Weakness Trap - Chapter 25

After ending the unpleasant phone call, Yu Lingxue rubbed her ear and walked back to Yu Qingluan’s home very, very slowly.

Her ear still ached from Yan Wenying’s vulgar insults.

She couldn’t fathom what that person was thinking.

Even without Yu Qingluan, Yu Lingxue was determined to break off the engagement with Yan Wenying.

Ever since returning to the Yu family, she had begun planning the rest of her life.

The first major task was to sever ties with the Yan family.

After enduring it for over twenty years her entire life she had finally reached the day when she could bid a final farewell to those people.

Yu Lingxue didn’t expect things to go smoothly, but she no longer felt as anxious and uneasy as before.

After composing herself at the door, she quietly pushed it open and saw Yu Shuhua.

“Auntie.” Yu Lingxue felt slightly awkward, her grip on the phone tightening until its edges dug painfully into her palm.

“She’s still asleep.” Yu Shuhua merely glanced at her briefly.

It was clear she had stepped out to make a call.

The last time Yu Lingxue had stayed over, she had also risen before dawn, busied herself for a while, returned to deliver a medicinal ointment, and then left.

Yu Shuhua had no idea what she was occupied with, nor did she know if her own daughter was aware of the situation.

But since it was a matter between the younger generation, Yu Shuhua had no intention of interfering.

“Ah, yes, thank you, Auntie.” Yu Lingxue hurried back to Yu Qingluan’s room.

Sliding under the covers that still carried Yu Qingluan’s scent, Yu Lingxue took a deep breath.

It was a blend of rose and citrus a scent reminiscent of winter, warm and serene.

The bedding was cozy and warm, though the spot where she had lain earlier retained only a faint trace of heat.

Yu Lingxue rubbed her hands together to warm them, then wrapped her arms around Yu Qingluan.

In that moment, her heart settled, finding a measure of peace.

In the days that followed, Yu Lingxue truly stayed by Yu Qingluan’s side, accompanying her as if they were spending the entire winter break together.

As the Spring Festival approached, the festive atmosphere grew thicker.

Willow Bank Street was quaint, devoid of the city’s skyscrapers, lined instead with red walls and green tiles, dripping eaves, and mottled moss.

The residents were mostly elderly. Yu Qingluan and her martial sisters were among the few young people still living there.

Most of the others were even older than Yu Shuhua, spending their days brewing a cup of tea, basking in the sun when it was out, and whiling away the hours gazing at the grayish-blue Chu Yun River when it wasn’t.

Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren skipped rope and drew flowers in the courtyards, causing mischief in the kitchens, sometimes making such a ruckus that it seemed the entire street was alive only with their presence.

Come the New Year, the elderly finally seemed to come alive, adorning their courtyards with rust-red lanterns, cutting paper window decorations, and pasting Spring Festival couplets alongside the children waiting for their parents to return.

With that touch of red brightening every household, the street itself seemed to awaken, like the mythical Nian beast, stirring to life once a year.

“Aren’t you going back to Gangcheng for the New Year?” Yu Qingluan asked Yu Lingxue, who was newly joining them this year, as they carried New Year’s goods home with Granny Chunfang.

“No.” That place wasn’t home. Yu Lingxue’s reply was firm.

Sandwiched between them, Granny Chunfang, who didn’t understand the situation, began offering earnest advice.

“Little one, you should go home for the New Year. Your parents must miss you.”

“Don’t worry, Granny, my family is all here in Chu City.” With just a few words, Yu Lingxue managed to cheer Granny Chunfang up again.

Together, they carried the heavy bags of mandarin oranges, melon seeds, peanuts, and nougat into Granny Chunfang’s courtyard.

Granny Chunfang’s young granddaughter watched them leave timidly, peeking through a crack in the slightly decayed door.

“How many more?” Yu Lingxue was spending the New Year with Yu Qingluan for the first time and found everything novel and fascinating.

“Not many. Just need to deliver some things to a few of my grandmother’s friends.”

Yu Qingluan glanced at the list one, two, three, four five more households to visit. Not too many.

“Then I’ll go pay respects to my senior sister, meet my junior sister, and finally visit my grandmother.” At this, Yu Qingluan glanced at Yu Lingxue.

“My grandmother is a bit, old fashioned.” At the very least, Yu Qingluan dared to tell Yu Shuhua about her relationship with Yu Lingxue, but even with a hundred times the courage, she wouldn’t dare mention it to Yu Meiying.

Not getting married was one thing Yu Meiying would at most nag a little. But being with a woman? Yu Qingluan had no idea how her grandmother would react.

“Understood. Then I won’t accompany you to see your grandmother.” Yu Lingxue had already grown familiar with Yu Qingluan’s home. “I’ll help your mom with stir-frying or watch some TV.”

“Be careful with the oil fumes they’re quite strong.” Yu Qingluan poked Yu Lingxue lightly.

“Not afraid. I can always wear a mask.” Yu Lingxue had never experienced such things before, so she was eager to try everything.

Even if there were risks.

She had survived falling into the water, after all. This was the first time in her twenty-two years that she hadn’t developed a fever after a drastic temperature change.

Yu Lingxue believed that as she grew older, her health would improve as well.

This was the proof.

She could brave the kitchen. She could lift heavy objects.

How novel it all was. She wanted to experience every little thing in this world, one by one.

“Alright then. I’ve already told Mom that you’re not in the best health she’ll take extra care of you.” Yu Qingluan linked arms with Yu Lingxue.

The two leaned close together, the newly knitted winter hats by Yu Shuhua snugly fitted on their heads.

One hat was red, the other yellow both warm, vibrant colors.

Yu Lingxue was given the red one. Once she put it on, her cheeks inexplicably gained a rosy tint, making her look much healthier than when she had arrived.

Yu Qingluan took the yellow one. Her drawer was filled with such hats her mother knitted her a new one every winter.

It probably wouldn’t be long before Yu Lingxue had a drawer full of them too.

“The hat is so warm.” Yu Lingxue leaned against Yu Qingluan’s shoulder, unable to resist nuzzling her neck.

“That tickles. My mom used really good material. If you don’t mind, I’ll give you one of my old scarves in a couple of days.”

She had knitted gloves for them too, so their winter gear was now complete.

“Since when have I ever minded anything from you?” Yu Lingxue flexed her fingers, the gloves she wore a gift from Yu Qingluan.

The glove style was rather old-fashioned, but the patterns were meticulously embroidered by Yu Qingluan, there was no denying their beauty.

Yu Lingxue, frail and sensitive to cold, had a collection of branded gloves at home, even custom-made thermal gear tailored to her physique.

Even so, she felt nothing could compare to this pair of gloves.

Not even worth a fortune in exchange.

The two boarded the boat. The street wasn’t exactly short, and with all the things they were carrying, taking a boat was more convenient.

“Should we put window decals on the boat too?” Yu Lingxue scratched the boat’s canopy idly and asked offhandedly.

“Sure, why not? Why are you giving my boat a cutesy nickname too?” Yu Qingluan laughed at her childishness. The oars parted the waters of Chu Yun River, painting a scene of blue and red along the streets.

“It’s cute. Your boat.” Yu Lingxue pulled out the window decals she carried with her and began sticking them onto the boat’s canopy.

“Stick them on the outside.” Yu Qingluan swung her arm vigorously before ducking into the cabin to take a look.

“Let’s put it here. If we stick it outside, it loses that sense of secrecy.” Yu Lingxue thought to herself that she would often ride this boat in the future.

Every time she saw the shabby paper-cut window decorations she had made, she would remember this winter.

The winter that ushered in her freedom.

“Alright. Besides my sewing kit, you’re the only one who’ll sit in that spot anyway.”

Yu Qingluan kissed Yu Lingxue’s cheek before taking hold of the oar again to prevent the boat from capsizing once more.

The moment Yu Qingluan touched her, Yu Lingxue broke into a radiant smile, her dimples appearing as her eyes nearly vanished into her joyous expression.

“Little Bird,” she suddenly called out, leaning halfway out of the boat.

Most of what showed was her fluffy hat, with just a bit of her hair peeking out all soft and fuzzy. Yu Qingluan couldn’t resist reaching out to touch it.

“Do you like winter?” Yu Lingxue squinted slightly before opening her eyes and noticing the red scratches on Yu Qingluan’s wrist.

“Of course I do.” Yu Qingluan withdrew her hand and gazed up at the misty sky.

Winter in Chu City lacked the spring rains, the crispness of summer, or the brilliance of autumn.

Yet it had its own unique charm a pure white canvas welcoming the most vibrant shades of fiery red.

Especially,

This winter, she had her beloved by her side.

“My favorite season is winter. Haven’t I told you that before?” Yu Qingluan lifted her smiling face to the cold wind, rowing the boat rhythmically.

After meeting Yu Lingxue, her favorite season had become winter.

“Then we’re the same ” Yu Lingxue’s voice echoed up from the bottom of the boat.

Yu Qingluan burst out laughing, unable to hold back, and began singing along to the tune of an old song playing from a nearby courtyard.

Yu Lingxue swayed gently to the melody.

She had never heard a song like this before.

Winter was the most novel season, which was why she loved it the most.

Any winter with Yu Qingluan in it could make everything feel new and fresh.

She spent the afternoon gaming with her junior sister.

Her junior sister, perceptive as ever, wished her and Yu Lingxue a long and happy future together.

The next day, Yu Qingluan dragged Yu Lingxue along to visit her senior sister, Wang Yining.

Wang Yining glanced at Yu Lingxue and then clicked her tongue at Yu Qingluan. “How rare.”

“I’m in college now. What’s so rare about that?” Yu Qingluan set down her things and retorted.

“Fine, I won’t tease you. You’re no fun now that you’re all grown up.” Wang Yining gestured for the two to sit down.

“I heard you and Zeng Lan have come to an agreement?” The sun was just right today, so they were having tea in the yard.

Wang Yining spoke intermittently, her eyes nearly closed.

“Not exactly. But I’m very interested in what she proposed.” Yu Qingluan cradled her teacup, thinking that everything would depend on Yu Lingxue’s plans.

Her future was already filled with Yu Lingxue.

And it probably wouldn’t change anymore.

“Well, if you pull it off, let me in on a share of the profits.” Wang Yining’s eyes were fully closed by now.

“Sure. We’re probably going to start a brand.” Yu Qingluan said a few more words but didn’t elaborate further since she hadn’t fully thought things through.

Yu Lingxue leaned against her shoulder, playing with her teacup.

So Yu Qingluan let the topic drop, brushing aside what seemed like a casual conversation.

After visiting her senior sister, Yu Qingluan and Yu Shuhua were to have dinner with Yu Meiying.

“Then I’ll wait for you at home.” Yu Lingxue spread her arms and gave Yu Qingluan a bear hug.

“Okay.” Yu Qingluan wanted to kiss her.

But with Yu Shuhua standing right there watching, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

Yu Lingxue, however, had no such reservations. Just as they parted, she planted a kiss on Yu Qingluan’s cheek.

“Ah.” Yu Qingluan covered her face and quickly dragged Yu Shuhua away.

Her ears had turned red again.

“Tsk.” Yu Shuhua rarely voiced her opinion.

Yu Qingluan spoke up in frustration. “Don’t look.”

“You two are showing affection right in front of me, and I haven’t even said anything about it.” Yu Shuhua pinched her daughter’s ear.

“Wipe it off, don’t let your grandma see it.” On this matter, Yu Shuhua and Yu Qingluan reached a consensus.

She considered herself quite open-minded.

But clearly, she didn’t think her mother was as open-minded.

“Oh, oh.” Yu Qingluan quickly wiped away the mark left by Yu Lingxue’s kiss.

Actually, Yu Lingxue hadn’t been wearing lipstick, so there was no color left behind.

But Yu Qingluan still felt that spot burning intensely.

“What are your thoughts?” Halfway through their walk, Yu Shuhua finally asked her second question.

“About what?” Yu Qingluan was still fussing with her face.

“About you and Xiao Yu. Has the marriage law been revised in the country?”

“They say they’re collecting opinions. But” Yu Qingluan thought for a moment before adding, “It might not necessarily be in the country.”

“It would be good for you to follow her to Hong Kong. It’s suitable for development there. Zeng Lan’s brand wants to go international, which is a good idea, but you should also know that the domestic market shouldn’t be abandoned. In that case, Hong Kong is a great choice.” At this point, Yu Shuhua frowned.

“When I mentioned it to that child the other day, I wanted to discuss this with you both. But she didn’t seem to react much.”

“You should discuss it clearly with her yourself. You’re twenty now, not young anymore. You need to start considering your future. Your partner, your career. Although I said I wouldn’t interfere, I don’t want you to end up like your mother, trapped in Chu City for a lifetime.”

Yu Shuhua patted her daughter’s back.

Yu Qingluan fell silent, seeming to understand something from her mother’s gesture.

Being trapped,

Should she go out and make her way?

At the dining table, Yu Qingluan was lost in thought.

“Eating so slowly if this were back in my day, no one would give you food.”

Yu Meiying was a short-tempered little old lady.

Her words were sharp whether her heart was as soft as tofu was unknown, but Yu Qingluan was quite afraid of her.

“I’m thinking about something,” Yu Qingluan ducked her head and gave an awkward smile.

“Thinking about something while eating? What could be more important than eating?” Yu Meiying almost flicked her forehead.

Yu Meiying had experienced hunger. During famine years, she had gnawed on tree bark and stuffed dirt into her mouth.

She couldn’t stand people who ate slowly, were picky, or lost in thought at the dinner table.

Unfortunately, Yu Qingluan was exactly that kind of restless eater.

Every year during the family dinner before Spring Festival, Yu Qingluan had to brace herself and treat it like a battle.

Today, distracted by Yu Shuhua’s words, she had forgotten.

“Grandma I’m sorry.” Yu Qingluan caught a look from Yu Shuhua and quickly apologized, trying to charm her way out of trouble.

“Hmph.” Only then did Yu Meiying let her off.

After dinner, there would still be homework to check.

Yu Qingluan felt like crying but had no tears. She had no choice but to follow Yu Meiying to the study.

For others, “once a teacher, always a teacher” might just be a saying apprentices and teachers drift apart after a couple of years.

But for her, “once a teacher” truly meant Yu Meiying would be her grandma for life.

No matter how far she fled, she had to come home during the New Year for her grandma to check her homework.

“What is this even supposed to be? A twenty-year-old young woman. When I was your age.” Soon, Yu Meiying’s criticisms could be heard from the study.

Along with Yu Qingluan’s barely audible muttering.

Yu Shuhua lit an imaginary stick of incense for her daughter in her heart.

If Yu Meiying was scolding her, it meant she was in a relatively good mood.

When truly angry, one doesn’t resort to scolding they go straight to physical action.

However, Yu Qingluan was a grandchild.

Yu Shuhua had never actually seen her mother lay hands on her daughter.

The bond between grandparents and grandchildren is just like that. Nothing to be done about it.

Yu Lingxue stayed alone in Yu Qingluan’s home.

She sat on Yu Qingluan’s carved bed, idly swinging her legs.

Yu Qingluan’s house was old and worn, looking like it had been standing for decades.

The construction techniques back when it was first built weren’t up to standard, leading to leaks here and mold there.

Drafts were the least of the problems, and the loud creaking of the bedboards was something she could tolerate.

Yet, in such an environment, Yu Lingxue found it incredibly warm and cozy.

She saw the little cat Yu Qingluan had drawn on the wall. On the window were the paper cuttings they had made together over the past couple of days.

At the doorway hung the Spring Festival couplets she, Yu Qingluan, and Yu Shuhua had pasted up. After finishing, they had even set off firecrackers outside.

The courtyard was stocked with New Year’s goods that could last a long time, and the refrigerator was filled with the New Year’s Eve dinner Yu Shuhua had cooked.

Every corner, every detail,

Yu Lingxue cherished them all in a special way.

She wouldn’t mind staying here for a lifetime.

Yu Lingxue turned on the television and gave the set-top box a few taps. Sure enough, the snowy static disappeared.

She chuckled softly, finding even the news broadcast entertaining.

But just then, her phone rang.

At this hour, the only ones who could get through to her were Li Ran or Yu Yueheng and the others.

Yu Lingxue’s heart suddenly clenched.

Could it be that something had happened to Jian Xi?

Her hand trembled slightly as she answered the call.

“Yu Lingxue. I believe I warned you the one you need to watch out for in the Yan family isn’t Yan Wenying.” It was Yu Yueheng.

Yu Lingxue’s breath caught.

“But never mind that now. Yan Wenying has gone mad and stopped the medication Jian Xi needs. I went through great trouble to get this message to you. I can’t talk long Yu Qingyuan is trying to force you to submit. You’re caught between two fronts, attacked from all sides. Jian Xi just had surgery, and the remaining medication won’t last more than three days. The connections I’ve given you can only stretch it for less than one treatment cycle. Think carefully about what to do next. I can’t say any more.” The call ended.

Utter silence fell.

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Look at how things have turned out if Yu Lingxue hadn’t been swayed, she wouldn’t have provoked Yan Wenying with harsh words. If Yan Wenying hadn’t been provoked, she wouldn’t have taken extreme actions. And without those extreme actions, there wouldn’t have been the fallout between Yu Lingxue and Yu Qingluan later on.

But even without Yan Wenying, the two of them had plenty of issues between them neither mature enough in handling matters or personalities. Without this major conflict, they probably would’ve just had a series of small arguments, slowly working things out through friction.