When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 39

They didn’t have to wait long for the answer. After evening classes, while Li Xingcan and Jiang Qingyue were sitting in the car on their way back, Jiang Qingyue received a call from Xuan Yu.

There had been some delays on their end, so they were running a bit late, but Xuan Yu and the others would be back by tomorrow night at the latest, or the day after at the very latest.

This meant it was finally time to make the final decision.

The car was unusually quiet. Not a single word was exchanged between them until they stopped at the entrance. Jiang Qingyue opened the door and stepped out first, with Li Xingcan following a step behind.

The silence between them made the atmosphere at home feel even more oppressive.

During dinner, Li Xingcan glanced at Jiang Qingyue several times, but the other girl kept her head down the entire time, focused on her meal as if completely unaware.

Xuan Yu hadn’t returned yet, and everything remained uncertain.

Li Xingcan was bursting with things to say, but in the end, she couldn’t voice a single one. She could only console herself with the thought that maybe Xuan Yu would show some leniency.

Early the next morning, they headed to school in the same heavy silence. It was as if both of them had become mute, acting out a silent play.

Fu Duosui immediately noticed Li Xingcan’s unusual behavior today. Glancing at Jiang Qingyue and recalling yesterday’s events, she couldn’t help but shake her head—young people these days.

During a break between classes, Fu Duosui slipped into the seat next to Li Xingcan and patted her shoulder. “Feeling defeated?”

Li Xingcan lifted her eyelids slightly to look at her. “I just want to sleep right now. Don’t bother me.”

“Will sleeping solve anything? Are you really giving up just like that? Is this the Li Xingcan I know?” Fu Duosui couldn’t stand it. If sleeping could fix problems, the most sought-after item in the world would be beds.

“Nothing can change it. Let’s just leave it to fate.”

Resting her head on her arms, Li Xingcan didn’t know what else she could do.

“Nothing is ever that absolute. There must still be a way—”

Before Fu Duosui could finish, Li Xingcan closed her eyes and waved her off.

“Just let me have some quiet. My head hurts.” Li Xingcan was in no mood for conversation.

Seeing this, Fu Duosui had no choice but to back off. This was the first time she’d seen Li Xingcan so utterly crushed—things must be even worse than she’d imagined.

With Li Xingcan completely dispirited, Fu Duosui felt she couldn’t just stand by. After hesitating for a moment, she glanced at Jiang Qingyue and decided to approach her.

But she wasn’t particularly close to Jiang Qingyue—how should she even start?

Dragging her feet to Jiang Qingyue’s desk, Fu Duosui was still struggling to find the right words when Jiang Qingyue spoke first. “Fu Duosui, I know you’re Li Xingcan’s best friend. Can you do me a favor?”

“Huh? Me?” Fu Duosui’s carefully prepared opening line died in her throat as she pointed at herself in disbelief.

“Yes.” Jiang Qingyue nodded, picked up a book, and stood to walk out.

Baffled, Fu Duosui followed. Just before leaving the classroom, she glanced back at Li Xingcan, who was still slumped motionless over her desk, completely unaware of what was happening.

Stepping outside to a less crowded spot, Jiang Qingyue took out an envelope tucked inside her book and handed it to Fu Duosui. “If possible, could you deliver this letter to Li Xingcan this Sunday?”

“That’s the day after tomorrow?” Fu Duosui glanced at the simple blue envelope, his expression hesitant. “Why don’t you give it to her yourself?”

Jiang Qingyue lowered her head. By then, she might have already left with her mother, missing the chance.

Of course, she couldn’t explain this to Fu Duosui, so she avoided details. “If I ask for the letter back before Sunday, I’ll give it to her myself. If I don’t, then please pass it on for me.”

Fu Duosui’s eyes darted thoughtfully. If that was the case, then the contents of this letter must be…

Generally speaking, when two people who see each other daily—their relationship tangled and complicated—suddenly resort to letters, it could only mean one thing…

His eyes instantly brightened, as if he’d glimpsed a new hope for Li Xingcan.

Without further hesitation, he took the envelope. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep it safe. When the time comes, I’ll personally deliver it to Li Xingcan and let you know right away.”

“Thank you. Also, could you keep this a secret from Li Xingcan for now?” Jiang Qingyue didn’t quite understand Fu Duosui’s sudden shift in mood, but since he’d agreed, there was no need to press further.

Fu Duosui readily agreed, sealing the arrangement.

That afternoon, during class, their homeroom teacher, Old Yang, appeared at the door and discreetly motioned for Jiang Qingyue.

She understood. After excusing herself from the teacher, she stepped out.

Li Xingcan watched Jiang Qingyue leave, craning her neck to peer out the window, but all she saw was Jiang Qingyue following Old Yang down the hallway toward the principal’s office.

There was no need to guess—Aunt Xuan must have returned and immediately come to finalize Jiang Qingyue’s transfer.

It seemed there was no room left for resistance.

Her heart uneasy, Li Xingcan waited restlessly. Even after class ended, Jiang Qingyue hadn’t returned.

Unable to sit still, Li Xingcan hurried out, heading toward the principal’s office to see what was happening.

Her steps quickened, nearly breaking into a run. Just as she rounded the corner near the office, she nearly collided with Jiang Qingyue returning from the hallway—her expression unreadable.

Gritting her teeth to steady her breathing, Li Xingcan took a step closer and asked as calmly as she could, “How did it go?”

Jiang Qingyue met her gaze briefly before lowering her eyes. “The transfer’s been processed.”

“How could this happen? Aunt Xuan—” Li Xingcan pressed urgently, but then she spotted Xuan Yu approaching from behind.

The hallway was usually deserted, and now only the three of them stood there. Li Xingcan forced a greeting. “Aunt Xuan, you’re back so soon?”

“It took longer than expected. We were delayed on the way.” Xuan Yu, dressed as always in black, glanced at Jiang Qingyue before fixing her gaze on Li Xingcan, who tensed under the scrutiny.

“Thank you for looking after Qingyue these past days. I’ll head back first. If there’s anything else, we can talk after school.”

Without another word, Xuan Yu turned and left after speaking.

Li Xingcan had already guessed the outcome. Watching Jiang Qingyue with her head bowed, her heart ached with both sorrow and confusion toward Xuan Yu. “Aunt Xuan herself doesn’t support the law that forcibly separates mixed-bl00d children from their beastkin parents, does she? If that’s the case, why can’t she make an exception even for her own family?”

“Supporting or opposing is one thing; enforcing or not enforcing is another. Even if everyone finds it heartless, the law has been passed. As an enforcer, Mom has no choice but to comply. Granting me leniency would be favoritism—using privilege to reunite us while other beastkin families remain torn apart. How is that not cruel in its own way? I should be ashamed of my selfishness.”

Jiang Qingyue was struggling to maintain her composure, but it was proving difficult. By the last sentence, her voice trembled faintly.

Li Xingcan instantly realized these were Xuan Yu’s words to Jiang Qingyue. Qingyue had already been morally conflicted about the idea—it was only after Li Xingcan’s persistent urging that she had approached Xuan Yu. And now…

“I’m sorry! This was all my terrible idea!” Li Xingcan knew exactly how wretched Jiang Qingyue must be feeling—consumed by shame—but none of this was her fault. The idea had been Li Xingcan’s; she couldn’t blame herself.

“You don’t need to apologize. This is my own issue to bear.” Jiang Qingyue shook her head, lowering it even further.

“It’s not your fault. Selfishness is human nature. Only saints are completely selfless—we’re just ordinary people. It’s okay to have selfish desires.” Li Xingcan racked her brain for comforting words, but seeing Jiang Qingyue like this made her chest ache so fiercely her mind went blank, leaving her utterly useless.

Jiang Qingyue understood Li Xingcan’s concern, and that very concern was cracking the fragile calm she’d been clinging to. Right now, she deserved scolding, not comfort.

Turning her face away, Jiang Qingyue’s reddened eyes still held back tears, her bitten lower lip quivering slightly. She raised a hand to wipe away the dampness at the corner of her eye, still trying to feign indifference—but the words “I’m fine” refused to come.

Li Xingcan’s heart twisted painfully. No matter what choice Jiang Qingyue had made, she shouldn’t have had to endure this torment. It was all Li Xingcan’s fault.

Unable to hold back, she reached out, her hand landing hesitantly on Jiang Qingyue’s shoulder. Words failed her completely—even her attempt at comfort was stiff and clumsy beyond belief.

For the first time, Li Xingcan truly felt how inept she was.