My Gorgeous Neighbor Is Cooking Every Day - Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Xia Xingye was initially feeling a little sour because Jiang Yingyue was here, but now seeing that Mi An genuinely wanted Jiang Yingyue to help cure her neighbor, all of Xia Xingye’s displeasure instantly vanished.

She even felt a little guilty for having wanted to stop Jiang Yingyue from coming here earlier.

Upon reaching the neighbor’s door, Mi An took a deep breath and told Xia Xingye and Jiang Yingyue: “Please be careful with what you say. She is frail and rarely leaves the room. She gets nervous around strangers.”

She paused, then added, “If she tries to hit you, please be careful and don’t fight back. I told you her body is special… injuring her could be dangerous.”

Knowing the neighbor’s situation, Xia Xingye nodded quickly and promised: “Don’t worry, we are not children. We know how to be careful.”

Mi An then knocked on the door. A small girl opened the door. The girl looked only about ten years old, was very thin, and had a very pale complexion, clearly someone who didn’t get much sun.

The little girl, Deng Xing’er, looked surprised and pleased to see Mi An and was about to let her in, but then her peripheral vision caught the two people behind her. She immediately closed the door slightly, leaving only a crack, and asked nervously: “Sister, who did you bring? I don’t want to see strangers.”

“Be good, listen. They are here to help you,” Mi An tried to explain in simple terms to the little girl. “After they check, maybe you can leave this room and play outside, and you won’t have to stay inside all day.”

Deng Xing’er blinked and shook her head, saying: “Sister, don’t waste money. My parents couldn’t find anyone to cure my illness, and now they don’t even come home because they are busy trying to treat me. I’m already bored alone. Instead of spending so much money on useless people, you should spend more time with me. That would make me happier.”

Deng Xing’er spoke her mind very calmly, not at all like Mi An said she might lash out and hit them.

Mi An spoke to her seriously and patiently: “The people I invited this time are not doctors or unreliable people. I’ve met them before. Can you just trust your sister, okay? If this time doesn’t work, your sister won’t bring anyone else to see you again.”

Deng Xing’er didn’t speak. Instead, she looked up at Xia Xingye and Jiang Yingyue, then reluctantly backed away two steps, clearing a path.

She whispered: “If it really doesn’t work, Sister, you have to keep your word and promise not to bring strange people to my house again.”

The two entered the house led by Mi An. The house was very clean, like a show home.

Mi An walked in, picked up Deng Xing’er, and sat her down on the sofa, stroking her slender hand and asking: “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere today?”

Deng Xing’er shook her head: “No, same as usual.”

“Did you take all your medicine?”

Deng Xing’er didn’t answer Mi An’s question. She just looked down at her small hands.

Mi An sighed, got up to get the medicine, and admonished Deng Xing’er: “You have to take the medicine the doctor prescribed on time.”

“I don’t want to take it. It hasn’t worked for so many years,” Deng Xing’er pouted, staring at the medicine in Mi An’s hand with great resistance.

Mi An was about to say something else, but Jiang Yingyue spoke first: “Let me check her first, and then decide whether to take the medicine. This medicine probably won’t help her.”

Mi An asked uncertainly: “Did you notice something?”

They had just met the girl. If Jiang Yingyue could really tell something, there might truly be a possibility of curing her.

“I’m not sure, but I’ve read about this situation in books before. I’ll know if I try.”

Jiang Yingyue reached out to take Deng Xing’er’s hand.

Deng Xing’er immediately pulled away, glaring at Jiang Yingyue. Seeing her expression, Xia Xingye had no doubt that if Jiang Yingyue forced the issue, she would definitely be scratched. Although she looked frail, her aggressive nature was not diminished.

“Didn’t you promise your sister to let her check you? Why are you hiding?” Mi An gently pinched Deng Xing’er’s cheek, persuading her with a smile, “Aren’t you the bravest little one? Why are you afraid of a stranger?”

Deng Xing’er resisted, saying: “Sister, I think they are strange. I don’t want to be too close to them. Tell them to stay away from me.” As she spoke, she shrunk into the corner of the sofa. She was so anxious that her arm got rubbed red.

Mi An frowned curiously. Deng Xing’er usually resisted other strangers, initially because she wanted to play with other children, but the other children didn’t want to play with her because she was sickly, and even pushed her away.

Since then, Deng Xing’er really disliked other strangers. But with Mi An’s companionship, she gradually improved and could occasionally accept unfamiliar doctors to treat her. Now, her strong resistance to Jiang Yingyue and Xia Xingye made Mi An feel a little strange.

Although she was confused, she wanted to go along with Deng Xing’er. She asked Jiang Yingyue: “Can you check her from a distance? Or do you have to be close to tell?”

“I can check from a distance, but it won’t be as accurate. Looking at her like this is okay too.” Jiang Yingyue didn’t insist. She couldn’t get close right now, but this distance was enough for her to tell what was going on with Deng Xing’er.

Jiang Yingyue vaguely understood Deng Xing’er’s problem but wasn’t certain. Seeing Deng Xing’er so shy, especially of her, she explained: “She is missing one hun soul, what we call the three hun and seven po souls. It’s not completely missing, but a small part is missing, which is why her body is easily injured. We just need to call the soul back.”

Mi An was a little confused, but when she heard Jiang Yingyue say, “We just need to call the soul back,” she immediately asked: “Do we need to prepare anything? Can we do it now?”

“It can be done,” Jiang Yingyue paused, then added, “But she has to cooperate with me.”

She looked at Deng Xing’er as she spoke. Deng Xing’er shrunk back further, clearly unwilling to let Jiang Yingyue come near her.

Mi An was a little anxious. She wanted Deng Xing’er to get better, but she couldn’t force her. She could only comfort her and ask: “Can’t you just listen? Just cooperate this once. Your sister won’t bring strange people to see you again. Once you’re better, your sister can take you out to play. Don’t you really want to go outside?”

Deng Xing’er pursed her lips, opened her mouth, and finally refused loudly: “No, I don’t want her to touch me!”

Mi An was helpless. She looked at Jiang Yingyue in difficulty.

Jiang Yingyue was not surprised at all. She often dealt with those things, and it was reasonable for Deng Xing’er to be afraid of her. It would be strange if Deng Xing’er actively approached her. She looked at Xia Xingye, who had been silent since entering, and said: “Can you help?”

Seeing Jiang Yingyue look at her, Xia Xingye pointed to herself blankly and asked: “Me?”

She had only casually followed Jiang Yingyue, and she didn’t expect Jiang Yingyue to mention her. Seeing Jiang Yingyue nod, she quickly said: “Yes, how can I help?” Xia Xingye was, of course, happy to be helpful.

Jiang Yingyue suddenly took her hand and said: “Hold her hand with your other hand.”

Xia Xingye followed Jiang Yingyue’s instructions and reached out to hold Deng Xing’er’s hand. Deng Xing’er looked at Xia Xingye but didn’t resist as much as she did with Jiang Yingyue. She let Xia Xingye hold her hand, while her other hand held Mi An’s hand.

“Don’t let go,” Jiang Yingyue instructed, then murmured a string of words no one could understand.

While she was chanting, Xia Xingye looked down. The hand holding Jiang Yingyue’s was warm, while the hand holding Deng Xing’er’s was icy cold. She frowned but didn’t let go.

After an unknown amount of time, Xia Xingye felt her body was experiencing two extremes—one side burning hot, the other side frozen numb.

“It’s done,” Xia Xingye let go immediately upon hearing Jiang Yingyue’s voice.

Mi An quickly checked Deng Xing’er’s condition. Deng Xing’er’s face was sweaty, and she looked distressed.

“What’s going on?” Mi An asked anxiously. “Didn’t you say it was fixed?”

“The small part of the soul that was missing is resisting because it has been away for too long. One more step is needed, but you have to do it yourself.”

“What do I need to do?” Mi An asked without hesitation. She would agree to anything, even if it meant going to the underworld herself.

“Is she really just your neighbor?” Xia Xingye couldn’t help but ask.

Mi An was excessively kind to Deng Xing’er, as if she would sacrifice her own life for her.

Mi An laughed and said: “From the first time I saw this child, I felt a connection with her. As for whether it’s worth it?”

She laughed: “Doesn’t the fact that I’m willing to do it mean it’s all worth it?”

If she didn’t think it was worth it, she wouldn’t have done so much for Deng Xing’er. Everything she did had already exceeded the bond of ordinary neighbors. She treated Deng Xing’er as her own younger sister. Although this might sound ridiculous, she truly felt in her heart that Deng Xing’er was her sister.

Perhaps they had different blood flowing in their veins, but perhaps Deng Xing’er was her biological sister hundreds of years ago? Of course, this couldn’t be confirmed, and she wouldn’t try to confirm whether they were family hundreds of years ago. It was enough that they wanted to be a family now.

“It’s simple. You need to let out some of her blood.” Jiang Yingyue took a small knife from her pocket. The knife looked old, but the blade was not rusted and was well-preserved.

Mi An looked at the knife but didn’t take it. She looked into Jiang Yingyue’s eyes: “Are you sure you need to draw her blood? Can’t I use my blood?”

She was reluctant to follow Jiang Yingyue’s instructions. She trusted Jiang Yingyue, but not blindly. She was worried about Deng Xing’er and explained: “She’s not well, as you can see. I told you before, if she gets hurt, the bleeding often won’t stop. Now…”

Before she could finish, Jiang Yingyue interrupted: “Are you going to do it or not? If you don’t, I’m leaving.”

Hearing this, Mi An immediately became anxious: “Wait a minute!”

Mi An thought for a moment and said: “Can we go to the hospital to draw the blood? I’m afraid the bleeding won’t stop here.”

“Hospitals are prone to errors. If you don’t mind her becoming even weaker, then you can go to the hospital.” What Jiang Yingyue said was true, but it sounded very cold coming from her mouth, as if she didn’t care about Deng Xing’er’s life or death and was forcing Mi An to draw Deng Xing’er’s blood right here.

Deng Xing’er couldn’t fully understand what they were saying, but she knew Mi An was troubled. She gently pulled Mi An’s hand and said: “Sister, if it’s too difficult, just forget it. I’m okay.”

She smiled and said: “I’m used to it. I’ve survived so many years; a few more decades won’t be a problem.”

She said “a few decades,” but she would be content if she could live just ten more years. She knew her body was frail and getting injured always led to a lot of trouble.

From reducing her outdoor activities to eventually wrapping most of the furniture in soft cloth at home, she was raised like a rare animal by her parents. Her parents didn’t stop loving her, but her illness also made them exhausted.

Sometimes Deng Xing’er even contemplated suicide, thinking that if she died, her parents and sister wouldn’t have to suffer so much. Mi An was the first to notice her suicidal thoughts. Mi An told her that everything they did was to help her get better, and if she died now, all their efforts would be in vain.

These words weighed heavily on Deng Xing’er’s heart, which was why she had persevered for all these years. Now that Mi An was struggling, Deng Xing’er disliked even more that Mi An had to do something she didn’t want to because of her.

She said earnestly: “Sister, you keep bringing people here, but you haven’t been able to cure me. It makes me sad. It’s better not to bring people over for me to meet.”

Mi An’s wavering heart was instead strengthened by Deng Xing’er’s words. She hardened her resolve, took, or rather snatched, the knife from Jiang Yingyue’s hand. Holding the small knife, she extended her hand and said to Deng Xing’er: “Give me your hand.”

Deng Xing’er was momentarily stunned, but still placed her hand in Mi An’s palm.

Mi An held her hand and whispered: “It might hurt a little. Bear with it.”

After saying this, Mi An didn’t give Deng Xing’er time to react. She immediately reached out and cut her fingertip. Blood immediately welled up, but it didn’t fall to the floor. Instead, it floated in the air and slowly streamed towards Jiang Yingyue, merging into a talisman with some strange runes on it.

After the blood merged onto the talisman, it emitted flashes of golden light. Jiang Yingyue held the talisman between her index and middle fingers, closing her eyes and silently chanting something.

Mi An couldn’t see anything, but she felt something suddenly approaching, a chill going through her body. Then, Deng Xing’er in her arms suddenly fell backward.

She quickly held her close, gripping Deng Xing’er tightly, then remembered Deng Xing’er’s condition and relaxed her grip slightly. She restrained her emotions and asked Jiang Yingyue: “What’s going on? Why did she suddenly become like this?”

Deng Xing’er in her arms was trembling constantly, large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, her breathing became very rapid, and her face was a pallor Mi An had never seen before, white like a dead person.

Mi An’s eyes turned red with anxiety. She could only stare wide-eyed.

“Stop right now. I’ll give you anything you want…” Deng Xing’er’s sudden change made Mi An doubt if she had misjudged Jiang Yingyue. Maybe Jiang Yingyue wasn’t a good person after all and was just trying to swindle money. But now she didn’t care about anything else; even if it was a scam, she would accept it, as long as Deng Xing’er was alright.

“Wait a little longer.” As anxious as Mi An was, Jiang Yingyue was equally calm.

Mi An couldn’t care less about anything else. She just wanted Deng Xing’er to feel better. She reached out to pull Jiang Yingyue, but Xia Xingye suddenly grabbed her hand and shielded Jiang Yingyue: “If you don’t believe her, we can stop now. But afterward, you can’t say my sister failed to deliver.”