The Sickly Senior Sister Ran Away After We Got Intimate - Chapter 7

“What happened to cause such panic?” Wen Yingyi asked, her heart filled with worry upon hearing He Chen’s urgent voice.

In North Liang, a woman is considered to have entered adulthood at her fifteen-year-old coming-of-age ceremony, but sometimes it is also calculated by the time of her first period.

Today, He Chen had been treated by both Wen Yingyi and Bu Lanfang as a little junior sister who hadn’t grown up yet, and she felt a deep sense of frustration. She knew she was pampered by all her senior sisters, likely because she was young and considerate, and usually, she enjoyed this affection.

However, for some reason today, she suddenly didn’t want to be the youngest anymore. She felt a strong inner desire for others to recognize her as an adult—especially Wen Yingyi.

So this is the first tide!

He Chen stared blankly at the bloodstains on her white inner trousers. Wen Yingyi had told her about this before. Though she felt a momentary panic now that she was experiencing it, it was quickly replaced by joy.

The fluster and shame vanished in an eye-blink. Unable to suppress her excitement, she said jubilantly, “Senior Sister, I’m an adult! I’ve grown up!”

He Chen’s voice trembled with excitement. Wen Yingyi froze for a moment upon hearing this, but soon understood. She shook her head, thinking that no one else would be so happy about their first menstruation; it was truly a child’s temperament.

Her thoughts drifted back several years to when her own first period arrived. At that time, she had been in a state of total panic. Without even putting on shoes, dressed only in her inner robes, she ran barefoot to find her Master, Chang Nong. With a face as pale as death, she told him her gu-poison had flared up, she was bleeding non-stop, and she feared she didn’t have much longer to live.

Seeing her cheeks flushed from running and hearing her solemn words, Chang Nong couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Since then, Wen Yingyi had resolved to inform He Chen about the monthly cycle—something every woman experiences—ahead of time, so she wouldn’t make a fool of herself as Wen Yingyi had.

“Senior Sister, what should I do?” After the excitement, helplessness followed. She didn’t know how to handle it and whispered to Wen Yingyi for help.

Wen Yingyi’s wandering thoughts were pulled back. Although she had already expected this, she still asked softly, “Is it your period?”

“Mhm!” He Chen nodded solemnly. She lowered her gaze to the bloodstains on her trousers and said dejectedly, “But, I’ve dirtied Senior Sister’s clothes…”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll get another clean set,” Wen Yingyi comforted her.

A moment later, she brought the clothes along with the necessary sanitary items. Thinking that this was He Chen’s first time and fearing she might have forgotten the prior explanations or have many things she didn’t understand, Wen Yingyi felt the need to explain everything to her in detail.

“I understand, Senior Sister.” After listening, He Chen’s joy gradually faded. She hadn’t expected the period to visit every single month, nor that she would have to watch her diet, avoid cold water, and that some people would even feel unwell for several days.

By the time she finished tidying up, the night was deep. Wen Yingyi gently helped her onto the bed and tucked her in, reminding her, “Be careful of your waist; do not roll over.”

Lying in bed, He Chen was not sleepy at all. She stared blankly at the top of the bedframe and asked with concern, “Senior Sister, do you still feel bad?”

He Chen placed her hand on her abdomen, rubbing it gently. She could feel a faint, dull ache, but it wasn’t prominent. Her mind couldn’t help but recall Wen Yingyi’s pale face and sweating brow from earlier in the day, and she felt worried.

“No—” Wen Yingyi froze, the word almost slipping out before she quickly changed her tone. “Just a bit of discomfort. And you, Junior Sister?”

“I have a little too,” He Chen echoed softly. She suggested, “Senior Sister, do what I’m doing: put your hand on your belly and rub gently, it won’t hurt as much. Should I help you rub it?”

“No need. Just take care of yourself.” Claiming to have her period was only to go along with He Chen’s assumption. Even if it were true, she was unwilling to be too close to anyone. Moreover, considering her body was exceptionally sensitive right now, she didn’t dare let He Chen get too close. As she spoke, she moved toward the edge of the bed.

The warm breath and the faint scent of soap emanating from He Chen’s body constantly flooded her nose. She could clearly perceive the blood in her body gradually becoming scalding hot. The sound of her heartbeat in her ears became increasingly clear, thumping one after another like a drum. She secretly regretted her soft-heartedness in letting He Chen stay.

“Whoosh—whoosh—”

A sudden gust of eerie wind blew outside. Scenes from the Yunwu Sect massacre flashed through He Chen’s mind. The fields of corpses, the rivers of blood, the paper money flying in the sky, and the shrill, mournful cries—all filled her mind in an instant, making her scalp tingle. She instinctively huddled closer to Wen Yingyi.

“Senior Sister, I’m a bit scared—” He Chen pulled the quilt up to her nose, gripping the corners tightly with both hands, her muffled voice coming from beneath the covers.

“It’s just the wind. This season is sweltering; wind is a good thing. Sleep further inside.” Wen Yingyi pressed herself against the very edge of the bed, forced to use her hand behind her back to support her body.

He Chen was right there, inches away. Their exhaled breaths intertwined, feeling even more scorching than the hot wind outside.

Hearing this, He Chen reached out to feel the space beside her, realizing there wasn’t much room left. Her brow furrowed, and a sense of disappointment rose in her heart. She wanted to confirm if there was still space behind Wen Yingyi; just as her hand reached out, Wen Yingyi saw the movement and retreated.

Thump— A muffled sound hit the floor. Wen Yingyi had been caught off guard and fell off the bed.

“Senior Sister—” He Chen hadn’t been able to grab her. Watching Wen Yingyi fall, she felt a surge of guilt and hurriedly endured the pain to move over. “Senior Sister, are you hurt from the fall? It’s all my fault, I’m sorry—”

Wen Yingyi’s reflexive movement to avoid her hit her like a sting, causing a sudden wave of bitterness.

Does Senior Sister hate me? Why was she in such a panic?

This wasn’t really He Chen’s fault; she was still stuck in her memories from two years ago. Back then, she hadn’t developed yet and was small; the two of them shared the bed with plenty of room to spare. When she felt that there wasn’t much space beside her just now, she mistakenly thought Wen Yingyi was unwilling to lie close to her. She didn’t realize that it wasn’t that the bed was too small, but that over the last two years, her own height had shot up until she was almost as tall as Wen Yingyi. Two people sharing the bed was no longer as spacious as it was in their childhood.

Wen Yingyi stood dazed by the bedside, lightly brushing the dust off her clothes. However, the room was immaculate and dust-free; this action was somewhat self-deceiving. The deep night hid her embarrassment and confusion. Only after she heard the sound of He Chen moving back did she get back onto the bed, lying on her side with her back to He Chen.

However, just as she lay down, He Chen suddenly spoke: “Senior Sister, are you unwilling to let me stay?”

She asked with feigned nonchalance, making it hard to detect anything unusual. Her intention was to ask if Wen Yingyi found her annoying or even detested her, but fearing an answer she didn’t want to hear, she asked vaguely, giving herself a way out.

“No,” Wen Yingyi replied without hesitation. She knew that wasn’t the reason, but she couldn’t explain clearly, so she just said, “I’ve slept alone for a long time; suddenly having another person is just something I’m not used to.”

He Chen didn’t quite believe her. For some reason, her courage suddenly surged. She leaned her head closer and pressed, “But I slept with Senior Sister for many years before. Why would Senior Sister feel uncomfortable now?”

“…” Wen Yingyi was silent. She couldn’t give a reason, but feared He Chen would overthink it. After a moment of silence, she replied, “As you know, that was in the past. Now that you’ve grown much taller, you naturally take up more space than when you were a child.”

“True, I am fifteen now.” Hearing this, He Chen felt it made sense, and her bitterness vanished instantly. She lightly pinched the corner of the quilt, and a hint of anticipation rose in her heart.

This matter was considered settled, but then the thin, light texture in her hand caught her attention.

A summer quilt?