Chapter 67

Bo Ranying knew that Nan Qi was the type to follow through on her words.

If she kept insisting on her own way, Nan Qi really would force her to leave.

Dejected, she clutched the edge of the blanket and unconsciously chewed on her fingers, her mind filled with confusion. She couldn’t understand what she had done wrong to provoke Nan Qi’s anger.

She sank into deep self-doubt.

Why didn’t Nan Qi like this skirt on her?

But Tang Lian had posted such sexy, alluring photos of herself in Moments before, and Nan Qi hadn’t minded those at all.

Earlier today, while playing games at home, Nan Qi had chatted and laughed with Tang Lian, her eyes crinkling with smiles that looked so beautiful.

Meanwhile, Bo Ranying couldn’t even remember the last time Nan Qi had smiled at her…

It hurt so much that Bo Ranying wanted to tug at her hair or bang her head against the wall.

Her gaze accidentally fell on the intricately designed, scheming skirt she was wearing, and suddenly a surge of intense disgust welled up inside her. She yanked it off forcefully, not caring that her hair ended up a tangled mess.

She found the seam where the threads met and tore at it viciously, ripping the fabric into ragged strips. But that wasn’t enough. She rolled out of bed, grabbed a pair of scissors, and hacked the skirt into unsalvageable shreds. Finally, she balled it up and shoved it into the trash can, never wanting to see it again.

After that, she calmed her racing heart.

She changed into the outfit Nan Qi had picked out for her. It was a bit too long, so she rolled up the pant legs and sleeves, bunching them at the cuffs.

Determined to be even more obedient, she picked up the cup of cold medicine from the bedside table. It was still warm enough to drink comfortably, so she tossed it back in one gulp.

She wiped the water from her lips and stepped out of the room.

Nan Qi was still standing not far from the door, her back to Bo Ranying—clearly waiting for her.

Bo Ranying’s heart tightened. She raised her hand and knocked lightly on the doorframe. “Little Qi, I’ve changed.”

Nan Qi turned at the sound. Seeing Bo Ranying properly dressed in the long sleeves and pants, her grim expression softened a bit, though it still carried plenty of intimidation.

She had to be strict, or Bo Ranying wouldn’t grasp how serious this was.

At the very least, she couldn’t let that earlier stunt happen again.

Nan Qi clasped her hands behind her back, looking like a stern, old-fashioned scholar. She parted her lips, about to speak.

Terrified that Nan Qi would demand she change her shoes and drive her home, Bo Ranying rushed forward before Nan Qi could say a word. She stretched out her long arm and wiggled her mosquito-bitten fingers to draw Nan Qi’s attention.

She wanted to brush that earlier incident under the rug.

Nan Qi’s eyes landed on the twitching fingers, but she didn’t notice anything amiss yet.

She arched a brow, looking somewhat impatient.

Bo Ranying immediately whined in grievance, holding out only her bitten fingers. “I got mosquito bites, and they itch so bad. Little Qi, can you help me find some anti-itch cream?”

They really did itch.

It must have been a particularly venomous and resilient mosquito from the garden.

The bites were nothing like ordinary ones.

Back in the garden, with the rain and wind, her fingers had gone numb from the cold and she hadn’t felt much. But now, after a hot shower in the warm house, the venom was spreading through her bloodstream bit by bit.

Her once slender, pale fingers now swelled with a bright red welt on one. That finger stood out from the others, especially at the joint, puffed up a full size larger. It was downright alarming.

Bo Ranying endured the itch as best she could, hissing through her teeth. It really was unbearable.

In a way, she was grateful to that unlucky-yet-lucky venomous mosquito.

Nan Qi shot her a cool glance and turned away without a word.

But she didn’t tell Bo Ranying to leave, either.

Bo Ranying’s feet felt glued to the floor, not daring to move.

Soon, she heard clattering sounds from outside, like Nan Qi rummaging through things.

Relief washed over her, easing the tension that had gripped her heart. She knew Nan Qi was looking for medicine for her—even if she hadn’t acknowledged it aloud, her heart was soft.

Bo Ranying crept along the wall into the living room on tiptoe, quietly watching Nan Qi search the house for summer anti-itch cream.

Finally, Nan Qi found some in a storage box: an old-fashioned ointment in a metal tin. The packaging was dated, but it worked well. Bo Ranying had used it as a kid.

She handed it over, and Bo Ranying extended her hand too, testing the waters. “Little Qi, can you help me apply it?”

Nan Qi’s response was a flat, emotionless counterquestion. “Do you really want me to drive you home right now?”

She tossed the ointment into Bo Ranying’s palm.

Bo Ranying caught it and twisted off the cap. “I’ll do it myself.”

Nan Qi had let the earlier matter drop and allowed her to stay the night. Bo Ranying didn’t dare push her luck, afraid the dream would shatter.

She scooped out a dab with her fingertip and smeared it on the swollen bite. A cool sensation spread immediately, soothing the relentless itch and making her feel much better.

While Bo Ranying applied the ointment, Nan Qi went to the bedroom, grabbed a spare blanket, and laid it out on the sofa. Once it was ready, she lay down on it herself, planning to make do there for the night.

She called out to Bo Ranying, “You sleep in my room tonight. Apply the medicine and get some rest.”

Bo Ranying protested, “Aren’t you sleeping with me? The sofa will hurt your back tomorrow.”

“We can put pillows between us. I promise I won’t roll over to your side.” She raised her hand in a solemn oath.

Nan Qi gave her a half-smile that clearly said she didn’t buy it.

Bo Ranying’s earlier antics were still fresh in her mind, and they’d left quite an impact.

“I’ll be fine by myself.”

A flush crept over Bo Ranying’s cheeks as she recalled her screw-up. No wonder Nan Qi didn’t trust her.

Seeing Nan Qi’s resolve, Bo Ranying gave up trying to convince her. She hesitated. “I should sleep on the sofa instead.”

Nan Qi waved her off firmly. “What kind of host makes the guest sleep on the sofa?”

“It’s just one night. No big deal.”

Her tone was cool and unyielding, rejecting all of Bo Ranying’s suggestions while she tapped away at her phone keyboard without missing a beat.

With things said so plainly, pushing further would just make her annoying.

Bo Ranying blinked hard, forcing back her tears with a pang in her heart.

So she was just Little Qi’s guest now—

Someone to treat politely, kept at arm’s length with masks on.

At last, she turned and hurried back to the bedroom in disarray. She buried her face deep in the pillow soaked with Nan Qi’s scent. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably as hot tears slid down, trapped in the gap between her cheek and the pillow, soaking a small patch.

The fabric against her face shifted from warm to cool, jolting Bo Ranying awake. She sat bolt upright, her fingertips fluttering helplessly over the damp spot. She frantically searched around for something to dry it, desperate to restore it to its original state.

She was terrified Nan Qi would notice and start to dislike her.

She searched for a long time, moving carefully without disturbing any furniture—everything stayed in its place.

In the end, she found the only two things she could use: tissues and a handheld fan.

She warmed the tissues in her hands and pressed them to the pillow to absorb the moisture. Once they were soaked through, Bo Ranying switched on the fan and blew air over the damp fabric until it dried.

After bustling around for nearly an hour, she finally restored Nan Qi’s pillow. Rubbing her sore wrist, Bo Ranying gazed at the spotless pillow, her anxious heart easing a little.

She slipped under the covers and lay back, staring up at the ceiling.

Sleep wouldn’t come. She tossed and turned, her mind replaying recent scenes like two little figures brawling with hammers in her head, pounding her skull until it ached.

One figure nagged: How can you sleep so easily? This is the perfect time to figure out what’s in Nan Qi’s heart—find her softest spot and focus there. It’s nighttime, alone in the same space. What better chance for a heart-to-heart?

The other argued the opposite: You’ve said enough today, Ranran. You’ve already left a bad impression on Nan Qi that’s hard to erase. Don’t show your face again tonight. Just get through the night quietly.

They debated endlessly, neither winning out.

After Bo Ranying returned to the bedroom, Nan Qi casually switched off the living room lights. She settled into her makeshift “sofa bed,” burrowing under the blanket until only her head poked out. Lying on her side, she scrolled on her phone.

The house was well-insulated, so she couldn’t hear the noises Bo Ranying made in the bedroom.

Her phone screen lingered on WeChat.

Earlier that evening, after dropping Tang Lian home and saying goodbye at her door, they’d kept up a desultory chat. They were still messaging now.

Tang Lian: 【Not enough fun~~ I wanted to binge games with Big Sister today until we forgot the world, but we barely got started before it ended. How’s Big Sister going to make it up to me?】

Nan Qi: 【Hold on, someone’s knocking at the door. I’ll go open it.】

Tang Lian: 【It’s so late—who could be looking for you?】

Nan Qi: 【It’s Bo Ranying. She’s soaked to the skin from the rain.】

Nan Qi: 【I told her to go take a shower.】

Tang Lian went on high alert right away and fired off an emoji of a bristling little bear.

【A shower? Next thing you know, she’ll be staying over at Big Sister’s place, sparks will fly into uncontrollable passion, and it’ll be total bed-breaking chaos. Poor me—I haven’t even gotten to cuddle with Big Sister yet, and now I’m getting dumped. Who can I pour my heart out to about all this heartbreak?】

Nan Qi: 【……Talk normally. No more of those weird, jumbled-up phrases.】

Tang Lian: 【Already dissatisfied with me, huh?】

Nan Qi: 【It’s pouring out there. The roads aren’t safe to travel this late.】

Tang Lian: 【Fine, I’ll buy that excuse.】

Tang Lian: 【But Big Sister, you absolutely cannot share a room with Bo Ranying, okay?】

【Otherwise, sparks will definitely fly, leading to bed-breaking passion. Waaah.】

Nan Qi: 【I wouldn’t do that.】

Tang Lian: 【I’m still worried, though.】

Tang Lian: 【Here’s an idea. Big Sister stood me up halfway tonight, so as punishment, you have to keep me company and chat. Let’s see your sincerity.】

Tang Lian: 【Super quiet whisper: (If you spend all your time chatting with me, you won’t have any energy left for Bo Ranying. Even though I’m not in the picture, I’ll drain every last bit of Big Sister’s focus.) fist salute】

Nan Qi actually started chatting with Tang Lian in earnest. Connected by a single network cable, the two of them passed the stormy night together.

In the time that followed, she bore witness to Bo Ranying’s antics.

Every twenty or thirty minutes, Bo Ranying would creep out of the room, crouched low, always with some legitimate-sounding errand.

Sometimes she carried an empty cup to the kitchen to fill it with water. Other times she headed to the bathroom, or claimed she’d spotted a bug and chased it out of the room only to lose it. The excuses piled up, never repeating, as she darted back and forth right in front of Nan Qi.

Once, she even asked if there were any snacks or fruit in the house—said she was hungry and wanted something to eat.

Nan Qi directed her to the fridge for some juice.

She was the perfect host: answering every question, fulfilling every request, but never initiating small talk.

Nan Qi marveled at Tang Lian’s uncanny foresight. She chatted away with real enthusiasm, not feeling the least bit sleepy.

They kept at it until the wee hours. Nan Qi’s eyelids grew heavy, her phone felt heavier and heavier in her hand, and the text on the screen started to blur. She was still tapping out replies, oblivious to what she’d even written.

A few seconds later, the phone slipped from her grasp to one side. Nan Qi had fallen asleep.

She dreamed.

The scene in the dream was hazy, like Linxi more than twenty years ago.

She sat on a moving train, cradled in someone’s arms, her mouth stuffed with something.

Nan Qi wanted to know what it was. She gathered her scattered thoughts and focused hard. What she saw in her mouth was a pacifier.

Her body was tiny and fragile, that of an infant, without the strength to struggle in the slightest.