The Fragile Supporting Lady Is Too Clingy - Chapter 22

Li Shaojin rested his chin in his hands, watching his older sister bustle about for someone else. He sighed heavily, his round, large eyes filled with confusion. “The servants could handle this. Why don’t you come out and play with me instead? Just let the servants take care of her, take care of Second Sister.”

He was still wheedling, trying to persuade his sister to go out with him.

Li Qiuyue lay on the bed, her glistening eyes glancing at Li Shuyu before she quietly turned her face away, silent and still, like a fluffy creature waiting to be abandoned by its owner.

Li Shuyu couldn’t bear to see her looking so fragile and pitiful, so she had no choice but to disappoint her healthy little brother.

As she massaged the woman’s naturally cold hands, she turned her head to dismiss her brother. “Can’t we go out to play after Second Sister gets better? With her like this, even if I went out, I wouldn’t enjoy myself, I’d just be worried about her the whole time.”

Li Shaojin was furious. His chubby little finger pointed accusingly at the delicate beauty on the bed. “What’s there to worry about? She looks fine to me! Just have the maids take care of her! It’s not like her condition will improve just because you stay here!”

The little boy had been looking forward to playing with his sister, so his frustration was palpable.

But Li Shuyu only said, “Put your hand down. Don’t point at others it’s rude.”

Li Shaojin: “…”

He resentfully lowered his hand and grumbled, “Sister, you’re getting more and more rules!”

“It’s called manners. If you act like this outside, people won’t like you, and no one will want to play with you in the future.”

“I don’t care about playing with others! I just want to play with you, Sister ”

The child also looked pitiful now.

Li Shuyu: “…”

How rare, she actually found herself torn between the two of them.

After all, this was the younger brother who had been very close to the original owner of this body. Since she had inherited the original’s life, she couldn’t treat his brother too poorly.

Suppressing her impatience, she coaxed him like a child. “How about I take you out tomorrow? I promise. But today really isn’t possible. Look at Second Sister, how can we leave her alone? When I was sick, didn’t Mother always stay by my side? When people are ill, they need their family around them.”

Li Qiuyue’s moist eyes trembled slightly as she silently repeated the word “family” over and over on her tongue.

Since Li Shuyu had already compromised, Li Shaojin knew they really couldn’t go out today. Reluctantly, he agreed, though he still shot the woman on the bed a dissatisfied look. “Sister, you treat her better than you treat Jin’er. Hmph.”

“She’s your Second Sister. We’re all siblings in this family, and we should take care of each other. And you mustn’t be rude, you should call her ‘sister,’ understand?”

Li Qiuyue’s hand, which was being held, twitched slightly. But when Li Shuyu glanced at her, she obediently shook her head. “It’s fine. Seventh Brother is of noble status, he doesn’t have to call me that. I don’t mind.”

What a pitiful little thing, anyone in the household could bully her.

Li Shuyu’s heart ached fiercely. She scooted even closer, nearly sitting at the head of the bed, and pulled Li Qiuyue into her arms. “We’re family. What does ‘noble status’ have to do with anything? No matter what, she and I are your younger sister and brother. Don’t say such self-deprecating things.”

Li Shaojin pursed his lips. The way he had been raised, there was only one older brother and sister in the household, the illegitimate children didn’t count as his siblings. But one day, his sister suddenly changed. She started telling him that whether legitimate or illegitimate, they were all family.

Li Qiuyue noticed Li Shaojin’s reluctance but didn’t mind. There weren’t many decent people in the Li family. In the past, Li Shuyu had been the worst of them all, but now, she was the only good one left.

The young girl nestled her cheek against Li Shuyu’s chest once more, offering no argument, merely giving a soft hum in response.

The more Li Shaojin watched, the angrier and more jealous he became. With a loud smack, he stood up, his displeasure evident as he declared, “Hmph! I’m going back. If you won’t accompany me, I’ll go alone!”

The child seemed to have quite the temper, but Li Shuyu didn’t stop him, only advising, “If you need money, come to me.”

This only made him angrier. Hands on his still-chubby waist, he retorted unhappily, “If I need money, I’ll ask Big Brother, not you!”

“Fine, fine, asking Big Brother is fine too. Go on, then.”

And with that, Li Shaojin stormed off in a huff.

Li Qiuyue leaned against the soft shoulder beside her, her voice tinged with unease. “Is Seventh Brother angry with me? It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have fallen ill at a time like this, keeping you from accompanying him.”

Her lashes fluttered as she lowered her gaze, looking genuinely remorseful.

How could Li Shuyu bear to see her blame herself? She immediately pulled her close, cradling her head against her chest, and soothed her. “What does this have to do with you? Falling ill isn’t something you chose. Don’t blame yourself. Once you’re better, we’ll go out together, alright?”

Li Qiuyue nestled in her embrace, the warmth of the other girl’s arms making her cheeks flush slightly. She nodded and stayed quiet, saying nothing more.

This sudden “illness” didn’t last long she recovered before bedtime.

The girl was fastidious about cleanliness, but Li Shuyu, worried she might catch a chill and develop a fever the next day, forbade her from bathing. How could Li Qiuyue tolerate that?

In the blink of an eye, she was “cured,” spinning around in front of Li Shuyu several times before finally being allowed to bathe alone.

Still, Li Shuyu stood outside, calling out to her occasionally, afraid something might happen to her inside.

Li Qiuyue always answered softly, lest her excessive worry lead her to barge in recklessly.

Given Li Shuyu’s nature, such a thing wasn’t entirely impossible.

The young girl seemed to think of something, her cheeks flushing again as she buried her face in the warm water, only to resurface moments later, dripping wet.

By the time she finished her bath, Li Shuyu was outside practicing her calligraphy at the desk.

Her handwriting had improved slightly since she first arrived in this world, but only slightly. Compared to the original villainess’s elegant script, it was still rather unsightly.

Li Qiuyue, draped in a snow-white robe, stood quietly nearby for a while. When Li Shuyu failed to notice her, she finally spoke, her voice as gentle as flowing water. “Third Sister, it’s late. Practicing calligraphy in the dark will strain your eyes.”

Li Shuyu looked up, seeing her freshly bathed, her features soft and lips glistening. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat. Regaining her composure, she set down the ink-dripping brush, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she approached. “You’re right. I’ll stop. Are you tired? Should we rest now?”

She reached out, tucking a loose strand of the girl’s long hair behind her ear.

Li Qiuyue blinked her beautiful eyes, tilting her head slightly. The tips of her jade-like ears reddened once more as she murmured, “Mmm, a little.”

In ancient times, people retired early and rose with the dawn. Li Shuyu let her hand slide down, naturally intertwining her fingers with the girl’s slender, snow-white ones. “Then let me take you to bed? You’re not well you need plenty of rest to recover your strength.”

She treated her as though she were some delicate porcelain doll.

Li Qiuyue kept her thoughts to herself, her expression unchanged as she obediently nodded. She was led to the bed, wrapped tightly in thick quilts, and soon felt the warmth of another body pressing against her back, not embracing her, but close enough to share heat.