Troublesome – Chapter 74

Afraid

Qiuqiu, don’t be afraid.

Jin Wei heard their conversation and looked towards He Jinmei. Just as he was about to speak, He Jinmei agreed: “Then we’ll just sleep in Lanlan’s room.”

“Jinmei.” Jin Wei frowned. He Jinmei pulled his hand and said: “First go to the room and tidy up a bit. I don’t know if it’s messy or not.”

It probably wasn’t messy, because after Teacher Jin moved out, Lu Zhenqiu had glanced in from the doorway. It was tidied very cleanly, just that it was too clean. The moment He Jinmei entered the room, she noticed a subtle wrongness, but she didn’t ask, instead urging Jin Wei to go wash up first.

Jin Wei felt it wasn’t right to interfere in the three’s affairs. He stood there awkwardly for two seconds, listened to his wife’s words, and went into the bathroom. He Jinmei said: “Lanlan ah, come help me make the bed.”

Jin Shuilan said “oh,” and followed He Jinmei into the room.

He Jinmei lifted her chin: “What’s going on? Did you two have a fight?”

Jin Shuilan retorted: “No.”

He Jinmei obviously didn’t believe her. The door was knocked, and Lu Zhenqiu poked her head in: “Auntie, do you need my help?”

“It’s fine,” He Jinmei said. “Just changing a bedsheet, it’s simple.”

Lu Zhenqiu looked at Jin Shuilan. Jin Shuilan said: “You’re tired, go back to your room and rest first. I can just sleep on the sofa later.”

Sleep on the sofa in this weather? Although there was heating, she still had a hand injury. Lu Zhenqiu said: “Why don’t you sleep in my room?”

An invitation made in front of He Jinmei. Only after she finished speaking did Lu Zhenqiu feel it was improper. Just as she was about to explain, Jin Shuilan said: “Okay, then I’ll come over in a while.”

Lu Zhenqiu held it in: “En.”

Soon, Jin Wei was done washing up.

He returned to the room. He Jinmei and Jin Shuilan were still muttering. He Jinmei frowned: “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Jin Shuilan was silent for a few seconds before speaking: “Mom, I was planning to tell you, and I also wanted you to help me.”

“Now you know how good your mom is?” He Jinmei smiled. “Go on, go on, I’ll think about it.”

Jin Shuilan nodded and left the room.

Lu Zhenqiu was sitting on the bed, rubbing Maomao’s head. Hearing a sound at the door, she immediately turned to look. It was Jin Shuilan. She pushed open the door and asked: “Have you washed up?”

“I’ve washed up,” Lu Zhenqiu said. She had already changed into her pajamas. Jin Shuilan was quiet for a few seconds: “I…”

Lu Zhenqiu was puzzled: “Teacher Jin, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t have any pajamas. Do you have an extra pair?”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded hurriedly: “Oh, yes, I still have a new pair, never worn.”

Her pajamas weren’t very expensive. Usually, they were for comfort and looking pretty. She would buy a couple of extra pairs when there was a sale, so there were still new ones in her closet. Jin Shuilan was only a little taller than her, so it shouldn’t look too out of place on her.

Lu Zhenqiu handed the pajamas to her. Jin Shuilan looked at the outstretched fingers, slender and long, with distinct knuckles. The back of the hand was thin, the veins clear. And the wrist, white and slender, peeking out from the cuff. Just the sight of a section of wrist was enough to make Jin Shuilan’s heartbeat unsteady. She suddenly doubted whether entering this room to sleep was the right decision.

“Teacher Jin?”

Jin Shuilan came back to her senses, took the pajamas, and turned to enter the bathroom. She only came out a long while later. Pushing open Lu Zhenqiu’s door, she saw a pallet on the floor. Lu Zhenqiu was lying on her side on the ground, on top of a thick blanket. Maomao was lying beside Lu Zhenqiu’s pillow. Hearing the door open, it sat up. Lu Zhenqiu also turned over. Her pajamas were very loose, and as she lay on her side, they revealed the fair skin of her chest and the beautiful shape of her collarbones. The room was only lit by a pale yellow bedside lamp. Everything was hazy, beautiful like the beginning of the countless dreams she had had.

She almost couldn’t stop herself from rushing over.

Jin Shuilan stopped in her tracks, took a deep breath, and said to Lu Zhenqiu: “Why are you sleeping on the floor.”

Lu Zhenqiu sat up, hugging the blanket, and said: “Teacher Jin, you should sleep on the bed. Your hand is still injured, it can’t be knocked or bumped.”

Jin Shuilan looked at her left hand and muttered: “It’s not that serious.”

However, she still coveted Lu Zhenqiu’s thin blanket, coveted the warmth of her bed, coveted the fragrance that belonged to Lu Zhenqiu. She sat on the edge of the bed. Maomao came closer. Lu Zhenqiu called: “Maomao.”

Maomao turned back to Lu Zhenqiu’s side. Jin Shuilan lifted the blanket and lay down on her side. The mattress was soft, and she sank in a little as she lay down. The blanket pressed in, extremely warm, and there was a faint fragrance. Jin Shuilan’s heart overflowed with satisfaction. She hugged the blanket tightly and said to Lu Zhenqiu: “Aren’t you cold sleeping on the floor?”

Lu Zhenqiu shook her head: “Not cold, there’s floor heating. Actually, it’s warmer here than on the bed.”

“Really?” Jin Shuilan’s tone was curious. Lu Zhenqiu nodded and smiled.

Jin Shuilan lifted the blanket and, under Lu Zhenqiu’s slightly surprised gaze, sat down directly beside her. She lifted the blanket and sat under it, saying: “It is quite warm.”

She didn’t know if it was the temperature from the floor heating or the temperature from Lu Zhenqiu, but it was much warmer than the bed. Jin Shuilan didn’t really want to move. Lu Zhenqiu watched her sudden action and blinked. She turned her head. Jin Shuilan lay down on her side and said: “I’ll sleep here, you sleep on the bed.”

“I’m fine.” Lu Zhenqiu understood. She reached out to pull Jin Shuilan up to the bed, but instead, her wrist was grabbed by Jin Shuilan. Jin Shuilan’s grip wasn’t very strong, but the palm holding her was scorching, scalding hot. Lu Zhenqiu’s skin was dyed with the high temperature. Hot air poured in from her cuff, making her whole body feel hot.

She turned her head to the side. Jin Shuilan’s gaze was deep and serene, her pupils black and bright. An undercurrent of emotion surged in her eyes, like a dense net, trapping her inside, making her not want to look away, making it difficult to move again.

Jin Shuilan spoke: “Qiuqiu.”

Lu Zhenqiu held her breath. The hand held tightly by her didn’t struggle free; she didn’t know if she had forgotten to. Jin Shuilan tentatively pulled her wrist, bringing her closer. Lu Zhenqiu’s body shifted forward. Jin Shuilan’s gaze became clearer, deeper. The emotion surging in those eyes grew even more scorching, like a ball of flame that could make a person burn. Lu Zhenqiu was deeply trapped within it, speechless for several seconds.

Suddenly, a knock came from the door.

The room full of ambiguity was shattered. Jin Shuilan’s body stiffened. She turned to look at the door and met Lu Zhenqiu’s eyes for two seconds. The two of them quickly got up and put away the pallet on the floor. He Jinmei knocked and called out: “Qiuqiu, are you asleep?”

Lu Zhenqiu hurriedly replied: “Not yet.”

The two of them frantically put away the pallet. Lu Zhenqiu stood at the door, patted her scalding cheeks, and opened the door: “Auntie.”

He Jinmei was holding a cup of water: “Lanlan said you drank a lot of alcohol tonight, so I made you some honey water.”

Lu Zhenqiu took it. The honey water was still warm, and it felt warm cupped in her palms. She held the cup with both hands, sat on the edge of the bed, and drank it in small sips. He Jinmei asked: “Are you two just sleeping on this one bed? Isn’t it cold? I saw there are still thick blankets in Lanlan’s closet.”

“Not cold.” Lu Zhenqiu almost choked. Her face was slightly red as she said: “It’s not cold, Auntie.”

He Jinmei nodded and said to Jin Shuilan: “Then you take good care of her tonight. If there’s any discomfort, tell us.”

Lu Zhenqiu lowered her head and continued to drink her water. Jin Shuilan said nonchalantly: “Got it.”

He Jinmei looked at the two of them sitting next to each other on the edge of the bed. The pajamas they were wearing were the same style but different colors. Lu Zhenqiu was thinner, so they were very loose on her. Jin Shuilan was a bit taller, and the sleeves were obviously a section shorter on her than on Lu Zhenqiu. Jin Shuilan squeezed her left wrist, patiently waiting for He Jinmei to speak.

After Lu Zhenqiu finished the water, she wanted to take the cup out. He Jinmei said: “I’ll do it, I’ll do it, give it to me.”

She looked at Lu Zhenqiu and said: “Qiuqiu, Auntie came because there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

Lu Zhenqiu had a well-behaved expression: “Auntie, what is it?”

He Jinmei glanced at Jin Shuilan, sat down between the two of them, and took Lu Zhenqiu’s hand, saying: “Qiuqiu ah, Auntie really likes to go to art exhibitions, but Lanlan is too busy at the end of the year and has no time to go with me. So I was thinking, could you spare a day to go with Auntie and have a look?”

An art exhibition? It was something new that Lu Zhenqiu had never experienced. She looked at He Jinmei and said in a small voice: “But I’ve never…”

“Never been to one?” He Jinmei smiled. “That’s perfect. Auntie can tell you all about it in detail. Every time I talk to Lanlan about it, she gets impatient, not knowing how to respect my hobby at all.”

Lu Zhenqiu glanced at Jin Shuilan and saw her head lowered as she was being talked about, her face full of helplessness. Her eyes darted left and right, but she just wouldn’t reply, as if she were avoiding the issue. Lu Zhenqiu found Jin Shuilan’s expression at that moment to be exceptionally cute. She was in a daze for a moment, and just like that, she agreed.

He Jinmei’s face lit up: “Then it’s settled. In a few days, Auntie will get you the tickets.”

Lu Zhenqiu nodded: “En, okay.”

He Jinmei stood up and said: “Then you two should sleep. Don’t open the window tonight, it’s cold. This dog is called Maomao, right? Its quite obedient.”

Maomao simple-mindedly moved its head over to let her pet it, then leaned against Lu Zhenqiu. Lu Zhenqiu got up to see He Jinmei out.

She turned her head and asked Jin Shuilan: “What art exhibition is it?”

“One in Nan City.” Jin Shuilan said: “It’s cold, so not many people will go. If you want to go, then go have a look. If you don’t want to go, I’ll have a word with my mom.”

Lu Zhenqiu had already promised He Jinmei, how could she not go? She was just worried that she didn’t know anything and would make a fool of herself. Jin Shuilan couldn’t help but laugh: “It’s not that serious, don’t overthink it. My mom just wants to find someone to talk to.”

Thinking of He Jinmei’s usual attitude, Lu Zhenqiu’s nervous heart slowly calmed down. After seeing there was no movement outside the door, she wanted to go set up the pallet again. Jin Shuilan walked over and said: “Stop fussing, just sleep on the bed.”

After she spoke, she pulled out a blanket, placed it on the right side of the bed, and said: “We’ll each have our own blanket.”

“No.” Lu Zhenqiu was rarely stubborn. She moved the pallet and laid it flat on the floor, then took a blanket from the bed. Finally, she sat on the pallet and heard Jin Shuilan ask: “Why not?”

Lu Zhenqiu’s busy movements paused.

Why not?

She was afraid that if she faced Jin Shuilan’s approach, she wouldn’t be able to control herself.

Moreover, she could clearly feel that her resistance to Jin Shuilan was getting lower and lower. Just now, she had almost…

Lu Zhenqiu buried her head and said nothing, continuing to arrange the pallet. After it was laid flat, Jin Shuilan sat down. She wasn’t leaning against her, but her shadow fell over her, along with a clear, cool fragrance. As Lu Zhenqiu was busy, Jin Shuilan suddenly reached out and held her wrist. Lu Zhenqiu turned her head, her pupils shrinking. Jin Shuilan met her gaze and said: “Are you afraid?”

Before Lu Zhenqiu could reply, Jin Shuilan’s voice was gentle: “Qiuqiu, don’t be afraid.”

As if to soothe all her hidden anxieties, the hand held by her trembled, and her heartbeat suddenly quickened. Jin Shuilan was getting better and better at knowing how to use a single sentence to break through her defenses.

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The author has something to say:

Thirty red envelopes, memeda.

Jin Shuilan: Not only do I know how to break through your defenses, I also know how to break—

Lu Zhenqiu: Jin Shuilan!!

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