Weakness Trap - Chapter 9

“I need to rest, Wenying.” Yu Lingxue’s expression turned cold, yet she didn’t utter a single word of reprimand.

“Alright, see you tomorrow.” How boring. Is this person incapable of getting angry?

Yan Wenying thought to herself that in Yu Lingxue’s heart, she held no importance, nor did her family, nor even the world.

Then, what about that little wolf who only knew how to lick its own wounds?

Could she be the one to make Yu Lingxue show a change in expression?

Yan Wenying was quite curious.

She eventually left Yu Lingxue’s hospital room, for now merely instructing someone to look into Yu Qingluan’s background.

The next day, after being driven back to school by Yu Lingxue’s people, Yu Qingluan browsed the forum and quickly learned the cause of the previous day’s fire.

It turned out that Ye Dada, who had an unrequited crush on Su Lian, blamed his failure on Yu Lingxue and attempted to harm her in secret.

Relying on his status as the spoiled son of a local entrepreneur, he thought he could get away with his misdeeds as he had in the past, expecting his parents to bail him out.

This time, however, he had kicked an iron plate.

The forum’s pinned post had changed. Previously, it was about a kitten Yu Lingxue had found needing adoption; now, it was an exposé thread detailing all the outrageous things Ye Dada had done over the years.

The thread was started by Su Lian.

But given the depth of information provided, Yu Qingluan suspected Yu Lingxue’s family had intervened.

After all, Yu Lingxue was the cherished daughter of a wealthy family in Hong Kong.

This was something Yu Qingluan had accidentally learned from forum discussions; before that, she had only assumed Yu Lingxue’s family was well-off.

All along, the forum had been her only channel for keeping up with the latest news about Yu Lingxue.

[First Post: Ye Dada was taken into custody yesterday with solid evidence. Sentencing won’t take long, and his accomplice Wang Hao won’t escape either. Before that, let’s expose some things you definitely didn’t know.]

[1L (OP): Some freshmen might not know, but two years ago, there was an unresolved poisoning case at our school. Someone poisoned the dorm’s water dispenser, but it was discovered in time, and no one was harmed. The investigation wasn’t strict. But I’m here to say that incident was also Ye Dada’s doing, triggered by his resentment toward his roommate and girlfriend for being too affectionate.]

[12L (OP): Locals might have heard that three or four years ago, there was a period when people kept racing cars noisily and throwing firecrackers on the streets at midnight. Yes, that was also Ye Dada’s handiwork.]

Reading this, Yu Qingluan’s lips twitched.

Her own street hadn’t been spared; they had been disturbed by the noise back then.

She remembered how several elderly neighbors had stayed up nights, armed with brooms to chase the troublemakers away.

But the culprits had brought a Chow Chow dog, making it impossible to fight or curse at them.

It wasn’t until the group grew tired of their antics that peace finally returned.

More than what else Ye Dada had done, Yu Qingluan was more concerned about the situation in Yu Lingxue’s dorm the previous day.

Soon, she found the discussion thread.

[First Post: Is anyone else here to praise Goddess Yu! Ahhhhhhh, she was so cool yesterday at the fire scene, giving temporary directions. She has such a commanding presence, staying calm in the crisis. Our advisor was crying from panic, but she managed everything smoothly our entire dorm escaped without a single injury!]

[10L: I was there. Senior saved me, and I’m really touched. I fell in the hallway, smoke filling my lungs, and thought I was going to die. Then someone helped me out. I didn’t see their face clearly at the time, but after getting out, I realized it was Senior.]

【39L: Let me add something! My cat! I wasn’t in the dorm when it happened, and I felt like the sky was falling when I heard the news. I had secretly been keeping a little calico in my dorm she’s only five months old, shy, and never dared to step outside. I thought she was going to die in the fire, but Yu Lingxue brought her out too! When I rushed back, my cat was being cuddled and played with by Su Lian.】

Only then did Yu Qingluan realize that Yu Lingxue hadn’t just gone back once yesterday.

She must have gone in and out of the dorm repeatedly, rescuing all the girls who had tripped in their rush, inhaled too much smoke, or even those who were napping in their rooms.

Not a single one was left behind not even their pets.

Yu Qingluan closed her phone and pressed a hand to her chest.

It felt warm there, yet also aching.

That was just like Yu Lingxue. She never boasted about what she did.

On the forum, it was only those she had helped who were speaking up.

No one knew how Yu Lingxue had managed to save so many people yesterday.

How many trips she had made back and forth. How many people, how many little animals, had been saved because of her.

This was the person she loved.

Yu Qingluan touched the corner of her lips, where a faint smile lingered.

【Little Bird: I’ll come see you tonight. Should I bring you some desserts?】 She still had some pocket money left.

【Winter: I want mango pomelo sago! With milk balls! Double the amount!】

Yu Qingluan typed back an “okay,” imprinting a soft kiss in her heart.

When Yu Qingluan arrived, the red-haired woman was still in Yu Lingxue’s hospital room.

She didn’t look like a student her features were much more mature than Yu Lingxue’s, and her style was chic and sophisticated, like the most striking red in a dance hall.

Yu Qingluan didn’t understand who she was, but Yu Lingxue had said she wasn’t important.

Ignoring the woman’s provocations, Yu Qingluan walked straight to Yu Lingxue.

Yu Lingxue glanced at Yan Wenying.

“Fine, fine, I’ll go. I won’t disturb you two.” Yan Wenying swept her gaze over Yu Qingluan.

Yu Lingxue’s girlfriend was just as dull as she was.

So dull that Yan Wenying hadn’t even been able to dig up much information about her.

She seemed like an NPC in this world, living her life step by step going to school, existing.

And because she was poor, she barely had any spending records.

She shouldn’t have expected much from Yu Lingxue. She had thought that the girlfriend Yu Lingxue rebelliously chose might be some kind of celestial beauty.

Or at the very least, someone fun to tease.

But she was just as dull as Yu Lingxue herself.

Suppressing an eye-roll, Yan Wenying closed the door behind them.

As soon as the door shut, Yu Lingxue reached out to Yu Qingluan.

“Where’s my mango pomelo sago?”

Yu Qingluan grinned sheepishly and pulled out a bowl of the sweet dessert.

Yu Lingxue immediately perked up, propping herself up to share it with her Little Bird.

“Oh, Little Bird.” When Yu Lingxue was eating something she truly loved, she would slow down drastically.

Like a squirrel, she’d hold a milk ball in her mouth, puffing out her cheeks, chewing slowly, her gaze fixed blankly on the bowl as if calculating how much more she needed to eat to feel satisfied.

She started to speak, then seemed to space out for a moment before finally snapping back to attention.

Yu Qingluan had already finished eating and was touching up her makeup.

Only then did Yu Lingxue notice the red on her lips.

Yu Qingluan was pale, with cool-toned skin. The bold blue-based red shade made her aura strikingly powerful.

Yu Lingxue’s waist went weak. She couldn’t help but reach out to hug Yu Qingluan.

“What’s wrong?” Yu Qingluan took the spoon and began feeding Yu Lingxue small, careful bites.

Yu Lingxue took a bite, then forgot what she had meant to say.

Yu Qingluan gently massaged her temples, brushing aside the stray strands of hair.

Yu Lingxue ate quietly and slowly.

Yu Qingluan was waiting for the right moment.

It wasn’t until Yu Lingxue finished eating and looked up, a satisfied smile gracing her lips, her otter like mouth curving adorably, that Yu Qingluan finally tilted her head and pressed her lipstick onto Yu Lingxue’s lips.

Yu Lingxue released her grip on Yu Qingluan’s collar and immediately wrapped her arms around her waist.

The lipstick had a floral scent a rare fragrance that Yu Qingluan had spent a long time searching for to find just the right one.

With her naturally light features and minimal makeup, she usually preferred shades like muted rose or milk tea. But today, she had a selfish thought.

That woman with the metallic lipstick was still around.

No matter what, Yu Qingluan wanted to leave her mark on Yu Lingxue.

As if sensing her intention, Yu Lingxue relaxed her hold, surrendering herself completely to Yu Qingluan’s hands, allowing her to kiss, suck, and nuzzle.

The color of roses, along with their fragrance, lingered on Yu Lingxue’s skin a smudge on her cheek, another on her collarbone.

Her arms couldn’t be left out either. Lost in the passion of the moment, Yu Qingluan kissed her as if she were a knight pledging loyalty to her queen.

If she were to crush her own heart and squeeze out its blood, the color would surely be just like this.

She had left her heart with Yu Lingxue as well.

They kissed for a long time.

Yu Lingxue didn’t wipe away the marks Yu Qingluan had deliberately left, nor did she remove the smudged lipstick from her own lips.

Who would have thought she’d one day use kisses as her makeup?

Feeling a sense of wonder, Yu Lingxue leaned against Yu Qingluan’s shoulder, swaying gently and playfully acting cute.

“What were you going to say earlier?” Yu Qingluan asked between kisses.

She had reapplied her lipstick countless times already.

Such a tiny tube, costing just a few dozen yuan, wouldn’t even last her two months.

Being in love really was expensive.

“Hmm, let me think,” Yu Lingxue murmured, her mind hazy from the kisses.

“Ah.”

“It’s just,” Yu Lingxue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Was it too unromantic to bring this up now?

She should be whispering sweet nothings to her little bird, strolling together along the banks of the Chu Yun River, feeling the evening breeze that carried the river’s chill, watching the shadows of willow leaves flicker across their faces.

“Yesterday, during the fire the costume you embroidered for me, the one I kept in the dorm,” Yu Lingxue blinked several times.

She felt terribly guilty toward Yu Qingluan.

That embroidered costume must have been incredibly intricate to make.

“That?” Yu Qingluan showed little reaction.

She had already found out from her gossipy club president.

Once again, she was the last to know. Everyone had heard before her that the costume she made for Yu Lingxue had been destroyed in the fire.

Not just the costume everything Yu Lingxue had kept in her dorm that wasn’t fireproof had been burned.

But Yu Qingluan no longer cared about the order in which she learned things.

“I’m sorry,” Yu Lingxue said, looking at Yu Qingluan.

Her heart ached as she gently stroked Yu Qingluan’s hand, covered in band-aids.

“It’s fine, I’ll just embroider another one. It’s no big deal,” Yu Qingluan said, pulling Yu Lingxue closer again.

Yes.

As long as she was still here, nothing else mattered.

The clothes, the gifts, the potted plants.

Most of the presents she had given Yu Lingxue had been destroyed, but it didn’t matter.

She would give them to her again.

All she needed was one winter.

As long as Yu Lingxue would renew her contract and let her stay by her side.

By the time Yu Qingluan left the hospital room, it was already past midnight.

She had stayed by Yu Lingxue’s side until she fell asleep, promising that she would obediently leave once Yu Lingxue was asleep.

Yu Lingxue trusted her and closed her eyes.

When she left, the woman with the metallic lipstick was already gone. Yu Qingluan’s bold display had no one left to witness it.

She suddenly felt rather ridiculous. She had exhausted all her efforts trying to drive away someone she suspected of being a rival in love, yet that person hadn’t even taken her seriously.

Maybe they weren’t a rival after all?

Yu Qingluan comforted herself.

Before leaving, she caught sight of a dark figure slipping into Yu Lingxue’s hospital room.