She Adopted Me After My Biological Mother Passed Away - Chapter 36

“You trim your nails well.”

“Shi Shuxue???” She suddenly broke free from Shi Shuxue’s embrace, propping her hands against the other’s shoulders, her gaze burning like a torch. “Explain yourself clearly, do what with you?”

Looking at her reaction, Shi Shuxue’s face bore an “as expected” expression. She mouthed two words: “Make love.”

Chi Yeyu read her lips. Shocked beyond belief, her hands involuntarily tightened. Fearing she might hurt Shi Shuxue, she let go of her shoulders and instead pinched her own knuckles and the philtrum of her lip to steady herself.

She stared into Shi Shuxue’s emotionless eyes, realizing with a start that she could no longer read the girl’s thoughts. Those eyes held an incomprehensible certainty and seriousness that made her breathing turn sluggish.

“What are you thinking? Did someone say something to you? Are there students at school influencing you?” Chi Yeyu’s voice trembled. Her previous composure had vanished without a trace, replaced by genuine panic. Her tone was urgent. “How old are you even? How can you be thinking about these things?”

Shi Shuxue sat back in her seat, her back against the car chair, and said slowly, “I’m an adult. No one influenced me. You know perfectly well I’m not the type to let others influence me on matters like this.”

“Even if you’re an adult, it’s not okay! You’re still too young, and besides, you can’t just do this kind of thing with just anyone.”

Shi Shuxue’s black hair fell forward, obscuring half of her face and leaving only the clean line of her jaw visible. After a few seconds, she spoke in that same emotionless tone, whispering to herself like a soft chant: “I knew you just saw me as a kid.”

Chi Yeyu didn’t catch what she said. She leaned in to continue her questioning, her mind full of doubt and astonishment, her cat like eyes wide and round.

Shi Shuxue watched her. Those thin, even, pale pink lips opened and closed, the countless questions being asked didn’t reach her ears, flowing past like water. For a moment, she suspected Chi Yeyu would always treat her as a child who hadn’t grown up that she would never give her the kind of affection she truly craved.

Finding Chi Yeyu’s constant chatter annoying, she tilted her head slightly, pressed her hand down on Chi Yeyu’s head, and pressed her lips truly and firmly against the other’s mouth, successfully cutting off the torrent of words.

Chi Yeyu stared at her in horror, her entire body freezing as if struck by a silent bolt of lightning. That soft, cool sensation on her lips was gone in an instant, yet it sent a massive tidal wave through her heart.

In Shi Shuxue’s dark eyes, the reflection of the streetlights looked like tiny fallen stars. Within that coldness, a flicker of life finally leaked out, her eyes curving into a crescent moon smile: “You aren’t just ‘anyone,’ are you? Can’t you satisfy my curiosity?”

So it was just curiosity.

Chi Yeyu thought.

The car stopped in front of the hotel. She tapped Shi Shuxue on the forehead and said, “I really can’t satisfy that. Get out of the car first.”

The two entered the hotel suite Chi Yeyu had booked. Chi Yeyu hung her coat on a hook and went to the fridge for a drink. Shi Shuxue followed her like a shadow, sulking: “You broke your promise again.”

Chi Yeyu cracked open a can of sparkling wine, took a sip, and sat on the sofa, gazing out at the lake view. She asked, “Do you even know how girls do it?”

“I know. Using fingers, using toys,” Shi Shuxue said bluntly, without a hint of embarrassment. She stood behind Chi Yeyu, watching their reflections, one sitting, one standing, in the floor to ceiling window.

“You certainly know a lot.” Chi Yeyu raised an eyebrow, swirling her wrist as the Calpis flavored alcoholic drink let out tiny fizzy sounds. “I’ll have to give Yu Xiu a proper interrogation another day.”

Shi Shuxue stared at her hand. The fingers wrapped around the can were long and well-defined. Chi Yeyu never got manicures, aside from a single ring, she wore no jewelry. Her rounded fingernails had a faint pink tint.

“It has nothing to do with her. I’m the one who wants to do it with you,” Shi Shuxue said.

“Why does it have to be me?” Chi Yeyu asked. She was, after all, nine years older than Shi Shuxue. This wasn’t as simple as cooking a meal or washing clothes. Was Shi Shuxue’s way of thinking a bit… different from normal people?

Shi Shuxue answered, “You trim your nails well.”

Chi Yeyu was speechless. After a moment of dazed silence, she said, “No. I won’t do it with you.”

Shi Shuxue gave a casual “oh” and gave up quite readily: “Then I’ll just find someone else.”

“No way!” Chi Yeyu’s eyebrows shot up instantly, her hand gripping the can so hard it nearly deformed. “You are not allowed to find anyone else! What are you thinking? I’m finally back and you dare to act out right in front of me?”

“Then what am I supposed to do? You won’t let me date, you won’t let me find anyone else, and you won’t let me find you. Am I supposed to be controlled by you for the rest of my life?”

“You’re still too young right now. When you grow up…” Chi Yeyu realized this didn’t sound right either. Shi Shuxue was already an adult, what grounds did she have to control her? Use her mother in heaven to pressure her? But Shi Xianyu was already pregnant at eighteen. Chi Yeyu had no right to talk.

“Wait until you’re twenty. We’ll talk after you’re twenty.”

Shi Shuxue looked up at the ceiling and compromised: “Then I’ll save it up. The moment I turn twenty, I’ll go find seven or eight people to do it with at once. I’ll book a suite even bigger than this one, and I’ll charge it to your card.”

Chi Yeyu felt her blood rushing backward through her veins, a hot surge of air exploding in her chest and rushing to her limbs.

“Shi Shuxue, are you trying to kill me with anger? You dare suggest finding seven or eight people? I haven’t watched over you for just one year and you’ve turned out this warped?? What is wrong with you? Are you that desperate to get into bed with someone? There are so many fresh things in this world, can’t you think about something else?”

She took a deep breath, trying to force down the churning blood, but the anger felt like a physical object blocked in her throat, burning her voice into a raspy tone.

“Why are you angry? You barely looked after me for a year, why do you suddenly want to control me now?” Shi Shuxue asked curiously.

Her tone was incredibly irritating. The veins on Chi Yeyu’s forehead pulsed slightly. For a moment, she actually wanted to order several boxes of finger cots just to satisfy the girl’s curiosity tonight.

After silently chanting “She’s young and hasn’t matured” and “I don’t even know what her orientation is” several times, Chi Yeyu forced herself to calm down. Adopting the persona of a cold, domineering, traditional guardian, she squeezed the words through her teeth: “I’ll control you because I want to. As long as I’m alive, I’ll control you.”

Leaning over the back of the sofa, Shi Shuxue wrapped her arms around Chi Yeyu’s shoulders. Just as Chi Yeyu used to do to her, she lightly nuzzled the other’s neck. Her words were like a feather, her breath making Chi Yeyu itch: “You say that now…”

“You aren’t planning to hide from me, slowly distancing yourself, and never being close to me or seeing me again, right?” she asked eerily.

Chi Yeyu’s throat moved as she swallowed the sweet wine. She reached up to scratch the girl’s chin and said in surprise, “Have you been watching too many melodramas? What kind of nonsense are you imagining?”

Shi Shuxue straightened up and asked, “Do you have a change of clothes? I want to shower.”

“I brought them. Everything’s here, even underwear, all new,” Chi Yeyu said.

The bedroom only had one large bed. Shi Shuxue assumed Chi Yeyu had originally intended for them to sleep together, after all, they had often shared a room in the past. But after the scene she’d just made, she thought Chi Yeyu might change her mind and book another room.

However, when she finished her shower, she found Chi Yeyu lying lazily on the bed. She had left half the space open and even patted the empty spot to signal her to lie down, showing no sign of distance or defensiveness.

“Talk with me for a bit?” Chi Yeyu suggested.

Shi Shuxue hadn’t expected a “pure” chat under the covers. Song Liulan had once said the same thing to her, only to reveal unexpected feelings. Thinking back, she felt Song Liulan’s approach wasn’t without merit, one had to be bold to fight for love.

So, she asked, “Talk about what?”

“Just about your recent life. It’s been so long, I want to know everything,” Chi Yeyu said.

“What’s left to say? Didn’t you ask everything in the car?” Shi Shuxue replied.

On the way back, she had told Chi Yeyu about the current state of the “Screaming Goldfish” band. Yu Xiu and Tiangua were still there. After Li Lingling graduated and returned to her hometown to work, Shi Shuxue had filled the vacant bassist spot.

The band’s drummer was named Song Liulan. She had stayed for nearly a year, long enough to gather fans and popularity. Using the band’s resources, she got in touch with better producers. Her personal gigs began to conflict with band rehearsals, and eventually, she landed a role as the third female lead in a drama. Requiring long periods on set, she left the band to chase her dreams in show business.

The drummer who took her place was Ci Cheng. Yu Xiu said she was introduced by her sister. Although she didn’t play as well as the previous drummers, she was steady and eager to learn, showing progress every week.

The others hadn’t known she and Shi Shuxue were former classmates until one day during a rehearsal break, when the two discussed old classmates, and the other two realized they had known each other for three years.

“So, you and that Ci Cheng.” Chi Yeyu mentioned the name she was concerned about.

Shi Shuxue interrupted her: “Ordinary friends.”

“Then you and that Song Liulan from before…”

Shi Shuxue interrupted again: “No relationship.”

“Why do you always attract drummers?” Chi Yeyu grumbled, her cheeks puffing out. First that Song Liulan who hung up her phone, and now a kid from Ci Tang’s family chasing her relentlessly. She didn’t believe for a second that Ci Cheng didn’t have other intentions toward Shi Shuxue.

What did she mean, “attract”? Shi Shuxue replied in a disapproving tone: “Drummers and bassists naturally communicate more.”

They didn’t end up talking all night as Chi Yeyu had hoped. Within half an hour, they fell into silence. When Shi Shuxue turned to look at Chi Yeyu, the latter had already fallen asleep, traces of the day’s travel exhaustion lingering on her brow, her breathing steady and even.

The heater was on, and they were sharing a single duvet. Chi Yeyu was a restless sleeper but didn’t have a habit of hogging the blankets, she occupied just a small corner. Shi Shuxue tucked her in more securely, then found a spot close to her, curling up under Chi Yeyu’s arm to fall asleep.

Before drifting into a dream, she thought: Chi Yeyu, this isn’t over yet.

Shi Shuxue had two classes scheduled for the following afternoon. After class ended around five, Chi Yeyu said she’d be waiting at the school gate. She planned to dye her hair that night and insisted on Shi Shuxue accompanying her.

Unexpectedly, after class, Shi Shuxue ran into the president of the Music Club outside the classroom. The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up and he immediately said, “Shi Shuxue, our club has an activity tonight. Do you want to come?”

“Why do you have activities every single day? I have plans tonight.”

“Then just go and sign in. It counts toward your physical/arts credits. You can leave immediately after signing. Come on, it’s just downstairs.” Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Shi Shuxue’s bag and started walking downstairs.

Shi Shuxue didn’t care about the credits, but she needed her bag back. She caught up quickly, following him behind the teaching building to a garden area. It was filled with the scent of flowers and birdsong, but no one else was there.

Shi Shuxue looked around. Normally, an activity meant a group of people, a table, a tent, and a display board. There was nothing of the sort here. “Where is it?”

“I’m sorry, I lied to you. Actually, the activity is the night after tomorrow. I called you out today because I have something to say to you.”

To Shi Shuxue, his words sounded like a provocation. she held out her hand: “Give me back my bag.”

The boy pleaded, “Can you just let me finish? Please?”

After the start of winter, it got dark early. It was currently dusk, the streetlights hadn’t turned on yet, and it was darkest behind the building.

The boy turned around and pinned her into a corner. Feeling annoyed, Shi Shuxue tilted her chin and maintained a forced politeness: “Speak.”

“Actually… actually, I’ve liked you for a long time!” the boy said nervously.

Shi Shuxue’s emotions didn’t flicker. Her voice was exceptionally clear in the cooling air: “I’ve only been enrolled for two months.”

The boy obviously hadn’t expected her to so calmly dismantle his impulsive exaggeration. He was momentarily speechless, his face flushing red. “I… I mean, I’ve noticed you since the first day you joined the club! I’ve been watching you for these two months. I wanted to confess last night, but your sister suddenly showed up, so I…”

“Sorry, I don’t like you.” Shi Shuxue reached out again. “Give me the bag. I have to go; someone is waiting for me.”

The boy said frantically, “Can you give me a chance? I know you don’t feel anything for me yet, we’re strangers, but feelings can be cultivated slowly! Just give me one chance? A dinner or a coffee, my treat!”

“No need. Nothing can be cultivated between us.” Shi Shuxue snatched her shoulder bag from his hand and turned to leave. “You still haven’t paid back the money you owe me from last time. Remember to transfer it.”

He said he had liked her for a “long time” it sounded like a joke. If that counted as long, then what were her two years of loving Chi Yeyu?

The professor had already run ten minutes late to explain next week’s group report, and now she’d been delayed further here. Shi Shuxue checked her phone, the screen was bombarded with unread messages and missed calls, all from Chi Yeyu.