Chapter 29: Do You Still Hate Me?

On a sunny afternoon, a full meal easily made one drowsy.

Cheng Yueqing leaned against the headboard, half-asleep, her eyes narrowing as she played on her phone.

Cheng Yuexin and Liu Yingqiu were still in the hospital room.

Cheng Yuexin watched Cheng Yueqing, while Liu Yingqiu stood beside Cheng Yuexin, watching her.

“Yueqing, if you’re sleepy, get some rest.”

Cheng Yueqing slowly opened her half-closed eyes, full of fatigue.

“Mm, I’ll sleep a little. Elder Sister, why don’t you two go out for a walk? It’s pretty boring in the hospital.”

Hearing Cheng Yueqing’s words, Liu Yingqiu’s eyes lit up, but she didn’t respond immediately.

If Cheng Yuexin didn’t leave, she wouldn’t either.

Cheng Yuexin patted Cheng Yueqing’s hand soothingly and whispered.

“Okay, we won’t disturb your rest. After surgery, more rest helps you recover faster.”

“Mm, good afternoon, Elder Sister.”

Cheng Yueqing obediently lay down and smiled at Cheng Yuexin from under the covers.

“Good afternoon.”

With Liu Yingqiu present, Cheng Yuexin didn’t give her a kiss as she usually did.

Liu Yingqiu left the room first, and Cheng Yuexin closed the door behind her.

“Want to find somewhere to rest?”

Cheng Yuexin shook her head in refusal.

“No, I want to go for a walk in the nearby park. Do you have anything to do this afternoon?”

Liu Yingqiu’s eyes curved slightly as she swept her hair behind her ear, revealing her beautiful profile.

“No, it’s Sunday, no classes, and I’ve finished everything I needed to do.”

“How about I go with you?”

Cheng Yuexin lowered her eyes in thought, hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Liu Yingqiu.

She happened to have some questions that needed answers.

“Alright, follow me.”

Liu Yingqiu nodded and followed behind Cheng Yuexin with a smile.

She stared at the small, swaying hand—her first instinct was to hold it.

But remembering what she had done, her hand hovered in the air just one meter away from that hand.

Even though Cheng Yuexin hadn’t said anything in the hospital room, she probably wouldn’t forgive her so easily.

She had only held back from scolding her because Cheng Yueqing was there.

Setting the thought aside, Liu Yingqiu lowered her head slightly and continued following Cheng Yuexin.

They left the hospital and headed toward a nearby leisure park.

Cheng Yuexin’s heart was uneasy—or rather, conflicted—as she walked.

She just kept going, knowing Liu Yingqiu was behind her, but never turning around.

Liu Yingqiu was the good person who saved her little sister.

And also the bad person who hurt her.

Neither purely good nor purely evil.

Cheng Yuexin couldn’t decide what attitude to adopt toward her.

Pure hatred was beginning to fade.

Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed by a force, and her body was yanked to the side.

Startled, Cheng Yuexin lost her balance and fell straight into Liu Yingqiu’s chest.

“Mm…”

“Careful. Why aren’t you watching where you’re going?”

Cheng Yuexin looked up to meet Liu Yingqiu’s clear eyes, then quickly pulled away in surprise.

She looked back at where she had been walking.

If not for Liu Yingqiu, she would have run straight into a utility pole.

“I was thinking. I didn’t notice.”

“Thanks.”

Liu Yingqiu smiled slightly, gathered her courage, and grabbed Cheng Yuexin’s hand.

Cheng Yuexin stared at Liu Yingqiu’s hand and gave it a serious look.

Her hand was warm; the brief touch had already transferred its warmth to Cheng Yuexin’s palm.

Cheng Yuexin felt a bit dazed.

Liu Yingqiu asked her opinion with some trepidation.

“Is this okay?”

Back in high school, the two of them had never needed to ask before holding hands.

Cheng Yuexin found it awkward to hear.

But that was what made Liu Yingqiu different from others.

After making a mistake, she became even more cautious.

Cheng Yuexin nodded, giving her silent permission.

Consider it a reward for bringing lunch.

Liu Yingqiu smiled gently and tightened her grip slightly.

She walked shoulder to shoulder with Cheng Yuexin along the sidewalk.

—

Vehicles came and went in front of the park gate, and all sorts of people gathered there.

Walking along the tree-lined path in the park, away from the scorching afternoon sun, it was much more comfortable.

Stopping in front of a convenience store, Cheng Yuexin glanced at the sign next to the door.

Even the cheapest bottled water cost four yuan.

Cheng Yuexin frowned. So expensive.

“Wait for me.”

Without another word, Liu Yingqiu walked straight into the convenience store.

Soon, she came out with two bottles of ice-cold water.

“Here.”

Cheng Yuexin waved her hand.

“I’m not thirsty. You only needed to buy one.”

Liu Yingqiu still pressed the bottle meant for Cheng Yuexin into her hand and even unscrewed the cap for her.

“Drink up. Don’t worry about the cost. It’s a little pricey, but it’s my treat.”

“You’re always like this…”

Cheng Yuexin complained inwardly, but the other person didn’t care.

Smiling, Liu Yingqiu stood in front of Cheng Yuexin, took a sip of ice water, and enjoyed the cool relief for a moment.

“Want to sit over there for a bit?”

Following the direction Liu Yingqiu pointed, Cheng Yuexin saw an empty pavilion.

Cheng Yuexin nodded and walked over slowly while sipping her water.

Under the small pavilion, the two sat shoulder to shoulder.

A hot wind blew in their faces. Even though it was September, there was no hint of autumn.

The weather in Guangnan would take time to get used to.

Looking at the lake rippling in the distance, their mood gradually relaxed.

“Yesterday, you took care of Yueqing, didn’t you?”

Hearing Cheng Yuexin’s sudden question, Liu Yingqiu nodded gently.

“Yes. After I woke up yesterday, Yueqing’s surgery had just finished. She woke up shortly after, I fed her a little, and then I left.”

As she spoke, Cheng Yuexin stared at her quietly.

The light in her eyes was complex and hard to read.

“Oh, by the way, I’ll transfer you the money for yesterday’s meal.”

Liu Yingqiu shook her head firmly.

“No need. It didn’t cost much—just a few yuan. Besides, I don’t even have your WeChat.”

Cheng Yuexin scratched her cheek awkwardly and looked down at her old white sneakers.

The moment she decided to come to Guangnan, she had deleted both their WeChats.

“Well… that’s true.”

Liu Yingqiu set down her water bottle, placing it next to the one Cheng Yuexin had drunk from.

Her soft voice carried a hint of probing.

“Do you still hate me now?”

Cheng Yuexin looked up and met her eyes.

Those red pupils, like spring water, were veiled in regret.

A relationship that was once the closest had come to this.

Both Cheng Yuexin and Liu Yingqiu found it surreal.

But reality was exactly that.

Liu Yingqiu gave a bitter smile.

She had shattered a perfect hand all by herself.

This outcome was the best she could get.

“I do hate you.”

Cheng Yuexin curled her lips, and a light wind tousled her snow-white hair.

The disheveled hair hid her expression.

Liu Yingqiu couldn’t fully gauge the depth of hatred in her voice.

Putting herself in Cheng Yuexin’s shoes,

If she had experienced that, she definitely wouldn’t forgive the other party easily.

That bitter smile deepened, mixed with resignation and regret.

“But you saved Yueqing, took care of her for me, and brought lunch today.”

“Maybe… I don’t hate you as much now.”

The ambiguous answer left Liu Yingqiu confused.

Cheng Yuexin tucked her snow-white hair behind her ear.

Liu Yingqiu could now clearly see her expression.

It was calm and relaxed.

But in the next moment, Cheng Yuexin narrowed her eyes and stared at Liu Yingqiu.

“Besides, the day before yesterday, you did that to me. It kind of cancels out again.”

Back and forth like that, the stone just lifted from her heart was lifted again.

Liu Yingqiu placed a hand on her chest; her heart pounded twice.

She’d better drink some water to calm her nerves.