Cen Lingqiu grabbed an umbrella and ran downstairs. Once there, she immediately saw Yu Mingjiao holding an umbrella.
She sat silently and quietly in her wheelchair. The rain was heavy, and even with an umbrella, it still fell on her.
Yu Mingjiao was only wearing a black overcoat, the ends of her hair slightly damp. She didn’t make a sound. Her pair of pitch-black eyes held a kind of stubborn calm, her face pale. Her gaze, almost tangible, passed through the stark white light of the streetlamp and fell directly on Cen Lingqiu.
Cen Lingqiu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly ran to her side, frowning slightly. “Why did you suddenly come here?”
Yu Mingjiao said softly, “I got off work, and you didn’t come to pick me up.”
She was simply exasperated. “I thought you were working overtime, so I planned to pick you up later.”
Yu Mingjiao didn’t speak, her lips so cold they had turned slightly pale.
Cen Lingqiu’s heart ached seeing this. She pushed Yu Mingjiao indoors, then took off her own scarf and put it on her.
Ning Jia happened to see this scene.
She saw the selfish and cruel woman from her memory, now putting a scarf on another girl with eyes full of heartache, her gaze completely filled with Yu Mingjiao’s reflection.
So she has someone she likes now.
Ning Jia covered half her face, her eyes slightly narrowed. Thinking of something, her eyes curved, her expression sharp.
Yu Mingjiao’s gaze met Ning Jia’s, looking past Cen Lingqiu.
Both had beautifully shaped peach blossom eyes. One pair was cold and sharp, the other playful and impure. Neither were innocent eyes.
Yu Mingjiao sensed her complete impurity. Her eyes darkened, and her beautiful face filled with a sinister gloom.
This woman named Ning Jia was definitely not simple.
Yu Mingjiao tugged on Cen Lingqiu’s sleeve, her eyes still fixed on Ning Jia like the tip of a knife, and slowed her voice.
“Lin Qiu, I want to go home.”
“Okay.” Cen Lingqiu turned around and nodded at Ning Jia. “I’ll return the clothes another day. Thank you for today. Well then, we’ll be leaving.”
Ning Jia leaned against the wall, a smile on her face. “The clothes are a gift, no need to return them. See you next time, then.”
Cen Lingqiu left with Yu Mingjiao.
Ning Jia’s eyes darkened as she watched their retreating figures, finding them extremely unsightly.
Why did that bitch get to have everything and be happy?
Life, health, a lover, family—she had it all.
Why on earth could that woman live such a perfect life?
Ning Jia was unwilling to accept it.
A violent urge to vomit surged up her throat. Ning Jia covered her lips, leaned against the wall, and spat out a large mouthful of black blood. Her stomach started to hurt again.
She wiped the blood from the corner of her lips as if it were routine.
Her expression was still and pale, like a person on the verge of death.
Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao returned home. Cen Lingqiu’s coat was wet, so she took it off.
Yu Mingjiao saw the clothes she was wearing underneath and knew they weren’t hers; they must be Ning Jia’s.
Remembering Ning Jia’s malicious, ill-intentioned gaze, a look she was more familiar with than anyone. In the past, her stepmother and father both looked at her with that kind of gaze, one that wished she would die. She had even looked at Cen Lingqiu with those same eyes.
Instantly, Yu Mingjiao found the clothes on her extremely unsightly.
“Why did you go to her house?” Yu Mingjiao had no time to care about her own dampness, her opening words a cold inquiry.
Cen Lingqiu was holding a dry towel, about to help Yu Mingjiao dry her hair. Hearing this, she didn’t hide anything and told her the truth.
Yu Mingjiao’s eyes drooped, her tone distant. “Didn’t you promise me you’d keep your distance from her? Why did you go to her house behind my back and even wear her clothes?”
Cen Lingqiu felt like she was punching cotton, as if her words were spoken in vain. She maintained a calm tone and gently explained, “I didn’t approach her on my own initiative. There were reasons, and some things are just unavoidable.”
“Lies.” Yu Mingjiao’s rationality began to disappear again, her nerves becoming highly frantic. “You’re just lying to me! You always placate me with nice words. Why can’t you just listen to me! Why did you promise me one moment and break your word the next!”
Seeing her starting to lose control again, Cen Lingqiu tried to soothe her. “Calm down, I—”
“Why should I calm down!” Yu Mingjiao shoved away the hand drying her hair, her eyes ferocious. “Lin Qiu, I hate everyone around you! Why can’t I be the only one by your side!”
The overly direct declaration stunned Cen Lingqiu for a moment. She tentatively asked back, “Jiao Jiao, why do you want me to have only you by my side?”
Cen Lingqiu’s tone was slow and calm, but her words were filled with a certain pressure, as if trying to force Yu Mingjiao to reveal her hidden feelings.
Yu Mingjiao’s frantic nerve endings were suddenly frozen by ice water. She was like a mute puppet, her words sealed, unable to utter a single syllable.
That’s right.
Why would she have such a thought?
Cen Lingqiu asked again, “Jiao Jiao, do you think you’re someone who can control my right to make friends? In what capacity or with what qualification are you asking this of me?”
Her words were direct to the point of being cruel, but Cen Lingqiu desperately wanted to hear Yu Mingjiao’s feelings. She wanted someone to be genuine with her, to profess a sincere and profound love to her.
In her nearly thirty years of life, no one had ever said they loved her.
She wanted to have it.
Cen Lingqiu was expectant, yet also terrified.
Yu Mingjiao fell silent as if surrendering. Her emotional understanding was thrown into utter chaos by Cen Lingqiu’s questioning. All sorts of thoughts were jumbled together, leaving her unable to pick out a decent reason for a moment.
She couldn’t think of a reason.
There was no reason.
She just wanted to.
Did this need a reason?
Yu Mingjiao frowned deeply, her fingers clutching her hair, like a child who couldn’t figure out an answer, her face contorted in pain.
Cen Lingqiu’s expression told her that if she didn’t give a reason, she would definitely be disappointed.
But—
She couldn’t think of one.
Her feelings for Cen Lingqiu were abundant, but her words were barren and withered.
“I don’t know—”
Yu Mingjiao said in a pained and suppressed voice, pounding her own head. “I… It’s because—”
Because of what?
The current Yu Mingjiao was unable to figure it out.
She had never learned about it, nor had she ever felt these things.
Her hair was a mess from her clutching. Cen Lingqiu didn’t expect her question to torment her to this extent. Her heart immediately softened, and she no longer insisted on an answer.
“Alright.” Cen Lingqiu took her hands, squatting in front of her. “If it’s too painful, let’s not think about it. You can tell me in the future.”
Yu Mingjiao pressed her lips together, her eyes moist.
Cen Lingqiu smoothed her hair and said casually, “You’ve always felt that I’m lying to you, which is to say, you still don’t believe me?”
Yu Mingjiao’s eyes widened. She remembered the unpleasant incident from half a year ago when she didn’t believe Cen Lingqiu, and she started to panic.
“No…” Yu Mingjiao grabbed her clothes, flustered. “Lin Qiu, I… I don’t disbelieve you.”
She was anxious, her gaze filled with scattered panic. “I do believe you, I believe you, I… I won’t say those things again, you…”
Yu Mingjiao cautiously peeked at her expression. “Don’t be angry.”
Cen Lingqiu wasn’t angry; she just felt a wave of sadness.
She realized she seemed to have pushed Yu Mingjiao into becoming an insecure little puppy. The more subservient she became, the more heartbroken and helpless Cen Lingqiu felt.
She didn’t like seeing Yu Mingjiao being so meek and submissive.
But it was indeed her doing.
Cen Lingqiu felt disgusted with herself.
Her cold fingertips stroked Yu Mingjiao’s eyes. Yu Mingjiao’s long lashes trembled nonstop, not daring to move.
“Jiao Jiao, I’m not angry.” Cen Lingqiu slowly felt her soft skin, her tone as gentle as water. “You don’t need to be scared or nervous about this. I don’t like you being like this. I won’t ignore you.”
Yu Mingjiao sadly rubbed her face against the back of her hand, her eyes tightly shut.
“I’m sorry, Lin Qiu.”
She said.
Cen Lingqiu said, “Are you apologizing for what happened this morning?”
Yu Mingjiao nodded.
“I know.” Cen Lingqiu leaned in and hugged her. “Jiao Jiao, I know.”
Yu Mingjiao hugged her back. “Don’t get close to Ning Jia, Lin Qiu.”
“The closer she gets to you, the more uneasy I feel.”
Cen Lingqiu thought of Ning Jia’s strange behavior today and felt uncomfortable about her too. That face, that pink hair, there was a hazy sense of familiarity to it all.
Ning Jia was not someone suitable to get close to. She was considering distancing herself from Ning Jia after this.
After that day, Cen Lingqiu distanced herself even more from Ning Jia. She and Yu Mingjiao stuck together constantly. Perhaps thinking about their impending separation, Cen Lingqiu always wanted to look at Yu Mingjiao more.
Yu Mingjiao’s health always worsened in the winter. After getting caught in the rain last time, she had been coughing for the past few days, and Cen Lingqiu had been supervising her to take her medicine.
Today, after picking her up from work, the two of them returned home to see a girl sitting on the floor by the door. The girl was holding something in her arms, leaning against the door, asleep.
As they got closer, they realized it was Yu Sui’an.
Yu Mingjiao called out to her coldly, “Yu Sui’an.”
Her voice was like the best alarm clock. Yu Sui’an woke up with a start. She opened her eyes, saw who it was, and her eyes instantly widened as she scrambled to her feet.
“…Big Sis.”
Cen Lingqiu asked her, “What are you doing here? And why did you fall asleep at the door?”
Yu Sui’an scratched her head sheepishly. “I went out of town with a friend a few days ago and brought back some local specialties. I wanted to let you and Big Sis Lin Qiu try them.”
Yu Sui’an had probably figured out Cen Lingqiu’s relationship with Yu Mingjiao. To prevent Yu Mingjiao from rejecting her things, she brought Cen Lingqiu into it as well.
As expected, Yu Mingjiao didn’t refuse, only saying, “If there’s nothing else, you can go. I’ll give you the money.”
Yu Sui’an felt wronged. “I don’t want money.”
Yu Mingjiao scoffed, “Aren’t you short on money?”
Yu Sui’an was still a student who had just finished her college entrance exams. She had no parents; her father left her nothing, and the money her mother left her was taken by her father. She only managed to hide enough money to pay for tuition. Her daily living expenses all came from part-time jobs.
Having her reality exposed, Yu Sui’an’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Anyway, I can manage my own life just fine. I don’t need your money. You should just keep your money for yourself.”
Yu Mingjiao let out a cold laugh.
Cen Lingqiu looked at the large pile of local specialties and gifts in her arms. “These things must have cost quite a bit of money.”
Yu Sui’an shook her head. “No, no, no, it didn’t cost much.”
In reality, the money for these specialties and gifts cost her a month’s living expenses, but she didn’t feel bad about the money. She bought them because she thought they were good things and wanted to give them to Yu Mingjiao.
“You’re quite generous.” Cen Lingqiu saw through it but didn’t expose it. “Don’t just stand at the door. Come on in.”
“Ah—” The tall and thin Yu Sui’an stood there like a wooden post, her eyes glancing furtively at Yu Mingjiao. “Can I come in?”
Yu Mingjiao couldn’t be bothered with her. Lately, she had been very obedient to Cen Lingqiu. Whatever Cen Lingqiu said, went, and she wouldn’t refute it.
She said nothing and was pushed inside by Cen Lingqiu.
Yu Sui’an seemed to have received some kind of affirmation and entered the door cheerfully.
Cen Lingqiu cooked, and Yu Mingjiao helped out beside her.
Watching them together from the living room, Yu Sui’an suddenly felt that it was quite nice.
Her sister’s home was finally not just one person anymore.
Her sister looked very happy with her.
She didn’t care what kind of person Cen Lingqiu was, as long as she was good to Yu Mingjiao, could accompany her, and wasn’t as malicious and foolish as she herself was when she was young.
Yu Sui’an deeply regretted doing those things to Yu Mingjiao when she was a child just to get her attention. She only realized this malice after she grew up, but by then, nothing could be done to make up for it.
Just thinking about it made Yu Sui’an feel extremely sad and regretful.
During the meal, Yu Sui’an didn’t say a word, just eating quietly. She knew that Yu Mingjiao would be unhappy if she spoke, so she simply didn’t.
After dinner, Cen Lingqiu had Yu Mingjiao take her medicine. Her cough was much better now, only coughing more frequently at night, but she still had to keep taking the medicine.
“Big Sis, are you sick?” Yu Sui’an asked nervously.
Yu Mingjiao coughed lightly, took the medicine from Cen Lingqiu’s hand, and ignored her.
Yu Sui’an turned to look at Cen Lingqiu.
Cen Lingqiu said, “It’s just a cough, nothing serious.”
Yu Sui’an breathed a sigh of relief.
Yu Mingjiao’s medicine had a sedative effect. Coupled with the approaching end of the year, the company was preparing for a new product launch. As one of the mainstays of the company’s jewelry design, Yu Mingjiao had a heavy workload, often busy until late at night, and it was common for her to work on design drafts until the early morning.
Under immense work and physical pressure, Yu Mingjiao quickly felt drowsy after taking her medicine. Cen Lingqiu tucked her in and quietly left the room.
“Well then, Big Sis Lin Qiu, I’ll be leaving now. Thank you for having me.” Yu Sui’an bowed to her and turned to leave, but Cen Lingqiu stopped her.
“You’ve changed a lot.” Cen Lingqiu’s tone was light. “You’re much more mature than a year ago. You’ve really grown up.”
Yu Sui’an smiled.
In the past year, she suffered the death of her father, becoming a true orphan. Her only sister didn’t acknowledge her, so she had become an “orphan” with no family at all.
In her loneliness, she slowly began to accept her empty home, her mind gradually matured, and she also truly recognized the foolishness and malice of her childhood.
“Are you truly sincere towards your sister?” Cen Lingqiu suddenly asked.
Yu Sui’an was stunned for a moment, then said without hesitation, “Yes, she is my sister.”
Cen Lingqiu said pointedly, “Last time you said you would take care of her for a lifetime. Are you not going to get married?”
Yu Sui’an shook her head. “I don’t want to get married anymore. I just want to stay by my only family member’s side.”
Cen Lingqiu chuckled lightly. “Then you’ll have to keep your word in the future. I can’t take care of your sister for a lifetime.”
“Ah.” Yu Sui’an didn’t understand. “Are you going to get married?”
Cen Lingqiu smiled. “No.”
“Then why say that? Do you hate my sister?”
Cen Lingqiu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t hate your sister. I like her very much.”
Yu Sui’an was even more confused. “Then why can’t you stay with my sister? My sister is very happy with you.”
Why, indeed.
This world is always full of ‘whys’.
Without answers.
Unable to get answers.
Often, the answer is colder than ice water.
Cen Lingqiu didn’t answer her directly, just said softly, “I am someone who has to leave.”
“Can’t you not leave?”
“I can’t.”
Cen Lingqiu patted her shoulder. “Keep it a secret, okay?”
Yu Sui’an bit her lip. As if feeling Yu Mingjiao’s future sorrow, she too began to feel sad.
“If you do this, my sister will definitely be very sad.”
“She might even cry.”
Cen Lingqiu gave a somewhat bitter smile.
“I’ll be sad too.”
The bedroom door wasn’t fully closed. Neither of them noticed that inside the room, Yu Mingjiao’s eyes were open, a cold light flowing from their corners. She bit her lip, her expression suppressed and pained, and tears quickly soaked the pillow.
She stared with moist, empty eyes, like a broken doll with its cotton stuffing exposed.
Liar.
A complete and utter, hypocritical liar.
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