Chapter 28: Presumptuous
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
The person from the dream appeared before her eyes, and Wen Ruoxian thought it was due to her fatigue, her brain creating illusions.
Until the other person spoke.
"Big liar..." Song Qingluo held the suitcase in her hands, her voice choked.
It's not an illusion.
Wen Ruoxian gradually regained consciousness, and in an instant, a complex taste surged in her heart.
First, there was shock; then, surprisingly, a bit of joy. Before having a chance to capture the flavor, she immediately plunged into confusion.
"Qingluo?"
"Aren't you on vacation?"
Being separated from Song Qingluo for two days, she had not yet adjusted. Her heart remained uneasy, and now she was back by her side, constantly hovering. What should she do?
"I was about to ask you that," Song Qingluo questioned, kicking off her shoes and walking up to Wen Ruoxian. "Didn't you tell me you were going back to your hometown? What's going on now?"
She was looking fiercely at her.
Wen Ruoxian noticed her bare feet, furrowed her brow, bent down, opened the shoe cabinet, and took out the slippers she usually wore at home. "I originally planned to go back to my hometown, but changed my mind last minute."
She bent down, gently placing the slippers by her side, and said, "Put them on quickly."
"Really?" Song Qingluo glanced, unmoved, only staring at her face.
Wen Ruoxian remained silent, feeling guilty.
Indeed, she lied.
Song Qingluo sneered, "Two days before New Year's Eve, you said you were going back to your hometown. On New Year's Eve at two forty-five in the afternoon, I reminded you about going back, not wanting to disturb you. At that time, you just said 'okay' without denying it."
“...”
"When exactly was your so-called 'last-minute change of mind' happened? It won't be a perfect coincidence, right after I sent the message?" She pressed, formidable.
It's as if she's checking for evidence of an affair.
Wen Ruoxian lowered her head: "Put on shoes."
"I won't wear it if you don't tell me."
"Yes, I lied to you."
"You're finally admitting it." Song Qingluo gritted her teeth and put on her slippers.
Wen Ruoxian sighed: "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied to you."
She noticed Song Qingluo's eyes were slightly red, with a hint of teardrops in the corners. Her heart softened, but she couldn't comprehend why. She wanted to ask but had a gut feeling that questioning would lead to trouble and unnecessary complications.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
Song Qingluo took a step forward, getting closer. "Do you want to know how I found out?"
Wen Ruoxian was honest, “Mm."
Yet, her body involuntarily moved backward.
Behind her was the hallway cabinet, and her shoulder accidentally bumped into it, causing the items placed on top to sway. She glanced sideways, realizing there was no more room to retreat.
Song Qingluo also noticed, and a sly smile played on her lips. Without a word, she took out her phone, opened the saved photos, and showed them to Wen Ruoxian. "See, the window reflected the light, exposing everything."
With one hand holding the phone and the other braced against the cabinet, semi-encircling Wen Ruoxian.
All of Wen Ruoxian's attention was drawn to the photos.
It was the window decorations she photographed – a large red "福" (Fu) character. The glass reflected the cold, white light of the living room ceiling. However, the light only occupied a small part of the photo. The visual focus was on the window decoration, and without careful observation, it wouldn't be noticed.
So that's how it is.
But...
Even if she knew she was in Jiangcheng, and was angry about being deceived, communication through WeChat and calls was possible. Why bother coming all the way back?
Such a long distance, such a long time. Could it be just to expose her in person?
Having thought a lot, her mind was in a chaotic state. When she looked up, she realized that almost half of her body was in an extremely ambiguous posture, nearly surrounded by Song Qingluo.
Her face, her lips, her breath, all so close.
It resembled a scene from the dream.
Wen Ruoxian was greatly surprised, instinctively wanting to move away, but Song Qingluo grabbed her wrist. "Why did you lie to me?"
Her lips slowly approached Wen Ruoxian's ear.
"Because..." Wen Ruoxian turned her face away, her heart feeling like it might leap out of her throat.
She had to force herself to stay calm.
"Hmm?"
"I wanted to be alone for a few days."
"Just when you said you were going on vacation, I thought, after living together for so many days, it's time for some personal time and space..."
The explanation wasn't entirely the truth, but it wasn't a complete lie either.
She couldn't straightforwardly tell Song Qingluo that she had dreamt of such vulgar and absurd scenes, making her inner turmoil hard to calm, hence avoiding her in this way.
How could she say that out loud?
Song Qingluo stared at her blankly for a while, finally grasping the meaning of her words. "Oh... I must have been too noisy, too troublesome, making you annoyed, making you unable to stand me."
"It seems like I came back at the wrong time."
"Is that so?"
Seventeen hours of flight, including a four-hour layover, from one end of the Eurasian continent to the other. Due to the rush, even the first-class tickets were sold out. She endured seventeen hours in the economy class, experiencing back pain, neck stiffness, and the inability to close her eyes.
She held her phone, looking at that photo, continuously looking...
The big red "福" character creates a lively and joyful atmosphere, but the cold light reflected from the glass contrasts sharply. Outside, the lights of countless homes blur into a distant scene, appearing even more lonely and desolate against the window decorations.
What could Ruoxian be doing?
Has she eaten? Is her mood bad? Is she alone at home or outside? If she's outside, where could she go?
She wonders and ponders, feeling anxious, as the plane seems to be flying too slowly. Even if Wen Ruoxian lied to her, regardless of the explanation she gives later, Song Qingluo will believe and not hold it against her. She only cares if Wen Ruoxian has someone by her side, whether she's happy during this significant festival.
However, it turns out she was overly presumptuous.
Wen Ruoxian doesn't need companionship, hasn't thought of her at all, and even lied to keep her away. These agonizing seventeen hours are her own doing.
"I..." Wen Ruoxian is speechless.
Song Qingluo slowly released her grip, smiling, "I'm sorry to disturb you; I'll leave right away." With that, she turned around.
In an instant, tears welled up, and without even changing her shoes, she snatched her suitcase and rushed out of the door.
The elevator was still on the current floor.
"Qingluo!" Wen Ruoxian chased after her, "I didn't mean that..."
The elevator door opened, and as Song Qingluo was about to step in with her suitcase, her left wrist was grabbed. She instinctively pulled away, only to have her arm hooked again.
She struggled for a moment.
"Qingluo..." Wen Ruoxian turned her around.
"I didn't mind you being noisy. It's my own troubles; I might need a few quiet days to get better. It has nothing to do with you, and it's complicated. I didn't want to turn it into negativity and affect your mood, so I had to lie."
That face was marked with tears.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and guilt was accompanied by waves of dull pain.
It seems that she's bullying a sister who is five years younger than her.
She wanted to get a tissue, so her hand habitually reached into her pocket, but she couldn't find it, then remembered she was in her pajamas, and she was at a loss for a moment.
"Hug me." Song Qingluo said hoarsely.
In the corridor's light, her eyes and nose were reddened, and the tears had made her eyelashes dark and shiny.
Wen Ruoxian hesitated for a moment.
Song Qingluo took a deep breath, "Are you unwilling even to hug me?"
She's easy to coax.
All it takes is a sentence or two of gentle words, or a comforting hug, and it can be as if nothing happened.
Because it's Wen Ruoxian.
The next moment, Wen Ruoxian pulled her into her arms: "Okay."
Song Qingluo cried even harder.
During these days, she restrained herself, taking every step cautiously, afraid to express her feelings too abruptly, fearing it might scare her away.
That way, she would lose her again.
Not every time would be so fortunate, meeting again in the same city. Losing her again would mean forever missing out.
She doesn't know where her limit is.
Perhaps it's now. She really wants to loudly say to Wen Ruoxian: I like you.
Impulse is like a rushing current, roaring and surging within her heart. But as soon as she considers the possible consequences, she must remain calm, and restrain herself.
Wen Ruoxian feels her trembling, thinking it's still because she's upset about his lie. Regret fills her halfway, helpless as she can't find soothing words, only able to explain repeatedly:
"I have never looked down on you, whether at work or home. I'm just worried that you might not adapt, considering our different personalities, upbringing, and lifestyles."
"If I truly found you annoying or noisy, I wouldn't allow you to work beside me or live in my house."
"Do not cry."
Song Qingluo closed her eyes, hands encircling her waist. "Do I seem like I'm being unreasonable?"
"Nonsense."
"Then I believe you."
"Mm."
The sensor light went out. The corridor was quiet, the front door wide open, casting a warm, goose-yellow glow inside, gently enveloping the two, incredibly cozy.
The sobbing gradually stopped.
Wen Ruoxian gently patted Song Qingluo's back, calming her heart, finally voicing her concerns, "Why did you suddenly come back? I remember you were quite happy yesterday..."
"Because thinking of you alone here, I wondered if you might be lonely if something happened again. I couldn't rest easy, so I came back to be with you," Song Qingluo murmured softly, her fingertips twirling a strand of hair casually.
"But you didn’t seem to need it."
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