Bullying The Sister-In-Law - Chapter 23.2

Liu Chengxu climbed onto the bed and gently sat on her lap, burying herself in her arms. Her forehead rested against Su Zhiluo’s shoulder, her voice as light as a feather: “Thank you for coming back to see me.”

Su Zhiluo stroked her back. After a long silence, she finally whispered, “I… often think of you there too.”

Liu Chengxu looked up, her eyes shining with longing. She really wanted to kiss her, but she remembered her promise to Su Zhiluo: as long as the other person was willing to help her with her hand, she couldn’t be willful anymore.

So, she just pressed closer to Su Zhiluo, like a plant craving sunlight, drawing the sustenance she needed to survive from this warmth.

She said especially greedily, “In the future, will you think of me often there too, okay?”

Afterward, Liu Chengxu lay down obediently, not crossing the line at all. Before long, Su Zhiluo noticed something unusual. There was a subtle movement beside her; Liu Chengxu, like a child in the oral stage, was gently biting the joint of her index finger.

A strange restlessness arose in Su Zhiluo’s heart. She couldn’t describe the feeling; perhaps it was not being used to the other person’s sudden restraint, or perhaps she was affected by Liu Chengxu’s repressed state, and she herself felt an unspoken yearning.

It was still windy when she left in the morning.

Su Zhiluo had planned to take her to school, but Liu Chengxu said that when Su Zhiluo was leaving, she would still run to see her off.

Liu Chengxu bought a ticket to the next stop and sat inside with her. Su Zhiluo held the bags herself. As they walked toward the ticket gate, Liu Chengxu carried her suitcase and said, “Eat when you’re hungry. I’ve prepared everything for you, there are self-heating packs inside.”

“I know,” Su Zhiluo boarded the train.

Liu Chengxu hid her phone behind her back, her voice softly falling in the morning light: “Just this one stop… can I keep you company for a bit? I’ll get off at the stop and come back by myself.”

Her eyes were exceptionally bright in the dim light, like crystal dipped in clear water. It wasn’t a big request, just this short journey together, just the time for this one stop.

She knew there were still 2000 kilometers between her and Su Zhiluo. Just moving forward a tiny bit, one stop, would satisfy her.

She wasn’t a very greedy person; as long as Su Zhiluo gave her a little sweetness, she would be very happy, and she would slowly move forward in the future.

Last night, she tried her best to restrain herself and didn’t make any move that would make Su Zhiluo uncomfortable. She cherished this last period of time together, wanting to leave warm memories for both of them.

Su Zhiluo nodded. Liu Chengxu immediately took her suitcase, helped her carry it onto the train, and sat quietly beside her throughout.

Su Zhiluo saw Liu Chengxu’s eyes quickly turn red; those bright eyes were already veiled with a layer of moisture.

She took out a small cake from a shopping bag and gently handed it over.

“I won’t eat…” Liu Chengxu’s voice was already choked with sobs when she spoke. “Keep it for yourself.” She hurriedly wiped the wetness from the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand.

Su Zhiluo hadn’t even had time to pull out a tissue. Seeing her like this, she felt both distressed and amused: “I bought it specifically for you.”

Seeing Liu Chengxu look at her in confusion, Su Zhiluo gently explained, “I was afraid you’d cry.”

Su Zhiluo still remembered the scene from their first separation, when she was inexperienced and could only watch Liu Chengxu running after the train. That scene had become a thorn in her heart; she would often wake up at night in Guangzhou, and her heart would faintly ache.

She took out a tissue and gently wiped the tear tracks on Liu Chengxu’s face: “Try it.”

Liu Chengxu tried hard to control her emotions and unwrapped the cake. She cut a corner with the silver fork and put it in her mouth. The moment the sweetness melted on her tongue, the tears fell even harder.

Su Zhiluo said, “Oh my goodness, your tears are falling into the cake. Doesn’t it taste salty to you?”

Liu Chengxu had the sweet chocolate cake in her mouth. She wiped the fork, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to Su Zhiluo’s mouth.

Su Zhiluo thought.

She was actually a little reluctant to part, too.

Then she would take a bite.

She lowered her head to eat. The sweetness spread through her chest. The two shared the cake, still feeling sad.

This journey was only forty minutes; Liu Chengxu would get off at the stop.

Liu Chengxu was the last one to get off.

People came and went on the platform. Su Zhiluo stood beside Liu Chengxu, both of them silently standing in the hustle and bustle. Liu Chengxu’s eyes were still red, like early spring peach blossoms.

Su Zhiluo’s throat was tight, her voice a little dry: “The store will be particularly busy in the summer, and I’m living with Chang Ruyin now, so many things aren’t convenient.”

Liu Chengxu quickly looked up, speaking rapidly: “I know, it’s okay. You don’t have to rush back especially.” She even tried hard to manage a smile, but the tears in her eyes dropped unexpectedly, “We have to work hard together to save money, right?”

This sentence floated lightly in the noisy air of the platform, indistinguishable as to whether she was comforting the other person or trying to convince herself.

“It’s not…”

Liu Chengxu’s heart suddenly ached.

She knew it. These past few days had been like a dream, and when the dream ended, she had to wake up.

She smiled at Su Zhiluo, “I don’t mind those things.”

Su Zhiluo took a deep breath and asked her, “Then what do you mind?”

What did she mind?

Liu Chengxu held back her sadness. She hated her eyes right now, completely out of her control, like they had no valve, always wanting to pour out. This was so immature. She said, “I just mind… you ignoring me. I can live well by myself and keep the house tidy, you can see that, right? The house is perfectly organized because of me. It’s just, I was just thinking, could we, maybe call twice a week in the future? Once on Wednesday, even for ten minutes…”

She spoke cautiously, afraid she might ask for too much: “Sometimes… I’m very obedient, too. I’ll listen to whatever you say.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but be stunned. Was she being too insatiable? She had already received so much, yet she always wanted more. She remembered the first two days Su Zhiluo was back, when she was completely unrestrained, clinging to her like a runaway little beast, even boldly guiding the other person’s finger to explore her own wet secret.

Shijiazhuang today was slightly warmer than Beishi. The sunlight was generous, refracting a rainbow of colors in the air.

She always tried to smile, but each upward curve of her mouth looked strained.

Su Zhiluo pulled out a tissue and reached out to wipe her face.

Su Zhiluo asked, “Are you done crying?”

Liu Chengxu bit her lip. She held it in hard and said seriously, “I’m not crying. I’m just a little sad.”

Su Zhiluo said, “I’m living with Chang Ruyin, so many things are inconvenient. If you come over, you have to promise not to do anything. Can you do that?”

Liu Chengxu froze.

It took her a long time to react.

Su Zhiluo was allowing her to visit.

She couldn’t hold it in, and the tears fell.

“Are you inviting me over?”

Su Zhiluo answered her very slowly, “Yes.”