Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 48

The location for the whitewater rafting was a city not far from Tongli, reachable directly by bus in about an hour.

Before they left, Jiang Wan insisted on a series of admonishments.

“You absolutely must be careful,” she stressed.

Hearing the word “water” made Jiang Wan uneasy, her mind playing endless news clips of teenage drowning accidents.

“Mom Jiang, we’re going rafting, not swimming,” Lin Qiushui explained after a moment of silence, reacting to her worry.

“But what if you trip or bump into something…”

“Bye, Mom Jiang! We’re running out of time, so we’ve got to go now!”

Lin Qiushui checked the time on Zhao Tianhang’s watch, grabbed his bag, and dashed out the door, pulling Zhao Tianhang with one hand and Zhou Qinglang with the other.

Since Zhou Qinglang was holding Xia Wanshuang’s hand, they were all pulled along by Lin Qiushui’s sudden burst of speed.

“Aunt Jiang, don’t worry, I’ll look after them!”

Xia Wanshuang’s voice faded in the stairwell, blending with the clattering footsteps and the unrestrained energy of youth.

“These children.”

Jiang Wan shook her head and sighed.

Time had etched subtle lines around her eyes, making her look even gentler and more composed.

She looked at the empty doorway, closed the door, and sat on the sofa.

Her phone suddenly rang, shattering the quiet in the room.

Jiang Wan picked it up and leaned back against the sofa.

Song Zhuxue offered a dry “good afternoon,” then whispered that she’d tried a new restaurant for dinner but was in a terrible mood because the food was awful.

“Sister Jiang, I really miss your cooking. I miss it so much.”

Song Zhuxue sat on a street curb, murmuring softly.

She watched the crowd passing by, her eyes looking distant.

She was 27, and the pressure from her parents to marry was getting more intense, but she refused.

She had just managed to escape a blind date.

The food at the restaurant hadn’t been terrible, but Song Zhuxue couldn’t swallow it.

It burned uncomfortably in her stomach.

“The next time you come to Haicheng, I’ll cook for you.”

“Are you coming back on a business trip?”

“I might be moving permanently.”

Jiang Wan straightened up, speaking softly to the young woman on the other end of the line.

“What? You’re moving to Haicheng?”

“The company transferred me. I’m going to work at the main headquarters in Haicheng.”

“A promotion! That’s a wonderful opportunity! You’re amazing, Sister Jiang!”

Song Zhuxue was already envisioning Jiang Wan’s life in Haicheng.

She hoped Jiang Wan’s home would be close so she could crash for dinner every day.

“Oh, but Sister Jiang, have you told Tianhang? I think he’s only a freshman in high school.”

“I haven’t had a chance. They’ve gone out to play. They said they’re going rafting and celebrating their birthdays together.”

Jiang Wan had just received the official notice, though she had heard rumors before.

Jiang Wan was stable and didn’t get overly excited.

After the notice came, she pondered whether to take her son with her or let him stay behind.

Although he was old enough to live independently, Jiang Wan was naturally reluctant.

Still, she would respect his wishes.

She had planned to ask Zhao Tianhang tonight, but since the four kids were going out to play, she decided to keep silent so they wouldn’t get distracted or feel anxious while having fun.

“When will you be coming?”

“I have a project to follow up on here, and I need to complete the handover. I’ll probably report to headquarters in about a month.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting for you.”

Being pulled out the door by Zhou Qinglang, Xia Wanshuang, without the System’s alert, was unaware of the timeline and that some key plot developments were already in motion.

They planned to stay one night and didn’t pack much, each carrying a backpack.

To save time, they took a taxi to the bus stop and managed to catch the last bus.

There were four or five empty seats scattered around, forcing them to sit separately.

Zhou Qinglang tried to swap seats to sit next to Xia Wanshuang, but the passengers next to the empty seats were either resting with their eyes closed or shaking their heads.

Xia Wanshuang patted Zhou Qinglang’s hand, and Zhou Qinglang reluctantly gave up.

To avoid disturbing the other passengers, Xia Wanshuang and the others didn’t talk once they sat down.

They sent a few messages in their group chat before settling into their own activities.

Xia Wanshuang put on her headphones and quietly listened to music.

Zhou Qinglang was sitting diagonally behind Xia Wanshuang.

Her view was blocked by the large seat, and she couldn’t see Xia Wanshuang no matter how hard she strained.

Looking glum, she put on her own headphones, hoping she might be listening to the same song as her sister.

Lin Qiushui was tapping enthusiastically on his phone, seemingly chatting with someone.

Zhao Tianhang was playing Snake, head bowed in silence.

Since it was the last bus, most passengers weren’t tourists but people who worked in Tongli and lived in the neighboring small city.

After a long day, no one was in the mood to talk.

The bus silently headed to its destination.

When the passenger next to Xia Wanshuang got off, Zhou Qinglang immediately rushed over and sat down beside her.

“We’ll be there in about fifteen minutes,” Xia Wanshuang said, chuckling at her daughter’s clinginess.

Sometimes she felt it was inappropriate, but every time she remembered that the girl was barely fourteen, that she had raised her, and that she had a childhood deficit of love, she couldn’t help but indulge her closeness.

She’s still young.

When she’s older, maybe she won’t be so clingy.

Zhou Qinglang linked her pinky finger with Xia Wanshuang’s and smiled without replying.

She seemed to have completely forgotten her previous dream; Zhou Qinglang buried those images deep, afraid to dwell on them.

They quickly arrived at their destination, which was right near the rafting spot, so they didn’t have to walk far.

They found a nearby hotel and went inside to check in.

“How many rooms?”

“Two.”

“Three.”

Lin Qiushui and Zhao Tianhang spoke simultaneously.

All eyes turned to Zhao Tianhang.

“Don’t we usually get two rooms when we go out?” Lin Qiushui asked.

“Some people seem to have forgotten the time they snored and almost kicked me onto the floor,” Zhao Tianhang countered.

“Hey, hey, hey! No way! Don’t lie! I don’t remember doing that!”

Lin Qiushui scratched his face, failing to recall the incident.

“Three rooms,” Zhao Tianhang told the owner, pointedly ignoring Lin Qiushui.

After getting the keys, Lin Qiushui grumbled all the way upstairs.

“I snore? Do I really snore? Shuangshuang, do I snore when I sleep?”

“Lin Qiushui, you idiot, how would my sister know if you snore?”

“Maybe you were just too tired that day, or your sleeping posture was bad,” Xia Wanshuang offered as a possible explanation.

Lin Qiushui sadly accepted the answer.

What he really cared about wasn’t the snoring, but his fragile bond with Zhao Tianhang.

Zhao Tianhang was actually rejecting him because of his snoring!

That was too much!

They had just agreed to be brothers forever a few days ago!

But Lin Qiushui’s mood didn’t last long.

After getting a notification on his phone, he happily resumed chatting.

Xia Wanshuang sent a message to Jiang Wan to let her know they were safe, ate some food at the hotel, and then showered and went to bed with Zhou Qinglang.

Zhou Qinglang lay beside Xia Wanshuang.

This was the first time they had shared a bed since moving to separate rooms.

Zhou Qinglang greedily inhaled the scent of Xia Wanshuang and realized how much she had been missing it.

But the images from her dream came back, stopping her hand as she instinctively reached out to hug Xia Wanshuang.

Zhou Qinglang felt split in two.

She wanted to joyfully wrap her arms around Xia Wanshuang and fall into a deep sleep, as before, but an inexplicable nervousness made her palms sweat.

Xia Wanshuang turned over, causing Zhou Qinglang’s breathing to pause.

She instantly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep—a habitual move.

She used to do this often, staring at Xia Wanshuang when she couldn’t sleep and pretending to be asleep when Xia Wanshuang moved or opened her eyes.

Xia Wanshuang was already asleep.

The familiar presence beside her made her naturally move closer.

Xia Wanshuang’s breath wafted onto Zhou Qinglang’s arm, tickling her—a tingle that reached her heart.

Zhou Qinglang gently touched Xia Wanshuang’s cheek with her finger and closed her eyes contentedly.

••••

At dawn, after eating breakfast, Xia Wanshuang and the others went to the rafting site to buy tickets.

Since they arrived early, there was no need to queue.

In Lin Qiushui’s words, one ride wasn’t enough; they could go twice if they had time.

They put on their life jackets and sat in the rubber raft.

The morning water was cold; Xia Wanshuang touched it and shivered.

A staff member explained the safety guidelines, which Xia Wanshuang listened to intently, as this wasn’t her first time rafting.

With a push, the raft slid down with the current.

Rafting is an exhilarating water sport.

The rapid current and splashing water from the high drops made it incredibly exciting.

Lin Qiushui, a first-timer, kept screaming and then laughing, acting like a complete fool.

Zhou Qinglang and Zhao Tianhang were also first-timers, but they were much more reserved.

“Why are you all so calm?” Lin Qiushui shouted.

“Who’s calm? You’re the idiot,” Zhou Qinglang retorted.

“Hey, I take offense to that… Ptooey, ptooey, so cold!”

The raft hit a drop, and a splash of water, aided by a sudden eddy, flew onto Lin Qiushui.

Because his mouth was open, he got a free drink of water.

Zhou Qinglang laughed out loud, and Zhao Tianhang also cracked a smile.

Xia Wanshuang was also in high spirits.

The raft spun and turned with the current, then gradually slowed after a rush.

The banks were steep cliffs.

The connected peaks don’t reach a foot to the sky; withered pine trees hang upside down against the sheer wall.

The wide water surface made her heart feel expansive and open.

Today was cloudy, and the sun behind the clouds was gentle.

Zhou Qinglang looked at the mountains and the water, finally resting her gaze on Xia Wanshuang.

The mountains and rivers, though beautiful, are not a tenth as lovely as Sister.

After a thoroughly enjoyable rafting session, Lin Qiushui stopped mentioning a second run.

Rafting was not only physically exhausting but also soaked their clothes.

Even with life jackets, they were drenched.

Zhou Qinglang and Xia Wanshuang were wearing dark colors, so their wet clothes didn’t look too bad, but because the fabric clung to their bodies, their soft curves were quite noticeable.

Zhou Qinglang frowned and walked in front of Xia Wanshuang, blocking the view of passersby.

After changing, they checked out of the hotel and went into the city for a meal.

This nearby city wasn’t just known for its canyon rafting; it also had architecturally distinctive streets.

After lunch, Xia Wanshuang and the others strolled along the street, taking pictures in the bluestone alleys that retained the charm of ancient architecture.

They walked leisurely, in no hurry to catch a bus, as they planned to take the train back.

As they walked and browsed, the sky gradually darkened.

Lin Qiushui booked a table at a local famous hotel.

Only at times like this did Xia Wanshuang and the others feel the difference in wealth.

“My dad booked it for me. We can’t let the money go to waste,” Lin Qiushui explained.

Despite his family’s wealth, Lin Qiushui was surprisingly frugal.

Having grown up with Xia Wanshuang, who had run a small street stall for two years before earning money from her writing, he knew life wasn’t easy.

By the time they arrived at the hotel, it was completely dark, and the lights stood like stars on earth.

It wasn’t actually late, but as winter approached, the days grew shorter.

The four of them were given a private room with a small balcony.

“It’s really nice,” Lin Qiushui exclaimed from the balcony before coming back inside.

Xia Wanshuang, however, was drawn out to the balcony to look at the bright moon.

The air here was clean, and the moon was clearly visible.

Xia Wanshuang didn’t consider herself a poet, but a lover of literature always cherishes the elegance of nature, the romance of the world.

She looked at the moon for a while and beckoned Zhou Qinglang to come look too.

In Zhou Qinglang’s eyes, the moon was beautiful, but the person admiring the moon was even more so.

The expensive hotel offered excellent service, and the food arrived quickly.

The dishes were exquisite and tempting.

Lin Qiushui even ordered two bottles of beer, intending to indulge a little.

He didn’t dare order more because Xia Wanshuang wouldn’t allow it.

Since beer had a low alcohol content and it was only two bottles, Xia Wanshuang turned a blind eye and didn’t mention the issue of underage drinking, especially since Lin Qiushui often ordered a bottle for the four of them to share at KTV.

After eating and drinking their fill, Lin Qiushui had drunk very little, but Zhao Tianhang was the one who had drunk the most.

“Old Zhao, you actually like drinking? Why didn’t I notice before? Should I get you two more bottles?”

“Qiushui, that’s enough.”

Xia Wanshuang looked up.

A little drink was fine, but that was it.

They were still children.

“Fine, fine. I’ll drink juice.”

Feeling satisfied, Lin Qiushui slumped in his chair.

They had bought train tickets for later that night, and the ride back to Tongli would only take half an hour.

They didn’t want to wait too early at the station, so they decided to pass the time at the hotel.

Lin Qiushui pulled out his phone, and upon seeing a message, he cheered up, his face breaking into an uncontainable smile as he chatted with someone online.

“Who are you talking to that makes you so happy?” Zhou Qinglang asked.

“A pretty girl, heh heh.”

“Where did another pretty girl come from? It’s not Tong Yao, is it?”

“It’s not her. She’s prettier than Tong Yao. She’s not from our school. I actually met her through Tong Yao, but Tong Yao doesn’t like her. I think she’s a really nice person, though.”

Zhou Qinglang glanced at Zhao Tianhang, whose face was calm, revealing nothing.

However, a few seconds later, he stood up and walked out onto the small balcony.

Xia Wanshuang was also chatting on her phone, but not idly.

The screenwriter of Taoyuan was discussing some details with her.

Zhou Qinglang looked at Xia Wanshuang, didn’t want to disturb her, and also walked out onto the balcony, closing the glass door behind her.

The wind blew outside.

Zhao Tianhang leaned against the railing, looking at the bright moon suspended in the night sky.

Zhou Qinglang stood silently with him for a while, finally unable to resist speaking.

“Lin Qiushui seems quite fond of the person he’s chatting with now. He was glued to his phone talking to them last night.”

“It started more than ten days ago.”

Zhao Tianhang propped his face on his hand.

The lights reflected in his eyes looked like jumping starlight.

“Aren’t you sad?”

“I am.”

“Aren’t you going to let him know?”

“I’m not. And you absolutely shouldn’t say anything either.”

Zhao Tianhang shook his head, his handsome face filled with gloom.

“Why not?”

“There’s no need to say things that won’t lead to anything. Many things don’t need to be said.”

Zhao Tianhang once had hope, but he quickly realized the answer and made a decision.

“I’m actually quite surprised. I thought you liked girls.”

“Maybe it has nothing to do with gender. I used to think I liked girls too.”

There was a hint of a shallow, slightly bitter smile in Zhao Tianhang’s voice.

“Do you remember there were stray dogs near our complex for a while when we were in primary school?”

“I think so.”

“That day, for some reason, they were chasing me. I kept running. There were several dogs, and no adults came over.”

“Lin Qiushui was bitten by a dog and was hospitalized. He missed school for days. Was it because of you?”

Zhou Qinglang was surprised.

Lin Qiushui had claimed at the time that he was playing the hero, but Zhou Qinglang had always assumed Lin Qiushui had provoked the dogs.

“He’s still afraid of dogs to this day, but he always pretends not to be and tries to protect me when we pass one.”

Zhao Tianhang glanced at the person sitting inside, chatting happily.

His smile became more painful.

“He’s a really good person, so I won’t… I won’t say anything. It’ll only cause unnecessary trouble. Why bother? It’s so much better this way. So much better.”

Zhao Tianhang’s voice was hoarse, and he let out a soft sigh.

His expression was one of suppressed emotion, showing a maturity and restraint beyond his years.

“I once wondered if things would have been different if I had never met him.”

“Don’t be so negative. How do you know if you don’t try?”

Zhou Qinglang wasn’t biased; she supported her friend whether he liked men or women.

She just wanted them both to be happy.

“Some things, once broken, can’t be fixed. I’m not you, and Lin Qiushui isn’t Xia Wanshuang. You have the courage to try, but I don’t.”

Zhao Tianhang wasn’t cowardly; he just had a clear understanding.

His relationship with Lin Qiushui was exactly what Lin Qiushui said it was: best friends forever.

If he confessed, he risked losing that friendship.

He had often envied Zhou Qinglang for openly hugging Xia Wanshuang, saying those things, and rightfully declaring ownership over her to anyone who got close.

He couldn’t do that.

So, some things were better left unsaid.

Zhao Tianhang’s soft voice sounded like a thunderclap in Zhou Qinglang’s ears.

“What are you talking about… why bring up my sister? What courage?”

Zhou Qinglang stammered, feeling bewildered.

Wasn’t she here to counsel Zhao Tianhang?

Why did he drag her into it?

Zhao Tianhang looked at Zhou Qinglang with surprise, quickly followed by annoyance in his eyes.

Did I misread the situation?

“Aren’t you…? Maybe I misunderstood.”

Zhao Tianhang suddenly remembered Zhou Qinglang’s age and felt embarrassed.

Because they spent so much time together, and due to Zhou Qinglang’s appearance, Zhao Tianhang sometimes forgot that Zhou Qinglang was three years younger than them and treated her as a peer.

But Zhou Qinglang’s behavior toward Xia Wanshuang was unusual.

Could it just be the dependency of a younger sister on an older sister?

“W-w-what misunderstanding? You can’t possibly think I-I-I like my sister, right?”

Zhou Qinglang was so shocked she stammered, completely bewildered, feeling as though she’d been hit hard on the head with a hammer.

Her mind was buzzing with echoes.

“How is that possible? That’s my sister! My sister… I… I am very clingy to her… I don’t want to leave her… I don’t want to see her with anyone else. I like her, but not that kind of like…”

But what kind of like is it?

Zhou Qinglang was confused, looking at Zhao Tianhang for answers.

“It’s better if it’s not. It’s best to maintain that family relationship.”

Zhao Tianhang regretted enlightening Zhou Qinglang.

If she just stayed confused and couldn’t see the truth, perhaps over time, she would forget that feeling, and they would remain ordinary sisters with separate lives.

Wouldn’t that be better?

Because some paths are destined to be difficult.

If there’s no happy ending, why drag another person into the abyss?

Just as he was happy to have Lin Qiushui as a brother, perhaps years from now, he could still dress up and attend his wedding, wishing him a happy marriage and a wonderful life.

As for the youthful longing, perhaps it would have faded away with the wind.

“What is like?” Zhou Qinglang asked softly.

A gust of wind blew her clothes out.

Her usually clear eyes were softened by confusion, revealing a hint of immaturity.

Her dark eyes were filled with swirling fog, making it impossible to see the bottom.

“Liking someone probably means your heart races when you see them.”

“Be more specific?”

My heart is always racing around Sister.

“Stand still.”

Zhao Tianhang reached out and tucked a strand of Zhou Qinglang’s hair behind her ear, leaning closer and closer.

“How does this make you feel?”

“I have goosebumps.”

If this wasn’t Zhao Tianhang, and if he hadn’t warned her, Zhou Qinglang would have lashed out.

Every cell in her body was protesting; it felt incredibly uncomfortable.

“What if Lin Qiushui did this?”

“Tell him to crawl away!”

That would be a horror movie.

“What if it was my mom?”

“Aunt Jiang is great. I probably wouldn’t push her away, but it would still feel a little strange.”

“What if it was Shuangshuang? Like this, close enough to kiss you.”

Zhao Tianhang waited for Zhou Qinglang’s answer, but he watched Zhou Qinglang’s face slowly turn red.

It’s confirmed.

Zhao Tianhang sighed internally.

“Am I r-r-really in l-l-love with…”

Zhou Qinglang had never considered that direction.

Xia Wanshuang pulled her out of a life of hardship and misery, so her dependency and closeness were natural.

Zhou Qinglang never felt anything was wrong with her actions.

“It’s best if you’re not,” Zhao Tianhang said.

“Maybe you’re just mistaken and haven’t distinguished between familial love and romantic love.”

Zhao Tianhang regretted enlightening Zhou Qinglang.

If he had just let her stay confused, maybe that feeling would have faded with time.

They would have simply been normal sisters, each with their own life.

Wouldn’t that be better?

Because she had never thought in that way, and because in her heart, she and her sister belonged together.

If it were anyone else, she would have realized it was her first crush.

But she would never be this close or this obsessed with anyone else.

Xia Wanshuang was discussing details with the screenwriter when she looked up and saw the young man and woman on the balcony.

They were standing very close.

Zhao Tianhang was even tucking Zhou Qinglang’s hair behind her ear, and Zhou Qinglang hadn’t pushed him away.

The beautiful, tender, early stage of love, combined with the bright moon, exuded an unspeakable beauty.

My son and daughter are actually getting together!

If the System wasn’t in sleep mode, Xia Wanshuang would have shaken it awake to see.

Childhood sweethearts are a go. The romantic thread is proceeding smoothly.