Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

It was a quick decision. Bai Tingzhi had no intention of waiting for Lin Yunian, who had disappeared without a trace. Evening self-study was about to begin, and lingering would only cause trouble. It was better to go home early.

 
Looking at Lin Yunian's schoolbag on his seat, she hesitated. Still, she decided to take it back with her; otherwise, that guy would find some reason to complain about her later.
 

There was one more thing.
 
She looked up. The blackboard had just been wiped clean and didn't yet have today's homework assignments[1].

 
Bai Tingzhi followed a vague memory to the seat of the class monitor. Although she didn't have the habit of taking notes, the class monitor had to write down the homework for each subject on the blackboard, so there must be records.
 

Uncertain which notebook contained the records, she carefully flipped through the notes piled on the textbooks, completely unaware that a figure was quietly approaching from behind.
 
A pair of “claws” were already hovering on both sides of Bai Tingzhi’s neck.

 
Feeling something unusual, she reached up, intending to brush it away, and was about to turn her head.
 

She saw the two “claws” quickly wrap around her delicate neck, followed by a low, familiar voice.
 
“Xiaobai, sneaking around at my desk—what are you up to?”

 
Xia Gu'an stood behind Bai Tingzhi with a mischievous smile; “...that flawless face made it impossible for anyone to feel angry at her.[2].
 
Bai Tingzhi panicked and stepped back, but since Xia Gu'an hadn't been holding on tightly, she slipped out of her grasp and ended up sitting on the chair unexpectedly.

 
“Um.... I'm sorry. I just wanted to see today's homework, and you weren't here....”
 

Watching Xiaobai's feeble explanation, Xia Gu'an seemed completely unfazed and countered, “Actually, Xiaobai, you just like my seat, is that it? I won't complain!”[3]
 
She didn't seem to mind at all and even patted Xiaobai on the shoulder.

 
Bai Tingzhi wanted to get up, but Xia Gu'an was blocking the exit, leaving her trapped between sitting and standing.
 

Xia Gu'an seemed satisfied with Bai Tingzhi's reaction and pulled a notebook with a wilderness scene on its cover from the desk drawer.
 
“Here, have a look. You're in a hurry to go home and play, aren't you?”

 
“Teacher Xia,[4] I'm actually in a hurry to go home and study. Lao Lin won't know today's homework, and he'll probably blame me for it again.”
 

“Oh—right, where did Lin Yunian go today?” Xia Gu'an looked thoughtful, as if she didn't know where he had gone either.
 
Bai Tingzhi made a quick note, packed a few of Lao Lin's books, and went to the office to retrieve her phone.

 
“See you tomorrow.”
 

“See you tomorrow.”
 
The corridor was gradually filling with students; judging by the time, the afternoon break was almost over. Half the lights in the third-floor office were on, and the door was opening and closing as other students came and went.

 
“The girl” pushed open the door and walked toward the desk at the far end, only to find someone already sitting there.
 

“Mr. Chen, I'm here to get my phone,” Bai Tingzhi said, noticing that the homeroom teacher was already there. She didn't hesitate; the teacher was very dedicated, though he didn't usually interfere much with them.
 
For instance, during evening study sessions, she and Lin Yunian had both applied to study at home. The homeroom teacher hadn't objected, merely thinking for a moment before approving it.

 
Actually, Lin Yunian's grades were excellent, ranking among the top in the grade. She herself wasn't as outstanding but could still place near the top of the class, though her grades were quite unstable. Lao Lin being approved was understandable; not attending evening study wouldn't affect him. But she had a tendency to play around......
 

The middle-aged man raised his head upon hearing her voice. His hair, which hadn't been properly styled, was slightly disheveled, and his attire was nothing special—just a plain white shirt. Yet, there was an inexplicable vitality about him.
 
“Tingzhi......” Chen Motian opened the drawer, which contained nothing but incomprehensible forms and various exam papers. “Lin Yunian has already taken his. Go home early and be careful.”

 
“Alright, teacher.”
 

Bai Tingzhi, who was about to ask a question, simply nodded. She knew Lin Yunian wasn't at school; otherwise, how could he possibly not come back for an entire day?
 
Could Lin Yunian have gone to that general store from yesterday on his own? Why had she forgotten to ask? She’d better go back tomorrow and ask the teacher if Lao Lin had taken the day off himself......

 
She walked out of the school gate.
 

The leisurely afternoon hours began to fade from the street corner. Bai Tingzhi could see the shadows of skyscrapers, streetlights, and long poles stretching out. She walked toward the sinking sunset, slowly being swallowed by the night.
 
The faint light from her phone flickered in the evening breeze, and her hair fell and rose, carrying an unfamiliar fragrance.

 
She had never imagined that she would one day find herself walking alone on the street, feeling a little anxious. It wasn't because she was afraid of the dark, or the cold, or anything dirty. Though the summer heat had waned, the warmth remained, so she wouldn't feel cold. As a former staunch materialist[5], she still clung to her old beliefs, even though she had changed.
 

This stretch of road seemed longer than usual, so long that she couldn't help but curse someone—Lin Yunian—in her heart many times over, so long that she had already forgotten something.
 
The curtains were tightly closed, but a faint light still shone through the window. Bai Tingzhi hurriedly pushed the door open and went inside.

 
The slightly dim kitchen light had a warm yellow tint, and the sound of steam rose from the kitchen. Chen Qianqian seemed not to have finished making dinner yet, and Bai Pushan was sitting solemnly on the sofa, reading the newspaper.
 

She was actually interested in this old-fashioned thing, but her father always criticized her harshly and never spoke kindly to her. So, in a stubborn, silent protest, she never actually read it.
 
“Is dinner ready yet?”

 
“Ask your mother. You're back, so go tidy up, change your clothes, and put your books away.”
 

Chen Qianqian was busy in the kitchen and didn’t hear them. However, Bai Tingzhi could already smell her favorite dish, and the momentary resentment she felt seemed to dissipate easily.
 
She returned to her room, opened the wardrobe, and changed into a loose, comfortable outfit. Standing in front of the mirror, she noted that everything was normal except for her missing 'little brother'. Unfortunately, when she pulled down her collar to look, there were no 'peaks'[6] to be seen.

 
Bai Tingzhi slapped her face and recalled the day's events, hoping it was all just a ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) dream.
 

Her phone was on the desk, but she hesitated on whether to call Lin Yunian. The confusion, urgency, and tension of using the restroom; the experience of feeling an utter void down there; her thoughts and emotions were also vastly different from those of the past.
 
“It has to be a dream......”

 
She looked at the “girl” in the mirror and murmured to herself. Though it was only one difference from the past, she couldn’t tell what was real.
 

“Tingzhi! Dinner’s ready—” Her mother’s voice came through the door from the dining table.
 
Bai Tingzhi tidied her clothes and looked at herself once more.

 
Perhaps her father was right; she truly lacked any manliness. Even from the outside, it was hard to see any strength in this body, and her features lacked any hint of masculinity.
 

She was extraordinary yet ordinary.
 
She was simply not like a typical boy, and now, she was even more different.

 
TL Notes
 

[1] This sounds like the homework got wiped from the black board but it's about it not being written on the board yet hence the "didn't yet have".
 
[2] This is talking about how you can't get angry at Bai Tingzhi's face not talking about Xia Gu'an's.

 
[3] This might seem like it came out of nowhere and nonsensical it's because Xia Gu'an is just trying to tease Bai Tingzhi.
 

[4] Teacher Xia (夏老师, Xià lǎoshī): Calling a classmate "Teacher [Surname]" is a common, sarcastic way to tease them for acting knowledgeable or bossy, which is how Bai Tingzhi is responding to Xia Gu'an's teasing.
 
[5] Materialist in this context means someone who doesn't believe in the supernatural someone who only believes in the metarial/physical word.

 
[6] 'peaks' (山峰, shānfēng): One word Boobs.