Ha, Karma! – Chapter 67
by Little PandaLianxue, I missed you.
Fu Lianxue left.
She had to go back to take care of Baobao, and besides, with so many people at Chu Zhaoqiu’s home—especially with Chu Zhaohua present—there was no need to worry that Chu Zhaoqiu wouldn’t be well looked after.
Chu Sining had also called their parents and second sister; they would be coming back later to see Chu Zhaoqiu.
And then there was Ye Linlin; she still needed to apologize to Chu Zhaoqiu.
All in all, Chu Zhaoqiu was very busy; it wasn’t convenient for her to stay.
At this moment, Ye Linlin sat before Chu Zhaoqiu, her face full of guilt, head lowered.
“I’m sorry, Zhaoqiu-jiejie, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt…”
Chu Zhaoqiu’s voice reached her ears, gentle as always: “It happened suddenly. You were just trying to help me. It’s not your fault.”
Ye Linlin immediately felt even more guilty, her eyes reddening.
Even now, Chu Zhaoqiu was still thinking of comforting her…
“It’s all my fault for being unskilled in my craft, I’m too stupid. If I were just a bit stronger, this definitely wouldn’t have happened…”
Hearing the sob in her voice, Chu Zhaoqiu patiently asked, “Then what do you think you should do next?”
Ye Linlin said with red eyes, “I need to cultivate even harder, I need to become very strong!”
She didn’t want to experience today’s accident a second time.
She didn’t want to be the one holding others back.
She wanted to become like Chu Zhaoqiu, able to protect others!
She lifted her head, gazing intently at Chu Zhaoqiu: “Believe me, I can definitely do it!”
Seeing this, Chu Zhaoqiu curved her lips into a very gentle smile: “It’s also a good thing if this incident can inspire your motivation.
“However, vanquishing demons and defending the righteous path1 was never an easy task to begin with. No one can guarantee they’ll emerge unscathed2 every single time. I was already mentally prepared and can face it calmly, so you shouldn’t blame yourself too harshly either.”
She had always regarded Ye Linlin as her own younger sister.
It was good that her sister could use this incident to strive forward, but it wouldn’t be good if she remained trapped in the abyss of self-blame, unable to extricate herself, developing a mental knot over it.
Ye Linlin knew her good intentions, rubbed her eyes, and nodded obediently.
“Besides,” Chu Zhaoqiu thought of Fu Lianxue, her eyes softening as she smiled, “I’ve gained from this misfortune3, which is also a good thing.”
Ye Linlin didn’t understand: “?”
Chu Zhaoqiu slowly raised her left hand and smilingly patted her head.
Ye Linlin was even more confused: “???”
What kind of blessing did Zhaoqiu-jiejie receive? Why was she smiling so happily after getting injured?!
With Chu Zhaoqiu injured, her parents and second younger sister, who were working out of town, rushed home overnight.
Out of worry, they even stayed home for several days.
With their daughter/sister injured, they had no heart to handle work matters elsewhere.
In the intervals between being cared for by her family, Chu Zhaoqiu still didn’t forget to keep tabs on the situation with Liu Guohui.
Since their Chu family already knew about this matter, they couldn’t just drop it halfway through.
Currently, Bu Yu and Ah Li were leading people to take turns staking out the location outside.
They had watched for several days without seeing any sign of Fingerless Madam again.
Perhaps Fingerless Madam didn’t show herself because she knew they were always there, or perhaps because Chu Zhaoqiu had struck her with a palm that day, she needed a few days to recuperate before seeking revenge… In short, her whereabouts had become erratic and unpredictable4 again.
Although Chu Zhaoqiu didn’t know where Fingerless Madam was now, knowing she hadn’t come out to commit murder5 these past few days put her mind at ease.
Just then, a middle-aged couple with a distinguished air walked in from outside the door, the man carrying a pot of nourishing soup he had brewed.
As soon as the couple entered the room, they noticed their daughter was handling demon hunting matters again and immediately told her to put down her phone and rest properly.
Mother Chu helped her sit down: “Your top priority right now is to recuperate. Grandma can handle the demon hunting matters.”
Father Chu placed the soup on the table: “Exactly, deal with everything else after you’ve recovered!”
Mother Chu gently lifted her chin: “Quick, drink it. After you finish, Mom will help you change your dressing.”
Under her parents’ earnest concern, Chu Zhaoqiu smiled and agreed to everything.
While changing the dressing, Father Chu and Mother Chu chatted a lot with their daughter.
They mentioned that the Ye family felt guilty and grateful upon learning about the incident and originally wanted to send someone over to compensate Chu Zhaoqiu, but they had stopped them.
They knew their eldest daughter’s personality too well.
Chu Zhaoqiu liked helping others without expecting anything in return.
Moreover, the opponent was cunning; this matter couldn’t entirely be blamed on Ye Linlin, and Chu Zhaoqiu definitely wouldn’t want the Ye family to make a special trip because of this.
Chu Zhaoqiu strongly supported her parents’ decision.
As long as everyone was alive, that was enough. As for thanks, she didn’t need them right now.
“Oh, right,” Father Chu said, “I heard from Ningning6 that it was that Fu Lianxue who saved you both this time.”
Mother Chu turned to look at her daughter: “Is that the yaoguai who said she wanted to kill you back then?”
Chu Zhaoqiu wasn’t surprised by this at all.
Chu Sining loved calling her parents whenever she had nothing else to do, chatting about everything under the sun, gossiping included. It would be stranger if their parents didn’t know about Fu Lianxue.
She smiled and nodded honestly: “Yes, it was her.”
Father Chu and Mother Chu looked at each other.
Saying she wanted to kill her, yet saving her instead. What a strange yaoguai…
But regardless, Fu Lianxue had indeed saved their daughter.
“If there’s a chance, we should still meet her in person and properly thank her for saving you,” Mother Chu said.
Father Chu nodded: “Right, our Chu family distinguishes clearly between gratitude and grudges7. Oh, Ningning said your relationship with her is quite good. See if there’s a chance for you to help us arrange for her to come out? Your mother and I would like to treat her to a meal.”
Chu Zhaoqiu blinked gently.
She really couldn’t say for sure about this matter…
Just then, a gust of wind suddenly blew in through the window.
The three turned their heads to look, only to see the glamorous superstar half-crouched on the windowsill.
As their eyes met, the room fell into dead silence.
Fu Lianxue: “…”
She recognized Chu Zhaoqiu’s parents at a glance and suddenly felt she had come at an inopportune time.
“Apologies for the intrusion. Farewell.”
With a shua, the night wind blew past, leaving only a wisp of ethereal purple smoke.
Father Chu: “…”
Mother Chu: “…”
Chu Zhaoqiu: “…”
She retracted her gaze, slowly looked towards her parents, and suddenly didn’t know what to say.
A long while later, she heard her mother suddenly sigh with emotion:
“She really doesn’t like using the main door, does she…”
Chu Zhaoqiu slowly lowered her head and covered her forehead: “…”
She roughly knew what her sister had told their parents now.
It was time for Chu Zhaoqiu’s bedtime again.
Due to her arm injury, her bedtime had been moved up considerably under the strict supervision of her elders.
“Goodnight, my dear daughter,” Father Chu stood at the door, turning off her room light for her. “Sweet dreams.”
“Goodnight, Dad.”
She replied obediently, watched her father close the door for her, then magically sealed the door and picked up her phone from the bedside table.
She first contacted Bu Yu and Ah Li to check on Liu Guohui’s situation, only relaxing after confirming Fingerless Madam hadn’t appeared today either. Then she reminded the two of them8 not to tell Chu Zhaohua and the others that she was still following this matter.
After receiving their affirmative replies, she finally tapped open another chat window.
[Chu Zhaoqiu]: Lianxue, are you asleep?
After sending this message, she saw Fu Lianxue’s status immediately change to “Typing…”
Soon, Fu Lianxue’s reply popped up.
[Fu Lianxue]: Sleep? What time is it?
[Fu Lianxue]: You’re so young and already can’t handle staying up late?9
Chu Zhaoqiu inexplicably wanted to laugh at the word “young.”
Although her current age was indeed very, very young compared to Fu Lianxue… the combined ages of everyone in the entire Chu family probably didn’t add up to Fu Lianxue’s age.
She slowly typed: [Grandma and the others told me to sleep early, but I can’t fall asleep, so I came to talk with you]
The reply was sent, and a few seconds later, a voice call request came through.
Chu Zhaoqiu’s eyes curved as she accepted the call, pressed the speakerphone button, and placed the phone beside her pillow.
Fu Lianxue’s voice came through the phone, tinged with a hint of reprimand: “Typing on your phone when your hand is injured.”
Chu Zhaoqiu’s smile instantly grew gentler: “I press slowly, it’s okay, it doesn’t hurt.”
Fu Lianxue was silent for a moment before saying: “I really can’t stand you… What did you want to talk about?”
Chu Zhaoqiu asked: “Why did you leave when you saw my parents today?”
Fu Lianxue retorted as if it were obvious: “It was your family harmony time, why should I stay?”
She might be parentless and free to come and go, but that didn’t mean she lacked manners, to the point of intruding on someone else’s family time.
Besides, the Chu couple often handled Chu Corporation business out of town. It was rare for them to come home; Chu Zhaoqiu surely hoped for some private time with them too.
“My parents want to meet you,” Chu Zhaoqiu got straight to the point10. “They want to thank you for saving me.”
As her words fell, the person on the phone suddenly went silent.
Fu Lianxue’s voice only came through again after a few seconds: “No need.”
She hadn’t saved Chu Zhaoqiu to be thanked.
And even if they did meet, she wouldn’t know what to say.
Rather than struggling for conversation topics, it was better not to meet at all; easier for both sides.
Chu Zhaoqiu said: “Then let me know if you need anything.”
Fu Lianxue asked: “What could I possibly need?”
Chu Zhaoqiu thought for a moment: “Cat food?”
Fu Lianxue hesitated: “Hmm…”
Chu Zhaoqiu added: “Endorsements?”
Fu Lianxue immediately sent Cheng Hanxi’s contact card over: “This is my agent’s contact info.”
How could she refuse an endorsement she earned through her own abilities?
If the Chu Corporation was willing to offer an endorsement, Cheng Hanxi would be overjoyed to hear it!
Lying on her back, Chu Zhaoqiu listened with amusement, unable to hold back a laugh.
Good, she wasn’t being overly polite with her.
On Fu Lianxue’s end, she was currently trimming little Baobao’s nails.
Baobao actively demonstrated the ‘paw blossom’11 for her, which charmed her utterly12.
Then, she heard Chu Zhaoqiu’s voice from the phone.
“Lianxue, I missed you.”
The words were light and soft, brimming with longing.
Fu Lianxue lowered her eyes, looking at the cat, silent.
These past few days, Chu Zhaoqiu had been surrounded by people caring for her; she basically had no chance to be alone with her.
Tonight, she had finally made a trip over, only to find Father and Mother Chu there.
Counting it up, they really hadn’t had a proper meeting these few days.
On the phone, Chu Zhaoqiu couldn’t help but reminisce about the days before her injury.
Back then, not only could she see Fu Lianxue, but she could also sleep beside her every day, talk with her.
Although waiting through the night was tiring, seeing Fu Lianxue made her very happy.
After listening, Fu Lianxue chuckled lightly (hēng xiào – a light, maybe slightly amused or scornful laugh/snort): “So the Young Head of the Chu Family wants to sleep with me, huh? Truly improper.”
Hearing this, Chu Zhaoqiu’s smile remained gentle, as if finding anything Fu Lianxue said adorable.
“Then is our big superstar willing to give me a chance?”
Fu Lianxue lowered her head and continued trimming Baobao’s nails.
“I’m not willing. You’re not allowed to run around.”
Chu Zhaoqiu sighed regretfully, having no choice but to stay put obediently.
After a moment, she asked, “What are you doing?”
“Trimming Fu Baobao’s nails,” Fu Lianxue replied.
“Meow~” Baobao chimed in.
“Aiyo, our Baobao recognizes Jiejie’s voice, huh? Don’t move around now, Mommy is almost done clipping.”
“Mroww—” as if urging her on.
“Mm-hmm, almost done, almost done.”
Chu Zhaoqiu just listened like this.
Both Fu Lianxue’s voice and Baobao’s sounds were very clear, as if they were right beside her, beautiful and tranquil presences in the quiet summer night.
After a while, she suddenly heard Fu Lianxue say, “Hanging up now, I still have some things to take care of.”
She softly agreed, picked up her phone, and watched Fu Lianxue end the call.
Putting the phone down, she gently lowered her bandaged right hand, lying there listlessly.
Fu Lianxue had things to do and couldn’t chat with her. It seemed she could only obediently sleep and wait for daylight.
Silvery moonlight streamed through the window, scattering across the floor.
Chu Zhaoqiu closed her eyes, quietly trying to cultivate sleepiness.
Ten minutes later, she opened her eyes.
—Not sleepy at all.
She felt rather helpless.
Sleep was indeed the kind of thing where the more you forced yourself, the harder it was to fall asleep.
She picked up her phone again, unlocked the screen, and looked at her chat history with Fu Lianxue.
Wonder what the great yaoguai she liked was busy with…
Suddenly, a cool breeze blew in from outside.
She subconsciously looked towards the window, then froze.
She saw Fu Lianxue, dressed in pajamas and hugging a pillow, jumping down from the windowsill and walking straight towards her bed.
“Move over, scoot that way a bit. I really don’t want to sleep on your right side.”
Chu Zhaoqiu was stunned for a moment, then smiled and made room for her.
The author has something to say:
Baobao performs the ultimate skill 【Paw Blossom fa】!
Footnotes
- 除魔卫道 | chú mó wèi dào | Lit. “eliminate demons, defend the Way/Dao”; Common phrase in fantasy/wuxia genres referring to fighting evil and upholding justice.
- 安然无恙 | ānrán wúyàng | Lit. “safe and sound without trouble”.
- 因祸得福 | yīn huò dé fú | Lit. “derive blessing from misfortune”; Idiom meaning to profit from a disaster or turn a setback into an advantage.
- 行踪飘忽不定 | xíngzōng piāohū bùdìng | Lit. “trace/whereabouts floating/drifting not fixed”; A common phrase describing someone’s movements as erratic and hard to track.
- 造杀孽 | zào shāniè | Lit. “create killing karma/sin”.
- 宁宁 | Níngníng | Affectionate nickname for Chu Sining.
- 恩怨分明 | ēn yuàn fēn míng | Lit. “kindness grievances distinct clear”; Idiom meaning to clearly distinguish between favors and wrongs, repaying kindness and seeking retribution for enmity appropriately.
- 兄妹两 | xiōngmèi liǎng | Lit. “older brother younger sister two.”
- 熬不动 | áo bù dòng | Lit. “cannot endure boiling/simmering”; Slang meaning unable to stay up late or pull an all-nighter.
- 开门见山 | kāi mén jiàn shān | Lit. “open door see mountain”.
- 爪爪开花 | zhuǎzhuǎ kāihuā | Lit. “paw-paw bloom flower”; Cutesy internet slang describing a cat extending and retracting its claws, resembling a blooming flower. Often associated with contentment or stretching.
- 七荤八素 | qī hūn bā sù | Lit. “seven meat dishes and eight vegetable dishes”; Idiom meaning utterly confused, dazed, or overwhelmed. Here used figuratively to mean completely charmed or smitten.
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