After Being Scummed – Chapter 101
by Little PandaExtra Chapter Three: The Golden Time of Youth 6
Romeo!
After Yin Bai’s birthday, the two of them grew even closer. Every weekend, after finishing club activities, Yin Bai would take Zuo Jingyou home for dinner.
Occasionally, people from their club would invite Zuo Jingyou out. Yin Bai generally didn’t go to that sort of thing and would let Zuo Jingyou choose—go with the others, or pick her.
At times like that, only choosing her would soothe this heaven-making, earth-making1 little friend2.
Besides weekends, on mornings or afternoons when neither had class, Yin Bai would invite Zuo Jingyou to watch various stage plays, musicals, or movies.
That was when Zuo Jingyou realized Yin Bai had a soft spot for drama—no wonder she stopped to look that day when they passed the Drama Club.
In just a single month, their feelings heated up rapidly, and Zuo Jingyou’s roommates also learned of Yin Bai’s existence.
Because Zuo Jingyou was frequently going out on dates with Yin Bai, her roommates would tease her from time to time that it looked like she was dating Yin Bai.
Zuo Jingyou smiled and explained, “Nothing like that.”
Her roommates exchanged knowing looks and teased, “No? Then this ‘little sister’ of yours is just really clingy.”
Yes, she really was clingy—but for some reason, Zuo Jingyou was more than willing to let her cling.
Because Yin Bai treated her very well.
In the blink of an eye, it was December, and students entered the busy exam month. At the same time, as president of the Drama Club, Zuo Jingyou also had to prepare for the New Year’s Gala3.
This year, the Drama Club planned to stage 《Romeo and Juliet》, and Zuo Jingyou was elected by popular vote as Romeo. Juliet was a very sweet-looking senior4 in their club.
So, on top of intense exam prep, Zuo Jingyou also had to memorize her lines.
Maybe it was a cold wave blowing through—this year was especially cold. Even in warm, southern Haicheng, by mid-December the temperature had dropped to 7–8°C.
In the dead of winter the dorm was especially cold, and if she went to the library to study she couldn’t rehearse. So Yin Bai warmly invited Zuo Jingyou: “Come study at my place; the AC is nice and warm.”
At this time, the “home” Yin Bai meant was her high-end apartment near campus.
Zuo Jingyou thought it was a good idea and headed to Yin Bai’s place in the morning.
Although Yin Bai lived alone near school, someone handled her three meals, and Zuo Jingyou had a wonderful day there.
After they finished reviewing in the evening, Zuo Jingyou even stayed to watch a movie with Yin Bai. When it ended, it was already ten o’clock.
She checked her phone, gasped, and said, “It’s so late already—I’ve got to go.”
Saying that, she hurriedly put on her clothes, tightened her scarf, and was about to head back to campus.
Late at night, with the sky cold and dark, the moment Zuo Jingyou pushed the door open, the wind that hit her face stung like knives.
Leaning on her cane, Yin Bai followed behind; the chill outside had her trembling all over. She reached out without hesitating, caught Zuo Jingyou’s hand, and said, “How about not going back tonight? Stay here.”
Hearing that, Zuo Jingyou let go of the doorknob. With a creak, the door swung shut again. She turned, bit her lip, and said softly to Yin Bai, “But I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”
“I’ve got disposable underwear here, and you can wear my pajamas,” Yin Bai said, tugging gently on her sleeve.
Zuo Jingyou glanced at her, eyes full of softness. “Your pajamas are too long.”
Yin Bai was simply too tall. Even with similar builds, Zuo Jingyou always looked draped and loose in Yin Bai’s clothes.
Yin Bai pressed her lips together, gaze resolute. “Wear mine.”
Zuo Jingyou thought for a moment, then bit her lip and looked at her. “But where would I sleep? You only have one bed, right? You can’t make me sleep on the sofa like at noon.”
Yin Bai paused, hesitated a beat, and said, “Then sleep in my bed.”
A faint smile tugged at Zuo Jingyou’s lips. She looked at her gently. “Then where will you sleep?”
Another beat. Then, with difficulty: “Together, in my bed, of course.”
With sleeping and wearing sorted, Zuo Jingyou agreed cheerfully to stay over.
She soaked in the tub for a good long while, then put on Yin Bai’s pajamas, blow-dried her hair, and walked out of the bathroom.
Already washed up, Yin Bai was propped against the headboard under the covers playing on her phone. At the sound of footsteps, she looked up—and when she saw Zuo Jingyou, hair down and loosely wrapped in her pajama top, coming toward the bed, she froze.
She knew Zuo Jingyou was beautiful; she just hadn’t imagined how devastatingly beautiful she would be looking so disheveled.
Where had this fairy come from? Too pretty.
Thinking that, Yin Bai’s gaze followed Zuo Jingyou as she moved, unblinking.
Sensing her gaze, Zuo Jingyou felt the tips of her ears flush under her dark hair. She lifted the quilt, knelt onto the bed, scooted to Yin Bai’s side, and whispered, “Shall we sleep? I’m so sleepy…”
She even gave a small yawn, looking adorably drowsy. “We reviewed so much today. I feel completely drained—urgently need sleep to recharge.”
They were very close—so close that with a single breath, Yin Bai’s mouth and nose were filled with Zuo Jingyou’s unique scent.
Strange. It was clearly the same shampoo and body wash, and yet, besides those, Zuo Jingyou had some special, irresistibly attractive scent.
It was just too strange. Not scientific at all.
Her thoughts in a tangle, Yin Bai hastily set her phone aside and mumbled, “Mm, let’s sleep.”
“I’m turning off the lights. Good night.”
She found the switch, flicked it off with a click, and slid under the covers.
In the dark, Zuo Jingyou could feel the flustered girl at her side and couldn’t help curving her lips in delight. She lifted the quilt and slipped into the bed as well, settling close and whispering, “Good night, Xiao Bai.”
On a freezing night, in a room warmed by the AC, Yin Bai lay stiffly, not daring to move. Feeling the warm breath at her side, her face burned like a fever. “Good night, Zuo Jingyou.”
Zuo Jingyou chuckled, edged even closer, and stealthily brushed Yin Bai’s foot with her own. When skin met skin, Yin Bai startled like a rabbit, almost springing up.
She yanked both feet back and stammered, “W-what are you doing…”
Oblivious, Zuo Jingyou only drew nearer, practically pressing against her. Warm breath tickled Yin Bai’s ear. “Nothing. Your feet just felt icy.”
She leaned to her ear and, on purpose, added, “Xiao Bai, want jiejie to warm you up?”
For once, Yin Bai didn’t reflexively refuse. After a moment’s struggle, she whispered, back still to Zuo Jingyou, “How will you warm me?”
“By hugging you, of course.”
As she said it, Zuo Jingyou slid one arm under Yin Bai’s neck and draped the other across her waist, drawing her fully into an embrace.
Tall as she was, Yin Bai had to curl up under the hug, sinking into Zuo Jingyou’s arms like a big, pitiful puppy.
Holding her, Zuo Jingyou raised a hand and stroked Yin Bai’s hair. “Bring your feet over.”
“Oh,” Yin Bai murmured, and carefully stretched her feet out. Zuo Jingyou gathered her in, clamped those icy feet between her own, and asked by her ear, “Better now? Still cold?”
Yin Bai’s heart pounded like a drum. “M-much better…”
More than better—she was burning up, about to ascend to heaven5!
Nestled in Zuo Jingyou’s arms, cheek pressed to the softest part of her, wrapped in that sweet fragrance, she was so happy she could faint.
Heavens6, is this paradise? How can there be someplace so warm and sweet even in the dark?
Dizzy, she inched forward and said, moved, “Zuo Jingyou, you smell so good…”
So fragrant. Letting her stay over and share a bed—this had to be the wisest decision of her life.
Zuo Jingyou stiffened, blushing invisibly in the night. She hugged Yin Bai, gave a soft laugh, and said gently, “Xiao Bai, you smell wonderful too—there’s a rosy floral on you, really nice.”
Yin Bai raised her head; in the gloom, her eyes sparkled. “Eh? Really? I don’t feel it. Do I have that kind of scent?”
Zuo Jingyou nodded. “You do. Very distinct, very special, very pleasant.”
Grinning, Yin Bai set a hand on her waist. “I think you have a special scent too—sweet like honey, aromatic like black tea. It’s just a unique aura.”
“I… I really like it!”
A little surprised, Zuo Jingyou soon reached up to rub Yin Bai’s earlobe and said softly, “As long as you like it.”
It truly was a wonderfully warm night. From that day on, Yin Bai formally invited Zuo Jingyou to live at her place.
Zuo Jingyou didn’t refuse. She began moving her things from the dorm, bit by bit, into Yin Bai’s home.
And so they slipped into an extremely ambiguous cohabitation—like friends, yet not quite like friends.
In a flash, New Year’s Day arrived, and Zuo Jingyou’s performance at the Drama Club’s New Year’s Gala was a great success. Hearing the thunderous applause, Yin Bai, hiding backstage, clapped like crazy for Zuo Jingyou as she came offstage: “bravo! bravo!”
“Zuo Jingyou, you acted amazingly—Romeo through and through!”
Still in costume, Zuo Jingyou smiled, gave Yin Bai a knight’s salute7, and said, all gentlemanly, “Thank you for your praise, my beautiful princess.”
She extended a hand in a sincere invitation. “Would you be willing to share a late-night snack with me later?”
Yin Bai set her hand in Zuo Jingyou’s, beaming. “Of course!”
Just then, an ill-timed burst of applause barged into their world.
Amid clap-clap-clap, Yin Bai and Zuo Jingyou turned together toward the dressing-room door.
A handsome young man with a camera around his neck walked over. “A brilliant performance. Romeo, might I know your real name?”
Yin Bai squeezed Zuo Jingyou’s hand, frowned deeply at the flippant, showy youth in the distance.
Who is this guy, and why is he such an eyesore? One look and he’s already so annoying!
The author has something to say:
Alright, Teacher Yin Bai is starting to steal He Zhiwen’s scenes—no ex-husband-bro8 this time!
LP: I already forgot what that guy’s name is hehe
Re-translated on October 15, 2025
Footnotes
- 作天作地 | zuò tiān zuò dì | Literally “to make the heavens and make the earth.” A modern colloquial idiom describing someone who is dramatic, high-maintenance, and creates a huge fuss over small things, often in a spoiled or attention-seeking manner.
- 小朋友 | xiǎo péngyǒu | Literally “little friend.” While it can mean “child,” here it’s used affectionately and condescendingly to describe someone (Yin Bai) who is acting childish, pouty, or immature.
- 元旦晚会 | Yuándàn wǎnhuì | A school-organized performance evening held around January 1 (Gregorian New Year, “Yuandan”), featuring student acts—drama, music, dance—distinct from Lunar New Year festivities. Often a key stage for campus clubs to present shows.
- 学姐 | xuéjiě | Literally “study-older-sister,” a respectful way to refer to a female upperclassman in school contexts. Connotes seniority and mild closeness; often translated as “senior (female).”
- 升天 | shēng tiān | Literally “to ascend/rise to heaven.” Can refer to dying and going to heaven, but in modern colloquial use, it’s often used hyperbolically to mean reaching a state of extreme pleasure, bliss, or ecstasy.
- 老天爷 | Lǎo tiān yé | Literally “Old Grandfather Heaven.” A common, colloquial way to address Heaven as a conscious, personified deity. Used as an exclamation similar to “Oh my God!” or “Good Heavens!” to express shock, despair, or awe.
- 骑士礼 | qíshì lǐ | Literally “knight’s salute,” a chivalric greeting/gesture (e.g., hand-to-chest bow or courtly flourish). In modern Chinese contexts it conveys playful, gallant courtesy, often used theatrically or flirtatiously.
- 前夫哥 | qiánfū gē | Literally “ex-husband-bro(ther).” An internet/fandom slang term used to refer to a character who was a romantic rival or a perceived antagonist in a previous story arc or pairing, often one who “lost” the main character to someone else. The ‘哥’ (gē – older brother) suffix is a casual, familiar addition.
oh my god I knew exactly who it was as soon as he showed up, this is hilarious
oh my god I knew exactly who it was as soon as he showed up, this is hilarious