"Ask... don’t ask... ask... don’t ask... ask..."
"Creak..."
"I’m back."
The villa’s front door swung open.
Jiang Xiong, looking refined in his glasses, had his suit jacket draped over his arm as he changed into his slippers at the entryway.
Before he even glanced in the direction of Bai Yi’s room on the first floor, the scene in the living room stopped him in his tracks.
There, sitting in the living room, was his stepdaughter, Bai Yi, wearing a headband to hold back her bangs and a pure white hydrating face mask on her face.
Her eyes were red, and she was clutching a bundle of fake flowers, plucking the petals off one by one.
The table was already littered with torn petals and broken fake flowers—clearly, the one in her hands wasn’t the first victim.
She plucked a petal and whispered with a trembling voice—
"Ask..."
Then she plucked another, her lips quivering again.
"Don’t ask..."
This was the last petal.
Which ant… the result was "don’t ask."
"Ahhh! But if I don’t ask, how am I supposed to sleep?!"
Frustrated, Bai Yi tossed the now-bald flower stem onto the table and angrily grabbed another one.
"......"
Jiang Xiong curiously glanced at the ss on the table and asked—
"Yiyi, what exactly are you doing?"
"Huh? Uncle Jiang, you’re back..."
Bai Yi’s movents stiffened.
With the face mask covering her expression, Jiang Xiong could only tell she was startled from her slightly open mouth.
"...Where’s your mom?"
"Still doing her skincare routine. It’ll probably take her another hour or two. I got impatient, so I ca back first."
"...Oh, alright then."
Jiang Xiong hung up his jacket, tidying himself up as he continued—
"You’re doing a face mask this late at night, and you look all worked up. Sothing happen?
"Your agency just sent out a release invitation today, and Manager Little Ji said everything looked good… So, is it sothing at school?"
Bai Yi fiddled with the fake flower, as if suddenly feeling guilty about destroying it.
She pouted, hesitated for a mont, then finally admitted that she had invited Yan Huan today—
And he still hadn’t replied.
Hearing it was about "Fan A", Jiang Xiong perked up with interest.
He turned back toward her, grinning—
"Oh, so it’s about romance?"
"It’s not romance!"
Underneath the face mask, Bai Yi’s cheeks burned, but she still tried to explain—
"It’s just... normal social interaction. Just friends... probably."
"Well, romance does start from friendship. And let’s not forget, thanks to your mom, you and Yan Huan have quite the fated connection."
"I said it’s not about romance!"
Jiang Xiong didn’t argue.
He simply rubbed his chin and said—
"Well, it’s pretty obvious. You directly invited him to be the male lead in your MV..."
Before he could even finish, Bai Yi jumped in excitedly—
"Right?! Uncle Jiang, you think so too, don’t you?! I made it so clear! I invited him specifically! And this new song wouldn’t even exist without him!"
The more she spoke, the more worked up she got—completely missing the knowing look in Jiang Xiong’s eyes.
"And yesterday too! I even gave him the sa Bluetooth earphones as mine! I deliberately turned the side with the matching earbud toward him, but he didn’t react at all!
Jiang Xiong pushed up his glasses, sweating slightly.
"That’s... kind of a tall order. Who just randomly stares at soone’s earphones?"
"Normally... they should notice, right?"
"They wouldn’t."
Bai Yi pouted, gripping the couch cushion before mumbling—
"Even if I take a step back, shouldn’t he at least reply to my ssage?"
"Oh? Sounds like you really care, huh?"
Bai Yi glared at Jiang Xiong, blushing but didn’t respond—just let out a little "hmph."
Jiang Xiong finished ironing his shirt, then casually started boiling so water.
After pressing the kettle’s start button, he finally sat down on the other end of the couch and smiled—
"Want so advice? About romance?"
"I said it’s not about romance!"
Bai Yi shot him another glare—
But after a brief silence, she hesitated and muttered—
"...Fine. What’s your advice?"
Jiang Xiong didn’t look surprised at all.
He continued—
"From what I hear, Yan Huan is even more popular at your school than you are, right?
"After all, being student council president at Linn, one of the top schools, isn’t sothing just anyone can do."
Bai Yi’s face reddened as she nodded.
"Yeah... that’s true..."
Bai Yi was in First-Year Class B, and one of her classmates, Hachihashi Ki, was one of Yan Huan’s good friends.
So today, Bai Yi had asked her best friend to subtly gather so intel on Yan Huan.
That was how she had finally caught up on all the latest school gossip about him…
Faster than she had ever caught up on her actual studies.
She pulled out her phone, opened Plane, and handed it to Jiang Xiong.
"Look, this is a screenshot my best friend sent ..."
Jiang Xiong took one glance and imdiately noticed—
It was from a group chat filled with Far Moon students, chatting excitedly.
"Wait, what? Your school’s Club Battle is after midterms, then cos the training camp, right?
"And these girls are already trying to figure out where Yan Huan’s A-Class is going?"
Bai Yi lowered her head, sounding deeply resentful—
"Yeah..."
But the next second—
Her expression brightened, and she lifted her nose proudly.
"But, but! Those girls don’t know—Yan Huan is my fan!
"He loves my music! Really loves it!!"
"......"
Bai Yi absolutely loved being praised.
And Yan Huan’s complints?
They worked extra well.
Jiang Xiong sighed and handed the phone back.
"That’s exactly what I wanted to warn you about, Yiyi.
"A guy like him? He’s bound to have a ton of girls watching him like hawks.
"And let’s not forget—your school has an overwhelming female-to-male ratio."
Bai Yi froze, her smile fading slightly.
"What does that an?"
"It ans that for you—
"You’ll have countless potential rivals in love.
"And for him—
"He’s going to be surrounded by endless temptations.
"Especially in a school full of wealthy, powerful young ladies."
Bai Yi’s romantic fantasies were completely doused by Jiang Xiong’s cold reality check.
She pressed her lips together, listening to his warning.
"It’s not that I doubt Yan Huan’s character, but experience tells —young n find it very difficult to resist temptation.
"And didn’t you ntion before? His boss at work seems to be quite interested in him too...
"So, Yiyi, you not only need to carefully evaluate his personality—to make sure he doesn’t deceive you, emotionally or physically—
"But you also need the skills and charm to make sure his eyes don’t wander elsewhere… and that he genuinely falls for you.
"Not just as a fan—as a woman."
Bai Yi frowned, recalling that mont when Tong Yingying, the beautiful bar owner, had looked at her and Yan Huan.
There was sothing about her gaze that felt off…
That woman had an air of sophistication, and she had instantly recognized Bai Yi’s designer sunglasses and their price at a glance.
She clearly wasn’t lacking money.
But… she was so much older than Yan Huan?!
Could it really be like Jiang Xiong said?
Could the so-called "hiring an employee" actually be a front for "keeping a lover"?
A chill ran down Bai Yi’s spine as a terrifying scene flashed in her mind.
In her imagination—
Yan Huan looked troubled, hesitantly glancing at Tong Yingying, who sat cross-legged, smirking playfully.
"Um… Boss Tong, sothing ca up at ho, and I really need money fast. Could you… give an advance on my salary?"
"Oh? An advance? Sure, that can be arranged…"
Just as hope lit up in Yan Huan’s eyes—
A steel wool scrubber was suddenly tossed right in front of him, completely filling his vision.
"Then tonight… don’t go ho."
"......"
Bai Yi’s jaw dropped, her face mask even slipping off slightly in shock.
Thank god Vice President Yinggong from the student council didn’t seem interested in Yan Huan.
She was also very friendly toward Bai Yi, and their interactions were comfortable.
But still…
Jiang Xiong had made a valid point.
She definitely needed to understand Yan Huan better.
"You’re right, Uncle Jiang. I’ll think about this carefully…"
"Ding~"
At that mont, Bai Yi’s phone suddenly buzzed nonstop, notification sounds ringing out in quick succession.
She snatched it up imdiately.
The second she lit up the screen, she froze, then squealed—
"It’s Yan Huan!"
Jiang Xiong, mid-pour with the hot water, paused slightly.
Turning around, he smiled and asked—
"He finally replied?"
"Y-Yeah…"
Bai Yi, her fingers fumbling, quickly unlocked her phone and opened the Plane chat.
A series of ssages had arrived.
And just like that, all the doubt and frustration Jiang Xiong had stirred up in her vanished.
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glazed over like soft incense smoke.
"R-Right, he is super busy…
"He has to study, work, and manage all the daily student council tasks.
"On top of that, he’s organizing the massive Club Battle event and running the study group… No wonder he didn’t reply sooner…"
Well.
That whole conversation was pointless then.
Watching her change tunes so fast, Jiang Xiong pushed up his glasses and sighed.
"After all that explaining… So? What did he say about your MV invitation?"
Bai Yi stared at the screen, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
But she hesitated, unsure how to reply.
Instead, she quietly saved the little "sorry" cat emoji that Yan Huan had sent.
Then, she finally said—
"He agreed… but he doesn’t want his face shown in the MV. And—he doesn’t want paynt."
"That generous?"
"Well… it’s not that he doesn’t want paynt, just not money.
"He said that in exchange for helping with the MV, he wants to perform at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Club Battle."
Jiang Xiong raised an eyebrow, blowing on his tea before chuckling—
"That’s a solid deal. Can’t expect less from Far Moon’s student council president."
"Right? Hehehe…"
Hah.
Before, ntioning Yan Huan in front of Bai Yi would make her flustered.
Now, praising him directly just made her grin like an idiot.
It was as if—
Praising her fan… made her, the idol, feel even prouder.
Bai Yi pouted, pacing around the living room with her phone.
"...What should I reply with?"
Still thinking, she puffed up her cheeks, then slowly peeled off her face mask before heading toward the bathroom.
"Even though he was busy and couldn’t reply right away, which is understandable… I am still a little mad.
"I’ll wash my face first, apply my skincare, and then text him back…
"Let’s see how he likes waiting!"
…That’s what, a few minutes at most?
Jiang Xiong didn’t even feel like comnting anymore.
Honestly, he wasn’t sure who was really making whom wait here.
But—
Ah, youth.
Jiang Xiong opened his mouth, but in the end, didn’t say anything.
Then, as if suddenly rembering sothing, he casually reminded her—
"Oh, Yiyi, shouldn’t you and your mom sit down for a real talk soti?"
Bai Yi, mid-step toward the bathroom, froze slightly.
She didn’t respond.
Jiang Xiong sighed, glancing at her back.
"You two haven’t spoken since coming back from the ga expo. This cold war can’t last forever."
"Uncle Jiang, you talked to her about my singing already, right?"
"Of course."
"And? She didn’t agree, did she?"
"She didn’t say no either."
Bai Yi gritted her teeth, gripping her phone tighter.
She frowned, turning slightly—her gaze not eting Jiang Xiong’s, but rather fixating on the floor.
"Right. She didn’t say yes or no.
"But deep down, she doesn’t approve.
"She’s only staying quiet because my singing is getting results, record labels are approaching, and I have endorsent deals lined up.
"She doesn’t have an excuse to shut down—yet.
"But the mont I stumble, just watch—she’ll be first in line to mock .
"'I told you singing was a bad idea, but you wouldn’t listen.'
"That’s exactly what she’ll say."
Jiang Xiong fell silent.
He had no argunt, because—
He knew.
That was the kind of person Zuo Jiangqin was.
"...Alright. Just let things play out naturally, then."
Jiang Xiong let out a helpless chuckle and told her—
"Still, I never expected that I, the stepfather, would end up as the firewall between you and your real mother."
Hearing this, Bai Yi pressed her lips together, her expression complicated as she looked at Jiang Xiong.
Her biological father had passed away when she was very young.
Since then, Zuo Jiangqin, who had once never lifted a finger in household chores, had been forced to harden herself, raising Bai Yi alone.
And maybe because of that—
Sowhere along the way… she had beco unbearably controlling.
That only made Bai Yi cling harder to the mories of her father.
The more ti passed, the more vividly she rembered how things had been when he was still alive.
And no matter how many years Jiang Xiong had been with them—
She had never called him "Dad."
Of course, Jiang Xiong didn’t mind.
"Call whatever you want, Yiyi. As long as you rember—we’re family now, and that’s what matters."
At that mont, Bai Yi parted her lips slightly, wanting to say sothing.
But as thoughts of her mother, Zuo Jiangqin, surfaced in her mind—
Sothing stirred in her chest.
A phantom pocket watch quietly materialized within her grasp.
Since the ga expo on Sunday, Bai Yi had almost forgotten that she even had this supernatural ability.
Because for the past two days—
She had been truly happy.
Whether it was the joy of singing on stage, or the first stirrings of an innocent, budding romance—
Everything had been perfect.
But now—
The mont she thought about the silent war between her and her mother—
The watch resurfaced.
As if reminding her of sothing she couldn’t escape.
Bai Yi gripped the pocket watch in one hand, her phone in the other.
Then, with an effort, she forced a smile onto her face.
Turning toward the bathroom, she spoke casually, as if it didn’t matter—
"Alright, Uncle Jiang. I’m going to wash my face… Then I’ll figure out what to reply to Yan Huan."
"Alright."
Jiang Xiong smiled faintly and took a sip of his tea.
But in that quiet living room—
Neither of them seed to notice—
A faint, rhythmic ticking had begun to echo through the air.
Like the soft drip of water in an empty space.
"Tick… tick… tock… tock…"
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