The Premeditated Seductress Childhood Friend - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: Inspiration

Finding the ointment in the bottom drawer, Song Yixi wiped her eyes and steadied her emotions before heading back to find Xu Qingyu.

Xu Qingyu was still in the bathroom. Song Yixi waited for a while, but seeing she hadn’t come out, she went over and knocked. “Are you okay?”

Silence from inside.

Panicking, Song Yixi pushed the door open. “Xu Qingyu—”

Her voice cut off abruptly.

Xu Qingyu was standing before the mirror, shirtless. From her neck to her shoulders, her skin was flushed red, covered in dense, tiny hives. Below that, the redness gave way to a startling white.

Hearing her enter, Xu Qingyu cast a calm glance her way. “Hmm?”

The sound sent a jolt through Song Yixi. She shuddered and hurriedly turned around, flustered. “I called you and you didn’t answer. I thought you fainted.”

“I didn’t hear you.”

Xu Qingyu picked up her bathrobe and draped it over her shoulders. She seemed entirely unbothered by the fact that she’d just been seen. “Where’s the medicine?”

Song Yixi reached back and handed it to her, her back still turned. Her eyes were squeezed shut, not daring to peek.

Xu Qingyu smiled, then pursed her lips to hide it. “You’re not going to help me?”

As she spoke, she let the bathrobe slide down just below her shoulders. Hearing the fabric rustle, Song Yixi was even more afraid to turn around.

“How am I supposed to help?”

“Apply the medicine.” Xu Qingyu sighed, as if exasperated by her denseness. “I can’t reach my back.”

Song Yixi remained silent for a heartbeat before shuffling closer. She washed her hands, opened the jar, and dabbed some ointment onto her fingers. Still not quite daring to look, she placed her hand on Xu Qingyu’s shoulder and began to spread the cream gently.

Xu Qingyu watched her in the mirror—noting how Song Yixi’s eyes were almost entirely closed—and arched her brows slightly. Then, she let out a soft groan.

Song Yixi immediately snapped her eyes open. “Did I hurt you?”

Xu Qingyu met her gaze in the mirror. “It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

That means it does hurt. Song Yixi didn’t dare rub haphazardly anymore. She stepped forward until she was close against Xu Qingyu’s back, her hand following the curve of the shoulder, rubbing in slow, circular motions.

The mole on Xu Qingyu’s shoulder came into clear focus. Unconsciously, the pressure of Song Yixi’s palm grew heavier. Her breathing, right against Xu Qingyu’s ear, also grew labored.

Xu Qingyu heard it. Very clearly.

She turned her head to look at Song Yixi. Song Yixi, already feeling guilty, didn’t dare hold her gaze. “Does it… does it hurt?”

“No.” Xu Qingyu slowly looked back at the mirror. “What are you so shy for? It’s not like you haven’t seen it before.”

Song Yixi’s hand slipped, nearly falling. She pulled back quickly, defending herself in a whisper. “You’re framing me! When have I ever seen it?”

Xu Qingyu replied, “Senior year of high school. Your mom asked you to bring me something. You barged into my room—didn’t you see me in the bath then?”

At that, the memory flooded back. At the time, Song Yixi was still at odds with her. She had intended to just leave the package on the first floor, but no one was home. Since her mother had sent a valuable gold bracelet, Song Yixi thought it would be safer in Xu Qingyu’s room.

Who knew Xu Qingyu wouldn’t close the bathroom door? From the bed, you could see directly inside. Song Yixi had set down the bracelet and turned around, only to see Xu Qingyu lying in the tub, looking as if she were asleep. Song Yixi had stood at the door, watching for a long, long time. She couldn’t tell if she was worried about Xu Qingyu or if she simply wanted to look.

“I didn’t see anything.” The excuse she used when Xu Qingyu caught her that day was exactly the same as the one she used now. “You were in the tub. How could I see anything?”

Song Yixi lowered her head, applying more medicine to her hand before moving to the other shoulder.

Xu Qingyu arched an eyebrow. “Oh? You sounds quite regretful.”

Song Yixi bit her lip. “I’m not.”

Maybe a little. But later, she had seen everything clearly enough in those eighty photographs.

Xu Qingyu read everything in her expression. By the time she turned back to the mirror, a smile had reached her eyes. In truth, the inspiration for Song Yixi’s birthday gift had come from that very day. Song Yixi hadn’t seen her clearly, but she had seen Song Yixi.

Song Yixi clearly liked her. But this girl’s mouth was both foul and stubborn; she needed a “strong dose of medicine.”

After the ointment was applied, Xu Qingyu wrapped her robe tightly. “You can go now.”

A total reversal of attitude. Song Yixi set the ointment down, a trace of reluctance in her eyes, but she left nonetheless.

When Xu Qingyu came out later in her pajamas, Song Yixi passed her in silence to take her own shower. Usually, she took thirty minutes at most; this time, she stayed inside for nearly an hour.

By the time she came out, Xu Qingyu was already asleep. It was still early, so Song Yixi took the fruit platter to her computer desk. Unable to settle her mind knowing Xu Qingyu was in her bed, she put on headphones and watched a variety show while eating fruit.

Two hours later, the show ended and the fruit was gone. Song Yixi picked up the platter to head downstairs. As she passed the bed, she turned on the lamp, intending to tuck Xu Qingyu in.

The moment the light hit, she saw the beads of cold sweat matted on Xu Qingyu’s forehead. Realizing something was wrong, Song Yixi set the platter down and leaned over to touch her forehead.

She was burning.

“Xu Qingyu.” Panicked, Song Yixi sat down and pulled her into her arms. “Wake up. Talk to me.”

Xu Qingyu struggled to flutter her eyelids. She couldn’t make a sound, only shifting her head slightly where it rested on Song Yixi’s lap to show she was conscious.

Song Yixi took a thermometer from the nightstand drawer and disinfected it. “Lift your arm. I need to take your temperature.”

Xu Qingyu obediently lifted her arm slightly; she had very little strength left. Song Yixi guided the thermometer into her armpit, then began wiping her sweat.

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have taken you out today. What was I thinking? Everything I do ends up making you suffer.” Song Yixi’s voice was soft, trembling, and thick with tears. Since they were little, whenever Xu Qingyu got sick, Song Yixi suffered right along with her.

Xu Qingyu slowly opened her eyes. She reached up and touched Song Yixi’s face. “It’s okay. It doesn’t hurt. Don’t cry.”

She felt the dampness at the corner of Song Yixi’s eye. “Really, it’s nothing. I was the one who wanted to go out. It’s just a fever. I’ll be fine after a nap.”

Song Yixi shook her head. “You haven’t been sick in such a long time.”

Over the past few years, Song Yixi hadn’t seen her much while she was away at university, so she’d ask her parents for updates. They always said her health was improving—that she could attend classes and live a normal life. Why did she get sick the moment they were together?

Xu Qingyu let out a few coughs that sounded sharp in the silent night. “Who told you that?”

Song Yixi whispered, “Your parents.”

Xu Qingyu gave a cold, faint smile. “You ask them, but you don’t think to ask me?”

Song Yixi lowered her head, silent. If she had dared to ask Xu Qingyu, she would have done it long ago.

Xu Qingyu propped herself up on the bed, slowly sitting up next to Song Yixi. “I haven’t seen them in a long time. In their eyes, there are only patients. How my body is doing… you’re the only one who cares.”

She turned her head, fixing her gaze on Song Yixi. “Song Yixi, don’t try to find out about me from others. If you want to know anything, come and ask me yourself.”