Chapter 578: Chapter 53: Love is a Battle_2

“If only all problems could be solved with a fight, that would be so much more convenient.”

Gongsun Ce mumbled to himself as he climbed out of bed and walked out of his room. The light in the next room was off; the young lady hadn’t returned yet. He stood in the corridor, silently waiting for his neighbor to come home.

“Qin Qianbai, I’ve expressed my feelings to Gongsun Ce.”

When Qin Qianbai heard her friend say this directly, her heart felt as if it was being squeezed.

First came panic, the fear of the possibility that the most important person to her might be taken away by someone else; then came anger, followed by sadness that spread due to imagination.

Her steady state of mind was shaken like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples on the surface. She wanted to scream, to vent her emotions, to throw a tantrum like a child.

However, she was no longer a child. A martial artist was better at controlling their emotions than anyone else. Qin Qianbai steadied her mind, cut off the evil thoughts, tamed the miscellaneous ones, and regained her calmness in her breathing. She continued the conversation with her friend as usual.

“…What was the result?”

Qiluo’s voice carried a hint of dismay.

“It’s strange, I was expressing goodwill, but he looked as if he was being forced into a corner.”

Indeed.

Qin Qianbai sighed inwardly, her beloved truly was a troublesome man.

The girl with twin ponytails stood in front of her, speaking softly yet resolutely.

“I’ve known for a while that my first love could probably end in failure. But Qin Qianbai, I don’t want to just keep hiding my feelings and stay good friends.”

Qiluo looked at her seriously.

“I know it’s despicable of me… because it was Qin Qianbai who met Gongsun Ce first, and it was Qin Qianbai who fell for him first. That’s why I wanted to tell you face-to-face about this. Even if you hate me, I still want to pursue my own feelings.”

…It couldn’t be guarded against.

The girl despaired inwardly. She always felt that Qiluo was a bigger threat than Shiyu Ling; the reason was right here. Although that woman was close to Ah Ce, she lacked the courage to confess directly. But Qiluo was different; she was straightforward and not afraid to speak her mind. Love did not look at any past accumulations; it has always been about who takes the initiative.

But, defending against such thoughts was itself improper. Fundamentally, one cannot control another person’s feelings. Qiluo had her own thoughts, Ah Ce had his own ideas; she couldn’t force everyone to act according to Qin Qianbai’s thoughts—such considerations were truly childish.

“Qiluo.”

Her decision was made in an instant—Qin Qianbai reached out her hands—

And pinched Qiluo’s cheeks.

“Ah wahaha?!”

“How dare you sneak ahead, I’m very angry. I’m going to pinch your cheeks hard.”

“Don’t—this is in the street where people can see us, ahhhhhh—!”

The idol’s screams lasted for about half a minute, after which Qin Qianbai, satisfied, released her grip and said to her friend crouching with her face covered, “Love is akin to war. In war, there’s no such thing as being despicable; it’s all about the strengths and resolutions of both sides.”

“Qin Qianbai makes sweet young love sound like a grueling fight!” Qiluo wailed.

“How Qiluo chooses to attack doesn’t matter; I will continue advancing at my own pace confidently.”

Qin Qianbai extended a hand to her friend, saying warmly, “However, regardless of the outcome of the war, we’re still good friends.”

Qiluo, with tears in her eyes, hugged her emotionally.

“Wuuu, Qin Qianbai—!”

“If you attack me with your fat again, I’ll really get mad.”

The unnecessary fat was indeed too much, she would think about encouraging Qiluo to exercise later.

Qin Qianbai, about to make a snarky comment, caught a glimpse of a small head peeking around nearby.

“Ah…”

The Information Life Form idol also noticed the onlooker. She let go of her friend and looked toward the corner where the child was hiding, smiling embarrassedly: “Is that Ayane!”

“It’s Ayane~”

The little girl in red responded energetically, popping out from around the corner and skipping towards them.

Qin Qianbai and Qiluo remembered her well; this outgoing little girl was a friend of the doctor, a newcomer to the city of the skies. The doctor had wanted her to meet some dependable friends, and Kardesia had enthusiastically organized several ladies’ meetings—most of which involved Kardesia talking non-stop while the others mainly listened.

Ayane looked up at them, smiling, “Ayane thought there might be a fight.”

“No, we’re very good friends,” Qin Qianbai said.

“But Ayane smelled something interesting—jealousy, anger, hostility, self-reproach, guilt, frustration, possessiveness, destructive urges… hehe, so many delicious dark emotions, piling up like mud in your heart!”

To anyone, these would seem like heartless, almost accusatory words.

Yet, the two conversing didn’t show the slightest awkwardness.

Qin Qianbai crouched down and stroked the girl’s head: “To suppress these dark, negative emotions with white feelings, to make rational decisions with a calm mind, that’s what adults do.”

Qiluo smiled and added, “If Ayane-chan can’t understand, she can go ask Miss Doctor~”

Ayane shook her head and sighed.

“Oh…oh! The decisions made by rational people are always clear at a glance, not having any unknown elements isn’t fun!”