Weakness Trap - Chapter 11

In the days that followed, Yu Lingxue was unable to attend school normally.

Fortunately, her academy had already granted her special privileges.

Even when she wasn’t ill, she could skip classes if she didn’t feel like going.

Generally speaking, unless she had to make a house call for medical treatment or was too sick to endure, Yu Lingxue wouldn’t skip classes out of respect for her teachers.

This time, however, was an exception. Her family had insisted that she rest quietly for the entire month, not even allowing her to leave the hospital.

“Staying here day after day is so boring,” Yu Lingxue sighed to Yu Qingluan, who visited her every day.

“Didn’t I bring you something?” Today, Yu Qingluan had brought a jigsaw puzzle.

Yu Lingxue dramatically hugged her. “You’re still my little bird.”

Yu Qingluan smiled faintly, not pressing for details about Yu Lingxue’s family situation.

If Yu Lingxue wanted to share, she would find out eventually.

They were just lovers, after all.

And even as lovers, the word “contract” had to precede their relationship.

Family matters were too private.

Yu Qingluan had never spoken to Yu Lingxue about her own family background either.

Although, someone like Yu Lingxue could surely find out if she wanted to.

She might even dig up the identities of her ancestors eighteen generations back.

The Yu family had been a prominent clan of embroiderers for the royal family since feudal times.

In the past, they would recruit sons-in-law, but now, in more open times, Yu Shuhua had simply never married. She had a child and parted ways with the man afterward.

Her thoughts had wandered. Yu Qingluan snapped back to attention and looked at the woman before her.

Yu Lingxue was holding the completed puzzle diagram, scanning the scattered pieces spread across the table, already preparing to start assembling it.

Yu Qingluan simply felt that Yu Lingxue probably knew about her family situation.

After all, Yu Lingxue had visited the Yu family home a few times.

Just by seeing their dilapidated brick and tile house, she should have been able to gauge their financial standing.

And yet, she still chose her.

Yu Qingluan believed that Yu Lingxue truly liked her.

Leaning on the corner of the table, Yu Qingluan watched as Yu Lingxue focused on searching for puzzle pieces, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.

She recalled last year, when she had first heard about this legendary transfer student from her classmates, and had scoffed in disdain.

At the time, Yu Qingluan had even felt a bit resentful.

Their surnames were pronounced the same.

Yet their lives and circumstances were worlds apart.

She was the most ordinary of people an unremarkable embroiderer who hadn’t yet achieved much and was still honing her skills.

Meanwhile, Yu Lingxue had attracted attention from the moment she entered the school. Her professional skills rivaled those of a professor, and during her very first class, she stumped the teacher with her questions, instantly making her famous at Chu University.

Both were “Yu,” but she was just a common flower, while Yu Lingxue was the most exquisite jade.

Why was that?

Yu Qingluan thought she had once disliked Yu Lingxue.

When they first met, Yu Lingxue had bluntly pointed out that this stranger her was troubled, melancholic, and lonely.

That day, Yu Lingxue had boarded her boat and teased her playfully.

Later, she heard all sorts of rumors about Yu Lingxue.

For a few months, Yu Qingluan had been Yu Lingxue’s number one anti-fan.

But then, Yu Qingluan realized her attention toward Yu Lingxue had become unusual.

She dug up Yu Lingxue’s background, course registrations, midterm rankings, and daily routines from forums she had never used before.

Including her dormitory, her roommates, her professors, and the library where she most frequently studied.

Even the specific seat number in the library.

Yu Qingluan intentionally or unintentionally sat opposite Yu Lingxue. Only when she pretended to study with a book did she realize something was off with herself.

Why watch someone you dislike? Waiting for her to fail?

Then why arrange these “chance encounters”?

Frustrated yet unable to stop, Yu Qingluan always wanted to know Yu Lingxue’s whereabouts.

What Yu Qingluan didn’t know was that from Yu Lingxue’s perspective, she had fallen in love at first sight.

Such a remarkable woman, encountered in such an extraordinary setting.

The late summer breeze drifted into the covered boat, the scent of Chu Yun River lingering as softly and enduringly as her appearance.

Fragments of sunlight spilled into the cabin, gilding her face as she poled the boat.

Occasional drops of sweat fell, each droplet sparkling with fine, healthy vitality in the air.

Yu Lingxue had never seen such a natural, vibrant girl. How could she not be captivated?

Later, they frequently “coincidentally” met on campus, each time Yu Qingluan avoiding eye contact upon seeing her.

Secretly following her, yet pretending to be busy on her phone when Yu Lingxue turned around.

That time Yu Lingxue discovered they’d shared the same library table three times, Yu Qingluan clutched her book with bowed head, her exposed ears burning crimson.

Yu Lingxue simply found her utterly adorable.

So that winter, Yu Lingxue quietly, tentatively, claimed Yu Qingluan.

Fortunately, Yu Qingluan responded to her advances.

“Come help me,” Yu Lingxue poked Yu Qingluan’s cheek. “Don’t just space out.”

“Hmm?” Yu Qingluan jolted from her reverie, meeting Yu Lingxue’s gaze.

In those usually gentle, plain eyes, she saw her own rather flamboyant reflection.

Her patterned sweater and patched trousers were all mirrored in Yu Lingxue’s pupils.

Clothing so plain it bordered on destitute.

Yet Yu Lingxue’s eyes embraced it all.

Only when meeting Yu Lingxue’s gaze would Yu Qingluan stop questioning whether they were suited for each other.

Pondering such unworthy thoughts under that divine gaze would only taint her heart.

Yu Qingluan propped up her head, joining Yu Lingxue in searching through puzzle pieces.

Quiet rustling filled the tranquil space.

Their small world contained only them, close enough for their breaths to intertwine.

A year later, a momentary sensation overlapped with the past.

Yu Qingluan realized she no longer hated Yu Lingxue.

After seeing Yu Lingxue’s eyes.

She discovered she had clearly fallen in love with Yu Lingxue.

Throughout September,

Yu Qingluan visited Yu Lingxue daily, bringing her things, occasionally staying to share her bed.

Until Yu Lingxue was discharged from the hospital.

On discharge day, too many people came to celebrate, so Yu Qingluan kept her distance and didn’t go.

Their private world seemed to end the moment Yu Lingxue left the hospital.

Afterward, Yu Qingluan no longer received texts from Yu Lingxue asking her to wait after class.

Still, Yu Qingluan knew what Yu Lingxue was doing.

Evening rehearsal preparations had begun.

As a special guest, Yu Lingxue was wanted by the hosting team for cameo appearances, while the drama club needed her to play the fleeting white moonlight character.

Several other clubs also wanted to recruit Yu Lingxue for prestige.

The clubs competed discreetly. Whoever secured Yu Lingxue would likely host the most anticipated performance.

Eventually, Su Lian intervened, stating Yu Lingxue was exhausted and couldn’t take on more work, making the clubs back off.

After the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the evening gala would officially begin, followed closely by midterm exams.

Busy with party preparations, catching up on missed exams and assignments.

With so much to do, it was only natural she had no time to hang out with her.

Yu Qingluan turned off her phone and focused on herself.

She mended the costume. The remaining gifts still needed to be finished quickly.

This year, for Yu Lingxue’s birthday, the gifts couldn’t be delivered due to the unexpected fire.

She needed to make up for it as soon as possible.

On the 21st, Yu Qingluan brought a cake to visit Yu Lingxue.

She accompanied her in making a wish, eating the cake, and even cooked her a bowl of noodles.

The gift was replaced with a purchased perfume.

Not being able to give the handmade gift left Yu Qingluan feeling somewhat regretful.

She hadn’t expected that just staying up a few nights to finish the gifts would make her fall ill.

“You’ve always been like this since you were little catching a cold and fever every time the season changes,” Yu Shuhua nagged while replacing her cooling patch and placing water on her bedside table.

“I don’t think it’s that bad of a fever,” Yu Qingluan tried to get up.

As stubborn as ever, she insisted on finishing the gifts as soon as possible.

“Hey, you silly girl, 39 degrees isn’t a fever? Then what temperature would you consider a fever?” Yu Shuhua tapped her forehead.

Yu Qingluan fell back onto the bed, feeling dizzy.

“I’ll call Xiao Yan over. I have to attend a meeting at the association today.” Yu Shuhua wanted to stay and take care of her daughter, but the association meeting required her presence.

Her mother was getting older and not in the best health she couldn’t handle the people at the association.

Her daughter was still young and hadn’t achieved enough for the elders in the association to respect her.

“Sorry for the trouble, Mom.” Yu Qingluan conceded.

Xiang Yan helped both of them take leave from classes and came to her house to check on her.

“Working on a gift for your girlfriend, huh?” Xiang Yan didn’t even need to ask to know what Yu Qingluan was doing.

That was the tacit understanding expected of childhood friends.

“Hmph.” Yu Qingluan could hear the sarcasm in her tone.

“You can embroider if you want, no one’s stopping you. But shouldn’t you take care of your health?” Xiang Yan didn’t even want to scold her.

“But.” Yu Qingluan shrunk back.

She knew she was in the wrong and didn’t dare argue loudly.

“I just wanted to make up for the gift. The previous ones were all burned in the fire,” Yu Qingluan turned her face away, not daring to look at Xiang Yan.

“You really.” Xiang Yan rolled her eyes and replaced her cooling patch.

“If she wants compensation, she should go after the one who started the fire. Why are you exhausting yourself?”

“She didn’t ask. I just wanted to give it,” Yu Qingluan stubbornly sat up to defend Yu Lingxue.

Xiang Yan rolled her eyes again.

This girl was something else. Even weak from fever, she could still get up to clear her girlfriend’s name.

In her opinion, that girlfriend of hers was beyond redemption no amount of defending would help.

After a moment of silence, Xiang Yan suddenly spoke up. “That Yu Lingxue does she even know you have a fever?”

She hadn’t seen Yu Qingluan check her phone these past few days.

“She’s probably busy,” Yu Qingluan said indifferently.

Seeing that she genuinely didn’t care rather than pretending, Xiang Yan felt her heart sink.

“Yu Qingluan, what has dating done to you?” Xiang Yan put down what she was holding, placed her hands on her hips, and stared at her.

“I just didn’t tell her,” Yu Qingluan pursed her lips.

It was just a minor seasonal cold.

No big deal.

She wasn’t attached at the hip with Yu Lingxue she didn’t need to report everything to her.

They had their own separate lives.

Yu Qingluan thought this was actually quite healthy.

Some couples who stuck together all the time ended up arguing frequently, with lots of conflicts.

“Then tell her now. See if she’ll reply to you.” Xiang Yan was genuinely angry.

She viewed Yu Qingluan as the kind of legendary love-obsessed best friend.