My Feelings Were Toyed With By A Gentle Older Sister - Chapter 5

The moonlight spilled across the ground like scattered salt, while fallen roses carpeted the earth, exhaling bursts of faint fragrance.

Bai Yizhi directed her light-colored eyes haughtily toward Nian Zhao. “Anyway, it wasn’t during your term.”

In the dead silence of the night, Nian Zhao heard these words and let out a soft chuckle. “Aside from me, you actually had others?”

Her tone was flat, devoid of any discernible emotion. Though a smile played in her eyes, a closer look revealed they were as still as a frozen pond. Bai Yizhi found it difficult to read her mind.

Since they had broken up, whoever Bai Yizhi dated afterward should have had nothing to do with her. Based on what she knew of Nian Zhao, the woman wasn’t the type to be interested in an ex’s romantic history. Asking now felt like nothing more than an empty gesture of concern, using the guise of an “older sister.”

Bai Yizhi lifted her eyes slightly. “Of course. I wouldn’t stay single all these years for your sake.” She stole a quick glance at Nian Zhao’s expression before continuing, “I’m pretty and I have a good figure; naturally, plenty of people pursued me. When I saw someone I liked, I agreed.”

“How many did you date?”

“I don’t remember.”

“And now?”

Bai Yizhi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Does that have anything to do with you?”

Nian Zhao froze for a moment. Her gaze lost focus, drifting past Bai Yizhi to the mottled shadows of the trees in the distance. She murmured, “It’s been a long time since we met. I just wanted to ask how you’ve been.”

The warm light fell upon Nian Zhao, enveloping her in a hazy glow. That light softened the aggressive edge of her features, lending her an air of gentleness.

Bai Yizhi stared for a long time, nearly unable to look away. She wondered how this person could speak to her so nonchalantly so calm, as if those two years of love had never happened. Yet the reality was they had dated seriously for two years, living and breathing as a couple for all that time.

They had done everything couples do. They had kissed countless times in dark, narrow rooms; almost every time, it was Bai Yizhi leaning forward, cautiously pressing her lips against those soft, red ones.

Back then, whenever Bai Yizhi opened her eyes to meet Nian Zhao’s gaze, she saw eyes as dark and stagnant as a lifeless pool. The contrast was stark: Bai Yizhi would be breathless with reddened eyes, while Nian Zhao remained unmoved.

One heart was overflowing; the other was utterly devoid of distraction.

The night air carried a chill. Bai Yizhi turned away and began walking slowly back toward the house. As she left, she dropped a final sentence: “There’s no need.”

Passing the front desk, she saw the man had already packed his bags and was preparing to leave. As he bickered with the receptionist, he instinctively glanced at Bai Yizhi.

Bai Yizhi didn’t return the look, heading upstairs as if she hadn’t seen a thing.

Before she reached her room, the “da-da” sound of footsteps echoed behind her, sounding somewhat heavy against the wooden floorboards.

She turned toward the sound. It was that woman.

The light fully revealed Bai Yizhi’s features a pale, thin girl standing under the warm glow. Xu Youyi found Bai Yizhi familiar, remembering her as the girl who had taken her photo earlier, and offered a casual greeting.

As she was about to pass by, Xu Youyi didn’t expect Bai Yizhi to call out to her.

Bai Yizhi stared at her face and spoke. “Keep an eye on your boyfriend.”

Xu Youyi seemed to be in a good mood; it was unclear if she had realized that Lin Zhou had already packed up and left. Knowing they were a couple, Bai Yizhi felt compelled to offer a passing warning.

But Xu Youyi only smiled. “Thank you. But we… we’re just playmates. Our relationship is strictly in bed. With that kind of connection, there’s no need to worry about me getting hurt.”

After saying this, she seemed to think of something and asked, “What did he do?”

Bai Yizhi replied, “He’s a philanderer.”

Then she added, “If he harassed you, I am truly sorry.”

Bai Yizhi responded, “He acts improperly; it has nothing to do with you.”

Xu Youyi’s brow tightened. “I’ll dump him as soon as I get back.”

She maintained her indifferent attitude, tossing her long hair as she walked toward her own room. Her hair danced in the air for a moment, leaving behind a lingering fragrance.

Bai Yizhi lowered her head, revealing her slender nape. She stared at the door, lost in thought. Xu Youyi’s voice echoed in her ears, causing a dull ache.

Playmates…

In an instant, she was reminded of what Nian Zhao had said to her when they broke up: I was just playing around, don’t take it seriously…

So it really was just “playing around.” She truly didn’t care about their relationship at all.

Bai Yizhi took a deep breath, opened the door, and entered her room.

She walked slowly to the bed and collapsed onto it, her limbs spread wide. Only now did her exhausted body finally relax.

She didn’t know how long she slept, but when she woke up, it was the middle of the night.

The room was pitch black. She slowly opened her eyes, staring groggily at the ceiling. A sense of profound loneliness sprouted from the boundless darkness.

Her mind was terrifyingly clear after waking. Bai Yizhi simply turned on the light and slumped into her chair, her fingers moving incessantly across her digital tablet.

She stared blankly at the two figures in the drawing, their bodies intertwined, inseparable and intimate.

A second later, Bai Yizhi cursed herself for having a mind clouded by such thoughts.

She grabbed the pillow from her bed and pummeled it several times to vent her frustration, her eyes shimmering with moisture under the lamp.

Once exhausted from the “fight,” she slumped back into her chair to continue drawing, only to find the plot becoming increasingly nonsensical.

Having lost all desire to work, she threw on a thin cardigan and lay down on the lounge chair on the balcony to relax.

The sky was just beginning to pale. The light in the courtyard was dim, and someone was standing beneath it.

Bai Yizhi peered down. That graceful silhouette blended into the night. Looking at that solitary back from afar, she felt a strange sense of desolation.

Nian Zhao stood with her head down, looking at the withered petals on the ground, a phone in her hand as she talked to someone.

Bai Yizhi checked the time, it was after three in the morning.

Still awake so late, was she unable to sleep, or had she woken up early like herself?

Without realizing it, Bai Yizhi became lost in the sight.

Nian Zhao let out a soft sigh, her shoulders slumping. As she turned around, Bai Yizhi could see her lips moving continuously, her expression was not pleasant.

Sometimes Bai Yizhi felt that the sorrow between Nian Zhao’s brows could never be smoothed away, and it seemed even more pronounced in the cold night.

What exactly was making her so restless and anxious?

Bai Yizhi hadn’t slept long, and drowsiness soon hit her again. She walked with heavy steps back inside.

Maple Garden was famous for its scenery and food, and there were many popular shops near the guesthouse.

She woke up at just after seven.

Since she had managed to wake up early for once, she decided to go out for breakfast. Not far from “Xun Zhu Chu” was a breakfast shop highly recommended by bloggers.

Distant mountains were shrouded in mist, and the sky was clear after a light rain.

Bai Yizhi grabbed an umbrella and headed out.

The breakfast shop was already packed, likely filled with people lured by online reviews. The shop was spacious, spanning two floors.

The first floor was crowded, so Bai Yizhi decided to eat on the second.

As she moved through the crowd, her footsteps faltered the moment she spotted that person. Her first instinct was to turn around and run.

But Nian Zhao had already noticed her. With curving eyes, she raised a hand to beckon her over.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Yizhi walked over slowly.

Only when she got close did she notice how exhausted Nian Zhao looked. There were dark circles under her eyes. Recalling that Nian Zhao was still awake in the early hours, she wondered if the woman hadn’t slept at all.

Bai Yizhi said, “You’re up early.”

Nian Zhao replied, “Yes. I had insomnia last night. Didn’t sleep.”

It confirmed her suspicion.

Bai Yizhi picked up her spoon and began eating her porridge. “Unlucky. It’s really unlucky to run into you.”

She hadn’t expected to encounter Nian Zhao just by going out for an early breakfast. Given their frequent meetings over the past few days, it felt like she couldn’t escape her.

Nian Zhao tapped her spoon against the porcelain bowl, making a soft clinking sound. She stared at Bai Yizhi’s lips, which were coated with a slight sheen from the food, and momentarily lost her train of thought.

Nian Zhao lowered her head. “Zhizhi.”

Hearing Nian Zhao call her name so softly, Bai Yizhi instinctively looked up, waiting for her to speak.

“When you say things like that, it makes me sad.”

In the noisy environment, Nian Zhao’s voice was so gentle that Bai Yizhi almost missed it. She looked at the forced smile and lonely expression on the woman’s face, and her heart couldn’t help but twitch.

Yet the words she spoke lacked any warmth. “Suit yourself.”

Nian Zhao didn’t dwell on her sorrow and shifted the topic. “Are you just recently out of college?”

Hearing this, Bai Yizhi let out a cold, mocking laugh. Nian Zhao had probably even forgotten her age.

Recently graduated? She had been out of school for three whole years!

Had they been apart so long that Nian Zhao had forgotten how old she was? The reason, of course, was simply that she didn’t care.

“Thank you, but I’m not that young. I’m 24 and graduated three years ago. I’m not some kid fresh in society anymore.”

Nian Zhao’s hand, which had been idly moving, came to a stop. “I’m sorry. I’m still stuck in the past.”

Bai Yizhi felt a surge of resentment. Nian Zhao was constantly reminding her that she meant nothing to her. If she was such an inconsequential existence, it was only natural that Nian Zhao wouldn’t remember her age.

She gave a haughty “Hmph” and turned her head, then flashed a forced, “sincere” smile. “And what about you? How old are you this year, older sister?”

“29. Exactly five years older than you.”

The Nian Zhao before her eyes overlapped with the version from years ago. She remembered that a long time ago, Nian Zhao had said something similar.

It was near dusk back then, and the sky was painted with pink clouds, a beautiful day.

Bai Yizhi had just started middle school. Nian Zhao had sat behind her, circling her in an embrace, chin resting on her shoulder.

Nian Zhao had been wearing a clean white shirt. Her sleeve brushed against Bai Yizhi’s cheek. In that position, she was surrounded by a faint scent of soap. The itch on Bai Yizhi’s cheek spread along with her budding feelings, growing stronger.

Nian Zhao’s pleasant voice had whispered in her ear: “We’re five years apart. When you’re in middle school, I’m already in high school. When you get to high school, I’ll be in college. By the time you’re in college, I’ll have graduated. We are always missing each other.”

Bai Yizhi had nodded, quietly lowering her head and leaning toward Nian Zhao’s arm, trying to catch more of that wonderful scent.

Nian Zhao had chuckled softly, her voice warm and melodic. “I’m the older sister. I’ll teach you everything you don’t know.”

The moment the memory surfaced, Bai Yizhi felt a pang of bitterness in her heart. She wondered if they had never started dating, would they still be friends now?

If she had known it would end like this, she wouldn’t have dated her. That way, they could have remained friends.