Chapter 29: 29. “Can you sleep with me tonight?” Part 2

The call wasn’t hung up.

Yu Qinjiu gently honked the horn. The sound came from both the car and the phone at the same time. Then, Yu Qinjiu’s soft, slow voice followed.

“Dr. Ji, I’m here to pick you up from work.”

Light as the swaying snowflakes in the sky.

A snowflake landed on Ji Qingyou’s nose. It began to melt. After a few seconds, she snapped out of her stupor. She looked at the car in front of her, at Yu Qinjiu in the driver’s seat.

“Did you buy a car?”

“Yeah…” Yu Qinjiu replied. She got out of the driver’s seat. Walking through the drifting snow, she made her way around to stand in front of Ji Qingyou. She took off her scarf and wrapped it around Ji Qingyou’s neck, loop by loop. “It’s so cold. You still don’t know how to dress warmly.”

There was a hint of complaint in her tone, but no real blame.

“Aren’t you going back to England soon?” Ji Qingyou clenched her fingertips.

“Yeah.” Yu Qinjiu gave the same answer. She naturally opened the passenger door for her, not meeting her eyes. “It’s second-hand. I’ll sell it before I go back to England. I’m spending Yu Cheng’s money anyway, so it’s no loss. I was thinking of spending more before I leave. This car was cheap, but it’s cute. I’ll be a little sad to sell it…”

She added, “Or I could just give it to someone.”

Ji Qingyou unclenched her fingers and slowly curled them. As she lowered her eyes, she saw the misty blue scarf around her neck. The warmth and scent of it gave her a strong sense of security.

Her vision blurred for a second. But she immediately suppressed it.

She hummed in agreement. Just as she was about to get into the passenger seat, she found it was already occupied. The stiff-faced stingray plush was sitting there, properly wearing a seatbelt.

She was stunned for a few seconds, staring at the silent toy.

Yu Qinjiu, who had already gotten into the driver’s seat, saw it. She laughed for a moment, then seriously unbuckled the seatbelt and took the plush.

She could have just pulled the toy out.

But she had to do this extra step.

“Sorry about that, Dr. Ji.” Yu Qinjiu’s eyes curved into a smile. “My passenger seat’s first ride was taken by him.”

Ji Qingyou pursed her lips.

“But it’s not a bad deal…”

As she got in, she heard Yu Qinjiu mutter softly again. “They’re both Nanwu Sweethearts anyway. No difference.”

She looked up, confused.

Yu Qinjiu squeezed the stingray plush’s belly again, then showed Ji Qingyou the tag on the toy. “He’s you. You’re him.”

Ji Qingyou’s eyesight was good. Even in the dim interior light, she saw the letters “NWTX” on the tag. She quickly connected them to their meaning.

She glanced at the plush toy’s face. “But he’s always smiling.”

“Aren’t you?” Yu Qinjiu said lightly. She then shoved the toy into Ji Qingyou’s arms. “There’s nowhere to put it in the car. You’ll have to hold yourself.”

Ji Qingyou was silent. “I never admitted it was me.”

And besides, it was born with a smiling face. When I bought it, I thought it looked like you…

Yu Qinjiu’s eyes widened. “Of course, I call the shots now. He’s mine. You can’t control him without my permission.”

Yu Qinjiu’s childishness always made an appearance at just the right times.

It swept away the gloom in Ji Qingyou’s heart. For example, she had already forgotten the ropes that were binding her. She just stared at the soft stingray plush in her hands, unable to stop the deduction process:

She says it’s me.

But she also says it’s hers.

Which means…

Ji Qingyou didn’t clearly formulate the answer in her mind. Yu Qinjiu had already started the car. But she didn’t go anywhere. She held her breath for a moment before speaking slowly.

“This is my second day with my Chinese driver’s license. Aren’t you scared?”

Ji Qingyou reacted belatedly. “Did you really manage to get your license this month?”

“Of course!” Yu Qinjiu lifted her chin. “There’s nothing Yu Qinjiu can’t do. Except be a doctor.”

Ji Qingyou lifted the corner of her mouth slightly. “Then I’m not scared.”

“Really?” Yu Qinjiu asked. Then she laughed to herself, steering the car steadily onto the road. “Just kidding. There are actually a lot of things I can’t do.”

“Like what?” Ji Qingyou asked.

“Like…” Yu Qinjiu looked down. Her loose hair obscured her expression. After a few seconds, she let out a soft laugh. “Cooking Dr. Ji a New Year’s Eve dinner. That’s something I find very hard to do too. But I have to try today. I’ve already bought the ingredients. They’re in the trunk. I got your favorite chicken. Today, I’m going to attempt beer chicken.”

Ji Qingyou looked at her. She was smiling. She seemed to be in a very good mood tonight. Maybe it was because of the new car. Maybe it was because of Ji Xiruan’s four words:

Seize the moment.

Under Yu Qinjiu’s bright, vivid smile, Ji Qingyou suddenly understood the full meaning of those four words: From now on, every moment she spent with Yu Qinjiu was incredibly precious.

At least, she shouldn’t face it with a negative attitude.

The snow outside piled up against the car window, thick and heavy.

But inside the car, it was a warm, cramped world. The space inside the car was small. It felt like being in a thick protective shell, isolating them from the cold, snowy world.

For a moment,

Ji Qingyou felt that being wrapped in a fish tank wasn’t so bad. At least, when Yu Qinjiu was with her, she could be enveloped in this stable security.

She began to wish this car could drive forever.

Yu Qinjiu sensed her liking for this car. She spoke slowly. “I knew you’d like it. I spent days looking at Beetles before I found this one. It’s a modified one. Look…”

Because she was still driving, she spoke slowly, with a lazy, languid tone. It was a detailed murmur, but not annoying. “I specially added this smart screen. It’s got a backup camera and everything. There are too many roads and cars in China, I need navigation. This is a heated front seat for winter. I upgraded the speakers, better sound quality. And the car is the dark green you like best…”

As she said these things, it was like she was making a series of promises.

Ji Qingyou hugged the stingray plush tighter. Yu Qinjiu sensed her movement. She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice was much softer.

“I really want to give this car to you.”

Ji Qingyou’s throat tightened. “Why?”

They hit a red light on the road. Yu Qinjiu stopped the car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. She looked sideways at her. Outside the window, the snowflakes seemed to be flowing. “It’s just like you gave me a stingray plush. I’m giving you a car.”

“Reciprocity?” Her tone was uncertain.

Ji Qingyou looked at the stingray plush in her hands. “This reciprocity is too generous.”

“Okay. I guess it is.” Yu Qinjiu said, a soft laugh in her voice. “When I got my license and drove around feeling proud, I just suddenly thought of you. The place you live is five kilometers from the hospital. It must be tiring to go back and forth every day. And you often work so late. Having a car would be more convenient. Besides, winters here are cold…”

She looked over, a hint of reproach in her tone. “And you don’t dress warmly enough. You never listen. So I had to get you a car with air conditioning and heated seats, so you won’t freeze outside. Look at you today. I came over and you were standing outside freezing again. You didn’t even think to bring an umbrella in this heavy snow.”

In that instant,

Ji Qingyou wanted to say something. But the light turned green. Yu Qinjiu started the car again. They were on a path in the snowy world, heading towards a predetermined destination.

She understood this perfectly.

And she tried her best to restrain herself, clutching the stingray plush tightly, as if she would fall from her arms if she let go.

But her strength was so small.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Yu Qinjiu asked. “Don’t you like it?”

In the end, Ji Qingyou gave up struggling. She stared fixedly at Yu Qinjiu. “I like it very much.”

Yu Qinjiu didn’t see her expression. She was focused on the road. But she breathed a sigh of relief, and her tone became light again. “Then it’s settled. This car is for you.”

“I still need to drive it around for fun for now.” She added.

Ji Qingyou nodded. But she noticed that Yu Qinjiu didn’t seem used to not wearing a scarf. She kept touching her neck, sometimes scratching it lightly.

“Are you cold?” Ji Qingyou took off the scarf.

Yu Qinjiu’s hand froze for a moment. She quickly put it down and shook her head. “No. The heater is on high in the car.”

Ji Qingyou could only hold the scarf in her hand, looking down. “Then what about that bet we made? What do you want me to do?”

“Ah, I forgot about that…” Yu Qinjiu seemed to just remember. She murmured softly. “I’ll have to think carefully. I don’t want to lose out.”

“Mm. You won.” Ji Qingyou looked up again. Her gaze seemed lighter. “Anything. As long as it’s something I can do.”

For half a second.

Uncontrollable emotions broke through her thoughts, like bursting alcohol bubbles, throwing the gears in her mind into chaos. She couldn’t help but think:

If you wanted me to go to England with you…

The thought was quickly overturned. Because Yu Qinjiu wouldn’t make such a request. And she couldn’t agree to it.

It was very irrational.

But everyone has moments of irrationality.

Ji Qingyou’s rationality quickly forgave her irrationality. And at that moment, logic and emotion simultaneously made a decision:

At least, compared to ten years ago.

She could say goodbye to Yu Qinjiu in a gentler, more beautiful way.

Just like Yu Qinjiu had left her with a car, two goldfish, and Alps lollipops. These were rare, positive pieces of feedback in her gloomy world.

She should also leave something for Yu Qinjiu.

So that their intertwined relationship, starting from childhood, wouldn’t remain as severed as it had been for the past ten years.

—But in thirty years, in forty years,

She and Yu Qinjiu would both feel that this was all worth it.

The car entered the residential complex. Ji Qingyou returned the stingray plush to Yu Qinjiu, tilting her head to look at her. “Have you decided what you want me to do?”

Yu Qinjiu hugged the plush, squeezed it, and looked at the heavy snow falling outside. She thought for a moment. When she looked back at Ji Qingyou, she lightly bit her lip.

She seemed hesitant.

But Ji Qingyou didn’t want her to hesitate. “Anything.”

Yu Qinjiu stared at her. The light in her clear eyes flickered faintly. “Really?”

Ji Qingyou thought it was strange. “Of course.”

“Okay then.” Yu Qinjiu cleared her throat, looked away, and rubbed the steering wheel with her fingers. She was quiet for a moment. Then, she spoke softly, her tone uncertain.

“Then, can you sleep with me tonight?”