Senior Sister Chapter 11
How can she bear to waste every minute and every second?
When spring is approaching, Cao Yun once again packs his bags and prepares to go on a long journey.
“Ah Yun, how come you get to have time off again, this is unfair.”
Song Shuqing lies on the counter, looking displeased and pouting, “The princess favors Qinqin, that’s one thing, but why does she also favor you! Clearly, I don’t have any vacation time…”
“Maybe it’s because Junior Sister Song owes the Princess a huge sum of money, even working tirelessly at the teahouse for two years won’t be enough to pay it off, right?” Cao Yun responds seriously, putting on his cloak. “The Princess and Qinqin sent a letter saying they are on their way back, they should arrive in about seven days. During this time, Junior Sister Song should take care of the shop with Zi Yan.”
“Unfair, unfair…” Without responding to her senior brother, Song Shuqing slumps over the counter like a pickled vegetable, feeling listless and despondent, counting on her fingers when she can finally shake off the terrifying debt and regain her freedom.
Not until she heard Zi Yan’s footsteps descending did she quickly withdraw her hand, exaggeratedly sighing to the sky, “Ah Yun is so bad, so evil.”
Seated, she immediately grabbed the person who had just come downstairs, complaining as if telling on someone, “Dear Zi Yan, look, Ah Yun is going to abandon us and go out to play by himself…”
Indulging the wilful Song Shuqing pretending to be aggrieved, Zi Yan nodded towards Cao Yun who was about to leave, “Lord Cao, travel safely.”
While helplessly patting the shadow guard who buried her face in her waist acting like a child, she sighed.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry.” Watching the man leave, Zi Yan sighed before lowering her head to gently comfort, “We’re out of rice at home, how about we buy some on the way to Niujiao Street for dinner? My treat.”
As soon as she heard she was treating, Song Shuqing immediately lifted her head, with a big smile on her face, looking up and asking, “Zi Yan, are you treating me to dinner?” Holding the woman’s arm tightly, she teased, “What am I going to do, I’ll be too happy today.”
“So, should I not treat you?” Zi Yan tilted her head, her tone gentle.
“That won’t do.” Standing up suddenly and casually tidying up the table, Song Shuqing took Zi Yan’s hand, looking eager, “Let’s go before the sun sets.”
Concealed under the loose sleeves were tightly clasped hands. The two walked to Niujiao Street for dinner and then went to the rice shop to buy a bag of fifteen kilograms of white rice.
“Dear Zi Yan, this rice is so heavy, I can’t carry it.” Holding the sack with one hand, not even out of breath, Song Shuqing continued to complain pitifully in a tone full of innocence.
Zi Yan glanced at the person beside her, didn’t say much, just loosened her fingers and extended her hands to Song Shuqing, saying, “Since that’s the case, let me carry it for you?”
“No, I got it.”
Shifting the rice bag, Song Shuqing gently retrieved her soft hand from the woman, firmly refusing, “Although it’s incredibly heavy, I can still manage to carry it for you, Dear Zi Yan. Just remember my kindness and show me some compassion.”
(Originally translated on littlepandatranslations.com, let's go!)
Listening to this chaotic chatter, Zi Yan wanted to laugh. Watching the elongated shadows of the two merging in the slanting sun, she felt that the peaceful and perfect moments were so unbelievable.
『A robbery! Help, someone!』
『Who’s there, quickly help stop them!』
As the two strolled down the twilight streets, suddenly there were cries of alarm from behind.
Before Zi Yan could react, she was promptly shielded by the person beside her.
The shadow guard vigilantly pulled the woman close to the wall, avoiding the chaotic crowd.
In Song Shuqing’s embrace, Zi Yan saw two men holding curved knives in one hand and what seemed like a few money bags in the other, recklessly overturning several vendors pushing carts.
Ignoring the startled horses, they ran from one end of the street to the other as if fleeing.
“Oh dear, I thought the public security around here had improved recently, but it seems there is still room for improvement. Could it be that because the Princess is on a distant journey, those little officials from the government are starting to slack off?”
Carefully protecting the woman in her arms from the rushing crowd, Song Shuqing turned her head to look at the backs of the thieves, revealing the obvious curves connecting her neck and collarbones, then she came back to herself, smiling at Zi Yan with a bow of her head, “Good Zi Yan, wait here obediently for me.”
With that, the shadow guard steadied herself, swiftly leaped onto the roof.
One hand carrying the rice, the other hand empty, she extracted two black iron needles from her hair bun, holding them between her fingers. Squinting as if measuring with one eye, she casually tossed them towards the two people who had already run several tens of feet away.
Thinking they had successfully escaped, the thieves instantly felt a sharp pain in their knees, their legs giving way, and they both collapsed.
Song Shuqing turned around, not even glancing at them, took three or four steps on the tiles and jumped onto the back of a horse rampaging in the market.
“Hey, good horse, it’s okay now.”
With one hand tightly gripping the reins, she whispered softly, soothing the horse with a gentle voice.
In just a few breaths, the previously restless horse gradually calmed down.
“My lord, my lord, thank you for your help!”
After Song Shuqing dismounted, several men and women who were panting approached, holding the money bags that had been stolen earlier. Their faces were full of gratitude and admiration, some even reaching out to grab the sleeve of the shadow guard, continuously bowing and thanking her.
Zi Yan, standing by the wall in the distance, watched as Song Shuqing was surrounded by a group of people, feeling a slight sourness in her heart as she involuntarily blinked her eyes.
In the next moment, she shook her head trying to dispel this uncontrollable feeling of jealousy.
What was she doing?
She had long known that Song Shuqing was such a good person. If not, how could she have helped her when she was being bullied?
Now.
How could she expect Song Shuqing to only look at her?
Zi Yan, don’t be too greedy.
It’s already enough.
“Zi Yan, what’s wrong with you?” Seeing the woman shaking her head, Song Shuqing sounded worried, quickening her steps towards her, “Are you feeling unwell?”
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“I’m fine, really.” Not wanting the person in front of her to notice her strange behavior, Zi Yan lowered her brows. “Why don’t you go talk to those people?”
“Hmm? I’ve done all I can do. What else is there to say? Besides, they have already reported to the authorities.”
Sensing the woman’s slightly downcast mood, the shadow guard bent slightly, turning her head to look at Zi Yan’s pale face, trying to understand her sudden change in mood. “My dear wife is waiting to go home with me, there’s nothing to delay.”
Carefully touching the woman’s cheek in a caring manner, Song Shuqing furrowed her brows. “Did the scene just now scare you? Don’t be afraid, they are just some small thieves.” Holding the woman’s hand tightly, she reassured her, “Let’s go home. I will personally handle this matter with the officials tomorrow.”
Feeling the warmth in the palm of her hand, Zi Yan looked at Song Shuqing’s serious profile. Due to worry, the shadow guard, who usually wore a lazy smile, rarely pressed her lips into a straight line.
It’s so strange.
This person is really, too strange.
She says she doesn’t like to meddle in others’ business, but she always can’t help but intervene in things she finds disagreeable.
Usually she’s all lazy and leisurely, as if she has no backbone, but at crucial moments, she suddenly seems like a different person, showing a handsome side.
In crowded teahouses, she always shamelessly acts familiar with herself, but in private, when it’s just the two of them, she speaks softly and gently, truly stirring one’s heart.
It’s really, too strange.
And this strange person is the only love of my life.
The first, and also the last.
In this small and insignificant life of mine, she gathers all the beauty.
There is no doubt.
It wasn’t until they returned to the teahouse that Song Shuqing released the tightly held hand on the third floor, allowing Zi Yan to free herself from her thoughts.
“You rest first, I’ll call you down for a bath after the water is heated.” Gently pushing the woman’s back, Song Shuqing was about to leave the room, but her clothes were tugged at.
“…”
“What’s wrong?” Turning around, Song Shuqing bent down, looking at the person who hung their head in silence with concern. “Zi Yan, what’s the matter?”
“…Not…together…” Her eyelashes fluttered lightly, the woman said something softly.
“Hmm? Zi Yan, I didn’t hear you clearly, say it again.” Still feeling puzzled, Song Shuqing leaned in closer, wanting to hear more clearly.
Swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Zi Yan rested her hand on the shadow guard’s neck and lifted her tiptoes to whisper in her ear, “Wait for a while.”
“Later, after nightfall, let’s bathe together, okay?”
Even after she finished speaking, the woman remained still, allowing their bodies to be tightly pressed together, feeling each other’s warmth through their clothes.
“Zi Yan…” Although discreet, Song Shuqing understood implicitly, but even so, she asked hesitantly, “Do you, know what you’re saying?”
Instead of answering, Zi Yan reached up and untied her hairpin, letting her black hair fall down as the silver hairpin was removed, then she lifted her head, her tone defiant, “…It’s your turn.”
Sighing deeply and rubbing her slightly stiff cheeks, Song Shuqing smiled indulgently, “Indeed, I am truly happy today.”
As she held the person in her arms and approached the bed, she began to take off the hidden weapons from her head one by one, casually tossing them onto the ground.
Looking at the woman lying beneath her, the shadow guard couldn’t help but bend down to kiss her soft lips, then in a hoarse voice, she spoke, “Zi Yan, I need you to remember one thing.”
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Seeing the woman’s puzzled expression, Song Shuqing lovingly touched her ear, emphasizing, “At any time, if you don’t want to, if you say 『No』, I will definitely stop.”
Their fingers intertwined, her tone serious, “As long as you don’t want to, no one can force you.”
“I will cherish your feelings, I promise.”
The kiss imprinted devoutly on her forehead, like a solemn declaration of a knight.
But on this night, Zi Yan did not utter any words representing resistance.
Perhaps it was because Song Shuqing was too gentle, or perhaps it was because she unintentionally fell deeply into the eyes of the one who cherished her, Zi Yan never once pushed away the person embracing her.
That was the long-awaited light she had been hoping for.
That was everything beautiful to her.
Even though outside was a cool night with the moon shining brightly, inside the room, she felt as if her heart was enveloped by the morning sun.
Blazing, warm.
Occasionally, mischievously flickering with a dazzling light, making her scream, making her tear up.
But so what, afterwards it was still comforting, with a gentle breeze brushing rhythmically,
Everything made her ecstatic.
As long as it was Song Shuqing.
As long as it was that person.
How could she bear to waste every minute and second?
The author has something to say:
Zi Yan is very sweet, and Senior Sister is very happy~
But in the next chapter, Senior Sister’s nemesis is coming! (laughs)
LP: Re-translated on May 09, 2024
Song shu qing scored!!