Chapter 65: Date invitation?

The sound of the door.

After staying in the hospital room with Lu Weiyu for a while longer, it was nearly six o’clock when they ate dinner together.

Having finished dinner, Lu Weizhu was just about to throw the disposable lunchbox into the trash when two crisp tapping sounds came from outside the room, and the door was pushed open.

“Wei Zhu, and little Wei Yu, good evening~”

An unexpected person appeared outside the hospital room.

“Ah…Yun-jie?”

Lu Weizhu tossed the trash into the bin and turned around.

Bai Yun was wearing her maid outfit from the Café, her hair tied in a simple ponytail.

She had one hand behind her back and smiled brightly at Lu Weizhu.

“What are you doing here?”

“The Café closed, and I had nothing to do, so I came to see you.”

Bai Yun stepped into the room.

In fact, she wasn’t exactly free.

Throughout the long day of working alone, her mind had been filled with thoughts of Lu Weizhu.

What was she doing?

Was she eating properly?

Would she hurt herself again?

These questions gnawed at Bai Yun relentlessly, making her anxious and restless.

Unable to wait any longer, Bai Yun had hurriedly left the Café right at five and come straight to the hospital.

She had even forgotten to change out of her maid uniform.

Her gaze lingered on the puzzled expression of the girl in front of her.

Thinking back to the chaotic thoughts that had filled her mind earlier that day, Bai Yun suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

Her smile, which she had forced up before entering the room, faded slightly.

Bai Yun turned her head toward the window, where the red sunset was somewhat enchanting but still paled in comparison to the person occupying her heart.

“….”

Lu Weiyu, lying on the hospital bed, watched Bai Yun’s shy demeanor and shook her head slightly.

If things continued like this…helping her sister find happiness would be a long, arduous journey.

She sighed.

“I see, Yun-jie, please have a seat.”

Lu Weizhu offered her chair and sat down by the bedside.

“Okay, okay.”

Bai Yun nodded and turned her back to the wall, sidestepping like a crab toward the chair—but she didn’t sit down.

Lu Weizhu’s confusion deepened.

“Yun-jie, are you feeling unwell? This is a hospital, you can tell us if you want.”

“Cough, cough…no, I’m not feeling unwell.”

Seeing the concerned look on the girl’s face, Bai Yun coughed twice, feeling a little embarrassed.

When facing Lu Weizhu directly, Bai Yun’s courage seemed to vanish.

“…Um…this is for you.”

Stammering, Bai Yun pulled her left hand from behind her back.

In it was a small bouquet of delicate, fresh white roses.

She had left the Café immediately after closing, but it still took her nearly an hour to get to the hospital—and the reason for that was this bouquet.

She was starting to hate herself.

Normally, she was so capable and confident no matter what she faced; everything she did was orderly and smooth.

Why did she become so timid whenever she saw Lu Weizhu?

When had this change started?

It seemed to have begun the moment she realized she liked her.

Bai Yun was beginning to question her own life choices.

Lu Weizhu was silent, staring blankly at the bouquet Bai Yun offered.

“Is this for me?”

She pointed to herself, and the small bouquet of roses grew larger and larger in her vision, gradually filling her entire field of view.

This was…a gift for her?

A strange warmth filled Lu Weizhu’s nose.

How long had it been since she last received a gift?

It seemed that since her parents passed away years ago, she hadn’t received anything from anyone.

She recalled the scene from yesterday when Bai Lu had pushed her against the wall—so pitiful, having to flatter others just to survive—yet even she could have a gift.

Lu Weizhu stared blankly at the roses.

“Really, this is for me?”

Unsure, she asked again.

“Ah…yes, it’s for you. The color of the flowers matches your hair. You won’t dislike it, right?”

Bai Yun touched her nose shyly.

She had deliberately chosen eleven white roses.

On one hand, their color complemented Lu Weizhu’s hair; on the other, eleven white roses symbolized the simplest kind of love, perfect for confessing a secret crush.

Bai Yun hoped Lu Weizhu could feel her feelings through this gift.

Did the girl before her understand the meaning of white roses?

“Ah, really…”

Silly, Lu Weizhu took the bouquet and brought it close, inhaling its faint fragrance.

She squinted her eyes.

“Thank you, Yun-jie, thank you.”

She looked a little flustered.

Holding the roses tightly, Lu Weizhu suddenly stood up and bowed to Bai Yun.

“Thank you so much. I really like this gift. I will definitely give you something in return.”

Bai Yun’s heartfelt gratitude showed most clearly in this moment.

Her heart filled with warmth as Lu Weizhu clutched the bouquet like a treasure.

“…Ah, okay, then I’ll wait.”

Bai Yun looked a little disappointed.

Well, it seemed the silly girl in front of her hadn’t understood her meaning.

“Idiot…”

Love?

Behind Lu Weizhu, Lu Weiyu saw the disappointment on Bai Yun’s face.

She whispered a comment, though her target was actually her own sister.

A pure romantic idiot—but Lu Weiyu couldn’t blame her.

After all, she knew her sister’s situation best.

Having dropped out of school early to work, always struggling just to get by, how could she have time to think about romance?

Lu Weizhu heard what Lu Weiyu said but said nothing, simply hugging the bouquet happily, her face glowing with a smile.

Those pale blue eyes sparkled once again.

“…”

Bai Yun swallowed hard.

Her confession plan was ruined; the roses she gave had been taken as just an ordinary gift.

She had completely lost the courage to confess her feelings.

She thought, perhaps before confessing, she should continue deepening her relationship with Lu Weizhu.

“Wei Zhu, um, would you like to go out for a walk with me?”

Bai Yun looked at Lu Weizhu’s left hand holding the flowers—small and white, so inviting to hold or to link fingers with.

“Hm? Yun-jie…it’s kind of late today, isn’t it?”

Lu Weizhu looked out the window; the sunset had already been replaced by the night.

She wasn’t sure if Bai Lu’s birthday banquet had ended.

She was a bit worried about going out and running into those two awful patrons.

The chance was small, but not zero—especially since Lu Weizhu seemed oddly fated to meet those two wherever she went.

“Ah, then…”

“Idiot sister, idiot Yun-jie, you two are so noisy.”

Bai Yun was about to respond when Lu Weiyu interrupted.

“I’m a bit tired and want to sleep. You two go out for a bit, don’t disturb me.”

Lu Weiyu nudged Lu Weizhu’s back and winked at Bai Yun.

“Uh…uh…then I’ll go first. I won’t disturb you.”

After a brief pause, Bai Yun quickly caught Lu Weiyu’s meaning.

She lowered her head, her tone heavy, looking quite downcast.

Bai Yun turned to leave.

“…Hm? Ah?”

The sudden turn of events caused Lu Weizhu’s mind to freeze briefly.

She looked at Lu Weiyu, then at Bai Yun’s disappointed retreating figure.

She put down the bouquet in her arms.

“Yun-jie!”

Pressing her lips together, she rushed out of the hospital room.