This is a long one. Very long, which is partly why it took me 2 (3?) weeks to translate.
Once again, huge thanks to Avel, absolute champ, please thank them in the comments, having a PR/Editor literally makes my life so much easier.
TL: zen
Editor: Avel
Last note before the chapter: we’ve moved into the premium chapters now (by the way this book is already complete, with around 70 chapters), thankfully you guys’ donations help me buy chapters.
Alright, enjoy your way overdue chapter~! (sorry!)
Jiang Ci mixed broccoli, and then fried a dish of shredded carrots. Looking at the time, Lu Xingxue had been asleep for more than an hour. Jiang Ci didn’t know if she had woken up yet.
She untied her rubber band, straightened her hair in the mirror, and went upstairs to see her.
In Lu Xingxue’s room, the thin curtains were drawn open, the whole floor-to-ceiling windows were unblocked, and the room was full of sunlight. Looking out, the sky was high and the clouds were wide, and the sky was like washing.
Lu Xingxue in a white nightdress sat on the dark floor, holding a hair dryer and blowing her hair. She tilted her head slightly, slender fingers running through her hair, occasionally shimmering, like the diamond on her ring.
Facing the light, she was almost translucent, contrasted by her black hair like seaweed flying in strands.
This picture is too beautiful. Jiang Ci stood by the side of the door, hesitating, and knocked, breaking the silent mood: “Are you awake?”
Lu Xingxue turned off the hair dryer, and responded to her with a nasal voice, hoarse and husky: “I sweated a lot, so I got up and took a shower.”
Jiang Ci stepped forward: “Has the fever gone?”
Lu Xingxue: “Retreated.”
It was only when she got close that she could see that her eye circles were red, tender and haggard.
Jiang Ci: “Are you still dizzy now?”
Lu Xingxue: “I’m dizzy, and I feel weak.”
Her hair is still not dry, and she said she was dizzy, feeling weak. Jiang Ci reached for the hair dryer, trying to do it for her.
“I can do it myself.” Lu Xingxue sensed her intention.
Jiang Ci: “You are sick. We live together. Shouldn’t we take care of each other?”
Similarly, Lu Xingxue also said that Jiang Ci moved out, and she really insisted, and her eyes appeared faintly, meaning: “After my childhood, besides the hairstylist, there were no other people who dried my hair.”
Jiang Ci knelt and sat behind Lu Xingxue, squeezing the hair dryer, Lu Xingxue’s black hair gripped her palms, feeling wet and cold.
——You spoil her so much, Jiang Lin’s words suddenly broke into her mind somehow.
Jiang Ci’s mood was subtle in an instant.
The wind from the hair dryer was warm, blowing away the wetness from her hair, and the fragrance of shampoo gradually permeated the empty air.
From the last shower gel to this shampoo, the fragrance is the same as Lu Xingxue’s perfume, which seems to be entangled with the sense of smell.
The scent was very familiar, but Jiang Ci wasn’t sure where it came from, as she was walking around, suddenly she remembered the big box of makeup and skin care products in her room.
Jiang Ci straightened her back: “Lu Xingxue, that crate in my room…”
“It’s for you. It’s all from this brand. I don’t know which brands you are used to, so I just bought a little bit.” Lu Xingxue said.
Jiang Ci: “…a little bit.”
She called such a big box “a little bit.”
Lu Xingxue heard her implication: “You can either use it or give it away.”
Jiang Ci: “Thank you.”
Like Lu Xingxue generously accepting her gifts every time, Jiang Ci also did not refuse, but instead slowly combed the long hair in her hands: “I stood you up last night, Unexpectedly, you still had a gift for me.”
Lu Xingxue turned her head, and they were looking at each other, she said: “Yes.”
She asked Jiang Ci again: “Is President Wen still in hospital?”
Jiang Ci: “She was discharged from the hospital this afternoon.”
Seeing as she wasn’t going to explain the cause and effect, Lu Xingxue wouldn’t ask again.
Having dried Lu Xingxue’s hair, Jiang Ci put away the hair dryer, turned and asked her: “Do you have an appetite? Would you like some porridge?”
Lu Xingxue was combing her hair with an ebony comb, only when she heard the question did she stop.
Jiang Ci: “?”
The string of beads of the same color tied to the end of the wooden comb swayed, Lu Xingxue turned her head, her eyelashes blinked, and she said, “You are really serious about taking care of me.”
——”You spoil her so much,” Jiang Lin’s words suddenly burst into her mind again. Jiang Ci’s mood was subtle in an instant.
The two went downstairs, Jiang Ci went to the kitchen to serve porridge, thinking that Lu Xingxue might find it boring to eat alone, so she also served herself a small bowl.
Lu Xingxue had already sat down at the dining table, waiting for Jiang Ci to bring out two bowls of porridge, she asked her: “Aunt Zhang was here?”
Jiang Ci: “Not yet, she comes back tonight”
“So these…?” Lu Xingxue pointed to the cold broccoli and fried carrots on the table.
Jiang Ci: “I made it.”
“…” Lu Xingxue had never seen Jiang Ci cook, let alone eaten her dishes.
Jiang Ci smoothly pulled her hair behind her ears when she was seated: “It’s just a bit cold, but the porridge is hot, right?”
“It’s ok, it’s just right.” Lu Xingxue’s gaze flicked from Jiang Ci’s earlobe, and she put a small broccoli into her mouth with the porridge.
[zen: the author has an ear fetish, i swear. It’s ok, ears are cute :3 ]
“I’m not good at cooking, it may not taste good.” Jiang Ci said while paying attention to Lu Xingxue’s expression.
Lu Xingxue raised her eyebrows: “No, it’s very good to eat.”
She tasted carrot shreds again: “If it weren’t for this illness, I wouldn’t have known you were so good at taking care of people.”
Jiang Ci lowered her head, moved the corners of her mouth, and then took a broccoli and stuffed it into her mouth.
Jiang Ci: “?”
Jiang Ci: “….”
[zen: lol, it’s bad…]
Jiang Ci raised her eyes: “…it tastes weird, doesn’t it?”
Lu Xingxue: “Does it?”
Jiang Ci went to try the carrot shreds again, and said: “Yes.”
It’s edible, but it is not salty or sweet. Obviously she followed the tutorial step by step, and she didn’t know where it went wrong. In short, the two dishes have a strangeness that cannot be described.
Lu Xingxue low : “…I have a stuffy nose, I don’t have a sense of taste.”
Then how did your “very good food” come out?
Jiang Ci: “……”
It’s still early after drinking the porridge. There is nothing left or right, Lu Xingxue seems to be in good spirits, Jiang Ci suggested that it is better to continue to read the album that she had watched the night before.
Going to the room, projecting the album, the two sat side by side. Lu Xingxue looked at the photo and remembered something, so she explained a few words to Jiang Ci.
These photos are connected with Lu Xingxue’s past. Through them, Jiang Ci seems to have experienced her growth.
……
The afterglow of the evening shone on the floor, and the white gauze curtains stirred in the autumn breeze.
In a quiet room, pictures are played one after another. The sofa under her was soft and comfortable. Jiang Ci supported her head and watched the screen. Her eyelids sank and she fell asleep, unknowingly.
……
“Knock knock…”
“Miss Jiang? Are you there?”
Jiang Ci was awakened by Aunt Zhuang’s knocking sound. She suddenly opened her eyes. She didn’t know how long she had slept. The sky outside was already dark, and there was only projected light in the room.
Lu Xingxue also fell asleep.
She was resting on Jiang Ci’s shoulders, her fragrant and soft black hair wrapped Jiang Ci’s arm.
Jiang Ci: “……”
Lu Xingxue’s breathing was a little heavy because of her stuffy nose, her breath sprayed on Jiang Ci’s arm, and it was warm, like a little animal dozing off.
Jiang Ci listened for a moment, and thought it was funny
Aunt Zhuang was downstairs. After a while, Jiang Ci’s phone vibrated under the pillow. She immediately grabbed the phone, touched the screen with one hand, and picked up the phone.
“Miss Jiang, the rice is already cooked, are you not at home?” Aunt Zhuang asked her.
Jiang Ci deliberately lowered her voice: “Yes, we will come downstairs later.”
“Oh, alright” Aunt Zhuang said with a knowing tone: “Did you and Miss Lu just sleep? Did I bother you?”
Uh…
They did fall asleep. This was not wrong… But Jiang Ci thought that this was a little different from the “sleeping” in Aunt Zhuang’s words…
She responded vaguely: “Something like that.”
Lu Xingxue rubbed her face, woke up to Jiang Ci’s soft whisper, and got up groggily.
Aunt Zhuang: “Then I will leave Miss Jiang first.”
Without Lu Xingue’s head, Jiang Ci’s shoulders felt empty. She looked at Lu Xingxue and told Aunt Zhuang: “I have troubled you at noon.”
Aunt Zhuang: “Question, do you have any dishes you want to eat?”
Jiang Ci asked Lu Xingxue: “What do you want to eat?”
Lu Xingxue rubbed her temples lightly, just shaking her head.
Jiang Ci said to Aunt Zhuang: “It’s better if it’s something light.”
At the end of the call, Lu Xingxue asked Jiang Ci: “What time is it?”
Jiang Ci: “It’s past eight.”
Lu Xingxue: “Aunt Zhuang came to cook?”
Jiang Ci: “She is already done.”
After these two questions, Lu Xingxue was silent for more than half a minute, and then asked, “Is your shoulder numb from me?”
She didn’t mention it. She wanted to rub Lu Xingxue a step faster than her when she mentioned Jiang Ci. Lu Xingxue’s hand fell on Jiang Ci’s shoulder, and Jiang Ci was surprised by the sudden touch: “…It’s okay, I’m okay.”
Lu Xingxue’s fingers were pinched from Jiang Ci’s shoulder inch by inch, and her tone was light but a little husky: “Jiang Ci.”
Jiang Ci: “Huh?”
Lu Xingxue paused: “You are a little thin.”
Jiang Ci: “……”
Jiang Ci looked sideways: “Did I bump you?”
Lu Xingxue: “A little bit.”
Jiang Ci laughed and brushed Lu Xingxue’s hand, wanting her to stop squeezing it, but the temperature of the skin under her hand was a little higher than her own.
“…Is it burning up again? How do you feel now?” Jiang Ci tested her forehead temperature, and then went to try the snow.
In the dimly lit room, she leaned forward with the back of her hand on Lu Xingxue’s forehead.
Lu Xingxue slowly said: “It will be hot for a while and cold for a while.”
Jiang Ci went down to the ground floor immediately, turned on the light, and looked for an ear thermometer to measure Lu Xingxue’s body temperature.
38.7°C.
“Lu Xingxue, you have to take medicine.” Jiang Ci looked serious at the ear thermometer, and walked outside as she said, “I’ll get the water, wait a minute.”
Waiting for Jiang Ci, Lu Xingxue was already sitting on the edge of the bed, and she also pasted herself with an antipyretic sticker, looking down at the medicine left by the doctor.
Jiang Ci gave her a cup of water, and she swallowed the medicine with warm water.
Jiang Ci: “Would you like dinner? I will bring it to you.”
Lu Xingxue raised her face: “No, I can’t eat it.”
Jiang Ci nodded: “Then you take a rest, I’ll be at home, and you can find me if you have anything to do.”
Lu Xingxue: “Yeah.”
In front of Jiang Ci, Lu Xingxue was lying down, Jiang Ci walked immediately, and was next to her bedside: “…Don’t be with me. If you can’t get up, just call me.” .”
Lu Xingxue whispered softly, her eyes shut: “Good~ Mrs. Lu.”
Jiang Ci: “……”
In the wide dining room, Jiang Ci ate dinner alone, only managing a few hasty bites, finally putting down her chopsticks dullly.
She called to cancel tomorrow’s work appointments, stuffed the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, went to her room, and fell on her back on the bed.
Closing her eyes to lay down for a while, Jiang Ci turned her head and saw the mother and baby book beside the pillow. The bookmark was placed on the “fetal movement” page, and she put the book in the cupboard.
The cardboard box with FOREST printed on it was still on the table, Jiang Ci took out the contents in the same way, from skin care to make-up, put them one by one in different categories, and then made a video call to Huo Zhenzhen.
Huo Zhenzhen was rarely busy at night. When she received Jiang Ci’s video call, she was putting on a mask and drawing a tattoo design on the tablet. As soon as the video was connected, she pouted and had a chat with Jiang Ci.
Jiang Ci switched the camera and showed her the things on the table.
Huo Zhenzhen suddenly held her breath.
Jiang Ci: “Just pick what you like.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Ahhhh!”
The happiness came too suddenly, after screaming, Huo Zhenzhen’s mask was about to fall off her face: “Baby! Did you need to buy so much?”
Jiang Ci: “… Lu Xingxue gave it to me.”
“Fuck!” Huo Zhenzhen pressed her mask, and reacted enthusiastically “President Lu is too good! Which woman would dislike this gift! ——I finally feel it, that thing only single people can feel! Come on, it feels like a single dog ascending to heaven!”
This is the first time that Jiang Ci has met such a humble person who doesn’t describe themself as a chicken or dog.
Huo Zhenzhen confirmed with her: “Can I really have it?”
Jiang Ci: “One more word and I can’t guarantee anymore.”
Huo Zhenzhen immediately picked two sets of essences without any kind of shame, and she felt happy: “It saves me tens of thousands. If only I had a wife, I don’t know when my elders will arrange marriages for me. Who doesn’t want to marry Lu Xingxue?”
Jiang Ci: “Weren’t you the one who opposed it?”
Huo Zhenzhen made a strong argument: “I am opposed to arranged marriages, but I am not opposed to President Lu~”
Jiang Ci was amused by her antics: “You haven’t received anything yet, but you were still bought by her?”
Huo Zhenzhen retorted: “Sister, I was conquered by her charm, alright?”
The two watched and talked, and if Huo Zhenzhen wanted something, Jiang Ci took it out for her alone and put it aside. When the camera flashed over a black packaging box, Huo Zhenzhen asked casually: “What is this? I haven’t seen this brand.”
Jiang Ci distinguished the foreign language on the box: “Perfume.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “It just so happens that I’m tired of using those few I have at home, you smell it for me, and I will accept it if it smells good.”
Jiang Ci put the phone on the holder, removed the packing box, and as soon as the perfume in the crystal bottle was taken out, Huo Zhenzhen said: “The beauty is 100 points!”
The semi-permeable liquid was like quicksand, Jiang Ci the gilt bottle cap, sprayed a pump into the air.
Under the soft light, the atomized perfume refracted the light, and it landed slowly.
Huo Zhen was very interested: “How is it? What does it smell like?”
Jiang Ci was startled.
Fragrance diffusion… is that perfume from Lu Xingxue?
She sniffed carefully again, and confirmed that this is the consistent fragrance from Lu Xingxue’s body.
Huo Zhenzhen is still waiting for Jiang Ci’s feedback. Jiang Ci put the perfume lid on and put the bottle back into the box.
Seeing that she put the perfume in the drawer, Huo Zhenzhen wondered: “Put it away, why?”
Jiang Ci: “Not for you.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “What is not suitable for me?”
Jiang Ci thought a little: “Anyway, it just doesn’t suit you.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “…”
Huo Zhenzhen did not give up: “It’s okay if the perfume doesn’t suit me. I like the bottle a lot. It’s good as a decoration.”
Jiang Ci looked at the camera and stopped talking.
Huo Zhen blinked a few times: “I also think that perfume is not very suitable for me, right.”
The two reached an agreement and continued to look down at the make-up. Although Huo Zhenzhen no longer insisted on the perfume, she was still full of strangeness: “Why on earth is it so unsuitable for me?”
Jiang Ci muttered: “I can’t say .”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Wait, wait, I want that powder cake… does it smell good?”
Jiang Ci took out the powder cake: “It smells good.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Is it sexy?”
The air was full of familiar scents, as if Lu Xingxue was watching her from nearby. Although Lu Xingxue was not here, Jiang Ci couldn’t help but turned her head to confirm.
After making sure, Jiang Ci rubbed her throat: “Yeah.”
“Hey.” Huo Zhenzhen picked another highlight, and suddenly caught a glimpse of the box of lipstick on the edge of the table: “Ah-Ci, look at that. Is that new?”
This time Jiang Ci did not even open it, and instead put away the box of lipstick directly.
Huo Zhenzhen: “…”
Huo Zhenzhen: “I guess, this whole box of color numbers is not suitable for me?”
Jiang Ci said: “I want to collect it.”
Huo Zhenzhen helplessly said: “Okay.”
After picking things up, the two of them made an appointment to meet each other. Huo Zhenzhen took Jiang Ci again to look at the tattoo design draft she had just drawn.
There is a deer painted on the tablet. The antlers are high and the eyes are clear. However, the neck is gradually withered and ossified. At first glance, it has an aesthetic of red face and white bones.
“The guest’s request is just one word: cool”, Huo Zhenzhen asked Jiang Ci, “Is it cool?”
Jiang Ci: “It’s pretty cool.”
Huo Zhenzhen’s eyes twinkled: “If you like it, I can design one for you. It depends on whether you like the elegant deer, the domineering deer, or—”
“No, I don’t like it.” Jiang Ci interrupted her, “Why do I need a deer tattoo?”
Huo Zhenzhen: “You would look good with a deer tattoo, tattooing your wife’s surname on your body, it would be too spoiled! If I were President Lu, I would be moved to cry!”
Jiang Ci imagined the scene: “Lu Xingxue would only think I was crazy.”
Huo Zhenzhen: “Hahaha.”
At the end of the video, Jiang Ci packed the pieces she wanted to keep and the pieces she wanted to give away.
With the hour hand pointing to 10, she opened the door to see Lu Xingxue.
Lu Xingxue’s room was dark and there were no lights. With the light in the corridor and the thin moonlight outside the window, Jiang Ci tiptoed to the bed.
Her hand was a little cold; she raised her hand to her neck, and waited until her body temperature warmed her palm, before carefully touching Lu Xingxue’s forehead.
The high fever has subsided, Lu Xingxue turned her face to the side, sleeping fairly well.
In the video with Huo Zhenzhen just now, Jiang Ci had been nervous around Lu Xingxue internally and externally. She thought it was just a joke, but now, facing Lu Xingxue at close range, Jiang Ci felt it. Some subtle awkwardness and hints of embarassement.
She reached out and pulled up the blanket that had slipped to her waist, covering Lu Xingxue’s shoulders.
……
The next day, the doctor went to their house, and after understanding the situation yesterday, he gave Lu Xingxue a needle again.
Lu Xingxue colored a lot, no longer so sick, even effectively able to deal with official affairs. When the doctor gave her a needle, she was still talking to Assistant Yao.
Jiang Ci asked the doctor to go to the living room to drink tea and wait, Lu Xingxue was behind: “Jiang Ci.”
Jiang Ci looked back.
Lu Xingxue looked at her: “It’s not early, won’t you go to work today?”
Jiang Ci said: “I don’t have work today.”
Lu Xingxue bent her lips, smiled at her, and then continued to listen to Assistant Yao’s report
The morning time passed very quickly, the IV just ended, and Aunt Zhuang started cooking with vegetables.
Jiang Ci sent the doctor away, went to the kitchen for a few laps, but still went upstairs.
The floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the terrace in the room were open. A rocking chair was placed by the window. Lu Xingxue was lying on the rocking chair and playing with a Rubik’s Cube.
A random blanket was placed on her knees, her trousers were empty, her slender ankles were exposed, her bare feet were bathed in the sun, and the white insteps were printed with blue blood vessels.
The autumn breeze was coming, and the rocking chair swung back and forth gently. Lu Xingxue’s posture was lazy and relaxed.
The messy Rubik’s Cube in her hands was quickly arranged neatly, Lu Xingxue squinted, looked at the light, and shuffled it again in the next second.
Jiang Ci walked to the terrace, and when she passed Lu Xingxue, the two silently exchanged glances.
Lu Xingxue changed from lying down to sitting.
Jiang Ci leaned against the railing on the terrace, watching Lu Xingxue play with the Rubik’s Cube.
Lu Xingxue flexibly moved the Rubik’s Cube with her fingers, and the flashing diamond light between her fingers gradually drew Jiang Ci’s attention.
Lu Xingxue wears a ring on her ring finger. Jiang Ci didn’t take a closer look yesterday, but now she found that the ring prongs are like cat’s claws, with a few fine-grained rubies inlaid on them. The shape is delicate, but it’s pretty casual.
Lu Xingxue stopped, but it took ten minutes, and the Rubik’s Cube was finished again.
Jiang Ci: “…How did you finish it so easily?”
Before, she struggled from the afternoon to the evening, and she was dizzy. However, there was no result, and it just became more and more chaotic.
Lu Xingxue: “There are formulas, it’s not difficult.”
Jiang Ci: “……”
Not difficult 🙂
“I can teach you if you want.” there was a smile in Lu Xingxue’s black eyes.
Jiang Ci declined and said, “I can’t remember the formula, so don’t.”
“I don’t think it’s that you can’t remember it, but that you’re lazy, and you don’t want to spend time to remember.”
Jiang Ci and Lu Xingxue looked at the sound source at the same time, and saw Jiang Lin standing in the middle of the room with a bag on her shoulder.
“…Mom, why are you here?” Jiang Ci hurriedly walked to her.
Jiang Lin said strangely: “Why, mom can’t come? Xiaobai is sick, I came to see her”
Lu Xingxue also stood up from the rocking chair at this time : “I’m troubling you, I’m much better now.”
Jiang Lin took a few steps forward and looked at Lu Xingxue: “Ahhh, your face is a little smaller!”
Lu Xingxue: “Then I will eat more and I will raise it soon.”
Jiang Lin: “I brought a canteen of chicken soup with some herbs in it. Later, you can drink a bowl while it is hot to get rid of the disease.”
Lu Xingxue: “I am willing to drink a few more bowls.”
Jiang Lin smiled, and Lu Xingxue said again: “It’s almost mealtime, please stay to have lunch with us.”
Jiang Lin: “Unfortunately today, I made an appointment with Haohao’s teacher. He was too noisy in school recently….Your health will be better after two days, at this rate. If you have time, you should go with Ah-Ci to our family home. How about a family gathering?”
Jiang Ci was listening to them absent-mindedly. Suddenly being named, she looked at Lu Xingxue.
Lu Xingxue also looked at her and said to Jiang Lin: “Okay, I’ll make an appointment at that time.”
Jiang Lin said happily: “It’s a deal.”
Jiang Lin stayed for half an hour. Seeing that it was time to meet her appointment with the teacher, Jiang Ci sent her down. As soon as the door was closed, Jiang Lin’s amiable expression disappeared.
She glanced back at Lu Xingxue’s closed room, dragged Jiang Ci a step forward, went down one floor, picked the room closest to them, and locked it, staring at Jiang Ci. She asked: “What’s the matter between you and Lu Xingxue?”
This question, from the beginning to the end, was inexplicable to Jiang Ci: “Huh?”
Jiang Lin: “If it weren’t for me coming here, I wouldn’t know that you two actually slept in separate rooms.”
“…” Jiang Ci never expected Jiang Lin to snoop through their rooms.
Jiang Lin was heartbroken: “Have you been married for all these years and have been splitting rooms?”
Jiang Ci: “…No.”
“No?” Jiang Lin asked anxiously: “Then why are you splitting rooms now?”
Jiang Ci rolled her eyes: “Lu Xingxue is under a lot of work pressure, and she almost always suffers from insomnia. The doctor said that she was a little nervous, and she slept alone to improve her sleep quality.”
Jiang Lin: “So?”
Jiang Ci saw that she believed it: “Otherwise?”
Jiang Lin patted her heart: “You scared me. I thought there was a big problem between you! So you are taking care of her at home today?”
Jiang Ci: “Ah, yes.”
Jiang Lin also felt that “married for three years and splitting rooms” is unlikely to happen to the two young people, so she didn’t question it any more, but couldn’t help muttering: “But why did she have a high fever all of a sudden? Her body is not good enough…”
Jiang Ci: “……”
……
Jiang Ci and Lu Xingxue had lunch together. Lu Xingxue’s appetite has not yet recovered and she still doesn’t eat much. She promised to drink Jiang Lin’s chicken soup, but she really drank two bowls.
When she was drinking the second bowl, she couldn’t help but sigh: “Drink the chicken soup that mom made.”
The chicken soup cooked by Jiang Lin is fragrant and not greasy, otherwise Wen Nian wouldn’t remember it for so many years. Jiang Ci has opinions on this conclusion, but Lu Xingxue blurted out the natural and incomparable word “mother,” which surprised her a little.
She glanced at Lu Xingxue: “This bowl is yours, drink it slowly.”
Lu Xingxue put down the spoon and pressed her lips forward and moved forward: “…Jiang Ci, do me a favor?”
Jiang Ci: “Huh?”
Lu Xingxue: “Take a picture for me.”
Jiang Ci reacted to this: “Take a picture?”
Lu Xingxue: “A picture of me and the chicken soup together, I want to send it to my mother.”
Jiang Ci: “……”
Lu Xingxue didn’t bring her mobile phone, so Jiang Ci picked up her own, turned on the camera mode, and pointed it at Lu Xingxue.
Lu Xingxue wore a dark green shawl over her plain home clothes, and most of her black hair is wrapped in the shawl. A few loose strands of hair are rubbing her face, looking tender, lazy and charming.
“Can I do this?” Lu Xingxue asked towards the camera.
“Yeah.” Jiang Ci took a picture and turned the screen to show her.
Lu Xingxue, and said: “Remember to send it to me.”
Jiang Ci immediately sent her this photo.
Lu Xingxue: “After we finish eating later, let’s go out for a walk.”
The autumn is high outside, and the sun is bright. It is very suitable for a walk. Jiang Ci picked up the chopsticks again and nodded.
After eating, they changed into outing clothes and went out together.
Lu Xingxue is still ill, and her body is weak, so she walks very slowly. Jiang Ci cooperated with her, and they paced slowly in the community.
When they walked far, they met Tongtong and her mother who were riding a bicycle.
Tongtong was sweating profusely on the bike. Her mother saw that Lu Xingxue’s complexion was not good, so she stopped and asked her where she was uncomfortable. She thanked her for helping last time, otherwise she would not be able to buy the limited-color bag.
The adults stood together and chatted, but Tongtong was restless and had already pedaled forward a long way. Jiang Ci watched her ride crookedly, afraid that she would fall, so she followed closely behind.
Tongtong fell with a “Huh,” managing to grab the brakes and land on both feet, then bending down to pick up the fallen flowers under the rose bushes on the roadside.
It was a half-opened pink rose, crumpled by some unknown passer-by. Tongtong put it in the palm of her hand and looked at it. On a whim, she poked the short flower stalk into her braid and shook her head and asked Jiang Ci: “Auntie, do I look good?”
The little girl was pink and tender, and her smiles were sweeter than flowers. Jiang Ci said, “It looks good.”
After receiving praise from the beautiful aunt, Tongtong became a little shy, covering her mouth and laughing.
Looking at her blushing face, Jiang Ci turned her head, Lu Xingxue was still chatting with Tongtong’s mother.
Jiang Ci grabbed Tongtong’s little hand: “Tongtong, is it okay for Auntie to ask you a question?”
Tongtong: “It’s okay.”
Jiang Ci: “Last time Aunt Lu taught you a trick to sweeten sour apples, what is it?”
“Oh that! That method is super useful!” Tongtong thought of the incident, her whole body was excited, and her voice rose high, causing Lu Xingxue and her mother to look over..
Jiang Ci: “……”
Jiang Ci blinked: “How about sharing quietly with auntie?”
Tongtong shrank her shoulders: “Then I will tell you gently.”
She leaned to Jiang Ci’s ear: “Auntie Lu said, if you are afraid of sourness, she should find her favorite person to feed it. My mother cut me diced apples and fed me, and I was happy. The sour apple is not sour anymore, it’s so sweet that it bursts into bubbles!”
Jiang Ci: “……”
Silly, that’s because apples are sweet, so Lu Xingxue came up with such a weird way to fool children.
But after thinking about it, Lu Xingxue had fed her an apple at Professor Xing’s house the day before telling Tongtong this method.
Jiang Ci: “…………”
This is a coincidence too 🙂
Lu Xingxue and Tongtong’s mother passed by, and Tongtong’s mother waved to Tongtong: “It’s time to go back to take a nap, say goodbye to the aunties.”
Tongtong rushed to Jiang Ci with a grin, said “goodbye,” and then stomped forward.
Jiang Ci straightened up, and continued walking with Lu Xingxue outside the community.
She was still thinking about Lu Xingxue feeding her the apples, and she quietly looked at Lu Xingxue from the corner of her eye.
In the sun, Lu Xingxue squinted her eyes slightly, her pale face was dyed a little red from walking, which was particularly vivid.
Jiang Ci turned her gaze and looked forward naturally with her expression, but there was a secret sense of pleasure in her heart.
It’s not because of anything else, just that Lu Xingxue is very interesting. It is also a good thing for such an interesting person to appear in her own life.
—Then she saw the ragdoll cat lying outside the fruit shop basking in the sun.
The ragdoll cat lazily flicked its tail and licked its small paws from time to time. Jiang Ci has been staring at it since she saw it. After passing the fruit shop, she was hesitant to stop. After taking a while, Lu Xingxue suddenly asked her: “I’m thirsty, do you want juice?”
Jiang Ci: “En!”
Lu Xingxue: “Is orange juice okay?”
Jiang Ci: “It’s quite nice.”
Lu Xingxue went into the shop to buy fresh oranges to squeeze juice. Jiang Ci took the opportunity to stay outside the shop, squatted down, and gently raked the ragdoll’s little head.
Lu Xingxue patiently picked a dozen oranges, stood in front of the cashier, and turned her head to look out.
The ragdoll cat stood up, its whole body rubbing against Jiang Ci. With a paw on Jiang Ci’s face, she squatted on the spot motionless and let it rub.
Jiang Ci is wearing a white sweater and shirt. The wool is fluffy and soft. Compared with the little snowball at her feet, she looks like a big fluffy snowball.
Lu Xingxue closed her eyes and saw that there were still snacks in the store, so she chose some to check out together.
Jiang Ci stroked the ragdoll’s head all the way to the tip of her tail. The ragdoll purred comfortably. She simply held up the forelegs of the ragdoll and faced it face to face.
One person and one cat looked at each other, Jiang Ci: “Meow~”
The ragdoll sniffed her face: “Meow~~~”
Jiang Ci shook her head sideways, and said: “Meow meow~”
A pair of straight legs appeared behind the ragdoll, and the cup filled with orange juice shook in front of Jiang Ci’s eyes.
“…Thank you.” Jiang Ci put down the cat, stood up, and took the juice from Lu Xingxue.
Lu Xingxue was still carrying a bag, and seeing the various snack packages in the open mouth, Jiang Ci felt incredible: “Do you like these?”
Lu Xingxue: “I bought it for you.”
Jiang Ci stunned: “You bought it for me? I’m not a kid…”
Lu Xingxue said, “Aren’t you? I think you and Tongtong talking quietly together, were pretty cute together.”
Jiang Ci: “……”
Lu Xingxue: “What kind of kid do you like?”
She asked “what kind of like?” instead of “like it or not?” Jiang Ci bit the straw and took a few mouthfuls of orange juice, Said slowly: “Good, cute.”
Lu Xingxue nodded slowly, and then said: “Let’s go home, I’m a little tired.”
The two went the same way, and went upstairs to their respective rooms. Jiang Ci was about to put on the headphones to listen to a tune, and the phone rang . As soon as she saw it was Wen Nian’s call, she answered it.
Wen Nian: “Ah-Ci, have you had lunch? Did I interrupt your work?”
Wen Nian sounds to be in a better state, not as weak as the previous two days. Jiang Ci said: “I have eaten it, today—”
Lu Xingxue knocked on the door, and soon her voice followed: “Jiang Ci, do you want to watch a movie together?”
Jiang Ci was inside the room, Lu Xingxue directly asked such a sentence after knocking on it, which interrupted the communication between Jiang Ci and Wen Nian.
Jiang Ci turned around, and Lu Xingxue saw her listening to the phone.
“No, I didn’t know you were…” Lu Xingxue explained.
Jiang Ci gestured to her, moved her cell phone, and asked her, “Didn’t you say you’re tired and need rest?”
Lu Xingxue stood next to her: “Although I am dizzy, I am not sleepy.”
Jiang Ci: “Then you pick the film, I’ll pick up the phone first.”
Lu Xingxue: “What type do you want to see?”
Jiang Ci: “Anything is fine.”
After Lu Xingxue left, Jiang Ci continued speaking to Wen Nian on the phone: “I’m not going to work today.”
Wen Nian said: “I heard it all. But how come President Lu, a busy woman, is free to ask you to watch a movie now?”
Jiang Ci: “She is not feeling well. She has been resting at home for the past two days.”
“Oh~” Wen Nian prolonged the tone: “If you haven’t gone to work, are you with her?”
Not to mention that Lu Xingxue’s illness has its own reasons. Wen Nian is different from Huo Zhenzhen. Jiang Ci felt very awkward when Wen Nian teased her. She changed the question: “After you went, did Lin Xiao have a problem with you?”
Wen Nian: “Yes.”
Jiang Ci: “…Hmm.”
Lin Xiao just didn’t make it difficult to read, and the two of them couldn’t get along happily… Jiang Ci realized that this question was a bit redundant.
Wen Nian: “I just ate lunch, so I remembered you, that’s it. Um… hang up, go to the movie with President Lu, don’t let her wait for a long time.”
Jiang Ci worries that she will think wildly if she is bored alone: ”I will chat with you for a while.”
Wen Nian: “If you want to chat with me, after a while, I will also ask you to watch a movie. I have been busy. Thinking about it now, I haven’t been to the theater for a long time.”
Jiang Ci promised: “Yes.”
Ending the call, Jiang Ci put down the phone, and soon took it again, opening the photo album.
Lu Xingxue’s photo was placed in her photo album.
Jiang Ci clicked the delete icon.
The page pops up options: “Delete Photo” or “Cancel”.
At the moment when Jiang Ci took the photo, the light was very soft, Lu Xingxue’s skin was white porcelain, and her eyes were soft, which was simply too beautiful.
Jiang Ci carried the bag of snacks and went to Lu Xingxue’s room.
Lu Xingxue selected a film that had just won an award at the International Film Festival.
The story in the film takes place in the late autumn with falling leaves, which is quite appropriate. When Jiang Ci went in, the movie had just started, the bicycle ringing came from the stereo, and the beautiful girl in camel sweater on the curtain rode a bicycle through the streets and alleys in the city flexibly.
“Did you finish the phone call?” Lu Xingxue asked Jiang Ci.
“It’s Wen Nian. We spoke a few words.” Jiang Ci sat down beside Lu Xingxue and took out a bag of potato chips from the bag.
“Boom!—” There was a dull crash in the movie.
The two people talked again, and they looked at the curtain at the same time.
In such a quiet afternoon, watching a literary movie, people also become lazy.
Jiang Ci ate the potato chips one by one. The soundtrack of the movie was mixed with the slight “crunch” sound when she chewed the potato chips. She didn’t know when it started. Jiang Ci found that Lu Xingxue would cast a glance from time to time.
Looking once again caught Lu Xingxue’s gaze, Jiang Ci turned her face directly, and asked with her eyes.
Lu Xingxue held her forehead, and said leisurely: “Seeing you eat, I think these potato chips are very delicious.
“
Jiang Ci pulls the packaging bag and looks at the brand and taste printed on it: “This is the first time I have eaten this. It’s pretty good.”
Lu Xingxue: “Delicious?”
Jiang Ci: “Yeah.”
Lu Xingxue leaned forward with interest : “Then I will eat some too.”
Jiang Ci: “…you have a cold, will you choke after eating it?”
Lu Xingxue: “One piece.”
Jiang Ci thought for a while: “Okay.”
The mouth of the potato chip bag was facing Lu Xingxue, Lu Xingxue reached half of her hand, Jiang Ci shrank without warning.
Lu Xingxue looked at her: “…”
Jiang Ci asked in a serious manner: “When someone is fed, does it really taste better?”
Lu Xingxue stared slightly: “You want to feed me?”
“…” Jiang Ci expected that she would react like this, and said, “I, I…”
Lu Xingxue couldn’t help but laugh: “It’s funny. But I know what you talked about with Tongtong.”
Getting back on track, Jiang Ci nodded earnestly: “Yes, I asked her how to sweeten sour apples.”
Lu Xingxue: “Then why don’t you ask me directly?”
Jiang Ci once again: “…”
If she wanted to know, since they spend more time together, why not ask Lu Xingxue directly? But, instead, she asked Tongtong, who she rarely sees, and also asked quietly on the side?
——The calm expression on Jiang Ci’s face was a little unsustainable: “I forgot before, but I remembered when I saw Tongtong.”
Lu Xingxue raised her chin, nodded lightly, and spoke slowly: “Ah~, this way.”
Lu Xingxue’s attitude can be understood as “maybe not like this.” Jiang Ci’s heat spread rapidly from the roots of her ears to her cheeks. She simply closed the bag and hid behind her: “Your potato chips.”
This move is unexpectedly naive, who knows that Lu Xingxue’s reaction is even more incredible.
Jiang Ci’s hand that hid the potato chips supported her body and leaned back, Lu Xingxue leaned into her and grabbed her wrist and pulled it lightly.
Lu Xingxue came for the potato chips, Jiang Ci knew, but her pulling action instantly made Jiang Ci lose her balance.
What is even more outrageous is that, in order to remedy it, Lu Xingxue stretched out her other hand to protect Jiang Ci’s head, and then her body fell onto the sofa along with Jiang Ci due to inertia.
“…” Jiang Ci’s mind was blank. Lu Xingxue held her head back and grabbed her wrist, and she was pressed on the sofa.
Thick black hair brushed the corners of Jiang Ci’s eyes, and accompanied by the pungent fragrance, Jiang Ci closed her eyes and opened them again.
After a glimpse of the curtain, the heroine in the film zoomed in, staring at the camera in amazement.
“…” Jiang Ci thought that her current expression should be comparable to that one.
The author has something to say:
I was Overwhelmed
I won’t be behind anymore
this chapter’s coffee count: 2
this chapter’s time count: wayy too long
How did you guys like that?
It’s something like 7k words, 5k characters iirc.
Also, thanks to Marcus Saffron, we’re stocked up on double chapters until next month! so enjoy those releases. Another chapter should be out later today (I’ve got the scheduling thing down, I think)
Thanks to all my caffeine suppliers:
Iris
Cereal
Mel
Messbiscuit
Marcus Saffron
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ZEN Translations 
2 replies on “She Belongs To Me Ch. 19”
Thank you for translating!
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Thanks TL, thanks editor.
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