Chapter 27: Lied To Her
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The small pendant is very unique, with a lustrous color under natural light, lying cold in the palm.
However, it didn't take long before it was warmed by the heat of her palm.
Wen Ruoxian stared at the pendant, and for a moment, she thought of the "Lubao" — that was the CP-themed trinket she bought for herself and Cheng Suran. She lied to Ranran that it was the "best friend version," one in gold, and the other in silver.
In those days of not daring to reveal her feelings, all "best friend versions" were a test.
Could it be that...
The most absurd thoughts came to mind.
Impossible.
The necklace had no special significance, and Song Qingluo didn't indicate it was a matching pair. It was just a keepsake, with no particular meaning.
The sensitive nerves made her overthink again.
Every time she interacted with a girl, she felt that the person liked her. This was excessive self-love, not good.
Wen Ruoxian calmed down, caught a glimpse of the hopeful light in Song Qingluo's eyes, and knew it wouldn't be good to dampen her spirits. However, she also recalled the even more absurd dreams, making it difficult to decide.
"Don't you like it?" Song Qingluo observed her expression.
"I do, but..." Wen Ruoxian thought of a perfect excuse, "it's too precious. I can't accept it, or I can give you money for it."
Song Qingluo was a bit startled and a little angry, "I don't want your money; this is a gift for you."
"You must accept it, and you must think of me."
The Young Miss was about to make a fuss. There was no doubt about this.
Wen Ruoxian nodded helplessly, cupping the pendant in her palm, "Okay, thank you..."
"Don't say thank you."
“...”
On the day of departure for the vacation, the sun was shining brightly, and the sky was clear for miles. Song Qingluo and Shi Chuning, along with their mothers, arrived at the airport.
Mother Song and Mother. Shi grew up in the same courtyard from a young age, forming a friendship that spanned half a century. In their youth, they escaped from a small town to Jiangcheng, worked together, and ventured into business, riding the winds of the times.
After achieving some success in their careers, the two friends decided to undergo single motherhood through artificial insemination, leading to the birth of Song Qingluo and Shi Chuning.
Although they didn't marry, both women would date men from time to time amid their busy careers. Inspired by their mothers, Song Qingluo and Shi Chuning grew up with a sense of freedom. The two families, sharing similar temperaments, resembled more of an extended family, and the daughters affectionately referred to each other's mothers as "godmothers."
Once on the plane, Song Qingluo couldn't help but snap pictures non-stop with her phone.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Various selfies from different angles, group photos with the mothers and sister, snacks, drinks, and a spacious double bed.
Then she sent them all to Wen Ruoxian.
From the moment she woke up, she continuously messaged Wen Ruoxian, live broadcasting with text and images, eager to share every moment of her day with her.
[Good morning, I'm up.]
[Getting ready to go out, my mom dragged me to see dresses. She wants to wear every single one, she's been indecisive for an hour, haha.]
[The sun is so big today, but the wind is chilly TAT. Winter sun is like a light bulb without warmth. Boarding the plane now, we're a little late, but it's okay, the plane will wait for us.]
[Is the new outfit nice? I know it's actually me who looks good, anything looks good on me, hehe]
A dozen selfies.
Only two or three replies were received from Wen Ruoxian.
A few words or old expressions, quite in line with her old-fashioned habits.
Prude: [Mm, because you are good-looking]
After finally waiting for a new reply, Song Qingluo looked at her phone and raised the corners of her mouth, but she felt something was wrong. She always felt that the old-fashioned was perfunctory, just completing a task, even though this was her usual style of chatting on WeChat.
Is she busy?
Today seems to be... New Year's Eve.
Yesterday, the old-fashioned mentioned that she would drive home this afternoon. Is she leaving now? Perhaps she's packing up or already on the road.
At this time, bombarding with messages seems quite inconsiderate.
Song Qingluo realized in time: [Aren't you going home today? Go ahead, I won't disturb you.]
Prude: [Okay.]
“?”
So straightforward.
Song Qingluo felt a bit aggrieved and unhappy.
It seemed as if she couldn't wait, just waiting for her to say this, even if it was accompanied by a primitive expression. In the haze, she finally noticed what was wrong —
While the old-fashioned usually chats with her in a straightforward manner, after replying, there would be a small joke, a back-and-forth, unlike today, just a one-sided response, without the intention to diverge or delve deeper.
In short, she's not interested in her life; her replies are merely a matter of politeness.
This has been the case for several days.
Since returning from the club…
Was she so scared that she got traumatized and now keeping her distance? Does she think she only cares about leisure? Or did she see her irritable side and can't accept it?
The more Song Qingluo thought about it, the more panicked she became. She had no idea what to ask, she could only stare at her phone.
"Look at Qingluo, she was smiling foolishly at her phone earlier, and now she has a worried look. I'm afraid her body is with us, but her heart has already flown to another person.” Shi Chuning and the others sat on the opposite couch, teasing her.
Mother Shi's face was full of doting: "Young people are like this, it's the pursuit stage, it's normal.”
"Ms. Song agreed, ‘'Mm, it's been many days since she went home.'"
"Hahaha…"
The flight took over a dozen hours with three layovers, finally arriving at the destination, Madrid, Spain, at around nine in the evening local time.
Ms. Song has a small villa here.
The plan is to stay here for two nights and then head to San Sebastian the day after tomorrow."
[I'm here! ]
[Going to the beach in two days]
[Have you missed me, Ruoxian-jiejie?]
Upon landing, Song Qingluo couldn't wait to send a message to Wen Ruoxian.
At this moment, it's 3 a.m. on the first day of the Lunar New Year in China.
Wen Ruoxian should have arrived home by car a long time ago, yet during these ten-plus hours, she hasn't initiated contact. The pinned chat remains silent, frozen on that 'okay' message.
Song Qingluo was slightly disappointed, but then she thought Wen Ruoxian was probably sound asleep at the moment. She realized she wouldn't receive a reply for at least five or six more hours, and that dampened her spirits a bit.
She casually opened the Moments section. Many people had posted updates, mostly related to the festival, some celebrating at home, others like her, on vacation. As she scrolled down, Wen Ruoxian's profile picture caught her eye.
Mm?
Prude posted a moment!
At around eight o'clock last night, domestic time, Wen Ruoxian posted a photo without any text. The photo shows a red window grille with the word "福"* on it, and the lights of thousands of houses are blurred in the background.
*福 (Fú) - blessings or good luck. During the Lunar New Year, this character is pasted on the doors of households, shops, etc. to express people's yearning for a happy life and their wishes for a better future. This character can also be seen on red packets and Chinese calendars.
At that time, she was fast asleep on the plane.
So, she had already arrived home.
Not even a single message for her. Indeed, she didn't remember her... no, she didn't think of her at all.
Song Qingluo touched her pendant, feeling sour in her heart, but she still gave Wen Ruoxian a like, and then repeatedly clicked on the photo to zoom in and out.
It's like using it to vent your anger.
Vaguely, she could see the lights and shapes reflected in the window glass in the photo.
It was the living room back home in Jiangcheng.
“!!!”
What's going on?
Didn’t the old-fashioned go back home?
Song Qingluo was shocked and took the photo again.
She enlarged the photo and took a closer look. The ceiling lights were cold white, a combination of circular shapes. She had lived in Wen Ruoxian's house for over a month, and there was no way she could be mistaken.
So, Wen Ruoxian lied to her.
She's home alone.
A person sticking window decorations, a textless post... seemingly conveying something, yet not clearly indicating anything.
The rising anger in her heart couldn't explode in time, forcefully swallowed down, both sour and bitter. She tightly grasped the pendant, completely losing the mood for vacation.
She originally didn't want to come out much.
If Wen Ruoxian didn't go back to her hometown, she would have stayed in Jiangcheng to accompany her. To say it's accompanying might be presumptuous, but it's also satisfying her own desires.
A day without seeing Wen Ruoxian would make her feel uneasy.
She missed her so much that it drove herself crazy with thoughts, itching in her heart and buzzing in her mind. She wished she could fly back to China right now.
Once the idea emerged, it couldn't be contained.
"Every year of vacation, missing one doesn't matter. She had seen most of the Earth's landscapes; the scenery repeated year after year, always there. But Wen Ruoxian was the only one, a living person.
On this holiday meant to be spent with family and friends, the person she longed for was alone in that spacious house...
No.
She had to go back.
The private car stopped by the front gate of the villa.
The housekeeper approached, and Shi Chuning was the first to get out of the car, holding Song Qingluo's hand. “We're here, we're here!”
However, Song Qingluo turned her face towards her mother. “Mom, you guys enjoy your vacation, I'm going back.”
Everyone was stunned.
“Go back where?”
“Jiangcheng.”
"Why? Did something happen?"
Song Qingluo replied truthfully, "Ruoxian is alone at home, and I want to go back to accompany her."
“...”
Song Yulan and the Shi mother and daughter exchanged glances. Shi Chuning, naturally unwilling, said, "What's the big deal if she's alone at home? She's not a three-year-old child. Are you worried she can't take care of herself? I finally dragged you out to play, don't even think about running away at the last moment.”
"I go out every year anyway; I won't miss this one. I don't care; I want to go back now," Song Qingluo insisted resolutely.
No one can stop what she wants to do.
Mother Shi understood her well and coaxed her: "Okay, okay, it doesn't matter. Our family can get together anytime, but missing the chance with someone you like is different. We understand you."
Even the godmother said so, and the real mother understood her daughters' temperaments, “I won't stop you, just a reminder: how will you go back? Our flight schedule is fixed..."
Lowering her head, Song Qingluo searched on her phone, "I think there should still be seats available on commercial flights."
….
In the bustling city of Jiangcheng, the arrival of the festival brought a quiet atmosphere.
On New Year's Eve morning, Wen Ruoxian ultimately decided not to return to her hometown, choosing to spend the increasingly bland Spring Festival alone. The city was vast, and there were many others like her, making it not a bad choice after all.
After all, she didn't go back last year either.
Alone, quiet, free, and relaxed.
Ample time to pause, reflect, and catch one's breath for self-adjustment.
In the morning, she woke up naturally and opened WeChat to find a string of messages from Song Qingluo. The aftermath of the dream is that one can't help but recall those scenes at all times – seeing the profile picture, the nickname, the words...
Fortunately, the dream has become blurry.
She didn't want to reply, but she had to.
The genuine enthusiasm of the Young Miss is so precious that no one would want to disappoint her. Although every reply is an ordeal.
Wen Ruoxian could only pretend to be a machine.
Then she got up and went out. It had been a long time since she personally bought groceries, almost forgetting that during this time every year, vegetable prices skyrocketed. She bought some ingredients she liked, moved the New Year's Eve dinner to noon, and prepared a meal for herself.
The house was really quiet, so in the afternoon, she pasted red "福" characters on the living room windows, creating a festive atmosphere visually.
Her mother called to check on her, followed by a call from her father.
Perhaps the two elders were more concerned about whether she immediately went back after seeing the photos of the young man.
Ridiculous.
Two years ago during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Wen Ruoxian came out to her parents. This was an inevitable matter; instead of waiting until she had a girlfriend in the future, she chose to be honest now. In case her parents found it difficult to accept, it would only affect her, not her future partner.
Coming out didn't go smoothly; she had a big argument with her parents and returned to Jiangcheng overnight.
At that time, she understood that the home would no longer be a peaceful place in the future.
She was born into a scholarly family, with both parents being university professors, knowledgeable and broad-minded. In fact, during her childhood, they were indeed open-minded and understanding.
Gentle, steady, and calm, the words she is most praised for come from gifts from her family. Although the side effect is occasional dullness and rigidity.
But such a family and such parents cannot accept her being homosexual.
──Believe she is following trends or buried in work for too long leading to cognitive confusion. Every once in a while, send her photos of handsome guys in different styles, attempting to "bring her back on track."
Being gentle does not mean obedience, nor does it mean a lack of self.
Wen Ruoxian's way of protest was not to go home.
Her parents are in her hometown, they are in good health, they have a house, a car, a pension, and a large group of friends of the same age. They live a comfortable life needing no worries from her.
After all, they are intellectuals, they spent a lifetime teaching and nurturing, and they are incapable of doing extreme things to force their children to compromise.
They can only send handsome guys' photos to try to influence her.
Until nightfall, outside the window and on the internet, everywhere became lively. Friends and colleagues sent her red envelopes, and she reciprocated double, except for one person who strictly prohibited from sending back red envelopes.
Ranran: [I won’t be happy if you send it back.]
She knew Ranran would be really unhappy.
Remembering this time last year, she and Ranran, Jiang Yu, along with two other friends of Jiang Yu, went to a southern island for vacation. Her feelings for Ranran had not been revealed yet, allowing her to openly accompany Ranran as a friend.
It was also on this day last year that all her hidden secrets were unexpectedly exposed.
After that, she and Ranran could never go back to the way they were before.
White Moonlight*...
*a first love/an ideal person/someone or something that is desirable but unattainable, always in one's heart but not physically present.
It used to be, it is now, and will always be the person she missed. Time passes quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a year has gone by.
She opened one of the tightly closed doors, the bedroom that once belonged to Ranran. Inside, it was filled with memories related to each other – framed photos, souvenirs, matching clothes, pillows, and sheets Ranran had used…
For the past whole year, every time she entered this room, she would be engulfed by a piercing pain, not knowing how many tears had been shed on this bed.
The last time she came in was on her birthday.
On November 1st, she treated the entire company to a meal. After seeing Ranran off with Jiang Yu, she returned home and came in to sit for a while.
There was no pain, no tears. She played the past five years like a movie in her mind.
Is she reconciling with herself at this point?
She loved Ranran, can't forget Ranran, and will miss Ranran. She accepts all of this without forcing herself and doesn't blame herself. She is willing to give herself time, even if it might take a lifetime.
"I understand when you say you don't want to lose me as your only friend. Others might call you selfish, but I comprehend. You're so sincere and kind. On the contrary, it's my thoughts that are dirty, letting down your friendship. Continuing as friends is tiring. I can't get too close to you, nor can I make you feel distant. I am trying and will keep trying. I want you to have both a lover and friends by your side. I want you to be happy forever."
"I'm happy to see you happy."
Wen Ruoxian lay on the bed, holding the photo frame, talking to herself while her eyelids twitched. A countdown to zero came from the TV in the living room. She counted to one and said silently in her heart: Ranran, Happy New Year.
Then she fell into a deep sleep...
Waking up on the first day of the new year, Wen Ruoxian received a message from Song Qingluo.
[I'm here! ]
[Going to the beach in two days]
[Have you missed me, Ruoxian-jiejie?]
Location sharing: Barajas Airport, Madrid, Spain.
It’s been more than ten hours since the last message.
Wen Ruoxian woke up from a dream and finally remembered the existence of this person.
She was overwhelmed by emotions last night and her mind was hazy, as if floating in the clouds, and it was only when she saw the two characters "Qingluo" that she returned to reality.
But after pondering for a while, she still didn't know how to reply.
Miss?
Not miss?
Here it goes again.
After finishing breakfast, she listened to some German news, and read a book, and the morning passed quickly. A simple lunch followed, then a short nap for twenty minutes. Upon waking up, she drove to a nearby park to relax.
During the holiday, she didn't want to work, but there weren't many entertainment options. She disliked crowded and noisy places and preferred solitude. Yet, after a while, she felt bored and restless.
She was, by nature, a boring person.
Not having a playful nature, she naturally couldn't enjoy leisure unless accompanied by someone who loved to play and frolic.
With the cold weather and sparse pedestrian traffic, Wen Ruoxian walked aimlessly. She circled the lake but still felt bored.
Perhaps calling it loneliness would be more accurate.
In a short period, being close to someone and suddenly parting ways, she found it somewhat challenging to adapt.
On the bare tree branches, a little snow accumulated, turning transparent as it melted. At the border of snow and water, it presented a silver-gray color. Suddenly, she thought of a woman with silver hair.
Long hair like moonlight, eyes resembling a wildcat.
Thinking of the woman's playful smile and stubborn temperament, her mood suddenly cleared.
She and Ranran have been to Spain. She really liked the coastal city of San Sebastian and enjoyed Iberian ham.
She wonders which seaside location Song Qingluo is talking about...
Wen Ruoxian suddenly remembered she hadn't replied to a message, took out her phone, and checked WeChat. From morning until now, Song Qingluo hasn't sent her anything.
Quite different from her talkative self yesterday.
She must be fully enjoying her vacation. Wen Ruoxian thought, feeling the excitement even through the screen.
Wen Ruoxian replied in a good mood: [Mm, I wish you a good vacation, miss you.]
She thought her response was quite appropriate and then sent another message: [Is the seaside you mentioned San Sebastian? I've been there before and quite liked it. I believe you will too. Also, remember to try Iberian ham.]
Not expecting an instant response, she put her phone back in her bag.
Until late at night.
Song Qingluo didn't reply.
The flavorless first day of the New Year passed in this way.
After watching the movie at 11:30, Wen Ruoxian turned off the projector, yawned, took a shower, and prepared to go back to her room to sleep.
The living room door suddenly made a noise—
She instantly became alert and her drowsiness fled in haste.
Then there were two beeps, the door opened, and a flash of silver suddenly burst into view.
Wen Ruoxian was stunned.
Making eye contact with the newcomer.
Song Qingluo gazed at her, with eyes slightly red, "Big liar..."