Chapter 26: Pretending to Sleep and Apology

Leaving Gu Linxue’s residence, it was already 8:00 PM.

In her pocket was the thousand yuan given by Gu Linxue.

It was a reward for her good performance.

‘I’m still being treated like a toy.’

Cheng Yuexin felt inexplicably lonely.

She raised a hand to scratch her messy hair. She had just taken a shower not long ago, and her hair was still a bit damp.

Her stomach made an empty, forceful protest. For now, she should fill her stomach first.

What to eat tonight?

Seeing the nearby sign of Little Bean Man, Cheng Yuexin couldn’t help but sigh.

No matter which world, there’s always a presence of Shaxian Snacks.

Entering the store, she ordered a Fragrant Mixed Noodles and a Willow Leaf Steamed Dumplings.

Not only filling, but also cheap—ten yuan total was enough to fill her.

Although she had received Gu Linxue’s reward, she couldn’t splurge on a big meal.

Yesterday’s buffet was an exception.

After eating, she returned to the hospital. The moment she stepped into the inpatient department, Cheng Yuexin felt a little uneasy.

Cheng Yueqing’s surgery had been completed. Although there was a small complication, the outcome was good.

All of this was told to her by Gu Linxue.

Arriving at the ward door, Cheng Yuexin did not enter immediately, giving herself some time to decompress.

With what happened this morning, she didn’t know how to face Cheng Yueqing.

‘I actually hope the surgery ended and she hasn’t woken up yet.’

‘It’s strange to think that as a family member, isn’t it?’

‘Whatever, I have to face it sooner or later.’

Having made up her mind, Cheng Yuexin pushed open the ward door. As she expected, Cheng Yueqing had not woken up yet.

The blue-haired girl’s brows were slightly furrowed, lying quietly on the hospital bed, sleeping peacefully.

“Phew, good, good.”

Cheng Yuexin let out a long breath of turbid air, her mood relaxing considerably.

She quietly sat on the edge of the bed and raised her hand to smooth Cheng Yueqing’s furrowed brows.

Looking at her tranquil sleeping face—a cute, childish face—it was hard to connect it to the cold, hateful look from this morning.

In that moment, Cheng Yueqing had seemed like a different person.

Cheng Yuexin had never seen that before, and her heart had been left with an indelible scar.

She was actually a bit afraid to face Cheng Yueqing.

‘But as her elder sister, I can’t just ignore her, can I?’

“I won’t go back tonight.”

She charged her phone and opened Pineapple Bun to read some novels.

This rare, brief moment was eventually broken.

Luckily, it was a message from Chen Yiyi.

Chen Yiyi: “Yuexin, you’re not coming back again?”

Chen Yiyi: “Who are you fooling around with? Are you really going to abandon me?”

Cheng Yuexin was stunned for a moment, then replied with a head-knocking emoji.

Cheng Yuexin: “I’m at the hospital with Yueqing. Her surgery is done but she hasn’t woken up yet. I’m staying with her tonight.”

Chen Yiyi: “Really? Take a photo and let me confirm.”

Cheng Yuexin smiled faintly, took two photos of the ward and sent them to Chen Yiyi, including Cheng Yueqing’s sleeping face.

Cheng Yuexin: “See? Do you believe me now?”

Chen Yiyi: “I believe, I believe. Sister Yueqing is so pretty, meow.”

Cheng Yuexin: “What, you have designs on her?”

Chen Yiyi: “No no, I have designs on you. Can I?”

Cheng Yuexin: “I treat you as a roommate, what do you treat me as?”

Chen Yiyi: “As a girlfriend.”

Cheng Yuexin: “Female friend, nothing wrong.”

Chen Yiyi: “The kind of girlfriend as a romantic partner.”

Cheng Yuexin: “…Smooth talker.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cheng Yuexin stopped her smile, finally said goodnight, and exited the chat.

Her shoulders relaxed.

Now, the only person she could chat peacefully with was Chen Yiyi.

Last time something like that happened, Chen Yiyi didn’t care too much.

They still maintained a roommate relationship.

Cheng Yuexin had thought she would be like Gu Linxue and Liu Yingqiu.

But that wasn’t the case.

So in this world, there could still be such a normal friendship—truly rare.

Being chased by multiple people at the same time was also a kind of annoyance.

Especially troublesome people like Gu Linxue, and Liu Yingqiu was no pushover either.

Cheng Yuexin could well understand why this incarnation of herself felt disgust towards them.

She herself no longer wanted to see them.

But the other side wasn’t going to stop at that.

“How come the content of this book is so similar to my own experiences?”

Cheng Yuexin was reading a new book on the charts and resonated with the protagonist’s experiences.

A novel is still a novel, but her own experiences were real.

Having experienced reality, she knew that the pain written in novels was far from enough.

“Even reading isn’t enjoyable, ugh…”

Annoyed, Cheng Yuexin threw her phone aside, far away.

Exhausted mentally and physically, she made a pillow with her arms, leaned against the bedside, and fell asleep with her head down.

Remembering something, she looked up at Cheng Yueqing still asleep.

As usual, she planted a kiss on the girl’s pale cheek.

“Good night, Yueqing.”

Sleepiness gradually crept over her eyelids, and Cheng Yuexin leaned against the bed, falling asleep quietly.

After waiting for a long time, the girl who had been pretending to sleep quietly woke up.

The light was still on, so Cheng Yueqing could see Cheng Yuexin sleeping with her head buried there.

She looked like someone sleeping at their desk during class.

“Silly sister.”

Cheng Yueqing gently touched Cheng Yuexin’s white hair, her eyes full of heartache and guilt.

As the one who had the episode, Cheng Yueqing couldn’t find a way to reconcile with Cheng Yuexin.

She had hurt her only relative and said very harsh things.

Cheng Yueqing raised her soft hand and patted her own delicate face.

“Look at what you’ve done.”

Her azure eyes filled with apology, she lowered her gaze towards Cheng Yuexin.

She had suppressed the urge to wake up several times just now; she wasn’t fully prepared yet.

Better to talk tomorrow.

She pressed the call button at the bedside and asked a nurse to move Cheng Yuexin onto the bed.

She was sound asleep; the commotion of moving her onto the bed didn’t disturb her.

“Big sister.”

She murmured under her breath. The post-surgery pain in her chest connected to her heart.

Cheng Yueqing shifted her position, trying to make enough space on this small single bed for Cheng Yuexin.

Quietly staring at this beautiful sleeping face, with snow-white hair covering her temples, Cheng Yueqing gently picked it up and tucked it behind her ear.

The air quieted down, and her thoughts drifted far away.

From childhood to now, Cheng Yuexin had never gotten angry at her.

Her sister was not only excellent in studies but also took meticulous care of her.

Since their parents passed away, her sister had acted as both father and mother.

Although her own grades were good—she got into a good high school with a scholarship—

But her body wasn’t. It was also starting from high school that Cheng Yueqing realized she had a heart problem.

At first she didn’t care, but over time, Cheng Yuexin noticed something amiss.

After a hospital checkup, it turned out to be a big problem.

But Cheng Yuexin never gave up on her. Even while preparing for college entrance exams, she would prepare three meals on time every day.

It was also because of her that her sister went to beg that person.

She heard it was a suitor her sister had rejected many times, but couldn’t resist because he had money and could help her.

Looking back along the way, Cheng Yuexin had really given too much for her.

But her sister, who treasured her like a treasure, was ultimately hurt by her.

It was exactly like the farmer and the snake.

The intense apology—even saying sorry ten thousand times wouldn’t be enough.

She had already given so much for her.

The more she recalled what Cheng Yuexin had done for her during this time, the stronger her guilt grew.

She wished her body would recover immediately so she could study hard, work, and repay Cheng Yuexin.

Cheng Yueqing pursed her lips, her eyes glistening with tears.

She silently swore.

For the rest of her life, she would make sure her sister lived happily.

Wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, she helped Cheng Yuexin cover herself with the blanket.

She snuggled into Cheng Yuexin’s arms, feeling her warmth and also letting her own warmth warm her.

But this lavender shower gel scent was unfamiliar.