When Spring Burns - Chapter 29

Over the next few days, Sheng Tingmian noticed that she kept running into this Sister Siyi whenever she brought meals to her sister.

“Tingmian, little sister, here you are again bringing food for your sister,” Ji Siyi remarked in the elevator, eyeing the insulated lunchbox in the pretty and delicate girl’s hand.

“Yes,” Sheng Tingmian nodded politely.

Ji Siyi tried to strike up a conversation: “What did you cook this time?”

Recalling the scene of her cooking at home, Sheng Tingmian felt a surge of happiness. “My sister doesn’t like greasy food, so today I made stir-fried broccoli with mushrooms, poached shrimp, and tomato pork rib corn soup.”

Ji Siyi couldn’t help but feel envious. “I see you bringing meals to your sister every day. What do you usually do? Don’t you have to work, or are you still in school?”

Sheng Tingmian smiled. “I’m not free every day, but I happen to have some time these days, so I’ve been cooking and bringing meals for my sister. I’m already working, I perform opera at Changyuan Theater.”

“Opera?” Ji Siyi thought it was quite a niche profession. “Are you a drama student?”

“Sort of.”

In truth, Sheng Tingmian knew she wasn’t a formally trained drama student. She had simply been performing opera with her aunt since she was young, a wandering artist of sorts. While others her age were studying hard for high school entrance exams at fifteen, dreaming of a bright future, Sheng Tingmian had encountered some difficulties at that age. Her aunt had pulled her out of school and made her learn opera instead.

“Changyuan Theater…”

Ji Siyi made a mental note. “I’ll come see you perform when I have time. By the way, Tingmian, little sister, I studied medicine at the University of Munich in Germany and have already completed my Ph.D. Now I’m working at my family’s hospital. If you ever feel unwell, you can call me directly.”

With that, Ji Siyi handed over her business card.

Sheng Tingmian took it and glanced at the formal, serious photo on it, it looked very reliable. “Studied abroad in Germany… Sister Siyi, you’re amazing.”

For the first time, Ji Siyi felt that her nine years of hard work hadn’t been in vain.

When they reached the office, Ji Siyi kept glancing at He Jianxue, watching her eat the meal prepared by Tingmian, then turned to Sheng Tingmian to chat with her.

After all, it would be a bit odd for both of them to stare intently at He Jianxue while she ate.

Ji Siyi: “Tingmian, little sister, what kind of opera do you usually perform? Peking opera or Kunqu opera?”

Sheng Tingmian: “I mainly perform Kunqu opera now, but I also do some Peking opera, though not much.”

Ji Siyi: “I suddenly really want to hear you sing, Tingmian, little sister. When can I buy tickets?”

As she spoke, Ji Siyi pulled out her phone to check Changyuan Theater’s schedule but found no performances by Sheng Tingmian.

Sheng Tingmian: “I don’t have any shifts recently, Sister Siyi. You won’t find anything.”

Unable to hear Tingmian sing, Ji Siyi shifted the conversation. “So, what do you usually do?”

Sheng Tingmian: “Training.”

Ji Siyi: “Is training exhausting?”

Sheng Tingmian: “It’s alright. I’m used to it.”

Ji Siyi: “The weekend is almost here. Any plans, Tingmian, little sister?”

Sheng Tingmian shook her head.

Seeing this, Ji Siyi seized the opportunity: “How about we go watch a musical together?”

Sheng Tingmian glanced at her sister beside her, then back at Ji Siyi. “Alright.”

Tingmian, little sister… Tingmian, little sister…

He Jianxue suddenly realized that these words had been echoing in her ears a lot lately. But since Ji Siyi was a woman, she didn’t think much of it.

She simply assumed the two of them had hit it off.

On Saturday, He Jianxue returned from the corporation and happened to run into Ji Siyi sending Sheng Tingmian back.

“Tingmian, I’ll head back now. Let’s meet up again next time.”

“Alright, goodbye, Siyi.”

After the two bid farewell, Sheng Tingmian turned to enter the house, only to find He Jianxue standing right in front of her.

“Sis, you’re back from work?”

“Mm.” He Jianxue noticed her radiant smile, as if she had enjoyed the musical outing with Ji Siyi. “Was the musical good?”

Sheng Tingmian walked past her, crouched down, and picked up Tyrande. “It was like an artistic baptism.”

He Jianxue pondered for a moment. “When I have time, I’ll go with you too.”

Sheng Tingmian looked up at her. “That sounds great.”

Two days later, after finishing the lunch her sister had brought, He Jianxue decided to step out and ask Ah Tong to deliver some documents since her secretary wasn’t around. As soon as she stepped out, she caught sight of her sister’s retreating figure not far away.

Her sister was waiting in front of the elevator.

But the next moment, as she stepped inside, she nearly collided with someone coming out, causing Ji Siyi’s documents to scatter all over the floor.

Her sister, full of remorse, crouched down to help pick them up.

The two of them knelt on the ground, gathering the scattered papers.

He Jianxue withdrew her gaze, handed the files to Ah Tong with instructions to deliver them, and was about to return to her office when her eyes drifted back toward the elevator.

That one glance made her frown deeply.

Her sister’s hand was being held by Ji Siyi, who seemed lost in thought, holding onto it for several seconds.

Her sister was saying something, her expression natural and composed.

He Jianxue stood at the office door for a long while, feeling somewhat unsettled. It wasn’t until the two separated that the discomfort faded.

Back in the office, Ji Siyi handed over the comprehensive examination report on He Jianxue’s legs.

“Xue, I’ve fully analyzed your report. Your legs still need ongoing treatment; otherwise, as you age, the nerves in your legs may degenerate, leading to an inability to walk.”

“Although that old Chinese medicine practitioner cured your leg condition, there were lingering aftereffects. You’ve probably had comprehensive check-ups since then, and the results should align closely with what I’m saying.”

He Jianxue flipped through the reports, they indeed matched the outcomes of her previous examinations: there were aftereffects, with some medical teams stating a complete cure was impossible, while others gave probabilities of only half or one-third.

“What are my chances of a full recovery?”

“90%. Our hospital has the most advanced and precise medical equipment.”

“Alright, go ahead and arrange it.”

Ji Siyi looked at her, surprised by her calm decision. “Just like that? You’re choosing me? Don’t you want to think it over? What if I can’t cure you either?”

He Jianxue replied, “Then I suppose I’ll just have to use a wheelchair when I’m old.”

Ji Siyi took a deep breath. “I’ve noticed you take things so lightly. Were you always like this?”

She had heard from her family that when He Jianxue first became paralyzed, she was deeply despondent, her temper had turned peculiar, and she was difficult to handle.

After all, such a major blow is hard for anyone to accept, and a drastic change in temperament is understandable.

But now, facing the possibility of paralysis again, He Jianxue seemed even more composed than before?

He Jianxue knew what she was thinking. During that year or more of paralysis, she had indeed been disheartened and defeated at first. But much of it wasn’t solely due to the paralysis, it was more about the powerlessness she felt as her mother’s influence in the business waned, and the compromises He Xiu made for the sake of so-called “overall considerations” by agreeing to a marriage alliance.

She still remembered the night of Chunfen’s birthday, just before He Xiu left, she had called her adopted sister into her room and asked her directly how she was doing over there.

When she received He Xiu’s reply, “Sister, I’m doing quite well,” she had already sensed her unhappiness and detected the hidden sorrow in her downcast eyes.

The moment He Xiu left, she immediately called her aunt, asking how she could help He Xiu divorce the Lin family. However, when her aunt demanded she hand over the Qingguan Lake properties in return, she could do nothing but smash everything in her room.

On one side was what her mother had left her, and on the other was her adopted sister’s happiness, she couldn’t make a choice.

That was why she was in such agony.

He Jianxue set down the report and looked at her calmly, “Even if I have to stay in a wheelchair now, I don’t mind.”

The root of her pain wasn’t her paralyzed legs but the loss of control over the situation.

There were too many wolves and tigers lurking around, waiting to pounce. She had taken a hard fall, lost a sister, and this kind of pain would stay with her forever, serving as a constant reminder.

Ji Siyi was deeply impressed by her magnanimity, and for a moment, she seemed to see the same grace that He’s mother had possessed nine years ago. “Alright, I will do my utmost to heal your legs.”

After such a serious conversation, Ji Siyi thought of Sheng Tingmian again. “By the way, would you like to arrange a full-body check-up for Tingmian as well?”

Since He Jianxue was going for treatment, Tingmian would probably go too, so a full-body check-up would be convenient.

When He Jianxue heard the words “Tingmian,” that discomfort resurfaced. Just as she began to wonder if it was her sister’s possessiveness acting up, a message from Sheng Tingmian came through.

It said she had arrived home safely.

He Jianxue opened the message box and saw two cute emojis attached to the text. Her red lips curled into a smile. “I’ll talk to her about it when I get back. If she’s willing, she can go; if not, that’s fine.”

After all, a full-body check-up could be done at other hospitals, it didn’t have to be at the Ji family’s hospital.

Ji Siyi packed her things and waited for the good news. “Alright, I’ll head off first.”

…

When He Jianxue returned home, Sheng Tingmian was in the bathroom recording a song and was accidentally interrupted.

“Ah, sister, I’m still in the bathroom,” Sheng Tingmian said, noticing that He Jianxue had walked straight in without any warning. She shot her a reproachful glare.

Realizing she had been somewhat improper, He Jianxue could only explain, “I was lost in thought just now and didn’t notice you were in here.”

“Good thing I wasn’t taking a shower, or you would have seen everything,” Sheng Tingmian teased softly, lowering her eyes to pause the recording and delete the failed video. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed her sister still standing behind her.

“Sister, why are you still here?” Sheng Tingmian asked, holding her phone in one hand and an earphone in the other, turning around to look at the woman in confusion. “Do you need to use the toilet? I’ll let you go first and step out then.”

“I don’t need to use the toilet.”

He Jianxue called her to a halt and looked her over from head to toe. It was summer, and she was wearing a light, cool pink zippered top with the zipper pulled down to the middle of her chest. Underneath the top was a white camisole. The “V-shape” created by the zipper and the white inner layer formed a visual focal point, making a certain area appear even more prominent and shapely.

He Jianxue only then noticed that she had tied her hair into a loose braid that day, draped over her right chest. Her skin was fair with a rosy glow, making her look just like a college girl.

He Jianxue averted her gaze and simply responded to her words, “What part of you hasn’t your sister seen before?”

Sheng Tingmian blushed instantly at this remark, clearly recalling the embarrassing incident when she had made a fool of herself in front of her sister while soaking in a hot spring in Thailand. Trying to cover it up with a coquettish tone, she said, “Alright, sister, let’s not bring up that embarrassing story. Just let me finish recording, please.”

Seeing her wrap both hands around her arm and push her away, He Jianxue raised her hand, reached to her chest, and pulled the zipper up above her bust.

“Pay a little more attention to your appearance.”