Chapter 18 Part 2

She patted Lu Wanyi’s back lightly. “If…”

Yun Chun paused for a few seconds before continuing, “If I’m not working overtime over New Year, I’ll come back to see you. You can make me some dumplings then, Aunt Lu.”

Tears welled up in Lu Wanyi’s eyes. She smiled through choked sobs. “Okay… okay.”

On the way back, Yun Chun sat alone in the back seat of the van, her head turned toward the window.

She held that pose for more than ten minutes.

Why not look inside the van?

Was it because she wanted to enjoy the scenery?

No.

It was because Lu Qingxue sat on her other side, gazing at her with curved eyes the whole time.

Lu Qingxue’s eyes looked like they were about to rain.

Yun Chun didn’t dare meet them, afraid the gentle drizzle would soak her through.

Even more afraid of seeing her own drenched self in Lu Qingxue’s gaze—her thoughts laid utterly bare.

She didn’t like New Year, nor did she like eating dumplings.

So why had she said those words to Lu Wanyi?

Perhaps because she didn’t like them.

Things you loved slipped away in an instant, but the things you hated lingered in your heart forever.

She was afraid of forgetting, so she used something she disliked as a reminder.

That way, the promise wouldn’t feel so casual.

When New Year came around, she would remember what she’d said to Lu Wanyi today.

As for why she’d made that promise to visit Lu Wanyi and Uncle Lu—it wasn’t because Yun Chun was so generous, soft-hearted, or magnanimous that she didn’t mind it all. No… it was because she’d noticed the look in Lu Qingxue’s eyes when she gazed at Lu Wanyi.

Even if Lu Qingxue claimed it was fine, that look said otherwise.

It was a deep-seated longing and heartache she simply couldn’t let go of.

Lu Qingxue wouldn’t say it, but Yun Chun could see it.

So she thought, since Lu Qingxue was willing to forgive her for everything, what was the harm in her stepping in to spend New Year with Aunt Lu and Uncle Lu on her behalf?

Yun Chun didn’t realize at all that her own mindset had shifted.

Earlier, when Lu Qingxue suggested Yun Chun could say a few words to Lu Wanyi on her behalf, Yun Chun had insisted, “That’s not the same.” Yet now, she was proactively thinking of standing in for Lu Qingxue and having a meal with Aunt Lu and Uncle Lu.

Lu Qingxue watched Yun Chun, her eyes curving with a faint smile.

She wasn’t curious why Yun Chun had changed her mind—Yun Chun had always had a tough exterior but a soft heart, so a change like this was entirely expected.

What she was curious about was why Yun Chun wouldn’t look at her.

Was she scared of her?

Or had her confession scared Yun Chun off?

Or maybe Yun Chun knew she wanted to thank her and felt too embarrassed?

That last one seemed likely.

Whatever the reason, Yun Chun hadn’t acknowledged her since getting in the van, though Lu Qingxue could sense Yun Chun was thinking about her.

Thinking about her but ignoring her.

Just a little sulk.

Lu Qingxue had no idea how to coax her out of it.

This wasn’t like when they were kids, when a piece of candy would do the trick.

And besides, there was no candy now.

Lu Qingxue felt glum.

The eyes that looked ready to rain in Yun Chun’s view now dimmed with clouds, no trace of amusement left.

The temperature inside the van dropped sharply.

The driver shivered, assuming it was a draft, and said to the person beside him, “Keep the windows closed a bit.”

It was a van, so the windows had to be cranked shut manually.

The other man felt the chill too. He agreed and closed his window, then turned to call out to Yun Chun. “Sister Chun, you cold?”

Ever since Yun Chun had sent them money the day before, they had all started calling her “sister.”

Yun Chun pulled her gaze from the window and smiled at him. “I’m fine. Want me to close the window?”

“Nah, the draft back there doesn’t reach me. I just don’t want you catching a cold if you’re chilly,” he replied.

Yun Chun smiled faintly. “Got it.”

Once the man turned back around, Yun Chun glanced at the person beside her.

She saw Lu Qingxue sitting there with her arms crossed, head lowered as she sulked over something.

Truth be told, Yun Chun had noticed the moment the temperature dropped. She knew it was because of the woman next to her, but she hadn’t dared to look.

The cold grew worse, until they were all shivering in the midsummer heat.

The two men up front cursed under their breath, muttering about the weird weather.

Yun Chun was dressed lightly and sitting so close to Lu Qingxue that goosebumps had already risen on her skin.

If she didn’t do something, they’d all end up as popsicles.

Yun Chun faked a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand. She kept her eyes forward, checking if the men were paying attention, then murmured against her palm in a voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz: “Sister Qingxue… cold.”

Even though her whisper was soft enough to be drowned out by passing cars, Lu Qingxue heard it.

Realizing the trouble she’d caused, Lu Qingxue quietly reined in her emotions.

Fortunately, the mood swing hadn’t been too intense—just a drop in temperature.

Otherwise, if the van’s tire had burst…

Lu Qingxue lowered her gaze, her fingertips tapping lightly on her knee twice. It seemed she still needed more practice when it came to Yun Chun.

Otherwise, a single “Sister Qingxue” from her would have melted away all the frustration in her heart.

From childhood to now, everyone saw Lu Qingxue as someone with rock-solid emotional control, able to face and handle any situation calmly.

Lu Qingxue had always thought that was who she was.

Only now did she realize emotional stability only applied when dealing with others.

Not with Yun Chun.

Run into this nemesis of hers, and everything changed.

~~~

Yun Chun didn’t dare say much to Lu Qingxue. Otherwise, to the men up front, it’d look like she was talking to herself. She was afraid that if she kept chattering, their destination wouldn’t be Radiance City but the local mental hospital.

So she typed on her phone instead and angled the screen toward Lu Qingxue.

[Why are you on the van?]

The woman beside her lifted her eyelids slightly. The rain clouds were gone from her eyes, replaced by a warm, sunny softness. Her voice held a hint of amused confusion. “Where else would I be?”

Yun Chun thought: Shouldn’t you have disappeared?

No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than the woman beside her spoke. “You’ve been thinking about me the whole time. I figured you wanted me to sit with you.”

Yun Chun blinked: Who said I was thinking about you?

Then it hit her: Lu Qingxue really could guess what I was thinking!

After that: I’m only thinking about you because you’re sitting right here staring at me! It’s stressful…

Lu Qingxue crossed her legs. The van hit a bump, but she didn’t budge, her figure steady as if suspended in place. When Yun Chun jolted upward, Lu Qingxue even pressed a hand to her arm to steady her.

Once the ride smoothed out, Lu Qingxue gave her arm a light pat before pulling back. She murmured softly, “If you don’t want me here, I can disappear.”

Yun Chun didn’t speak or type. Her face showed no expression at all.

As if in agreement.

Lu Qingxue’s eyes dimmed. “If you don’t want me around, then just stop thinking about me…”

Yun Chun’s heart skipped. What was with this thick wave of grievance and resentment?

Shouldn’t that be my line—the one being stared at by you?

Her fingers flew across the screen.

[I can’t help it!]

Seeing that, Lu Qingxue’s lips curved faintly, though not obviously. Her voice was still husky. “Can’t help thinking about me?”

[Yeah!]

The exclamation point stood tall and straight—Yun Chun’s unspoken resentment.

Lu Qingxue rested her hand elegantly on her leg. Her gaze shifted from the phone to Yun Chun’s face.

A breeze slipped through the open window, sending Yun Chun’s hair dancing. Her bangs fluttered into disarray across her forehead. But it didn’t detract from her beauty at all; if anything, it added a wild allure. Like an abstract line drawing that begged the viewer to ponder its creation—what meaning hid within those chaotic strokes? At first glance, disorder; upon closer inspection, indescribable beauty.

Gazing at Yun Chun’s straight, elegant nose, Lu Qingxue smiled gently. She asked softly, “What exactly were you thinking about me?”

She continued, “Are you thinking about ending our relationship the moment we get back? Or wondering how you won’t get to see me anymore once it’s over? Or maybe…”

Yun Chun typed rapidly: 【I wasn’t thinking about any of that.】

She was only wondering what Lu Qingxue was staring at her for.

Wondering how Lu Qingxue’s eyes could be so beautiful.

Wondering what it would feel like if those strands of rain in Lu Qingxue’s eyes fell onto her skin. Would it itch? Would it feel cool? Or would it burn?

She thought… so many things, but she didn’t dare turn around to look at Lu Qingxue.

Didn’t dare ask her directly.

She felt just like a child sulking by herself, waiting for an adult to notice.

Yun Chun pursed her lips.

Even she felt like a childish kid.

Yun Chun couldn’t quite explain what was going through her mind. She just felt utterly inexplicable.

Lu Qingxue’s voice sounded in her ear once more, carried on the gentle breeze. “Why not?”

Lu Qingxue asked, “Isn’t that the whole reason you came back?”

【I’ve already got the marriage certificate. Everything else will have to wait until we’re back in Radiance City. Naturally, I’ll think it over once we’re there.】

“Think it over? Isn’t it already a done deal? Why think it over?”

Lu Qingxue gazed at Yun Chun, her eyes piercing, a faint smile playing on her lips as she asked, “Are you reluctant to let me go?”

Perhaps it was Lu Qingxue’s smile—too dazzling, making Yun Chun’s eyes flicker, leaving her mind blank for a moment.

Or maybe it was Lu Qingxue’s words, falling like a soft spring rain, thick with ambiguity, compelling the already baffled Yun Chun to desperately prove her own rationality.

Forgetting where she was, Yun Chun blurted out, “I am not!”

The two people up front jumped at Yun Chun’s sudden shout.

The driver flinched, his foot pressing down on the accelerator, sending the car surging forward.

The passenger twisted around, looking puzzled. “What’s wrong, Sister Chun?”

Yun Chun coughed and waved her phone. “Just chatting with Sister Xing.”

The man didn’t sense anything amiss. “Oh, then give Sister Xing my regards!”

As he spoke, Yun Chun heard Lu Qingxue laughing.

It was a pleasant laugh, a captivating one—but to Yun Chun, it sounded like she was snickering at her embarrassment.

Yun Chun let out a deep “Mm,” her fingers flying across the screen.

【…】

【You did that on purpose!】

Lu Qingxue: “Hm?”

【You were hinting earlier that I shouldn’t end it, but now you’re harping on this.】

Just think back to before they met Lu Wanyi—what had Lu Qingxue said? Things like ending it meant they wouldn’t see each other anymore. And now here she was, asking why Yun Chun didn’t want to end it.

If that wasn’t deliberate, what was?

Lu Qingxue gave a soft “Oh, I see,” then asked with a surprised, beaming smile, “So you’ve known all along that I was hinting?”

All while pretending she hadn’t understood a thing.

Yun Chun: “…”

Had she walked right into Lu Qingxue’s trap again?

~~~