One Year After Her Sister-In-Law Was Widowed - Chapter 63

Ji Zhuozhou’s expression and attitude were so natural—so natural that it didn’t seem like she was inviting someone with whom she had completely severed ties only the day before… as, uh, bed partners?

But Ji Zhuozhou didn’t see it that way.

She had never agreed to end things with Xiao Shuangyu.

Xiao Shuangyu was hiding from her and didn’t want to see her, so she had temporarily stepped away, proactively creating distance.

She had said they would see each other again, and indeed, she had come to see Xiao Shuangyu again; there was nothing wrong with that.

She even felt that it was wonderful that today was her birthday—so wonderful that she had a sufficient reason to knock on the neighbor’s door.

It wasn’t abrupt or strange; she could naturally bring flowers and a cake to give to Xiao Shuangyu. No matter how resistant Xiao Shuangyu might be, she likely wouldn’t ignore it.

She wanted Xiao Shuangyu to look at her, just as those eyes had been filled with her for the past year or more.

She knew that a pair of pitch-black eyes had been quietly following her for over a year.

At first, Xiao Shuangyu was always clumsy and couldn’t hide well. That dark figure might not have been enough to attract others’ attention, but to her, it was obvious.

She had noticed very quickly.

Unsure of what purpose this Alpha—who had just lost her sister—had in following her, she let Xiao Shuangyu follow, waiting for her to step forward.

But Xiao Shuangyu was truly timid, repeating the act of following her day after day, never approaching.

On the day of Xiao Mingyi’s death anniversary at the cemetery, she had deliberately struck up a conversation with Xiao Shuangyu. Even if Xiao Shuangyu hadn’t looked unwell that day, she would have found another way to have a meal with her.

Xiao Shuangyu’s reactions that day had surprised her—whether it was the way she touched her hand and then stroked it, her solitary escape, the way she crouched at the corner of the stairs watching her that night, or how quickly she ran away the moment Ji stood up.

She was flustered and lost, yet the very next day, she joined Huari to become her colleague.

Those eyes moved from far behind her to being close to her, facing her, secretly lifting to look at her again and again.

Even if, more often than not, they remained behind her, watching carefully.

When did the eyes behind her disappear?

The fragrance of fresh flowers and the sweetness of the cake drifted through the air, surrounding her. Ji Zhuozhou lowered her beautiful eyes and forcefully used her elbow to block the door Xiao Shuangyu was trying to close.

She looked utterly helpless, fragile and pitiful, and even her voice was soft to the point of melting. “LianLian, don’t make me spend my birthday alone, okay?”

She saw those excessively dark “sanpaku” eyes roll slightly downward, faintly flickering with internal conflict.

She whispered again, “LianLian, I’m begging you.”

The slender fingers resting on the doorknob slowly loosened their grip.

Ji Zhuozhou noticed instantly and felt an almost uncontrollable surge of joy; she knew Xiao Shuangyu wouldn’t remain indifferent.

However, Xiao Shuangyu said, “As long as President Ji wants it, this birthday will certainly be very lively. You won’t be alone.”

That gloomy face lifted slightly, and a pitch-black gaze fell upon the elbow by the door. “I’m closing the door.”

The reality was the exact opposite.

Ji Zhuozhou was both shocked and at a loss. “But… but I want to spend it with LianLian.”

As if having made a decision, Xiao Shuangyu finally looked up at her. “Don’t come again, and don’t have people look for me anymore. If we are discovered, it won’t be good for President Ji’s blind dates.”

Ji Zhuozhou froze.

Blind dates.

Xiao Shuangyu had suddenly mentioned blind dates.

As expected, Xiao Shuangyu blamed her.

But, Xiao Shuangyu did care about her.

Ji Zhuozhou immediately squeezed inward, pressing toward the space Xiao Shuangyu had opened. “It’s not like that, LianLian, listen to me.”

Startled, Xiao Shuangyu instinctively pushed out, shoving Ji Zhuozhou out of the door frame.

The moment she realized what she’d done, Xiao Shuangyu froze, then quickly pulled the door back. “I’m sorry.”

Bang. The door closed just like that.

The gust of air hit Ji Zhuozhou’s face. She closed her eyes; her gaze filled with disbelief.

“I’m sorry” again. No matter what Xiao Shuangyu did, she always had to say sorry to her.

She was wrong.

She shouldn’t have agreed to attend that banquet. If she hadn’t met Xiao Shuangyu there, if she hadn’t been exposed there—if she hadn’t been exposed so early—she would have had the chance to explain to Xiao Shuangyu.

But now, Xiao Shuangyu didn’t even want to hear an explanation.

Why did it turn out like this?

Ji Zhuozhou left.

She left the flowers and cake by the door, knocking to say they were meant for her, and that if they couldn’t eat together, she should eat them all herself.

Xiao Shuangyu didn’t make a sound, nor did she walk away; she just stood there by the door.

Because she had unintentionally pushed Ji Zhuozhou, her racing heartbeat had not yet calmed down.

The scent of rain and mist still lingered clearly by the door—the scent that always made her obsessed and intoxicated—making her panic.

She didn’t know what Ji Zhuozhou wanted to say, why she had brought cake and flowers to find her, or why she hadn’t gone back, but instead stayed right next door.

Questions rose one by one, and she suppressed them one by one.

She didn’t need to know these things; Ji Zhuozhou was already supposed to be nothing to her.

There were only two days left. In two days, she would leave this place.

No matter why Ji Zhuozhou had moved in next door, once she left and entered the closed-off dormitory arranged by the show’s production team, she wouldn’t see Ji Zhuozhou again.

No, perhaps she wouldn’t even have to wait that long.

Right now, the Ji Zhuozhou who had turned and walked away outside might already be leaving.

It was just those flowers and the cake outside…

The one having a birthday was Ji Zhuozhou, not her, yet Ji Zhuozhou said they were meant for her and left them for her.

After a long time, Xiao Shuangyu pushed open the door and saw the flowers and cake placed by the entrance at a glance.

Fortunately, the weather was cool enough that the cream on the cake was still intact.

Only then did Xiao Shuangyu see clearly that the cake was shaped like a small white dog with a big smile. Even in the middle of the flower bouquet, several matching puppy plushies were tucked in.

Looking up, in the courtyard next door, Ji Zhuozhou was looking at her across the fence. Those deep green eyes blended with the lush greenery behind her, and upon seeing her, they narrowed into a slight smile.

It was as if she had been certain Xiao Shuangyu would come out.

Xiao Shuangyu avoided her gaze but still leaned down to pick up the flowers and cake. She walked into the courtyard and handed them over to the other side of the fence.

“Here, don’t give them to me. It’s your birthday.”

Ji Zhuozhou turned a deaf ear, her lips curving into a gentle, elegant smile. “Is this a gift?”

Xiao Shuangyu was stunned. “What gift? You left these.”

Ji Zhuozhou tilted her head. “Thank you, LianLian. I like them very much.”

Xiao Shuangyu suddenly didn’t know what to say. Since Ji Zhuozhou had already taken the items, she turned to walk back, but Ji Zhuozhou called out to her.

“LianLian.”

She added, “Aren’t you going to wish me a happy birthday?”

Xiao Shuangyu paused briefly, then turned her head. “Happy birthday.”

Ji Zhuozhou let out a soft laugh that merged like the breeze into the autumn wind and leaves.

Xiao Shuangyu took large strides forward.

Ji Zhuozhou’s voice floated up behind her. “LianLian, I just made a wish.”

“They say wishes made on birthdays are very effective. I hope it all comes true.”

Xiao Shuangyu shut the door again, locking Ji Zhuozhou’s voice and gaze outside.

Why did Ji Zhuozhou tell her about the wish? Did she wish for something?

Unusually, she wondered.

She thought this was the end, but not long after, when she went out for lunch, Ji Zhuozhou followed a few steps behind her again.

Holding the flowers and cake, wearing a faint smile, she stared intently at the back of Xiao Shuangyu’s head—staring until Xiao Shuangyu felt flustered.

It was still the casual little restaurant Xiao Shuangyu had picked. Ji Zhuozhou sat down opposite her and suddenly started cutting the cake.

She gave a large piece to Xiao Shuangyu first, then continued to cut smaller pieces to distribute to the other people in the restaurant. Everyone got a piece, and she made sure everyone said the cake was a gift she had received.

Xiao Shuangyu didn’t move, just sat there watching Ji Zhuozhou’s actions. When the food was served and Ji Zhuozhou returned, she finally couldn’t help but speak up. “What are you doing?”

Ji Zhuozhou pushed the piece of cake Xiao Shuangyu had pushed back toward her, her voice soft and warm. “Celebrating a birthday.”

She also said, “If LianLian can’t finish it, you can ask me to join you.”

In front of Ji Zhuozhou, no other piece of cake remained.

Xiao Shuangyu pushed the cake back again. “You eat it, don’t give it to me.”

Ji Zhuozhou pressed against the edge of the cake plate. “I can’t finish it. LianLian, eat with me.”

It seemed that if she didn’t eat it, this would go on forever.

She really couldn’t continue to dampen Ji Zhuozhou’s spirits; after all, it was her birthday today.

Xiao Shuangyu indignantly picked up a fork, cut a huge mouthful of cake, and stuffed it into her mouth. Turning her head away, she mumbled, “I’m eating it, thanks.”

Ji Zhuozhou began to laugh. She laughed until she finished the rest of the cake, laughed until they finished eating, laughed while following Xiao Shuangyu as she went to play the drums, laughed while following her back to the guesthouse, and then was shut out of the courtyard.

The smile finally faded when Xiao Shuangyu could no longer see her, replaced by a touch of bitterness.

However, before midnight that day, Ji Zhuozhou suddenly received a package—an express delivery.

Inside the package was a giant puppy plushie—the same white dog as the small ones on the cake and flowers, almost as tall as Ji Zhuozhou.

Ji Zhuozhou had already guessed when she heard there was a package for her, and seeing this giant dog confirmed her suspicion instantly.

She rushed into the courtyard. Seeing that the lights next door was already out, she stubbornly sent a message to Xiao Shuangyu.

In the pitch-black room, Xiao Shuangyu heard the notification sound but only rolled over and did not look at it.

It should have been delivered.

Since she ate Ji Zhuozhou’s birthday cake, she had to give a gift… right?

Xiao Shuangyu closed her eyes.

The next day, Xiao Shuangyu walked into the courtyard only to see Ji Zhuozhou standing by the fence carrying the giant white puppy plushie, watching her.

To keep it from touching the ground or anything else, Ji Zhuozhou was almost entirely crushed by the plushie, yet she seemed to be in an extremely good mood as she softly bid her good morning.

Xiao Shuangyu glanced over, stunned for a moment, then turned away and ignored her, walking outside on her own. Ji Zhuozhou followed, leaving the plushie behind.

She just focused on her own tasks, completely ignoring Ji Zhuozhou behind her, who was talking about how much she liked the gift.

The elegant and brilliant President Ji could receive any gift she wanted; it was just a plushie. She knew Ji was saying those things just to make her happy.

Another day passed, and Xiao Shuangyu packed her things, preparing to leave.

She didn’t know if Ji Zhuozhou would still be by the fence or if she would follow.

But when she walked out the door, Ji Zhuozhou wasn’t there.

She walked into the courtyard and couldn’t help but glance at the neighbor’s yard; no one was there.

Walking out of the courtyard, the old woman who was out for a stroll smiled at her and said, “You’re leaving too, huh?”

Xiao Shuangyu was confused. “Too?”

The old woman nodded and pointed to the yard next door. “I saw her take a phone call outside last night and leave in a hurry.”

Xiao Shuangyu froze for a moment, looked down with a soft “oh,” and walked forward without looking back.