Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 43

“Wait, wait, wait…”

Xia Wanshuang’s legs flailed slightly. That wasn’t what she meant!

That wasn’t what she meant!!!

She meant that if Zhou Qinglang didn’t mind the trouble, she could bring a basin of water and just wipe the sweat off her body.

“Oh, I forgot to get Sister’s slippers. The floor is too cold to step on. Sister, step on my feet.”

 

Zhou Qinglang had already carried Xia Wanshuang into the bathroom and set her down on the vanity counter. She looked at Xia Wanshuang’s two pale feet dangling in the air and suddenly thought of this idea.

She imagined her sister standing on her feet, holding her, and looking up at her… Zhou Qinglang’s nose inexplicably tickled.

 

Xia Wanshuang: “…”

Sister, this is possible, but unnecessary.

 

Xia Wanshuang looked weak. Before she could voice her protest, she heard Zhou Qinglang’s next sentence.

“Sister, Sister, you can take your clothes off now. Are you going to take them off yourself, or should I help you?”

Xia Wanshuang was silent. Why did Zhou Qinglang sound so excited?

Zhou Qinglang was indeed very excited, secretly rubbing her hands together in her mind.

“Actually… you don’t need to…”

 

Xia Wanshuang tried to struggle one last time.

 

“Sister, look, your back is covered in cold sweat. How uncomfortable is that to sleep in? What if you feel even worse tomorrow? Let’s just take a hot shower and then sleep comfortably.”

 

Zhou Qinglang had already reached out, gripping the hem of Xia Wanshuang’s nightgown.

 

“Besides, what is there to be shy about, Sister? I grew up with you. We used to bathe together. Is there any part of you I haven’t seen?”

 

Not only did I watch the milky steamed bun grow up, but I watched the hair grow, too. Zhou Qinglang had specifically looked up physiological knowledge for this.

 

However, she only dared to think these things. Xia Wanshuang was thin-skinned; if she made her too embarrassed or angry, she might ignore her for days.

 

Zhou Qinglang was afraid of nothing except Xia Wanshuang frowning at her with cold distance.

 

Xia Wanshuang had been sick all night, throwing up and using the toilet.

 

She truly had no energy, and even the motion of lifting her hand felt taxing.

 

Xia Wanshuang was wearing a one-piece nightgown.

 

Zhou Qinglang rolled up the fabric and slipped it off her.

 

The marble counter of the vanity was icy cold.

 

Without the layer of clothes to shield her, Xia Wanshuang shivered from the chill.

 

“Sister, lift your leg.”

 

Zhou Qinglang’s hand tugged at the edge of her shorts, waiting to pull them down.

Even though it was her sister, Xia Wanshuang felt a bit awkward and turned her head, allowing Zhou Qinglang to take off the shorts.

 

Zhou Qinglang immediately lifted Xia Wanshuang up, telling her to stand on her feet.

“Wait… that way, my clothes will definitely get wet. Sister, support yourself with your hands first.”

 

Zhou Qinglang had Xia Wanshuang lean back, propping herself on the vanity, then she quickly stripped off her own clothes before picking Xia Wanshuang up again.

 

“You know, you could have just grabbed a pair of slippers…”

 

Xia Wanshuang hung limply around Zhou Qinglang like a noodle, speechless.

 

Zhou Qinglang turned on the showerhead, pretending she didn’t hear anything.

 

Xia Wanshuang was cool, but Zhou Qinglang was warm.

 

Xia Wanshuang leaned closer.

 

Zhou Qinglang was a little taller, which meant Xia Wanshuang’s chin rested between Zhou Qinglang’s chest.

 

However, Zhou Qinglang was young and completely flat, so Xia Wanshuang felt no awkwardness.

The warm water poured over Xia Wanshuang’s body, washing away the clamminess.

 

Her pores relaxed.

 

Xia Wanshuang lost what little strength she had left, practically pasting herself to Zhou Qinglang, using her as a support to stand.

 

The bathroom was enclosed.

 

The water temperature caused the room temperature to rise.

 

A blush bloomed on Xia Wanshuang’s pale cheeks.

 

Zhou Qinglang noticed it and was reminded of The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, which her deskmate repeatedly read aloud to appear more cultured.

 

Zhou Qinglang already had a good memory, and the constant reading had made her memorize the entire poem.

 

The Emperor of Han valued beauty and longed for a peerless one, seeking her for years without success. The Yang family had a daughter just grown, nurtured deep in her chamber, unknown to men. Her natural beauty was too great to be hidden; one day she was chosen to be by the sovereign’s side.

 

One glance back made a hundred charms bloom, leaving all the ladies of the six palaces pale.

 

“Chunhan…”

The cold spring was granted for a bath in Huaqing Pool, where the slick hot spring water washed her creamy skin. Maids helped the delicate one, powerless, rise—it was the time she first received his grace.

Zhou Qinglang recited the lines in her mind, nearly speaking them aloud. Before she could imagine the actual scene, the words were just words.

 

But once she was in the situation and sketched the scene in her mind, every word seemed to carry a different meaning.

 

“What?”

 

Xia Wanshuang didn’t hear what Zhou Qinglang said, asking in a soft, weary voice.

 

Zhou Qinglang’s face instantly flushed. She broke off her wild train of thought and hurriedly rinsed Xia Wanshuang’s body, then reached for a towel.

 

The vanity counter was too cold.

 

Zhou Qinglang couldn’t bear to let Xia Wanshuang get cold again right after her shower.

 

She quickly wiped the water off Xia Wanshuang’s body, moving from the undulating peaks and rolling hills, across the flat plains, to the peaks, and then carried her out.

 

Zhou Qinglang tucked Xia Wanshuang into the blanket, wrapped her up, and then bent down to look in the suitcase for a different set of clean pajamas.

 

“Langlang, dry yourself off first and put on your clothes. You’ll catch a cold.”

 

Xia Wanshuang looked at her busy daughter and didn’t know what to say.

 

From her body’s contours, Langlang had truly grown up.

 

But her behavior…

 

Xia Wanshuang shook her head and smiled. She’s still a child.

 

••••

Zhou Qinglang only got into bed after she had tidied everything up.

 

Xia Wanshuang had taken medicine and a bath, and she was asleep within a very short time.

 

Zhou Qinglang watched Xia Wanshuang’s sleeping face for a while and rubbed her own cheek against Xia Wanshuang’s.

 

Perhaps because of the bath or The Song of Everlasting Sorrow, Zhou Qinglang’s sleep was restless that night.

The cold spring was granted for a bath in Huaqing Pool, where the slick hot spring water washed her creamy skin. Maids helped the delicate one, powerless, rise…

When Zhou Qinglang was woken up by her alarm clock, her expression was still somewhat dazed. She had dreamed of an ancient bathing pool and a graceful beauty obscured by a misty haze.

 

The wind blew up the curtains, making the beauty’s smile seem like a dream. The beauty rose from the pool, carrying two petals floating on the water, walking toward her step by step.

 

Water trails snaked on the floor, making the beauty’s feet look incredibly pale. She stepped forward.

 

Zhou Qinglang saw Xia Wanshuang’s face.

 

Before she could do anything, the alarm clock rudely went off.

 

“That’s so weird…” Zhou Qinglang touched her short hair. It must have been because of the shower yesterday and reciting the poem during the shower. So, the dream combined the two.

“What’s weird?” Xia Wanshuang rubbed her eyes and covered her mouth as she yawned.

“Nothing. Sister, do you feel better?”

 

“I’m fine now. Let’s wash up and get changed. We’re going to the beach today!”

 

“Okay.”

 

When Xia Wanshuang and Zhou Qinglang left their room, Lin Qiushui and Zhao Tianhang were already waiting outside, along with Song Zhuxue.

“You’re here! Let’s go grab some breakfast first, and then we’ll head to the beach.”

 

“Great!” Lin Qiushui, revitalized, dashed out first.

 

“Young people are full of energy! But Tianhang, didn’t you sleep well? You look a bit tired.” Song Zhuxue stood next to Zhao Tianhang, her expression concerned.

 

“Didn’t sleep well.” Zhao Tianhang pinched his nose. Something was on his mind, so he went to bed late.

“If you don’t feel well, you have to tell me.” Song Zhuxue smiled warmly, showing two small canine teeth when she did.

Xia Wanshuang immediately became wary. While it was fine to care for a friend’s child, Xia Wanshuang felt Song Zhuxue’s attitude was overly enthusiastic.

 

But there’s a 12-year age difference.

 

Surely Song Zhuxue wouldn’t have feelings for Zhao Tianhang, right? Her son belongs to her daughter!

“Sister Song is so caring toward Tianhang. Is it because of Auntie Jiang?”

“Mhm… Sister Jiang has always been very good to me. Although this might sound a little presumptuous, Sister Jiang’s son is like my own son to me.”

 

Zhao Tianhang nearly choked on his saliva upon hearing that.

 

He looked at Song Zhuxue, who was shorter than him and whose age was somewhere between “Sister” and “Auntie,” and fell silent.

 

Xia Wanshuang felt relieved. They’re both ‘mom fans.’

“I knew you two knew each other when Auntie Jiang came to Haicheng on a business trip. I thought you hadn’t kept in touch after all this time.”

 

Since Jiang Wan hadn’t mentioned Song Zhuxue to Xia Wanshuang, and Xia Wanshuang wouldn’t ask Song Zhuxue online about her friendship with Jiang Wan, she naturally assumed they’d lost contact.

 

She was quite surprised when Jiang Wan mentioned her before the trip yesterday.

 

“We’ve always kept in touch. Sister Jiang always stops by to see me when she comes for business trips. She’s genuinely a wonderful person.”

 

There was no need for Song Zhuxue to elaborate.

 

Xia Wanshuang and the others had seen Jiang Wan’s kindness and warmth firsthand.

 

“She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met. She was so good to a complete stranger like me back then.”

 

Song Zhuxue remembered that when she met Jiang Wan, she was at her lowest point. Nothing was going right.

 

A storm of conflicts—in career, friendship, and family—had crushed her. Song Zhuxue ran off to drown her sorrows in alcohol. She was timid, though, and didn’t get too drunk.

 

Dazed and tipsy, she started acting out, thought of the beautiful older woman who looked a lot like a writer she signed, felt utterly wronged, rushed over without thinking, hugged the woman and cried, and then threw up.

Song Zhuxue had expected to wake up the next day to an empty room or a cold, disgusted person.

 

After all, running into a stranger’s room to cry and vomit was truly annoying and completely unreasonable behavior.

 

But Jiang Wan didn’t leave.

 

She waited until Song Zhuxue woke up, offered her warm water, bought her breakfast, told her to eat while it was hot, and then touched her head, smiling as she told the young girl not to drink so much.

 

Song Zhuxue then hugged her and cried again.

So, on the way to the breakfast shop, Xia Wanshuang and the others heard a stream of praise for Jiang Wan from Song Zhuxue. Zhao Tianhang listened, his expression softening.

 

His goodwill toward Song Zhuxue slowly increased, as she was praising his mother. Zhao Tianhang was more reserved; he just listened and didn’t join the discussion.

 

Lin Qiushui and Xia Wanshuang nodded the whole way, responding with “Yes, yes,” “That’s right, that’s right,” “Exactly, exactly,” and “Mhm, mhm, mhm.” They were extremely cooperative.

Zhou Qinglang, meanwhile, was silently taking notes in her mental notebook, feeling greatly inspired.

 

This person is so good at giving compliments! The vocabulary isn’t even repetitive.

 

She definitely needs to learn from this.

 

She’s going to sing her sister’s praises like this in the future!