After the exhaustion of the school’s Awakening Ceremony, Bai Lili felt as if most of her strength had been drained. She was physically and mentally exhausted, with only one clear thought in her mind — to get home quickly, collapse onto her large bed with its soft cushions, and get some good sleep.
As soon as the thought occurred, she quickened her pace. Today was the unified Awakening Day for all the city’s academies. The area was bustling with noise, filled with students who were either excited or disappointed. She clearly remembered that the three female protagonists of the story were all at this school right now.
As for the male lead, her impression of him was quite blurry. She only vaguely recalled that at this point in time, he was still struggling in the slums on the edge of the city, not even having the qualifications to participate in an Awakening Ceremony.
Bai Lili raised her hand and gently patted her cheeks, the light touch of her fingertips helping her try to dispel the cluttered thoughts about the plot. Her lips thinned, and she whispered to herself:
“Why think so much? I can’t change anything anyway. Getting home to rest is the most important thing.”
She moved her short legs and ran toward the school gate. No one noticed that at the corner of the corridor where she had just been standing…
A white-haired fox girl in a white dress stood quietly. Her fluffy fox ears drooped slightly, and her amber eyes were fixed on Bai Lili’s retreating back. A hint of subtle obsession was hidden in her gaze.
Only after that small figure completely disappeared at the end of the hallway did she slowly take out her phone and quickly dial a familiar number.
“Hello, is this Uncle Bai?”
The moment the call connected, the girl’s sweet voice rang out. Her tone carried a perfectly measured obedience, completely shedding the obsession from a moment ago.
Father Bai’s warm voice soon came from the other end. His tone was full of relaxation without a hint of distance; clearly, the two were very familiar with each other:
“It’s Ruo Ruo! Why the sudden call? Do you need your uncle’s help with something?”
“Uncle Bai, I’m not here to trouble you. I just wanted to ask… about what my father discussed with you before. Have you considered it?”
Su Ruo’s tone deepened slightly, losing some of its childishness and gaining a level of determination that surpassed her age.
Hearing this, Father Bai’s voice paused. There was a brief silence on the phone for about three or four seconds before he slowly spoke with a hint of hesitation:
“Ruo Ruo, about that… I’ve thought about it seriously, but I still have to let Lili decide for herself. After all, this is her life’s major event and concerns her lifelong happiness. We adults can’t make decisions arbitrarily and wrong the child.”
Su Ruo was prepared. Her tone was firm yet carried a perfectly timed plea, filled with sincerity:
“Uncle Bai, I understand your concerns. I can get engaged to Lili first. We can just keep it private between us without making it public. Give me three years, and I will definitely make Lili see my sincerity and fall for me. If Lili meets someone she truly loves during this time, I will voluntarily withdraw. I won’t pester her or hold her back.”
She paused and then added with a bit more confidence:
“Besides, doesn’t Auntie also approve of this marriage? She also thinks I can take good care of Lili and support her.”
Hearing this, Father Bai sighed helplessly, his tone full of compromise.
Su Ruo was an excellent, sensible child who possessed absolute determination regarding Lili. It was truly difficult for him to reject her directly. Furthermore, the Su family and his own were on good terms, being long-time family friends. Su Ruo was a child he could entrust things to. After thinking for a moment, he finally relented:
“Alright, then give it a try. When Lili gets home, I’ll personally talk to her about this and try to persuade her. By the way, give my regards to your father, Su Qiqiang. Tell him to come over for a visit when he has time.”
Having received a positive answer, Su Ruo’s tone instantly became much lighter. A faint smile flashed in her eyes, and even her fox ears perked up slightly:
“Thank you, Uncle Bai! Thank you so much! I’ll definitely give my father your regards and pass on your invitation.”
After a few more pleasantries, they hung up the phone. Su Ruo leaned against the cold wall. Her bangs cast a shadow over her expression, making it impossible to see her emotions. Only a low murmur echoed slowly in the quiet corridor, her tone filled with both obsession and tenderness:
‘My Lili is getting cuter and cuter. ❤ Too bad I can’t eat you up yet. Just wait a little longer… until you belong completely to me…’
—
Shifting the perspective back to Bai Lili, she had already walked out of the school gates.
She sat in her family’s black private car, her fingertips lightly pressed against the cold window. Watching the street scenery and the crowds of people flash past, she couldn’t help but sigh softly:
“It’s really lively today.”
Most of the people on the road were students like her, coming out of various schools. Some were excitedly discussing the abilities they had awakened, while others were dejected. The traffic was heavy, and the car could only move slowly through the crowded roads, stopping and starting, which wasted a lot of time.
After bumping along in the car for quite a while, the vehicle finally entered the familiar villa district. It passed through the lush, green tree-lined path and stopped steadily in front of her family’s villa.
Actually, on her way home, she had received a message from her father. The message was very concise, saying only that there was a very important matter he needed to discuss with her in person and asking her to find him in the living room as soon as she got home.
Bai Lili hadn’t taken it to heart at the time, assuming her father was just worried and wanted to ask about her awakening — things like what ability she had awakened and how strong it was. She thought to herself that only the matters concerning the three female leads deserved her attention right now; she really didn’t have the energy to ponder anything else.
She pushed the door open and walked into the spacious, bright living room. She saw Father Bai sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of warm water. His expression was much more serious than usual, and his brow was slightly furrowed as if he had something on his mind.
Seeing her enter, Father Bai raised his hand and set down the water cup. His tone was gentle yet carried a hint of gravity:
“Lili, come sit down. Papa has something to tell you.”
Bai Lili did as she was told and sat on the opposite sofa. A faint sense of unease rose in her heart. She felt that what her father was about to say wasn’t as simple as asking about her ability.
Once she was settled, Father Bai took a deep breath and spoke slowly. His tone was cautious, fearing he might upset her:
“Lili, what I’m about to tell you might be a bit hard to accept. Prepare yourself — you have a fiancée.”
At first, Bai Lili had been nonchalant, unconsciously picking at the sofa’s armrest. But when she heard the word “fiancée,” her mind felt like it had been struck by a thunderbolt. Her entire body froze.
She slowly pointed a finger at herself, her eyes wide and round. Her voice trembled with sheer disbelief:
“A fiancée? Mine? Papa, you… you’re not joking, right?”
Father Bai nodded slightly. His tone was very certain, without a hint of a joke:
“Yes, yours. Furthermore, it’s the Eldest Miss of the Su family, Su Ruo. She’s your mother’s best friend’s daughter. You two even met when you were little.”
These words were undoubtedly another bombshell dropped on Bai Lili’s heart, leaving her completely stunned. Her mind was a mess, with countless thoughts swirling and screaming:
‘Su Ruo? Isn’t she one of the female leads? How can she be my fiancée? 😭 No, no, no, this is completely different from the original plot! Where did it go wrong?’
On the surface, however, Bai Lili tried to maintain a stiff expression. Her lips curled into a forced smile as she steadied her voice and whispered, “Then… what is Mom’s opinion? Does she know about this?”
A look of helplessness appeared on Father Bai’s face, and he sighed softly. His tone was full of conflict:
“This engagement was actually initiated by your mother. She’s the one who reached out to the Su family and made it happen. She also did it for your own good. Your current abilities aren’t enough to fully inherit our family property; she’s worried about you.”
“Su Ruo has been excellent since she was a child and is very capable. Your mother feels that with Su Ruo by your side to help and accompany you, it will be much easier for you to take over the family business in the future, and you’ll avoid many detours.”
“Of course, if you’re truly unwilling, Papa will find a way to help you decline this marriage as much as possible. I won’t force you.”
Bai Lili slumped onto the soft sofa, her face filled with despair. Even her eyes grew dim.
She knew her mother too well. Her mother had a strong personality and always meant what she said. Once a decision was made, there was almost no possibility of changing it. To put it bluntly, this marriage was set in stone. Even if her father wanted to help, he might not be able to change her mother’s mind.
She waved her hand feebly, her voice thick with exhaustion:
“Forget it. Don’t go through the trouble. I know that once Mom decides something, it can’t be changed.”
After saying that, she propped herself up on the sofa and stood up shakily. She trudged back to her room one step at a time. Pushing the door open, she collapsed onto her soft, large bed with a *thud*.
She rolled over, and a glint of cunning gradually flashed in her eyes. The corners of her mouth curled into a small arc.
‘Mom definitely won’t change her mind, so… if I just make Su Ruo change her mind and initiate the cancellation herself, wouldn’t that work? I don’t believe I can’t handle this!’