Bullying The Sister-In-Law - Chapter 19

The plane landed after two hours.

It was already evening when Liu Chengxu got home via the subway and bus. She pushed open the door, and a heavy smell of mildew assaulted her, followed by the sight that dealt her a heavy blow.

The floor was covered with mottled mildew spots, and the wooden table legs had sprouted gray-white fuzz.

Liu Chengxu froze by the door for a full three minutes; she had specifically cleaned meticulously before leaving.

Aunt Zhang next door heard the noise and came out, saying, “Oh my, you’re finally back. It’s been raining continuously these past few days, and it’s terribly damp. Quick, check which things inside have mildewed and take them out to dry.”

The house used to be occupied year-round, so any mildew would be cleaned up promptly. Liu Chengxu had never expected the house to mildew in the middle of summer.

The bedroom was slightly better, like an isolated safe zone. She opened the window to air it out, then noticed a hole in the bedsheet, clearly gnawed by a mouse.

Liu Chengxu frowned, and a strong wave of nausea suddenly rose in her throat.

She froze in place, and a familiar sense of powerlessness wrapped around her once more, so heavy it was suffocating. It felt like no matter how much she tidied, it wouldn’t make a difference.

She began to despise every corner of this house: narrow, damp, mildewed, and the lingering stale odor that refused to dissipate.

Yet, this was “home.”

She fetched water and started wiping, thinking that as long as she tidied this place up, when Su Zhiluo returned, they could continue the warm life they used to have.

Busy until late at night, she felt permeated by the smell of mildew. She had wanted to give up, thinking Su Zhiluo wouldn’t be back today, tomorrow, or the day after, but she still got on her electric scooter and rushed to the supermarket before it closed to buy air freshener.

Lying in bed at night, the chirping of insects filled her ears. Subconsciously, she looked once more at the empty space beneath the bed.

During her time in Guangzhou, she slept in the bed every night. Sometimes her sister-in-law would lie down before her, sometimes she would pour a cup of water by the bedside, then check for bugs, and finally look at her before lying down to sleep.

She kept staring, as if in the next second, that familiar figure would appear with a pillow, sleeping next to her.

After watching for a while, Liu Chengxu sat up cross-legged. Propping her chin on her hand, she suddenly felt that she wasn’t looking at Su Zhiluo, but at the silly girl from long ago, who lay on the floor crying and saying she would get rich and smash Su Zhiluo with money.

Su Zhiluo had been truly patient back then. No matter what she said, Su Zhiluo would just “Mhm,” and at night, Su Zhiluo would sometimes kick her. She would angrily want to curse, only to realize she was about to roll under Su Zhiluo’s bed, so she would cover her face and slowly roll back onto the bedsheet.

In the first year she lived with Su Zhiluo, she was always crying—crying openly and crying secretly. Su Zhiluo would say, “We’re out of toilet paper at home. Wipe your face with your hand after you finish crying.”

Liu Chengxu thought.

Serves you right.

Who told you to curse Su Zhiluo back then? Falling in love with Su Zhiluo now is well-deserved punishment.

But then, she also felt pity for “you.”

Why fall for anyone but your sister-in-law?

Couldn’t sleep.

Too many unsaid thoughts in her chest, making her very annoyed, a suffocating discomfort in her heart. Liu Chengxu walked to the window, her fingertips lightly tracing the succulents she had just watered. The fleshy leaves shimmered faintly in the moonlight.

Su Zhiluo was definitely not asleep right now either. With her gentle nature and kindness towards her, she must be worried about her.

It’s truly strange.

Both people were thinking about the other, yet neither was willing to press the call button first.

The next day, Liu Chengxu started cleaning from dawn, washing, scrubbing, and airing out the house. She locked the door and left for school with her bag in the afternoon at three.

Sitting on the crowded subway, Liu Chengxu thought of something else. This house was rented by them. Since Su Zhiluo wasn’t coming back often, and she mostly stayed at school herself, they could completely terminate the lease and save some money.

Stepping out of the subway station, the scorching sun beat down, almost melting people. Yet, Liu Chengxu shivered; she was terrified that Su Zhiluo would suggest terminating the lease.

If Su Zhiluo really terminated the lease, there would be no home, no ties between them.

Their relationship was delicately close to fragile. As long as she still called Su Zhiluo “sister-in-law,” there was still an unbreakable bond between them.

If she abandoned this title, Su Zhiluo would be like a drop of water merging into the ocean, forever disconnected from her.

Life at school afterwards was calm and uneventful.

Classes during the day, the library at night, and when there were no classes, the three of them took turns being customer service representatives.

The online store business gradually got on track. Merchants started sending samples, asking them to take model photos, and they could stably earn three to four thousand per month.

At the end of September, the school evaluated scholarships. Liu Chengxu met all the criteria, and the class nominated her for the scholarship. She sent the news to Su Zhiluo.

Su Zhiluo sent her a red packet.

That day, she logged into the store and saw a huge red banner that read: To celebrate the store owner’s sister getting the National Scholarship at A University, there’s a discount on orders this week.

The red font, full of boasting.

She could even see Su Zhiluo’s chat history within the store.

Fans complimented Su Zhiluo’s sister on her excellence.

Su Zhiluo replied: Smiley face,  Thank you all, she’s always been amazing, rose

Liu Chengxu thought.

Look at this person. She always cares so much about everything you do, keeps all your matters in her heart. You do something, and she gets very excited, as if you’ve become her honor.

How could she ever forget her?

The National Day holiday was approaching, and as promised, Liu Chengxu did not go to Guangzhou. Secret anticipation uncontrollably sprouted in her heart, perhaps Su Zhiluo would invite her over. She knew the hope was slim, yet she fantasized about Su Zhiluo sending her a message.

This thought was like a summer-end wildfire, knowing it would vanish in an instant, but still clinging to that bit of illusory warmth.

When October truly arrived, the embers of summer were finally completely soaked by the autumn chill. The last spark, too, was extinguished.

Su Zhiluo didn’t ask her to come over. Liu Chengxu pretended to be unaffected, as if she had never hoped for it.

Meng Zhengyue and Cha Baomei both vaguely sensed that something was wrong between Liu Chengxu and her sister-in-law.

Liu Chengxu used to be very attached to her sister-in-law, especially during her freshman year. She wouldn’t go three sentences without mentioning “my sister-in-law,” a complete “sister-in-law enthusiast.” But now, she never brought up Su Zhiluo.

Liu Chengxu herself had changed significantly. Her personality was actually quite good—lively, cheerful, and occasionally witty. Now she had become strangely composed, with an unshakeable melancholy between her brows. At first, they thought it was just the sadness of an unrequited crush, but now it seemed the matter was far more complicated.

During the seven-day National Day holiday, Liu Chengxu didn’t mention going home. She stayed put at school, just like them, planning how to do the photoshoots.

The fourth day of the eighth lunar month was Su Zhiluo’s birthday, which fell on October 2nd, the second day of the holiday. Liu Chengxu bought some food and a gold necklace for her sister-in-law as a birthday gift.

The necklace cost her 5,200 yuan. The overall design wasn’t special, but she liked the small beads strung on it because she initially mistook them for a ring.

During the video call that night, Liu Chengxu looked at her sister-in-law’s neck. Su Zhiluo had put it on; the tiny beaded pendant rested in the hollow of her collarbone. Indeed, it really looked like a ring.

This necklace, for Su Zhiluo, was much more than just a piece of jewelry.

In those years before the economy truly took off, gold itself carried a weighty significance. This was the first gold jewelry Su Zhiluo had ever received, and the moment her fingertips touched it, she felt a little overwhelmed.

Su Zhiluo lowered her head awkwardly. The gold necklace hung around her neck, making her skin appear particularly fair. The pendant swayed gently with her movements, reflecting tiny golden glints under the light.

“It must have been expensive, right?” she asked softly again.

Liu Chengxu shook her head, saying it just had to look good.

Su Zhiluo asked how much it was, and she only replied that it wasn’t much.

Only when Su Zhiluo said, “I like it,” did Liu Chengxu raise her eyes and nod at her, seeming to smile, yet not quite.

Before the surprise could subside, a knock came at the door.

Liu Chengxu had also ordered a cake for her.

A warmth suddenly welled up in Su Zhiluo’s heart.

It made her feel a little helpless. She felt that warmth was like the first snow held in her hands; she cherished its purity and beauty, but also feared that her own warmth might hasten its melting. So, she hesitated, ultimately not daring to reach out and tightly grasp it, but simply let the slightly sweet warmth silently seep into her heart, and then quietly spread to her limbs and bones.

Su Zhiluo called Liu Chengxu back. Liu Chengxu answered; she was working on homework and paused her pen. Su Zhiluo said, “I received the cake.”

“Is it tasty?” Liu Chengxu asked.

Su Zhiluo said, “Let’s light the candles together.”

They video-called. Su Zhiluo lit the candles, then closed her eyes and made a wish.

Afterward, Su Zhiluo cut a piece and said, “Let me save a piece for you too.”

Liu Chengxu shook her head, indicating it wasn’t necessary. Su Zhiluo tasted a bite; it was very good. Liu Chengxu asked, “Is it delicious?”

Su Zhiluo “Mhm’d.”

Liu Chengxu asked again, “Do you like it?”

Su Zhiluo nodded, “I quite like it.”

Liu Chengxu said, “Then give me a kiss.”

Su Zhiluo almost choked.

She coughed twice, panicked, and hung up the call.

Liu Chengxu just watched her, not saying anything more.

These words stirred up a storm in Su Zhiluo’s heart.

Soon, she received another message on her phone.

Liu Chengxu: Happy Birthday

Su Zhiluo didn’t know what to do for a moment, feeling flustered and scared, her cheeks still hot. She ate one piece of the cake that day and put the rest in the fridge, finishing it over three days.

The next few months passed very steadily. There was no sickness, no accidents. Their conversations also tended towards a kind of calmness, focused on store matters, like a boss and an employee.

The two maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, even slightly more distant than before. Whenever their relationship fell into this state, Liu Chengxu would send some strange messages: “I miss you,” “Love you, sister-in-law,”

As long as Su Zhiluo was even slightly warmer than usual, Liu Chengxu would return to her normal demeanor, behaving properly and not overstepping.

Every time she saw these messages, Su Zhiluo’s heart would skip a beat. It wasn’t painful, more like something lightly scratching her heart, a tingling itch that quietly spread in her heart with the ambiguity of the words.

Su Zhiluo would not reply to these messages, but there were a few sleepless nights when she would take out the messages and reread them, her finger lingering a few seconds longer on certain parts.

Beishi fully welcomed deep winter, and Guangzhou also turned cold. One day, Su Zhiluo was working on orders very late when she received a message from Liu Chengxu.

Sister-in-law, does your leg still hurt? It’s about to snow here, I miss you very much, I still love you very much. You must think I’m pathetic, and very bad for constantly lying to you. But actually, I’m trying hard every day. Today I really miss your body heat. How to describe it specifically… When taking the bus, I fantasize about you holding the strap, and I talk to you. The surroundings are noisy, and you lean your ear close to listen because you can’t hear clearly. When walking and looking at trees, I pretend to pluck a leaf, pretending you are behind me, and I try to look better and more charming.

Winter is here, it’s very cold, I miss you very much.

Su Zhiluo never replied, only reading each message over and over many times.

Liu Chengxu didn’t send them regularly, just an occasional one or two, like writing a diary that Su Zhiluo was permitted to peek at.

Why not call them love letters?

Because Su Zhiluo felt that love letters should be passionate and direct, repeatedly saying, “I miss you,” and “I want to be with you.” But Liu Chengxu just narrated calmly, recording meticulously. She probably knew from the beginning that these words were destined to receive no reply.

Guangzhou’s winter was not truly cold, but Su Zhiluo’s knee still hurt two or three times as the season changed. That familiar ache wrapped around the joint, making her involuntarily recall the “home” that always prepared plaster and hot water bottles before the weather turned.

The store business was consistently good. They participated in several events, and with the onset of cold weather, business improved even more. With socks, sweaters, long johns, and various coats and down jackets increasing in variety, sometimes they had to handle hundreds of packages a day. Su Zhiluo couldn’t manage alone and hired nearby aunties to help.

The busy period lasted until the winter break. The winter break wasn’t as long as the summer one. As soon as Liu Chengxu was off school, she thoroughly cleaned the house and prepared New Year’s goods.

Express delivery would stop very early before the Spring Festival, so the store could rest for a long time.

Liu Chengxu waited at home for her sister-in-law to return. For the Spring Festival, Su Zhiluo should return home no matter what.

She kept waiting, until the eve of the Lunar New Year (New Year’s Eve), and Su Zhiluo still hadn’t mentioned coming back.

The prepared Spring Festival couplets and New Year’s flowers lay quietly piled in the corner of the living room. The sweet scent of oranges and strawberries, which her sister-in-law loved, wafted from the bedroom.

Liu Chengxu lay alone in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

She continued to foster a hopeless expectation, still thinking.

It’s okay. Su Zhiluo will definitely come back after the Lunar New Year’s Eve.