Chapter 4: If I Go Bald, Will You Still Love Me? (Part 4)

Bai Yao and Shen Ji agreed to meet again in the cafeteria at lunchtime. She returned to the classroom, and Lu Xiaoran glanced around at the people nearby before whispering to Bai Yao, “Yao Yao, I think Zhao Yuan isn’t very happy about the boyfriend you found.”
Bai Yao asked, “Who is Zhao Yuan?”
Lu Xiaoran paused for a moment. “He’s the guy who tried to invite you to lunch just now.”
Bai Yao looked over; indeed, a few boys were standing together in the classroom, seemingly discussing something.
She folded her arms, lost in thought.
During the lunch break, Bai Yao dragged Shen Ji to the library to tutor him. It was no exaggeration to say that Shen Ji’s studies were a complete mess. If it weren’t for Bai Yao’s tireless efforts over the past month, he wouldn’t have made any progress.
At first, Shen Ji couldn’t even hold his pen properly—she truly wondered how he’d managed to get through nine years of compulsory education.
As she watched the boy’s back hunch and his head droop lower and lower, almost pressing his eyes against the paper, Bai Yao placed one hand on his back and lifted his chin with the other, restoring him to a proper sitting posture.
She spoke gently, “Sit up straight when you write, or it’ll be bad for your eyes.”
Shen Ji obediently replied, “Okay.”
Looking at the words he’d written, all crooked and clumsy, Bai Yao simply couldn’t praise them in good conscience. She took his hand and guided him stroke by stroke, letting him write slowly along the template.
She encouraged him, “Pay attention to the stroke order. Make every horizontal and vertical line clear. Take your time—don’t rush, and you’ll write beautifully.”
Shen Ji answered with another “Okay,” but his gaze wasn’t on the characters; it was on her hand holding his. Her hand was delicate and fair, truly beautiful, and it felt so soft and comfortable.
If only he could keep it by his side always.
Shen Ji’s thoughts began to drift, his heart restless, longing flickering ever more passionately in his eyes.
The next second, those hands cupped his face, turning him to face the girl’s serious expression.
Bai Yao frowned, “Shen Ji, you’re not paying attention.”
Shen Ji put on an innocent face, “Yao Yao, I’m really studying hard.”
Bai Yao vigorously rubbed his face, distorting it into a comical shape, and said fiercely, “You can’t be distracted, and you can’t lie. How can you keep slacking off every day? What if, when we sign our marriage certificate, your handwriting is so ugly you can’t even show it to anyone?”
Shen Ji mumbled, “Marriage?”
“Of course. One day we’ll get married. Then, on our household registration, you’ll belong only to me, and I’ll belong only to you.”
Whether the future would truly be like that didn’t matter—Bai Yao was simply talented at painting such grand pictures, much like a sweet-talking scoundrel promising marriage to a girl once he’s successful.
Shen Ji’s eyes lit up. “If you belong only to me, does that mean I can eat you up?”
Bai Yao covered her face in embarrassment. “You boys really do have filthy minds!”
Shen Ji bent over to look at her, his eyes wide and eager like a large, loyal dog, as if his ears and tail were standing up. “Yao Yao, when will we get married?”
Bai Yao patted his “dog head.” “At the very least, we’ll have to wait until after graduation.”
Shen Ji pressed his lips into a thin line. Clearly, he thought this was far too long and was not pleased.
Bai Yao poked his cheek with her finger. “Come on, don’t be upset. Time passes quickly, doesn’t it?”
Shen Ji thought for a moment. He lay his head on Bai Yao’s arm, blinking in confusion. “Since I met you, a whole day and night seem to pass in a flash. Before, time always dragged on—days and nights were so long and boring.”
“So now it’s fun?”
He nodded with a smile. “It’s fun.”

He truly seemed like a naïve, innocent child.
Bai Yao smiled too, her fingers gently combing through his black hair. The movement was so soft that Shen Ji squinted in comfort, grabbing her other hand and pressing it against his cheek, nuzzling it lightly.
He liked this kind of physical contact—a way of being together that could be felt just through the skin, making him feel at ease and entertained.
But soon, another thought occurred to him.
If these hands were separated from their owner, could they still caress him like this?
A trace of confusion and helplessness flickered through Shen Ji’s mind.
The librarian had already cast several warning glances their way. In this school full of privileged heirs, the librarian dared not interfere too much, knowing it would do no good.
Bai Yao lowered her voice. “Shen Ji, don’t go anywhere alone for a while.”
Shen Ji looked up in bewilderment. “Yao Yao, is someone going to bully me?”
He knew well enough—whenever she said that, it meant someone was targeting him.
Bai Yao stroked his face. “I’ll handle it.”
As dusk fell and classes ended, most students rushed out of the classroom, eager to return to their dorms.
Zhao Yuan, however, was stopped.
Bai Yao smiled, “Zhao Yuan.”
Zhao Yuan was caught off guard, stammering, “Bai—Bai Yao… did you need something?”
Bai Yao smiled, “I heard you made plans with some people to visit my boyfriend in the dorm tonight.”
Zhao Yuan’s expression shifted.
It had taken nothing more than a bit of money for Bai Yao to get Zhao Yuan’s so-called friends to spill everything—especially since among those “friends” were the boyfriends of Bai Yao’s own superficial girlfriends, who didn’t mind currying favor with her.
People naturally seek profit and avoid harm.
Bai Yao’s tone was friendly. “You know, I have a good temper. We’re all classmates, all in the same circle. After graduation, we might stay in touch. It’s better to have more friends than enemies, don’t you think?”
Zhao Yuan gritted his teeth. “He’s not good enough for you.”
“You mean his family background isn’t a match for mine?” Bai Yao’s eyes curved with amusement. “In other words, your family background is?”
Zhao Yuan’s face darkened.
The Bai family was the head of a business empire, which was why Bai Yao was treated like a queen at this school. Everyone flattered her, whether sincerely or not—it was all the same on the surface.
Bai Yao was a piece of prime meat everyone wanted a share of.
Here, everyone was taught: if you can’t be the strongest in the forest, you should try to monopolize the strongest.
If Zhao Yuan claimed he liked Bai Yao only for herself, even he wouldn’t believe it.
Bai Yao might look like a pretty vase, but she was anything but naïve about these things.
Zhao Yuan knew he was being warned. Suppressing his resentment, he forced a smile and offered his right hand, “Bai Yao, we’re still classmates, right?”
Bai Yao glanced at his hand but didn’t take it. She just smiled, “Of course, we’re still classmates.”
Bai Yao walked out of the classroom, where Lu Xiaoran was waiting for her.

Lu Xiaoran said, “Yao Yao, do you remember that bitch from the next class? I heard from the girls that she’s been talking behind your back! She said your face is fake and that you’re trying to seduce her boyfriend!”
Lu Xiaoran covered her mouth. “Oh my god, that bitch really dares to say anything!”
Bai Yao clicked her tongue. “With a face as beautiful as mine, not even a plastic surgeon could make it so perfect. What’s her name again? Someday we’ll settle the score with her.”
The girls’ voices faded into the distance, their figures soon out of sight.
Zhao Yuan ground his teeth. Shen Ji was inferior in every way, yet Bai Yao favored him and even came to warn Zhao Yuan because of him. How could he swallow that?
Still, Zhao Yuan knew better than to make any moves now. If anything happened to Shen Ji, Bai Yao would surely blame him.
He reassured himself that there would be opportunities in the future. He would crush Shen Ji beneath his feet, forcing the proud Bai Yao to grovel before him. In a foul mood, he skipped evening study hall and stayed in his dorm to play video games.
After a game ended, he faintly heard water running in the bathroom.
Probably someone had left the tap on. Annoyed, he walked in and, sure enough, water was overflowing from the sink.
The moment Zhao Yuan reached for the faucet, a mass of long hair shot out from the basin, wrapping tightly around his arm. He screamed instinctively. At the same time, the bathroom door slammed shut with a bang and the lights went out.
A woman’s sinister laughter echoed through the cramped space, coming from all directions.
Unable to shake off the hair entwining his arm, Zhao Yuan shouted desperately, “Let me go! Let me go!”
In the dim light, a woman with long, disheveled hair slowly appeared in the mirror, approaching step by step, her entire body dripping wet, hair plastered to her face, eerie and horrifying.
Zhao Yuan shrieked, “A ghost!”
He crashed to the floor in terror, crawling frantically toward the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Trembling violently, he felt a cold dread pressing against his back.
A drop of water splashed onto his face.
He looked up slowly—first seeing soaked black hair hanging down, then, as his gaze traveled higher, meeting a pale, twisted, horrifying face.
The female ghost hung upside down from the hair-covered ceiling, her mouth curling into a blood-red grin, the corners splitting almost to her ears—a monstrous visage that pushed fear to its limit.
Zhao Yuan screamed uncontrollably, scrambling backward. Black hair wrapped around his limbs; he fell forward, his entire body dragged across the floor.
“Please, let me go, I’m begging you!”
The female ghost giggled, her laughter like a twisted game.
Suddenly, Zhao Yuan saw another figure in his blurred vision. He cried out for help, “Save me! I’ll give you anything you want! My family’s rich—just save me!”
But the figure didn’t move.
As Zhao Yuan slowly recognized him, his eyes widened in disbelief and he screamed, “Shen Ji!!!”
Bathed in moonlight, the boy sat on the windowsill like a cat, his pitch-black eyes shimmering with a strange, chilling light. He watched Zhao Yuan being dragged across the floor, propping his chin up with one hand, slowly smiling.
He pointed at Zhao Yuan’s right hand, his grin radiant. “Start with this hand.”
In the dim room, the sound of tearing flesh and Zhao Yuan’s agonized screams shattered the silence. The dripping of water and the splatter of blood mingled in the darkness.
Tonight, the night played a sinister symphony.