One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 36

Saturday, shortly after ten o’clock in the morning.

A-Nan’s call reached Nie Siyu’s phone.

Nie Siyu was about to hang up, but then remembered something and answered before she reached her destination.

A-Nan’s voice rang out immediately, “Siyu, has Lianlian contacted you? Ever since her sister picked up the phone, there’s been no news at all.”

Nie Siyu rubbed her brow, “I thought you were calling me because you found out something.”

A-Nan paused for a moment, “Actually, I did.”

Nie Siyu was puzzled, “Hmm?”

A-Nan lowered her voice mysteriously, “I don’t think that’s her biological sister.”

Last night, they had waited a long time without receiving any news that Xiao Shuangyu had arrived home safely. They couldn’t help but send a barrage of messages and place many calls.

Just as they were turning in circles with anxiety and planning to call the police, Xiao Shuangyu’s phone finally connected. However, it wasn’t Xiao Shuangyu on the other end, but a soft and gentle voice.

The woman said, ” Lianlian isn’t feeling well and has just fallen asleep. I’ll have her contact you when she wakes up.”

She also asked them, “Did Lianlian suffer some sort of grievance?”

The first reaction of the two was alertness, questioning the woman’s relationship with Xiao Shuangyu.

“Sister” was the word the woman used.

It wasn’t until the other side sent a photo of Xiao Shuangyu safely wrapped in a quilt—with only her red-rimmed eyes visible—that they believed her and felt relieved.

But regarding a “grievance,” the two were truly unsure. They only hesitantly mentioned how Xiao Shuangyu started acting strangely after being confessed to.

Later, they had gone to ask the staff member who had been standing not far behind Xiao Shuangyu. Regarding that Omega’s confession, it really couldn’t be described as excessive, yet Xiao Shuangyu simply went wrong all at once.

They originally wanted to ask if Xiao Shuangyu had said anything after returning home and what exactly was going on, but the woman simply said “thank you” and hung up.

Xiao Shuangyu was truly a very sullen person—not the calculating kind of sullen, but the kind of sullen that always felt slow to react.

It was also hard to get close to her heart. After being together for so long, she had never revealed anything about her family situation, as if… she didn’t want them to know.

This “sister” was the first family member of Xiao Shuangyu’s they had ever come into contact with.

A-Nan expressed a reasonable doubt: “If her sister were really that gentle, it would be impossible for Lianlian to have this kind of personality.”

Regardless of whether A-Nan could see her or not, Nie Siyu nodded, “In any case, Lianlian seems to trust her very much.”

After all, Xiao Shuangyu—who had said through tears that she wanted to go home and wouldn’t let anyone accompany her—had ended up returning to this “sister’s” side.

Both of them let out a sigh in unison.

A-Nan’s voice carried a hint of worry, “Do you think Lianlian will come to rehearsal today?”

Nie Siyu fell silent.

It was hard to say; forget about the afternoon rehearsal, they might not even see Xiao Shuangyu at tonight’s performance.

Her state last night had looked truly terrible, and with no news until now, perhaps she hadn’t woken up yet.

But if Xiao Shuangyu didn’t come, it would be even harder for them to understand her situation. If several days dragged on until they met again next Wednesday, it might be even more impossible to ask her anything.

Nie Siyu’s car arrived, “Let’s see what happens later. I have to go see a client first.”

A-Nan let out an “Ah,” “Isn’t today Saturday?”

Nie Siyu adjusted her glasses, “Yes, the client could only make it today.”

A-Nan made some encouraging noises and hung up the phone.

Nie Siyu straightened her appearance and arrived at the agreed location.

At a glance, she saw a head of red hair—a familiar red hair.

Nie Siyu thought to herself, “No way,” but after turning a corner, she saw that it was indeed Ji Xunxia.

She instinctively felt she had come to the wrong place and was thinking about whether to go out and confirm again when Ji Xunxia spotted her and spoke in confusion, “Nie Siyu?”

Nie Siyu froze, “Hello, Sister Xunxia. What a coincidence. I have to meet a client; I might have found the wrong place.”

Ji Xunxia looked at her attire, and a smile suddenly broke out on her expressive and charming face, “You didn’t find the wrong place. The person you’re supposed to meet is probably me.”

Ji Xunxia took out a set of documents from the side. Nie Siyu was all too familiar with the large title on the cover.

Nie Siyu resignedly sat across from Ji Xunxia and similarly pulled out a document to push into the middle, “Xun—President Ji, regarding our proposal…”

Ji Xunxia interrupted her, “Why are you in such a rush to work? I really didn’t expect to run into Siyu. Let’s chat for a while; if the chat goes well, it’s not impossible for me to make some concessions.”

Looking at Ji Xunxia’s expression, Nie Siyu inexplicably felt the credibility was very low. Whether heard from the perspective of an outsourced company or personally experienced from the perspective of a part-time band, the Ji Xunxia she knew was not easy to deal with when it came to money.

Nie Siyu still closed the document she was flipping through, “What shall we chat about?”

Ji Xunxia tucked her red hair behind her ear, “I heard your performance last night was very good.”

Nie Siyu nodded.

Ji Xunxia added, “But I also heard something happened to Lianlian. What’s the situation?”

Nie Siyu was instantly somewhat helpless. She let out a sigh and instead asked the “know-it-all” Ji Xunxia, “We aren’t clear on what exactly happened either. Sister Xunxia, do you have…”

Xiao Shuangyu hadn’t woken up yet.

During the night, she had been startled awake several times. It seemed she had dreamed of something bad; she would cry as soon as she woke up, and her body temperature—which had finally subsided—repeatedly spiked with fever.

She was incoherent and lacked consciousness, but if Ji Zhuozhou said she would take her to the hospital, she would shrink into a ball in great fear and refuse no matter what.

Having no other choice, Ji Zhuozhou could only call a doctor to come over just as the sky was beginning to brighten. Only after giving Xiao Shuangyu an injection was, she finally able to sleep peacefully until now.

Even now, Ji Zhuozhou’s hand was still gripped tightly in Xiao Shuangyu’s palm, unable to be pulled away at all.

Ji Zhuozhou gently brushed the messy hair from her face, wanting very much to ask her what exactly she had dreamed about and why she was so afraid.

Why did she hate Xiao Mingyi, and why did her mood drop and her eyes fill with tears every time she saw a photo of Xiao Mingyi?

Why did she cry just from being confessed to, and why did she say she only had her…

Surrounded by countless mysteries, Xiao Shuangyu woke up.

Her excessively dark eyes slowly opened, her pupils clouded with chaos.

Xiao Shuangyu felt dizzy, and there was only a blank space in her mind.

The blank Xiao Shuangyu discovered another hand in her palm. She looked up and found Ji Zhuozhou beside her.

She instinctively scrambled up, “Sister.”

Her voice was very hoarse.

She touched her throat, confused by the sound of her own voice.

Ji Zhuozhou spoke softly, “Do you still remember what happened last night?”

Xiao Shuangyu was dazed and answered according to Ji Zhuozhou’s question, “Last night… I went to perform, and then we drank to celebrate, and then someone came to find me…”

Xiao Shuangyu fell silent; that was not a very good memory.

Ji Zhuozhou picked up the thread, “This person confessed to you.”

Xiao Shuangyu was startled and looked at Ji Zhuozhou.

Ji Zhuozhou continued, “And then? What happened?”

Xiao Shuangyu lowered her head again, struggling to remember, “And then I was in the restroom, and I saw Sister’s message.”

Ji Zhuozhou was somewhat puzzled, “Because of my message, Lianlian developed a fever and came back crying?”

Xiao Shuangyu was shocked and hurriedly waved her hands, “No, I… I am… I was very happy.”

Ji Zhuozhou nodded, “Then it was the issue with the confession.”

Xiao Shuangyu fell silent; she couldn’t explain it either. Her gaze drifted, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Ji Zhuozhou’s hand, “Did I… have a fever?”

Ji Zhuozhou nodded again, “Do you remember what happened after you returned?”

Xiao Shuangyu tried hard to think, thinking for a bit longer.

She shook her head.

She had wanted to return; Nie Siyu helped her call a car, she got in, and she said the address of this place.

And then?

How did she get back, and how did she end up sleeping in Ji Zhuozhou’s bed?

She… she hadn’t changed her clothes.

The moment she realized this, Xiao Shuangyu bounced up abruptly.

Ji Zhuozhou, whose hand was tightly held, was also pulled a bit by her. She hurriedly let go, “I’m… I’m sorry. I slept in Sister’s bed without changing my clothes. I will wash it for Sister.”

She let go, but Ji Zhuozhou didn’t. She still held her hand, “Come here. Sit down.”

Xiao Shuangyu blinked but still sat back down carefully, her voice cautious, “Sister, don’t be angry. I’ll buy a new one for Sister.”

Ji Zhuozhou shook her head, “I’m not angry Lianlian doesn’t like being confessed to… is it because of your sister?”

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned. Her gaze drifted, her mind seemed to clear a bit, and her voice was hoarse and dry, “Why… mention my sister?”

Deep green eyes rested quietly on her, “Does Lianlian not like her, or do you not like me mentioning her?”

Xiao Shuangyu naturally liked neither, but she didn’t make a sound. She seemed to become clouded again, not understanding why Ji Zhuozhou would ask such a question.

Was she that obvious?

Should she let Ji Zhuozhou see it?

She shouldn’t.

Ji Zhuozhou had already continued, “Why do you hate her?”

Xiao Shuangyu instinctively shook her head.

She carefully raised her gaze, “No one would hate her.”

Xiao Mingyi was so perfect, so outstanding—even if she was promiscuous, even if she was hypocritical, no one would hate her.

Ji Zhuozhou was like that, and Xiao Shuangyu should be too.

Xiao Shuangyu looked at Ji Zhuozhou, a bitter taste overflowing in her mouth, “Everyone likes her.”

She had stopped crying after the injection; her eyes were not red or swollen, and her gaze was as black as ink. Her memories of returning last night were a total blank.

Thus, she didn’t remember that last night she had shed tears in Ji Zhuozhou’s palm and uttered a clear “I hate her.”

She even less remembered the tiny seven-year-old Xiao Shuangyu in her dreams during the night. The first time she was confessed to, she was caught by Xiao Mingyi, who publicized it so that everyone knew. After falling ill with a fever from fear amidst countless cold eyes, the girl had woken up alone in the hospital, repeatedly tossing and turning with the word “hate.”

She seemed to be telling herself that she should also like Xiao Mingyi, that she couldn’t dislike Xiao Mingyi, and that she couldn’t let Ji Zhuozhou know she disliked Xiao Mingyi.

But she couldn’t say it, so she could only include herself in that “everyone.”

Ji Zhuozhou narrowed her eyes slightly and suddenly said, “Is Lianlian envious?”

Xiao Shuangyu was startled.

Ji Zhuozhou tightened her hold on her hand, “There’s no need to feel envious. You and your sister are different. Lianlian is very good and well-behaved; Lianlian also deserves a lot of love.”

Xiao Shuangyu’s gaze fell on their joined hands, and she couldn’t help but secretly hold on tight.

No.

It wasn’t envy.

She didn’t feel envious.

She didn’t need “a lot of love.”

She was jealous.

Jealous that Xiao Mingyi could possess Ji Zhuozhou.

Jealous that Xiao Mingyi could be liked by Ji Zhuozhou.

Jealous that Ji Zhuozhou, who said she would come to pick her up, might have said the same words to Xiao Mingyi countless times.

She seemed to have gone mad.

She raised her head and asked Ji Zhuozhou, “What about Sister?”

“Does Sister like me?”

Different from Xiao Mingyi, did Ji Zhuozhou like her?

Different from Xiao Mingyi, was Ji Zhuozhou looking at her?

She shouldn’t have asked; she had never dared to ask. She, who hated being compared to Xiao Mingyi the most, had secretly placed herself on the scale of comparison with her.

Before her, Ji Zhuozhou made a tilt, “Of course. Lianlian is the best little sister.”

Gentle green eyes were smiling, the smile falling into a pair of pitch-black eyes.

Xiao Shuangyu’s heart sank.

Ji Zhuozhou let go of her hand.

This time, it was Xiao Shuangyu who refused to let go.