Chapter 51
Only now did she have time to reflect on the philosophy of love that Xiao Yu had hysterically ranted about while sitting alone in the backseat earlier. By now, Xiao Yu was exhausted, leaning against the back with a vacant stare fixed out the window—the quintessential look of a young person in the throes of heartbreak, her face bearing a “life or death” expression.
This was quite different from the Xiao Yu she had first met, and the book had described her as calculating and cold-hearted. Today, Xiao Yu was wearing a pale yellow sweatshirt and jeans, her soft curls falling against her neck. She looked youthful and fresh. This is how a nineteen-year-old girl should dress, Xiao Yun thought. A little sister is always a little sister. That stiff business suit from before had made her look far too mature.
Xiao Yun withdrew her gaze and focused on the road, gripping the steering wheel firmly while assuming the posture of an elder sister.
“Listen, Xiao Yu. I’m not trying to stop you from pursuing love, but your method of chasing someone is just… wrong.”
Xiao Yu turned her eyes toward her slowly, her face written with disagreement, but she didn’t speak. She just stared intently at Xiao Yun in the rearview mirror with an expression that said, Fine, then you tell me what to do.
Deterred for a moment by that pitiful gaze, Xiao Yun cleared her throat and regained her composure. “Chasing someone should be a gradual process. A temporary marking is an incredibly intimate act; you’ve essentially skirted the law there—and you’re supposed to be a lawyer.”
As she spoke, Jiang Cha, who was sitting beside her, also turned her head, her eyes shining as she listened to Xiao Yun’s lecture on courtship.
“Mhm. If it were me, I would first test the waters to see if she has the same feelings for me. Once I’m sure, I’d slowly ask her out—camping, hiking, dinner, a movie, or maybe a bar. Dim lighting helps build an intimate atmosphere.”
“Then, I’d try subtle physical contact to see if the other person recoils or enjoys it. If they don’t recoil, that’s another step of success.”
“In short, increase those ‘accidental’ physical touches. You can’t just jump in and kiss someone out of the blue. They’ll be confused and mentally unprepared; you’ll just scare them away.”
Xiao Yu, who had been dismissive just moments ago, seemed to find some logic in this. She unconsciously sat up straighter, leaning forward slightly, her voice raspy from crying. “Then what do I have to do to win over Miss Xia?”
Jiang Cha was also curious; her pupils dilated as she held her breath, listening to Professor Xiao Yun’s lecture.
“Ahem, well… once you’ve confirmed she has the same feelings, then you can do whatever you want.”
After hearing this, Xiao Yu leaned back. “Don’t I confess?”
Xiao Yun shrugged. “It depends on you. Spend time together first. When the timing feels right, it won’t be too late to say it.”
“Besides, Auntie has been through a marriage. Someone who has been hurt like that—do you really expect her to be as passionate and naive as you?”
Xiao Yu seemed lost in thought, but based on her expression, the words had sunk in. Xiao Yun finally got to the point: “So, in a bit, don’t get out of the car and disturb her. She probably doesn’t want to see you.”
Seeing that Xiao Yu didn’t respond, Jiang Cha stepped in to persuade her further. “Sister Xiao Yu, your sister is right. Auntie definitely won’t want to see you right now. It’s better if we go in and ask her what she’s really thinking than for you to go.”
Through a mix of soft and firm persuasion, they finally managed to keep Xiao Yu in the car.
After another hour on bumpy mountain roads and thirty minutes on a dirt track, they finally arrived in front of her great-grandmother’s old house. Before them stood an ancient building, clearly uninhabited for a long time. The small yard was overgrown with weeds twenty centimeters high. There were a few footprints on the lawn and tracks from a rolling suitcase.
Xiao Yun took Jiang Cha’s hand and walked slowly inside, calling out toward the empty house. “Auntie!”
They called out together. No one answered. Xiao Yun reached the door and pushed it gently; the old wood creaked, and a layer of dust fell from above. A silver thread dropped down, carrying a spider the size of a thumb that was flailing its legs.
It dropped right in front of Jiang Cha, who was so startled she grabbed Xiao Yun’s wrist and buried her head into Xiao Yun’s neck. The delicate Omega’s body trembled, her warm breath puffing against Xiao Yun’s collar.
Xiao Yun patted her shoulder. “Don’t be afraid. You wait outside; I’ll go in.”
Jiang Cha gripped her hand tight. “I… I want to stay with you.” The house felt eerie, and she was afraid Xiao Yun might get hurt.
Fine then. Xiao Yun picked up a wooden stick, cleared the spiderweb to find the spider a new home, and slowly walked into the house. Jiang Cha followed close by her side, terrified. Xiao Yun found it amusing; the hand in her palm was shaking with fear, yet Jiang Cha’s eyes remained fixed forward out of curiosity. She was exactly like someone who is terrified of horror movies but can’t stop watching them.
Xiao Yun squeezed her hand to soothe Jiang Cha’s unease. Feeling that warm palm, Jiang Cha stole a glance at Xiao Yun, the corners of her mouth twitching into a small smile. Her heart finally settled.
Walking further in, they finally saw Xia He. A gray suitcase sat beside her. She was sitting on an old wooden bedframe without a mattress, her head leaning against the wall and her eyes closed. She was hugging her knees, fast asleep.
Xia He is quite brave, Xiao Yun thought. This place was a perfect set for a horror movie, yet she had actually fallen asleep.
“Auntie?” Xiao Yun poked Xia He’s shoulder gently. “We’re here.”
Xia He’s eyes snapped open, her lashes fluttering. She looked at Xiao Yun dizzily and then shivered deeply. “Xiao Yun, you’re finally here.”
Because Xia He had sat for too long, her legs were numb. Xiao Yun squatted down and carried Xia He out on her back. Jiang Cha followed, dragging Xia He’s suitcase. Luckily, Xiao Yun had been smart enough to have Driver Zhou follow behind in another car.
As soon as Xiao Yu saw the three of them emerge, her eyes fixed on them—especially Xia He. Why was she being carried? Was she hurt? Was she hungry? Had she eaten?
“It’s all my fault.” Overcome with guilt, Xiao Yu punched the car door, but she didn’t dare get out to see her.
Jiang Cha dragged the suitcase over to her and tapped gently on the glass window. Xiao Yu rolled it down. “Sister-in-law, what’s wrong with her?”
Jiang Cha shook her head. “She’s fine. Her legs are just weak from sitting too long. I just came to let you know.”
Xiao Yu’s heart settled. She handed a bag to Jiang Cha containing biscuits, sunflower seeds, and milk. “She definitely hasn’t eaten. Sister-in-law, please give these to her.”
Jiang Cha took the bag and boarded the other van. Xia He was lying on the seat, rubbing her legs and asking Xiao Yun if she had brought food. Jiang Cha handed over the milk and biscuits Xiao Yu had sent.
“Thank you.” Xia He struggled to sit up, nimbly tore the plastic off the straw, poked it into the milk carton with a pop, and began to drink contentedly. “Thank you both; you’re so thoughtful.”
Xiao Yun checked her legs and sat down beside her. “Luckily there are no injuries. Auntie, you’re quite bold, daring to stay in the old house alone.”
Xia He swallowed a mouthful of milk. “Aside from having no food, it’s quite nice here.”
“Aren’t you afraid of ghosts?”
Xia He hesitated. An unreadable expression flashed across her face, then she lowered her head and whispered, “Ghosts aren’t nearly as scary as your sister.”
A ghost would only give her a fright. Her sister was different; she wanted to kiss her, mark her—she was a little kid who wanted to “eat” people. It seemed Xia He’s attitude toward Xiao Yu was very clear.
Xia He’s care for Xiao Yu over the years had been rooted entirely in pity and sympathy. She never expected that providing warmth to the past would cause Xiao Yu to develop other feelings. This was something she hadn’t anticipated and deeply regretted. She wished she hadn’t looked after Xiao Yu and had remained a bystander instead.
“I won’t go back to that house. I can’t face Xiao Yu. Xiao Yun, tell my brother-in-law for me that I have other things to do. Don’t let him know about what happened between Xiao Yu and me, or he’ll definitely punish her.”
For now, they needed to find a place for her aunt to stay. Xiao Yun admired her; with so many hotels out there, she had specifically fled to the old family house.
When Xia He divorced, she had been awarded a small apartment, but she had never lived in it. She wanted no connection to that man, even financially. This time, she had no choice but to settle for it and move back into that apartment. Re-renting was too much trouble, and that place already had everything she needed; she could just move in with her bags. After some thought, Xia He asked Driver Zhou to take her there.
After a night of turmoil, she finally knew where she was going. Once Xia He was settled, Xiao Yun and Jiang Cha got back into their car. Xiao Yu immediately leaned forward. “How is she? What did she say?”
Jiang Cha didn’t know how to answer and just stared ahead in silence. Xiao Yun buckled her seatbelt and took a deep breath. “Third Sister, just give it up for now.”
“Is Xia He coming home with us?” Xiao Yu asked again.
“Not for now. You both need to cool off.”
After that, Xiao Yu didn’t ask anything else. She just leaned her head against the back seat in silence. Xiao Yun wasn’t good at emotional comfort; she only knew that the secret crush the young girl had kept in her heart had lost all its beautiful illusions the moment she confessed.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the Xiao family members were busy visiting relatives. Xiao Qing took her family to Duan Hong’s mother’s house. The butler was on leave, and Xiao Yun was taking Jiang Cha to the hospital to visit Liu Zehui.
Only Xiao Yu was left to watch the house. Before leaving, Xiao Yun was a bit worried about her, but her sister just said she was fine, wrapped herself in a quilt, and waved a hand to say goodbye. It was probably better to give her some space.
Although she was in the hospital, Liu Zehui was a VVIP patient, so her New Year wasn’t meager. She liked peace and quiet anyway, so for her, the New Year was just an ordinary day. After the nurse pushed her out to enjoy the morning sun, Liu Zehui said she was tired and wanted to go back to her room. Firstly, she wanted to lie down and look at her phone; secondly, she felt bad making the young nurse push her around all day during the holiday.
The young nurse was thoughtful and kind. After settling her in, she made her a cup of goji berry tea and set out some New Year snacks—candies, peanuts, and sunflower seeds. She told her to call whenever she needed anything and then left. The VVIP service was excellent; they didn’t neglect her just because she had a disability.
Shortly after the nurse left, there was a knock on the door. Liu Zehui straightened her hair and sat up properly in bed. “Come in.”
The door opened to reveal her daughter, Jiang Cha, and her wife, Xiao Yun.
“Oh, why are you two here?” Liu Zehui was overjoyed. Why weren’t they out having fun during the New Year instead of coming to the hospital?
Xiao Yun knew that New Year obligations were tricky to navigate. Usually, in an Alpha-Omega pair, the Alpha has a higher status, so the Omega celebrates with the Alpha’s family. Xiao Yun felt guilty; she had monopolized Jiang Cha on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, so they had to visit the elder on the second day.
Upon entering, Xiao Yun greeted her warmly and placed the pre-prepared nutrients, fruit, and powdered milk in the storage cabinet. “Auntie, these are New Year gifts Jiangjiang and I picked for you. This nutrient solution is good for strengthening the body.”
Liu Zehui watched with a smile. She was very satisfied that her Jiangjiang had remarried such a good Alpha. It turned out the rumors about Xiao Yun on the internet were all fake. As someone who had lived through a lot, she could tell at a glance that Xiao Yun was a sensible and reasonable person. Now, she had even gotten into Zhongshan Hospital through her own hard work.
Wealthy, mild-tempered, capable, and good to Jiangjiang—she was extremely satisfied with this daughter-in-law. It wasn’t until Jiang Cha called her “Mom” three times that she focused her attention on her daughter.
“Chacha, let me look at you.” She reached out to touch Jiang Cha, squeezing her shoulders and arms before looking at her face with a smile. “Have you gained some weight?”
Jiang Cha replied, “It’s the New Year, and work isn’t so busy. I’ve gained five catties.”
As she examined Jiang Cha, she noticed a faint red mark on her snowy-white neck. As an elder, it wasn’t her place to say anything, but she thought to herself, Xiao Yun looks quite proper; why does she like to play around with people’s necks like that? Still, she figured it was just young couple’s playfulness.
“Xiao Yun, don’t be busy; come sit and chat.”
Xiao Yun peeled an orange and sat down. “Auntie, oranges are almost out of season, and they’re at their best right now. Let me peel one for you.”
“Good, good.” Liu Zehui watched her with satisfaction, seeing that Xiao Yun was observant and proactive. Her daughter-in-law was well-groomed, a doctor, and dressed cleanly in a very stylish indigo trench coat. Furthermore, as an Alpha, she was tall and beautiful; if she and Jiangjiang had a child, the baby would surely have excellent genes—a sweet and smart little girl. The thought was wonderful.
However, as Xiao Yun turned her head, a red mark even larger than the one on Jiang Cha’s neck was revealed beneath her turtleneck sweater. Liu Zehui was stunned. Is my daughter actually that wild? She thought for a moment: As long as they have a child soon, these small details don’t matter.
Xiao Yun finished peeling the orange and handed it over. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, Auntie; no need to be polite with me.”
Xiao Yun felt a gaze fixed on her neck; it felt like the other woman was about to pull her collar aside to look. She hurriedly pulled her turtleneck up to hide the teeth marks Jiang Cha had left. After doing this, she met Liu Zehui’s gaze and gave an awkward smile. “Auntie, have some orange.”
As she ate the orange, Liu Zehui asked, “When do you two plan on having a child?”
Xiao Yun was about to bite into a segment when she heard this. The sweet and slightly tart juice burst out, triggering a surge of saliva. She hurriedly swallowed, but the juice went down the wrong way into her windpipe. Xiao Yun began to cough violently. Is there nowhere I can go without being pressured to have a baby?
Seeing her face turn bright red, Jiang Cha quickly answered for her. “Mom, there’s no rush.”
“No rush?” Liu Zehui raised an eyebrow. “Who was it that said they wanted to get married early, have a baby for an Alpha, and return to the family life?”
Xiao Yun sighed inwardly. Of course they couldn’t rush; Jiang Cha was going to have a child, but her Alpha was still in prison. She answered boldly: “Auntie, we’ll start preparing for a child in half a year.”
In half a year, her Alpha would be out of prison. Xiao Yun had calculated that it was about right. However, the thought of such a sweet, beautiful wife becoming someone else’s gave her a twinge of discomfort—it felt like a beautiful daughter she had raised was about to be taken away. Still, if that was Jiang Cha’s wish, she couldn’t refuse.
Liu Zehui was very pleased with the answer. “Half a year is good. That’ll be summer; a perfect time to conceive so the baby is born the following spring when it’s neither too hot nor too cold.”
Xiao Yun noticed Liu Zehui’s medical records on the table. She stood up and examined them carefully. She hadn’t had time to look at them before, but it was something she had always wanted to do.
According to her history, she was partially paralyzed because she had twisted her leg during a dance and then spent three years in bed. The longer she stayed in bed, the more her condition deteriorated. Later, due to some injections—given by Li Rang—she regained some vitality for half a year. But once the medicine stopped, she relapsed.
As a professional, Xiao Yun understood the trick. Relapsing once the drug stops indicated a side effect.
Liu Zehui watched her. “Xiao Yun, can you treat my legs too?”
Jiang Cha also took a deep breath, looking at her with focused intensity as if seeing a ray of hope. Xiao Yun didn’t dare make a casual promise; as a doctor, she never spoke with 100% certainty. She put down the files and walked over to Liu Zehui. “Auntie, can I check your legs?”
Liu Zehui nodded. Xiao Yun lifted the quilt and rolled up the blue and white checkered pajama leg all the way to the thigh. As expected of a dancer, the skin and muscles of the legs were firm and healthy; despite her age, there were no signs of the legs being “old.” Such legs shouldn’t be paralyzed.
Xiao Yun pressed on her calf. “Can you feel this?”
“I can feel the pressure.”
Xiao Yun tested her knee joint; it was also normal. She understood the general cause. She gently lowered the pajama leg and covered her with the quilt.
“Can my legs be cured?”
Xiao Yun took a deep breath. “Auntie, are you afraid of surgery?” Jiang Cha and Liu Zehui looked at her simultaneously. “I don’t have 100% certainty; the patient’s will is more important.”
This was the truth. Many people get nervous as soon as they get on the operating table. An operating table, general anesthesia, a cold bed, and instruments reflecting a chilling light—one’s body is completely handed over, and all dignity vanishes in that moment. Furthermore, surgery means scars; as a dancer, she needed her consent.
Liu Zehui thought for a long time. “Back then, I chose conservative treatment because I was unwilling to go under the knife, which led to this. After lying here for years, I’ve realized that even if it leaves a scar, I want to recover.”
Having obtained the patient’s consent, Xiao Yun twirled her pen. This was manageable. True to her decisive nature, she scheduled the surgery for right after the Lantern Festival. Early treatment, early results.
On the way back, Jiang Cha kept glancing at Xiao Yun, making her quite self-conscious. She worried that maybe she hadn’t wiped her mouth after the orange and had juice on her face. However, after several looks, Jiang Cha asked, “Yunyun… can my mom’s legs really stand up again?”
By a twist of fate, she had originally intended to wait for Li Rang’s release to ask her to treat her mother, but Xiao Yun was right beside her. She didn’t need to ask the awkwardly-positioned Li Rang anymore. For a moment, she felt an indescribable joy. To her, her mother was her only family, and her mother’s health was more important than anything. Now, the torment that had trapped her for years had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. She felt the world brighten.
Xiao Yun never boasted; if she said it, it would surely happen.
As they walked side-by-side, Jiang Cha looked up at her. The spring sun was perfect. Xiao Yun walked against the light; a beam of sunlight reflected off a window and landed on Xiao Yun’s face. Her skin was fair and delicate, without visible pores. Under the glow, the fine white hairs on her face shimmered. Xiao Yun smiled confidently, a hint of a flush on her cheeks like the red clouds of a sunset—she looked very “kissable.”
“She will definitely get better.”
Jiang Cha stopped. The sound of her high heels on the concrete came to a halt. In the shadow of the sun, the heel of her shoe left the ground as her calves tensed and she lifted herself up. Jiang Cha recalled what Xiao Yun had said: If you like someone, let them know. If you like someone, test them first.
She decided to do it all at once.
She lightly braced herself against Xiao Yun’s arm and quickly pecked her on the cheek. Xiao Yun’s cheek was soft and smelled like lemons—it was wonderful.
“Thank you for saving my mom.”
The spring breeze brought a wave of warmth, stirring Xiao Yun’s hair. She was caught completely off guard by that “thank-you kiss.” The warmth of those red lips remained, as did the itchy sensation of Jiang Cha’s eyelashes brushing her face. But the culprit had already walked three meters away.
Xiao Yun tightened her fist slightly, looking at that exquisite silhouette.
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