Chapter 19: Crack

In the taxi heading to the hospital, Cheng Yuexin sat by the window, her eyes fixed on the cars receding outside.

Liu Yingqiu leaned against her, keeping her hand held in her own.

Before getting in the car, Cheng Yuexin had been restless, but once inside, she became a different person, her mind elsewhere.

Liu Yingqiu glanced at Cheng Yuexin’s profile; a faint worry surfaced on her face, adding a negative tint to her expression.

She still preferred it when the white-haired girl beside her was laughing.

The closer they got to the hospital, the more somber Cheng Yuexin’s expression became.

Such a reaction suggested that Cheng Yueqing’s illness was no simple matter.

Cheng Yuexin propped her chin on her hand, her eyelids heavier than usual; she blinked to alleviate some drowsiness.

Even though it wasn’t a workday, the road was as congested as one.

The car stood still. Every five seconds, Cheng Yuexin checked the time, and each tick of the numbers made her mood worse.

Liu Yingqiu sensed Cheng Yuexin’s distress but didn’t ask why.

She simply needed to silently stay by Cheng Yuexin’s side—that was her way of helping.

“Tch, why is it still traffic?”

Seeing that the car moved slower than she could walk, Cheng Yuexin grumbled in frustration.

“It’ll clear up soon, don’t worry.”

Liu Yingqiu soothed her softly, gently patting the back of her hand.

Cheng Yuexin alternated between staring ahead and looking out the window, restless.

When the hospital building came into view, Cheng Yuexin told the driver to stop and rushed out the door.

Liu Yingqiu quickly got out as well, paying the fare on her phone while hurrying to keep up with Cheng Yuexin’s rapid pace.

She easily found her way to the inpatient department and arrived at the door of Cheng Yueqing’s room, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

Eight ten.

“Phew…”

Cheng Yuexin glanced back and saw Liu Yingqiu’s figure. Surprise dominated her eyes, with a faint, inexplicable sense of reassurance hidden beneath.

“I’ll go in and talk to Yueqing for a bit. Wait for me here, don’t come in.”

Cheng Yuexin said firmly, and Liu Yingqiu had no objection.

“Okay, then I’ll go buy breakfast. What do you want to eat?”

Cheng Yuexin let out a soft sigh, her eyes closing slightly.

“No appetite, don’t want to eat.”

Without waiting for Liu Yingqiu’s reply, Cheng Yuexin quietly opened the door and slipped into the room.

Liu Yingqiu shrugged, muttering to herself with a hint of helplessness and worry in her eyes.

“Not eating won’t do. No wonder she’s so thin.”

‘The task of taking care of Cheng Yuexin was left to me.’

‘At least as a classmate.’

…

Cheng Yuexin gently released her hand from the doorknob, her palm slightly moist.

As she turned around, she found Cheng Yueqing sitting on the bed, staring vacantly at the morning scene outside the window.

A faint sunlight fell on Cheng Yueqing’s cheeks, dividing her face into light and shadow.

Cheng Yuexin swallowed and slowly stepped forward.

“Yueqing, Big Sister is here.”

Cheng Yueqing withdrew her gaze, and at the same time, she withdrew the coldness in her eyes.

Though she was quick, Cheng Yuexin could still catch the gloom in the girl’s eyes.

Their eyes met; both had dark circles, but Cheng Yueqing’s were noticeably darker.

Cheng Yuexin’s right eyelid suddenly twitched.

Instead of greeting her beloved sister with her usual sweet smile, Cheng Yueqing wore a twisted expression as she faced Cheng Yuexin, who stood frozen by the bed.

Cheng Yuexin clasped her hands in front of her, bowed her head slightly, and still spoke in a calm, gentle tone.

“You’re up so early today? Why not sleep a little longer?”

Cheng Yueqing’s smile froze and then gradually faded.

“Without Big Sister’s goodnight kiss, I can’t sleep.”

Cheng Yuexin could have guessed she’d say that.

“Last night, why didn’t you answer my calls?”

Cheng Yueqing’s expression was calm, with no sign of blame, just questioning.

But her azure eyes were murky, a vortex of intertwined emotions.

Cheng Yuexin felt like a child who had done something wrong.

She was the one who broke her promise.

It was her.

“I… last night I went drinking with some classmates, got accidentally drunk, and… and didn’t answer…”

The explanation was flimsy, but Cheng Yueqing would probably believe it.

“But Big Sister has gotten drunk before, and the first time you didn’t answer my call was last night.”

“Big Sister, do you not care about me anymore?”

Cheng Yueqing’s question carried a chill that turned into a sharp blade piercing Cheng Yuexin’s left chest.

A feeling called grievance was forced out by the coldness in her heart.

“I… how could I not care about you…”

Cheng Yuexin stared at Cheng Yueqing in shock, a faint bitter smile on her lips, her heels unsteady as she heavily sat down on a red plastic chair.

Not on the edge of the bed as usual.

Cheng Yueqing’s hands, resting on the blanket, clenched into fists, her blue eyes as dark as a deep, cold pool.

“Oh? You promised so well, but last night you disappeared without a word, and now you rush over this morning—are you trying to make up for your mistake?”

Seeing Cheng Yueqing’s chest heave violently, Cheng Yuexin prioritized calming her down. She tentatively reached out to hold Cheng Yueqing’s cold hand, her eyes filled with worry.

Cheng Yueqing slapped away Cheng Yuexin’s hand. Cheng Yuexin bit her lip lightly, trying to compose herself.

“It’s Big Sister’s fault. Yueqing, don’t get agitated. You have surgery soon, and the doctor said emotional stress is bad for your condition.”

Cheng Yueqing sneered in retort.

“Since you know that, why did you make me worry? Is it because I’m a burden? You went drinking with others to drown your sorrows and try to forget me?”

Cheng Yuexin waved her hands anxiously, her eyes showing disbelief.

“How could that be? Big Sister only went drinking because a classmate invited me. Don’t misunderstand me, okay?”

Her words were full of earnest pleading, but she only received a cold snort from Cheng Yueqing.

“You just don’t care about me anymore.”

“I…”

Cheng Yuexin’s almond eyes widened with sorrow, then slowly lowered. She took a deep breath of air thick with the smell of disinfectant.

Her nose grew even more sour.

Her head felt heavier, and she had to lower it.

She was speechless.

‘How could I not care?’

She didn’t say it out loud. Cheng Yuexin didn’t have the courage.

She didn’t have the guts to argue with her own flesh and blood, especially at such a critical moment.

“Yueqing, Big Sister was wrong. Forgive me, okay? Don’t be angry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Repeated apologies did not win Cheng Yueqing’s forgiveness. The absurd conjectures continued, and a bitter smile crept onto her lips.

“Big Sister clearly knows I have surgery today. You’re deliberately making me angry, aren’t you?”

“No, I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

“You’re tired of me. You want to abandon me, right?”

“How could that be…”

“Make me angry so the surgery will fail, and you can get rid of this burden, right?”

Cheng Yuexin couldn’t believe her ears, nor could she believe her sister’s absurd speculation.

Her wide eyes stared at Cheng Yueqing, leaving only shock and sorrow.

Cheng Yuexin pressed her lips together tightly. Her hands on her knees, her nails turned white from the pressure.

Even through the clothing, faint indentations remained on her knees.

She explained sincerely.

“I never thought like that. Everything I’ve done has been to make you better. You’re Big Sister’s only family.”

“Heh, hypocrite.”

Cheng Yuexin swallowed hard. The pain of hunger in her stomach mixed with the ache in her chest, and her vision gradually blurred.

Her tone was humble. She sat there forlornly, feeling terrible.

Though there was resentment in her heart, she couldn’t bring herself to be angry at her own little sister.

“I’ve given so much, and this is how you see me?”

Cheng Yueqing finally responded by hiding under the blanket.

“Get out. I don’t want to see you.”

Cheng Yuexin sniffled hard. Large teardrops silently fell, hitting the chair with a heart-wrenching sound that pierced Cheng Yueqing’s ears.

“As long as you’re not angry, I’ll do anything. Big Sister just wants you to get better.”

“…”

Staring at the bulging blanket on the hospital bed, Cheng Yuexin felt a chill in her heart. She slowly retreated out of the room to wait for the surgery to begin.

But when she was alone, she easily fell apart.

To keep herself from crying out loud, Cheng Yuexin covered her mouth as hard as she could, forcing herself to swallow the grievance and digest it alone.

Silent tears, gradually soaking her clothes, had punched a hole through her already scarred heart.

“Wuwu…”

Perhaps those were just angry words from Cheng Yueqing, but the damage they caused was indelible.

The bond that had weathered storms together for so many years had developed its first crack.