When the Tsundere Rival Turns Into a Cat - Chapter 40

Jiang Qingyue wiped the traces from her face, took a deep breath, and looked at Li Xingcan with still-reddened eyes. She tried to sound composed as she spoke, though her voice wasn’t entirely steady. “I’m fine now. Let’s go back.”

Li Xingcan wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. She simply nodded and watched as Jiang Qingyue walked ahead toward the classroom.

Passing by the restroom, Jiang Qingyue splashed her face with cold water—too cold for winter. The icy sensation stung, but it helped clear her mind.

Li Xingcan observed her afterward. Not only were the corners of her eyes red, but the tip of her nose was flushed too. Her complexion had grown even paler, making her nearly bitten lips stand out unnaturally red. Yet, with the water droplets clinging to her face, everything seemed normal—just a natural reaction to the cold.

Her gaze lingered on Jiang Qingyue’s damp lashes. Li Xingcan raised her sleeve and gently wiped them dry.

Jiang Qingyue stood still, not avoiding the touch. The soft fabric brushed over her eyelids, and she closed her eyes briefly. Just as she was about to open them again, she felt a fleeting warmth graze her skin. When she looked up, she caught sight of Li Xingcan withdrawing her hand.

“Let’s go back before your face freezes over,” Li Xingcan said.

Jiang Qingyue paused. The temperature wasn’t even below zero—how could anything freeze? But when her eyes fell on Li Xingcan’s curled fingers, something flickered in her mind. Was she making excuses for that earlier gesture?

Before Jiang Qingyue could dwell on it further, Li Xingcan had already started walking toward the classroom. Shaking off her thoughts, Jiang Qingyue followed.

They returned to the classroom one after the other, taking their seats without drawing much attention. The day passed uneventfully until the final bell rang.

As the last class ended and dinner time approached, their classmates hurried off to the cafeteria, leaving only Jiang Qingyue and Li Xingcan behind.

Jiang Qingyue packed all her belongings into her backpack, stacking the remaining textbooks on her desk.

Li Xingcan retrieved her barely used backpack from the cabinet and placed it on Jiang Qingyue’s desk.

The classroom was silent, the quiet so deep a pin drop would have echoed. Jiang Qingyue stared at the backpack before her. “It’s fine. I can carry the rest in my arms.”

Without a word, Li Xingcan began packing Jiang Qingyue’s books into the bag herself.

They left the classroom together, backpacks slung over their shoulders. At the doorway, Li Xingcan glanced back at Jiang Qingyue’s now-empty desk, feeling an inexplicable hollowness in her chest.

“Shouldn’t you… say goodbye to the others?” Li Xingcan hesitated, unsure if she was asking out of a selfish desire to keep Jiang Qingyue here just one more day.

“No need. I wasn’t close to most of them. It’s better this way.”

Jiang Qingyue also looked back. Though she had spent considerable time here, she hadn’t formed many connections—most of them tied to Li Xingcan. There was no reason for formal farewells now.

“Alright.”

Suppressing a faint sense of loss, Li Xingcan nodded in response.

Upon arriving home, Li Xingcan had just stepped out of the car when she spotted Xuan Yu waiting at the entrance, still clad in her usual black attire. Standing there quietly, her presence made both Li Xingcan and Jiang Qingyue pause momentarily.

But what was inevitable wouldn’t disappear just because one avoided it.

After greeting Xuan Yu at the door, the three of them headed inside, where the housekeeper came out to welcome them. Xuan Yu waved her hand, and the housekeeper’s eyes instantly glazed over before she turned and retreated to her room, closing the door behind her.

“Aunt Xuan Yu, whatever it is, we can discuss it after dinner,” Li Xingcan said, seeing Xuan Yu hypnotize the housekeeper. She knew Xuan Yu intended to resolve the matter immediately, which felt too abrupt, so she tried to persuade her otherwise.

“No need,” Xuan Yu replied, spinning around to sit on the sofa and rejecting Li Xingcan’s suggestion. “We have to return to the demon realm tonight, so let’s not waste time. Pack Qingyue’s things, and we’ll leave.”

“Aunt Xuan Yu…” Li Xingcan wanted to say more but froze when Xuan Yu extended her hand toward her. A chill ran down her spine, and she took a step back. “Aunt Xuan Yu, can’t the memory erasure wait? At least let me help Qingyue pack first.”

“Xingcan,” Xuan Yu sighed, exasperated by her resistance. “I know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t up for discussion. It’s just a matter of half an hour—there’s no point in delaying further.”

“I…” Li Xingcan’s thoughts had been laid bare. Deep down, she knew there was no room for negotiation, but she couldn’t help clinging to hope. She glanced at Jiang Qingyue, who stood silently nearby. “Aunt Xuan Yu, I know this isn’t negotiable, but… just give me a little more time. There are still some things I want to say to Qingyue. It won’t take long, okay?”

Hearing this, Xuan Yu withdrew her hand. “Go ahead.”

Li Xingcan and Jiang Qingyue exchanged a look before setting down their backpacks and heading upstairs to Jiang Qingyue’s room to pack.

Once inside with the door closed, Li Xingcan knew time was short. If she didn’t speak now, she might never get another chance.

“I still hope you’ll stay. You could have a better future here.”

Jiang Qingyue looked at her and gave a faint, wry smile. “Are you trying to convince me to stay?”

“I just want you to reconsider. How you live your life should be your choice.”

Family was important, yes—but it couldn’t be everything. A life without love was incomplete, yet love shouldn’t become shackles either.

Li Xingcan knew her words might be cruel, but she couldn’t hold them back.

Jiang Qingyue wasn’t entirely unmoved. Her gaze drifted toward the door, as if she could already see Xuan Yu waiting downstairs through it.

Leaving her mother to stay in the human world, or following her to the unfamiliar demon realm—it was an impossible choice.

Jiang Qingyue didn’t speak, but the way she continued packing gave Li Xingcan her answer.

Li Xingcan’s heart sank as she silently helped gather Jiang Qingyue’s belongings.

In less than half an hour, Jiang Qingyue’s meager possessions were packed neatly into a single suitcase.

When Jiang Qingyue reached for it, Li Xingcan grabbed it first and wordlessly opened the door to leave. The heaviness in Jiang Qingyue’s chest grew as she watched her go.

“All packed?” Xuan Yu stood up, eyeing the two as they descended the stairs.

Jiang Qingyue nodded. When they reached the living room, she tried to take the suitcase from Li Xingcan’s hands but found it unmoving. Noticing Li Xingcan’s tight grip, she paused mid-action.

“Aunt Xuan, the college entrance exams are just a few months away. With Jiang Qingyue’s grades, she could get into a top university. The scholarships would be enough to support her through her studies. After graduation, she’d enter a field she excels in and do what she loves—she’d undoubtedly shine. This could be her human world life.”

Li Xingcan mustered the courage to meet Xuan Yu’s gaze directly. “Maybe this question is impolite, but I have to ask—what kind of life would she have if she went to the demon realm?”

Jiang Qingyue was startled by the question. She glanced at Xuan Yu’s expression, then frowned and tugged at Li Xingcan’s sleeve. “Li Xingcan! Stop talking.”

Li Xingcan remained unmoved. The demon realm and the human world were vastly different—strength and bloodline purity dictated everything, both of which were Jiang Qingyue’s weaknesses, and nearly impossible to overcome. She had only just learned transformation magic on the cusp of adulthood and knew nothing of other demonic arts. In the demon realm, with only a strict, impartial mother who happened to be an elder, her sole advantage might be material comfort. But beyond that, how could she possibly thrive?

The three stood in the living room, the atmosphere thickening into silence. Xuan Yu studied Li Xingcan’s eyes—she wasn’t angry. In fact, she was considering the question herself.

She was always busy, too busy to dwell on details. Most things, she only cared about the end result. Like now—the result was that Jiang Qingyue was willing to follow her to the demon realm.

But what then? Keep her sheltered under her wing, letting her days pass idly with nothing but food and comfort?

“She… could study and organize the demon realm’s ancient texts. I’d arrange a manageable job for her…”

Xuan Yu tried to think of a suitable arrangement. A peripheral, undemanding role like that was something she could provide. But as the words left her mouth, it suddenly struck her—was this what Jiang Qingyue would want?

Jiang Qingyue met Xuan Yu’s gaze and understood the hesitation in her mother’s eyes. Because of those words, even her mother’s resolve was wavering.

She couldn’t let this continue. Jiang Qingyue cut in, “Enough. Let’s go, Mom.”

She yanked her suitcase free from Li Xingcan’s grip and walked toward Xuan Yu without looking back.

Li Xingcan’s hands fell empty. Watching Jiang Qingyue’s retreating figure, she instinctively took a step forward before forcing herself to stop. This was Jiang Qingyue’s choice—she had already said enough.

Xuan Yu hesitated but finally nodded, extending a hand toward Li Xingcan.

If Jiang Qingyue chose to return to the demon realm, Li Xingcan’s memories of it would have to be erased. And if Jiang Qingyue stayed in the human world, even her own memories of the demon realm would need to be wiped.

This time, Li Xingcan didn’t resist.