This incident gave Zhao Chuji an inspiration.
Afterward, her company specially opened several self-media accounts to receive submissions, using them to expose injustices in society.
After all, the throat that speaks must always be controlled in one’s own hands.
Furthermore, Zhao Chuji thought darkly: if necessary, should that minor internet celebrity Xiao Qin ever approach them again, she could use her own accounts to expose Xiao Qin’s dark secrets, allowing Yu Yao to see through Xiao Qin’s true colors once and for all.
With the assistance of her abilities, she could quickly uncover all sorts of hidden secrets. After making several highly influential events public, her self-media accounts gathered quite a significant following.
Yet, for some unknown reason, Xiao Qin vanished from the scene for a period of time afterward, never appearing around Yu Yao again.
Time flew by swiftly, and summer arrived in Haicheng.
As they grew more familiar with each other, Yu Yao threw away all of Zhao Chuji’s old clothes and bought her a vast amount of new spring and summer clothing.
After more than half a year of physical nourishment, Zhao Chuji’s cheeks had visibly filled out. She had grown taller, her black hair was thick, and though she remained slender, her complexion was full of vitality, no longer showing any trace of her former pale and frail appearance.
Time soon marched into late July, and the weather grew increasingly sultry and hot.
Yu Yao loved sweet treats, and whenever summer came around, she could not control herself, wholesaling a massive batch of ice cream.
Just when she wanted to feast to her heart’s content and indulge in a carefree, wild summer, Zhao Chuji transformed into a strict housekeeper.
“Sister Yu Yao, I am still a minor and my self-control isn’t very strong. If you eat it, I will end up eating it along with you.”
Zhao Chuji strictly controlled the quantity of ice cream Yu Yao could consume, arguing righteously: “Eating too much ice cream will cause Sister Yu Yao to get gout in her later years, leaving you unable to walk.”
“At that time, I wouldn’t mind carrying you on my back every day.”
Speaking to this point, the corner of her lips curled up slightly, but then her face stiffened into a serious expression again: “But you would suffer in your old age, and it would break my heart to watch.”
Following Zhao Chuji’s speech, Yu Yao could not find a single word to refute her. She could only crestfallenly submit to Zhao Chuji’s regulation of her cold drinks.
When Zhao Chuji was at home, she did not dare to eat too much, because in order to manage her, Zhao Chuji would count the number of ice creams in the house every single day.
However, she had her own clever tricks; whenever Zhao Chuji went out to school, she would order food delivery for herself.
Yet, for reasons unknown to her, every time she secretly ordered delivery, Zhao Chuji would always ask her a question upon returning home from school: “Sister, you didn’t secretly eat anything today, did you?”
Yu Yao was terrible at lying. Every time Zhao Chuji asked this, her conscience would ache. But for the sake of her next indulgence, she could only answer vaguely: “Of course not.”
Zhao Chuji did not press further, but perhaps due to a guilty conscience, Yu Yao always had a nagging feeling: Zhao Chuji seemed to know she was secretly eating cold treats.
Because on the nights she ate cold drinks, Zhao Chuji would always brew her a cup of ginger and jujube tea, and the next day’s meals would invariably be extremely light. Especially before bedtime, she would bring warm water for her to soak her feet.
Yu Yao was completely baffled, unable to figure out where she had given herself away. After all, fearing that Zhao Chuji would find out, she had specially taken her trash downstairs to dispose of it…
But Yu Yao did not dwell on the question either. She understood in her heart that everything Zhao Chuji did was for her own good.
Facing Zhao Chuji’s clear, innocent eyes, a guilt-ridden Yu Yao unconsciously began to reduce the amount of cold drinks she consumed.
At the same time, Yu Yao also noticed something unusual about Zhao Chuji.
It was understandable that Zhao Chuji did not like cold drinks, as everyone has their own preferences.
But even though the weather was this hot, Zhao Chuji still wore her spring school uniform, and usually wore shirts with the top button fastened right up to her neck.
Even the pajamas she wore at Yu Yao’s house were of the spring and autumn style.
Although the air conditioning was kept on year-round both at home and at school, most people had changed into summer uniforms; only Zhao Chuji was different.
“Chuji, are you particularly afraid of the cold?”
Yu Yao could not help but ask aloud, “Should I find some time to take you for a physical checkup?”
Although Zhao Chuji looked very healthy now, it was highly possible that her previous life had left her body depleted, which might be why she bundled herself up so tightly in the summer.
For the first time, a flash of panic appeared across Zhao Chuji’s calm expression. Almost instinctively, she clutched her collar tightly.
“I am not afraid of the cold, my body is very healthy!”
Then what was the reason?
Yu Yao frowned deeply, but since Zhao Chuji’s panic had been fully witnessed by her, Yu Yao chose not to press further at that moment.
She could not help but secretly search online.
The occurrence of this phenomenon, aside from medical reasons like hypothyroidism or anemia, could also stem from psychological factors.
Yu Yao felt that psychological factors were the most probable cause.
Looking back at Zhao Chuji’s upbringing, in an environment fraught with danger, for a beautiful young girl, wearing thick clothing was indeed one way to protect herself.
But the weather was too hot. Seeing Zhao Chuji dressed so tightly, Yu Yao worried she might fall ill…
A sickness of the mind requires medicine for the mind.
After consulting with a psychological counselor, on a certain Sunday evening, Yu Yao set up a table of barbecue on the balcony.
Although the temperature had dropped a bit at night, it was still somewhat hot. The balcony did not have air conditioning, so Yu Yao simply brought out a large electric fan to blow directly toward the balcony.
It was fine for someone like her who was wearing short sleeves, but Zhao Chuji, who was wearing long sleeves, instantly flushed red from the heat.
However, seeing Yu Yao’s enthusiastic demeanor, she did not want to spoil the fun, so she sat across from Yu Yao in silence.
Yet very soon, Zhao Chuji realized—this wave was directed entirely at her!
“The night scenery is so beautiful tonight! There is a bright moon, there are stars…”
After making a few pretentious lamentations, Yu Yao piled grilled meat onto her plate while simultaneously showering her with praise…
“Chuji, I heard from your coach that you are getting more and more formidable now, already capable of defeating male athletes across different ranks.”
“You won first place in the school running competition. If you encounter danger in the future, you will definitely be able to run away…”
Yu Yao gazed quietly at Zhao Chuji, her voice soft and her eyes filled with deep concern: “Chuji, I can see that you are very hot right now too, but you simply dare not take off your thick clothes. Can you tell me what it is you are afraid of?”
“Don’t worry, I will absolutely never tell a soul. I just feel that you now possess the strength to overcome it.”
Zhao Chuji glanced at Yu Yao. Her eyes were very deep, harboring many emotions that Yu Yao could not decipher. Her lips quivered slightly, and she pressed her lower lip tight, yet she did not say a single word…
“Never mind! It’s really not a big deal…”
Seeing Zhao Chuji’s expression, Yu Yao’s heart softened instantly. She called out to Zhao Chuji to help lift the table: “Let’s go eat in the living room, there is air conditioning in the living room…”
During the process of lifting the table, Zhao Chuji’s clothes got dirty, so she went back to her room to change.
She did not come out for a long time. Yu Yao called out a few times but received no answer. Worried that something was wrong, she simply went to the doorway of Zhao Chuji’s guest room.
The door was not closed, and Yu Yao spotted Zhao Chuji at a single glance.
Under the bright light, the young girl had changed into the short-sleeved dress Yu Yao had bought for her. Her head was lowered, and her fingers were tightly clutching the hem of the skirt.
Her figure was slender and graceful; she looked just as beautiful wearing a dress as Yu Yao had imagined.
However, the abundance of words Yu Yao had prepared choked in her throat, and tears began to flow down unconsciously…
Zhao Chuji’s exposed arms were covered in old, faint scars.
Her skin was very fair, which made these scars appear exceptionally vivid and obvious…
“It looks very ugly, doesn’t it?”
Sensing that Yu Yao had arrived at the doorway, Zhao Chuji raised her head with tears in her eyes, exactly as she had planned.
The only reason she wore thick clothing was because she did not want Yu Yao to see the scars on her body.
She knew Yu Yao’s fondness for her appearance, and she stubbornly refused to let Yu Yao see her scarred body, wanting to preserve a better image in Yu Yao’s heart.
She had been applying ointment in private, but old scars could not be erased all at once.
She hadn’t expected it to attract Yu Yao’s attention after all…
Even if Yu Yao’s expression didn’t show any aversion, would Yu Yao feel that she was hiding things, and secretly develop a rift with her in private?
Anyone else in the whole world could dislike her, but Yu Yao could not!
Returning to the room, by some strange twist of mind, Zhao Chuji had put on the dress Yu Yao bought for her.
She lacked the courage to walk out and face Yu Yao, so she could only wait for Yu Yao to walk in.
That way, she could pretend to be heartbroken and cry about how difficult her past had been. Yu Yao was so soft-hearted that she might just tolerate her imperfection.
But before her prepared words of lamentation could be spoken, Yu Yao rushed over and held her in a tight embrace.
It wasn’t that she had never been hugged by Yu Yao before, but this time, the summer clothes were thin, and the skin of both individuals pressed together without any barrier, causing her body to shudder involuntarily.
Her eyes widened as she felt warm tears streaming continuously onto her body, seemingly burning a hole right through her heart.
“Chuji, just how much suffering have you endured?”
“It’s all my fault, I should have found you sooner…”
Yu Yao cried so sorrowfully. There was not a shred of repulsion in her eyes; the gaze she directed at her was filled with nothing but pure heartache.
Zhao Chuji suddenly let out a sigh of relief: with Yu Yao, being imperfect didn’t seem to matter at all…
The plan to play the victim was completely disrupted; in fact, she even had to turn around and comfort Yu Yao instead.
Yet, Zhao Chuji could not help but curl up the corners of her lips.
The weather was truly wonderful tonight!
There was a bright moon, there were stars…
And, there was the most beloved Yu Yao.