Jiang Yi knew Jiang Sixian had come to deliver food, so she couldn’t maintain a cold demeanor. This awkwardness intensified as Jiang Sixian opened the food container and began unpacking the dishes one by one.
Jiang Yi raised her right hand, scratched her face, and asked hesitantly, “Have you eaten?”
Jiang Sixian shook her head, then bent down to serve Jiang Yi some rice. Jiang Yi sat on the sofa, watching her bustle about, and finally said with great difficulty, “Then stay and eat with me.”
Jiang Sixian looked up at her and said softly, “I’m staying tonight to keep you company.”
Jiang Yi had assumed she was just delivering food, not staying the night. She quickly said, “There’s no need. You can go back after dinner.”
Jiang Sixian staying overnight meant sleeping in the same room, which basically meant sharing a bed! That was unacceptable!
Jiang Sixian looked at her. “But… won’t you be scared alone here?”
Jiang Yi thought, I died once already in my past life, run over by a car at eighteen. Why would I be scared of ghosts?
She replied lazily, “I’m not scared.”
Jiang Sixian conceded. “Alright. I’ll have Sister Xiao Qin drive me back after dinner.”
Jiang Sixian arranged the food, handed Jiang Yi a spoon, and they began to eat, each occupying one side of the small table.
Perhaps due to the awkwardness, Jiang Yi ate with great discomfort. After finishing, she reached for her bowl of bone broth, accidentally spilling some on the back of her hand.
Seeing this, Jiang Sixian quickly grabbed a tissue, pressed it against Jiang Yi’s hand to absorb the broth, and said, “Just wipe it off.”
Jiang Yi instinctively recoiled, her elbow bumping against the bowl, sending the remaining broth splashing across the table. The bowl wobbled, spun around, and then clattered to the floor.
Jiang Yi flinched, staring at Jiang Sixian, speechless.
Jiang Sixian’s hand, holding the tissue, froze mid-air. After a long moment, she calmly withdrew it. An awkward silence filled the air. Jiang Sixian’s gaze fell on Jiang Yi’s broth-covered hand. After a while, she said, “You should still wipe it off.”
Jiang Yi shook her head. “I’ll just wash it in the bathroom.”
Jiang Yi stood and walked towards the bathroom.
Jiang Sixian sat on the sofa, watching her go, silent for a long time.
Jiang Yi went straight to the bathroom, turned on the tap with her one good hand, and rinsed her right hand under the running water. The sound of rushing water amplified her inner turmoil.
She knew she’d overreacted, but she couldn’t control herself.
Taking several deep breaths to compose herself, she turned off the tap, wiped her hand on her clothes, and returned to the sofa.
Jiang Sixian had already ladled another bowl of soup and placed it within Jiang Yi’s reach. Seeing this thoughtful gesture, Jiang Yi pursed her lips, saying nothing, and sat down to continue her meal.
Jiang Sixian looked at her and asked, “Did you wash your hand properly?”
Jiang Yi nodded. “Mhm.”
Jiang Sixian looked at her again, hesitated, then put down her chopsticks, looked at Jiang Yi seriously, and asked, “Jiang Yi, can I ask why you’re so afraid of me? Did I… do something to upset you? That day… the day I met you in the classroom…”
Jiang Sixian truly didn’t understand Jiang Yi’s fear. She’d thought about it and concluded she must have done something that day to make Jiang Yi uncomfortable. After all, she couldn’t remember anything from that day.
Jiang Yi immediately denied it. “Who says I’m afraid of you? You’re not a ghost. Why would I be afraid?”
Jiang Sixian nodded, repeating Jiang Yi’s words. “Yes, I’m not a ghost. Then why wouldn’t you let me help you onto the horse? Why did you react so strongly to me just wiping your hand?”
Jiang Yi hadn’t expected Jiang Sixian to be so direct. Weren’t smut novel heroines supposed to be alluring, innocent, and slightly awkward? Why was the real Jiang Sixian like this?
Slightly surprised, Jiang Yi quickly deflected. “I told you, I don’t like being touched.”
But Jiang Sixian seemed determined to get to the bottom of it. “If you don’t like being touched, then that day, you carried me…”
Damn it! Jiang Yi felt her flimsy excuses crumbling.
She decided to just come clean, albeit with a fabricated story. “Fine, I didn’t want to say something so hurtful, but since you think I’m afraid of you, then fine, I’m afraid of you. That day…”
“You might not remember clearly, but you treated me like… an Alpha… or something. You were biting and nibbling on me, and it made me really uncomfortable.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yi pulled her collar aside, showing Jiang Sixian her shoulder. “See? These are the marks you left.”
Jiang Sixian turned her head and saw the faint scars and bite marks on Jiang Yi’s shoulder. Her face flushed crimson. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed. “I… I’m sorry… I…”
Jiang Yi, seeing her blush, forced herself to look away from Jiang Sixian’s reddening earlobes. After a moment, she found her voice and continued, “I helped you… because my mother taught me to be kind and helpful. It wasn’t because it was you.”
“I really don’t like being touched.” Damn it! Jiang Yi actually loved being hugged. Saying these words felt like twisting a knife in her heart.
But lies were like that. Once you started, it became easier to continue. “I admit, your reaction that day really scared me. It was the first time… I’d encountered a differentiated Omega, or an Omega in heat… I think Omegas… are scary.”
Jiang Yi knew she was hurting Jiang Sixian, and her conscience was screaming. But she looked up at Jiang Sixian and said, each word carefully enunciated, “I really don’t have any prejudice against Omegas, and I don’t think you acted that way because of your nature. You were just young and couldn’t control your instincts. But Jiang Sixian… your instincts scared me.”
“I… I’m reminded of that day whenever I see you.”
“Being treated like… someone to satisfy your urges… is a terrible feeling… so I can’t face you normally now, and I probably won’t be able to in the future.”
With each word, Jiang Sixian’s face paled.
She’d heard plenty of unpleasant things in her life, but very few truly bothered her. However, in Jiang Yi’s words, she heard genuine fear and anxiety. She even began to think she’d almost assaulted Jiang Yi that day.
Jiang Sixian felt a chill in her heart, digging her nails into her palms to maintain her composure.
Jiang Yi continued, “I’m grateful that you brought me homework and cared for me, but I really feel uncomfortable… We’ll probably be living under the same roof for many years, maybe even become stepsisters. So I felt I had to say this, or I’d always be unhappy…”
“I know you want to express your gratitude, but for me right now, the best way you can thank me is to stay away from me.”
“Like I said before, let’s minimize contact and just be regular classmates at school.”
Finally, Jiang Sixian understood why Jiang Yi was so resistant.
Fighting back her discomfort, she said, “I understand. I’m sorry, Jiang Yi… for causing you such distress. I didn’t mean to.”
Jiang Yi replied, “I know you didn’t mean to. It’s not your fault. Anyone else might have reacted the same way. It’s not your fault, but it just happened to be you, and I can’t get over it.”
It was like knowing Jiang Sixian was the female lead, and that falling in love with her meant becoming a short-lived white moonlight wasn’t Jiang Sixian’s fault. It was just fate, and it just happened to be Jiang Sixian.
Jiang Yi felt a mix of frustration and fear she couldn’t express, and the only way to sever Jiang Sixian’s potential affection was to hurt her. This made her feel incredibly sad.
Jiang Sixian lowered her gaze and nodded slightly. “I understand, Jiang Yi. I’ll… try my best to stay out of your sight.”
She now understood that her presence was likely causing Jiang Yi further pain.
Soon, Jiang Yi finished her dinner. Jiang Sixian called Sister Xiao Qin and left.
On the way home, Jiang Sixian leaned against the car window, watching the city lights blur past, her vision becoming hazy. Jiang Yi’s words and expressions replayed in her mind.
For some reason, Jiang Sixian felt a tightness in her chest. She bit her lip, recalling Jiang Yi’s fearful yet pleading expression, and covered her eyes.
She felt terrible, almost…sad.
Author’s Note:
Jiang Yi’s words translated: I was almost assaulted by you that day! I’m traumatized!
