Volume 12
Chapter 28: One Slap
Although she didn’t want to admit it, the idea in Zhu Xi’s mind was becoming clearer and clearer. All the clues were connecting into a single line: Why did Little Qiao develop a greedy attachment? Why did she abuse her ability for Lu Li? Why did she run away from home to find Lu Li? That girl was too simple, so simple that even a tiny bit of kindness would be treated by her with great solemnity.
Perhaps if she hadn’t been told the news of Lu Li’s death back then, the name Lu Li wouldn’t have left such a strong mark on her pure white memory. Lu Li would probably have only become a close friend in her heart.
Little Qiao’s way of thinking was very simple: whomever she liked, she would get close to. She liked the Lu Li she had met when she was just starting out, liked the Lu Li who, besides her sister, was the only one who would chat with her. She liked the Lu Li who listened to her life’s trivialities, liked the Lu Li who would always respond to her “good night.”
Jealousy is born from love.
For a Miko, both love and jealousy are burdensome emotions.
“It was you, you with the surname Lu, because of you,” Zhu Xi gradually came to a realization. “I’m going to initiate the next backtracking.”
…
Feelings are like that. The more you deliberately suppress them, the stronger the rebound will be.
Under Zhu Xi’s control, the subject of the backtracking gradually changed from Zhu Qiao to Lu Li. He even saw a certain night in late February, when “Lu Li” was sleeping between An Baili and Wen Hupo, smacking his lips and having a sweet dream. Lu Li had an impression of this dream; it was the only good dream he had had during that period. It seemed to be about reuniting with Jingyi…
Zhu Xi couldn’t help but curse. “Young Master Lu is really enjoying himself.”
Various random thoughts went through Lu Li’s mind. He suddenly walked to the bedside and slapped that “Lu Li.” “You philandering seed, you deserve to be hit!” After this slap, he actually felt inexplicably much more comfortable in his heart.
Zhu Xi gave him a strange look but didn’t say much, just urged the crystal to continue backtracking.
…
At the south gate of the Chuanhai Central Mall. The sky had not yet fully brightened. In the distance was a sliver of fish-belly white, and the sky above was still a deep, dark blue. Lu Li had an impression of this place. This should be where he had first met Zhu Qiao. No… that wasn’t Zhu Qiao. That was Zhu Xi pretending to be Zhu Qiao.
Suddenly, a black car drove over from the distance, and a pair of sisters got out. The older sister was wearing a form-fitting short skirt and short-sleeved shirt, her long legs shining white. The younger sister was dressed more conservatively, but the tight-fitting top also hinted at her proud figure. Fortunately, there were only a few passersby at the south gate at this time, otherwise, this pair of sisters would have surely attracted a lot of onlookers.
“Little Qiao, are you sure you want me to pretend to be you?” Zhu Xi confirmed one last time. “I think you can do this kind of thing yourself. I can accompany you on the side.”
At this time, Zhu Qiao’s face was flushed, and she looked pitiful. “I’m a little scared. Sister Xi, just help me this once, just once. I’m begging you~”
Zhu Xi couldn’t stand Little Qiao’s coquetry and could only helplessly agree. “Alright, alright, I’ll just help you this once. There’s still time. Lu Li probably hasn’t arrived yet. I’ll take you to buy a few clothes. The central mall in Chuanhai is much more prosperous than the one in the Capital City.”
Zhu Qiao looked at the huge commercial building, a little timid in her heart. “I’ll just wait here for Sister Xi.” Zhu Xi pondered for a moment. “Alright then. I’ll go buy you a hat and sunglasses, so your Mr. Producer won’t see through the disguise later. You just find a place to sit within the bodyguards’ line of sight. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay~” she answered sweetly.
…
Not far away, Lu Li and Zhu Xi, having backtracked to the past, were hidden in the shadows, silently watching this scene. Lu Li couldn’t help but complain, “Going to meet a netizen in place of your own sister, have you not thought about the consequences of this?” Zhu Xi was shamed into anger. “Cut the nonsense! It’s all because you shamelessly hooked up with my Little Qiao. Otherwise, would she be so hung up on meeting you?”
Lu Li suddenly said, “Then why don’t you backtrack a little further, and stop her before she has a chance to meet me?”
Zhu Xi fell silent and said nothing more.
“Zhu Xi, are you listening?”
“Don’t bother me. My head hurts.”
This woman, ever since entering the backtracking, seemed to have shed her princess disguise and started to show her true female nature. Now she didn’t even bother to find a high-sounding reason to refute Lu Li, but simply shamelessly played dumb. Anyway, Lu Li wouldn’t have a falling out with her.
“You with the surname Lu, Grandma Zhu said Little Qiao became jealous because of love. She probably became jealous because I met you in her place, and thus had evil thoughts,” Zhu Xi said, her words a little awkward.
Lu Li shook his head decisively. “Impossible. How could Little Qiao be jealous of you for such a flimsy reason? Think about it again.”
“This matter was probably just a trigger. Little Qiao is just inexperienced, not a fool. She must have always had some feelings about our sisterly relationship. And as her older sister, I also haven’t done well enough, always controlling her life.” Zhu Xi lowered her eyelids. Lu Li noticed Zhu Xi’s eyelashes were very long, making her eyes look watery. “In short, this matter caused some negative emotions in Little Qiao to erupt. Lu Li, our mission is to change the past and correct the future. You go and find Little Qiao now… Remember, you must let Little Qiao talk to you in her own identity.”
…
Zhu Xi stood a little closer to Lu Li, hiding the red thread on their little fingers behind her back. The two of them, with some apprehension, walked out of the shadow under the tree and approached that Zhu Qiao.
“Little Qiao…” Zhu Xi’s voice was a little shaky.
Zhu Qiao turned her head and let out a sound of surprise. “Sister Xi, you’re so fast? You even changed your clothes…” Her gaze shifted and saw Lu Li beside Zhu Xi. She let out another sound of surprise, quickly closed her mouth, and her hands, not knowing where to go, shifted back and forth in front of and behind her.
She had seen Lu Li before, or rather, she had “seen” Lu Li.
Lu Li raised his hand a little stiffly. “You must be Zhu Qiao…” Zhu Xi fiercely pinched the tender flesh of his waist from behind. Lu Li quickly changed his words. “You must be Cute Little Corgi. You’re much prettier than your picture.”
A red cloud appeared on Zhu Qiao’s face, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Lu Li.
Zhu Xi said quickly, “Little Qiao, I’ve disappointed you. I just went to change my clothes, and when I came out, I ran into your Mr. Producer, and he even recognized me… It’s all my fault…”
Zhu Qiao took a small step to Zhu Xi’s side. “Sister Xi… it’s not your fault…”
Zhu Xi’s heart softened. She took Zhu Qiao’s hand with one of hers. “Let’s go. I’ll go with you.” With that, she kicked Lu Li, signaling him to follow. The three of them went to a newly opened bubble tea shop, ordered three cups of bubble tea, and sat in a booth on the second floor. Lu Li didn’t dare to sit too far from Zhu Xi, afraid that the red thread would be noticed by Zhu Qiao. He didn’t actually know if the red thread could be seen by people from the past, but he was just being safe.
Zhu Xi took a sip of the bubble tea. It was sickeningly sweet. She didn’t know how those little girls could drink it.
“Lu Li, let me introduce you. This netizen of yours is my biological sister, Zhu Qiao. Little Qiao, this is your Mr. Producer, surname Lu, given name Li. He’s currently studying at Chuanhai No. 1 High School.”
Lu Li chuckled and nodded. “Hello, Little Qiao.”
Zhu Qiao lowered her head, biting her plastic straw, and said in a small voice, “H-hello.”
Lu Li hadn’t expected that after having lived with Zhu Qiao for over a month, this would be the first time they had formally met.
