Qiao Wei walked out of the exam hall with an easy spring in her step.
From a distance, she saw the person waiting at the school gate and was about to run over —
but she was too popular now.
Before she could reach her, reporters swarmed in, blocking her path for an interview.
Catching sight of the person waiting far ahead, Qiao Wei gave a helpless shrug and a small smile,
answering a few short questions.
Throughout the entire interview, her gaze never left that figure in the distance.
"Do you have confidence in taking the top score for science?"
"None at all," Qiao Wei replied without even thinking.
If anyone was going to be the top scorer, it would be her.
The reporters blinked, stunned.
Wasn't Qiao Wei the one who never knew how to spell humility?
Before they could ask more, she slipped through the crowd,
grabbed A Xin's hand, and together they dashed onto a bus, vanishing down the road.
"They just asked me if I was confident about being the top scorer,"
Qiao Wei said, still holding A Xin's hand tightly as they stood in the crowded aisle.
They were pressed so close her chin almost brushed against A Xin's cheek.
"And what did you say?" A Xin asked.
"Guess." Qiao Wei's eyes curved into crescents.
"Guess what I said."
"I can't."
"I said no."
Her voice dropped to a low laugh against A Xin's ear.
"Because if you wanted that title, I'd have no chance at all."
Her eyes flicked to A Xin's pale face, then darted away quickly;
her tongue brushed her lips unconsciously.
"My mom left for the south this morning.
I'll be living alone for now, and it's kind of scary.
Yun Xin, I'm moving in with you, okay?
We'll keep each other company."
She said it like a statement, not a request, sneaking a glance at A Xin's expression.
"When our results come out, we'll pick the same university together."
"Okay."
Qiao Wei nearly burst out laughing from happiness.
She placed her hands on A Xin's shoulders and grinned,
"Tomorrow I'm giving you a makeover!"
Her fingers brushed aside the thick bangs,
then tapped the black-rimmed glasses.
"These dull bangs—gone. And this ugly frame—gone too."
⸻
A Xin's apartment was small but cozy — two bedrooms, one living room.
Qiao Wei had been there before.
When she saw A Xin about to tidy up the spare room for her, she immediately stopped her,
then flopped lazily onto the sofa.
"No need! I'll just stay in your room."
She glanced over mischievously.
"You don't mind, right, Yun Xin?"
"No." A Xin's brows lifted slightly.
"But… don't you mind?"
"Of course not!" Qiao Wei said cheerfully, biting into an apple.
"We're both girls and we're close.
If I sleep in the guest room, it'll feel just like being home again.
Sharing a bed sounds much more fun—we can talk all night."
When she suggested ordering takeout, A Xin stopped her.
"Let's cook."
"I… don't know how to," Qiao Wei admitted sheepishly.
She'd changed a lot over the past few years—
she could do chores, study hard, even work part-time—
but cooking still wasn't one of her skills.
She watched in awe as A Xin tied on an apron and began chopping vegetables with smooth, practiced motions.
By the time the dishes were ready, Qiao Wei could only stare before eagerly digging in.
After one bite, she couldn't stop until she was stuffed.
"Ugh, I'm so full!"
"Yun Xin, if I stay here ten days, I'll gain three kilos," she groaned,
then flopped back on the couch, drifting into a drowsy half-sleep.
She faintly heard sounds from the kitchen,
but when she woke again, only half an hour had passed.
Her mouth felt dry, so she got up to get some water.
As she passed the bathroom, the door suddenly opened—
and she froze.
Standing there wrapped in a white towel was A Xin.
Her bangs were swept up, damp shoulder-length hair clinging to her skin,
her glasses gone.
That perfect face—normally hidden behind her fringe—
was now completely revealed.
Qiao Wei's breath hitched; her eyes couldn't move away.
Smooth white skin flushed pink from the hot water,
the delicate curve of her neck and collarbones,
the way the towel traced her narrow shoulders—
there wasn't a single flaw anywhere.
"Qiao Wei?"
A Xin's voice jolted her back to reality.
Qiao Wei quickly looked away.
"Ah, nothing!"
Then, realizing they were both girls,
she suddenly leaned forward, hugged A Xin, and playfully bit her cheek.
"Wow, A Xin—you're so pretty!"
"…"
Expressionless, A Xin pushed her away,
wiped the damp spot on her cheek, and shoved Qiao Wei toward the bathroom.
"Go shower."
"Hey—"
The door shut in her face.
Her cheeks flamed red as she pressed her hands against them,
catching sight of her reflection in the mirror—
face and neck both flushed.
The scene she'd just witnessed replayed over and over in her head.
That impulsive bite—
maybe it really was the boldest thing she'd ever done.
Because this time, it felt… different.
Even if they were both girls—
this time, it wasn't the same.
⸻
When Qiao Wei came out, A Xin was already in pajamas,
hair dried, glasses off, bangs once again covering half her face.
Lying on the bed reading, she looked calm as ever.
Qiao Wei climbed up beside her, inhaling the faint, clean scent from her hair.
Her gaze never left A Xin's face, though she pretended to scroll on her phone.
A Xin noticed but didn't comment.
"You can grab a book," she said casually,
"or play a game if you want."
"Phone's fine," Qiao Wei said quickly,
though she didn't open any apps.
All her attention was on the person next to her.
⸻
She had planned to drag A Xin to a salon the next day for a full makeover—
she'd even said so on the bus.
But the next morning, she didn't bring it up.
As they were leaving, A Xin forgot her glasses.
Qiao Wei stopped her.
"Wait. You forgot these."
Holding the familiar black frames, she smiled softly
and gently placed them back on A Xin's face.
Then she smoothed her bangs back down,
making sure every beautiful feature was once again hidden from sight.
"Perfect," she murmured.
Satisfied, she linked arms with A Xin, and they headed out together.
⸻
When the results came out, Qiao Wei really was the top scorer in science.
And, as always, A Xin was exactly one point behind.
While everyone was gossiping about Qiao Wei's high school legend,
she was at A Xin's apartment—fast asleep, dreaming sweetly.
Lin Xiao'ai didn't do well on the exam,
but with Ji Jiang's help, the two still ended up at the same university.
Qiao Wei couldn't care less.
She and A Xin had both chosen a university in the south—
and even the same major.
One day, she finally asked the question that had lingered in her heart:
"A Xin, why do you always follow my lead?"
Why always let her shine—
always stand just behind her,
content to be unseen in the shadow of her light?
"Because I want to," A Xin said simply.
No lies, no hesitation.
That really was what she wanted.
She had awakened from darkness with only one thought—
to stand by this girl's side.
That was the reason she was here.
Qiao Wei didn't press further.
Her lips curved into a smile.
"And in the future—will you always stay by my side too?"
"Of course."
"That's great," Qiao Wei whispered.
She hugged A Xin tightly.
"You're such a good person, A Xin."
So good it made her heart race.
So good she forgot about gender altogether.
So good she wanted to grow strong enough to stand beside her—forever.
⸻
By freshman year, besides attending classes,
Qiao Wei often accompanied A Xin to her father's company.
Their new classmates quickly noticed the contrast between them.
Qiao Wei was dazzling—beautiful, talented, confident.
A Xin was quiet, ordinary, always following behind her.
Rumors spread:
"She's Qiao Wei's shadow."
"She's plain, not even that smart."
"She's just lucky to be around the goddess."
Every time Qiao Wei overheard such things,
she'd secretly glance at A Xin.
Seeing her unaffected expression, she'd finally breathe easier.
Because deep down, Qiao Wei knew—
A Xin wasn't plain at all.
She was extraordinary.
So extraordinary that Qiao Wei couldn't help but fear:
if others discovered her brilliance,
could she still keep her?
That's why Qiao Wei kept pushing herself harder—
to shine so bright that no one else would notice A Xin's quiet light.
The world was blind; it would never understand how wonderful she truly was.
Or so she thought.
⸻
One day, a shy-looking boy stopped her in the hallway.
Seeing his red face, Qiao Wei assumed he was about to confess.
Before he could even speak, she said politely,
"Sorry, I'm not interested in dating right now."
The boy panicked, waving his hands.
"No! No—you misunderstand! I'm not confessing!"
Terrified of upsetting the campus goddess, he hurried on.
"I—I just wanted to ask for a favor."
"A favor?" Qiao Wei raised an eyebrow, curious now.
His cheeks turned redder, but he smiled earnestly.
"I wanted to… um… ask Yun Xin to have dinner with me.
Just dinner! To get to know her—"
He didn't finish.
Because the moment he said Yun Xin,
the gentle expression on Qiao Wei's face darkened—
like a storm gathering behind her eyes.
The poor boy faltered.
"I didn't mean anything else! Just a meal, really, just to—"
Qiao Wei's lips curved in a thin, dangerous smile.
Someone's trying to steal the cabbage I've been raising for years?
Heh. Over her dead body.