Chapter 54: Is There Anything I Haven’t Seen? Part 2

After hearing the request, Mu Shanyi pressed her lips together. A moment later, she said, “Okay.”

Under Miao Zhu’s gaze, Mu Shanyi entered the bedroom. Soon, the sound of a drawer opening came from inside.

When Mu Shanyi emerged, she held not only the underwear but also the nightgown Miao Zhu would wear after her shower, which had been hanging in the closet. She held them neatly folded, the nightgown under the underwear.

“Put them in the bathroom?”

“On the sink outside. There’s no shelf in the bathroom.” Miao Zhu pushed further. “Sister A-Heng, can you hand me the clothes later?”

Mu Shanyi fell silent again.

Miao Zhu said helplessly, “I take a long time to shower. You’ll wait for me, right?”

Mu Shanyi exhaled softly. “Yes. I’ll wait.”

Miao Zhu smiled, bent down to unfasten her foot brace. Once it was off, she lifted her right foot, supported herself with her left, held the wall, and hopped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Miao Zhu turned on the shower. Mu Shanyi heard the water splashing on the tiles. She turned and leaned against the sink, pulling a cigarette case and lighter from her pocket.

She fiddled with the lighter to pass the time when a muffled cry and thud came from the bathroom.

Mu Shanyi straightened abruptly.

“Miao Zhu?” She knocked with her knuckles. “What happened? Do you need help?”

“…No!” Miao Zhu scrambled awkwardly on the floor. She had removed her clothes and slippers, ready to shower, but the pre-running shower had filled the bathroom with steam. Water droplets clung to the tiles, and her first hop had made her slip. She tried to stand, but her injured right foot could not bear weight and throbbed with pain, cold sweat breaking out.

Mu Shanyi’s voice came through the door. “Don’t joke around with your own body.”

She really could not stand. The tile floor was cold. Embarrassed and humiliated, Miao Zhu bit her lip in frustration. “I’m naked!”

A few seconds later, Mu Shanyi’s calm, gentle voice came again from outside. “Is there anything I haven’t seen?”

The bathroom door was unlocked. Mu Shanyi pushed it open.

Water droplets splashed everywhere; it was extremely humid. Miao Zhu was half-sprawled on the floor, her eyes red-rimmed.

Mu Shanyi took off her coat, spread it out, and gently draped it over Miao Zhu’s back, wrapping her bare body. Then she half-hugged, half-supported her to her feet. “Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

Miao Zhu turned her face away. “Get out.”

Mu Shanyi stepped back and closed the door for her.

The coat was filled with Mu Shanyi’s scent. Miao Zhu’s tears fell onto the collar, masked by the sound of the water as she sobbed softly.

Mu Shanyi had done nothing wrong. She should not make things hard for her. Watching Mu Shanyi yield again and again would not make her happy; it only made her heart ache more. Mu Shanyi had never wronged her. Over these past six months, it was Mu Shanyi’s indulgence that had sustained her.

Part amicably, just like Mu Shanyi had let go.

Half an hour later, Miao Zhu cracked the bathroom door and handed out Mu Shanyi’s coat.

Mu Shanyi stood right there. She took the coat and passed Miao Zhu’s clothes inside.

Miao Zhu emerged from the bathroom in her nightgown, eyes swollen red from crying. Mu Shanyi asked nothing, picked up the hairdryer nearby, and blow-dried her hair.

This time, Miao Zhu did not reject Mu Shanyi’s closeness.

The warm air blew gently. Miao Zhu brushed her teeth in front of the mirror and occasionally glanced at Mu Shanyi standing behind her in the reflection. If their eyes met by accident, she averted her gaze awkwardly.

After brushing and drying her hair, Mu Shanyi offered her arm for support and helped her to the bedroom.

Miao Zhu sat on the bed’s edge. Mu Shanyi placed the crutches by the bed, knelt halfway, sprayed medicine on her ankle, and reattached the brace.

Miao Zhu’s ankle was badly swollen, the fair skin marred by shocking bruises.

“Do you want milk before bed?” Mu Shanyi asked, head lowered.

Miao Zhu’s red lips parted, her voice thick with congestion. “I need to take my medicine. It’s on the cabinet outside.”

The cabinet held her antidepressants; they made her drowsy, so she took them before bed.

Mu Shanyi fetched the medicine and calmly opened the box. “How many?”

“One.”

After taking it, Miao Zhu slipped under the covers. Thinking Mu Shanyi would leave soon and they would have no reason to meet again, she rolled over, showing her back. “Sister A-Heng, the medicine makes me sleepy. I want to sleep.”

Mu Shanyi said, “Okay.”

Miao Zhu secretly buried her face in the blanket, but the expected footsteps did not come.

After a while, a warm palm rested on her head, stroking gently so as not to disturb her.

“Would you be willing to let Ye Yi come take care of you for a few days?”

The next day, Ye Yi arrived with Grace in tow.

Ye Yi carried a bag of colorful ingredients and fruits, while Grace held a butterfly orchid in its mouth. Seeing Miao Zhu, Grace excitedly squeezed inside, tail wagging furiously.

“It’s a few weeks until Spring Festival, and the market was selling New Year flowers. One fell, and it picked it up, played with it the whole way,” Ye Yi said with a smile, following Grace inside. She unclipped the leash, set down the produce basket, and rubbed Grace’s fluffy head. “Longlong’s foot is hurt. Did you see? Don’t bump into it, okay?”

Grace seemed to understand. While Ye Yi prepared lunch in the kitchen, it stayed glued to Miao Zhu’s side. Miao Zhu elevated her injured foot on the sofa, reading sheet music, and Grace lay by the sofa, sniffing and licking the orchid.

Miao Zhu petted it, set aside the music to take a photo of Grace, then snapped one of Ye Yi bustling in the kitchen.

She had arranged for Ye Yi to care for her because her condition was unstable, her ankle broken, and her eating and living sloppy. Did Mu Shanyi pity her?

Mu Shanyi, so soft-hearted.

Miao Zhu opened her WeChat chat with Mu Shanyi.

Their last message was from the Cloud City University music festival night, when Mu Shanyi had shared her location.

Miao Zhu sent photos of Grace and Ye Yi.

Mu Shanyi replied without delay.

[❤️: The sun is nice outside. You could get some sun too.]

Miao Zhu’s gaze shifted from her phone to the balcony. Minutes later, she got up from the sofa, went to the balcony, and opened the window.

She leaned on the sill, sunlight falling on her skin like a gentle hand caressing her. It was very warm.