Fell In Love With My Older Sister’s Friend - Chapter 71

Xu Luzhi couldn’t describe the feeling in her heart. She just thought of Yi Liang’s proud demeanor, yet she was ultimately defeated by a single phrase of “I like you.”

She just wanted to stay by her side, and all other titles and forms of affection could be abandoned.

But if that was the case, why did she leave in the first place?

Xu Luzhi shook her head, a little lost, unwilling to think about this question any longer.

She stepped forward, gently leaning against Lin Qingyue, and said softly, “Sister, why don’t you dote on me too~”

Lin Qingyue curved her lips, “What is there to dote on you for?”

She lightly poked Xu Luzhi’s forehead with her fingertip, finding it amusing. The young girl nestled against her arm already had everything and didn’t need to be sad or distressed.

Xu Luzhi blinked her eyes, “Hmm… dote on me because I have such a worrying older sister.”

Lin Qingyue couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “It’s clearly you who is more worrying.”

At such a young age, she had already developed such intricate thoughts, which made Lin Qingyue feel ashamed of her own shortcomings in comparison.

However, after provoking Yi Liang, this little devil, Xu Luwei was also not a worry-free person.

The two sisters were even now, six of one, half a dozen of the other.

While thinking, Lin Qingyue picked up a comb and slowly smoothed the girl’s soft, long hair, calling her softly, “Zhizhi.”

“Hmm?” Xu Luzhi looked up, half-asleep and half-awake, her eyes moist, instantly becoming spirited.

Like a small puppy hearing its owner’s call.

Lin Qingyue shook her head at the metaphor in her mind and continued to ask, “What do you want for breakfast?”

Xu Luzhi frowned in slight annoyance, “I think I’m a bit tired of seafood. Let’s have a bowl of plain noodle soup, with extra black truffle.”

Lin Qingyue smiled, “I’m the same as you.”

Xu Luzhi secretly curved her eyes into a smile and followed Lin Qingyue out of the room.

Well, she did it on purpose. She couldn’t let her sister continue to feast every day.

A little light fare is better for the body.

Despite the similar age difference, Yi Liang was not as lucky as Xu Luzhi to have a beauty in her arms first thing in the morning.

There was a beauty, though, standing not far across from her Xu Luwei, who stood quietly. Her elegant back was unforgettable to behold, and Yi Liang stared blankly for a long time without reacting.

Her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground, unable to move a single step. The rising sun stung her eyes, making her unable to hold back a frame of tears.

After a long while, Yi Liang slowly moved her steps with a feeling of facing death, the silver bells on her wrist jingling.

She had long been accustomed to this noise and even felt a kind of dependence on it, never taking it off even while sleeping, simply because her sister gave it to her.

In the future, without it, how was she supposed to live with the empty silence in her ears?

Yi Liang dared not and was unwilling to think, yet at this moment, she had no choice but to think.

It was still early, the morning glow was just breaking, and the cool sea breeze brushed against her skin, a chilling coldness. There was barely anyone on the beach yet, and the seagulls gathered along the coastline, one occasionally taking flight and causing a stir.

Yi Liang was in no mood to appreciate the scenery. She just hesitated, walking forward step by step, wanting to slow down, and then slow down some more.

Unfortunately, no matter how slow she was, the short distance would eventually end. Even if she cruelly fragmented the time, hoping to appear silently behind Xu Luwei and suddenly hug her from the back, the jingling of the silver bells still betrayed her whereabouts.

Yi Liang suddenly started to hate this bell.

Before, as soon as the bell rang, Xu Luwei would smile, turn around, and hug her. Now, it was hindering her last chance to hug Xu Luwei.

Yet, she couldn’t bear to take the bell off; it was the first and last connection between her and Xu Luwei.

Yi Liang curved her lips in self-mockery. Although she hadn’t slept all night, her beautiful and moving face showed no signs of fatigue, always vibrant and full of life, like the aggressive phoenix flowers blooming all over the mountains, dazzling at first glance.

But in the end, she was just humble grass and wood, how could she compare to the meticulously nurtured rose in a grand estate?

With the person gone, what was the bell for?

Yi Liang figured out the key point. Although she had the intention of feigning indifference to see Xu Luwei’s true feelings, just like last time, when the moment arrived, she ultimately stood still two steps behind her.

She raised her hand, and the bells suddenly chimed, ding-ding-dong-dong.

Xu Luwei indeed turned her head. Her exquisitely made up face and long, curled hair were like the most stunning rose, delicate and serene, yet fragrant and overflowing.

Her gaze calmly looked towards Yi Liang, a faint smile hanging on her lips, seemingly unperturbed by any emotion.

But her eyes were hazy, as if covered by a layer of mist.

Yi Liang paid no mind to her gaze, nor did she care. She quickly raised her hand, gently enclosed the space, paused, and then leaned forward.

She leaned into the embrace made of air, her expression one of infatuation and dependence, just as if she were holding Xu Luwei’s body.

Even though Xu Luwei was still an inch away from her arm.

But with just this much of an embrace, she was already very satisfied.

At least her Jiejie didn’t avoid her, right?

Xu Luwei did not obstruct the little one’s actions, and no ripple appeared in her tranquil eyes, which were as calm as water.

She was like a goddess statue from the Nine Heavens, always looking down upon mortals from a high place, possessing only compassion, but never moved by love.

Although she too had moments of passion in the night, she was utterly unlike Xu Luwei then, resembling another woman who loved to act spoiled and was unsatisfied in desire.

But at this moment, she was only Xu Luwei, the eldest daughter of the Xu family, who always presented a dignified and elegant image.

“Stretch out your hand.” Xu Luwei gave Yi Liang a moment of reprieve, letting her admire her face, and then commanded lightly.

Yi Liang instinctively reached out her hand. On her wrist was a silver bracelet, adorned with many small silver bells that jingled chaotically with the slightest movement.

It was pretty, but it was really too noisy, which was why it hadn’t sold on the street stall for several days back then.

It was Christmas Day, and it was snowing in Weicheng, a rare sight. Yi Liang was wrapped in a down jacket, watching the falling snow land on her large umbrella.

How strange. Snowflakes have no weight, so why could they crush a tree overnight?

It was like her life insignificant little things accumulating until she unknowingly became an anomaly.

With a lot of free time during university, she would set up a stall when she didn’t have classes. She would spend the money she earned carousing in a bar for a night, living a drunken, dream like life, nothing more.

Everyone on the road held umbrellas and hurried along. Many noticed the beauty of the girl selling wares, a beauty that was mismatched with the poverty surrounding her.

It wasn’t the delicate, weak kind of beauty, but a bold and unrestrained kind a glance or a kick from her would make you want to apologize with a ingratiating smile.

Therefore, while most young girls selling at stalls might be bullied, Yi Liang was aggressive and well-connected, securing a spot in this prime location beneath the CBD building, and her business was quite good.

She had stocked up on many small trinkets for Christmas. Christmas hats and trees were too common, sold at the neighboring stalls. She was quick witted and had the sudden idea to blend Chinese and Western styles, so she stocked up on a batch of festive Chinese-red ornaments, which sold quite well.

The kindly old woman who supplied her goods gifted her a silver bracelet she didn’t know if it was real or fake with a string of small bells, a novel and unique item.

But somehow, it sat on her stall for days, and no one bought it.

It was already evening, and the white-collar workers in the high rise building were leaving work. Yi Liang sat on the ground, bored, propping up her chin to admire the long legs of the urban beauties, forming a rating table in her mind.

She was smart, with an unforgettable ability to recognize people. Her rating table was updated weekly, and the top spot frequently changed, but she always felt something was missing.

At that time, Yi Liang didn’t know it was because she hadn’t met Xu Luwei yet.

The nearby building emptied out, which meant it was time for Yi Liang to pack up her stall. She stretched, yawned, and stood up, catching the light snow on the tip of her nose, gently exhaling, still playful and lively.

Most of the things on the stall were sold, only the small bracelet remained, left in the corner, unregarded.

The snow was falling harder, and her umbrella was almost completely covered. Yi Liang estimated the time, thinking it was time to pack up and go home.

She had even planned to get an extra egg in her kaolengmian (grilled cold noodles). But at that moment, a woman walked unhurriedly out of the building.

Yi Liang had already become quite disinterested in beautiful women, but she still instinctively looked up and gasped.

What a beautiful woman.

She had never seen her before, but the first glance struck her deeply, making her quickly replace the number one spot on her rating table with this unknown woman.

Xu Luwei held an umbrella, her head slightly bowed, concentrating on a possible flaw in the report she’d just reviewed, largely ignoring her surroundings, just walking quietly forward.

Her graceful posture and proud demeanor were evident. Her pencil skirt was without a single crease, her pair of long legs were slender, and the pair of light eyes visible above her mask were enough to be captivating, even with most of her face hidden behind the mask.

The hand gripping the umbrella wore a fluffy glove, and only a vague outline of a beautiful hand shape was discernible.

So dignified and elegant, yet full of vitality, like clusters of blooming roses, dotted and full of fragrance.

In the blurry whiteness, the slowly moving woman became a bright splash of color in the snowy day, and everything else became the backdrop for her.

Xu Luwei didn’t pay much attention to Yi Liang’s presence, merely tagging her in her mind as “Young Girl” before walking straight past.

Yi Liang made a swift decision, and as if possessed, she rushed forward, tossed her own umbrella aside, and called out, “Jiejie!”

Xu Luwei was startled. When she finally reacted, she saw a lively, animated face in front of her. White snowflakes clung to her flying black long hair, instantly melting into tiny droplets. The beautiful girl with phoenix eyes turned up at the corners called her “Jiejie” repeatedly.

Xu Luwei confirmed in her mind that she only had one younger sister, Zhizhi, so she spoke plainly, “I am not your jiejie (older sister).”

It was naturally impossible for her parents to have an illegitimate daughter circulating outside. She guessed that the girl had mistaken her for someone else.

Perhaps it was due to a long day’s work, but Xu Luwei’s train of thought got stuck there and wouldn’t move on.

She gently removed the mask from her face and said softly, “Look, I really am not.”

Yi Liang instantly quieted down, standing frozen in place.

She had thought those eyes were the utmost beauty, but she hadn’t expected the face beneath the mask to be even more stunning, as if naturally sculpted, possessing an innate elegance and dignity that reminded her of a high-and-mighty Grand Princess.

“Jiejie, you are so beautiful…” Yi Liang blurted out, a little lost.

Xu Luwei smiled faintly, long accustomed to such praise, but she subtly took a step back, curving her lips.

When she smiled, it seemed like the whole world brightened.

Yi Liang grew anxious but managed to compose herself, shaking her head with an innocent and lively demeanor, “Jiejie, you misunderstood. I meant to…”

She quickly pointed to the nearby stall, swiftly introduced how good the bracelet was, and finally looked at Xu Luwei with a grin, “Jiejie, it’s very cheap, and it’s the last one. Buy one to take home?”

Xu Luwei’s gaze fell upon Yi Liang’s slightly worn-out down jacket. A girl about the same age as her sister, yet she had to work at a street stall, trying every means to sell her wares.

She suddenly recalled colleagues occasionally discussing the girl selling downstairs, saying she was one of the most beautiful, that she got into university but skipped classes to hang around bars at night.

But the beauty was undeniable. Even she had to admit that Yi Liang was gorgeous, vibrant, and alluring the kind of look that would draw immediate compliments.

However, she always worked overtime, and whenever Xu Luwei came downstairs, Yi Liang had already packed up and left.