Qiu Yiran explained to her, as if she was especially afraid of her misunderstanding that she was pushing herself.
“I know my own body. If there’s an issue, I won’t need you to say anything. I’ll suggest resting myself.”
It was also as if she was especially afraid that her disability would cause her to misunderstand her.
“I know you can’t push yourself with this kind of thing.”
“What do you need to get?” Li Wuhui’s tone still didn’t sound good. “I’ll go for you.”
After saying that, she even started heading upstairs.
“Li Wuhui.”
Qiu Yiran called out to her.
Li Wuhui stopped in her tracks—because she had called her Li Wuhui.
The wind blew through Qiu Yiran’s empty pant leg.
She looked at Li Wuhui’s back and pretended to be casual as she slipped her hands into her pockets.
“I want to go myself. Can I?”
Li Wuhui turned around and looked into Qiu Yiran’s especially stubborn eyes. Suddenly, she laughed.
“Qiu Yiran, sometimes I really don’t get you.”
She tossed out that line.
But she still turned and went to the parking spot.
When she reached the car, she saw that Qiu Yiran had already gone upstairs.
The woman’s movements were very slow.
But she was still trying her best to walk step by step, then slowly disappeared from her view.
Just like she had seen over the past few months.
She didn’t understand why Qiu Yiran insisted on living on the second floor when she had savings she could use, nor why, out of so many things she could do, she chose the most unsuitable physical labor in the end…
Just like she didn’t understand why Qiu Yiran had severed her own legs because of her, yet was so resolute about separating from her.
Once Qiu Yiran disappeared into the stairwell,
Li Wuhui returned to the car.
The passenger seat.
As soon as she sat down, she easily realized that this car was different from the one she had ridden in before—
It had probably been thoroughly cleaned with detergent. The interior was cleaner and tidier than usual, with a refreshing scent—an orange-scented detergent. There was a neck pillow and a folded blanket in the back seat.
Even the seat had changed, softer than before, with a lumbar pillow strapped on.
There was even a Santa Claus car ornament.
Li Wuhui took it down and sniffed it. Orange scent, like it was carved from scented soap.
It made the whole car feel fresh and clear.
She put the ornament back and opened the storage compartment in the front—
As expected, all the items inside had been organized, stocked with necessary travel documents.
And items that might be needed, like steam eye masks, earplugs, masks, and some Turmeric Little Person Biscuits and small snacks.
Li Wuhui pulled out her usual Turmeric Little Person Biscuits from them.
She bit into one without politeness. Salty flavor.
She loved eating them.
So every time Qiu Yiran returned from a business trip, or before she went out, she would secretly slip a few into her pocket.
So when Qiu Yiran was around, she never feared passing out from low blood sugar due to overly strict weight control.
Li Wuhui glanced up at the building from inside the car, wondering what Qiu Yiran had forgotten that was taking so long.
She suddenly remembered the ring she had left for Qiu Yiran.
Of course, she didn’t think Qiu Yiran was up there getting the ring at this moment.
After all, they were going to get divorced.
Li Wuhui held no illusions.
She withdrew her gaze.
But in the front storage compartment, she found another item that surprised her.
She didn’t have time to examine it closely.
Because she saw Qiu Yiran finally coming down slowly from the distant stairwell.
Li Wuhui quickly stuffed the found item back. Her heart hadn’t settled when she saw Qiu Yiran pass by her car and go to the other side—
The afternoon sun had already dimmed. An old man with a shoulder pole was at the bus stop sign, setting out two baskets of red dates, hunched over with a face full of deep wrinkles.
Qiu Yiran walked over. Her steps were visibly one fast, one slow.
But when she reached the old man,
She politely squatted down to select the red dates, looking him in the eye with a smile and saying a few words.
Li Wuhui once again clearly realized this—Qiu Yiran had always been this kind of person from start to finish.
Even after standing in high places for so long, she never picked up bad habits because of it, nor was she willing to look down on others.
Because both looking down and being looked down on pained Qiu Yiran equally.
It was the same now.
Even though Qiu Yiran could no longer be considered in a high place.
Li Wuhui sat in the soft, comfortable car, watching Qiu Yiran’s every move over there.
Over there, Qiu Yiran had already bought the red dates.
She paid the money to the apparently blind old man, then tried to stand up easily like a normal person, just as she had before.
But she couldn’t stand up for a long time.
As if her legs were sore from squatting too long.
Something that could happen to any normal person, but because of her disability, she was always so strict with herself.
In truth, Qiu Yiran was an especially proud person.
Li Wuhui watched closely, so she didn’t miss the worsening look on Qiu Yiran’s face at that moment.
For an instant, Li Wuhui pushed open the car door to go help, but suddenly remembered—
Every time she stood before Qiu Yiran looking down at her, the pain that flashed in Qiu Yiran’s eyes.
But if she went over to help her up, she would have to stand and look down at her.
It was like a paradox that could never be resolved.
So Li Wuhui just rested her hand on the car door, motionless for a long time.
Then, she watched Qiu Yiran exhale puffs of white breath, hunching her fragile back, and stand up entirely on her own…
Until Li Wuhui’s own palm was pinched red.
Just like that snowy night in Mang City, when she threw stones into Qiu Yiran’s window.
–
That night was very cold. It was Li Wuhui’s fifth time coming here. She had drunk a lot of alcohol and stood under the building.
She watched Qiu Yiran drive back.
Watched Qiu Yiran take out the crutches from the back of the car, get out, then walk straight past her and go upstairs…
She knew Qiu Yiran had recognized her in that moment. But Qiu Yiran still left her behind and went up.
She hated Qiu Yiran’s disregard for her, but she didn’t know how to vent her hatred.
So she could only powerlessly watch the corridor light in front of Qiu Yiran’s door light up and go out, finally plunging into darkness.
There was no movement for a long time.
She knew Qiu Yiran definitely knew she was standing downstairs.
But the lights inside never came on.
What was Qiu Yiran doing?
Why not turn on the light?
And why pretend not to see her?
As she thought this, the corridor light suddenly lit up again, but the room lights remained dark—
So she imagined many bad things, things that made her panic and fear. She started frantically throwing stones upstairs, like the unloved person in a movie.
Because beyond that, she was helpless.
But there was no reaction from upstairs, like stones sinking into the sea.
So she almost wanted to rush up regardless.
However, just as she prepared to go upstairs, the lights inside suddenly came on.
Li Wuhui guessed that Qiu Yiran had fallen before and had just stood up again.
She stopped.
There was a moment of relief, but she still couldn’t be sure.
So after half an hour,
She still went upstairs and stood at the pitch-black door like a wandering ghost for another half hour.
She left only after confirming Qiu Yiran was moving freely inside.
But Qiu Yiran never noticed her presence.
—Just like the many times she had come before, standing for many half-hours.
–
Also like this moment.
Li Wuhui watched Qiu Yiran carrying the red dates, walking slowly toward her.
Suddenly, she had a feeling that Qiu Yiran was like a hermit crab Qiu Yiran carefully poking her head out of her cave, fearing the outside world, fearing she wasn’t strong enough and would be easily defeated.
So she preferred to stay under tidal pools and rocks.
And Li Wuhui knew she was the one who lifted the rock, the one who had dragged Qiu Yiran out forcefully.
She showed no mercy. In her world that had become calm and peaceful, she suddenly appeared, suddenly spewed vicious words, suddenly tormented her with hatred…
To her, she must have become the most venomous, most evil bad egg Li Wuhui.
And the moment she made the decision, Li Wuhui knew she couldn’t take it back.
So she could only pretend she was happy to be the bad egg and willing to accept the punishment of going all in.
She had been that way from the start anyway.
Qiu Yiran didn’t walk this stretch too slowly.
It was just the distance for Li Wuhui to lower her eyes and eat a Turmeric Little Person Biscuit bite by bite.
“Bang—”
The car door opened.
There was a snowy scent, very cold, non-aggressive, but quick to melt.
“You bought red dates?” Li Wuhui said casually.
Qiu Yiran got in the car, bringing a chill with her, and vaguely affirmed, “Yeah.”
Then, she put the large bag of red dates into the storage space between the two seats.
“The road is so long. If you’re okay, you can eat some in the car.”
After saying that, she handed Li Wuhui the thing she had just gotten from upstairs.
—It was the wine flask she had asked her to hold onto that time.
Li Wuhui had almost forgotten about this wine flask. She had kept it on her at all times before.
“I thought you went up to get something.”
“I forgot just now,” Qiu Yiran explained. “It would be troublesome if we didn’t remember.”
Her tone sounded very sincere.
As if she completely didn’t want Li Wuhui to come back here again.
So Li Wuhui laughed.
“Yeah, after all, I won’t be coming back here anymore,” Li Wuhui said softly.
Then she reached for the wine flask—
But unexpectedly, when she took it,
“It’s hot?” Li Wuhui was a bit surprised.
She rolled the flask in her palm. Her frozen-red body temperature seemed to revive.
“Did you fill it with hot water again?”
Qiu Yiran hummed in affirmation. She turned to buckle her seatbelt and said casually,
“Isn’t today the 29th?”
Then she clicked the seatbelt into place, separated by that large bag of red dates…
Finally looking up at her warmly.
“Your period should be over by now, right?”
At this moment, Qiu Yiran sincerely showed Li Wuhui this level of concern from this distance.
But she didn’t notice that the navigation interface on the car had changed.
Because just now, while she was away,
Li Wuhui had unilaterally changed their first overnight stop—
The original first stop was in another direction.
But she changed it to the city they had planned for their honeymoon, which was very close by.
Just that neither of them could have imagined back then…
That now, they would pass through it because of their divorce.
Li Wuhui’s hand was warmed nicely. Before, Qiu Yiran had always done this, secretly swapping the alcohol in her flask for hot water.
At this moment, looking into Qiu Yiran’s eyes, she suddenly felt her recent choice was utterly correct.
“Yeah, about done,” Li Wuhui said.
However, hermit crab Qiu Yiran didn’t notice what bad egg Li Wuhui had just done. She simply breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
“That’s good then. You can eat some red dates and drink more hot water.”
“I don’t like red dates,” Li Wuhui said deliberately. “If you bought them for me, then you bought them for nothing.”
She acted like a naughty child.
Because at times like this, Qiu Yiran would manage her, tolerate her, act like an exasperated elder who couldn’t do anything with her.
Even though they were only two years apart.
“You still don’t like them after all this time?” Qiu Yiran frowned slightly.
“Mm.” Li Wuhui said bluntly, “Because it tastes like rubber.”
“It’s not as exaggerated as you say…”
As expected, Qiu Yiran felt very helpless and unconsciously used this tone with her.
“I didn’t cook it with angelica and astragalus. It doesn’t have any weird taste on its own, and it’s actually quite sweet. How could it taste like rubber…”
It was a tone that Li Wuhui wouldn’t hear again even if she dreamed ten thousand dreams.
So she stared intently at Qiu Yiran, unwilling to miss even a hint of her current expression.
But probably, even Qiu Yiran herself hadn’t noticed the change in her own tone.
She just thought Li Wuhui seemed a bit strange.
She was clearly looking at her, yet it was as if she were reminiscing about something, with too much loneliness and sorrow in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Qiu Yiran looked at Li Wuhui in confusion. “Why haven’t you buckled your seatbelt yet?”
“Did something happen?” She asked with some worry, even leaning over slightly, but she was very restrained, maintaining a distance of more than twenty centimeters before asking,
“Or are you suddenly feeling unwell somewhere?”
Looking into Qiu Yiran’s eyes, Li Wuhui knew she was an utter Bad Egg. On this stretch of road, she would inevitably use every trick to force Qiu Yiran—
To make the her who had been hiding here enjoying the peace do many things she didn’t want to do.
So she didn’t want Qiu Yiran to know what she was thinking.
“I’m fine.” Li Wuhui said, forcing down her emotions.
Just like she had never thought of letting her know that on that snowy night, when Hermit Crab Qiu Yiran, alone in the darkness, finally stood up in the most ordinary way and turned on the light—
In the whole world, only Bad Egg Li Wuhui felt the happiest for her.
