Chapter 84: Under the Osmanthus Tree

Chapter 84

Bai Yin carried a light blue embroidered canvas shoulder bag and weaved through the crowded pedestrian traffic like a fish, jogging to the dance studio.

The studio was empty and had not been "occupied" by anyone else.

She could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, wiping away the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, and took out her dance shoes from her backpack.

It was at this moment that Zhou Yingxuan and several other girls from the dance troupe walked in one after another.

When Zhou Yingxuan saw Bai Yin, a look of disgust appeared on her face: "Here you are again, every day you're here, isn't it annoying?"

Bai Yin paid them no attention. After changing into her dance shoes, she leaned against the railing to stretch and warm up her legs.

Behind her, the girls whispered among themselves:

"As thin as a monkey, acting like a big star, it's laughable."

"That's right. Nowadays, to make it in the entertainment industry, you need some background. But her..."

Bai Yin expressionlessly practiced her dance moves, ignoring their hushed gossip.

The girls plugged in a stereo and turned up the music extremely loud.

The rhythm she was humming along to was disrupted, and she frowned at Zhou Yingxuan.

Zhou Yingxuan raised her chin as if to show off, clearly intentionally antagonizing her.

Bai Yin didn't want to argue with them anymore. She wiped away her sweat with a towel, picked up her bag, and decisively left the dance studio.

On her way out, she kicked over their black stereo.

Zhou Yingxuan shrieked at the top of her lungs: “Bai Yin! What the hell is wrong with you!”

Bai Yin didn't look back, and flipped her the middle finger with one hand.

...

Her feud with the dance troupe went back to the freshman talent show in 10th grade, when she won first place that should have belonged to these girls who had been dancing since childhood and came from well-off families. Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com

Since then, led by Zhou Yingxuan, those girls in the troupe had never thought highly of Bai Yin, and were constantly finding fault with her.

Bai Yin had never been the type to suffer in silence, so they had never gained any advantage over her.

With her bag on her back, she stomped angrily along the stone paths of the old town, kicking pebbles all the way.

A gust of wind blew by, and the intoxicating aroma of the osmanthus tree at her front door drifted over, with tiny fragmented petals fluttering down.

Bai Yin noticed there seemed to be a figure standing under the osmanthus tree.

She couldn't help but slow her pace, carefully walking over and peeking out from the shade of the flowers.

She saw a youth in a white shirt leaning against a motorcycle, with refined and handsome features. His tall nose and deeply set brow bones made his profile look very masculine.

Seemingly noticing her arrival, he suddenly turned his head, casting an impassive glance at her with his tranquil dark eyes.

Bai Yin felt his gaze...was like sparks that set her skin ablaze.

Her heart gave an inexplicable thump, and she quickened her pace, hurrying up the stairs to the old house.

Before going inside, she couldn't resist taking another look back at him.

The youth had already averted his eyes, bowing his head to check the instrument panel of the motorcycle, with the fluttering osmanthus petals drifting down and landing on his vehicle.

...

Her grandma was washing apples by the courtyard well. Bai Yin immediately put down her bag and took the apples from her grandma's hands, "Let me do that. Your eyes aren't good, you shouldn't be doing this."

"It's no problem, I can still see."

"I'll do it."

After Bai Yin washed the apples, she carefully sliced them into pieces on a plate for her and her grandma to eat together, "Grandma, did you see a stranger outside?"

"Who?"

"A guy."

"You mean little Huai?" Her grandma nodded knowingly, "Old man Chen's grandson next door. They say he's a university student who comes to visit on weekends."

"Oh."

Bai Yin nodded and went to fetch another apple from the basket, rinsing it clean in the well water before heading out the door.

The youth was squatting in front of his motorcycle, seeming to be checking something, occasionally getting up to press buttons.

Leaning against the door, Bai Yin soundlessly eyed him.

He had a tall figure, and the black pants outlined his long, perfectly sculpted legs with beautiful lines.

Apple in hand, Bai Yin walked up to him and took the initiative to ask, "Is your motorcycle broken?"

The youth still tried stepping on the ignition, ignoring her completely.

She added, "I know a place in town that can fix vehicles."

The young man still didn't respond to her. His entire being emanated an aura that said 'do not disturb', with a frosty look in his eyes.

Having gotten nowhere with him, Bai Yin grimaced and didn't bother giving him the apple either, turning around to head back inside.

...

At dusk, she changed into loose workout clothes and turned on a boombox in the courtyard, practicing a new classical dance she was learning, "Yearning for the Beloved".

With no mirrors around, she could only watch her shadow cast by the daylight and use it to judge if her moves were up to standard.

"Xiaosan, after the meal, have the girl take you around the old town to have a look," the old master said.

"Alright."

...

Chen Huaixiao walked silently down the lamp-lit stone streets of the old town.

Bai Yin could tell he had no interest in shopping. She chatted away enthusiastically about the various sights and foods... But he didn't respond at all, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

The little girl couldn't hold in her temper any longer. Clutching the strap of her bag, she quickened her pace and walked away.

Seeing the girl leave without a word, Chen Huaixiao chased after her in three long strides. "What are you doing?"

"Since you're not interested in shopping, I'm going home to do my homework!"

The cold expression on Chen Huaixiao's face finally thawed a little. An appreciative smile touched the corners of his lips. "You've got quite the temper."

"I never waste time on pointless things," Bai Yin huffed.

"Grandpa said you want to be a celebrity?"

"Mm."

"Then your dancing is awful."

Bai Yin's cheeks flushed red. She retorted, "You can't even dance! What makes you say that?"

"I may not be able to dance, but I know how to appreciate it." Chen Huaixiao said casually, "When you can satisfy me, then you'll have entered the door."

Bai Yin didn't believe his words. She just snorted and turned her head away.

Chen Huaixiao walked with his hands in his pockets down the quiet alley. The summer night breeze was cooling.

"Do you know why Grandpa treats you so well?"

"Grandpa Chen is a good person, the best person in the whole world. Without him...I would have starved to death." Bai Yin said firmly, "I will definitely make something of myself in the future to repay him."

Chen Huaixiao swallowed back the words that had nearly left his mouth.

This girl didn't know anything.

"Oh right, my bike broke down. You said there's a repair shop in town, take me there."

"You were ignoring me!" Bai Yin was still sulking over his earlier aloofness. "I changed my mind, I don't want to take you anymore."

Chen Huaixiao reached out and tugged on the long braid at the back of her head. "You're such a dog with your temper."

Seeing him grab her hair, Bai Yin's face immediately flushed crimson. She kept her head low and walked in the direction of home. "The repair shop is going to close soon. Hurry if you want to go."

Ten minutes later, Chen Huaixiao pushed his motorcycle into a shabby-looking repair shop in town.

This shop fixed bikes and electric scooters. Chen Huaixiao felt a little uneasy about bringing his motorcycle worth six figures in here.

"Bai Yin is here." The shop owner was a young man in his twenties, wearing a leather apron. He briskly pushed Chen Huaixiao's motorcycle into the shop. "Your friend?"

"Mm." Bai Yin replied cheerfully, "His bike broke down. Can you fix it?"

The young man squatted down to inspect it, then opened up the engine compartment. "Wow, nice bike."

Just as Chen Huaixiao was about to remind him to be careful, Bai Yin also bent down worriedly to look it over. "What's wrong with it? Why can't it start?"

"It can start, but the carburetor is a bit old. I'll replace it for you." With that, he swiftly removed the cylinder in seconds. "Go get me the lubricant."

Bai Yin obediently handed him the needed parts, helping him fix up the motorcycle. After testing it, it could start up again.

"Come listen to the sound." The young man patted the motorcycle and said to Chen Huaixiao, "Guaranteed it's as good as new."

Chen Huaixiao paid no attention to the motorcycle. He glanced sideways and saw the little girl's dirty, oil-smeared hands as she wiped the sweat from her face.

He was about to stop her but it was too late. Her fair, white cheeks were suddenly smudged black.

Chen Huaixiao rolled his eyes and dragged her by the sleeve over to the faucet by the door. "Wash your hands."

"Oh."

Bai Yin obediently washed her hands, scrubbing for a long time, but unable to wash off the black oil stains.

Chen Huaixiao took the soap from the box and lathered up her small hands. Then he held them under the water, scrubbing vigorously at her fingers.

His hands were large with strong, slender knuckles, yet the skin of his palms was delicate and smooth.

Bai Yin's heart thumped wildly in her chest once more.

"He's doing his job. Why are you so eager to help when you don't get a cut of the repair fee?"

"It's okay, we know each other."

"Very well?"

"Um...not that well."

After washing her hands, Chen Huaixiao used a damp paper towel to carefully wipe the smudges from her face.

Bai Yin gazed blankly at the handsome face before her, holding her breath.

His features were quite masculine, yet up close, they seemed gentle.

"Are you hot?"

"N-no..."

"Your face is so red."

"Oh, it's so hot!"