You Must Be Good 48

Chapter 48

The rain gradually became denser, and the damp air, wrapped in a chill, seeped into Qiao Xiaoxiao’s heart. She stared blankly. The strange girl was showing her sister a shy smile and had said something softly. Chu Xinrou nodded slightly and gently placed the celadon teacup in her hand on the table.

When she left, Qiao Xiaoxiao’s legs felt as if they were filled with lead, each step so heavy it didn’t feel like her own. Unconsciously, she had walked to the door of the music room and mechanically placed the carefully selected hot pot ingredients on the front desk. “Give them to Sister Yang.”

Her voice was so soft it almost dissipated in the air.

Song Rui at the front desk leaned over with concern. “Xiaoxiao, you look so pale. Are you not feeling well?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao shook her head and turned to disappear into the rain. The cold raindrops hit her face, but she was completely oblivious. At this moment, she just wanted this rain to wake up her chaotic thoughts.

Many images surfaced, from the first time she had stood under the locust tree, so sensitive and self-conscious that she didn’t dare to look up, listening to her sister’s gentle voice, her heart rippling with countless emotions.

The days and nights of companionship, her sister’s ability to always gently pick up her shattered self-esteem and carefully nurture it.

And later, like a friend, chatting with her…

Just then, a sharp thought pierced her mind—Why? Do you deserve it?

The wounds she had thought had long since scabbed over were now forcefully torn open, and the pain, along with the feeling of “unworthiness,” surged out.

Qiao Xiaoxiao thought of the smile that girl had shown her sister, so bright, so brilliant. She tugged at the corners of her lips in self-mockery, tilted her head up, and let the fine rain fall.

…

From the first drop of rain, Chu Xinrou’s heart was in suspense. She frequently looked out the window, wondering if Qiao Xiaoxiao had brought an umbrella, or if she had just rushed to Fumin Street to work in the rain again.

But Song Qiu’s words of gratitude were like a stream of beans, endless. The third time she looked at her watch, she finally couldn’t help but interrupt softly, “Uncle Song, I’ve noted down everything you’ve said. It’s getting late and it’s raining. You should take Xiao Lu back first.”

Song Qiu slapped his thigh. “Look at my memory! I was so busy talking I forgot the time!” He turned his head and called out, “Yuan Lu—” his voice was particularly loud in the rain, “this is your Sister Chu’s house. Come and visit more often in the future, and help out with some chores.”

Yuan Lu nodded obediently, but her eyes kept peeking into the house. “Thank you, Jiejie.”

She had been searching for that legendary figure since she had entered the door, but she had never seen her.

Chu Xinrou looked at Yuan Lu’s innocent and eager eyes, and for a moment, she saw the Qiao Xiaoxiao she had first met, her head bowed, as thin and weak as a hemp stalk, so cautious. Thinking of her now, strong and cheerful, the corners of her lips lifted unconsciously.

Just the thought of it warmed her heart.

Before he left, Song Qiu asked, “Where’s Xiaoxiao? Isn’t she out of school yet?”

Chu Xinrou nodded. “She usually goes to work right after school.”

A few days ago, Qiao Xiaoxiao had excitedly told her that business on the street was getting better as the end of the semester approached, and she had to seize the opportunity to earn her last pot of gold for the semester.

“Ah, this child is so strong-willed,” Song Qiu then looked at Yuan Lu. “You should learn from your Sister Xiaoxiao in the future.”

Chu Xinrou asked casually, “Where is she living now?”

Song Qiu quickly replied, “She’s renting a place near the school with a girl from the same village.”

Chu Xinrou nodded, the stone in her heart finally settling. “That’s good. Young people have common topics.”

She was also afraid that Song Qiu would say she had no place to live, and she would have to ask Yang Feitang to make arrangements.

After seeing the guests off, Chu Xinrou immediately called Qiao Xiaoxiao. Hearing the monotonous busy tone ring again and again without being answered, she frowned slightly. Thinking that she might be busy, she sent a WeChat message instead: “When are you coming back? Do you want to have hot pot tonight?”

There was still no response.

Chu Xinrou waited for another half an hour. The rain outside grew heavier, and large drops hit the glass with a rapid tapping sound. She finally couldn’t sit still anymore. She grabbed an umbrella and was about to go out when the lock turned.

The moment the door opened with a click, a strong wind, carrying the rain, rushed in, bringing a chill to the room.

Chu Xinrou cried out in surprise, “Why didn’t you use an umbrella?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao, who was standing at the door, was drenched. Her thin school uniform was plastered to her body, outlining her slender figure. Water dripped continuously from the ends of her hair, forming a small puddle on the floor, but she was completely oblivious, just keeping her head down. “I forgot.”

Her voice was muffled, and she never looked up at Chu Xinrou. “I’ll go take a shower first.”

In fact, she had been wandering aimlessly in the streets for a long, long time. When she saw the missed calls and WeChat messages, her eyes suddenly grew hot. She knew and understood her sister. She knew that if she didn’t come back soon, her sister would definitely go out in the heavy rain to look for her.

Taking a shower in the bathroom, Qiao Xiaoxiao smelled the jasmine-scented shampoo and remembered the first time. It was also a day of heavy rain. Her sister had found her at the door, drenched like a drowned rat, and had brought her home, taught her how to take a hot bath, and had made her floral tea to warm her up, and had cooked with her.

Those scenes were as if they had happened yesterday.

But in the end, they would be replaced.

Qiao Xiaoxiao took a very, very long shower. She needed time to calm down. Her sister had done nothing wrong. The “grace” she had enjoyed was still enough. She couldn’t resent her. What was the difference between that and an ungrateful wretch?

In the living room, Chu Xinrou sat on the sofa, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the phone screen. Her brows were slightly furrowed. She always felt that Qiao Xiaoxiao was particularly abnormal tonight.

The person who would usually chatter nonstop the moment she entered the door was terrifyingly silent today. Even the time she spent in the shower was more than twice as long as usual. Qiao Xiaoxiao was always thinking of saving water and would always be ready in a jiffy. Yang Feitang had once exaggeratedly said, “Xiaoxiao showers faster than I pee.”

Did she run into trouble at school? Or was she chased by the city management again while setting up her stall? Just as Chu Xinrou was letting her imagination run wild, the bathroom door opened.

When Qiao Xiaoxiao came out, water was still dripping from the ends of her hair. She kept her eyes downcast, her voice almost inaudible. “Jiejie, what do you want to eat?”

Chu Xinrou immediately stood up and walked over to her. Her fingertips touched a strand of wet hair, and the cold moisture spread from her fingertips. “Why didn’t you dry your hair?” she asked softly, her gaze carefully tracing Qiao Xiaoxiao’s face. “Did something happen?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao tilted her head slightly, avoiding her gaze, and forced a smile. “Nothing.” She paused, as if she had suddenly remembered something. “Oh, I just saw the WeChat message. Does Jiejie want to have hot pot?”

Chu Xinrou looked at her forced smile, her lips unconsciously tightening.

The hot pot was bubbling, but it couldn’t dispel the gloom at the dining table. Usually, on rainy days like this, Qiao Xiaoxiao would be excitedly circling the hot pot, chattering nonstop as she cooked the meat. But at this moment, she was just quietly curled up in her seat, like a little cat soaked by the rain.

“I’m… a little tired today,” Qiao Xiaoxiao explained softly, her chopsticks unconsciously stirring in her bowl.

Chu Xinrou stared at her lowered lashes and said warmly, “Then don’t clean up after you’ve eaten. Rest early.”

Hearing this, Qiao Xiaoxiao’s grip on her chopsticks unconsciously tightened. Don’t clean up? Does that mean… the new girl will be cleaning up? For a moment, her mood sank even lower.

Chu Xinrou had originally wanted to talk to her about the new girl from Wuliu Village, but seeing her so listless, she didn’t say much. She cooked a lot of Qiao Xiaoxiao’s favorite dishes and put them in her bowl.

The better her sister treated her, the sadder she became at the thought of the impending loss.

On the way back, Qiao Xiaoxiao received a call from Song Qiu. In the rain, her fingers holding the phone were a little stiff. The village chief was the same as always, with a loud voice and endless energy. “Xiaoxiao, I heard from your Sister Chu that you’re working again?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve brought Yuan Lu to the city. Yuan Lu, do you remember her? Oh, right, you probably don’t. She married into our village with her mother last year. Like you, she also got into No. 3 High School!”

Song Qiu’s tone was full of pride and joy. Their Wuliu Village was amazing now. They had produced two students who had gotten into the top high school.

“I took her to visit Chu Xinrou today. It was alright. Chu Xinrou was quite satisfied with Yuan Lu and said she could help.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s heart was bitter and sour.

Song Qiu sensed her gloom and, thinking that her personality was still as introverted as before, said with a smile, “When can you two meet? You’re from the same village and the same age. You should talk more.”

…

Qiao Xiaoxiao went to bed particularly early that night, not even opening a book for the first time. Chu Xinrou paced back and forth in the hallway several times, her fingertips hovering in front of the door before she pulled them back. She wanted to ask if she had caught a cold but was afraid of disturbing her rest.

The next day, at the crack of dawn, a fragrant aroma wafted in.

Chu Xinrou pushed open the door and saw a freshly cooked egg pancake on the dining table, with small oil bubbles on the golden crust. Beside it were a few plates of refreshing side dishes, the familiar aroma wafting in the rising steam.

But Qiao Xiaoxiao was nowhere to be seen.

At this moment, in the park, she was running like a madman.

For the first time, Qiao Xiaoxiao had skipped her warm-up and shot through the morning mist like an arrow from a bow. Her excessive speed made the elderly people doing their morning exercises turn to look. An old man doing Tai Chi even forgot to finish his move and stood there in a daze in the White Crane Spreads its Wings posture.

Her sneakers hit the stone path heavily, as if to stomp all her unspeakable emotions into the ground.

Qiao Xiaoxiao finally collapsed from exhaustion, her sportswear soaked with sweat. She tilted her head up and gasped for breath, a rusty, sweet taste rising in her throat.

In a daze, Chu Xinrou’s gentle appearance appeared before her again. Every time she finished training, her sister would timely hand her a warm towel. When her fingertips brushed against the ends of her sweaty hair, even the sunlight would become particularly soft.

Her heart suddenly clenched violently, a thousand times more painful than the intense exercise just now. Qiao Xiaoxiao clutched the fabric of her shirt, letting her sweat mix with her tears and fall on the plastic track, leaving dark marks.

What’s wrong with her?!

How come she’s acting like Lin Daiyu possessed her?!

So what if her sister has a “new love” and might not want her anymore? So what? She’s Qiao Xiaoxiao. She has to be independent and strong!

For three days, Qiao Xiaoxiao was very abnormal.

She would report her whereabouts to Chu Xinrou every day, as if she were hiding from her, leaving early and coming back late.

Chu Xinrou knew that something must be wrong with her, and that it had something to do with her. She was sitting at home, thinking hard, when Yang Feitang came in. The moment she pushed open the door, she looked around for someone. “Where’s the brat? Not here again? Why is she always not here? Is she hiding from me?”

Chu Xinrou sighed in her heart.

Yang Feitang went to Qiao Xiaoxiao’s room to check, unwilling to give up. After confirming that no one was there, she sat down on the sofa, disappointed. “I was thinking of playing ‘Three Kingdoms Kill’ with her.”

She had recently started playing mobile games and was really into it.

Chu Xinrou didn’t say anything. She was also in a bad mood. She was used to having that little sun bustling around the house, making all sorts of noises. Now that those noises were suddenly absent, the whole house seemed to have been drained of color, and even the sunlight outside the window seemed dim.

Chu Xinrou couldn’t figure out the reason. She started to dig a pit for Yang Feitang. “Think carefully. Did you do something wrong and offend Xiaoxiao? Is that why she’s hiding from you?”

Sister Yang had always been an honest person in front of Chu Xinrou, with a “pit-prone” head. She frowned and thought hard, then said in a small voice, “Could it be that she found out I stole the snacks she had saved for Nuonuo?”

Chu Xinrou: …

Yang Feitang shook her head. “No way. I felt guilty later and secretly put them back. Ah! I know!” She suddenly slapped her thigh. “It must be because I threw away her old shoes. She’s angry!”

Her face wrinkled into a ball. “It’s not my fault. She had worn those running shoes to shreds but couldn’t bear to throw them away. The new ones I bought for her were just sitting on the shelf, collecting dust. Who can stand that?”

Chu Xinrou took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to punch Yang Feitang, and said nonchalantly, “Think again.”

Yang Feitang collapsed on the sofa, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the tassels of a cushion. Suddenly, she sat up straight with a carp-like leap and slapped herself on the forehead. “Oh my! Could it be that incident from last week?”

Chu Xinrou looked at her, her eyes signaling her to confess and be lenient, and to resist and be severe.

She glanced at Chu Xinrou guiltily. “It’s… that piano student of mine. After she saw Xiaoxiao at my house last time, she’s been pestering me every day to ask about her…”

Chu Xinrou’s brows twitched.

“I just… slightly… played matchmaker…” Yang Feitang’s voice grew softer and softer, her fingers making a “little bit” gesture. “I really just mentioned that ‘our Xiaoxiao doesn’t have a boyfriend yet’…”

Before she could finish, Chu Xinrou gave her a flick on the forehead. “Look at you. Do you even act like an older sister?”

Yang Feitang clutched her head, on the verge of tears. “I was just saying. How could she be so kind as to deliver hot pot ingredients to my door in the pouring rain? It turned out to be the last supper.”

Chu Xinrou couldn’t be bothered with her, her mind in a mess. “What delivery to your door?”

Yang Feitang looked at her. “It was that day when it was raining heavily. She ran to the front desk and gave Song Rui a big bag of hot pot ingredients, saying it was for me to eat. She didn’t even use an umbrella.”

Chu Xinrou was stunned for a moment, then she understood a little. She looked at Yang Feitang. “Which day are you talking about?”

Before Yang Feitang could reply, her phone rang. She picked it up. It was the real estate agent from downstairs, Wang Jun. Wang Jun was an old acquaintance of hers. He didn’t even bother with pleasantries and asked directly, “That little girl from your place came to our office to ask about renting a place. Do you know about it?”

The room was very quiet.

Wang Jun’s voice was very loud.

Those words reached Chu Xinrou’s ears without missing a single one. Yang Feitang stood there with her phone, frozen, watching as Chu Xinrou’s expression gradually froze, and even the surrounding temperature seemed to drop a few degrees.