Chapter 34

Shang Jinyue didn’t know just how many times she had to say “The little dog misses you” before it would translate, for Shi Xiu, into “I miss you,” as she clutched her phone with a gloomy expression.

She certainly didn’t feel disgusted by her phrasing, nor did she think herself pitiful for it.

She could be a little dog.

If Shi Xiu were willing, she wouldn’t mind being her pet.

At least that way, she could openly wag her tail at Shi Xiu and roll around in her arms.

The only things to do each day would be seeing her off and waiting for her to come home.

If only she could have an old piece of clothing that carried Shi Xiu’s scent, even better.

Shi Xiu on the other side of the screen naturally didn’t know Shang Jinyue’s thoughts.

Facing the words “little dog,” she only thought of Grape.

If in this life, Grape didn’t know her and wasn’t as enthusiastic towards her as in the past life, Shi Xiu could still refuse Shang Jinyue’s request.

But it just so happened that she had met Grape once not long ago.

That little thing, upon seeing her, had been so excited it broke free from its owner’s leash.

Although there was also the possibility that Shang Jinyue just wasn’t good at holding the leash,

Shi Xiu’s heart softened at the memory of Grape leaping into her arms that night.

What wrong could a little dog have?

And it was rare for its owner to speak up for it.

So Shi Xiu agreed to Shang Jinyue’s request: [Fine.]

It was unclear what Shang Jinyue was preparing on her end, but after Shi Xiu agreed to the video call, it took two minutes before she called.

And the moment it connected, a ball of white fluff filled the screen.

Shi Xiu could hear the little dog’s panting, huffing and puffing, unbelievably excited.

“Sorry, she’s a bit hyper.”

Behind Grape’s enthusiastic figure, Shang Jinyue’s voice came from the other side of the screen.

It was as if that clear, cool voice emanated from the little dog’s body, or as if Shang Jinyue was this little dog.

Before Shi Xiu could fully form this thought, the video image slowly moved.

The fluffy cloud filling the screen revealed a pair of black, shiny eyes. Those soft-looking, thick ears flicked towards Shi Xiu.

“Woo woo woo!”

The little dog’s bark wasn’t very loud; it was whimpering, as if holding some grievance, yet irresistibly endearing.

In her past life, Shi Xiu loved watching Grape circle around her.

In that cold, empty house, only the little dog possessed the ability to release emotions properly.

This little fellow was exceptionally intelligent, picking up commands very quickly.

Shi Xiu recalled the memories of interacting with Grape in her past life and couldn’t help but raise her hand, twirling her finger as a signal: “Grape.”

This perceptive little dog, upon seeing Shi Xiu’s gesture, tilted its fluffy head.

Its eyes held a blankness; it was just about to turn its head to look at Shang Jinyue.

But Shang Jinyue was quicker. From an angle Shi Xiu couldn’t see, she subtly tapped Grape’s leg.

The little dog’s leg received the command and immediately relayed it to the older sister on the screen.

That snow-white little furball stood upright in the frame, bouncing and hopping, mimicking a begging gesture non-stop for Shi Xiu.

“So smart, Grape.” Watching Grape’s antics, Shi Xiu’s eyes curved into a smile, her voice involuntarily sweetened.

The girl on the screen rested her chin on her hand, gazing from afar. Her clear eyes held a rare smile.

Shang Jinyue quietly watched Shi Xiu, her gaze profound, hiding a secret.

Grape had never been a quick study.

Not in the past life either.

It was someone, having accidentally stumbled upon Shi Xiu’s fondness for it, who had secretly taught Grape behind the scenes.

The little dog had eaten many treats before learning to beg like this.

Shi Xiu didn’t know.

Shang Jinyue, watching Shi Xiu happy that she had taught Grape quite a few tricks, didn’t want to spoil her mood.

Rather than satisfying her own selfish desires, she now preferred to see Shi Xiu happy.

After playing with Grape through the screen for quite a while, Shi Xiu captured a sense of joy she had never felt before.

She found a sense of familiarity in Grape that shouldn’t exist, as if something from her past life had seamlessly blended into the story of this life.

In the past, Shi Xiu detested such things.

But at this moment, she found herself instead enjoying it a little.

That was her past she couldn’t discard.

Even if, for this life, it was like a novel’s outline gone terribly wrong, starting over now, perhaps there were still some things that couldn’t be discarded, and didn’t need to be.

“Grape is truly a good little dog.” Shi Xiu looked at the little dog wagging its tail enthusiastically at her, as if stroking it with her eyes and voice.

And also the person sitting beside it.

Shang Jinyue lightly pressed her lips together, watching Shi Xiu in silence.

She saw the tenderness in Shi Xiu’s eyes, gentler than when looking at her, and couldn’t help but ask her: “In the future, if Grape misses you, can I video call you, or ask you to come out and play with her?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shi Xiu’s gaze dimmed.

A wave of disappointment hit Shang Jinyue. She then added, “She’s a little dog at home alone, without other little friends to play with; she’s very lonely.”

What little friends? Grape is just a little dog, not a child.

Shi Xiu secretly grumbled in her heart, feeling that Shang Jinyue’s words carried a naiveté unbefitting her persona.

But then she met Grape’s round, shiny eyes.

The little dog tilted its head, a thoughtful look on its face, as if hearing Shi Xiu’s inner grumbling.

Shi Xiu immediately felt a pang of guilt, self-reproachfully thinking she should drop dead.

How could Grape not be considered a child?

It was the child she personally raised for all those years back then.

So Shi Xiu scratched her nose and, somewhat reluctantly, told Shang Jinyue: “I’m not sure how busy I’ll be. If I’m busy, we’ll just video call.”

“How about I message you beforehand to ask?” Shang Jinyue negotiated.

Shi Xiu nodded: “Mhm.”

“Woof!”

The little dog seemed to understand the two big sisters’ discussion and barked excitedly after Shi Xiu nodded.

That ball-like tail wagged furiously in the screen. Grape turned its back on Shi Xiu and wanted to snuggle into Shang Jinyue’s arms.

Shang Jinyue, for once, didn’t refuse Grape’s enthusiasm. Under Shi Xiu’s gaze, she picked up Grape, who was trying to burrow into her arms.

The little dog’s soft white fur pressed against the girl’s delicate face, unexpectedly making Shang Jinyue’s expression look incredibly gentle.

Watching from the other side of the screen, Shi Xiu somehow felt like she was seeing a divorced couple with a child scenario.

And she was the one who’d abandoned the child with the wife and left home.

What the heck was this!

Shi Xiu found this imagination of hers absurd and inwardly condemned her own brain, deciding to torture it promptly: “It’s been half an hour. Let’s go over the problems.”

Shi Xiu’s reminder came from the other side, and Shang Jinyue nodded: “Okay.”

Grape was placed from her arms onto the floor.

The little dog looked bewildered, somewhat unwilling to leave, but seeing its owner’s calm yet slightly stern expression, it reluctantly went to lie down in the dog bed Shang Jinyue had exceptionally allowed next to it.

“Woo.”

The little dog whimpered aggrievedly. Shi Xiu was focused on flipping through her book and didn’t hear it.

But she just felt that Shang Jinyue’s voice today was a bit different from usual.

At first, she thought it was an issue with Shang Jinyue’s phone, but Grape’s barking just now had sounded normal.

And besides—

“Cough cough cough.“

The sound of coughing came from the screen. Shi Xiu had already lost count of how many times this was today that Shang Jinyue had coughed.

She watched the person on the other side lift a glass of water to drink, her brow furrowing slightly.

Although the person acted like she was just choking on water, calm and natural, fitting her usual demeanor,

something still felt off to Shi Xiu.

“You… seem to have choked on water a lot today?” Shi Xiu frowned.

“Sorry, I don’t know what’s going on today,” Shang Jinyue said flatly, setting the glass down with utter nonchalance. Then she naturally shifted the topic: “We can’t do tutoring the day after tomorrow. Same arrangement next week?”

Hearing this, Shi Xiu was about to ask why.

Then she remembered the day after tomorrow was the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday; the Shang family was hosting their Mid-Autumn family banquet.

That day, Shang Jinyue had even personally delivered an invitation to her house.

Shang Jinyue also recalled this matter and asked Shi Xiu: “Will you come the day after tomorrow?”

A line of light refracted from a glass across the screen. Shi Xiu also lifted her water glass, taking a sip to cover her thoughts.

To be honest, Shi Xiu didn’t really want to go to the Mid-Autumn banquet.

After all, her time was limited. She could barely keep up with her coursework; where would she find the time to attend banquets?

But Shi Wendong had repeatedly ordered that the whole family must go. Since last week, messages had flooded the group chat.

These past two days, he’d even resorted to emotional appeals: one red envelope per day. She and Cen Anning were harassed beyond endurance.

And thinking of the Mid-Autumn banquet, Shi Xiu thought of Shang Xiunian.

The old lady had treated her very well in the past life and even facilitated her marriage to Shang Jinyue. Seeing her would be nice too.

Cool water rolled down Shi Xiu’s throat. She supported her chin in the camera frame, a bit casual: “Sure, why not? Your family’s food isn’t bad.”

“There will be things you like this time too,” Shang Jinyue said.

“Mhm,” Shi Xiu responded. She thought, it wasn’t just for the food she was going.

But before she could say more, a sound came from the living room.

Feng Xinyang had returned. She knocked symbolically twice on Shi Xiu’s bedroom door before entering.

“Old Xu told me to give this to you,” Feng Xinyang said, placing down Shi Xiu’s color exercise for the week. “She said you still have the same old problem: harsh transitions in lighting. Whenever this situation comes up, it shows. She wants you to study it more when you have time.”

This was Shi Xiu’s old problem.

Having been away from painting for too long, she could clearly see her unfamiliarity in many areas.

Although she was already trying very hard to catch up to Feng Xinyang’s pace, looking at her color assignment still inevitably brought a troubled expression to her face: “How did you manage it?”

“Me?” Feng Xinyang leaned against the cabinet and thought with an air of great importance, but in the end, she scratched her head, “I dunno either. Maybe it’s talent?”

“Don’t make me come to your dorm tonight to murder you,” Shi Xiu threatened, making as if to pull out an imaginary blade.

Feng Xinyang quickly pressed down Shi Xiu’s hand and pulled out her own painting: “Sister Shi, don’t just focus on your shortcomings. Old Xu said your color sense is incredibly accurate, practically a heaven-sent gift. Look at my painting, the color use got slammed by Old Xu as utterly worthless.”

“We each have our own tribulations. You’re just temporarily stuck. It’s much better than my situation,” Feng Xinyang said, patting Shi Xiu’s shoulder with an air of elderly wisdom.

Although Feng Xinyang’s attitude was flippant, her words did make sense.

Shi Xiu knew this too, but she still couldn’t control her emotions.

The girl’s lowered eyelashes were laden with worry. Shang Jinyue saw it clearly on the video.

Should this be called empathy?

Seeing Shi Xiu show such an expression, Shang Jinyue’s heart also faintly felt a low, sad ache.

She clumsily realized that Shi Xiu seemed to need help and was also clumsily thinking: What could she do that would truly help her?

“Sister Yue, hello! You look much better. Is your illness getting better?”

Before Shang Jinyue could come up with an answer, she heard Feng Xinyang’s greeting to her coming from the screen.

The word “illness” was neither too big nor too small, yet it was piercingly sharp.

Shang Jinyue’s gaze immediately froze.

She saw that under Feng Xinyang’s smiling expression, there was a visible shock in Shi Xiu’s eyes.

Feng Xinyang, completely unaware of the huge blunder she’d made, kept chattering away: “I heard from the Class President that you haven’t been to school all week. I was quite worried.”

“How did you get so sick? Did Sister Shi pass her cold to you? I’ll scold her for you!”

Saying this, Feng Xinyang made a move as if to punish Shi Xiu.

But just as she raised her hand, it was caught by Shi Xiu.

The evening window framed a few sparse stars; the night sky was gloomy.

Feng Xinyang saw Shi Xiu’s dark expression and couldn’t help but swallow nervously.

Even slow as she was, she realized Shi Xiu’s mood wasn’t good.

Shang Jinyue saw this even more clearly.

Guilt spread through her heart.

Her throat itched, an uncontrollable urge to cough.

Feng Xinyang, seeing this, seemed to realize something. She immediately let go and said goodbye to Shang Jinyue: “Uh, Sister Yue, I think Sister Shi probably has something to say to you. I’ll leave first. You guys continue.”

Feng Xinyang slipped away lightning fast, even remembering to close the door behind her.

A soft click echoed. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The video call was silent for a long while on both ends before Shi Xiu looked at Shang Jinyue across the screen and spoke: “Shang Jinyue, when did you get sick?”