“I thought that the day you stopped me from going near the window was the first time we met.” The eldest miss’s first impression was clearly mismatched, a whole encounter later than Zhu Qingjia’s.
“Mm, that was the second time. It definitely gave me a different understanding of you. After spending more time together later on, your image in my mind slowly changed,” Zhu Qingjia said softly.
“What was it like?” Gu Ruoling twirled her hair around her finger, curious yet apprehensive. During that period, she was often in a trance and would do things outside of her control. She knew perfectly well that she had injured Zhu Qingjia.
Afterward, she felt regret, but more than that, she hadn’t wanted to hurt her and wanted her to leave.
Zhu Qingjia pursed her lips, her expression turning serious. “Do you want to hear the truth?”
“Mm, I do. Tell me, I won’t be angry,” the eldest miss said sincerely, knowing she had done wrong.
Zhu Qingjia seemed a little hesitant, letting out a sigh. “I’m really going to say it then.”
“Say it, I’m ready.”
Zhu Qingjia grabbed a throw pillow and tucked it into her arms, her tone slow and serious: “At the time, I thought you were really suited to practice the Iron Palm technique.”
Gu Ruoling blinked, realizing it a moment later. “Zhu Qingjia! You’re messing with me again.”
But this time she was prepared, the pillow in her arms caught Gu Ruoling’s weak punch.
Zhu Qingjia was still laughing. “I tell the truth and you don’t believe me, then you get angry, and look, now you’re trying to hit me again.”
“You’re still laughing.” Gu Ruoling reached out to pull her, but her arm was caught instead, the momentum pulling her down to press against Zhu Qingjia.
Because of this little scuffle, Gu Ruoling’s breathing was uneven and her face flushed warm, panting slightly as she lay on top of Zhu Qingjia.
The pillow rolled under the sofa, leaving no barrier between the two. Zhu Qingjia hooked a finger through a strand of her cascading long hair and said softly, “Ruoling, no matter which impression it is, nothing can change your image in my heart. Beautiful, intelligent, and artistically talented. You always quietly consider others, so can you also consider yourself a bit more?”
After the follow-up checkup at the hospital last time, the doctor’s words about there being hope seemed to only work on Zhu Qingjia. For the actual patient, Gu Ruoling, it was completely irrelevant.
She didn’t even seem to care at all.
“I… I don’t know what to consider, and there doesn’t seem to be anything I need to worry about.” Gu Ruoling nuzzled her face against her hand, speaking in a small, aggrieved voice. “When I brought up the will with you last time, you ignored me for several days. But the only person I can take care of is you.”
Zhu Qingjia’s heart grew heavy, and she pressed that small head against her chest. “I felt it, but you also need to learn to take care of yourself. Eat properly, sleep on time, because when I’m not at home, I worry about you. I’m afraid you’ll throw a tantrum and refuse to eat, or be too stubborn to take medicine when you’re sick and miserable.”
“When I’m in a bad mood, there are a lot of things I just don’t want to do.” Gu Ruoling wrapped her arms around her sleeve. “I’ll take care of myself in the future, you don’t need to worry about me.”
“Really?”
“Mm, it’s true.”
With the concert approaching, Zhu Qingjia prepared a suitcase to pack the necessary items. Gu Ruoling was picking out a dress; wearing it under a short jacket with the hem showing would look very beautiful.
Gu Ruoling picked and chose in the walk-in closet, occasionally asking for Zhu Qingjia’s advice. Every time, Zhu Qingjia looked very seriously and said it looked good, perhaps in her eyes, there wasn’t a single piece of clothing that didn’t look good.
Tired of choosing clothes, Gu Ruoling came out and sat on the bed to watch her pack.
“What are you bringing? Why are there so many things?” The eldest miss glanced over; there was bedding, toiletries, inner and outer clothing, and a lot of miscellaneous items.
“The silk sheets you like, we can change into them at the hotel, plus the skincare products and scented candles you use,” Zhu Qingjia said as she placed more things inside.
“Are you moving the house over there? It’s just for one night, a lot of these things don’t need to be brought.” The eldest miss squatted down. Nearly a quarter of the contents belonged to her, while Zhu Qingjia’s things only occupied a small corner.
“I want you to stay comfortably. I also need to carry a backpack with chargers, a water cup, and medicine inside.” Zhu Qingjia organized everything into sections, closed it up, stood the suitcase upright, and lifted it with her hand to gauge the weight. “It’s manageable.”
Gu Ruoling was also curious about how heavy it was and went to try it, but she couldn’t lift it at all. How could she say “manageable” so effortlessly?
On the day of the concert, the car arranged by Secretary Xu arrived early to pick them up. When they got into the car, Auntie Zhang hesitated to speak. It was the first time the young lady was staying out, so she was naturally a bit worried. “How about I come along too? I can look after things on the way.”
Old Li didn’t have to drive today and was enjoying his leisure. “Young people go to concerts for the excitement. If you go, how can the young lady have fun? Besides, Miss Zhu is there, so relax. If worst comes to worst, I’ll drive you to pick them up when it ends.”
Auntie Zhang was still not quite at ease and gave Zhu Qingjia quite a few instructions, telling them to make sure to call immediately if anything happened. The distance wasn’t far, and they could rush over in a short time.
Gu Ruoling had been enthusiastic for a long time and didn’t listen to what they were saying at all, only promising to return as soon as possible.
“Does this count as chasing a star?” the eldest miss suddenly asked. “Should we get a light stick or something?”
“I suppose so. There might be some at the venue. If not, we’ll see if anyone is selling them then,” Zhu Qingjia answered every question.
They went to the hotel first to drop off their luggage, rested for a bit, and ate something before heading to the venue. They didn’t arrive too early, only participating in a small part of the check-in activities. There were truly so many people, describing it as a mountain and sea of people wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
Zhu Qingjia held the bag and gripped Gu Ruoling’s hand tightly. “Don’t get lost.”
Gu Ruoling responded, but still couldn’t help dragging her into the crowded areas. She usually looked quiet, but coming to a lively place made it easy for her to get caught up in the atmosphere.
When someone was about to brush past Gu Ruoling’s body, Zhu Qingjia quickly pulled her halfway into her arms, glaring at that person with indecent intentions.
With so many diverse people, it was inevitable that unpleasant things would occur.
After entering, they waited for a while before Sun Xihan appeared from the center of the stage, sporting an incredibly beautiful makeup look. Screams and cheers instantly swayed along with the swaying lights.
Stars twinkled as the megastar took the stage.
Halfway through, Zhu Qingjia typed on her phone to ask Gu Ruoling if she was tired and wanted to leave, but she just shook her head and enthusiastically listened through the entire concert.
As they walked out when the crowd dispersed, Zhu Qingjia still held her halfway in her arms. The sky was pitch black, and dots of starlight could faintly be seen.
“Today was so fun, Sun Xihan sings so beautifully.” Gu Ruoling held her arm as they walked down the steps. “We clearly had the chance to go backstage to see her, why didn’t you go?”
Zhu Qingjia gripped her hand tightly. “It’s too late, and the backstage is so chaotic. By the time we finish meeting and come out, it would probably be midnight. Are you still going to sleep?”
“I am indeed a bit tired, my legs are weak.” Gu Ruoling shook her hand, acting spoiled. “Zhu Qingjia, carry me on your back, okay?”
“I’m carrying a backpack, I can’t carry you.” Zhu Qingjia showed her the bag on her shoulder. It was Gu Ruoling’s bag, containing her phone and common medicine, not taking up much space.
“Just carry me for a bit, it’s not far from the hotel anyway.” Secretary Xu had booked them the nearest five-star hotel suite, just a few hundred meters away, very close and convenient.
Zhu Qingjia looked at her and smiled, turning her head helplessly to hang her bag around her neck, then squatted down at the lowest step of the stairs, saying indulgently, “At your command, my eldest miss.”
Gu Ruoling immediately smiled from ear to ear, putting her arms over her shoulders. Zhu Qingjia lifted her legs and steadily picked her up.
She was very thin and not very heavy, carrying her required no effort at all.
After just a couple of steps, Gu Ruoling’s joyful laughter could be heard. “Zhu Qingjia, I’m taller than you now.”
“Is that so? Then you’re more amazing than me.” Zhu Qingjia smiled, carrying her as they walked slowly under the streetlights.
An unfamiliar street, unfamiliar passersby, but the close chest was very warm, quickly dispersing that slight discomfort in her heart. They didn’t need an adjustment period because they had someone familiar by their side.
Gu Ruoling circled her neck and whispered in her ear, “Today was really so happy. Zhu Qingjia, thank you.”
Zhu Qingjia turned her head slightly, the shell of her ear brushing against her lips like an electric current running through her entire body, bringing a wave of numbness.
“Then we’ll come watch next year too, and the year after that.”
“Will you always be free? By then you’ll definitely have your own things to be busy with.” Gu Ruoling didn’t agree, only talking about something else.
“Then let’s make a special promise, okay?”
Gu Ruoling turned her head to look at her. “What promise?”
“After you celebrate your twentieth birthday, we’ll go watch Sun Xihan’s concert one more time.”
“Why twenty? That’s still so far away.”
“Agree to it first, and then I’ll tell you the reason,” Zhu Qingjia said.
“Fine, I promise you.” The eldest miss reached out to touch her chin. “Hurry up and tell me the reason.”
Zhu Qingjia’s eyelashes drooped. Twenty years old was a hurdle for Gu Ruoling. If she successfully passed it, then her fate would change, and she could avoid dying the day before her twentieth birthday.
Would that prove that she could do something for her?
“Because after you celebrate your twentieth birthday, I will have graduated. By then, I can accompany you in whatever you want to do.”
“I see.” Gu Ruoling didn’t think too much of it, only hearing her say. “Then I want to attend your graduation ceremony. I want to prepare the largest and most beautiful bouquet of flowers in the entire venue for you, so everyone else will envy you.”
“Alright, I’m looking forward to it. You can start thinking now about what flowers to give me.”
“How about Juliet roses?”
“Sure.”
“But then I feel tulips are also very nice.” Gu Ruoling was torn.
“I like tulips too,” Zhu Qingjia said.
“It’s so hard to choose. Anyway, there’s plenty of time, I’ll choose slowly to ensure I prepare the most beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers for you.”
The two went back and forth like this, crossing the street and returning to the hotel.
Having walked quite a bit in the afternoon, Gu Ruoling was visibly exhausted. Her eyes could barely stay open while taking a shower, and she fell asleep shortly after lying on the bed.
When she woke up, it was actually almost ten o’clock. Gu Ruoling looked beside her but didn’t find Zhu Qingjia’s figure.
She moved her legs and felt a noticeable soreness, but she quickly discovered that something seemed to be propped under her feet.
Pulling back the blanket, it was a throw pillow wrapped in a hotel sheet, used to elevate her legs.
With a beep, the room door was swiped open, and Zhu Qingjia returned from outside.
Seeing her awake and staring blankly at her legs, she explained, “I was afraid your legs would hurt, so I propped them up to ease it a bit.”
“Where did you go?” Gu Ruoling bent her legs, still feeling uncomfortable.
“Went downstairs to eat, I was a bit hungry. Are you hungry? Do you want to call room service?” Zhu Qingjia sat beside her, taking her calf to help massage and relieve it.
At first, Gu Ruoling only felt the soreness was unbearable and struggled, not wanting her to massage, but after a moment, that soreness was replaced by comfort.
“Why didn’t you call room service just now and have them bring it up? That would have been fine.” Gu Ruoling extended her other leg over, wanting a massage for that one too.
Zhu Qingjia kneaded her smooth, pale calf. “It would wake you up.”
Zhu Qingjia ate very quickly. The buffet restaurant was open all day. Fearing that calling for room service would wake her up, she had gone downstairs alone.
“I don’t have much of an appetite right now, I don’t want to eat, and I feel so tired.” As Gu Ruoling spoke, she leaned into her embrace. “I’m not eating breakfast. Shall we go to the restaurant together at noon?”
Zhu Qingjia held her, brushing her long hair to one side to avoid pinning it down. “Drink a glass of milk to line your stomach.”
Under Zhu Qingjia’s persuasion, Gu Ruoling still drank most of the glass of milk, then changed her clothes, put on makeup, and even asked Zhu Qingjia to help braid her hair.
Looking at that crooked braid, Zhu Qingjia let out a sigh with shaking hands. “Ruoling, actually, you look very good with your hair down too.”
“But I don’t want it down today, try again.” Gu Ruoling found a tutorial for her to look at. Zhu Qingjia’s hands-on ability was decent; after repeating it three or four times, she finally braided a beautiful, lazy, and loose loose leaf braid.
Once the braiding was complete, Zhu Qingjia didn’t dare touch it again, deeply afraid that it would loosen or fall apart somewhere. Gu Ruoling chose pearlescent butterfly hairpins and asked her to help put them on.
With her dressing complete, Gu Ruoling spun around once in front of her while holding her skirt hem, looking like a little princess.
“Does it look good?” The eldest miss was in a very good mood.