingyue didn’t want Xuan Yu to make such a huge sacrifice for her. While the human world was home to her, for Xuan Yu, the demon realm was where she could truly be free and comfortable.

This time, Li Xingcan could understand Jiang Qingyue’s feelings. But if neither option worked, there had to be some resolution eventually.

Jiang Qingyue lowered her eyes. She knew Li Xingcan genuinely wanted to find a perfect solution for her, but such things weren’t easy.

Silence filled the car again until the housekeeper knocked on the window, prompting them both to exit.

“Thank you.”

As they reached the doorway, Jiang Qingyue whispered to Li Xingcan.

Li Xingcan blinked in surprise. “Huh? For what?”

“This matter shouldn’t have concerned you at all, yet you got involved. Thank you for helping me so much.”

These words came from Jiang Qingyue’s heart. She’d initially held prejudices against Li Xingcan, but after spending so much time together, she’d finally come to truly know her—and realized how wrong she’d been.

Uncharacteristically embarrassed, Li Xingcan cleared her throat. “It’s nothing really. Don’t be like this—I’m not used to it.”

Jiang Qingyue wasn’t used to it either, but seeing Li Xingcan so flustered made the corners of her mouth lift slightly.

The next day, the two went to school together as usual. At noon, seeing Jiang Qingyue preparing to go to the cafeteria alone, Li Xingcan hesitated before approaching. “Want to go together?”

Jiang Qingyue glanced at Fu Duosui nearby, who was watching them with wide eyes, and hesitated. “Maybe not?”

Li Xingcan followed her gaze to Fu Duosui. “Don’t mind her—she just likes making a fuss over nothing. Come on.”

Unable to refuse such earnestness, Jiang Qingyue nodded in agreement.

The three of them walked down the road. Fu Duosui, who used to chatter nonstop, had now fallen completely silent, her eyes darting back and forth between the other two. Even Jiang Qingyue, who normally paid little attention to others’ gazes, found it impossible to ignore this time.

Before Jiang Qingyue could speak, Li Xingcan had already reached her limit. “Fu Duosui, what are you looking at?”

“Nothing! Just… the sky is so blue today!” Fu Duosui immediately averted her gaze, pretending to admire the sky with great seriousness.

Li Xingcan glanced at the blank white sky and felt slightly speechless. “Why are you acting so strange today?”

Fu Duosui’s eyes widened in disbelief as she pointed at her own nose. “I’m the one acting strange?”

“Then who is? Us?” Li Xingcan retorted without room for doubt.

Fu Duosui: “…”