Chapter 50: Too sensitive?

Feeling somewhat down, Lu Weizhu stood quietly in front of the cabinet, staring at the rice cooker.

Replaying her actions over and over in her mind, she couldn’t find anything she had done that was out of line.

“…Maybe it’s really just because it’s too late,” she comforted herself after a moment of silence.

Standing there for a long while, she waited until the porridge boiled, then lifted the lid.

After adding some salt and letting it cook a bit longer, she sprinkled a little chopped green onion and poured the porridge into a thermal flask.

She needed to go deliver the meal to Lu Weiyu.

Carrying the thermal flask, Lu Weizhu left the kitchen and glanced at the embroidery lying on the sofa.

After hesitating for a moment, she decided not to take it with her.

“Better not do this in front of others anymore…”

Feeling gloomy, Lu Weizhu stepped out the door.

Following the familiar path she had walked many times before, Lu Weizhu headed toward the hospital.

By the usual overpass, she once again saw the delivery worker in an orange-yellow uniform and the old man selling chestnuts.

“…469.”

She didn’t understand why there were so many coincidences, nor did she want to strike up a conversation, so she quietly passed by the stall.

“…Hm?”

The delivery worker, exhausted, had just picked up a bag of chestnuts from the vendor.

She turned around, and Lu Weizhu caught a glimpse of a somewhat familiar silhouette.

The last time they met, Lu Weizhu was in a sorry state, and although the young delivery worker didn’t know her name, she had guessed her occupation.

Without saying a word, the delivery worker took the chestnuts and left.

They had brushed past each other many times, but that was all it was—just passing by.

Not paying much attention to this small coincidence, Lu Weizhu arrived downstairs at the hospital.

Still feeling uneasy from Bai Yun’s hasty farewell, she made her way to the inpatient department.

Pushing open the door to the ward, Lu Weizhu stepped inside.

“Wei Yu, I’m back.”

Composing herself, Lu Weizhu tried not to let her emotions show.

She didn’t want anyone who cared about her to feel sad.

“Sister, welcome back.”

The girl in bed seemed a little sleepy, rubbing her drowsy eyes as she spoke in a tired tone.

“Yawn~”

While speaking, the girl yawned, two clear tears slipping from the corners of her eyes.

“I brought you dinner. Eat something, okay?”

Lu Weizhu smiled and approached the bedside, pouring the meat porridge from the thermal flask.

Steam rose from the bowl, and the porridge looked appetizing.

In truth, it’s hard to mess up porridge anyway.

“Mm~”

Lu Weiyu squinted her eyes, tilting her head to look at the girl handing her the porridge.

Leaning forward, Lu Weiyu took the bowl with both hands—warm porridge.

“Thank you, Sister. It looks delicious.”

She raised the bowl, sipping slowly, the quiet sounds of sipping occasionally filling the room.

Lu Weizhu said nothing.

She sat beside the bed, quietly watching Lu Weiyu, lost in thought.

She didn’t plan to stay long today.

Bai Lu’s birthday was just a few days away, and she needed to finish that embroidery as soon as possible.

Besides, she needed to return to the apartment to prepare breakfast for Lu Weiyu tomorrow.

Yun-jiejie still didn’t fully understand what was going on—maybe she should go apologize tomorrow?

Lost in a tangle of thoughts, Lu Weizhu remained dazed.

“Sis.”

“Hmm?”

“…”

Lu Weiyu had finished her porridge while Lu Weizhu was still lost in thought.

“Hmm? I’m here.”

Snapping back to reality, Lu Weizhu took the bowl and tossed the disposable container into the trash.

“Did something happen? You don’t seem very happy.”

Lu Weiyu lay back on the bed, turning her head to look at Lu Weizhu’s face.

Without realizing it, worry had already crept onto Lu Weizhu’s expression.

“Ah? No, nothing.”

Lu Weizhu touched her cheek and sat up straight.

“…Is that so?”

Lu Weiyu looked at her steadily for a while, then didn’t press further.

“Whatever Sister says, it’s fine.”

Trying to control her own emotions and give Lu Weizhu some space, she didn’t want to make her sister any sadder.

When it came to valuing family, the two sisters were quite alike.

With nothing more to say, Lu Weizhu looked at Lu Weiyu and thought maybe she just didn’t believe her.

Her mouth dry, unsure of what to say, Lu Weizhu racked her brain but couldn’t come up with a good topic.

“…Oh, right, I invited Yun-jiejie over for dinner at the apartment today, so I came back late. Your stomach isn’t good, so I didn’t ask you.”

Lu Weizhu gently stroked Lu Weiyu’s head.

“In a few days, I’ll bring you to see the apartment too. It’s not as nice as when Mom and Dad were around, but it’s still quite spacious.”

She ended by mentioning having dinner with Bai Yun.

“Mm…Yun-jiejie even taught me Ten-Word Stitch embroidery, but I don’t know why she suddenly ran off right after teaching me…”

Lu Weizhu slowly recounted the events of the evening.

Thinking about Bai Yun’s abrupt departure made her anxious.

She feared Bai Yun would ignore her afterward, but she truly didn’t understand what she had done wrong.

Lu Weiyu said nothing, quietly listening to Lu Weizhu’s story.

Eight out of ten sentences were about Bai Yun, her eyes darkening.

Having someone else share their attention was supposed to be a good thing.

That way, Sister wouldn’t be devastated if something happened to her—she’d have others.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Though she understood this logic, Lu Weiyu still felt a bit sour.

Of course, feeling sour didn’t stop her from saying anything or stirring trouble between the two.

“Maybe Yun-jiejie has something going on? Is that why Sister’s upset? You really don’t need to be so sensitive.”

Calming herself and trying to soothe Lu Weizhu, Lu Weiyu closed her eyes.

“Mm…”

Sensitive?

Ah…perhaps, it really was just her being too sensitive.

“Rest now, Wei Yu.”

After speaking, Lu Weizhu turned off the ward light and took the thermal flask out.

At Bai Yun’s home,

She stood on the balcony, hands resting on the railing, gazing out at the quiet street below.

The bright moon pierced the darkness, bringing a sliver of light, while the chirping of crickets filled the air.

Such a scene should have been peaceful, but Bai Yun couldn’t calm her restless heart.

A heat simmered within her as she looked up at the moon.

In a daze, the image of the girl’s smiling face and delicate, tender hands appeared in her mind.

And of course, the hope she felt inside while teaching Lu Weizhu embroidery—the wish that time could stretch on forever.

“Ugh…what a terrible person. Everyone else is suffering so much, and you’re still letting your heart wander!”

Bai Yun slapped herself hard, trying to settle her mind.

Ashamed of her own thoughts, a heaviness settled in her mood.

“………”

She sighed.

When did she become so base?

In Bai Yun’s understanding, she and Lu Weizhu hadn’t known each other very long and hadn’t experienced much.

So this inexplicable feeling couldn’t be anything else—it could only be lustful desire.

“………….If only……….. No, I can’t think about this.”

Fingering her own fingertips, recalling the softness they had touched long ago, Bai Yun’s heart refused to settle.

“Forget it, sleep. I shouldn’t think so much.”

Back inside, she closed the sliding glass door and returned to her bedroom.