The small incident was finally over, and the misunderstanding cleared.
Lu Weizhu resumed her normal work, though she still looked sullen.
Bai Yun watched her from afar, looking at that sorrowful face.
Compared to the warm, heartwarming smile she remembered, the latter was definitely more beautiful.
Bai Yun no longer avoided Lu Weizhu, but the consequence was that she found it even harder to control her emotions.
There were few customers in the afternoon.
Most of the time, Bai Yun was free, and during these idle moments, she couldn’t help but replay Lu Weizhu’s smile in her mind.
She felt like she was going crazy.
Watching the girl working from a distance, Bai Yun lowered her head.
She wanted to know her more, wanted to be closer to her, wanted…
“D…”
Bai Yun sighed quietly.
She couldn’t keep avoiding Lu Weizhu, but then what other way was there to make herself feel less miserable?
Longing for something she couldn’t have was a really painful feeling.
Time ticked by second by second.
Soon, it was time to get off work.
Lu Weizhu went to the cloakroom to change.
“…Yun-jiejie, I’m leaving first. See you tomorrow.”
Though in a bad mood, Lu Weizhu still said a proper goodbye to Bai Yun.
She turned and left.
Watching the girl’s departing figure, Bai Yun’s mind raced.
“Wait.”
Just as Lu Weizhu pushed open the door and was about to step outside, Bai Yun called out to her.
“Ah? What’s wrong?”
Lu Weizhu stopped and turned to look at her.
“Deve…”
Actually, Bai Yun didn’t even know why she stopped Lu Weizhu.
She hadn’t figured out what she wanted to do yet, only feeling that letting Lu Weizhu leave like that would be very bad.
Lu Weizhu looked like she wasn’t in a good mood.
She had been in bad moods many times before, but this time it was different — this time, it was Bai Yun’s own problem.
“Um, can you take me to see Wei Yu?”
Wanting to apologize again for her attitude earlier but unsure how to explain without revealing her strange feelings, Bai Yun suggested visiting Wei Yu.
That kid was very cute and pitiful, but Bai Yun didn’t actually intend to visit her, having only met her once.
Her request was simply an excuse to stay near Lu Weizhu a bit longer.
She couldn’t just say, “I want to come to your house,” so she could only rely on Wei Yu as a reason.
Besides, maybe she could learn some things about Lu Weizhu from Wei Yu.
“Hm? That should be fine.”
Lu Weizhu thought for a moment, the image of their fist bump flashing through her mind.
Yun-jiejie was also a friend of Wei Yu’s, so bringing her along shouldn’t be a problem.
Agreeing to Bai Yun’s request, Lu Weizhu returned to the café and began helping Bai Yun pack up.
After a bit of busyness, the two left together.
Near dusk, during rush hour, the streets were crowded.
Shoulder to shoulder, weaving through the crowd, Bai Yun quietly watched Lu Weizhu’s swinging arm.
Her gaze drifted down to the delicate hand, where the bandages on the back stood out.
“…”
Clearing her throat twice, Bai Yun grasped Lu Weizhu’s hand.
The delicate, cool touch transmitted to her fingertips, finally easing Bai Yun’s discomfort a little.
The strange, persistent thoughts circling in her mind faded somewhat.
In their place was a faint sense of satisfaction.
Holding the girl’s hand gently, Bai Yun didn’t dare intertwine their fingers, afraid of arousing Lu Weizhu’s suspicion.
“…Ah? Yun-jiejie, what’s wrong?”
Beside her, Lu Weizhu was startled when her right hand was suddenly grabbed, but this time she restrained herself and didn’t cry out.
Feeling Bai Yun’s warmth, Lu Weizhu sensed something was off.
She wanted to pull her hand away but didn’t want to be disliked.
So she endured it.
“There are too many people; I’m afraid we’ll get separated.”
Bai Yun explained, though the excuse was a bit weak.
The crowd was large but not dense enough to cause people to lose each other.
Luckily, Lu Weizhu didn’t mind.
“Mm.”
She nodded slightly, tacitly allowing Bai Yun’s behavior, and they continued walking.
Soon they emerged from the crowd.
Bai Yun reluctantly released Lu Weizhu’s hand, a faint emptiness lingering in her heart.
Feeling lost, Bai Yun suspected she had truly gone mad.
In front of the Convenience Store near the hospital, Bai Yun stopped.
“Weizhu, I’m going to buy something. Can you wait for me?”
Before Lu Weizhu could answer, Bai Yun dashed into the store.
When she came out, she was carrying a box of pure milk.
Although visiting Wei Yu wasn’t her true intention, Bai Yun thought that since she was going, she shouldn’t come empty-handed and ought to bring something.
Besides, Wei Yu was so important to Lu Weizhu. If she could make Wei Yu happy, maybe Lu Weizhu’s impression of her would improve.
Calculating in her heart, Bai Yun returned to Lu Weizhu with the milk.
“Yun-jiejie, you really didn’t have to buy anything.”
Lu Weizhu glanced at the milk in Bai Yun’s hand and kept walking.
“When visiting a patient, you always have to bring something.”
Bai Yun shook her head.
Another silence followed before the two finally entered the hospital.
Bai Yun followed behind Lu Weizhu as they entered the Hospital Inpatient Department together.
The faint scent of disinfectant always lingered in hospitals, which Bai Yun didn’t like.
It was far less comfortable here than at home.
“Wei Yu, I’m back.”
At the ward door, Lu Weizhu knocked softly, keeping her voice moderate so Wei Yu inside could hear but wouldn’t feel disturbed.
After announcing her arrival, Lu Weizhu opened the ward door.
“Mm, welcome back, sister. Why did you come back so early today?”
Surprised but happy, Wei Yu was already somewhat used to Lu Weizhu coming home late.
She sat up, opened her arms, wanting to hug her beloved sister, but her gaze suddenly landed on Bai Yun standing behind Lu Weizhu.
Her smile froze for a moment but was quickly maintained.
Wei Yu didn’t show her true feelings.
Unlike Lu Weizhu, she was pretty good at hiding her emotions.
“Yun-jiejie said she wanted to come see you, so I brought her.”
Lu Weizhu went to the bedside, gave her chair to Bai Yun, and sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking Wei Yu’s head.
“Oh.”
For some reason, Wei Yu felt a bit disappointed but didn’t show it.
“Yun-jiejie, good afternoon! Long time no see.”
Looking at Bai Yun who had followed in, Wei Yu smiled.
“Mm, long time no see.”
Bai Yun glanced around the ward, then carefully sat on the chair, placing the box of milk beside the bed.
“Are you taking your medicine properly, Xiaowei? You have to keep it up.”
Bai Yun glanced at the empty medicine boxes on the bedside table and lightly patted Wei Yu’s shoulder, but her gaze inadvertently flickered toward Lu Weizhu.
“Mm, I’ll keep trying. I will definitely get better.”
Wei Yu’s smile slowly faded, natural and unnoticeable.
Looking at Bai Yun, she recalled what Lu Weizhu had told her yesterday about her experience.
This person in front of her had upset her sister.
Though she didn’t know the details, her sister’s enemy was her enemy.
Wei Yu’s opinion of Bai Yun was somewhat worse.