The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 8

Xu Chengjin didn’t reply to Si Yu again. Instead, she lifted her head and watched Wu Buran bustling around. The other girl had a great figure; years of training had given her beautifully defined muscles, and her skin had a healthy wheat-colored tone. Even just looking at her back was enough to draw attention.

“What are you looking at?”

Wu Buran noticed Xu Chengjin’s gaze. She paused on her way into the bathroom. “Is there something on me?”

“No.” Xu Chengjin sat cross-legged on the bed, smiling with her eyes. “I just think you have a really good figure.”

Wu Buran lowered her eyes and gave a short laugh. “You look exactly like the type who hates exercising. It’s natural for you to be jealous of me.”

Xu Chengjin’s body wasn’t particularly healthy. She was thin, had been on medication since childhood, and her physical strength was weak. At her worst, she hadn’t even been able to manage simple activities.

“I don’t have much athletic talent, so yes, I really do envy you.” Xu Chengjin wasn’t upset. She raised her hand to lightly cover her chest and said gently, “I have a heart condition, so I can’t do strenuous activities.”

“Your heart?”

Wu Buran frowned and quickly walked over, lifting her head to stare at Xu Chengjin. “How are you doing now?”

“Much better. I’ve had surgery already, though I still have little issues here and there.” Xu Chengjin leaned forward over the bed, lowering her head to meet Wu Buran’s gaze. “Don’t worry, I won’t use it to take advantage of you.”

Wu Buran bit her lip and averted her gaze, forcing a laugh. “You’d better not.”

Xu Chengjin only smiled and didn’t press further. She was a little tired, and after Wu Buran went into the bathroom, she lay down to sleep. Before closing her eyes, she sent a “good night” to Si Yu and Jin Xi so they wouldn’t think she was ignoring them, and also placed an online order for a bed curtain—being stared at really was too awkward.

Once she finished all that, she fell asleep at ease, unconcerned with anything else.

When Wu Buran came out, she saw Xu Chengjin asleep, her back resting against the wall. Her dress had ridden up slightly, showing her crossed legs.

In fact, Xu Chengjin was wonderful in many ways—

Wu Buran carefully set down the clothes in her hand, stepped up onto the ladder by Xu Chengjin’s bed, and reached out to pull her sleep dress down. But suddenly, Xu Chengjin caught her wrist in her sleep, mumbling softly, “Jiejie, don’t touch me.”

“Jiejie?”

Wu Buran narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased. She yanked her hand back and casually pulled a blanket over her. “Just how many ‘good sisters’ do you have?”

“Heh, seems you know a lot of people.”

Wu Buran climbed down from the ladder, picked up her washbasin, and headed toward the balcony. Xu Chengjin, still fast asleep, remained oblivious.

Xu Chengjin had an 8 a.m. class, so she woke up at six-thirty. Unable to fall back asleep, she decided to take a walk. Wu Buran’s schedule was different from hers, so she was still sleeping.

Careful not to wake her, Xu Chengjin climbed down from the bed, grabbed her clothes, and slipped into the bathroom. She quietly closed the door and let out a relieved breath. She really had been nervous about disturbing her roommate.

She quickly changed and washed up. Since she only put on light makeup, it didn’t take long. “Maybe I’ll grab a bun. I haven’t tried the cafeteria food yet…”

Murmuring to herself, she opened the door—almost bumping into Wu Buran. Xu Chengjin froze in shock, and just as she tried to step back, her wrist was caught firmly, holding her in place.

Her breath quickened. Looking up at Wu Buran’s irritated face, she panicked a little. “Did I wake you?”

“Sorry, I’ll be quieter next time.”

“No.” Wu Buran raked a hand through her hair in frustration, releasing Xu Chengjin’s wrist. “I just had a dream. You didn’t wake me.”

“Oh.”

Xu Chengjin tried to slip past her, but just as she moved, her nose was suddenly flicked. She covered her nose in disbelief, but the culprit had already shut herself inside the bathroom.

Wu Buran’s muffled voice came from behind the door: “Wait for me. Let’s go eat together.”

“Alright.”

Xu Chengjin didn’t refuse. She fixed her hair in the meantime—life should still be lived with a touch of elegance.

Soon after, the two of them went out together. Xu Chengjin wore a short top with a black skirt that just reached her ankles. The overall look gave off a very pure impression.

“You sure have a lot of clothes.” After buying breakfast, Wu Buran sat across from her, sipping soy milk. She looked up. “Do you have a red mole somewhere on your body?”

Xu Chengjin paused mid-bite, cheeks puffed out. She blinked, thought for a while, then nodded. “On my chest, there’s a red mole.”

Why ask that?

“Nothing.” Wu Buran quickly looked away, her neck turning red.

Xu Chengjin noticed her odd behavior but chose not to press, pretending she hadn’t seen anything.

She didn’t have much appetite in the morning, but for her health, she finished her meal. Checking the time, she was about to suggest going to the track: “I was thinking of…”

“Chengjin.”

Jin Xi’s voice suddenly came from behind. Xu Chengjin’s eyes widened, but before she could turn, a hand pressed her shoulder. Jin Xi’s breath brushed against her ear. “What a coincidence.”

Her body trembled slightly. She put her hand over Jin Xi’s, but in the next second, Jin Xi took control and held hers instead, speaking warmly: “Is this your roommate?”

“Yes.”

Xu Chengjin gestured for Jin Xi to sit. “You’re here so early?”

“For breakfast.”

Indeed, Jin Xi was carrying food. She gave Wu Buran a smile. “Hello, I’m Jin Xi. A friend of Chengjin’s.”

“Hello.” Wu Buran smiled as well, though her eyes were anything but friendly. “I’m her roommate.”

Xu Chengjin tugged at the corner of her lips. So the two leads were already meeting now? That didn’t seem to match the timeline…

“Since your friend’s here, I’ll head back and catch up on sleep.” Wu Buran stood, met Jin Xi’s gaze, then added pointedly, “Chengjin, did you know you kicked off your blanket last night?”

Xu Chengjin blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“I covered you up and pulled your dress down. Otherwise, you’d have caught cold this morning.”

Without giving Xu Chengjin a chance to respond, Wu Buran left. Beside her, Jin Xi pressed her lips tightly together, eyes locked on Wu Buran’s retreating figure.

Xu Chengjin narrowed her eyes, fingers twisting together, a hint of amusement flashing across her gaze. Then she turned to Jin Xi. “I was thinking of walking around the track for a bit. Want to come?”

“Sure.”

Jin Xi agreed immediately, standing to accompany her. They strolled side by side while others jogged on the track.

“What’s your roommate like?” Jin Xi asked between bites of breakfast, glancing sideways at her. “How’s dorm life treating you?”

“Not bad.” Xu Chengjin deliberately faced her as they walked. “She’s sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, and actually takes good care of me.”

Jin Xi nodded. “She does seem to.”

“I heard her mention you don’t have a bed curtain. You really should get one.”

Jin Xi sounded serious, making Xu Chengjin laugh. She curved her lips. “I already bought one. It’ll arrive tomorrow.”

“Good.” Jin Xi exhaled in relief and smiled faintly. “We’re done with classes after PE this afternoon. Want to go out together?”

“Sure.”

Xu Chengjin agreed without hesitation. She turned forward again. “But for now, we should head to class.”

“Alright.”

Jin Xi tossed her trash in a bin and quickly caught up. The two walked one behind the other, just like countless other students, full of youthful energy.

Class was boring. Xu Chengjin sat with Jin Xi, pulled out her phone, and saw a message from Xu Jing: [There’s a banquet tonight. I’ll come pick you up.]

She replied expressionlessly: [Okay.]

Xu Jing: [How’s dorm life?]

Xu Chengjin: [Not bad. Everyone’s friendly.]

Xu Jing: [Do you have class this morning?]

Xu Chengjin: [I’m in class right now.]

After sending it, she hesitated, then added a sticker of a kitten lying on a desk, daydreaming.

As expected, Xu Jing didn’t use stickers. His reply was cold as usual: [Focus on class. I won’t bother you.]

Xu Chengjin pouted, sighed, and flipped her phone face down. Her movements were small, but Jin Xi still noticed. “What’s wrong?”

“I can’t go shopping with you this afternoon. I need to go home.” Xu Chengjin looked regretful. “Sorry, maybe in a few days.”

Jin Xi nodded, understanding. “It’s fine. Do what you need to first.”

“Jin Xi.”

Xu Chengjin poked her hand with a pen, leaning closer. “You’re such a good person.”

Her perfume was light, but Jin Xi caught it instantly. Xu Chengjin was like a spring of fresh water, clear and irresistible, making people want to get closer.

Flustered, Jin Xi looked away. “It’s nothing.”

Xu Chengjin didn’t press, but watching her shy reaction was endlessly amusing.

After a while, her phone buzzed again. It was from Si Yu.

[I have something to do at your school this afternoon.]

Xu Chengjin licked her lips and lowered her eyes, making her expression unreadable: [Oh?]

Si Yu: [We’re alumni. I graduated five years before you. Not sure what’s changed on campus now.]

Si Yu: [Cat patting head JPG.]

The sticker made Xu Chengjin smile. She thought for a second, then typed: [Want me to show you around campus?]

His reply came instantly. Xu Chengjin blinked—so fast?

It was a voice message. She put on her earphones and listened. The message was short, but perfectly clear:

“Then—I’ll leave it to my junior.”