Chapter 33: Transformation

At the end of February, after the winter vacation, the second semester of senior year officially began. With less than four months left until the college entrance examination, many students who used to enjoy having fun started to focus on preparing for the exam.

To give senior high school students some exercise since they sit all the time, there are two physical education classes every week.

On the day of PE class, Yu Bai happened to be on her period, but she didn't know it and still went to PE class.

After class and after finishing the exercises, the class ran two laps around the playground together.

As Yu Bai was running, she suddenly felt a warm current in her lower body. She realized something was wrong, but she was too embarrassed to get down now, so she had no choice but to finish running.

During the second lap, Yu Bai felt a sharp pain in his stomach and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

After persevering and finishing the run, Yu Bai felt completely exhausted. His lips turned pale and trembled, and he saw stars before his eyes. He then fell backward, but a girl caught him quickly.

"Bai Bai!" Jiang Jizhou pushed through the crowd, shoved the girl aside, and hugged Yu Bai into his arms.

Through blurred vision, Yu Bai saw Jiang Jizhou's figure and smelled his familiar and reassuring scent. His clear voice lingered in her ears, and Yu Bai fell asleep peacefully in Jiang Jizhou's arms.

When she woke up, the smell of disinfectant filled her nostrils. Yu Bai frowned slightly and turned her head to see Jiang Jizhou sitting in front of her hospital bed.

His gentle gaze was fixed solely on Yu Bai.

"Idiot, you didn't even know you were on your period." Jiang Jizhou reached out and gently tapped her head.

Yu Bai puffed out his cheeks and laughed, "Hmph."

The school doctor came over and said to Yu Bai, "It's nothing serious, just from strenuous exercise during your period. Drink more brown sugar water and be careful next time."

Yu Bai nodded obediently, "Okay, thank you, doctor."

After the school doctor left, Jiang Jizhou gave Yu Bai a White Rabbit milk candy.

"Is there anything else?" Yu Bai asked, looking aggrieved.

Because Yu Bai is addicted to sugar and eats a lot of sugar every day, Jiang Jizhou now strictly limits the amount of sugar she can eat each day.

“That’s all.” Jiang Jizhou raised an eyebrow, ignoring Yu Bai’s coquettish pleading.

Yu Bai was sullen.

Since PE class was the last class, the two stayed in the infirmary until Yu Bai's stomach pain subsided before going home.

"I'm all better now."

Is it really possible?

Although Yu Bai's stomach was still aching slightly, and the feeling of discomfort and emptiness made her unable to straighten up, she still nodded firmly.

"I'll carry you on my back."

Jiang Jizhou was still worried, and without saying a word, he made Yu Bai lie on his back.

He knelt down on one knee with his back to Yu Bai, showing her his tall and strong back, which always made people feel at ease. Yu Bai's soft arms wrapped around his neck, and her chin rested on Jiang Jizhou's head. Her warm breath tickled his ear.

Walking along the tree-lined path on campus, just as get out of class was ending, Yu Bai attracted the attention of passing students. She was shy and wanted Jiang Jizhou to put her down, but Jiang Jizhou refused.

“It’s only natural for me to carry my girlfriend on my back.”

He smiled nonchalantly, his tone arrogant.

Yu Bai's face turned even redder.

The news of Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou's romance quickly spread throughout the school.

Most people were not optimistic, thinking that Yu Bai was not good enough for Jiang Jizhou. They believed that Yu Bai was just taking advantage of his proximity and that Jiang Jizhou would get tired of her soon.

Jiang Jizhou, on the other hand, did not restrain himself at all. Whenever he had free time, he would stick to Yu Bai's side, go to and from school together, and discuss his homework together... It was very sweet.

Despite the noise around him, Yu Bai was already deeply immersed in the love affair with Jiang Jizhou, blindly lost in it, firmly believing in his love, and giving his whole heart to him.

-

The change occurred on an ordinary, sunny day.

Yu Bai and Jiang Jizhou went shopping together, behaving intimately.

The two of them only smile so brightly and without regard for their image when they are facing each other.

Am I cool?

In a boutique, Jiang Jizhou put on a pair of sunglasses. Yu Bai looked him over carefully; he had a cool, slightly rebellious vibe. She nodded, "Very handsome."

"Such a handsome guy, he's yours." Jiang Jizhou's sudden childish words stunned Yu Bai for a few seconds. She burst into laughter, took a few steps away, and said, "I don't know you."

Jiang Jizhou grinned mischievously, walked over and put his arm around Yu Bai, lowering his voice, "Oh, then who was it that my kiss made your legs go weak last night?"

Yu Bai immediately reached out and covered his mouth to stop him from continuing, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Her shy appearance was so adorable that Jiang Jizhou tilted his head slightly, his peach blossom eyes filled with laughter.

Yu Bai had become so used to being with Jiang Jizhou, it was so sweet, that she hadn't even considered for a second the possibility of them separating one day.

Jiang Jizhou led Yu Bai out of the boutique. The sunlight outside was a bit dazzling, and he squinted slightly. He then saw Lin Yun's figure in a dark corner not far away, watching them with a creepy smile on her face.

His expression stiffened, and he looked down at Yu Bai and said, "Bai Bai, why don't you go back first? I have something to take care of."

Yu Bai blinked, noticing Jiang Jizhou's serious expression, and her tone unconsciously became worried, "What's wrong? Is it serious?"

"It's nothing, a small matter. I'll be back soon." Jiang Jizhou turned to the side and placed a kiss on Yu Bai's face.

"good."

Yu Bai watched Jiang Jizhou's hurried departure and felt inexplicably uneasy.

After returning home, Yu Bai waited for a long time until late at night before Jiang Jizhou finally came home.

"Jiang Jizhou, where have you been?" Upon seeing Jiang Jizhou enter the room, Yu Bai quickly stood up.

The moment he looked up, he seemed so unfamiliar; his beautiful peach blossom eyes looked as if they were covered with a layer of ice.

Yu Bai was taken aback. She smiled and reached out to take his hand, but Jiang Jizhou dodged it.

"Sorry, I'm a little tired, I'm going to sleep now." He said and went upstairs.

Yu Bai stood there, frozen in place.

The next day, Jiang Jizhou explained to Yu Bai that he had a conflict with someone and had accidentally taken his anger out on Yu Bai. He sincerely apologized to her, but Yu Bai did not believe him. Jiang Jizhou could be impulsive at times, but he was not the kind of person who would be cold to her because of something like this.

But Jiang Jizhou offered no further explanation.

He began to treat Yu Bai coldly, like a sudden precipice appearing at the end of a flower-filled garden. This sense of loss made her feel disappointed, but Jiang Jizhou didn't care, or rather, he didn't even notice Yu Bai's emotions.

Saturday is Yu Bai's eighteenth birthday, in three days.

But Jiang Jizhou seemed to have forgotten all along, and gave no hints. Yu Bai suppressed the ominous feeling in his heart and focused on the exercises in front of him.

The mathematical formulas turned into circles, constantly overlapping in front of his eyes, and Yu Bai closed his eyes in frustration.

"Bai Bai, have some candy." Ming Jing tossed Yu Bai a lollipop, propped her chin on her hand on the table, and said with a smile, "Bai Bai, it's your birthday on Saturday. Have you thought about how to celebrate?"

Yu Bai forced a smile and gently shook his head.

At school, she only had Mingjing as a good friend, and she would sometimes get together with Jiang Jizhou and his group of friends.

"What did Jiang Jizhou say? Ask him, it's your eighteenth birthday, it has to be a big celebration!"

As she spoke, Mingjing went to call Jiang Jizhou, but Yu Bai stopped her.

"No need to ask him."

Mingjing sensed something was off. She turned and stared at Yu Bai, noticing his pale face and unfocused gaze.

"Did you two have a fight?" Mingjing realized the seriousness of the problem, sat down, and asked Yu Bai in a low voice.

Yu Bai shook her head. She and Jiang Jizhou hadn't argued; they had been getting along very well before. It was just that he suddenly became cold towards her.

Her heart was gripped with pain, making it hard to breathe, and her mind was filled with Jiang Jizhou's face.

"Why is that?" Mingjing frowned.

"Jiang Jizhou likes someone else?" she asked cautiously.

This question made Yu Bai panic. What if Jiang Jizhou really fell in love with someone else? She couldn't bear to lose him, nor could she bear to beg him to stay without dignity.

"Or is he just bored?" Mingjing continued to speculate.

Yu Bai could only manage a bitter smile. She had lost all her strength and felt that she couldn't even utter a complete sentence. She could only listen to Ming Jing's cruel and straightforward explanation, which was indeed highly probable.

"I'm going to go and curse this guy to death, he's so hateful!" Mingjing was filled with righteous indignation and wanted to confront Jiang Jizhou face to face.

Yu Bai pulled her back and finally spoke, "It's okay, this is between him and me, I will resolve it with him, thank you, Mirror."

Mingjing looked deeply at the weak Yu Bai, sighed, and said earnestly, "Alright, it's okay, Bai Bai. The kind of person he is, he's been pampered since he was a child, he's promiscuous and fickle. When he likes you, he can treat you like royalty, but when he doesn't like you, he'll discard you like trash. The college entrance exam is the most important thing now, don't let him affect your mood."

Yu Bai smiled faintly, but her heart was bleeding. The hand she had secretly held with Mingjing and the others when they watched the fireworks on New Year's Eve still seemed to retain warmth in her heart, burning with unbearable pain. But on the surface, she could only smile and say, "I'm fine, thank you."

She absentmindedly endured the afternoon classes. Yu Bai went outside the classroom to wait for Jiang Jizhou. When Jiang Jizhou came out of the classroom and saw her, he walked over. His faint smile was somewhat distant, and his tone was indifferent. "I have something to do. You can go back first."

After saying that, he turned and left.

He used to want to be with Yu Bai every minute of every day, and he would report to her even if something happened. But now he just gave her a perfunctory reply. Yu Bai took a deep breath and called out to Jiang Jizhou.

"Jiang Jizhou."

Her voice trembled, as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

Jiang Jizhou turned around, his brows furrowed, and said nothing.

After a long silence, Yu Bai finally mustered all his strength to speak, "Where are you going?"

"Something came up."

Jiang Jizhou seemed to find it hard to bear. He walked up to Yu Bai and gently ruffled her hair. "Be good, okay?"

Yu Bai's eyes were red, and he nodded.

Jiang Jizhou smiled.

He left, and tears fell silently from Yu Bai's eyes like beads from a broken string. But no one would hold her face tenderly and comfort her anymore.

Yu Bai didn't even know what she had done wrong. She leaned on the railing, letting the wind blow, until the tears on her face dried. The students in the classroom had all left, night fell, and the stars twinkled.

She looked up, gazing blankly at the deep blue sky, her eyes flashing with the dazzling fireworks of New Year's Eve. The moment the fireworks burst open, they were incomparably beautiful, yet fleeting. Would their ending be the same?

Yu Bai suddenly felt unable to accept it, unable to accept having possessed it and then suddenly losing it.