Ning Chuxue lay on the soft bed, covered by a thick-looking powder-blue quilt. It was light but very warm. She buried her head in the pillow, her entire face sinking into it.
She felt very sleepy, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. There were too many unanswered questions. The three girls who claimed to be her “sisters” had just left the room.
They were all concerned about her, but Ning Chuxue herself found it terrifying. In the end, using the excuse of feeling unwell and wanting some quiet time alone, she asked the three sisters to leave.
Second Sister Mu Wannuo first touched her forehead, muttering something she didn’t understand, then reminded her to keep warm before leaving. As she left, Mu Wannuo still seemed a bit worried, turning back to look at her many times. Every time she turned back, her eyes were full of reluctance.
Third Sister Shen Ruqing remained aloof, reminding her to take care of her health before following Mu Wannuo out. Finally, only Eldest Sister Wen Yasheng remained in the room.
She did not leave the room like the other two. Instead, she crouched down, trying to help Ning Chuxue up. Ning Chuxue was stunned at first, and by the time she realized it, Wen Yasheng was already holding her arm.
Her movements were very gentle and slow, as if handling a precious treasure. And indeed, every decoration in the room was extremely expensive. Pick any one at random and people would rage about wasting money.
But Wen Yasheng didn’t even glance at those things, as if her world contained only Ning Chuxue at that moment. Every movement was cautious, afraid of hurting the frail girl she was supporting. The distance between them was so close that Ning Chuxue could smell the lily perfume on Wen Yasheng’s body.
Even Ning Chuxue, who usually hated the pungent smell of perfume, had to admit that the one Wen Yasheng used not only didn’t bother her but also made her unconsciously feel relaxed. Ning Chuxue’s long hair hung down like a long skirt, sliding across the floor behind her. Under Wen Yasheng’s steady support, she walked to the bedside.
Seeing Ning Chuxue obediently sit on the bed, Wen Yasheng’s brow relaxed, and she took out a pre-prepared hot towel. She neatly unfolded the towel and wrapped it around Ning Chuxue’s small feet.
“Chuxue, don’t get out of bed barefoot next time. Your body is weak, and it’ll be troublesome if you catch a cold.”
Her movements were gentle, making Ning Chuxue unconsciously lower her guard.
“I understand.”
She didn’t know how to respond, so she could only speak timidly. After wiping both feet, Wen Yasheng folded and put away the towel. She didn’t put it back in its original place, but instead packed it into the small black leather bag she carried. Ning Chuxue was a bit curious, but didn’t dare ask.
“Chuxue, you must rest well, don’t move around. If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, tell your sister immediately, don’t bear it alone. That cabinet over there has your clothes. If you don’t like any of them, we can buy new ones.”
Wen Yasheng pointed to the white cabinet to the left of the floor mirror, giving several more reminders. Ning Chuxue could only obediently nod. Before leaving, Wen Yasheng was still a little worried. She turned on the hidden air conditioner in the room and set it to gentle breeze.
Then she turned off the glaring crystal chandelier and switched to a soft night light. After everything was properly arranged, she finally left the room with peace of mind, closing the door behind her.
“…”
The entire room became very quiet.
The room was empty, with only Ning Chuxue lying dazedly on the bed. Wen Yasheng’s care was meticulous and thorough. Every detail seemed as if she had done it many times.
Although she still didn’t understand the situation, at least she felt much calmer, not as scared as at the beginning.
‘Ah, the medicine.’ Ning Chuxue suddenly remembered the pills Wen Yasheng had brought in. She sat up and went to the bedside table. The water was already a bit cold, and a white pill lay beside it.
Apart from feeling weak, Ning Chuxue didn’t feel any pain. After being comforted by Wen Yasheng, her guard had lowered considerably.
So without overthinking, she took the medicine. Even she herself didn’t know how this trust had formed. But whenever she was with Wen Yasheng, she always felt an inexplicable sense of peace.
After taking the medicine, Ning Chuxue lay back down on the bed. The faint scent of lily perfume still lingered in the air. Whether by coincidence or not, Ning Chuxue really liked this scent.
But she put that thought aside. She didn’t want to think too much right now; she just wanted to sleep. And so, before she knew it, she fell into a deep sleep.
***
When Ning Chuxue opened her eyes again, the sky had darkened. She forced herself up with a heavy head and got out of bed. Since the air conditioner had been running for a long time, the room temperature was balanced, neither cold nor hot.
Unable to find shoes, she had to walk barefoot. To understand her surroundings, Ning Chuxue looked around the room, trying to find usable clues. She carefully searched every corner, but found nothing new except some items that seemed to be her personal belongings.
Finally, she went to the window, pulled open the curtains, and looked outside. Outside the window was a small back garden. A blue stone path extended outward, passing by an artificial stream, then a small pavilion for resting.
Ning Chuxue pulled back, reclosed the curtains, still shaken. This villa was not something that could be bought with mere money. The identities of these three sisters were very suspicious; she could not let her guard down living here.
Ning Chuxue organized the information she had. But this alone was not enough; she decided to first step out of the room to take a look. The door was not locked and opened easily.
She carefully stepped out of the room and observed the layout of the villa. The whole house had two floors; Ning Chuxue’s room was on the second floor. Outside her room was a small hallway, with a metal railing on the other side.
Looking down along the railing, the living room scene was fully visible. Ning Chuxue walked down the stairs to the living room. It was only a few steps, but she already felt a bit tired.
“Chuxue?”
As soon as she walked downstairs, she heard a voice from behind. Following the sound, she turned to see Wen Yasheng in the kitchen looking at her. She was no longer wearing the gorgeous Hanfu from earlier, but had changed into casual everyday clothes.
‘Damn it!’ Ning Chuxue was alarmed. Had she angered Wen Yasheng by sneaking out of the room? But in fact, her worry was unnecessary. Wen Yasheng did not fly into a rage as she had imagined. Instead, she quickly stopped what she was doing, came over, and lifted her onto a high chair at the dining table.
“Chuxue, why did you come out?”
Through the thin pajamas, Wen Yasheng could feel her body heat. The chair was high, and Ning Chuxue’s feet, wrapped in white silk stockings, dangled in the air, not touching the floor.
“I wanted to go out and take a look.”
She answered honestly. Wen Yasheng thought for a moment, then said, “Chuxue, you haven’t recovered yet. Going out is still too dangerous.” Seeing Ning Chuxue’s disappointed expression, she added, “Dinner is almost ready. How about we eat first?”