Chapter 24: Wei Qingyu’s Heart Felt Heavy
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The wind blew silently through this unusually quiet room, even the rustling branches outside the window stopped swaying.
Awkwardness danced wildly in the small ward, ruthlessly slapping at Ji Xiao's face.
Ji Xiao quickly broke free from Qiao Ni's embrace, explaining, "It's not what it looks like!"
"I understand, I understand, young people, love at first sight is very normal, isn't it? Moreover, it's a hero saving the beauty, isn't it?"
Hao Hui said as she leaned against the door frame with one hand, looking amused at the helpless girl on the hospital bed.
Not knowing if Qiao Ni's thoughts were touched, she looked at Hao Hui, feeling both embarrassed and annoyed, with her face blushing red.
The once arrogant and unruly demeanor was completely gone, leaving only one hand tightly gripping the blanket beneath.
"Little student, don’t you have a bit too many hero saving the beauty moments?" Hao Hui teased.
The scent of mint lightly brushed against Ji Xiao's skin, leaving a chilly sensation on her fingertips. Wei Qingyu still stood expressionless outside the door, her turquoise eyes colder than when they first met.
Ji Xiao suddenly felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
This feeling didn't even arise when facing Hao Hui's teasing just now.
The feeling of panic spread throughout her mind.
She inexplicably worried again whether Wei Qingyu had misunderstood her as well.
"..."
"Qiao Ni!"
Just as Ji Xiao was about to explain to Wei Qingyu, a familiar shout rang out from the doorway.
Qi Qi rushed into the hospital room from between Wei Qingyu and Hao Hui.
Behind her was Fang Yiming, who was panting heavily.
Ji Xiao looked at Qi Qi in surprise: "How did you guys get here?"
But Qi Qi, unusually ignored Ji Xiao's confusion and strode quickly to Qiao Ni's bedside, asking urgently, "Qiao Ni, how are you? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere on your body? Do you need to undergo a full-body examination?"
Qiao Ni frowned as she looked at Qi Qi standing in front of her, pushing away the hand Qi Qi had placed on her forehead. "Don't come so close to me, stay away!"
What surprised Ji Xiao was that Qi Qi, who never tolerated any offense, surprisingly didn't react strongly to Qiao Ni's behavior.
She withdrew her hand that Qiao Ni had pushed away and remained calm: "Then tell me, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"No." Qiao Ni dismissed Qi Qi with one word, wrapped herself in the blanket, turned over, and ignored Qi Qi.
Qi Qi watched Qiao Ni's back as she walked away, then took out a bright red apple from her pocket and said, "Do you want to eat the apple you like? I bought it from the cafeteria at noon. I tried one, and it's quite sweet."
Upon hearing Qi Qi's words, Qiao Ni, who had just experienced physical exertion, couldn't help but lick her dry lips.
After a while, the young girl, with her head covered, murmured a syllable from under the blanket: “Mm..."
Sunlight streamed in from the window, casting a golden beam into Qi Qi's eyes, eliciting a smile.
She casually picked up the medical knife that Hao Hui hadn't had time to put away, sat on the chair, and began to peel the skin.
Qi Qi was taller than Ji Xiao, with a more superior figure, her long legs crossed together, beautiful and charming.
Ji Xiao watched from afar, and she could even smell the scent of wild roses emanating from Qi Qi's body. It wasn't like the tame scent of cultivated roses, but rather wild and untamed, difficult to tame.
But even with such a person, she actually sat quietly by the bedside, peeling an apple for Qiao Ni.
Ji Xiao began to doubt if she had been too nervous just now, causing her brain to hallucinate.
"That is her stepsister brought by her stepmother," Fang Yiming explained to Ji Xiao beside her. Ji Xiao looked at Fang Yiming, stunned for a moment.
The information in this sentence was too much, and it took Ji Xiao a while to understand.
In other words, Qi Qi and Qiao Ni were not biologically related, but stepsisters from a reorganized family.
The adults from both families should have only recently gotten married, so the original owner hadn't met Qiao Ni before.
Ji Xiao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
It's a good thing she didn't recognize her, or else she would have exposed herself just now.
"Qiao Ni and Qi have been childhood friends, but their relationship soured after Qi Qi's mom and Qiao Ni's mom got married last year," Fang Yiming sighed.
"How could that happen?" Ji Xiao was quite puzzled.
Since they were childhood friends, shouldn't their bond have grown stronger because of this?
"Feels like she's living under someone else's roof. With her strong sense of pride, knowing she and her mom will be taken care of by Qi Qi's mom in the future, it must feel awkward for her," Fang Yiming said, quietly adding to Ji Xiao's ear, "I heard her mom was abused by her dad, and they had a long divorce battle. Sister Xiao, let's be careful these days and not mention such things in front of them."
“Mm, I understand." Ji Xiao nodded.
This should be the reason why Qiao Ni is resistant to Omegas.
The power disparity between Alphas and Omegas is significant. Qiao Ni probably saw or even tried to stop her dad from abusing her mom, which led to her admiration for Alphas and resistance to Omegas.
She's also afraid of becoming an Omega and experiencing what her mom went through.
Moreover, if she can't differentiate into an Alpha, how can she protect her mom?
In no time, the apple in Qi Qi's hand was peeled.
At the doorway, unnoticed by Ji Xiao, Wei Qingyu also returned from outside the room.
When Qi Qi rushed in earlier, Hao Hui was also called away by a nurse.
She hurriedly instructed Wei Qingyu on the medication plan and quickly left.
Wei Qingyu handed the medicine to Qi Qi and said, "Qi Qi, this is for Qiao Ni."
Qi Qi hurriedly took it, "Thank you."
"No need to thank me," Wei Qingyu said lightly. "Since the parents haven't come, remember to go to the first office in the emergency room on the first floor later. Look for Dr. Hao. She was called away earlier when a patient came."
Qi Qi: "Okay, I'll go later."
"I'll explain to you how to use these medicines now," Wei Qingyu said, gesturing for Qi Qi to open the bag. "This box and this one are both for balancing the body's pheromones, to be taken twice daily, morning and evening. This type is for consolidating the newly formed glands, to be taken three times daily, morning, noon, and evening. Dr. Hao prescribed a week's worth of these medicines. After a week, you'll need to come back to the hospital for a follow-up appointment because Qiao Ni's body has strong reactions to differentiation this time. The development of her glands needs to be checked."
"Okay, I will remind her." Qi Qi nodded.
Qiao Ni, with her mouth full of apple, stubbornly and indistinctly said, "I don't need you, I'll remember to go myself."
Upon hearing this, Wei Qingyu looked at the obstinate girl lying on the hospital bed.
The hand holding the apple still wore the silver bracelet that she noticed as soon as entering the room.
In the light, it appeared particularly dazzling.
Wei Qingyu furrowed her brow slightly, feeling that stifling sensation in her chest once again.
She disliked this feeling very much and decided not to linger any longer. She lifted her feet and left the ward quietly.
Ji Xiao, who was talking to Fang Yiming, seemed to sense something and inexplicably turned to look back.
But she found emptiness where Wei Qingyu should have been standing.
The faint scent of mint lingering in the air almost disappeared as the girl left.
Ji Xiao knew that Wei Qingyu had left without saying a word.
Thinking back to Hao Hui's teasing and the coldness in Wei Qingyu's eyes, Ji Xiao quickly hurried out of the ward.
The empty corridor was exceptionally quiet, with only Wei Qingyu's slender figure walking alone.
This translation was originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The setting sun cast its light through the window onto her, creating a hazy and surreal atmosphere, making her appear particularly lonely.
"Wei Qingyu, wait."
A deliberately lowered voice cut through the silence, causing Wei Qingyu to stop in her tracks.
She turned around to see Ji Xiao, who had somehow emerged from the ward.
The sunset was radiant, enveloping her in a radiant glow.
"Is there something?" Wei Qingyu calmly hid her surprise and asked.
Ji Xiao: "Yes."
With that, she quickly walked up to Wei Qingyu and explained, "What you saw just now was all a misunderstanding. Don't listen to Hao Hui's teasing. I absolutely have no improper intentions towards Qiao Ni, and there's no such thing as love at first sight."
As she spoke, the coldness between Wei Qingyu's eyebrows softened imperceptibly.
The stifling feeling that had been lingering in her chest silently dissipated.
Wei Qingyu hadn't expected Ji Xiao to come over specifically to explain things to her because of the misunderstanding that had just occurred.
Not understanding Ji Xiao's intention behind this gesture, Wei Qingyu replied, "You don't actually need to explain to me. It's enough that you know the truth yourself."
Her tone was indifferent, devoid of trust.
With that, Wei Qingyu turned to leave.
Ji Xiao felt inexplicably anxious.
She instinctively grabbed Wei Qingyu's arm and blurted out, "But I don't want you to misunderstand."
The crispness of brandy mixed with the sweetness of peach lingered in the silent space, falling impartially on Wei Qingyu's arm.
The surrounding temperature had already taken on a slight autumn chill, but Wei Qingyu felt warmth on the small section of her arm that Ji Xiao had grabbed.
The hand hidden behind her skirt tightened slightly, and a subtle ripple stirred in the turquoise eyes.
Not wanting me to misunderstand?
Why?
The quiet corridor was eerily silent, and Ji Xiao looked at Wei Qingyu's arm, which she was holding, suddenly sensing something amiss.
If you keep deviating from the original owner's setup like this, you might as well tell her that you've transmigrated into this world and see if she forgives you or not.
Ji Xiao quickly let go of Wei Qingyu's arm and tried to make amends, saying, "What I meant is... When I say there's nothing, there's nothing! Don't misunderstand! And not just for Qiao Ni, if you need help, I'll be more than willing to assist!"
With the words spoken, the empty corridor fell into a prolonged silence once again.
Wei Qingyu looked at Ji Xiao, remaining silent for a long time.
As time passed second by second, it felt like a millstone pressing down on Ji Xiao, grinding away at her.
Earlier, she had fantasized about the grand finale without needing to be a boxed lunch, but now she just hoped that when Wei Qingyu removed her glands, it would be done gently.
Maybe she could even ask for anesthesia.
After a while, Wei Qingyu finally uttered a soft sound, “Mm"
"By saying that, I believe you haven't forgotten about our agreement today."
"Tomorrow morning, I'll go for a run. I hope you won't be late."
Her voice was cold as always, yet it felt like a warm spring breeze sweeping through the desolate fields of Ji Xiao's heart.
Ji Xiao knew that Wei Qingyu was now trusting her explanation.
She nodded and said, "Of course, I always keep my word."
As the sunlight shifted, brushing past the girl's eyes, her golden-orange pupils were filled with determination.
Wei Qingyu calmly watched Ji Xiao, a faint smile hidden in her composed gaze even in the backlight.
She just took a gamble, betting whether Ji Xiao was still the fop who was always sweet-talking and deceiving her.
It turns out she was lucky.
It was her first time gambling, and she won.
The next morning, the sky was clear.
White doves flapped their wings and flew across the horizon, gracefully landing on the fence of the Ji family villa.
As if still in a dream, Ji Xiao walked out of the villa wearing a red and white tracksuit.
And Wei Qingyu had long been standing outside the door, quietly watching Ji Xiao approach.
"Morning," Ji Xiao yawned, greeting Wei Qingyu.
Even though she had gone to bed early last night, her body still resisted the idea of getting up early.
"Morning," Wei Qingyu replied calmly.
Her jet-black hair was tied up high, dispersing the usual coldness she exuded when her hair was loose.
A white rope belt cinched her loose sweatpants at the waist, emphasizing her slender figure.
Ji Xiao licked her lips lightly, her previously groggy mind instantly awakening.
Because today was Ji Xiao's first day of morning jogging, Wei Qingyu deliberately chose a route that wasn't too far away.
She led Ji Xiao to jog at a leisurely pace along the sidewalks of the nearby residential area.
Everything in the morning carried a fresh start, and Ji Xiao jogged along with Wei Qingyu, silently observing everything around her.
Although they were from different worlds, Ji Xiao could feel the same busyness amidst the constant sound of car horns and people.
Yet, amidst the hustle and bustle, there was a unique freshness.
The gentle breeze brushed across Ji Xiao's vision, lifting the stray strands of hair near her temples.
Wei Qingyu focused on the road ahead, her long hair tied up to reveal her delicate face.
Fair and clean, with a hint of softness, her face exuded the innocence and coolness of youth.
The morning sun shone unobstructed on Wei Qingyu, highlighting her slender back and revealing a pair of beautiful collarbones.
Her delicate neck lifted slightly, like a graceful swan among the crowd, elegant and proud, exceptionally eye-catching.
Ji Xiao stole a glance and couldn't help but sigh in her heart—she is truly beautiful.
"Watch out!"
A shout interrupted Ji Xiao's thoughts.
Before Ji Xiao could react, a blue mountain bike came straight towards her in her line of sight.
Ji Xiao couldn't dodge in time and lost her balance, falling backward toward the stone edge of the flowerbed behind her.
It was at this moment that the cool scent of mint suddenly enveloped her.
Wei Qingyu grabbed her wrist with one hand, firmly holding her close to her chest.
