Chapter 29: The Cunning Sister-in-Law

Tang Qihuang remained seated, her composure unwavering. However, the severe expression that had previously defined her features had vanished, replaced by an air of ease and naturalness.

Yet, anyone with even a fleeting acquaintance with Tang Qihuang understood that such a relaxed demeanor was utterly uncharacteristic of her.

Nevertheless, this was precisely how she appeared at this moment.

She seemed as though she were simply engaging in a casual conversation with an old friend.

Indeed, this was the truth of the matter. If one were to count their previous lives, she and Bai YuYang and Bai YuXi had known each other for well over seven years.

Seeing that Bai YuXi remained silent, Tang Qihuang, feeling a touch awkward, spoke again.

“Erm… don’t be so unforgiving when you’ve got the upper hand. Really, I know you’re here to test me, but let’s just leave it at that, alright?”

Bai YuXi was silent for a moment before a smile touched her lips. “Alright, Miss Tang. So, may I take that as an admission?”

In response to the question, Tang Qihuang raised her exquisitely shaped brows. “Admission? What do I need to admit?”

“Hmph, you sly fox.”

Bai YuXi’s voice was exceedingly low when she uttered this, ensuring Tang Qihuang did not hear it.

However, this did not deter Bai YuXi from speaking her mind directly.

“There’s no one else here, so I’ll be blunt, Miss Tang. Am I correct in assuming that, like me, you possess memories from your previous life?”

This question, in truth, was a rhetorical one, yet Bai YuXi absolutely needed to hear the word ‘yes’ from Tang Qihuang. This was, after all, the sole purpose of her visit.

Regarding her brother, Bai YuXi wished for not a single variable to emerge.

Bai YuXi’s question had fallen entirely within Tang Qihuang’s expectations.

However, she did not respond immediately.

Instead, she rose from her swivel chair and turned her back, gazing out at Qifeng High School through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

From that vantage point, the entire campus stretched out beneath her.

Yet, Tang Qihuang’s gaze remained fixed on a single, specific angle.

That was the second-year building, Class Four—more precisely, it was Bai YuYang’s classroom.

Unbeknownst to her, as she looked in Bai YuYang’s direction, a faint smile gradually blossomed on Tang Qihuang’s face, a countenance so beautiful it could outshine the radiant moon.

That smile brimmed with pure happiness.

After a long while, she finally turned back to Bai YuXi, a smile gracing her lips. “Bai YuXi, I can tell you definitively that, just like you, I have been reborn.

But I hope you can honestly tell me whether Bai YuYang, apart from you, also retains his memories from the previous life. This is incredibly important to me.”

‘Yes, without a doubt, this is indeed incredibly important to you.’

“But why should I tell you, Miss Tang? Surely you’re aware of the competitive dynamic between us. Even in a new life, I won’t yield an inch. In fact, even if you knew whether my brother retained his past memories, what difference would it make?”

This was both a probe and an accusation.

Tang Qihuang’s answer, however, somewhat surprised Bai YuXi.

“It’s quite simple.”

Her words resonated with unwavering determination.

“If he has been reborn, I will make him continue to love me. If he hasn’t, I will make him fall in love with me anew.”

“Such arrogance.” As this topic arose, an unfathomable darkness seemed to deepen within Bai YuXi’s eyes. “Tang Qihuang, you should have some self-awareness…

“Who knows, really?”

‘Hmm… perhaps saying Bai YuYang loved me before was indeed a bit arrogant. However, Tang Qihuang intends to restart her efforts, making him personally acknowledge this truth.’

She flicked a strand of golden hair from her forehead, her noble aura radiating fully.

It was as if the entire situation was perfectly under her control.

On the other side, Bai YuXi unceremoniously took a seat on the edge of the activity room.

That spot, the student council accountant’s position, had originally belonged to her.

Seeing her seated there, Tang Qihuang also took a seat and spoke.

“Bai YuXi, do you want to rejoin the student council? Your accountant position, and Bai YuYang’s vice-president role—I’ve reserved them for you. The student council will be recruiting new members in a few days; you both just need to sign up, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“Apologies, but that won’t be necessary. I won’t be joining the student council this time, and if I’m not mistaken, my brother likely won’t participate either.”

“Oh, I see. So it seems Bai YuYang has also been reborn.”

Tang Qihuang’s quick wit allowed her to immediately extract useful information from Bai YuXi’s words.

She knew that in the previous life, Bai YuYang had joined the student council through registration. If he didn’t sign up this time, it strongly implied he had been reborn, for she understood Bai YuXi, who would rarely interfere with Bai YuYang’s decisions.

“As expected of Miss Tang. Truly cunning and experienced.”

“Thank you for the compliment, little sister Bai YuXi. However, I suspect you didn’t merely let that slip; you intentionally gave me this information… I should be thanking you instead.”

“No need. Even if I didn’t say anything now, you would probably notice my brother’s situation in a few days anyway.”

“That’s certainly true.”

Indeed, when masters spar, few words are needed.

From long ago, Tang Qihuang had observed that the Bai YuYang and Bai YuXi siblings were exceptionally intelligent. When speaking with them, Tang Qihuang never needed to explain too much.

Having confirmed that Tang Qihuang was also a reborn individual, Bai YuXi still had another crucial question that needed clarification.

“You fox… *cough* *cough*, Tang Qihuang, did you know I would be coming today?”

“Oh? Why do you say that?”

“Because the class assignments for my classmates on the first day of school weren’t entirely the same as in our previous life.”

Bai YuXi analyzed, “These class assignments are handled by the student council. So, did you deliberately arrange this to test whether I had been reborn, and if so, I would come looking for you?”

“That’s one reason, I suppose…”

Tang Qihuang nodded, acknowledging Bai YuXi’s guess, then added,

“Actually, it wasn’t that complicated. I merely wanted to use my position to create some convenience for you. Haven’t you noticed that all those playful, troublemaking students with poor grades from your previous class have been replaced by top students?”

Seeing Bai YuXi nod, Tang Qihuang smiled.

“Little sister Bai YuXi, you might not like hearing this, but I did have a bit of a selfish motive. I was thinking… if Bai YuYang and I get married in the future, then his sister would also be my sister, right?

That would make me your sister-in-law. There’s no harm in trying to curry favor with you in advance, is there? For example, by placing you in a class full of excellent students with a good environment.”

‘You’re surprisingly honest, just blurting out whatever you think?’

However, it was clear that the word ‘sister-in-law’ instantly ignited Bai YuXi’s fury.

She slammed her hand on the table!

‘Hiss… a little painful. Too much force.’

In any case, she stood up with an intimidating presence, glaring fiercely at Tang Qihuang.

“Tang Qihuang… you know perfectly well that my brother and I aren’t actually blood-related, don’t you?”

“Yes, wasn’t that confirmed in the previous life? You truly aren’t blood-related.”

But Tang Qihuang showed no sign of backing down on this issue.

“But Bai YuXi, listen to my advice. Even if you view Bai YuYang as a romantic interest, he has always only ever seen you as his little sister. I think you should… decide sooner rather than later which of us will be your sister-in-law. It would make things much easier, wouldn’t it?”

‘Satisfying!’

Tang Qihuang felt immense satisfaction in speaking those words!

From the moment Bai YuXi had entered, she had been relentlessly pressing her advantage!

‘If I didn’t say it like this, you wouldn’t know who the sister-in-law is and who the sister is!’

Hmph, Bai YuXi had actually anticipated she would say something like that.

‘These vixen-like women around Brother… they are truly a bit too brazen.’

‘They dare to speak like this, simply unaware of how terrifying a sister with a severe brother complex can become when she learns she’s not blood-related to her brother…’