"Hey, why are you crying again?" Ouyang Qianxue faltered, spotting tears on Bai Yuxuan’s cheeks.

"Why… Why would you throw me a birthday party and bake a cake after all the awful things I did to you?" Bai Yuxuan didn’t answer, his voice trembling instead.

"So you *do* know you were awful. But hey—different matters, different rules. I just happened to know it was your birthday. And saw you standing alone in the rain, looking utterly heartbroken."

"You went through all this trouble—for *me*, your rival who tormented you—just because of that? You’re seriously weird."

"*I’m* weird? Says the guy who runs out in a downpour!"

"Whatever. Try my cake first. I’m actually proud of this one." Ouyang Qianxue sliced a piece onto Bai Yuxuan’s plate.

Bai Yuxuan forked a bite. Instantly, exquisite flavors flooded his mouth.

The sponge was silky-soft. The cream rich but light. Tangy fruit jam swirled through it, adding a uniquely perfect touch.

"So sweet… so good!" Tears spilled again as he ate.

"Ugh, seriously? It’s just cake." Ouyang Qianxue handed him a tissue.

"Are you even Bai Yuxuan? The arrogant White Clan heir? Today you’re like some stray kid—first crying in the rain, now sobbing over cake."

This Bai Yuxuan was unrecognizable. The usual haughty pride had vanished. He looked helpless. Pitiable. Almost… delicate?

Fresh from the shower, his hair loose, tears clinging to his lashes—he radiated a soft, fragile beauty…

*(No! What am I thinking? He’s a guy—just like me! Has crossdressing warped my brain? Did I really just have that dangerous thought?!)* Ouyang Qianxue scolded himself inwardly.

"‘Stray kid’… Huh. Maybe that fits me better than I thought," Bai Yuxuan murmured.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. You must’ve misheard."

"Right. Well, I delivered your student ID, threw you a birthday party—I should go." Ouyang Qianxue headed for the door.

"Wait!" Bai Yuxuan grabbed his hand without thinking.

"Y-yeah? What is it?"

"Nothing. Sorry." He snatched his hand back.

"What’s wrong? You’re not acting like yourself. Trouble?"

"Just… seeing things clearly now. Want to hear my story?"

"Only if you want to share. Everyone’s got secrets."

"With *you*… I will." Bai Yuxuan didn’t know why he said it. As the White Clan heir, he guarded his heart fiercely. Yet now, he craved pouring everything out to this rival—the one he’d once hated most.

He told Ouyang Qianxue how his father forced him to take the blame. But he kept silent about his true gender, his past. Trust didn’t come that easily—even now.

"Your father’s a monster!" Ouyang Qianxue seethed. Irresponsible fathers always reminded him of the man who abandoned him, his sister, and their mother.

"You’re angrier than *I* am. How strange." Bai Yuxuan smiled faintly at his fury.

"He’s inhuman! Poisoning townsfolk, then making his own son take the fall? Even tigers don’t devour their young!"

"Inhuman…? Then I’m no better. Like father, like son." Bai Yuxuan’s smile faded.

"No! You’re *nothing* like him!" Ouyang Qianxue’s voice turned fierce.

"Huh?"

"You used your own money to compensate the poisoned residents. Put their health first. That alone makes you a hundred times better than him. If someone with your sense of justice is ‘inhuman’—what hope is there for anyone else?"

"Hahaha!" Bai Yuxuan burst out laughing.

"What’s so funny?"

"N-nothing…" He wiped his eyes. "I just never expected comfort… from my rival."

"Alright. I’ve decided." Bai Yuxuan stood, all gloom gone. "I swear I’ll never tell your secret." He deleted the photo of Ouyang Qianxue hugging his sister—right in front of him—then erased the cloud backup too. "I’m sorry for blackmailing you. For everything I did." He bowed his head.

"Forgiven. But… that photo of you in the maid outfit? Still in your cloud folder. You forgot to delete it."

"What? I *kept* that one on purpose."

"Huh?!"

"It’s my treasure. The Cherry Blossom Academy School Beauty in a maid uniform? I’m keeping it forever." Bai Yuxuan’s sly grin returned—the one Ouyang Qianxue knew too well.

"You were just apologizing! How can you flip like that?!"

"I *am* truly sorry. But what does that have to do with your maid photo?"

"You—!" Ouyang Qianxue shook with rage. "After comforting you, baking your cake—you repay me like this? You’re worse than the viper in ‘The Farmer and the Viper’!"

"Then you’re a pretty dumb farmer."

"You’re insufferable! I shouldn’t have thrown you this stupid birthday party!" Ouyang Qianxue slammed the door behind him.

Watching him vanish from the window, Bai Yuxuan’s lips curled into a bitter smile.

*Ouyang Qianxue… You’re like the sun. You even warm someone like me. How I wish I could get closer to you. But someone who doesn’t understand feelings—someone who hurt you—I don’t deserve that. So let me stay as your rival. That’s where I belong.*