Chapter 46: Joy in suffering

Back at the rental apartment, Lu Weizhu spread out the bed sheets.

She wasn’t sleepy at all.

Eagerly, she cleaned the pressure cooker thoroughly, then washed the chicken meat.

She began to stew the chicken soup.

Without saying a word, she stared at the stove where flames flickered beneath the pressure cooker, feeling a surge of excitement.

She had wanted to do this for a long time.

Her sister’s stomach couldn’t handle takeout all the time; she had to cook for her with her own hands.

While the soup was just starting to simmer, Lu Weizhu dashed out again to buy a thermal flask and some red dates.

Once she had a goal she could believe in, Lu Weizhu found herself filled with endless energy.

She didn’t feel tired at all.

Quickly returning to the apartment with the items, after the soup boiled, she added the red dates.

She transferred the contents from the pressure cooker into an iron pot and let it simmer for a while longer, until a chopstick could easily pierce through the meat.

Then, Lu Weizhu turned off the fire.

“It’s almost midnight.”

After finishing, she looked at the clock; unknowingly, it had become late at night again.

Lu Weizhu shook her head.

Perhaps because she was fully immersed in what she was doing, she felt no sense of reality.

Pouring the soup into the thermal flask, she took a small sip.

It wasn’t particularly delicious—just the taste of a simple home-cooked meal.

Lu Weizhu didn’t expect her cooking to be anything extraordinary.

The flavor was light, and she was satisfied.

She thought, Lu Weiyu should eat more bland food.

After capping the thermal flask, Lu Weizhu left the apartment.

She didn’t plan to spend the night here.

The city nightscape was as usual; Lu Weizhu hummed softly, her steps light with joy.

She arrived at the Hospital Inpatient Department and slowed down in the corridor.

Would Wei Yu think she wasn’t coming back tonight and just go straight to sleep?

Probably, right?

She hadn’t returned many times lately.

Wei Yu probably wouldn’t wait up for her anymore.

But now, coming back suddenly, she should be pleasantly surprised, right?

Of course, she would be.

After all, her sister liked and depended on her so much.

Her mind filled with various thoughts, Lu Weizhu gently pushed open the door.

Wei Yu was not asleep as she had imagined.

The ward was dimly lit, and the frail girl sat quietly on the bed.

Light from the hallway spilled into the room, shining on her.

Half of her body was still hidden in shadow, making it hard for Lu Weizhu to see her face clearly.

“Wei Yu?”

Different from what she had imagined, Lu Weizhu turned on the ward light.

Closing the door, she slowly approached the bed.

Wei Yu seemed lost in thought and didn’t notice Lu Weizhu’s presence.

Her eyes were lowered, one hand resting on her leg.

Lu Weizhu saw in her palm a lock of chestnut-colored short hair.

Lowering her gaze, she finally saw the expression on Wei Yu’s face—worry and unease.

“Wei Yu.”

Lu Weizhu gently patted the girl’s shoulder.

“Ah? Hmm!? Sister? When did you come back?”

Lu Weizhu snapped back to reality.

Wei Yu tossed aside the hair in her hand, a little flustered.

“…Ah, sister, welcome back.”

After a moment, Wei Yu masked her emotions and smiled.

Seeing the girl’s smile, Lu Weizhu felt a pang of heartache.

“Mm.”

Lu Weizhu gave her a big hug.

Softly humming, Wei Yu wrapped her arms around her sister.

She held on tightly.

In truth, she was very scared.

Recently, the amount of medicine she took increased, and the side effects had started.

Hair loss and occasional nausea—

Wei Yu was afraid she would one day become bald and ugly.

If that happened, would her sister hate her?

Her chin rested on Lu Weizhu’s thin shoulder as Wei Yu opened her mouth, unsure of what to say.

She wanted to give up treatment.

Even if it meant death, she didn’t want to live in the ugliest state.

But she couldn’t voice such words.

She had realized how important she was to Lu Weizhu.

Before her sister found someone else to pour all her feelings into, Wei Yu couldn’t go.

“…Wei Yu.”

In the end, Lu Weizhu was the first to speak.

She gently patted her back.

“Sis……”

Wei Yu closed her eyes.

“Don’t think too much. Things will get better.”

Lu Weizhu was a bit awkward; she wasn’t good at comforting people.

“Mm.”

Wei Yu nodded.

Uncertain whether her pale words had any effect, Lu Weizhu hugged her even tighter.

Only when she recalled the bite marks Bai Lu had left on her shoulder did Lu Weizhu cautiously loosen her embrace.

“Wei Yu, I made chicken soup. Do you want some?”

Lu Weizhu pulled out the thermal flask.

She had prepared disposable bowls in advance and carefully poured a bowl of soup, then gently brought it in front of Wei Yu.

“Have some, it’ll warm your stomach.”

“Okay.”

Wei Yu took the soup.

Looking at the chicken soup before her and feeling the warmth in her hands, a mix of emotions surged within her.

How long had it been since she last told Lu Weizhu she wanted to eat her cooking?

Wei Yu couldn’t even remember.

Drip, a scalding tear fell into the soup.

Feeling this love, Wei Yu felt ashamed of her earlier thoughts.

With such a good sister who loved her so much, how could she selfishly want to die?

“Wei Yu? Why are you crying? Don’t want to drink it?”

Seeing the girl’s tears, Lu Weizhu panicked slightly.

“No, I do want to drink it. Uh…I’m just a little touched.”

Her voice was a little choked; perhaps night was just a time prone to sadness.

Wei Yu drank the soup.

An ordinary taste, but to her, it was incredibly delicious.

Finishing the soup, she ate the few pieces of tender meat left, devouring every last bit.

Her sister’s kindness must not be wasted.

“Silly sister.”

Swallowing the last piece of meat, Wei Yu laughed through her tears as she looked at Lu Weizhu.

“Thank you, really, thank you.”

Her stomach and heart both felt warm.

She was grateful for such a sister and thankful for her sister’s care.

Wei Yu smiled gratefully.

“…Wei Yu, you’re the silly one. We’re family; no need to thank me.”

Lu Weizhu pouted and turned her face aside.

Watching the girl smile out of the corner of her eye, Lu Weizhu couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing the people she cared about happy and smiling made all the pain she had endured seem trivial.

Closing her eyes, Lu Weizhu silently prayed.

Heavens, if possible, please let my sister keep smiling like this forever.

Amidst the bitterness of life, there was a little joy.

Lu Weizhu closed the thermal flask.

Her wishes might be many, but the most important was always the happiness of those she cared about—once just Wei Yu, now both Wei Yu and Bai Yun.

“Wei Yu, don’t order takeout anymore. I’ll prepare food for you.”

Lu Weizhu said, turning onto the bed.

It had been a long time since she had shared rest with Wei Yu.

“Mm, okay.”

Wei Yu didn’t refuse Lu Weizhu’s kindness.

The two lay down silently.

Time passed quietly, and soon they both fell asleep.