Weakness Trap - Chapter 10

Yu Qingluan paused in her steps, then quietly followed.

She confirmed at the doorway that the figure was unfamiliar, so she decisively entered the hospital room.

The lights in the room were already off. Only the rainbow hues from outside the window remained, the shifting night unable to affect the interior.

Yu Qingluan quickly stepped forward and grabbed the intruder’s hand.

But the person twisted her wrist in return, preventing her from gaining control.

A sliver of moonlight gently spilled into the room, allowing them to see each other’s faces.

Both were equally surprised.

Yu Qingluan was the first to let go, hastily jumping back and bowing in apology.

“Professor Li.” She lowered her voice to a near-whisper, so faint that only she could hear it.

Li Ran was helpless and waved her hand before Yu Qingluan could say more.

Anyone who could recognize her as a professor was likely a student at Chu University and probably a friend of Yu Lingxue.

There was no need to make a fuss. The young girl was probably just worried that Li Ran might harm Yu Lingxue.

Yu Qingluan simultaneously understood why Li Ran was here.

She had come to treat Yu Lingxue’s injuries.

Li Ran was one of Chu University’s prized hires. With her as a special lecturer, the Traditional Chinese Medicine department was always overflowing with applicants, the numbers growing each year.

No one at Chu University was unaware of Li Ran’s reputation.

Because Yu Lingxue studied medicine, Yu Qingluan had made a point of memorizing the faces of the TCM department professors, afraid she might accidentally offend one.

Who would have thought.

Yu Qingluan’s ears flushed with embarrassment, and she hurriedly tried to flee.

Li Ran didn’t stop her, accepting her apology and letting her go.

“Alright, stop pretending to sleep with me around. You’re really putting on an act,” Li Ran said two minutes later, flicking Yu Lingxue’s forehead.

Yu Lingxue lifted her eyelids, her gaze clear and alert. “Well, it’s all thanks to you two you woke me from a wonderful dream.”

“Look at you, talking back with three retorts for every one of mine. So, what wonderful dream were you having?” Li Ran showed no sign of awkwardness.

She had come secretly to administer acupuncture to her promising disciple, and though she’d been caught, she remained composed, leaving any embarrassment to others.

Yu Lingxue, of course, felt no awkwardness she had anticipated this.

In this situation, the only one affected was her adorable “mimosa.”

Hearing her teacher’s words, Yu Lingxue chuckled lightly. “Teacher, what do you think of that girl just now?”

She leaned back lazily against the headboard, then tilted her head as if casually meeting Li Ran’s gaze. “Isn’t she adorable?”

Li Ran studied her for a moment.

“No matter how good she is, it’s not like you can marry her,” Li Ran said, dropping her playful tone and speaking seriously while staring into Yu Lingxue’s eyes.

Yu Lingxue’s smile vanished.

She shook her head and spoke with self mockery. “Let’s just forget it.”

It was unclear whether she was referring to marriage, her feelings for Yu Qingluan, the present, or the future.

Li Ran rolled her eyes.

“I don’t care what hardships you’re facing,” she said, taking out her needles and beginning the treatment while speaking earnestly.

“But it’s hard for me to believe that someone who doesn’t respect their own life would respect others’ lives.”

“I don’t care if you simply enjoy sacrificing for others or if it’s just self-gratification. To be my student, at the very least, I need to see you value and care for yourself.”

After finishing the acupuncture, Li Ran left.

She left Yu Lingxue with one final remark.

“Scheming against me is fine. For now, I’m still willing to let you. But there won’t be a next time.”

Yu Lingxue leaned against the bedside table, ignoring Li Ran’s “threat.” She simply offered her usual gentle smile, wished her a safe journey, and watched her leave slowly.

Once the door clicked shut, Yu Lingxue turned off the light, lay on her side, and gazed at the neon lights outside the window.

Li Ran, of course, understood that Yu Lingxue dared to charge into the fire because she knew Li Ran’s kindness would never allow her to come to harm.

But Li Ran didn’t know even without her, Yu Lingxue would have plunged into that sea of flames without hesitation.

What difference did it make if it was self-destruction?

Yu Lingxue used the remote to close the curtains, extinguishing the faint light in the room. She closed her eyes, suppressing the restlessness in her gaze.

Still, she wanted to become a disciple, to establish herself firmly, and not to marry Yan Wenying. She needed Li Ran as her mentor.

How could she make Li Ran believe she harbored no deep resentment?

Suddenly, Yu Qingluan came to mind.

Yu Qingluan had surely guessed that Li Ran’s private visits to care for Yu Lingxue meant she was considering taking her as a disciple.

This matter likely had little to do with her.

During class, Yu Qingluan doodled idly in her notebook, thinking about what to bring Yu Lingxue that night.

Yu Lingxue’s health was fragile; after charging into the fire, she’d probably need at least a month in the hospital.

Since Yu Lingxue preferred quiet, she wouldn’t allow many visitors. So, it fell to Yu Qingluan to keep her entertained.

Unconsciously, Yu Qingluan’s lips curved into a smile.

She had collected quite a few amusing videos over the past few days. Yu Lingxue was bound to like them.

She didn’t have many interesting stories of her own to share, but she could bring her embroidery.

Yu Lingxue had mentioned she enjoyed watching her embroider and listening to her talk about her inspirations.

Yu Qingluan’s fingers itched with anticipation.

It had been two or three days since she last embroidered properly, and her hands felt out of practice.

She absolutely had to bring it tonight.

There were also gifts for Yu Lingxue to make up for.

The fire had been an accident, after all. She couldn’t let Yu Lingxue miss out on any of them.

She thought, she still had her hands, her mind, and her eyes.

She could make it up to Yu Lingxue.

Her phone vibrated briefly in her pocket.

Yu Qingluan stealthily pulled it out, placed it on the desk, and unlocked it.

【Winter: Staying over tonight?】

For a moment, Yu Qingluan’s breath stilled.

In that instant, she felt a long-lost sense of peace.

The surroundings grew as silent as the deep sea, and she was a shell sheltered in Yu Lingxue’s embrace.

As long as she stayed within Yu Lingxue’s arms, there was no noise, no danger, no chaos.

Holding onto that tranquility, Yu Qingluan quickly typed a reply and sent a message to Yu Shuhua. 【Reviewing tonight, not coming home】

After evening classes ended, Yu Qingluan practically flew to Yu Lingxue’s hospital room.

The nurses downstairs already recognized her and greeted her warmly.

“Just finished class? College students have it tough too,” one nurse said, handing her a piece of candy.

Yu Qingluan smiled shyly, her demeanor so gentle it made anyone who saw her feel a bit bashful too.

“Could I have two today?” Yu Qingluan reached toward the fruit bowl.

“Sure. For your friend?”

After Yu Qingluan dashed upstairs, the nurse sighed in her local dialect, “Such a classic Jiangnan lady.”

“Nonsense, I don’t have that kind of grace,” a local from Chu City retorted, nudging her ankle.

“Lingxue!” Yu Qingluan chirped like a little bird, her face radiant with the joy of someone taking flight for the first time.

The powder on her face added a touch of radiance, like a layer of gilding, making her appear youthful and healthy.

Yu Lingxue spread her arms and embraced her little bird. “Did you bring your pajamas?”

Yu Qingluan paused for a moment.

Yu Lingxue smiled and tapped her lips. “I knew you’d forget. I had someone bring a set one I haven’t worn yet. Go change later.”

The gentle touch of fingertips on her lips sent a ticklish sensation. Yu Qingluan parted her lips slightly, the light dancing on them, her eyes reflecting Yu Lingxue’s form.

“Staring, are you?” Yu Lingxue leaned in closer, laughing as she playfully pinched her cheeks. “Am I thoughtful?”

Yu Qingluan’s eyes were squeezed shut by the teasing. She reached out and wrapped her arms around Yu Lingxue’s neck, pressing close to feel her warmth after she released her cheeks.

There was no one else in the room. That was why Yu Qingluan could be so unrestrained.

Yu Lingxue knew this well.

She understood every move Yu Qingluan made when she was happy, as if they were her own.

They were mirror images of each other. Yu Qingluan would replicate, one-to-one, the things Yu Lingxue desired but dared not do.

“What shall we do?” After their intimate moment, Yu Lingxue gently wiped the sweat from Yu Qingluan’s forehead, her tone as soft as a fluffy winter coat.

“Embroidery,” Yu Qingluan replied, pulling up a chair to sit.

It was good that there were no interruptions from the metallic woman today.

It was also good that Yu Lingxue had prepared pajamas for her.

They could even chat idly about trivial things. Yu Qingluan felt so happy she could almost bubble over.

“For a stage costume?” Yu Lingxue propped her chin in her hand, watching Yu Qingluan and guessing what she intended to embroider.

Yu Qingluan swayed slightly, then replied without looking up, “Guess.”

“Then I’ll guess it’s not.” Yu Lingxue hadn’t even had the chance to give Yu Qingluan the damaged costume yet.

“Then you don’t need to know,” Yu Qingluan said, already starting to select her needles.

Yu Lingxue didn’t press further.

Some people, simply by existing, were enough to bring comfort.

It was like strolling on a moss covered stone bridge under a drizzling spring rain, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

That person could be the ripples gradually forming on the river, the raindrop glistened willow leaves, or even the rain itself.

To Yu Lingxue, Yu Qingluan was that gentle drizzle.

Delicate enough, refreshing enough.

She didn’t even need to step into the rain herself. Just seeing Yu Qingluan exist was enough.

“Hey, didn’t you say you’d teach me before?” After a while, Yu Lingxue asked, noticing Yu Qingluan had paused her work.

“Teach you now?” Yu Qingluan hadn’t expected Yu Lingxue to bring it up at that moment.

She had considered teaching her before.

But she had later dismissed the idea.

She loved her craft. It was her family’s legacy, a part of traditional culture.

But entrusting it to someone like Yu Lingxue.

Yu Qingluan hesitated.

She always felt that Yu Lingxue didn’t quite match the thick calluses, the day after day repetition, or the band-aids applied after countless needle pricks.

“I just happen to have time now. Unless you’re busy?” Yu Lingxue was merely curious.

What kind of hands could perfectly recreate the patterns from dreams into reality?

“I’m not busy. I’ll teach you.” Yu Qingluan spoke of hesitation and shyness.

But once she began teaching, the innate ease and excitement in her bones could not be suppressed.

Yu Qingluan taught Yu Lingxue for half an hour, then watched over her as she embroidered for another half hour.

Embroidery was tedious and monotonous. Yet, Yu Lingxue showed no trace of impatience, stitching meticulously, needle by needle, as if performing surgery.

In truth, their embroidery allowed room for mistakes.

But Yu Qingluan couldn’t bear to disturb Yu Lingxue’s focus.

When she grew tired of embroidering, Yu Qingluan put away her needle and thread, climbed into bed, and held Yu Lingxue while watching the videos she had picked out.

Cradled in her arms, Yu Lingxue slowly drifted off to sleep, soothed by her gentle presence.

Yu Qingluan chuckled softly and turned off her phone.

She had always envied her roommate for being able to lull a girlfriend to sleep.

Now, she had succeeded in doing the same. It truly felt rewarding.

“Goodnight, Lingxue,” Yu Qingluan whispered as she closed the curtains and turned off the lights.

At the doorway, Li Ran, who had been standing guard for about half an hour, observed the scene before quietly leaving Yu Lingxue’s hospital room.