Xiaobai Is Also Troubled Today

"Tingzhi?"
 
"...Lu Tianshu." Bai Tingzhi turned around, taking a long moment to say the other person's name.

 
Lu Tianshu was wearing a light yellow long dress with her hair in a simple ponytail, held back by a plain, dark black clip. She looked as bright as the sun behind her.
 

"What are you doing here?"
 
At Lu Tianshu's words, Bai Tingzhi greeted the shopkeeper inside and bought a bottle of water for one yuan.

 
"I came out to run an errand and got thirsty, so I stopped to buy a bottle of water."
 

The two chatted as they walked out of the store.
 
There was no hidden meaning in Lu Tianshu's eyes; if she had something on her mind, she'd say it right away.

 
"I haven't seen you much at school."
 

"Ha... I don't really leave the classroom much, and I rarely go over to your side of the building," Bai Tingzhi explained awkwardly.
 
Lu Tianshu smiled sweetly, her eyes seeming to shine. "How long has it been since we've seen each other? Why are you acting so distant?"
 

"No, no, I was just out and was about to head back."
 
She abruptly changed the subject.

 
"Well, do you want to get something to eat? We can take a break!"
 

Looking at Lu Tianshu's expression, Bai Tingzhi agreed.
 
They stood on the street, looking left and right, before Lu Tianshu finally pulled Bai Tingzhi into a pastry shop.

 
After ordering a few things, the two chose a two-person table by the window and sat down.
 

"You don't have any other plans today, do you?" Lu Tianshu asked thoughtfully.
 
"No, nothing else special I need to do."

 
Bai Tingzhi answered, feeling herself grow unconsciously nervous.
 

Lin Yunian's question suddenly echoed in her mind. What are my good qualities? Or my talents? What kind of guy would Lu Tianshu like?
 
Perhaps Bai Tingzhi's stare was too direct, as Lu Tianshu raised the coffee that had just been delivered to block her view.

 
"I saw your name on the list, you know."
 

She took a sip of coffee and spoke softly. Her voice was melodious, like an oriole's song, and for some reason, it held a hint of excitement.
 
"List?" Bai Tingzhi didn't understand for a moment. A waiter came to their table, set down a cup of latte, and cleared away some extra items, momentarily blocking their view of each other.

 
The art performance? Right, that's the only thing it could be.
 

"Have you chosen a piece yet?" Lu Tianshu asked, casually looking out the window as she rested her chin on her hand.
 
"Not yet. The teacher just mentioned it, and I agreed. I don't really know what the performance is all about yet."

 
Bai Tingzhi smiled awkwardly, looking at the latte art in her cup, a note-shaped design that seemed like an unexpected coincidence.
 

"I can tell you about it when I have time," Lu Tianshu said. Her dimples were very noticeable when she smiled, something Bai Tingzhi found impossible to resist. "I don't have the documents with me, so I don't remember it all that clearly."
 
"Okay." The milk was a little strong and the coffee was very light, which was just to Bai Tingzhi's taste.

 
"Actually..." Lu Tianshu took off her hair clip and re-tied her hair. "The sports meet is what's keeping me busiest recently. I have no idea why they moved the meet ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ from next semester to now..."
 

Listening to Lu Tianshu ramble, Bai Tingzhi didn't know how to respond.
 
"Originally, we only had to arrange the art performance, but now we have to do both at almost the same time. It's a huge headache for our student council."

 
Bai Tingzhi then remembered that Lu Tianshu held a very important position in the student council.
 

Seeing that Xiaobai didn't seem to understand, Lu Tianshu continued to explain.
 
"But thankfully, even though the sports meet was squeezed in, the teachers are still arranging most of it, so it's not too busy... Tingzhi, would you want to help out?" Lu Tianshu's tone suddenly shifted mid-sentence.

 
"Me? Can I?" Bai Tingzhi asked, surprised.
 

"Why not? I mean, following me around might be a lot of work... handing out medals, reading announcements, taking pictures, that kind of thing. Luckily, there are a lot of people, so you can slack off a bit. I'll get you a pass so you can get in and out of the venue easily."
 
"Sure, I don't have any other plans anyway."

 
A dessert cart stopped beside them, and two plates of cake were brought out and carefully placed in front of them.
 

"Did Lin Yunian not come out with you?"
 
Lu Tianshu used a spoon to scoop up a piece of chocolate cake and happily put it in her mouth, her curved eyebrows broadcasting her delight.

 
Bai Tingzhi wasted no time trying the mango mille-crêpe cake in front of her. It was icy and cool and melted in her mouth. Not bad, even though she wasn't a big fan of mango.
 

"He went to a competition. He probably won't be around this weekend."
 
"A competition? No wonder." Lu Tianshu wasn't surprised at all. Lin Yunian's grades had been top-tier since junior high. Talent like that was something you could see at a glance.

 
Seeing Lu Tianshu's relaxed demeanor, Bai Tingzhi relaxed as well.
 

As they ate their desserts, they watched the passersby. They could see many students from their school, some of whom were even wearing their school uniforms.
 
Bai Tingzhi had never had a tutor in her life, and at that moment, she didn't know whether she felt thankful or just plain happy.

 
The desserts were also quite delicious.
 

The two of them rested, looking out the window. Lu Tianshu would look back at her from time to time, feeling that Bai Tingzhi was a little different from how she remembered.
 
"The student council work isn't hard, but it's a headache when things get busy and complicated. Occasionally, some students will come and stir up trouble, which can be interesting, but it gets annoying when it happens too often."

 
"Sometimes I think it would be so much easier if I weren't in the student council. But if I don't find something to keep myself busy, I feel like I'm just being lazy."
 

Lu Tianshu pouted, a hint of frustration in her expression.
 
"Not many of our old junior high classmates got into this school. To be honest, I can be shy sometimes. It would be great if Tingzhi could come and help me."

 
Lu Tianshu turned her attention back from the window, sat up straight in her chair, and elegantly ate the last piece of her cake.
 

"The student council... I've never really considered it before," Bai Tingzhi said, scratching her head, feeling that something was off.
 
Why is she telling me all this...?

 
"Well, you wouldn't consider it if you were busy, but Tingzhi, if you have free time, please come and help me!" Lu Tianshu begged, clasping her hands together.
 

Bai Tingzhi had never been in a situation like this, let alone with her own "white moonlight."[1]
 
But amidst her stunned surprise, a strange sense of wrongness suddenly struck her.

 
"Why did you decide to tell me all of this today?"
 

Lu Tianshu seemed to consider the question for the first time, then said with sincerity, "Because Tingzhi seems like a gentle and sensitive person."
 
"Me?"

 
Lu Tianshu puffed up one cheek and nodded solemnly.
 

More like, because I look like a girl...
 
A wave of disappointment washed over her, as if draining all the strength from her body.

 
"You should act like a boy."
 

"You have no masculinity at all!"
 
"Look at you, with your skinny arms and legs. You're weaker than a girl..."

 
Her father's words seemed to echo in her ears.
 

Unaware of what Bai Tingzhi was thinking, Lu Tianshu suddenly had a thought. She had felt that something about Tingzhi had changed. Now that she thought about it, had he become... prettier?
 
TL Notes:

 
[1] "white moonlight" (白月光, bái yuèguāng) refers to the idealized, perfect person in someone's heart, usually a first love or an unforgettable, unattainable crush.