“It really is okay, Older Sister.” Yan Nianyi applied a bit more pressure to the hand clutching her stomach.
Turning slightly, she pressed her back against the car body as fine beads of cold sweat gathered into glistening droplets, clinging to her face.
Her frail figure looked all the more fragile.
“Does it hurt a lot?” Wanting to distract Yan Nianyi, Yueyi slipped her car keys into her suit trouser pocket. She supported the girl, who stubbornly refused to let her carry her on her back, allowing most of her weight to lean onto her. “Then I will help you upstairs, alright?”
Her voice was exceptionally gentle, full of patience, much like coaxing a young child.
“Alright.” Yan Nianyi nodded.
She bit her lower lip, her breaths filled entirely with a scent that was familiar and intoxicating to her.
The pain in her stomach seemed to subside quite a bit simply due to Yueyi’s closeness.
She rubbed her abdomen twice, silently cursing herself in her heart for failing to control her force properly.
Because she was supporting Yan Nianyi, Yueyi walked very slowly. “There is a step ahead. Lift your foot up a bit higher so you do not trip.”
“Mm-hm, I see it.” Yan Nianyi.
They quickly entered one of the buildings, and Yueyi pressed the elevator button.
A moment later, the elevator doors opened to reveal a spacious interior.
After Yueyi helped Yan Nianyi step inside, her finger pressed into the recessed groove right beneath the open and close buttons.
At the same time, the elevator display screen clearly showed the bright red numbers ticking upward.
Yan Nianyi rested her forehead against Yueyi’s shoulder, with the elevator wall behind them reflecting their images like a mirror.
From the reflection, the two looked precisely like a couple deeply in love, unwilling to part for even a single second.
Yueyi’s slender yet firm frame securely guarded the person in her arms, as if refusing to allow any outside intrusion.
As Yan Nianyi watched the reflection in the wall, a wave of heat surged in her chest. She secretly pulled out her phone and snapped a quick, cleverly angled photo.
An optical illusion photo that made it look as though they were locked in an embrace.
Beep. The elevator arrived at the corresponding floor.
Yan Nianyi nonchalantly slipped her phone back into her pocket.
“We are almost there.” Yueyi.
Dozens of seconds later, the two arrived in front of a metal door equipped with an electronic lock.
Yueyi unlocked it with her fingerprint. Accompanied by a crisp electronic click, the door sprang open.
Yueyi turned the handle, bending down slightly to guide her inside.
Taking half a step past the entryway, the shoe rack was right beside them.
Yueyi glanced sideways at the girl beside her and pointed toward the living room sofa. “Go sit over there for a moment. I will go brew something for you to drink.”
“Alright.” Yan Nianyi was as obedient as ever.
She looked hesitatingly at the shoe rack. There were only two pairs of household slippers on it, one presumably belonging to Older Sister, and the other to her younger sister.
“Do you want to change your shoes?” Yueyi asked. Crouching halfway down, she retrieved a clean pair of disposable slippers from the side cabinet, specially prepared for guests. “We do not have any other spare pairs at the moment. You can wear these first, is that okay?”
“Okay.”
Yan Nianyi bent down to untie her shoelaces and slipped into the disposable slippers.
The pain in her stomach faded bit by bit, and by now she could barely feel any lingering discomfort.
“I will help you over.” Yueyi gently supported Yan Nianyi’s arm.
Earlier, she had actually intended to help the girl take off her shoes, but remembering Yan Nianyi’s temperament, she would surely feel too embarrassed, so she dismissed the thought.
“Does your stomach still hurt?” After helping her sit down, Yueyi handed her a glass of warm water.
“It still hurts a little.” Yan Nianyi held the glass with both hands, her ten slender fingers crossed to secure the glass firmly in her palms.
“I am going to boil some ginger, jujube, and longan soup for you.” Yueyi said softly. “Wait here by yourself for a moment.”
“Is Older Sister’s younger sister at home too?” Yan Nianyi suddenly asked.
“Hmm?” Yueyi looked at her.
“With us making such a big commotion coming back, will we disturb her?” Yan Nianyi asked thoughtfully as she set down her water glass.
“No, the soundproofing in the rooms is very good.” Yueyi.
“That is good.” Yan Nianyi forced a faint smile. “Sorry to trouble Older Sister with making soup for me.”
“It is no trouble. Sit here for a little while.” Yueyi.
After Yueyi stepped into the kitchen, Yan Nianyi set down her cup and let her gaze sweep around the room.
The apartment’s overall decor and color scheme were very cozy, and the lighting emitted a soft, warm yellow glow that gave people a sense of comfort.
Hanging on one of the living room walls was a landscape painting.
It was an ink wash painting; with just a few sparse strokes, the form and spirit of the mountains and rivers were outlined with extraordinary vividness.
This must have been painted by Older Sister’s younger sister. Yan Nianyi thought to herself.
She shifted her gaze elsewhere. Traces of a lived-in home were visible everywhere.
Yan Nianyi lowered her gaze, her fingers pressing against the leather sofa and tapping rhythmically every now and then as she licked her moist lower lip.
Sooner or later, this place would become her home too.
From inside the kitchen came the faint sound of objects colliding, pulling Yan Nianyi’s thoughts back. She looked toward the source of the noise.
Unlike the warm lighting in the living room, the kitchen lights emitted a cooler, much brighter tone.
A few minutes later, Yan Nianyi heard soft footsteps approaching. Without panicking, she shifted her gaze away, picked up the cup from the solid wood table, and took a small sip right in front of Yueyi.
“Stop drinking water for now.” Yueyi held a porcelain bowl in one hand while gently stirring it with a spoon held in the other. Steam rose in a winding white line, drifting upward before slowly dispersing and vanishing.
“Just moisten your throat. Drink this first.” Yueyi took the cup, which still had a little water left in it, glanced at it casually, and set it down carelessly on the table.
“Be careful, do not burn yourself.” Seeing Yan Nianyi make a motion to reach for the porcelain bowl, Yueyi reminded her, “Support the bottom of the bowl.”
Hearing this, Yan Nianyi altered the direction of her outstretched hand and received the porcelain bowl with her palms facing upward.
Looking down, a few longans and red dates sat at the bottom of the bowl, dark red liquid rippling inside. When she dropped the spoon in, it created a small splash.
“You should drink it while it is hot.” Seeing her hesitate, Yueyi said softly.
“Older Sister, I do not seem to have any strength.” Yan Nianyi felt too embarrassed to look Yueyi in the eye. Her lowered brows and trembling eyelashes completely exposed her awkwardness.
Yueyi stared at her quietly.
Yan Nianyi had an inexplicable feeling of being seen through. Unable to guess what Yueyi was thinking, she could only maintain the posture of holding the bowl.
“It seems to hurt quite badly.” After a brief silence, Yueyi took the porcelain bowl from her hands, her ivory-white fingertips hooking over the rim. “I had better take you to the hospital to get checked out.”
“No need.” The moment she uttered those words, Yan Nianyi realized her reaction had been a bit too intense. She softened her tone and lowered her voice. “It is not a big issue. A little rest and I will be fine.”
“Is that so?” Yueyi stirred the spoon, the dark red liquid swirling together with the solid ingredients. “Do not force yourself. It is bad for your health.”
“Older Sister knows I never joke around with my health.” Yan Nianyi.
“Mm. If you have no strength.” Yueyi chuckled softly, scooping up a spoonful of soup. “Do you want me to feed you?”