Arrow Pierces the Heart (Grateful for Gardenia's 5 Gold Medals for Pushing Updates)

For Bai Xing, today was the most crucial day.

Going out with her senior, dating her senior, spending an entire afternoon of bliss in his company—

If possible, she might even create some once-in-a-lifetime, precious SSR moments.

So,

Today, she was fully prepared, ready to step into the role of a girlfriend and single-handedly make him fall for her.

Makeup? Perfect. Outfit? Perfect. Perfume? Perfect. Skin condition? Perfect.

She deliberately skipped breakfast and avoided drinking water before bed last night.

This way, her stomach would appear flatter,

And she wouldn’t wake up with the illusion of puffiness.

She was flawless.

The most beautiful, the most adorable she had ever been.

…

“Wait, didn’t we agree on noon? Why are you…”

“Just a little surprise for you, senior. Don’t tell me you don’t like it?”

“……”

“Your face is really red. If you say you don’t like it, that’s a lie, you know.”

“…”

“Liars have to swallow three hundred million needles.”

“?”

Alright then.

Seeing the intense gazes from nearby, Lu Qing felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. After enduring for a few seconds, he decisively grabbed Bai Xing’s hand and pulled her out of the classroom, playing hooky in front of everyone’s eyes.

…

“Senior, I didn’t expect you to be so bold. Who would’ve thought you’d enjoy such thrilling things?”

Bai Xing happily let him hold her arm, as if all the troubles in the world had vanished with the wind.

Yes.

As long as he was by her side, everything was fine.

Even the “her” buried deep in her memories, the terrifying black tide, no longer had any power over her.

Bai Xing knew.

At school, no matter what, she wouldn’t be disturbed by Su Ling.

After a whole night of meticulous thinking,

She had come to the following conclusions—

1. Su Ling couldn’t appear in the university campus.

2. Su Ling’s activity space seemed to be limited.

3. Only when the senior was with Su Ling did she become a terrifying demon, seemingly invincible, as if she could stand against the whole world.

「So, Su Ling also has weaknesses.」

It seemed she was restricted to certain spaces,

Unable to roam freely like Bai Xing, who could casually hold the senior’s hand, wink at him, walk with him in the crowd, and even experience the short-lived affection of being treated like a little sister.

The senior had been especially nice to her lately.

Was he falling for her?

Bai Xing didn’t know.

But what was certain was that even if she took another small step forward, he wouldn’t push her away.

So.

I won’t hold back, then.

Su Ling.

w

…

Today was truly a date.

Bai Xing knew that even if it was under the guise of completing an assignment, the senior had still agreed to take her out, allowing her to experience at least 5 hours of alone time with him, which could be the decisive move.

What could be done in 5 hours?

In her eyes, there were many possibilities.

Small tricks,

Like pretending to lose balance on the subway, saying she was hungry halfway through, twisting her ankle while walking, or pulling the senior’s hand and asking for a pat.

But of course, these tactics were outdated for Bai Xing,

Not to mention compared to Su Ling, they might even backfire with the senior.

So she planned to keep everything natural, the assignment was just the assignment,

But during the process, she wanted to get to know him better.

After so long of interacting, the girl had figured out that the senior was an interesting person.

Business was business;

Non-business depended on the situation.

The senior had a threshold.

Inviting him to buy breakfast downstairs was probably the limit of “non-business.”

Collaborating with him on a new V project might push the upper limit of “business.”

So today, her mission was clear.

Using the interview as an excuse, she would carefully analyze his preferences, his habits, and then, when the opportunity arose,

Use those habits,

To deliver the most precise and explosive moments.

—「For a voice actress, the key isn’t how many voice lines I can mimic, but whether I can perfectly cater to your preferences, hit the bullseye, and make you completely fall for me.」

Bai Xing was a professional.

So, she was going to seize this opportunity.

…

Lu Qing stood beside the girl.

He had never experienced such a sweet, honey-like sensation so akin to being in a romantic relationship.

Compared to the doubts he had when he was with Su Ling, Bai Xing seemed to effortlessly erase the barriers between siblings.

A message came in from Wen Le:

“Hey, did you hook up with that ultimate cute girl from the broadcasting department?!”

“……”

“She used to sit behind you, and I never even knew what she looked like. Damn, you know, the whole class is buzzing, the teacher can’t even teach, the air is filled with the smell of jealousy. You sly dog! No wonder you never come back to the dorm!”

“……”

“Hmph, what’s so great about having a real anime wife? I bet it’s nothing! I’d rather find my Jingjing. Go on, enjoy your date, it’s not like it’s any fun anyway.”

…

Lu Qing didn’t know how to respond, obviously, there was no need to explain.

Since Bai Xing had chosen to announce this relationship in such a bold way,

It meant that this connection was what she needed, what she yearned for.

For his leading lady,

「Has she started pursuing a certain kind of intimate relationship at this stage?」

Lu Qing thought.

…

The two strolled along the shaded path leading out of the campus.

Having left a few minutes earlier, there weren’t many students rushing to the cafeteria like hungry wolves, which made the atmosphere perfect for their relaxed and cheerful departure from the school.

“Senior, am I cute today?” Bai Xing asked.

“You’re cute,” Lu Qing replied instantly.

“Huh? I thought you’d be like last time, deliberately saying the opposite to tease me.”

The girl’s face turned slightly red, her happiness unconcealed in her eyes.

“I wasn’t being insincere. Rather, you were so terrifying back then, it felt like you were about to devour me, so I couldn’t really appreciate your charm.”

Recalling the first time she had clung to him, Lu Qing felt as if his memories had fast-forwarded several years.

Why had it come to this?

His energy wasn’t what it used to be lately.

He felt muddled.

Or rather,

This year.

The only clear moments were two specific instances.

The first night of heavy rain, I took in Su Ling, who had nowhere to go.

The second night of thunder, I held onto Bai Xing, who was lost and helpless.

Would there be another rainy night,

At the next memorable moment,

To make himself a little more awake?

“Time really flies,”

He murmured.

…

How far had he drifted since the last time he was truly clear-headed?

Fleeting fragments like a slideshow flashed through his mind.

「Instrument Club」.

「Stage」.

「First Guitar」.

「Original Composition」.

「Handwritten Gift」.

「Fortune Slip」.

「Embrace」.

「Being Loved」.

「A Solo Rock Concert」.

Ah.

Lu Qing didn’t know.

He couldn’t remember.

How dazzling he had been back then.

It was forgotten.

It didn’t matter anymore.

He only felt,

This exhausting life,

If not for the “her” by his side,

He would surely continue to sink, like someone falling into a deep abyss.

Until the end,

He would never be able to recover the lost texture of his past.

It was impossible.

So be it.

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong? Why do you look so pale? Is it windy?”

“Ah…”

Lu Qing shook his head, blinking hard to squeeze out whatever was in his meibomian glands, whether it was grease or tears.

“It’s nothing.”

He smiled.

Looking at the girl in front of him, her face filled with concern.

Vaguely,

He couldn’t help but think.

Yes,

The “her” by his side,

Who exactly was she?

…

…