When Spring Burns - Chapter 52

The woman lounging on the beach chair shot a meaningful glance at the supermodel beside her and clicked her tongue softly.

Following her gaze, the supermodel knowingly picked up her glass of red wine. “Seems this new girl has some tricks up her sleeve. Look how mesmerized Sister He is.”

The woman on the lounge chair propped up one leg. “Haven’t you noticed? Ever since A’Xue arrived, her eyes keep drifting toward her.”

The supermodel chuckled lightly. “Well, she is an opera performer after all. Her eyes are naturally more captivating.”

Ji Siyi didn’t understand their coded remarks, simply thinking they had a genuinely good relationship. “Their sisterhood is actually quite close. A’Xue has moved past the grief of losing He Xiu. Last month when I returned, I saw Tingmian bringing meals to A’Xue.”

“Bringing meals?” asked the woman on the lounge chair.

“Where to?” added the supermodel.

“To the company,” Ji Siyi replied. “And Tingmian made them herself. So envious.”

The woman on the lounge chair fell silent for a moment. “…No wonder she recovered so quickly.”

The supermodel turned her face away, unable to bear watching.

Meanwhile, Sheng Tingmian pulled back from He Jianxue’s embrace, stealing repeated glances at her before asking softly, “Sister, should I go back now?”

After all, her sister had mentioned she might not blend in well with the others if she stayed.

Seeing her mood had lifted, even her tone becoming lighter, He Jianxue’s red lips curved slightly. “Have you learned how to swim?”

Sheng Tingmian nodded. “I’ve already learned. Next time I can swim with you.”

“We’ll see,” He Jianxue said, glancing back at the three women waiting for her. She returned her gaze to the girl before her. “Would you feel uncomfortable?”

Sheng Tingmian thought seriously for a moment. “It’s fine. I’m not close with them. I can go back, I’ll just make up an excuse.”

He Jianxue couldn’t bear to see her slink back alone. Though she was considerate, it also meant her social circle couldn’t accommodate her here. Looking up toward the villa, she suggested, “How about you take a nap upstairs?”

Understanding her meaning, Sheng Tingmian agreed. “Okay.”

Climbing out of the pool, Sheng Tingmian was wrapped in a towel by He Jianxue. Clutching the edges of the towel, she couldn’t help stealing another look at her sister. “Thank you, Sister.”

Receiving her smile, He Jianxue responded with a gentle one of her own.

Knowing it was time to make her move, Sheng Tingmian walked over to Ji Siyi, feigning a yawn. “Sisters, I’m feeling a bit sleepy. I’d like to go back to my room and rest for a while. Sorry.”

The woman on the lounge chair swept her eyes over the towel draped around her. “Tired already?”

The supermodel glanced at He Jianxue nearby and smiled faintly. “No problem.”

Only Ji Siyi stood up warmly. “I’ll take you.”

And only Ji Siyi was dismissed. He Jianxue’s simple “No need, I’ll take her” pinned Ji Siyi firmly in place.

“Alright, alright,” Ji Siyi sat back down.

Under the watchful eyes of the three women, Sheng Tingmian and He Jianxue returned to the villa and entered a room on the second floor.

Clutching the towel around her shoulders, Sheng Tingmian turned to look at the woman standing at the door. “It’s fine, Sister. You should go back down and join them. I’ll take a shower and rest here for a bit.”

He Jianxue’s gaze swept indifferently over the pink swimsuit she wore, the slender waist half-hidden beneath the oversized towel, and her evenly proportioned legs barefoot on the floor, like pure white jade, innocent yet alluring.

She calmly withdrew her gaze and reminded her, “Don’t catch a cold.”

Sheng Tingmian always felt a warmth in her heart at her sister’s reminders and concern. “I will, sis. Don’t worry about me, just chat with them downstairs.”

As she spoke, Sheng Tingmian slowly closed the door, not relaxing until her sister was completely out of sight.

No matter how their conversation went, it had nothing to do with her anymore. Sheng Tingmian turned and headed toward the bathroom.

About half an hour later, she emerged, drying her damp hair. The night breeze blew open the floor-to-ceiling curtains on the balcony, bringing a refreshing coolness. Sheng Tingmian set down the towel, intending to step out onto the balcony to enjoy the breeze and let her hair dry naturally.

Unexpectedly, the balcony overlooked the swimming pool and garden, where a bonfire burned quietly below. Sheng Tingmian’s eyes immediately landed on the large silver screen by the pool, playing Roman Holiday. Four people were lounging by the blue pool, some lying down, some sitting, and one floating in the water.

Her gaze quickly locked onto her sister, who was lazily reclining on a beach chair under the open sky, knees propped up as if she were stargazing.

She didn’t know what they were talking about, but Sheng Tingmian saw her sister suddenly laugh, and the others joined in.

Relaxed and carefree.

So, this was how her sister acted with friends in private, a side of her Sheng Tingmian had never seen before. Even during their trip to Thailand, her sister had maintained a parental demeanor while showing her around.

Sheng Tingmian rested her cheek in her hand, quietly gazing at that distant figure. The gentle night breeze lifted her half-dry, half-damp hair.

Similarly, it also lifted the loose strands of hair of the person lying on the beach chair.

After some time, Ji Siyi, who was floating on the water, suddenly noticed the figure on the balcony, seemingly looking in her direction. She smiled and waved at Sheng Tingmian.

The sister on the lounge chair and the supermodel sister, noticing her gesture, simultaneously turned their gazes toward the second-floor balcony.

He Jianxue, realizing no one was speaking, instinctively glanced at the others and noticed they were all looking in the same direction. Hesitantly, she turned to look back.

As she turned, her eyes met Sheng Tingmian’s on the balcony.

Realizing all four sisters were staring at her, Sheng Tingmian immediately lowered her hand, her face flushing with embarrassment. Flustered, she still caught the faint smile at the corner of her sister’s lips. Pretending to be nonchalant, she turned and smoothed her hair, as if she were just there to dry it.

The next second, she fled in a panic.

Only after escaping back into her room did Sheng Tingmian let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest. Why had they all suddenly looked at her?

Unable to figure out the reason, she decided not to dwell on it and walked toward the large bed. Her hair now dry, she climbed into bed, buried her face in the pillow, and gradually fell asleep to the faint, indistinct dialogue of the movie from the balcony.

Her mind was filled with the image of her sister stretched out on the beach chair and the smile she had just seen, so beautiful it seemed like a painting.

Mature and captivating sisters engaged in deep conversation in the villa garden, each successful in their careers, confident, rational, eloquent, cultured, thoughtful, and insightful. Every quality they possessed was utterly mesmerizing, a level she couldn’t yet reach at this stage of her life.

She hoped that in ten years, she too could be like her sister, radiant and full of vitality.

Sheng Tingmian nuzzled her pillow.

Outside was her sister, while she, the younger sister, slept in her room. For a moment, it felt as if she were waiting for her mother to return after chatting with others.

But she knew deep down it wasn’t her mother, it was her sister, an older sister much senior to her… Sheng Tingmian rested her hand on the pillow, a profound sense of security filling her chest.

…

Late at night, the lights in the room flickered on. After bidding her friends goodnight one by one, He Jianxue made her way toward the large bed.

Noticing that Sheng Tingmian hadn’t covered herself with the blanket but was lying directly on top of it, she sighed helplessly and gently woke her.

“Mianmian?” He Jianxue nudged her softly. “Wake up, why aren’t you under the covers?”

Sheng Tingmian drowsily propped herself up. “Sister, are we going back now?”

“It’s too late; we’ll stay here tonight.” He Jianxue ruffled her hair. “Did you not get under the blanket just to wait for me?”

“Mmm…” Sheng Tingmian yawned. “So sleepy.”

“Move up a bit.” He Jianxue lifted the blanket that was pinned under her legs. Sheng Tingmian, now slightly more awake, slipped off the top of the blanket and settled underneath it.

He Jianxue then lay down beside her, and almost immediately, a warm body snuggled close. She smiled silently.

“I chatted a bit too late tonight. We’ll head back first thing in the morning.”

“Okay…”

Sheng Tingmian drew out the word “okay” until sleep swallowed its final syllable. Clinging tightly to the other, she drifted into a deep slumber.

…

The next day, He Jianxue drove her back.

On the way, Sheng Tingmian listened to the music playing in the car. “Sister, I have to go on a business trip tomorrow.”

He Jianxue asked, “For a performance?”

She wasn’t entirely involved in the affairs of the Liqing Theatre Troupe, so she wasn’t aware of all their arrangements.

“Yeah, this time we’re going to Wuqing City.”

He Jianxue fell silent, her gaze fixed on the traffic light ahead as she gradually came to a stop, calmly processing this sudden news.

“Wishing you a successful performance.”

After those words, neither of them spoke again.

Upon returning home, Sheng Tingmian continued packing. She was scheduled to fly out that evening, and He Jianxue personally saw her off.

Only after the entire theatre troupe had boarded the plane did she leave the airport.

Back home, He Jianxue sighed as she looked around the empty room.

She hadn’t expected her to be leaving on another business trip so soon. The thought of her being away felt unexpectedly hollow, leaving a void she hadn’t experienced before.

On the third day of Sheng Tingmian’s business trip, which fell on a weekend, He Jianxue sat alone at the dining table having breakfast. Out of habit, without even looking up, she asked, “Any plans for the weekend? Thinking of going out?”

But there was no response. Normally, Sheng Tingmian would have eagerly shared her itinerary, shopping, watching a play, visiting an exhibition, and would always end with, “Sister, do you want to come along?”

He Jianxue usually agreed, unless work got in the way.

Staring blankly at the empty chair across from her, He Jianxue sighed after a moment. It seemed she had already grown accustomed to having Mianmian by her side. Just two days apart felt strangely unfamiliar.

Perhaps feeling unsettled, He Jianxue headed straight to the corporation to work after breakfast. When she arrived, her secretary was surprised to see her coming in on a weekend.

Just as the secretary was reassuring herself that the reason He Jianxue had become chairman was due to her dedication to work, she accidentally caught a glimpse of Chairman He sitting in her office, absentmindedly examining a string of beads.

Wasn’t she here to work? Why was she looking at beads?

The secretary was puzzled when, suddenly, He Jianxue seemed to snap out of her reverie, set the beads aside, and called her over.

“Is there a project that’s reached the contract-signing stage?”

The secretary quickly composed herself. “The one handled by Wei Ruoqian?”

He Jianxue replied, “Yes.”

Secretary: “She was indeed at the point of signing the contract, but the other party stood her up twice.”

He Jianxue: “Alright, this time Wei Ruoqian and I will go together. Call her over, I want to talk to her. Also, arrange the travel logistics for me. I’m going on a business trip.”

Only by traveling for work could she truly keep herself busy, keep herself from thinking about that face, from recalling that delicate, theatrical voice.

The secretary stammered in surprise before turning to make the arrangements.

…

As planned, He Jianxue took Wei Ruoqian on a flight to another city.

As soon as they landed, she received a message from Sheng Tingmian.

She said: How have you been lately, sis?

He Jianxue: Not bad.

Sheng Tingmian: Do you miss me, sis?

He Jianxue paused at this message, glancing at her colleague Wei Ruoqian beside her.

If she didn’t miss her, why would she be at the airport in the first place?

She replied with a simple Mm.

Soon after, Sheng Tingmian sent back: I miss you too, sis ❤️❤️

He Jianxue smiled at the message, got into the car, and headed to the hotel. Not long after, Sheng Tingmian sent another message.

She said: Sis, I’m going to remove my makeup and grab a bite. Let’s chat again tonight.

He Jianxue: Okay.

At 9 p.m., He Jianxue expected a phone call, but instead, Sheng Tingmian sent her an invitation to listen to music together.

After a moment’s hesitation, He Jianxue clicked on it. It immediately redirected to a music app and then into a virtual room.

Inside the room, there was only a sofa where two young girls sat listening to the song that was playing.

Suddenly, a few lines of text appeared above the head of the girl with a single braid:

Sis, we’re listening in real-time.

You can skip songs anytime on your end too.

This is our shared room.

Reading these words, He Jianxue could almost hear Tingmian’s soft, gentle voice speaking to her. She checked the playlist below, indeed, both sides could skip songs in real time. She opened the chatbox.

Above the head of the girl with wavy hair beside the sofa, a line of text appeared:

How did you find out about this feature?

The girl with the single braid touched her braid and replied:

Sis, Du Jingya told me about it.

I just figured it out a couple of days ago.

Isn’t it fun?

This way, I can listen to music with you in real time.

He Jianxue stopped typing.

Oh, Du Jingya.

So, she was the one who taught her.