Let Me Go, My Childhood Sweetheart [Rebirth] - Chapter 22.2

Jin Yi stared at the ceiling, her mind in a whirl. Lying next to her was someone she had only just stopped hating, with warm breath on her ear and a hand around her waist. She was panicking.

After a long time, hearing Chu Weiran’s steady breathing, Jin Yi assumed she was asleep. She gently moved the hand from her waist and moved to Qu Yin’s bed. Looking at Chu Weiran occupying her bed, she gave a soft sigh.

The next morning, Chu Weiran was woken by the first rays of sunlight. It was the best sleep she had had since her rebirth. In her dream, she and Jin Yi went on a spring outing, and Jin Yi had kissed her under the sun.

As she woke up, her joy quickly turned to annoyance. How did Jin Yi end up in someone else’s bed again!

Chu Weiran pulled back the covers and got out of bed, intending to wake Jin Yi up. However, once she reached the bedside and saw Jin Yi’s small head peeking out from the blankets, she hesitated.

While sleeping, Jin Yi pouted her lips slightly, looking quite adorable. She was mumbling something under her breath. Chu Weiran couldn’t hear her clearly, so she furrowed her brows in curiosity and leaned closer.

“Chu… Weiran…”

Hearing Jin Yi call her name made Chu Weiran’s brow relax, and her hesitation vanished. It was as if she had forgotten she was there to wake her up; she simply stood there, quietly watching Jin Yi. That sight made her happier than any dream she had ever had about her.

She dreamed of Jin Yi often, so that was nothing new, but hearing Jin Yi call her name in her sleep was a wonderful surprise.

She sat there for about half an hour. During that time, Jiang Qiong called Jin Yi, but Chu Weiran hung up. Her mother called her as well, and she hung up on that call too.

Time ticked by, and it was nearly ten o’clock when Jin Yi finally woke up. She rubbed her eyes and then let out a terrified shriek. “Ah! Holy crap! Are you trying to scare me to death?”

“I am here to wake you up.” Chu Weiran believed she was being perfectly reasonable. She was indeed there to wake Jin Yi up; she just happened to take over thirty minutes to do it. “I only just got here when you woke up.”

“Oh, well.” Hearing that, Jin Yi felt a bit embarrassed for screaming so loudly right after waking up. But she had been genuinely startled, and she was always a bit grumpy in the morning. “Stop causing trouble here. I am getting up now.”

Chu Weiran’s expression was neutral, and Jin Yi didn’t notice any ulterior motives. In reality, Chu Weiran was quite annoyed; she hated that Jin Yi had slept in someone else’s bed. However, since she had just scared Jin Yi, she didn’t dare lose her temper. Since she was sulking in silence, Jin Yi couldn’t tell anyway.

It was so frustrating.

After a quick wash, Jin Yi checked her phone and saw a mountain of notifications. Most were from her mother, but there was one from Qu Yin saying she had forgotten to check her phone last night and was safe. Jin Yi replied with an emoji and then messaged her mother saying she was leaving soon.

Her bags were packed and ready, but Chu Weiran’s luggage was still in her own dorm.

“You are coming with me to get my things.”

“Fine, let’s go.” Since they had to pass Chu Weiran’s dorm anyway, Jin Yi didn’t argue. She grabbed her bags and headed out.

Chu Weiran followed behind her, feeling a bit slighted. Jin Yi was walking so fast despite carrying luggage. She hurried forward and yanked the backpack off Jin Yi’s shoulders.

“What are you doing?” Jin Yi turned around, confused.

“I am helping you carry it.”

“But your own…” Jin Yi stopped herself. She was going to ask about her own luggage, but then she realized Chu Weiran would likely ask for help with that anyway.

When they reached the dorm, Chu Weiran told Jin Yi to wait downstairs while she went up. Less than ten minutes later, she returned with very little—just a single suitcase. She carried Jin Yi’s backpack in one hand and pulled her suitcase with the other.

“Let’s go.”

“I can carry my own backpack, no need to…”

Chu Weiran smiled. “It is fine. Just think of it as your older sister looking after you.” It was rare for Chu Weiran to act like a caring “older sister,” so Jin Yi didn’t argue, especially since the gate was only a few steps away.

At the school entrance, Jin Yi spotted her mother immediately. Jiang Qiong, with her burgundy wavy hair and professional suit, was leaning against the car waving at them. Seeing her mother made Jin Yi feel emotional. In her past life, everything had ended in a blur of confusion; seeing her mother again in this life nearly made her break down.

“Mom.”

“Weiran, why are you carrying so much?” Jiang Qiong hurried over and took the backpack. Upon closer inspection, she realized it belonged to Jin Yi.

Jin Yi, who had been hoping for a warm hug, was immediately scolded. “How could you let Weiran carry all this? You are tall for nothing.” She shoved the bag into Jin Yi’s hands and took Chu Weiran’s suitcase instead, leading Chu Weiran toward the car.

“Godmom, I was the one who insisted on helping Xiao Yi.”

“Oh, don’t make excuses for her. She must have been bullying you.”

Jin Yi watched the two of them walk away hand-in-hand and felt a chill in her heart. Fortunately, Chu Weiran’s mother adored her.

Jin Yi wanted to drop her things at her own home first, but Jiang Qiong didn’t give her the chance. “Your aunt made delicious food and is waiting for you.”

The Jin and Chu families were neighbors, separated only by a wall. The houses had been bought by their grandfathers. Jin Yi’s father and Chu Weiran’s father had grown up there together, as had the girls. The layouts were similar, and Jin Yi felt an immediate sense of familiarity when she walked in; even the decor was in the same style.

Chu Weiran’s mother, Zheng Yuan, was busy in the kitchen. Hearing the commotion, she dropped everything to greet them. “Xiao Yi is back! I missed you so much.”

Jin Yi’s mother doted on Chu Weiran, and Chu Weiran’s mother doted even more on Jin Yi. “I made all your favorite dishes. They will be ready in a moment. Just wait a bit, okay?” She walked over and pinched Jin Yi’s cheek. “You have lost weight. It breaks my heart.”

Compared to her own mother, Jin Yi felt Aunt Zheng was much better and gave her a sweet smile.

“Wait, why are you carrying so much? Isn’t this Weiran’s?” The smile vanished instantly. “Chu Weiran! Why are you bullying your younger sister again?”

Before Chu Weiran could answer, Jiang Qiong stepped in to defend her. “Jin Yi is tough, she is fine carrying a bit extra.”

“That is not the point. Xiao Yi is younger; Weiran should be more considerate.”

“Xiao Yi is strong, it is no big deal.”

As always, the two mothers were perfectly in sync when it came to defending the other’s daughter. Jin Yi and Chu Weiran exchanged a glance and escaped the “battlefield” together.

Jin Yi left her own things downstairs and carried Chu Weiran’s things up to her bedroom door. She had no intention of going inside, but Chu Weiran clearly wanted her to.

“Xiao Yi.”

“What?”

“Do you still hate me?” Jin Yi was standing sideways, clearly ready to head back downstairs. She wouldn’t enter her dorm, she wouldn’t share her bed, and now she wouldn’t even step into her room. She really does still hate me, Chu Weiran thought.

“I do not hate you. It is just time to eat.”

Chu Weiran took a step forward until their bodies were close. She whispered, “Is that so?”

The proximity made Jin Yi stiffen. She gave a low “mm” and was saved by Zheng Yuan calling them down for dinner. Jin Yi let out a sigh of relief, shouted a response, and ran downstairs.

In the dining room, Jin Hai and Chu Zhenglong were already seated and smiled at their daughters. Seeing Jin Yi looking flustered and Chu Weiran looking upset, the men assumed the girls had been fighting again.

As Jiang Qiong brought the dishes to the table, she immediately criticized Jin Yi. “Did you upset your sister again?”

Zheng Yuan came out of the kitchen to counter her. “It was obviously Weiran bullying Xiao Yi!”

The two men looked at each other, speechless. Jin Yi and Chu Weiran felt the same. This dynamic had existed for years. Jiang Qiong and Zheng Yuan had been best friends since college and later discovered their husbands were childhood best friends too. Jiang Qiong had poured all her maternal affection into Chu Weiran while Jin Yi was being raised in the countryside, treating her like the apple of her eye. Conversely, Zheng Yuan felt so much pity for Jin Yi for being away for five years that she loved her to the bone.

“Xiao Yi, eat. I made these braised ribs specifically for you. You love my ribs, don’t you?” Aunt Zheng was blatantly biased, placing the entire plate in front of Jin Yi and piling half of them into her bowl.

“Auntie, I can get them myself.”

“Don’t move, I will get them for you.”

While one mother was busy with ribs, Jiang Qiong was peeling shrimp for Chu Weiran. “Here, Weiran, eat some shrimp.”

“I can do it myself.” Chu Weiran tried to stop her, but Jiang Qiong cut her off. “Don’t be like Jin Yi. Just eat. I want to peel them for you!”

It was embarrassing to watch. Jin Hai and Chu Zhenglong raised their glasses for a quiet toast, but Jiang Qiong and Zheng Yuan turned back simultaneously as if they had radar. “Drink slowly, only one glass.”

Watching her parents, Jin Yi couldn’t help but smile. It had been a long time since she felt this way. In her past life, she had been too stubborn and had avoided these gatherings after starting college. This time, she didn’t mind eating with Chu Weiran so much.

“Xiao Yi, is college very busy? You haven’t come home for dinner in so long.” Zheng Yuan added another rib to her bowl, her voice a bit cautious. She had been overjoyed when she heard Jin Yi was coming over.

“It is okay. I am not that busy now.” Jin Yi didn’t mention that she had been avoiding them on purpose.

“Xiao Yi, while your father and I are away, make sure you take good care of your sister, okay?” Jiang Qiong said, her voice unusually tender, yet still focused on Chu Weiran.

“Yeah, I know.” Jin Yi pouted.

Zheng Yuan looked at her with pity and told Jiang Qiong, “Xiao Yi is still young, Weiran should be the one taking care of her. Right, Weiran?”

Chu Weiran, finally acknowledged by her own mother, nodded. “Yes, Mother.”

“What do you mean ‘yes’? Xiao Yi…” Jin Hai finally interrupted his wife. “Enough, the two of them will look after each other.”

After dinner, Jiang Qiong and Zheng Yuan pulled their respective “favorites” aside for private chats. Their advice was always the same: take care of yourself and don’t let the other girl bully you. These two had never quite gotten along since they were little.

Both mothers understood the situation perfectly; they each genuinely believed their own child was the one bullying the other.

The flight was scheduled for 6:00 PM, and the driver arrived just after 3:00 PM. Standing at the door, Jin Yi and Chu Weiran bid emotional farewells to each other’s mothers, while receiving a few final stern instructions from their own. As the four parents finally drove off, both girls let out a synchronized sigh of relief. Finally, things were quiet.

Jin Yi turned to head back to get her luggage so she could go to her own house, but she had only taken two steps when Chu Weiran called out to her.

“Do you plan on staying at your house?”

“Yeah.” Jin Yi blinked. Was there a problem with sleeping at home?

“Didn’t you promise to take care of me?”

“What does that have to do with me going home? I’ll be right next door for the next few days.” Jin Yi still didn’t understand what Chu Weiran was getting at. The two stood there in a stalemate.

“I’m afraid of the dark. Stay with me.”

“I.”

“Your old room is still here, you know.” Chu Weiran cut her off, anticipating exactly what Jin Yi was going to say next.

Since she had already promised, Jin Yi had nothing left to say. She followed Chu Weiran into the house with her head down, reassuring herself along the way. It wasn’t the first time she had stayed at the Chu residence, after all. She used to stay here all the time when they were kids. It was no big deal.

But the more she told herself it was no big deal, the more significant it felt.

Chu Weiran insisted on cooking dinner, claiming she wanted to be a good hostess. Jin Yi didn’t have high hopes; she doubted Chu Weiran even knew how to make instant noodles. However, to her surprise, Chu Weiran actually produced a meal: Zhajiangmian.

“Hehe! I know you love noodles, so I specifically asked my mom how to make this.”

Jin Yi opened her mouth to ask when she could have possibly learned, but Chu Weiran answered before she could speak. “I asked Mom about it this afternoon. Hurry up and eat.”

Jin Yi hadn’t expected much, but after one bite, she realized the taste was actually quite good. Whenever she ate something delicious, her eyes would light up. Seeing that reaction, Chu Weiran finally felt confident in her cooking. When she had tasted it earlier, she was afraid her own bias made it seem better than it was, but now she was relieved.

“Is it good?”

“It’s delicious!”

After dinner, they each went to take a shower. Once finished, Jin Yi felt a bit hot and grabbed a cold Coke. On her way back to her room, she heard a strange sound coming from Chu Weiran’s bedroom. She stopped at the door, intending to ask what was wrong, but the sound started to change. It sounded a bit like a soft, feminine moan.

“Mm. Xiao Yi? Is that you?”

Jin Yi froze at the door. It was her, but she didn’t dare answer.

“I fell down. Xiao Yi, could you come and help me up?”

Hearing that she had fallen, Jin Yi didn’t care about anything else and pushed the door open. Once inside, however, she was dumbfounded.

Chu Weiran was slumped on the floor, her side leaning against the ground. Her black pajamas acted as a stark contrast to her legs, making her skin look flawlessly white. While Chu Weiran looked very slender in clothes, she actually had a soft, shapely figure.

Whoever ends up with her will be very lucky, Jin Yi thought. She startled herself with the idea and quickly averted her eyes, hoping that if she didn’t look, her mind would clear.

But she had overlooked one thing: Chu Weiran’s most striking feature was her soft, pale, and ample chest. As Chu Weiran tried to sit up, that soft area trembled slightly.

Looking at it, Jin Yi’s heart trembled right along with it. And then, this girl with flushed cheeks and snow-white skin looked up at her.

She asked coquettishly, “Do I look good?”