Let Me Go, My Childhood Sweetheart [Rebirth] - Chapter 23

Chu Weiran had been holding her fallen pose for quite some time now. She was getting tired and genuinely wanted to get up.

She was just about to call out to Jin Yi when she noticed the other girl’s gaze was fixed on her soft, pale chest.

Although she had chosen these pajamas specifically for this effect, she still felt a flush of shyness. The cleavage-enhancing effect was, admittedly, a bit too effective.

Steadying herself and suppressing her inner joy, she asked softly, “Do I look good?”

Jin Yi’s mind felt like it exploded. She clenched her fists, her throat dry, not knowing how to respond. She had never seen a scene like this before, and she certainly never expected that Chu Weiran would be the one to show it to her.

Jin Yi nervously licked her lips, her fingers twitching. She was an adult now; she had a fair idea of what that obvious heart-tremor meant.

In her past life, being with Qin Chaomu was a result of being deceived by a gentle facade. Now, looking at Chu Weiran, she felt she might be getting deceived again. But if she set aside her past prejudices and looked only at the picture before her, the Chu Weiran lying on the floor looked weak, delicate, and incredibly tempting.

Her voice was soft and airy. Yet, Jin Yi knew Chu Weiran’s true personality; she knew this girl was a prankster who knew exactly how to act weak and play the victim. Jin Yi had been bullied by this version of Chu Weiran throughout her childhood.

Still, if… if Chu Weiran could truly become this gentle…

“Are you going to help me up or not?”

Reality shattered her daydream. Chu Weiran, still sitting on the floor, finally lost her patience. Jin Yi had been staring at her, but then she had clearly zoned out and hadn’t even answered the question.

Jin Yi shook her head and snapped back to reality. She must have had a momentary lapse in judgment to think that it would be nice if Chu Weiran became gentle and liked her. As it turned out, Chu Weiran’s “gentleness” was only temporary.

With a blank expression, Jin Yi walked over. Acting as if she hadn’t just been moved by the beautiful sight, she grabbed Chu Weiran by the arms and hoisted her up. Jin Yi was strong, and Chu Weiran knew she would be lifted quite unceremoniously.

However, Chu Weiran had a second step planned.

Just as she found her footing, she spun around and threw herself directly into Jin Yi’s embrace. Jin Yi tried to step back, but Chu Weiran was so sincere in her delivery that Jin Yi had no choice but to catch her.

As they collided, a cool fragrance filled Jin Yi’s nose, and the “warm jade” in her arms shifted restlessly.

“Stop moving. Can you stand on your own?”

Jin Yi forced herself not to look down, terrified of what she might see.

“Mm…”

But as Chu Weiran let out a soft moan, Jin Yi instinctively lowered her gaze anyway.

What met her eyes was a deep, snowy cleavage. The close proximity made Jin Yi’s blood race. Her face turned bright red.

Chu Weiran curled her lips in a satisfied smile and pressed herself even closer. In a fragile, delicate voice, she said, “I think I twisted my ankle.”

Her voice was so breathy and melodious it was practically a moan. It sent goosebumps across Jin Yi’s skin.

Jin Yi considered herself a “good girl.” Before reaching adulthood, her entire mind had been focused on studying. She was an honors student who had skipped grades in middle school, and her head was filled with being a productive member of society. She had never been exposed to anything “adult.”

The most scandalous thing she had seen was Qin Chaomu’s photos in her past life, but those were just pictures. They were nothing compared to the warmth in her arms and this seductive voice.

Jin Yi swallowed hard and looked up, meeting Chu Weiran’s “peach blossom” eyes. There was infinite affection in them, and something else: desire.

Jin Yi’s scalp felt numb. She forced her gaze downward, only to find Chu Weiran’s ruby-red lips and the beauty mark at the corner of her mouth. There was nowhere to hide!

Help me, Mom! Your goddaughter is too much to handle! she thought. Who wears lipstick in the middle of the night?

“I… I’ll look at your foot.” Jin Yi forced herself to calm down, finally finding a “safe” place to look.

Chu Weiran’s feet were delicate, fair, and very small. Although it still felt a bit awkward, it was better than the scenery up top. She held Chu Weiran by the waist, helped her onto the bed, and knelt down to check her ankle.

“It… doesn’t look like anything is wrong?”

Jin Yi looked closer; the skin was pale and smooth with no sign of redness or swelling.

Chu Weiran leaned back on the bed, watching Jin Yi’s serious expression. A wave of warmth flowed through her; Jin Yi was so sweet.

“Mm… it just hurts a little. I hope it won’t interfere with anything.” As she spoke, her eyes remained fixed on Jin Yi’s lips, her words heavily suggestive.

Jin Yi’s mind immediately went to the gutter. Interfere with… what?

She looked up at her and subconsciously bit her lip. After just one glance, she looked away again. Whatever. Whatever she wanted to interfere with was none of her business.

“If you’re okay, I’m going back to sleep.” She desperately wanted to escape this room.

But how could Chu Weiran let her go? She pulled her feet back, sat cross-legged, and leaned forward toward Jin Yi.

“Do you know why I fell just now?”

Jin Yi asked instinctively, “Why?”

Chu Weiran leaned in close to her ear and exhaled a soft breath, followed by a gentle nip on Jin Yi’s earlobe. Her voice was seductive. “Because, I wanted to go heat some milk for my little troublemaker.”

…

In the end, Jin Yi fled Chu Weiran’s room with a bright red face and retreated to the safety of her own bedroom.

Leaning against the door, Jin Yi struggled to steady her breathing. Mom! This is seriously too much!

She reached up to touch the ear that had just been bitten.

Damn, it’s so hot!

She wondered if Chu Weiran had gone through some kind of psychological shock. This felt like she was playing for keeps!

It wasn’t that Jin Yi had never thought about the possibility. She had, especially in her past life when her own mother was constantly nudging her toward it. But her conclusion had always been the same: she and Chu Weiran were impossible. Their personalities were a mismatch that she just couldn’t accept.

But the terrible thing was, she felt like her heart had actually skipped a beat just now. And the feeling was more intense than anything she had ever felt. Chu Weiran’s skin was so tender it looked like it could hold water; Jin Yi had actually felt a fleeting impulse to reach out and pinch it.

Jin Yi, who had always considered herself somewhat emotionally detached and a lover of freedom, felt her convictions crumbling. She was used to doing whatever she wanted, while Chu Weiran was possessive and loved to control every little detail. They were truly… incompatible. This was a recipe for disaster.

Still leaning against the door, Jin Yi chanted to herself several times: “Jin Yi, calm down! Keep your cool.”

After a while, she finally regained her composure and climbed into bed. Sleep! Everything will be fine in the morning.

On the other side of the wall, Chu Weiran watched Jin Yi flee in a panic and burst into laughter. She had just wanted to test whether Jin Yi actually had feelings for her. If she did, that was perfect; if she didn’t, Chu Weiran would make sure she developed them. Seeing the terrifying shade of red on Jin Yi’s ears, it was clear the feelings were there.

Wonderful.

In this life, she would never let Jin Yi distance herself. They had to be together. Following that night, Chu Weiran was brimming with confidence.

She skipped happily into the bathroom. With a light flick of her fingers, she shed her pajamas, letting her graceful, naked figure twirl once in front of the mirror. She had to admit that while she wasn’t tall, her proportions were excellent. She had curves in all the right places; she was perfect.

After removing her makeup and taking a shower, she slathered herself in fragrant body lotion, set her alarm, and went to bed. Being a gentle, virtuous woman started with making breakfast.

Jin Yi liked hot milk. Jin Yi liked tuna sandwiches. She also liked… soft-boiled eggs. Chu Weiran planned to have all of these ready before Jin Yi woke up.

In reality, she didn’t know how to cook a single thing; she was learning on the fly. As a novice, the kitchen naturally became a disaster zone. Her imagination was flawless, but for someone with only theoretical knowledge, the results were catastrophic.

Jin Yi was jolted awake by a series of crashes and bangs. Initially, she tried to bury herself deeper under the covers, but then came the distinct sound of a plate shattering. Startled, she sat bolt upright. It took her five seconds to remember she was at Chu Weiran’s house and that they were the only two there.

The noise in the kitchen… could only be Chu Weiran.

Jin Yi practically leaped out of bed and rushed down to the kitchen. It was exactly as she had imagined: two broken plates and oil splattered everywhere. Chu Weiran was wearing a white dress that was now speckled with oil, but she didn’t seem to care. She was holding an egg, preparing to fry it.

“Stop right there!”

Jin Yi’s voice rose uncontrollably. Chu Weiran was so startled she dropped the egg, which splattered right onto her lower leg.

“…Don’t move!” Jin Yi gritted her teeth and walked forward, pulling Chu Weiran out of the kitchen.

Fortunately, the kitchen was large. If it had been any smaller, Jin Yi wouldn’t have even found a place to step given the mess Chu Weiran had made.

“What are you doing this early in the morning? Trying to tear the house down?”

Chu Weiran, who had already been nervous about cooking, was frightened by the volume of Jin Yi’s voice. She shrank back, looking quite aggrieved.

“I… I wanted to make breakfast for you!”

Her voice was soft and shaky. Her arm really hurt; she had just been burned by the splattering oil.

Jin Yi was busy checking her for injuries and quickly noticed the red, swollen patch on her arm. Because she was so fair, the redness was incredibly obvious.

“How can you be so clumsy? I thought you did a great job with the noodles yesterday.”

“The sauce yesterday was made by my mom beforehand. I only boiled the noodles.”

Jin Yi was speechless—absolutely speechless. “Is there any burn ointment in the house?”

“I don’t know.”

…

“Where is the first-aid kit?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know,” “I don’t know,” “I don’t know.” So, it really was her taking care of Chu Weiran, wasn’t it?

“Go sit on the sofa and wait for me. I’m going to buy some ointment.”

Jin Yi remembered there was a small electric scooter used for grocery shopping, which was perfect for right now. She hopped on her favorite little scooter, and the round trip took about ten minutes. When she returned, she found Chu Weiran still standing at the kitchen entrance.

“Why aren’t you sitting down?”

Chu Weiran looked down at her dress and said, “It’s dirty.”

“Then sit on a chair.”

“Okay!”

Earlier, Jin Yi had been in such a rush she hadn’t seen the extent of the burn. Now that she looked closer, it wasn’t actually that severe, but since Chu Weiran was so pale, the red spot stood out sharply.

“Why on earth did you try to make breakfast? Look at what you’ve done to yourself.”

Jin Yi’s brow was furrowed and her tone was sharp, but Chu Weiran wasn’t paying attention to the scolding. She was staring at the hands applying the medicine to her skin.

“Xiao Yi’s hands are so soft. They’re so thin and long, too.”