The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 12

In the quiet room, two young ladies still recovering from illness leaned against the headboard together, reading a storybook.

Li Shuyu, fearing boredom, had decided on her own to take the other girl with her in whatever she did from now on. However, since the latter was even frailer and might not endure much, they could only enjoy flowers and greenery for now. Well, it was best to let her rest and recuperate first time would surely bring improvement.

After two doses of medicine from yesterday to today, Li Qiuyue had regained some energy, no longer appearing as sickly as before, and her complexion had grown rosier.

Her beautiful, shimmering eyes occasionally flickered toward Li Shuyu.

Li Shuyu had her sit on the inner side of the bed while she took the outer side, her hand naturally resting on the slender, soft waist of the other girl, holding her in an embrace.

In modern times, such gestures were normal even among ordinary female friends, so Li Shuyu saw nothing unusual about it, pressing her cheek against the other’s soft one.

Li Qiuyue, however, had stiffened entirely, frozen in her arms, not daring to move.

Before, Li Shuyu had disliked her, so she had never known that the girl had such a touchy-feely personality…

“If you get tired, remember to tell me. I’ll stay with you and nap a little more. Sleeping helps recovery when you’re ill.”

Her tone grew even gentler.

Li Qiuyue was still somewhat flustered by her kindness, unsure how to respond. After a moment, she murmured softly, “I understand.”

The two continued reading the storybook by the headboard, and time slipped away unnoticed.

They only had a light lunch, and when Li Shuyu asked, Li Qiuyue said she wasn’t sleepy yet, so they moved to the daybed to keep reading.

The author of the storybook must have been exceptionally talented. every smile and frown of the characters was vividly portrayed, and the beautiful bond between the two women was enviable.

Halfway through, Li Shuyu coughed lightly and suddenly tightened her embrace. “I really envy the female general in the story, to have such a good sister like the princess.”

The female lead’s gaze paused, puzzled. She tilted her head slightly sisters?

“Second Sister, you know Mother only has me as her daughter. I’ve never had a sister I could truly confide in.”

She turned her head, her clear eyes fixed on the other as she spoke.

Li Qiuyue felt inexplicably nervous, avoiding her gaze and pretending to focus on the book as she mumbled a vague response.

Unbothered by her evasiveness, Li Shuyu continued, “I’ve always wanted a close sister, Second Sister.”

Li Qiuyue’s heart trembled, she could almost guess what was coming next.

But… how could that be?

A close sister? The manor was full of half-sisters, and even among those she didn’t despise too much.

She was the one Li Shuyu had loathed the most. Why would she choose her?

Bewildered, Li Qiuyue remained silent, her eyes clouded with confusion.

Li Shuyu waited but, as expected, received no reply. Still, she didn’t mind. She could take it slow. she would definitely become good sisters with the female lead!

The original host’s study had all kinds of storybooks, and she had deliberately picked one about a romantic relationship between women.

Of course, she wasn’t into women herself, but she felt that a beautiful story between two girls might soften the female lead’s heart.

After all, didn’t the female lead also lack friends?

In the novels she had read before, even the most malicious female antagonists usually had one or two loyal allies. But in this story, the female lead had always been alone.

Almost everyone looked down on her, scorned her, yet she remained resilient, striving to escape Pingyang Manor. She wanted to marry the male lead and trample all those who had ever humiliated her underfoot.

There was nothing wrong with that. she had suffered too much. In ancient times, those of high status had the right to look down on those beneath them. Having endured being the latter for so long, it was only natural she now wished to become the former.

When reading novels, she never found fault with those who despised the female antagonists without reason. After all, those characters were both malicious and cunning.

Only by truly putting oneself in her shoes could one barely understand and sympathize with her.

“Will Second Sister confide in me in the future?”

Afraid the antagonist might feel uneasy, she turned her head back to the storybook in her hands, its pages long unturned.

Li Qiuyue’s heart fluttered in panic, unsure how to respond.

She didn’t want to confide in Li Shuyu, but she feared that speaking the truth would return her to the days of old.

After being taken away by Li Shuyu, she experienced for the first time what it was like to live a peaceful life.

Just as she was growing anxious, beads of cold sweat nearly forming on her forehead, Haitang lifted the beaded curtain and entered, her face bright with excitement.

“Third Miss, the eldest young master has come to see you!”

The eldest young master was Li Shaoning, the legitimate eldest son of Pingyang Hou. In the novel, he too played a role, when he learned that the original host might have been killed by the female lead, this frail scholar actually drew his sword to seek vengeance for his sister.

He was a good elder brother.

Li Shuyu, who had always been weak against familial bonds, nodded. “Tell Eldest Brother to wait outside for a moment. We’ll be right out.”

Haitang’s gaze swept over the second young lady, now encircled by her own mistress, before leaving in bewilderment.

Who would have thought that the second young lady, whom everyone in the household had bullied just days ago, would now be nestled in the arms of the third young lady?

Li Shuyu stood up, fetched a set of clothes for the antagonist, and asked her to dress before going out to meet her elder brother.

Compared to others, Li Shaoning had indeed never bullied her though he had always ignored her.

Li Qiuyue obediently put on the clothes Li Shuyu gave her.

The dress, tailored to fit Li Shuyu’s frame, hung loosely on her.

Li Shuyu reached out, smoothing the fabric before patting her hand reassuringly. “In a few days, I’ll have new ones made for you.”

“Alright.”

Once both were dressed, they stepped outside, where Li Shaoning stood waiting in a snow-white robe, tall and poised. the very image of a refined gentleman.

He had been visiting frequently these past few days, and Li Shuyu had grown somewhat familiar with him.

She greeted him with a bright smile, calling out cheerfully, “Eldest Brother!”

Hearing her voice, Li Shaoning turned with a smile, holding a vibrant red candied hawthorn stick. But his expression faltered slightly upon seeing Li Qiuyue, stiffening into awkwardness. “Why is Second Sister also in your courtyard? I only bought one stick of candied hawthorn.”

Though troubled, he didn’t hesitate for long. Quickly, he handed the treat to Li Shuyu and said to Li Qiuyue, “Second Sister, please don’t take offense. Yu’er has been craving this for a long time. Next time, I’ll bring one for you.”

His smile remained warm and gentle, yet it subtly underscored the distance between them.

Li Qiuyue had no intention of cozying up to him either. The Li family held no affection for her.

She lowered her eyes, her expression cool and detached, murmuring that it was fine.

Li Shuyu felt a headache coming on, worried the antagonist might sink into self-pity again. She pushed the enticing red candied hawthorn toward her and declared magnanimously, “It’s just a stick of candied hawthorn, no big deal. Here, try it. I remember you like sweets.”

She remembered clearly what she had said that very morning.

The young lady had a sweet tooth, and the hawthorn coated in a layer of crystal-clear sugar glaze should be just to her liking.

Both Li Qiu-yue and Li Shao-ning were startled, turning their gazes toward her. Shao-ning was surprised by her sudden closeness to a concubine-born daughter, while Qiu-yue was stunned that she was willing to share something with her.

This was the same person who had once refused to even let her touch her clothes. Yet now, she was offering to share her tanghulu, the only one in her hand.