Chapter 45

Shen Tingwan had been mentally and physically exhausted these days, and Jiang Yunchun saw it all, feeling the pain in her heart. She told her to go back and rest, but she wouldn’t listen. The old lady was at a loss.

Shen Tingwan smiled and said, “I’m fine, not tired.”

“You’re just being stubborn.” Jiang Yunchun muttered, then pulled Sang Ning over like she had found an ally. “Look, she won’t listen to me. You tell her.”

Shen Tingwan couldn’t help but chuckle.

Urged by Jiang Yunchun, Sang Ning looked toward Shen Tingwan on the sofa. Apart from being a bit thinner, she still looked as refined and beautiful as ever.

In the blink of an eye, night fell, and Jiang Yunchun urged them again. “You two go. Someone’s here to keep me company.”

Sang Ning had no choice but to look at Shen Tingwan and say softly, “Senior Sister, shall we go?”

Shen Tingwan met her gaze.

Sang Ning stared at her quietly.

Shen Tingwan rose from the sofa. “Mm.”

Jiang Yunchun saw this and teased happily, “Oh, finally found someone who can manage you.”

Shen Tingwan smiled. “Rest well. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

Jiang Yunchun shook her head. “Take a few more days to rest. You don’t need to keep me company.”

Shen Tingwan was helpless against the old lady too.

The two took the elevator downstairs together. Sang Ning asked, “How much longer does Grandma need to stay in the hospital?”

“A week. Some test results aren’t out yet, but basically, there’s no major issue. She just needs to be more careful from now on.”

Sang Ning listened as Shen Tingwan explained the situation from the past couple of days. Shen Tingwan remained calm throughout, both in tone and expression.

A cool evening breeze blew, shaking the camphor trees outside the hospital building.

Compared to northern cities, Birch City’s winters were mild, but the recent cold snap had made it damp and chilly.

As soon as they stepped outside, goosebumps rose on Shen Tingwan’s neck from the wind.

Sang Ning felt a chill too. The evenings had been windy lately, so she carried a thin scarf with her. She took it out now and offered it to Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan wasn’t dressed warmly enough to withstand the wind. She didn’t take it. “What about you?”

Sang Ning said, “I’m warm. I can handle the cold.”

Shen Tingwan was amused and smiled.

After a slight hesitation, Sang Ning stepped closer and helped Shen Tingwan wrap the scarf around her neck, then smoothed out her hair. Her movements were proper, without taking any liberties—just pure care.

The two were about the same height. Shen Tingwan looked straight into her clear, delicate features, enveloped in warmth, forgetting the wind whispering in her ears.

Sang Ning carefully tied the scarf. Before doing so, she had considered if it was appropriate. She thought it was—after all, Shen Tingwan had been so good to her. As long as she didn’t cross any lines, she wanted to be as good to Shen Tingwan as possible. This was the most she could do.

“There.” Sang Ning lowered her hands and looked at Shen Tingwan again. Though Shen Tingwan appeared calm, her heart must have been aching. “Senior Sister…”

Shen Tingwan saw her hesitate. “What?”

Sang Ning couldn’t help but express her concern. “You’ve been really tired lately, haven’t you?”

Shen Tingwan didn’t want Jiang Yunchun to worry, so she had put on makeup to hide it. “Does my complexion look bad?”

Sang Ning studied her face carefully. “When you’re tired, it seems like you prefer heavier makeup.”

Shen Tingwan was a bit surprised. It was true, but usually, when she wore heavy makeup, people just complimented her looks and didn’t notice anything else.

She had been groomed from a young age to be the “presentable pretty face,” always showing her best side to the world. Over the years, she had grown accustomed to it.

Most people liked her only for her beautiful appearance.

“Mm,” Shen Tingwan admitted with a smile. “You’ve caught on.”

Sang Ning smiled quietly.

Shen Tingwan looked into her gentle eyes. “Sang Ning.”

Sang Ning turned to her upon hearing her name.

“Let me hug you for a bit.” Shen Tingwan’s voice was soft and weary. As the words trailed off, she directly wrapped her arms around Sang Ning’s waist and pulled her closer into her embrace.

Sang Ning was caught off guard and suddenly found herself hugged by Shen Tingwan. It felt like the whole world had gone silent. She stood there stiff and clumsy—she had never hugged anyone before, let alone have Shen Tingwan hugging her…

It was just a light embrace, not overly intimate.

Shen Tingwan murmured lowly, “I was really scared that day. So afraid something might happen.”

Sang Ning slowly came back to her senses. Apart from her instinctively racing heart, all she felt was heartache and sorrow. She sensed Shen Tingwan’s pain, which hurt even more than her own. Clumsily, she raised her hand and gently patted Shen Tingwan’s back, whispering tenderly by her ear, “Senior Sister, it’s okay now.”

Her awkward yet earnest comfort made Shen Tingwan chuckle. “Mm.”

Shen Tingwan didn’t let go, so Sang Ning acted as her pillow, letting her hold on obediently, willing to do so for as long as needed.

Shen Tingwan held on for a long time.

Time stretched out.

It was exceptionally warm. Shen Tingwan grew a little reluctant to let go—not just reluctant for the comfort, but for other things too. She had never imagined she’d crave a hug like this. Sang Ning had given her too many exceptions.

When they finally parted, their hair was slightly tousled by the wind. They gazed at each other silently for two seconds.

The eye contact after the hug was too much. Sang Ning’s heart raced as she asked absentmindedly, “What do you want to eat tonight?”

Shen Tingwan had no appetite. “Anything’s fine.”

Sang Ning calmed down a bit and smiled. “How about meatball soup?”

Shen Tingwan stared into her smiling eyes, and a hint of amusement appeared in her weary gaze.

…

Back home, Shen Tingwan removed her makeup, took a shower, and changed into comfortable pajamas with a slightly thicker long cardigan. In front of Sang Ning, she fully relaxed, not minding showing her fatigue and weariness.

That evening, Sang Ning more than fulfilled the task Jiang Yunchun had given her—she brought Shen Tingwan home and made a hot dinner for them to share.

Steam rose from the soup in their bowls, adding a hazy warmth between them.

Shen Tingwan looked at the person across from her through the mist.

Sang Ning noticed. “Is it not tasty?”

Shen Tingwan sipped the meatball soup. “It’s delicious. Even better than last time.”

Sang Ning said, “I made it fresh this time.”

Under someone’s supervision, Shen Tingwan ate a nutritious, warming dinner and felt much better.

Sang Ning specially took a photo and sent it to Jiang Yunchun to reassure her.

After dinner, Sang Ning looked at Shen Tingwan’s bare face, tired and worn out. “Time for bed?”

Shen Tingwan smiled. “It’s only eight. Let me digest a bit.”

Sang Ning checked the time—indeed too early.

Sang Ning stayed a little longer that evening, cut some fruit, and they ate while watching TV. A classic comedy movie was playing; they’d both seen it before and could follow the plot just from the sound.

Shen Tingwan’s tension from the past many days finally eased completely tonight. She truly hadn’t slept enough lately, and by not even nine, she was drowsy.

Sang Ning watched the movie when her right shoulder sank slightly. She realized Shen Tingwan had leaned against her. She sat stiffly and called softly, “…Senior Sister?”

Shen Tingwan didn’t respond.

Sang Ning turned her head and saw Shen Tingwan resting with her eyes closed on her shoulder, asleep. Up close, her face looked so tired, with faint dark circles under her eyes.

Shen Tingwan tilted her head closer to her neck, instinctively seeking warmth.

Sang Ning no longer watched the TV screen, just lowered her gaze to stare at her cheek. Only when Shen Tingwan couldn’t see her could she let her heart flutter without restraint.

She hoped such moments would last longer, but worried about Shen Tingwan getting a crick in her neck. After waiting three minutes, she called again, “Senior Sister.”

After several gentle calls, Shen Tingwan lazily opened her eyes, still comfortably leaning on her shoulder as she looked at her.

Sang Ning feared the eye contact would betray her feelings but couldn’t resist looking. In the end, the desire to look won out, and she gazed at Shen Tingwan’s features.

Shen Tingwan held her position, her gaze brushing over those pretty eyes and soft lips. “What time is it?”

Sang Ning’s eyes lingered on her lips, the distance so close she could kiss her if she turned her head. Her palms quietly gripped the sofa, fingertips turning white. She answered distractedly, “Almost nine.”

“Mm.” Shen Tingwan let the ambiguity linger. She had other thoughts about Sang Ning, but Sang Ning had someone on her mind. Rationally, she shouldn’t tease her. She enjoyed Sang Ning’s company—being friends was fine too. That’s what she’d thought for a long time.

But she still couldn’t help flirting, just like that night at the hotel. It wasn’t rational, but she didn’t want to just be friends; she wanted something more intimate… She hadn’t been sure before if she liked women, but now she was certain.

Sang Ning saw her staring and thought she hadn’t woken up fully. “Senior Sister?”

Shen Tingwan hummed lowly. “Mm?”

Sang Ning said softly to her, “Go sleep on the bed. It’s not comfortable like this.”

Shen Tingwan sighed. “So tired. Don’t want to move.”

Sang Ning realized her senior sister could be quite willful at times. She looked helpless. “You can’t sleep like this.”

Shen Tingwan’s breath grew slightly heated. “Then carry me to bed…”

“Eh?” Sang Ning was at a loss again but didn’t hesitate long. She agreed readily, “Okay.”

Another unconditional “okay.” Shen Tingwan paused, her heart stirring as she smiled and asked, “Would you do anything I asked?”

Sang Ning saw her smile and realized she’d been too earnest. “You’re teasing me again…”

Shen Tingwan laughed helplessly. “I just like it. What to do?”

Sang Ning’s heart was in chaos. “Go to sleep. I should head out.”

They hadn’t seen each other in days, and Shen Tingwan didn’t want her to leave. “Don’t care about me anymore?”

Sang Ning frowned. “No.”

“Stay tonight, okay?” Shen Tingwan called after her. “I’d sleep better with you here.”

Every word sounded ambiguous to Sang Ning, leaving her unsure how to respond.

Shen Tingwan felt she was being unreasonable, knowing Sang Ning’s good temper meant she wouldn’t refuse. “Am I asking too much? A bit annoying?”

“No.” Sang Ning blurted out, then said earnestly, “Don’t overthink it. You’re great.”

Shen Tingwan suddenly recalled the café gathering when she asked if Sang Ning disliked her—same expression, same reaction. She suddenly felt that Sang Ning had never been indifferent toward her.