The Sickly Senior Sister Ran Away After We Got Intimate - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Would You Still Be This Prim and Proper?

He Chen lightly stroked the bridge of her nose, her lashes drooping. “This year…” she murmured softly. After speaking, she felt a pang of guilt and hurriedly changed the subject: “Right now I don’t feel too uncomfortable. Second Senior Sister can brew the ginger tea for me after dinner; drinking it right before bed will be perfect.”

Though she said this, her heart was itching to have the ginger tea brewed immediately so she could deliver it to Wen Yingyi’s residence. However, in broad daylight and under the watchful eyes of everyone, she could not escape Bu Lanfang’s gaze. She had no choice but to endure until nightfall.

“Alright. Third Senior Sister, I’ll leave the Little Junior Sister in your care then.” Seeing that everything had been settled, Xiang Qingqing took her leave first.

While Bu Lanfang did not fear Wen Yingyi, she didn’t dare be negligent since she had been entrusted with He Chen’s care. She helped He Chen change into clean clothes, personally fed her lunch and dinner, and attended to her every need, from serving tea to bringing water.

Time slipped away as the night grew deeper. Bu Lanfang proactively asked He Chen when she wanted to wash up, so she could massage her waist and apply the ointment afterward.

He Chen was unwilling but couldn’t say it plainly. She sprawled lazily on the bed, claiming it was too early one moment and saying she hadn’t worked during the day so she wasn’t sweaty the next. The subtext was clear: she didn’t want to wash.

She clutched a yellowed cloth tiger to her chest. The cloth tiger was wrapped in a piece of clothing; she occasionally squeezed it lightly and took a subtle sniff.

That was a birthday gift Wen Yingyi had made for her by hand, though she couldn’t remember exactly how old she was when she received it. The clothing wrapped around the tiger was something she had begged from Wen Yingyi. Since moving out to live alone, she didn’t dare sleep by herself and relied entirely on this object for comfort.

Bu Lanfang felt a bit surprised, not understanding why He Chen was being so bashful. She felt that they were all girls, and since He Chen was young and injured, helping her wash was only natural.

Suddenly, she remembered that He Chen was having her period—the “first tide” had arrived. After the coming-of-age ceremony, she would be a literal adult. Bu Lanfang suddenly understood.

“True, Little Junior Sister is a big girl now. Shyness is only human nature, but—” Bu Lanfang trailed off, her meaning lingering.

He Chen, her mind constantly replaying Wen Yingyi’s suffering, replied absentmindedly: “But what?”

“If you were staying at Eldest Senior Sister’s place tonight, would you still be this prim and proper?”

Bu Lanfang voiced the thought that had flashed through her mind. She suppressed a smile, curious about how He Chen would answer. In the seven years since joining the Apricot Forest Hall—five of which were spent as an outer disciple—Bu Lanfang’s memory of He Chen was that she always followed Wen Yingyi everywhere, being extremely clingy, but only toward Wen Yingyi.

Hearing this, He Chen froze. Her cheeks felt scorching hot. There was clearly nothing scandalous going on, but under Bu Lanfang’s questioning, she felt a surge of shy annoyance. She insisted firmly, “That… that is a given, of course.”

“Hehe—” Bu Lanfang couldn’t help but laugh. “I know, I know. No need to look like you’re about to swear an oath. Third Senior Sister believes you. Just rest well; I’ll go check how Second Senior Sister is doing with the ginger tea.”

A moment later, Bu Lanfang brought in the steaming ginger tea and placed it on the table.

“It’s very hot, drink it later. I’ll apply the ointment for you first, then go wash up.”

She blew on her fingers twice, pinched her earlobes to cool them, and picked up the medicine to walk toward He Chen, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Little Junior Sister, lie on your stomach. Let me massage your waist and apply the ointment so you can rest early.”

He Chen froze, her brow furrowing as a flash of panic crossed her eyes. She said urgently, “Just… the ointment was already applied at Eldest Senior Sister’s earlier. It won’t be too late to apply it again after washing tomorrow.”

“Earlier?” Bu Lanfang turned and pointed out the window. “What you’re referring to was in the morning. It is now nearly the end of the Hour of the Dog (around 9 PM).”

“Well… the medicinal effect is still there. Master often teaches us that cultivating herbs is not easy and we must cherish them. Applying it so frequently is a luxury; it’s fine to wait until after washing tomorrow.” He Chen argued.

“Fine, everything as you wish. Be careful while sleeping, don’t move around too much, and mind your waist and hand injuries.” Bu Lanfang didn’t persist. She stood up and looked at the chaise longue not far away. “I’m a restless sleeper, so I’ll sleep on that lounge. If you need anything, just call me.”

Bu Lanfang moved the ginger tea to the bedside. “I’ll leave the ginger tea here for you. Remember to drink it. I’m going to wash up first.”

Once Bu Lanfang left to wash, He Chen took the opportunity to hide the ginger tea in a secret spot.

When Bu Lanfang returned and had just lain down, He Chen, who had been waiting for a long time and could no longer hold back, whispered tentatively: “Third Senior Sister?”

“Hmm? What is it? Do you need to use the commode?” Bu Lanfang thought she needed something and was preparing to get up, but she heard He Chen say: “It’s nothing, I was just calling out. Your room is so empty, I’m a little scared.”

Bu Lanfang lay back down. After a while, He Chen whispered again: “Third Senior Sister, are you asleep?”

“Not yet. Are you thirsty?” Bu Lanfang replied, unable to stop herself from yawning as sleepiness began to wash over her.

“Not thirsty. I was just asking. Go to sleep, I’m a bit tired too.” He Chen denied.

About fifteen minutes passed. He Chen summoned her courage once more and called softly: “Third—Se—nior—Sis—ter—”

For a long time, there was no response. He Chen then grew bold, slowly bracing herself to sit up. However, the bedboards chose that moment to emit an ill-timed “creak.”

She froze instantly, holding her breath for fear of waking Bu Lanfang. Just as her feet touched the floor, Bu Lanfang’s weary voice came from the chaise longue: “Junior Sister, do you have something on your mind that’s keeping you awake?”

Initially, Bu Lanfang believed He Chen was having trouble sleeping because of the unfamiliar bed. But after three consecutive attempts, she felt something was fishy. Furthermore, her room was the smallest among the sisters; it wasn’t spacious at all. It was clear He Chen wasn’t scared—she was testing to see if she had fallen asleep.

“Yeah, I can’t sleep. It’s the bed.” He Chen replied guiltily. She took off her shoes and slowly lay back down.

Bu Lanfang turned over to face the bed and asked: “Junior Sister, when you were little, did Eldest Senior Sister tell you stories to help you sleep?”

“Sometimes.” He Chen answered truthfully, then asked back: “Why? Does Third Senior Sister want to tell me a story?”

He Chen sighed. Just moments ago she said she was a big girl, and now she was treating her like a child again.

“Little Junior Sister hasn’t been down the mountain much, has she? There are many interesting things down there. Let me tell you a story.”

Bu Lanfang came up with a plan. Knowing He Chen was cowardly, she intended to tell some ghost stories. Since it was late at night, even if He Chen couldn’t sleep afterward, she would be too terrified to move.

“Did you know that in North Liang, there were once four great sects of legendary fame? The Heavenly Origin Sect of the Wen family, the Formless Villa of the Huai family, and our Apricot Forest Hall of Dusu.”

She paused briefly before continuing: “And the Cloud Mist Sect of the Nian family.”

“The Cloud Mist Sect disappeared without a trace after that tragic massacre. Their Young Sect Master died after having his left arm severed and falling off a cliff. The Second Sect Master returned from his studies to find the disciples slaughtered and his kin murdered; he went mad and his whereabouts have been unknown ever since.”

“Why did they suffer such a calamity? Did the Cloud Mist Sect have a deep grudge with someone?” He Chen, being inexperienced in the ways of the world, was shocked. This was also the first time she learned that the Apricot Forest Hall was originally one of the Four Great Sects.

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