Silent Testimony - Chapter 82

On an early winter morning, floating clouds drifted across the horizon, hiding the sun. The cold wind bit into the skin with a piercing chill. Li Hewei pushed open the window to let in some fresh air, the cold waking her instantly. She threw on a trench coat and headed to the bathroom. Tao Ling had already finished washing up. Having gone four months without a haircut, her shoulder-length hair was now gathered into a simple, elegant bun.

“Sister Wei, morning.”

Her smile was refined and clear, reminiscent of a Clivia blooming in late winter. Li Hewei was momentarily dazed, her gaze inadvertently lingering on the girl’s moist, red lips. Perhaps because Cheng Yingqiu’s boastful words from the night before were still echoing in her head, her heart began to beat out of sync—like a flower bud pressing against its petals, waiting for the perfect moment in spring to burst forth.

Irresistible and overwhelming.

“Tao Tao,” Li Hewei’s voice was slightly husky.

“Mhm?” Tao Ling felt a bit self-conscious under the gaze, but she didn’t look away, meeting Li’s eyes candidly.

Li Hewei leaned in, but in the end, she only pressed a soft kiss to the girl’s forehead. “Good morning.”

When you love someone, you can’t help but want to cling to them, hold them, and be in physical contact with them. That was exactly how Li felt. However, she wasn’t sure of Tao Ling’s comfort level and didn’t want to be too abrupt. But in the next instant, the girl looked up, her soft lips meeting Li’s in a shy, tentative touch.

By the time Li realized what had happened, Tao Ling had already fled, leaving behind only the sight of her retreating back and the faint scent of mint on Li’s lips.

Breakfast was a simple sandwich. Tao Ling fried eggs and ham, layering them with cheese and lettuce. Li Hewei was in charge of washing the vegetables and tidying the counter.

As they sat across from each other at the dining table, Li Hewei’s features softened with a bright smile. “It’s delicious,” she praised, taking a bite as her thoughts drifted.

Li had grown up in the fast-paced city of Shenzhen, where time was money. People lived with their eyes on the future, chasing dreams with everything they had. In her first two years of work, she didn’t have a car; she’d wake up at 6:30 AM, grab the breakfast her stepmother made, and sprint for the subway. If she missed a train, she’d wait six minutes on the platform, finishing her fragrant pancake. When she returned late from overtime, there would always be a warm meal waiting.

Though busy, she had been content. Later, her stepmother moved back to her hometown, and Li bought her own house and car. Her commute shortened, but she found herself eating pre-packaged breakfasts near the office and ordering takeout for dinner.

Looking at the carefully prepared sandwiches, milk, and washed fruit on the table, Li Hewei felt a long-lost sense of stability and warmth. She noticed Tao Ling staring at her wrist. “Hmm? What are you looking at?”

“The watch.”

Li Hewei realized what she meant and tapped the screen of her sports watch to show the sleep log. “6 hours and 48 minutes. Deep sleep for 77 minutes.” She had started stopping her sleeping pills last night. Despite some mild withdrawal jitters that kept her awake until midnight, she hadn’t woken up once during the night—a clear sign of improving sleep quality.

Tao Ling nodded thoughtfully. “You still need to keep taking the anti-anxiety meds. Shall we go for a follow-up check next month?”

Li Hewei took a sip of milk. “Alright. Everything will be as the ‘little manager’ arranges.”

Hand soreness: Day 1. Hand soreness: Day 2. Hand soreness: Day 3.

Tao Ling noticed Cheng Yingqiu’s recent “Close Friends” posts on WeChat. During their post-dinner chat, she couldn’t help but show concern. “Yingqiu, if your hands are always sore, you should rest. Otherwise, you’ll get tendonitis.” She knew the pressure of media work; breaking news often meant six or seven hours straight at a computer, leading to joint pain.

Cheng Yingqiu froze mid-sunflower seed. “Huh?”

Tao Ling sat up straight on the sofa. “I know how to massage; do you want me to try?”

Cheng Yingqiu burst out laughing and leaned in to whisper, “A massage is fine, but I was just ‘dropping hints’ to her. My hands aren’t actually sore.”

“Hints?”

“Yeah! I’ve been hinting for two nights, but I always end up falling into her trap. She’s a ‘luring bottom’—who could resist that!”

Tao Ling processed the words and finally understood the underlying meaning.

Cheng Yingqiu continued to mutter, “A ‘top’ sister is great, but I want to be the ‘top’ sometimes too.” She looked at Li Hewei’s silhouette in front of the easel in the study and lowered her voice. “What about my sister? Is she a ‘bottom’ too?”

A scene from a recent lunch break flashed through Tao Ling’s mind, and her ears turned crimson. “No, we haven’t… yet…”

Tao Ling had been reading on the balcony after lunch and had fallen asleep. She was woken by Li Hewei’s gentle voice: “Sweetie, go sleep inside.”

Tao Ling had hummed a response, and the next second, she felt weightless as Li Hewei picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

“When you’re asleep, you’re like a little cat basking in the sun.”

Li’s tender voice echoed in her ears. As her back hit the mattress, Tao Ling hadn’t let go of Li’s neck. Instead, she said something that made her own face heat up: “Your little cat.”

“Mhm. A little cat who’s always blushing.”

Later, she had been pressed against the headboard and kissed deeply. Breathless, she had pushed lightly against Li’s shoulder, her eyes shimmering with moisture. “I… let me catch my breath.”

Observing Tao Ling’s reaction, Cheng Yingqiu gave a meaningful smile. “Oh~”

“Really, we haven’t…” Tao Ling was on the fifth day of her period, and Li Hewei remembered the date perfectly.

“Okay, I believe you.” Cheng Yingqiu changed the subject. “The flight to Shanghai is at 9:00 PM on the 6th. Remember to pack early; we’re leaving straight from work.”

“Mhm, I remember.”

Just as Tao Ling finished speaking, the doorbell rang. She checked the peephole. “Sister Qiu?”

“Eh? She didn’t say she was coming!” Cheng Yingqiu feigned a complaint, but pulled out a confetti popper from her pocket. As the door opened, she and Li Hewei pressed their switches at the same time. Colorful ribbons and confetti filled the air.

“Happy Birthday!”

Qiu Wan walked in carrying a cake. “Xiao Tao, happy birthday.”

Tao Ling froze. Looking at Li Hewei’s beaming face, her eyes suddenly grew hot. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a birthday celebrated. Usually, only her mother remembered, sending a message or a red packet on November 6th.

“I thought since the 6th is a Friday and we’ll be rushing to the airport, we should celebrate early,” Li Hewei said, holding a bouquet of flowers. “Tao Tao, happy birthday.”

“Sister Wei…” Tao Ling’s tears spilled over. She took the flowers and threw herself into Li Hewei’s arms, burying her face in her shoulder. “Thank you… thank you so much.”

Cheng Yingqiu teased, “Aww, look at that.”

Tao Ling pulled back, wiping her eyes. “Yingqiu, Sister Qiu, thank you both.”

“You’re my sister-in-law, we’re family! No need for thanks.” Cheng Yingqiu took out an exquisite gift box and opened it, taking Tao Ling’s wrist. “Sister Qiu and I bought this four-leaf clover ‘lucky bead’ bracelet. Isn’t it pretty?”

It was a gold four-leaf clover on a red string. Tao Ling bit her lip. “Yingqiu…”

Cheng Yingqiu fastened it on her wrist. “Don’t hesitate! You’ll have to give me one back on my birthday anyway.”

Qiu Wan tapped the girl’s head playfully. “Who asks for a return gift the moment they give one?”

“Hmph, isn’t that how it works?” Cheng Yingqiu pushed Tao Ling toward the sofa. “Sister-in-law, tonight we sing, eat cake, and have late-night snacks!”

“Sing?” Tao Ling was pressed into the center of the sofa.

“Yeah! We sang together three months ago, remember? But our relationship is different now, so it’ll be more fun.”

Li Hewei sat beside Tao Ling. “What’s more fun?”

“I’m the chief coordinator tonight, follow my lead!” Cheng Yingqiu started picking songs. “Love duets, obviously!”

Tao Ling tried to cover the remote. “Yingqiu, I’m not very good at singing.”

“Start with this one: King of Love Songs.” Cheng Yingqiu bypassed her and shoved the mic into Li Hewei’s hand. “Sis, go!”

As the rhythm started, she added, “These are all familiar songs, you’ll definitely know them!”

“Loving you isn’t just because of your beauty / I love you more and more / Every gaze touches my heart.”

Li didn’t sing the first part; Qiu Wan took the second: “The one who loves you most is me / Otherwise, how could you let me / Otherwise, how could I go through fire and water / Doing whatever you say.”

Cheng Yingqiu covered her face. “Ugh! Why are you singing that part?”

Qiu Wan smiled. “One couple per verse.”

“Mhm?”

“I’ll sing with you; they’ll sing with each other.” Qiu Wan winked at Li Hewei. “Xiao Tao, sing Fairy Tale.”

Tao Ling was still in a daze, but Li Hewei understood perfectly. She gently laced her fingers through the girl’s. “I want to be that angel you love in the fairy tale / Opening my arms to become wings to protect you / You must believe, believe that we will be like in the fairy tales…”

Cheng Yingqiu cheered. “Whoa! So good!”

Moved, Tao Ling leaned her head on Li Hewei’s shoulder, her smile growing brighter. She began to relax, and as they finished a verse, she picked up the next: “I want, so want / I want, so want / I want, so want to be with you.”

Li Hewei sang the first half with her but left the last line for her to sing alone, then whispered in her ear: “I know.”

Tao Ling looked up at her, her lips curving into a smile.

Cheng Yingqiu interrupted with a laugh, “What secrets are you two whispering?”

Li Hewei threw a cushion at her. “Just sing your part!”

After three songs, Li Hewei personally cut the cake and lit the candles, and they sang the birthday song together.

“Make a wish! Sister-in-law, make a wish!”

Tao Ling clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and prayed in her heart: “With her—this year, next year, every year.”