Transmigrated into the Scumbag Ex-Wife of the Prime Minister - Chapter 110.2

After all, when Lu Yu wanted to stay in her room, he always said he wanted to stay and keep her company, and then snuck into her covers when it was late.

Was Qi Nan also trying to use the same trick to coax her?

Swallowing the words she was about to say—telling her to go home since nothing was wrong—Liu Yun’s expression darkened slightly, and her voice became much softer. “There’s only one bed in the room, it might be inconvenient.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Qi Nan patted the long stool beneath her. “I can just put these together and sleep on them.”

Her eyes were sincere, with no sign of lying. Liu Yun instinctively believed that she had misunderstood her; Qi Nan’s words held no improper intentions.

“How can you sleep on these long stools?”

“Like this will work,” Qi Nan arranged the four stools in a staggered row. It was just enough space for one person to lie down, though the stools in Liu Yun’s room were shorter than those in the wine shop, so Qi Nan would have to curl up her legs to barely fit.

Before the New Year, the wine shop business was exceptionally busy. To meet the deadlines, she had been too busy to go home for several days, sleeping directly on stools put together in the shop; she had already gotten used to it.

“I’m afraid you won’t sleep comfortably like that,” Liu Yun disagreed. “You don’t need to worry…”

“It’s fine, I’ve been sleeping like this in the wine shop recently,” Qi Nan waved her hand. “The constables aren’t patrolling frequently during the New Year period, so there might be petty thieves breaking in. I’ll only feel relieved if I stay here with you.”

Having just gone through such an ordeal, Liu Yun was also shaken.

While Qi Nan staying with her would certainly make her feel safer, she genuinely did not want Qi Nan to have to make do with sleeping on wooden stools.

“Sister Yun, don’t worry, I sleep very…”

“Qi Nan.”

Qi Nan was about to say more to persuade Liu Yun to let her stay, but Liu Yun interrupted her.

“Sister Yun.” Seeing her serious expression, Qi Nan called out nervously, “What’s wrong?”

“Is your knee hurting?” Qi Nan turned to find the medicated oil from the clinic.

The doctor had instructed her to apply it more often if the pain was severe to relieve the discomfort.

“Qi Nan,” Liu Yun called out to stop her.

Qi Nan turned back. Liu Yun raised her hand slightly, “My leg doesn’t hurt, come here.”

Qi Nan hesitantly walked to the edge of the bed. Liu Yun then asked her to sit on the side of the bed. Qi Nan was utterly confused, unable to guess what she wanted to do.

Seeing her puzzled look, Liu Yun slowly began, “Qi Nan, why do you take such good care of me? Why are you so kind to me?”

“I, I.” The sudden question left Qi Nan tongue-tied. “Xiao Sheng entrusted me to look after you before she left.”

Qi Nan dared not speak her true feelings, so she found a reasonable excuse.

Since discovering her feelings until now, Qi Nan had carefully hidden her admiration and constantly observed Liu Yun’s attitude towards her.

For the past six months, Qi Nan had never sensed any unusual feelings from Liu Yun in their interactions. Instead, Liu Yun would often show signs of sadness.

Qi Nan guessed that during those moments, Liu Yun must be thinking about Lu Yu.

In her heart, Liu Yun and Lu Yu had a deep relationship, and Liu Yun still harbored feelings for Lu Yu. When Lu Yu returned, they would still be together.

Qi Nan’s care and concern for Liu Yun were purely instinctual, and she had never dared to dream of being with Liu Yun one day.

“Is it only because of Xiao Sheng?” Liu Yun asked again.

If the previous question was a test, this one was a blatant interrogation.

“Sister Yun!” Qi Nan looked up in slight panic. “Did you know all along?”

Knowing her admiration was unrequited, Qi Nan had always hidden it cautiously, never wanting Liu Yun to find out.

Because she could guess that even if she spoke out, the result would definitely be rejection.

Between being exposed and subsequently alienated, and silently watching over her until Liu Yun no longer needed her, Qi Nan chose the latter.

But she hadn’t expected that the feelings she hid so carefully had still been noticed by Liu Yun.

The words that tumbled out betrayed Qi Nan’s thoughts completely. She looked at Liu Yun nervously and explained hastily, “Sister Yun, I admit that my care for you in the past had my own selfish reasons, but I also know that Lu Yu is always in your heart.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything out of line…” Qi Nan raised her hand, wanting to swear an oath, to assure her that she wouldn’t have inappropriate thoughts, and to beg her not to distance herself just because she admired her.

“Qi Nan.” Liu Yun interrupted her again, her expression serious. “It is no longer possible between Lu Yu and me.”

She had previously allowed Qi Nan to misunderstand that she still had feelings for Lu Yu, hoping to end her romantic notions. But now, she didn’t want her to misunderstand any further.

“What?!” Qi Nan was stunned for a moment before she recovered, repeating Liu Yun’s words over and over in her mind.

“Since moving in here, I stopped thinking about being with Lu Yu.”

The miscarriage was a thorn in Liu Yun’s heart and the final straw that broke her relationship with Lu Yu.

This time, Qi Nan heard clearly.

Liu Yun said she stopped wanting to be with Lu Yu a long time ago?

Liu Yun told her that it was no longer possible between her and Lu Yu?

Liu Yun also asked her why she was so kind to her?

Suppressing the excitement in her heart, Qi Nan tried hard to analyze the sequence of events and the causal relationship. She managed to get a little clarity but only reached an answer she wasn’t entirely sure of.

Qi Nan was not a naturally clever child and deeply understood the principle of asking when you don’t know.

“Then, then Sister Yun, you also know about my feelings for you.” Qi Nan mustered her courage and asked directly, “W-what do you think?”

The clear and expectant eyes burned into Liu Yun’s heart, but she suppressed the flutter of her own heart and said seriously, “Qi Nan, have you considered what you would face if you were with me?”

She had been married, was a widow, carried the stigma of ‘illicit relations’ with her sister-in-law, and had a miscarriage.

Hearing Liu Yun’s question, Qi Nan shook her head honestly, “I haven’t thought about it.”

Liu Yun’s expression darkened. Indeed, she had never considered these things, just like Lu Yu before, who rushed forward with blind enthusiasm, never considering that the result would be abandonment by all.

“Sister Yun.” Seeing the look of disappointment on her face, Qi Nan quickly explained, “I haven’t thought about what I would face if I were with you because I never thought Sister Yun would agree to be with me.”

“Give me some time. I will think about it thoroughly, and then I will tell you my answer, okay?”

After her words fell, this time it was Liu Yun who was momentarily stunned.

The person in front of her lacked a sweeping, intense drive, and flowery, empty words, but every word was so honest, so honest that it brought immense peace of mind.

“Mhm.” Warmth bloomed in Liu Yun’s heart, and her tone softened unconsciously as she gently agreed.

Hearing her answer, Qi Nan’s eyes immediately brightened.

In Qi Nan’s view, Liu Yun being willing to give her time to think was giving her a chance to be with her.

An outcome she never thought possible suddenly had a new turn, and Qi Nan couldn’t be happier.

If she weren’t still in Liu Yun’s room, she might have jumped up and down right there in joy.

“Then, can I stay tonight to keep you company?” Qi Nan looked up at her, her clear eyes full of expectation, without a hint of distraction.

How to be together could be thought about slowly. The most important thing right now was being able to stay with her.

Liu Yun no longer hesitated and simply nodded, “Okay.”

“Then I’ll go fetch water and wash up first.”

Qi Nan stood up from the bed, her face completely unable to hide her delight.

After she finished washing up, she went straight to the long stools she had arranged, adjusted them neatly, and then turned to the still-seated Liu Yun, smiling, “Sister Yun, you can sleep soundly now.”

After saying that, she was about to blow out the oil lamp on the table when Liu Yun called out to stop her, “Qi Nan, don’t blow out the lamp yet. There are extra blankets in the cabinet by the door.”

Unlike the wine shop, which had a furnace, sleeping without a blanket in the winter meant she might catch a cold the next day.

“Oh!”

Gaining Liu Yun’s concern made Qi Nan even happier. She cheerfully got up to take a blanket from the cabinet.

When she came back with the blanket, Liu Yun had already taken off her outer coat, pulled her own blanket toward the inner side of the bed, and called out to Qi Nan, who was bending down to spread the blanket.

“It’s not comfortable to sleep on the stools. Just sleep on the bed.”

She kept her eyes on Qi Nan as she spoke, watching Qi Nan’s smile freeze on her face, followed by a hint of shyness.

“I, I can sleep on the stools,” Qi Nan said. Lying beside Liu Yun, Qi Nan was genuinely afraid she would be too happy to sleep all night.

Liu Yun was not an overbearing person, but facing someone with as gentle a temper as Qi Nan, she couldn’t help but speak with a little more firmness, “It’s getting late. Come up and rest early.”

“Oh.” Afraid that further refusal would displease Liu Yun, Qi Nan quickly placed the blanket on the bed.

Having been through so much that night, Liu Yun was truly exhausted. She pulled her blanket and was about to lie down to sleep when Qi Nan suddenly grabbed her hand.

Liu Yun was startled and tried to pull her hand back.

“Did I hurt you?” Qi Nan quickly let go of her hand. “Sister Yun, your hand is bruised.”

She spoke and, without waiting for Liu Yun to answer, turned to get the medicated oil.

Liu Yun looked down at her hand and pulled up her sleeve. A bruise was visible on her wrist, likely left when Lu Qiang had grabbed her.

The mark was small, and it didn’t hurt unless she deliberately touched it. Liu Yun was no pampered young lady; she was long used to small cuts and pains like this on her hands and wouldn’t usually pay attention to minor bumps and bruises as long as they didn’t interfere with work.

“Should I rub some medicine on it for you?” Qi Nan asked, sitting on the bed with the medicine.

Sensing Liu Yun’s resistance when she grabbed her wrist earlier, Qi Nan didn’t dare to touch her rashly again.

“A bruise will heal faster if you rub medicine into it.”

The injury on Liu Yun’s wrist would not be a big deal if it were on Qi Nan herself, but seeing it on Liu Yun’s wrist made Qi Nan feel distressed.

Liu Yun didn’t speak, but just pushed up her sleeve and offered her wrist to Qi Nan.

Qi Nan gently held her wrist with her left hand, poured a little medicated oil on Liu Yun’s wrist, and massaged it lightly with her thumb.

The massaging motion was proper and respectful, with the rest of her fingers hovering, avoiding any intentional contact.

“Is this pressure okay?” Qi Nan slightly increased the pressure on her finger as she spoke. “Does it hurt?”

Her careful, protective manner was heartwarming yet made Liu Yun slightly amused. “Qi Nan, I’m not that delicate.”

Qi Nan also felt like she might be overreacting a little. She scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed, and tried to excuse herself, “It looks quite bruised.”

The night was deep and quiet, with the crescent moon hanging high in the sky.

The person who thought she would be too excited to sleep had long fallen into a deep slumber. Only after hearing the steady breathing in the air did Liu Yun feel safe enough to sleep.

Qi Nan slept very soundly. The position she fell asleep in the previous night hadn’t changed much when she woke up in the morning.

The soreness in her knees made Liu Yun’s sleep restless. She sensed the moment Qi Nan woke up beside her at daybreak.

Without the soft light of the night, Liu Yun’s mind was clearer, and she felt a trace of regret for impulsively agreeing to wait for Qi Nan’s answer.

She shouldn’t have given her hope. A good person like Qi Nan could definitely find a better wife than her.

She didn’t open her eyes, pondering how to find a suitable opportunity to talk things through with Qi Nan, telling her not to persist in giving too much to someone unworthy like herself.

After Qi Nan got up, she glanced at Liu Yun’s sleeping face, contentedly put her blanket back into the cabinet, and then left the room.

The food stalls wouldn’t be open on the first day of the New Year, so Qi Nan lit a fire and cooked a pot of porridge.

When the porridge was ready, she returned to the east wing. Seeing that Liu Yun was still asleep, she didn’t call her. She served herself three bowls of porridge and drank them, then put the rest into bowls to keep warm in the pot, also tossing an egg into the water.

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