Stolen Jade | Chapter 104 | The Point of No Return | Novela.app

Baishi swallowed hard. "You... what did you say?" "Moving out to live together," Pei Cangyu repeated, standing beside him as the rest of the students marched past them in a great, bustling stream. "Did I not make myself clear?" "Me... and you?" Baishi asked again. Pei Cangyu looked a bit embarrassed. "Yeah. I figured you probably didn't want to live at home much either? But that’s just my guess. If you don't want to, then forget it." As he started to walk away, Baishi reached out and grabbed him. Pei Cangyu turned back and saw that Baishi’s face was deathly pale. He waved a hand in front of Baishi’s eyes. "What’s wrong with you?" *What’s wrong?* Baishi suddenly realized something. He had just killed someone. It was terrifying. He had thought this was what Pei Cangyu wanted, but a normal person didn't think that way. Pei Cangyu simply wanted to get away from Pei Yueshan and live his own life; he had even borrowed money and prepared for a fresh start. The moment Pei Cangyu mentioned sharing a rental, a series of images flashed before Baishi’s eyes. He and Pei Cangyu living under the same roof, stepping out of their respective rooms in the morning, jostling to see who could brush their teeth first, fooling around by the sink, fighting over the bathroom—maybe even buying a height chart to compare themselves every day. They would learn to cook, taking turns with the meals and the dishes. They would go to school together, whether in the same class or different ones, and walk home together after school. People would ask Baishi about Pei Cangyu, and others would ask Pei Cangyu about Baishi. They would be best friends, and everyone would know it. To be that kind of friend, Baishi wouldn't have minded having a headache for the rest of his life, or even pretending to be someone else entirely. But now, it was impossible. Because Pei Yueshan was dead, and murder demanded a price. This wasn't a matter of a lenient legal system where a rapist might only get a few years, with a mountain of sentence reductions to argue over, or debates about age and consent. Baishi’s actions were beyond explanation. The domestic fantasy Baishi had conjured shattered before his eyes like a mirror, because what had happened could not be undone. Baishi began to feel nauseous; he wanted to vomit. The Class Monitor walked over and asked Pei Cangyu with concern what was wrong and if Baishi was okay. Right, there was also the Class Monitor. They would only grow closer. While Baishi was in prison, how could Pei Cangyu possibly feel grateful to him? Pei Cangyu would only wonder why things had turned out this way, why it had been so extreme. He would still become friends with others—carefree people just like himself. Life would move forward. As long as he could leave Pei Yueshan, he would be fine. They weren't like Baishi at all. In that moment, Baishi suddenly understood what Ms. Shang had told him long ago: his nature and his desires were at odds. Think about it—who else, in such a situation, would think for a moment and then say, "I have to kill him," and then actually do it? So extreme, so mad—it wasn't a human way of thinking at all. Baishi was so stubborn that in his world, there was no compromise, not even a second option. For the first time, Baishi realized how frightening he truly was. The others crowded around, asking how he felt and if he needed a taxi back to school. But only one thought occupied Baishi’s mind: *Has Pei Yueshan’s body been discovered yet?* Honestly, if Pei Cangyu wasn't going to be grateful, Baishi didn't want to go to prison. Why should he serve time for killing a piece of trash? Baishi broke into a cold sweat, his lips turning white. He was suddenly struck by a profound fear of the future. He was about to be forcibly torn away from this life. He had no choice left; he would never become the "normal person" he so desperately craved to be. *Damn it.* *Damn it.* *Damn it...* Pei Cangyu reached out to feel Baishi’s forehead, then looked at the Class Monitor. "He doesn't seem to have a fever." Baishi brushed his hand away and suddenly snatched the necklace from around Pei Cangyu’s neck. "I need to make a phone call." Pei Cangyu, busy trying to support him, didn't notice the theft. "Should I go with you?" Pei Cangyu asked. "No need." Baishi walked off to the side, his hands trembling as he pulled out his phone. In a panic, he dialed Ms. Shang’s number. She picked up almost immediately, her voice calm. "Hello." "It’s me." "Yes." Baishi swallowed hard again. "I might be in some trouble." "Go on." "I don't want to die, and I don't want to go to prison." Baishi leaned his head against a wall, desperately suppressing the urge to vomit. "So, what should I do?" Ms. Shang sighed. "Finally. You’ve reached this step at last." "What should I do?" Ms. Shang was silent for a moment before suddenly asking, "Baishi, if I asked you to leave with us, would you be willing?" "Who is 'us'?" "Do you know Ding Chuan?" Baishi stiffened. "We’re coming to get you." Baishi hung up and sat down against the wall. Pei Cangyu walked over as soon as he saw the call end. "How is it? Is your family coming to pick you up?" Baishi turned to look at him. "Will you marry the Class Monitor in the future?" The Class Monitor’s face flushed red. He straightened up and said, "I’ll head out first. Call me when you’re done talking," before walking away. Pei Cangyu answered him seriously, "No." "Why?" Pei Cangyu thought for a moment. "No reason." Baishi panted in silence. Pei Cangyu sat down beside him, turning to look at him earnestly. "Seriously, what is going on with you? Can’t you even tell me?" *Because it’s you, of course I could tell you.* *But how could I say it?* Baishi licked his lips, trembling slightly. He had no idea what would happen next. He could offer no guarantees or explanations; even he had nowhere to run. "I..." A car arrived. A black Bentley pulled up in front of them. The rear door opened, and a man stepped out. Pei Cangyu thought the man looked familiar, but Baishi recognized him instantly—it was the man from the pawnshop. The man looked at Baishi and nodded. "Let’s go." In that simple "Let’s go," Baishi heard the weight of a thousand miles. He was likely going somewhere very far away, and he might never have the chance to see Pei Cangyu again. Because he had committed a crime, he had to flee. Pei Yueshan had committed crimes, yet it was Pei Cangyu who had wanted to flee. It wasn't fair. But what could be done? Baishi understood that he was an extreme and irrational person, but he no longer had time to think. He stood up, looking down at the bewildered Pei Cangyu sitting on the ground. He clutched Pei Cangyu’s necklace in his hand and said, "Goodbye, Pei Cangyu." Pei Cangyu stared at him blankly. "You’re... you’re just going home..." Baishi gave a small smile, turned, and got into the car. Pei Cangyu noted that this car was excessively low-key compared to Baishi’s previous rides. Once inside, Baishi said nothing. He trembled slightly as he was driven all the way to Ms. Shang’s office. There, for the first time, he saw Ding Chuan, who was clinging to life despite severe injuries. Baishi took only one look at Ding Chuan before turning to Ms. Shang. "What about the scene?" Ms. Shang sat on the sofa, smoking. "That’s why we have to be quick." Baishi froze. "How did you know..." She flicked her ash. "Child’s play." Baishi was momentarily speechless. He licked his lips. "And then? What do you want me to do?" "I want you," Ding Chuan rasped in a dry, cracked voice, "to come work for me." Baishi looked at the broken shell of a man. "Doing what?" Ding Chuan smiled. "You’ll find out in time." He leaned forward slightly. "The flesh and blood of the Bai family... you truly are their child. You’ve inherited Bai Yilong’s cruelty and Yan Baihua’s indifference. Finally, you finally have your chance." Baishi said nothing. Ms. Shang stubbed out her cigarette. "Let’s go. We need to leave this place first." "Where to?" Baishi asked sharply. "In any case, you won't be coming back," Ms. Shang replied, offering no specifics. A wave of unease washed over Baishi. "I need to get some things." Ms. Shang refused. "No." "I have to get them." Ms. Shang was about to refuse again, but Ding Chuan spoke up. "What things?" Baishi looked at him. "Two things." The first was Pei Cangyu’s diary. Baishi returned to the school, darting through the deserted third-year floor. He ran back to his classroom, rummaged through Pei Cangyu’s bag, found the notebook, and bolted. As he rushed out, he collided with Lu Mingban. Lu Mingban grabbed his arm. "What’s wrong with you? Where are you going?" "I don't have time to explain." Baishi sidestepped him. Lu Mingban followed at his heels. "Where are you going? I’ll come with you." Baishi stopped. "I don't know. Don't follow me." Lu Mingban persisted. "Where are you going?" Baishi stopped again and looked at him. "Don't follow me." "Then what am I supposed to do?" Lu Mingban asked urgently. "I don't know." Lu Mingban lost his temper and punched the wall. "What *do* you know?! You have to know something!" Baishi looked at him for a while, then sighed. "Then wait. Maybe I’ll come looking for you." With that, he left quickly. The second thing: they went to the Lizhi Institute to pick up Zhou Linyuan. Once back in the car, Baishi looked impatiently at Ding Chuan. "Go deal with the scene now. Someone might have discovered it already. If I become a suspect, you won't be able to escape with me." Ding Chuan smiled. Ms. Shang chimed in, "The moment you left, we handled it." They shared a laugh. Baishi suddenly understood. There was no turning back. This entire affair had likely been within their calculations. "You set me up," he stated flatly. Ms. Shang cracked the window to let in some air. "I wouldn't call it setting you up. It was merely guidance. We originally intended to draw out your jealousy toward the rest of the Bai family, but you didn't seem to care much about them. Then the matter with Pei Cangyu happened. Though, I must admit, I didn't expect you to go that far." She looked at Baishi. "You are even more extraordinary than I imagined." Baishi’s shoulders slumped. He felt nothing now. Ding Chuan looked at the notebook clutched in Baishi’s hand and shook his head. "Young people." Baishi looked at him. Ding Chuan continued, "Is it that important?" Baishi remained silent. "If you lose, everything important will be snatched away." Ding Chuan glanced at him, his grey pupils cold as ice. "That is the way of the world. Nostalgia is the most useless emotion." Baishi stared at him, then slowly leaned back into the seat. He reached out and threw the notebook out through the gap in the window. Ding Chuan smiled, seemingly satisfied. Baishi didn't move. He considered it a way to leave a good impression on Ding Chuan. Besides, there was no need to keep something he had already committed to memory. *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 丽治所 | Lizhi Institute | A facility or institution where Zhou Linyuan was staying. | | 白义龙 | Bai Yilong | Baishi's father. | | 严柏华 | Yan Baihua | Baishi's mother. | | 鲁鸣般 | Lu Mingban | A classmate/associate of Baishi. | | 周临渊 | Zhou Linyuan | A character picked up by Baishi and the others. |