When Spring Burns - Chapter 26

The incandescent light was on in the kitchen.

Only after finishing the entire bowl of salad and feeling slightly full did He Jianxue realize just how many cherry tomatoes there were, and how much affection her younger sister had poured into it.

Cherry tomatoes were small, so insignificant that most people wouldn’t hesitate to discard them without a second thought. Even she had considered throwing them away earlier.

But she had overlooked the fact that these were grown by Sheng Tingmian herself, something a girl her age could offer, yet easily dismissed by adults like her with more life experience.

No wonder Sheng Tingmian had misunderstood and thought she was being driven away when He Jianxue hadn’t come home to sleep for several days.

She didn’t feel needed.

He Jianxue sat at the dining table for a long time, quietly gazing at the empty bowl in front of her. It wasn’t until the housekeeper came to clear the dishes that she finally went to wash up.

Seeing Sheng Tingmian asleep on the bed, her lovely face peaceful and serene, He Jianxue was reminded once again of that bowl of cherry tomato salad.

Even though she had grown them herself, Sheng Tingmian hadn’t mentioned it. Probably because He Jianxue had eaten so many vegetables that she overlooked the cherry tomatoes, leaving Sheng Tingmian without the chance to seek praise for her effort.

He Jianxue lifted the covers and slipped into bed, but the movement woke Sheng Tingmian.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Sheng Tingmian saw her sister lying down and couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, did you finish all the salad?”

He Jianxue propped herself up on one side, taking in the girl’s hopeful expression. “Yes, I finished it. The cherry tomatoes were delicious. Did you grow them yourself?”

Sheng Tingmian was surprised she had found out. “How did you know, Sister?”

He Jianxue replied, “Aunt Xiang told me.”

Sheng Tingmian’s nose tingled with emotion. “Were they really good? Don’t lie to me.”

He Jianxue gently brushed aside a strand of hair from Sheng Tingmian’s temple. Seeing the girl’s sincere face, she paused, lost in thought. If she simply praised them again, someone as sensitive as Sheng Tingmian would surely detect her insincerity.

The words on the tip of her tongue were replaced with a more honest approach: “They were good, I’m not lying. I really did finish them. It’s just that I came back too late, and I’m not used to eating at night. Next time, you can make it during the day. If I’m not home, you can ask the housekeeper to bring it to the office for me. I’ll eat it then.”

Hearing such gentle words, Sheng Tingmian’s tears turned into a smile. Someone of her sister’s status could have straightforwardly reminded her that if she wanted to prepare food for her, it needed to fit her work schedule and habits. Yet, He Jianxue had considered everything, ensuring neither of them had to overly accommodate the other.

She hadn’t known much about her sister before. Before the old Chinese medicine practitioner revealed the truth about her legs, Sheng Tingmian’s impression of He Jianxue was that of a powerful, aristocratic figure, someone with the aura of her social class. Though she couldn’t walk, her innate nobility and pride made it difficult for anyone to look directly at her. That’s why Sheng Tingmian had felt instinctively fearful both times she touched her sister’s legs, worried about causing offense.

After her younger sister passed away, Sheng Tingmian began to see the vulnerable side of He Jianxue, a living, breathing person, not just a symbol of authority.

Later, when He Jianxue invited her to live and eat together, celebrated her birthday, Sheng Tingmian often felt she was passively receiving her kindness, acutely aware that she was merely a vessel for her sister’s emotional attachment.

Whether in terms of their social positions or emotional value, their relationship was unequal. Sheng Tingmian often felt guilty for receiving so much while giving so little, and she feared that her own efforts might become a burden to others.

But now, Sheng Tingmian felt that something had changed. From the polite remark, “How did you know your sister happened to be hungry?” to admitting that she didn’t eat at night, didn’t this mean her sister was gradually placing her on an equal footing, rather than treating her like a little sister who needed to be coaxed by lowering her own boundaries?

Her sister acknowledged and accepted her efforts.

This was a comfortable shift in their dynamic, and she could clearly sense it.

“Alright…” The ache in Sheng Tingmian’s heart instantly faded as she threw herself into her sister’s arms. “Sister, you should get to sleep now. It’s really late.”

“Hmm.” He Jianxue also breathed a sigh of relief. So, this was the best way to resolve the girl’s inner turmoil.

The lights went out, and they settled down to sleep.

…

Sheng Tingmian diligently performed at the theater. As the May Day holiday approached, everyone in the troupe was discussing where to travel.

Meanwhile, her aunt had recently secured an opportunity for a Kunqu opera exchange. As the troupe leader, she had to go and engage with senior artists while also learning from them.

And so, Sheng Tingmian became a “left-behind child.” Just as she was considering whether to join her friends’ travel group, He Jianxue extended an invitation to her.

“Would you like to visit Southeast Asia?” her sister asked.

Sheng Tingmian let out a surprised “Ah?” He Jianxue explained, “I have a business banquet to attend in Thailand during the May Day holiday, but it’s only for one evening. After it’s over, we can stay and explore. Would you like to come with me?”

Only then did Sheng Tingmian realize that her sister was going on a business trip, one that required only a single evening. The rest of the holiday, they could spend playing together.

She felt a stir of excitement and eagerness, but on the surface, she maintained a bit of reserve. “Won’t I be disturbing you, sister?”

He Jianxue smiled, ruffling her hair. “Not at all.”

This was Sheng Tingmian’s first time accompanying her sister on a business trip. She informed her aunt about it and went to get her passport. Her aunt reminded her to be careful, and Sheng Tingmian assured her she would, then turned to start packing.

On the day of their flight, she wore a green face mask and stood beside He Jianxue in line to collect their tickets. A few staff members accompanied them, handling the luggage check-in.

At customs, Sheng Tingmian handed all her documents to her sister. She watched as He Jianxue, dressed in a trench coat and sunglasses, communicated in English with the staff. Before long, they were seated in a car heading to a seaside resort hotel.

On the first evening, He Jianxue went with the staff to attend the business banquet, leaving Sheng Tingmian alone at the hotel. She wandered the private beach, watching the sunset and feeling the sea breeze. Her sister had bought her a camera, and she happily snapped photos on her own.

The banquet ended quickly, they had left at 7 p.m. and were back by 10 p.m. When Sheng Tingmian opened the door, she caught a whiff of alcohol on her sister.

It seemed she had had a few drinks.

“Sister, is all the work finished now?”

“Yes, starting tomorrow, we can explore. Tell Ah Tong where you’d like to go, and she’ll arrange the itinerary.”

Sheng Tingmian followed He Jianxue as she sat down, then reached out to massage her sister’s temples.

“Sister, let me give you a massage.”

“Alright.”

“Sister, did you drink?”

“A few glasses.”

“Are you drunk?”

“You’re underestimating me.”

“I mean, if you were drunk, I could take care of you.”

He Jianxue closed her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips, but she didn’t respond.

The next day, as sunlight spilled over the beach, the group changed into loose floral pants and draped shawls over their shoulders to visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The Siamese architecture and statues left an impression of dazzling gold and solemnity. Sheng Tingmian observed each novel structure with careful curiosity.

While boating along the Chao Phraya River, Sheng Tingmian sat opposite He Jianxue, watching her lazily lean to one side. Beneath her sunglasses, her crimson lips reflected the sky’s hues, cinematic in quality, both enchanting and alluring.

“Miss Sheng, would you like to go over and take a photo with Miss He?” the assistant suggested.

“Sure.” Sheng Tingmian handed the camera to the assistant. After leaving the Grand Palace, she had changed into Thai attire, a white and pink set, with intricately designed earrings, headpiece, necklace, and waist chain, all of which she adorned with a love for beauty. Her right shoulder was exposed.

She felt it was very characteristic of Thailand.

Sheng Tingmian stood up slightly, preparing to move next to her sister, who reached out a hand to steady her. Pressing her lips together, she placed her slender hand in her sister’s palm. But whether it was due to the boat or her own imbalance, she swayed and stumbled forward, falling straight into her sister’s embrace.

Unaware that her cheek had brushed against He Jianxue’s red lips, her flip-flop flew off. Sheng Tingmian felt utterly embarrassed; there were others on the boat, and their laughter unabashedly pierced her ears.

She buried her face in her sister’s chest, too ashamed to look up.

“My sister is shy; stop laughing,” He Jianxue said, holding her sister by the waist. A fleeting thought of the earlier lip contact crossed her mind as she silenced the laughter, then looked down to comfort the girl in her arms. “Still want to take the photo?”

Only after the laughter subsided did Sheng Tingmian lift her head. Leaning on her sister, she sat down beside her, shyly pressing close. The lost flip-flop had landed on the other side of He Jianxue, who bent to retrieve it and placed it by her feet.

“Here, put it on.”

Sheng Tingmian stared intently at her sister’s profile. Though the sunglasses obscured her expression, she extended a fair, jade-like foot from under her skirt and slipped back into the flip-flop. Against the backdrop of the Chao Phraya River, they finally took their first tourist photo together.

That evening, they dined at a rooftop restaurant on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River, where they could see the Wat Arun across the water. Sheng Tingmian grew more and more excited as the day went on.

She wanted to try everything and experience it all, accompanied by her lavish elder sister and an assistant skilled in photography to capture every moment.

On the third day, they visited the jelly-like sea in Pattaya. Sheng Tingmian had calmed down a bit but felt awkward putting on a bikini. Her figure was sensationally curvaceous, which made her feel all the more self-conscious.

It seemed as though both sisters’ eyes landed on her the moment she stepped out.

He Jianxue noticed her discomfort as she stood there, skin like jade and snow, with two braids and a graceful figure that was both innocent and striking.

Sensing her unease, He Jianxue picked up a cloth from nearby, walked over, and bent down to tie a matching sarong around her waist.

“Sister…”

Sheng Tingmian tensed up, not daring to move as her sister drew so close to fasten the sarong.

Her feet pressed into the sand under the near-equatorial sun, its glare making her squint. In her narrowed vision, all she could see was her sister’s slender back and wavy hair as she bent before her, the bridge of her nose beneath the sunglasses exquisitely defined. She often thought of her as resembling the beauties in European and American magazines, yet with an Eastern aristocratic charm that surpassed them.

After He Jianxue finished applying sunscreen, she found Sheng Tingmian even more alluring. Although the single-sided sarong covered the triangular area, her jade-like legs became more subtly visible. Coupled with the swimsuit designed with a waist chain, the lines on her waist appeared even smoother. The waist chain hung on her hip bones, as if adorned with top-tier jewelry.

He Jianxue frowned, she should have bought her a more conservative style.

They rode the jet ski together, with Sheng Tingmian nestled in front of He Jianxue, speeding across the boundless, azure sea.

The sea breeze brushed against their faces. Sheng Tingmian, feeling her sister’s body pressed against her back, was filled with dopamine, almost overflowing.

The assistant followed on another jet ski, diligently capturing photos with a camera. While the boss and her younger sister enjoyed various water activities, she remained dedicated to her role as the photographer.

The boss had said: do a good job as the photographer these few days, and there would be a bonus upon their return.

By evening, Sheng Tingmian’s hair, once wet, had been half-dried by the sea breeze. Seawater had soaked her bikini, and she elegantly tucked her damp hair behind her ear, smiling brightly as she watched He Jianxue approach.

“Sister, it was so much fun!” Sheng Tingmian walked barefoot across the soft sand, wrapped her arms around He Jianxue’s neck, pressed herself close, and curved her eyes into a smile.

He Jianxue couldn’t ignore the sensation of her body pressing against her. She wrapped an arm around Sheng Tingmian’s waist and said, “As long as you’re happy.”

Her fingertips brushed against the waist chain, one end of which was attached to a piece of the bikini fabric.

Her fingers paused briefly.

As her sister’s slender, firm waist pressed against her, He Jianxue quickly released her, took the large shawl handed over by the assistant, and draped it over Sheng Tingmian’s shoulders.

“Let’s get ready to head back.”

“Okay~”

Back at the resort hotel, they arranged to soak in a private hot spring to wash away the day’s fatigue. He Jianxue took Sheng Tingmian to change first.

He Jianxue finished changing and waited outside the door, while Sheng Tingmian took a bit longer, emerging wrapped in a towel.

“Sister, do we really have to be completely naked?”

Sheng Tingmian was a little nervous as she walked toward He Jianxue, but when she was about a meter away, the towel loosened and suddenly fell.

She let out a short, soft cry and covered her chest.

He Jianxue looked up and saw the scene. Her gaze swept over the shadowed area, then fell to the towel at Sheng Tingmian’s feet. Pressing her lips together, she stepped forward, picked it up, and helped wrap it around her again.

The young girl’s face was already flushed beyond belief. Biting her lip, she said, “Sister, I’m so embarrassed…”

He Jianxue felt a sudden urge to laugh at her expression. “It’s just the two of us sisters here. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. What you have, I have too.”