Chapter 18

After finally pushing the stall cart back into the stairwell of the residential complex, Xin Geling was afraid the meat would spoil if it stayed inside overnight, so she had no choice but to carry the boxes back home one by one.

“Do they need to go in the fridge?” After washing her hands, Xie Zhitang saw what she was doing and realized she wanted to freeze them to keep them fresh.

“Mm.”

“I’ll help you put them in.” Xie Zhitang pulled over the foam storage box on the table. The foam box was very large, and it could not be placed directly into the refrigerator. Xie Zhitang put on disposable gloves and slowly stacked the skewers inside into the freezer compartment.

Xin Geling carried up the last box. Xie Zhitang was still arranging the skewers. Xin Geling went to wash her hands, preparing to put on gloves and help, but Xie Zhitang refused.

“There’s only a little left. I’ll do it.” Xie Zhitang stood in front of her with her back to her, not letting her interfere.

So Xin Geling could only watch as she kept taking them out and putting them in, taking them out and putting them in.

After finishing everything, Xie Zhitang closed the refrigerator door. “I’ll go wash my hands.”

“Mm.” Xin Geling poured her a glass of water.

As soon as Xie Zhitang turned around, she saw that the back of Xin Geling’s clothes had been half-soaked with sweat. unauthorized copy “Sister, your back is wet.”

As she spoke, Xie Zhitang reached out and touched the area below the collar at Xin Geling’s back. Her fingertips brushed the sweat-soaked fabric, bringing a faint damp chill.

Xin Geling’s long hair had been casually folded twice and tied into a long, low bun, with a small section of hair escaping at the turn of the ends.

Xie Zhitang’s fingers slid down, lightly tracing over her spine, then touched the stiffly tied hair. Her gaze flickered, and she bit her lower lip.

Xin Geling held the cup of water in one hand, while her other hand reached back to touch her own back. It really was wet.

She then smelled herself and frowned tightly. “I’m going to take a shower.”

Xie Zhitang took the water, her gaze following Xin Geling unintentionally as she entered her room to prepare a change of clothes, then went into the bathroom to shower.

She took a small sip of water.

After a while, Xin Geling came out after showering, clean and refreshed. “I’m going to the hospital to stay with her. Do you want to rest here? Or do you want to go back?”

Xie Zhitang thought for a moment. “I’ll go with you.”

Xin Geling asked, “Don’t you have work tomorrow?”

Xie Zhitang said, “I can go back in the morning.”

Xin Geling felt that traveling back and forth like this would be too exhausting for her. “Actually, you don’t need to keep me company.”

But Xie Zhitang picked up her bag, looking ready to head out. “Don’t say that. I’ll go with you and help take care of Auntie.”

Xin Geling was left speechless, but she did not say anything more.

.

When they arrived at the hospital, Lin Huailan was resting in the ward, breathing evenly, still not awake.

Xin Geling could only sit by the bed and watch over her. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lin Huailan’s weathered hand and could not help reaching out to touch it. Feeling the calluses on her fingertips, Xin Geling’s mood sank.

She slowly held it tighter, feeling the hardship her mother had endured over the years.

Xie Zhitang had just come in from outside when she saw this scene. Because Sister had gone to prison, she had missed seven years of companionship, while Auntie had endured seven years of suffering alive and alone.

And the reason this family had become like this—the culprit—was Xie Zhitang herself.

If Sister had not saved her back then, the two of them could have lived a completely different life.

Instead of struggling at the bottom of society to make a living.

Xin Geling rubbed the web between Lin Huailan’s thumb and index finger. Suddenly, at that moment, a jacket was draped over her shoulders.

She froze, then lifted her head to look over.

“I just took it from the car. It gets cold at night,” Xie Zhitang explained.

Xin Geling saw how thinly she was dressed. “What about you?”

Xie Zhitang smiled gently. “Me? I’m fine.”

As she spoke, Xie Zhitang moved a chair over and sat beside her, looking at Lin Huailan, who still had not woken up on the bed. “Auntie will get better.”

Xin Geling said, “Thank you for tonight.”

Xie Zhitang turned her head to look at her, but she had not expected the two of them to be sitting so close. As soon as she turned, the read the original at bailiantales.comother woman’s face was right before her.

Her gaze slowly moved down from Xin Geling’s calm, warm black eyes and fell on her slightly pressed thin lips.

For a moment, she lost focus.

Xin Geling was the first to notice that the distance between them was too close and shifted back a little.

Seeing that movement, an indescribable trace of disappointment swept through Xie Zhitang’s heart. Her expression did not change as she lifted her eyes, her tone turning a few degrees cooler. “What are you thanking me for?”

Xin Geling said, “For helping me clean up the barbecue stall.”

Xie Zhitang mocked herself. “What does that count as…”

She had destroyed their whole family, and Sister still had the heart to thank her.

Xin Geling’s expression turned serious. “No matter what, I still need to thank you.”

Xie Zhitang did not reply. Since Xin Geling received no response, she did not continue either.

For a while, neither of them had anything to say to each other.

Time passed little by little. By midnight, Xie Zhitang was leaning against her chair, drowsy and half-asleep.

Xin Geling was sleepy too, her eyelids fighting to close. Suddenly, her shoulder grew heavy. She woke up and realized Xie Zhitang beside her had leaned against her shoulder.

She looked around, but there was no other bed for her to lie down and rest on.

Xin Geling thought for a moment, then, while keeping her shoulder still, took off the jacket Xie Zhitang had given her and gently draped it over Xie Zhitang.

A few strands of Xie Zhitang’s slightly curled hair swayed faintly over the skin of Xin Geling’s arm, tickling her a little.

Xin Geling reached out and carefully pinched them up, but then did not know where to put them. After thinking for a few seconds, she decided to forget it.

She let them fall and left them be.

“Sister…”

A murmur as faint as a mosquito’s buzz landed clearly in her ear. Xin Geling paused, unable to help lowering her eyes to look over. She saw Xie Zhitang’s closed eyes, her long lashes like little fans, drawing a beautiful curve.

So she was talking in her sleep.

But why would she call for her in her sleep?

Or did she have an older sister?

Xin Geling did not know. It seemed she did not understand Xie Zhitang very well. Even seven years ago, they had only occasionally run into each other on the road to school.

She had been a very quiet and gentle girl.

Carrying a schoolbag, with slender arms and legs, her skin fair and translucent. Even wearing a school uniform could not hide her quietness and beauty.

Xin Geling could not help yawning. Before closing her eyes, only the lingering echo of the word “beautiful” remained in her mind.

.

The next day, the sky was faintly bright.

Xie Zhitang opened her eyes, her whole body sore. But in the next second, her attention was drawn to the hand on her shoulder.

This hand was not hers…

Xie Zhitang wanted to prop herself up and stand, only to discover that her posture with Sister was somewhat intimate.

At some point, the other woman’s sitting posture had tilted toward her, her body leaning in her direction, so that Xie Zhitang’s head was resting directly against Sister’s chest. Sister’s arm was still around her shoulders.

“You’re awake?” Xin Geling’s voice came from above her head.

Xie Zhitang had no choice but to pull herself out of her embrace and nod. “Mm. Last night…”

She hesitated.

Xin Geling understood what she meant and explained aloud, “Last night, you leaned on my shoulder, but you kept sleeping unsteadily, so I took it upon myself to hold you while you slept. Don’t mind it.”

Xie Zhitang’s expression showed realization, and she smiled. “How could I mind? My sleeping posture was too poor.”

She held the jacket that had just slipped down. “Sister even let me use your jacket.”

Xin Geling glanced at the time and reminded her, “It’s seven in the morning. Don’t you have to go to work?”

“Right.” Xie Zhitang immediately stood up and glanced at Auntie, who still had not woken. “I need to leave first.”

Even if she did not have to work, she would have found an excuse to leave.

Auntie did not want to see her.

Worried that Auntie would see her, Xie Zhitang took the jacket and hurriedly left the hospital.

Only after Xin Geling was sure she could no longer see her did she reach up and rub the area below her collarbone, trying to ease the ache left from being leaned on for the entire night.