Troublesome – Chapter 59

Warmly

Lu Zhenqiu gripped the edge of the pillow; in that instant, a crack appeared in her heart.

Lu Zhenqiu was actually quite afraid of pain. When she was little, a single fall could make her cry for a long time. Later, her mother was busy with business and wasn’t around much, so every time she fell, she would get up by herself, silently comforting herself that it didn’t hurt. Gradually, she forgot that falling would hurt. Now, being so carefully looked after by Jin Shuilan, she suddenly felt a bit sentimental and fussy.

Her leg hurt so much, so much that it was unbearable, and she wanted to cry.

She missed home, and she missed her mother.

Lu Zhenqiu hugged the pillow, burying her head in it. The corners of her eyes turned red. She felt that she might have really drunk too much tonight.

Jin Shuilan meticulously finished applying the medicine and the plaster for her, saying, “Alright, when you sleep tonight…”

She turned her head, only then noticing that the pillow in Lu Zhenqiu’s arms was wet. Jin Shuilan’s voice softened. “What’s wrong? Does it hurt too much?”

“No.” Lu Zhenqiu brushed away the moisture from the corners of her eyes and looked at Jin Shuilan, her voice slightly choked. “I just suddenly miss my mom.”

She said, “In the past, when I fell, my mom would also rub my leg for me.”

Jin Shuilan lowered her eyes and said, “Then why don’t you give your mom a call?”

Lu Zhenqiu looked at her phone, her eyes hesitant, but in the end, she still shook her head. “Forget it.”

She moved her right leg and found that it really felt much more comfortable. The ankle with the plaster on it felt cool. Lu Zhenqiu said, “Thank you, Teacher Jin.”

Jin Shuilan had helped her so much that a simple “thank you” was not nearly enough. Lu Zhenqiu added, “If there’s anything you need me for, Teacher Jin, please don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Okay.” Jin Shuilan turned her head to look at her, her gaze full of gentleness. She said, “I need you right now to go back to your room, rest well, and don’t get out of bed.”

Lu Zhenqiu paused for a moment, then nodded. “Mm.”

Jin Shuilan said, “I’ll help you inside.”

Lu Zhenqiu didn’t try to act tough, letting Jin Shuilan help her walk in. The room was already completely different from when she had first moved in; it was decorated to be much warmer and cozier. Several strings of colored lights hung on the bay window. Jin Shuilan grew curious. “May I take a look?”

“You may,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “But you have to turn off the main light.”

Jin Shuilan nodded, walked to the doorway, and turned off the main light. Lu Zhenqiu pressed the control button for the colored lights, and they lit up in an instant, flickering on and off. Maomao excitedly lay at the edge of the bay window, whimpering and whining. In the faint light, Jin Shuilan looked at Lu Zhenqiu and saw that her eyes were clear and bright. Likely because she had just cried, the touch of red at the corners of her eyes was particularly eye-catching.

She thought of the touch of Lu Zhenqiu’s skin when she had massaged it just now—delicate and smooth. Jin Shuilan lowered her brows and said, “Alright.”

Lu Zhenqiu turned off the colored lights and switched on the bedside lamp. Before leaving, Jin Shuilan said, “Let Maomao come out. It won’t be easy for you to take care of it with your injured leg.”

“It’s fine.” Lu Zhenqiu moved her right leg. “It’s not that serious.”

Maomao also leaned against her, seeming to know that she was injured and needed company. Jin Shuilan nodded. “Alright, then call me if you need anything.”

Lu Zhenqiu grunted in acknowledgement, watching as Jin Shuilan left the room.

All around was quiet, with only the sound of Maomao’s breathing. Lu Zhenqiu hugged it and fiddled with her phone, scrolling to her mother’s contact information.

“Then why don’t you give your mom a call?”

Jin Shuilan’s voice echoed. Lu Zhenqiu’s finger pressed the call button, then quickly hung up a few seconds later and put the phone aside.

Outside the door, Jin Shuilan stood quietly for a few seconds, then lowered her head and entered the study.

The next day, the snow was even heavier. Jin Shuilan was woken up in the morning by a call from her mom. The background noise on the other end was an airport, noisy and chaotic. Jin Shuilan pressed a hand to her head as she listened to her mom say, “Your dad and I bought tickets. We can come back right away.”

Jin Shuilan sat up and looked at the vast white snow outside. “Do you need me to come to the airport?”

“No need.” Her mother said, “Your uncle asked us to go over for a meal. We’ll go there directly after we land. Are you coming?”

Jin Shuilan said, “I’m not going.”

Her mom didn’t force her, just said, “Alright then. It’s been cold lately, wear more clothes.”

Jin Shuilan got out of bed and walked to the window. The snowflakes were fluttering down gracefully. She pulled her pajamas tighter around herself and said, “I know.”

Her mother hung up. Jin Shuilan heard a commotion outside her door. She opened it and saw Lu Zhenqiu hopping along behind Maomao. Maomao was running all over the room with a shoe in its mouth. Lu Zhenqiu chided softly, “Maomao!”

She didn’t dare to shout too loudly, afraid of waking Jin Shuilan. Just as she had gotten out of bed and opened her door, Maomao had bolted out. She hadn’t put on her other shoe, and Maomao had snatched it and was running around with it.

Hearing her call, Maomao barked once. It had been cooped up at home for several days and was very bored. With no outlet for its energy, Maomao was finally starting to rebel. Lu Zhenqiu hopped over to its side, trying to pull the shoe from its mouth. Maomao didn’t fight her for it; it let go as soon as Lu Zhenqiu pulled. Lu Zhenqiu had used too much force and stumbled back half a step, her waist being caught by someone.

She turned her head and saw Jin Shuilan supporting her from behind. Lu Zhenqiu immediately stood steady on one leg and said, “Teacher Jin, did I wake you?”

Jin Shuilan asked, “It’s fine. What’s wrong with Maomao?”

Lu Zhenqiu said, “It’s probably been bored being cooped up at home these past few days. I’ll take it for a walk in the lobby downstairs in a bit.”

She’ll take it? Jin Shuilan looked down at her posture and shook her head. “I’ll take it down in a bit.”

Maomao was overjoyed to hear it could go out, wagging its tail so hard its whole rear end wiggled. Lu Zhenqiu patted its head. “It’s better if I take it down.”

Jin Shuilan tilted her head and looked at her for a few seconds, then nodded and changed the subject. “What’s for breakfast?”

“I made congee,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “I also steamed some buns and huajuan¹.”

A while ago, when Jin Shuilan wasn’t home, Lu Zhenqiu had spent her time alone in the kitchen, making lots of breakfast items and small side dishes, all of which she stored in the refrigerator to be heated up when she wanted to eat. Jin Shuilan nodded and went to the restroom to wash up. When she came out, Lu Zhenqiu had already served her a bowl of congee. The huajuan was milky white and the size of her palm. Next to it were two rabbit-shaped figures, also made of dough. Jin Shuilan picked one up and said, “Your craftsmanship is quite good.”

Lu Zhenqiu smiled. “Then please eat, Teacher Jin. Maomao and I will go for a walk downstairs.”

Jin Shuilan grunted in acknowledgement, watching as she hopped out the door leading Maomao. The huajuan in front of her seemed to taste sweeter. She took a bite, finished her congee, and then stood on the balcony looking outside. There were almost no people on the road, and only two or three cars. However, she saw a familiar figure. Lu Zhenqiu had said she would walk Maomao in the lobby, but Maomao couldn’t stay still, craning its neck to look outside. Lu Zhenqiu had no choice but to follow it onto the stone path, which was covered in snow. It made a crunching sound as she walked on it. Lu Zhenqiu made a snowball and threw it at Maomao. Maomao was extremely excited, circling around her.

It was cold, but she was happy, truly happy.

As Lu Zhenqiu played with Maomao, upstairs, Jin Shuilan held a cup and sipped some warm water, her gaze toward the scene below filled with gentleness.

After playing for a good half hour, Lu Zhenqiu finally brought a reluctant² Maomao upstairs. Before entering, Lu Zhenqiu wiped the snow off Maomao’s body, then dried the water from its four paws and patted her clothes clean before going inside. Jin Shuilan walked out of the study, put down her cup, and said, “You’re back.”

It was warm inside. Lu Zhenqiu took off her coat and replied, “Mm, the snow outside is so heavy.”

This year’s cold snap was a rare one; the heavy snow had been falling for almost a week, and several roads were closed. Fortunately, the recording for their radio drama had already finished, otherwise, how to get there would have been a problem. Lu Zhenqiu had just gotten home when she received a message from Ji Zibo, pulling her into another new group. There weren’t many people in it yet, only Bai Mao, her, Jin Shuilan, Ji Zibo, and one person Lu Zhenqiu didn’t recognize. Jin Shuilan walked to her side, saw her fiddling with her phone, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Lu Zhenqiu held up her phone and asked her, “Who is this?”

Jin Shuilan said, “Bai Nuannuan.”

So this was Bai Nuannuan. Lu Zhenqiu had heard a little about her. She was an amazing voice actress, brought into the industry by Ji Zibo. Later, she voiced games and anime and was now extremely popular. Seeing her motionless, Jin Shuilan asked, “You don’t know her?”

“I do,” Lu Zhenqiu said. “I’ve heard her name. She’s especially amazing.”

Jin Shuilan lowered her head and smiled. “You are also very amazing.”

Lu Zhenqiu bit her lip, glanced at her, and didn’t speak. Jin Shuilan sat on the sofa and said, “Come over, let me apply your medicine.”

She walked over and said, “I’ve already changed the plaster.”

She had put on a new one when she woke up this morning; it hadn’t even been two hours.

Jin Shuilan held the medicine bottle. “Have you applied this?”

Lu Zhenqiu didn’t really know how to rub it in; she had just used a cotton swab to dab it on for a bit. Seeing this, Jin Shuilan said, “Do you still want it to get better before the concert or not?”

Of course she did.

Lu Zhenqiu had no more objections. She changed into her slippers and sat on the sofa. Jin Shuilan lifted her right leg and placed it on her own lap. Lu Zhenqiu felt this posture was a bit awkward. She instinctively tried to retract her leg but was immediately caught by Jin Shuilan.

Jin Shuilan straightened her leg and asked, “Afraid of the pain?”

Lu Zhenqiu shook her head.

She didn’t know if it was because the medicine was effective or because Jin Shuilan’s massage was good, but after a night’s sleep, it was no longer red and swollen, nor did it hurt as much. There was just a slight stinging sensation when the medicine was applied. The medicinal liquid was ice-cold, seeping into her skin. Lu Zhenqiu’s toes instinctively curled up.

Jin Shuilan deliberately lowered her head, using her fine hair to cover the side of her face, not letting Lu Zhenqiu see her expression. Her eyes were fixed on Lu Zhenqiu’s toes. How could even the way they curled be so cute?

She fought back the impulse to touch them, lowered her head, and seriously applied the medicine for her. It was the same procedure as yesterday. Her fingertips were warm, and soon the medicine seeped into the skin. After last night, Jin Shuilan also knew Lu Zhenqiu’s pain tolerance, so her movements were gentle, and the pressure of the massage was just right. Five minutes passed without Lu Zhenqiu even noticing. It wasn’t until Maomao came over and licked the side of her face that she came back to her senses. Looking at her phone, she saw that over ten minutes had passed. Lu Zhenqiu said, “That’s enough, Teacher Jin.”

Jin Shuilan nodded, took a new plaster from the side, and applied it for her. Lu Zhenqiu pulled her leg back and lay sideways on the sofa. She searched for a picture on her phone and said, “Thank you, Teacher Jin. Can I make this dish for you for lunch?”

She held out her hand. Jin Shuilan didn’t look, saying, “Lie down and rest. We’ll order takeout for lunch.”

Lu Zhenqiu stretched her leg and said, “I’m almost better now.”

“Almost better isn’t fully better, is it?” Jin Shuilan said. “Wait until it’s healed to cook. There’s no hurry.”

She knew Lu Zhenqiu was eager to express her gratitude and added, “Let’s make some silver ear soup³ this afternoon.”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded. “Okay, I’ll go prepare it in a bit.”

Jin Shuilan grunted in acknowledgement and sat beside her without moving. As Lu Zhenqiu got up, she saw that Jin Shuilan was fiddling with her phone. The screen was lit, and she unintentionally glanced at its contents.

She was setting an alarm—for four hours later.

Her movement of getting up paused. Her peripheral vision caught the note for the alarm: 【Change medicine.】

Lu Zhenqiu gripped the edge of the pillow. In that instant, a crack appeared in her heart⁴, and a warm current poured in, filling it with warmth.

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The author has something to say:

Thirty red envelopes memeda.

Jin Shuilan: I really like applying medicine for Qiuqiu.

Lu Zhenqiu: …

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