PSW - Chapter 112
Chapter 112
These weren't noodles kneaded in the Wasteland; Zheng Yi must have bought them directly from the system store, because the texture was simply stunning. The noodles were firm and springy, the beef was stewed until it was incredibly tender, and the broth was savory, spicy, salty, and fragrant. With just a casual lift of the chopsticks, nearly every strand was coated in the rich sauce.
Yu Yinan picked up a piece of white radish. It had been stewed until it changed color, and with one bite, the juices burst forth in her mouth, filling it with the rich, savory flavor of beef.
"Is it good?"
"It's delicious," Yu Yinan answered without a moment's hesitation. When she looked up at Zheng Yi, she met her gaze directly. For some reason, Yu Yinan was reminded of those hot, humid nights when, every time she looked up, she would see Zheng Yi's cold, clear black eyes.
Whether in the depths of passion or in tender moments, even when Zheng Yi's hand sent Yu Yinan into a frenzy, those black eyes never showed a trace of desire.
If only… she could make Zheng Yi feel the same intense emotions she did. Yu Yinan lowered her head, avoiding Zheng Yi's gaze, and focused on eating the beef noodles, thinking to herself: I really want to see what Zheng Yi looks like when she's overcome with desire.
If that day ever came…
Full and satisfied, Yu Yinan quickly washed and put away the dishes. She had woken up late, so visiting Chu Yi at this hour wouldn't be awkward at all. The only concern was that Chu Yi might not be home.
…If she wasn't, maybe that would be a good thing?
"What's wrong?" Zheng Yi asked softly, her tone good-natured as she noticed Yu Yinan's furtive glances. She smiled sweetly and cutely, without any airs. Anyone else would have just seen a particularly pretty girl next door.
"Nothing, it's just… aren't we going to visit Chu Yi? I was wondering what gift we should bring." Yu Yinan subconsciously touched the tip of her nose, her eyes darting away. "Actually, it's only a few days until the Lunar New Year. Maybe we… we could visit then instead?" Besides, it was already afternoon.
"It's fine, I still have plenty of Saint Points. We can afford any gift, any number of times." Zheng Yi clearly knew Yu Yinan was still trying to squirm her way out of it, but she acted exceptionally "gentle and considerate," interpreting Yu Yinan's words differently. "Chu Yi is such a good person. As an administrator, she's taken great care of us at the shelter, she's Jiejie's friend, and she even selflessly shared so much study material with you~ For all these reasons, I couldn't possibly be stingy with a gift~"
The moment Yu Yinan heard the words "study material," her resolve crumbled. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, defeated. "I… you… When was I exposed? Why… how did you know it was Chu Yi?"
"Because most of the time you go out, it's to see Chu Yi. And she looked so guilty when she saw me, it was easy to guess, right?" Zheng Yi blinked. "But don't worry, Jiejie, I won't get jealous~ After all, Chu Yi is your good friend. And she probably has her heart set on someone else, right?" After all, she had spent a fortune buying all those roses, only giving one to Yu Yinan.
Seeing Yu Yinan speechless, Zheng Yi didn't tease her further. She opened the store, glanced at it briefly, and bought a box of random mixed fruits. The contents of this random fruit gift box were, well, random. A box cost only 10 Saint Points and was advertised as possibly containing priceless, high-end fruits.
Right. Zheng Yi glanced at the gift box she'd gotten. The entire box contained a grand total of six apples, twenty sugar tangerines, five navel oranges, a bunch of grapes, and one cantaloupe.
'The system store is using false advertising now?'
[…It clearly states it might contain them,] Zero One defended in a small voice. [It's only ten Saint Points! You get the thrill of a lottery and a variety of fruits. It's a total bargain, okay!]
Zheng Yi ignored Zero One and put the cardboard box into her personal space. "We'll just give her a box of fruit as a New Year's gift. Shall we go, Jiejie? If we wait any longer, it'll be bad to arrive during mealtime."
"Mm…" Yu Yinan took Zheng Yi's hand, and they left together. As for Chu Yi… Yu Yinan thought: I really did my best.
She hadn't exposed the secret or revealed anything she shouldn't have. But Zheng Yi was insistent on visiting, and with her abilities… there was simply no way to stop her. Not only was there a huge gap in their strength, but if Zheng Yi's eyes showed even a hint of feigned hurt—without even needing to say things like "Is Jiejie afraid I'll hurt your friend?" or "Does Jiejie not trust me?"—Yu Yinan would have already waved the white flag in her heart and surrendered without a fight.
Before Yu Yinan could even figure out how she was going to face Zhao Haiyue, she was standing side-by-side with Zheng Yi at Chu Yi's door. Taking a breath, Yu Yinan politely knocked.
If only Chu Yi isn't home… that would be great. Didn't she confess to Yun Lingjian? She took so many roses, she must have confessed, right? Maybe she and Yun Lingjian were out on a date, taking a walk, enjoying the scenery—anything would be fine, as long as she wasn't home.
But Yu Yinan heard hurried footsteps inside. The door was suddenly flung open. The moment Zhao Haiyue saw Yu Yinan, a flash of disappointment crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by excitement. "Quick, come in! How did you confess to Zheng Yi? Can you just say it directly? But I can't even get the words out…"
Stunned, Yu Yinan was pulled inside by Chu Yi. As she stumbled slightly, Zhao Haiyue caught sight of the marks on her neck. Before she could even finish voicing her own troubles, she let out a shriek. "You slept with Zheng Yi?!!"
Zhao Haiyue's heart-wrenching question echoed through the entire hallway. Yu Yinan's mind went completely blank. Still in shock, she couldn't find her voice. A hand rested on the half-open door, and Zheng Yi pushed it fully open, revealing a perfectly kind smile to the wide-eyed Zhao Haiyue. "Yes, we did. Do you have any brilliant insights for us, Lord Chu Yi?"
"!!!" Zhao Haiyue, who was normally so calm and composed, felt her soul leave her body. She could hardly recall what she had just said. She met Zheng Yi's gaze for a fleeting, blank moment, and the world began to spin. She wished she could faint on the spot.
Why was Zheng Yi here?
Why would Yu Yinan bring Zheng Yi here?!
Why? On the first day of the new year, why was this happening to her? Had her luck failed to turn? Of course. Her cowardly escape last night was the beginning of a year of failure!
Zhao Haiyue huddled in the far corner of her living room sofa, trembling. She silently watched Zheng Yi and Yu Yinan sitting together across from her, overcome by a dazed feeling that her life was over and her end was near.
When Yu Yinan earnestly explained that she hadn't told Zheng Yi anything, but that Zheng Yi had noticed something was off and had grown suspicious because of how guilty Zhao Haiyue had acted, Zhao Haiyue's feelings became even more complicated. How could she not feel guilty? Zheng Yi! She once knew nothing about Zheng Yi and thought she was some pure, kind, and naive little sister! But in reality, this was a true powerhouse who, if she ever carelessly used her ability on her, would not only fail to probe any information but would also suffer a direct backlash and die instantly!
After giving Yu Yinan the materials, she had indeed let her imagination run wild with scenarios of Yu Yinan putting them into practice. The idea of such a powerhouse being completely wrapped around Yu Yinan's finger was so thrilling! It was precisely because of that fantasy that Zhao Haiyue felt even more guilty.
"…It's the New Year. We, uh, just celebrated New Year's Eve." Huddled in the corner, Zhao Haiyue wrung her hands, stealing a guilty glance at Zheng Yi before glaring at Yu Yinan with a hint of exasperation. This woman is so unreliable! After borrowing my materials to study for so long, how is she still so completely dominated by Zheng Yi? No matter how powerful Zheng Yi is, she's still just a young girl. Her age is right there. How does Yu Yinan not have a single shred of the older partner's authority?
"Yes, we just came by to wish you well," Zheng Yi said with a smile. She raised a hand and took out the box of fruit, not bothering to hide her personal space ability, and pushed it toward her. "A small token of our appreciation."
"…Thank you." Zhao Haiyue was somewhat overwhelmed. As she wondered just how many abilities this woman had and how absurdly powerful she was, she cautiously opened the box. Seeing it filled to the brim with fruit, she grew uneasy, wondering if this was the powerhouse's way of giving her a last meal.
Finally, she couldn't bear the oppressive atmosphere any longer. She couldn't endure Zheng Yi's smiling, kind gaze. It made her scalp tingle and a chill run down her spine. Even though she was in her own home, she couldn't sit still. "Besides New Year's greetings, is there anything else I can help you with today?"
She asked tentatively, casting a pleading look at Yu Yinan. Zhao Haiyue nervously cracked her knuckles, making them pop, but her expression grew calmer, as if she had already prepared herself for death.
"No, we just came to give you a gift. We'll leave after sitting for a bit," Zheng Yi said with a light laugh. As she finished, she saw Chu Yi relax slightly, but then her tone shifted abruptly. "However, at the door, it seemed you had some trouble that required Jiejie's help? I wonder if I might have the opportunity to stay and help you with your troubles, alongside Jiejie?"
"…" For a moment, Chu Yi was filled with a regret so deep it felt like her insides were turning green. If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have lost her composure like that. No! If she had known, she shouldn't have asked Yu Yinan to keep it a secret. She should have just let it out! What could possibly be hidden from Zheng Yi? Any amount of embarrassment would have been better than having Zheng Yi show up at her door with a gift on the first day of the new year!
No, perhaps her mistake was made even earlier. She never should have discussed "studying" with Yu Yinan in the first place, never should have had the idea of "mutual assistance."
But no matter how far back Zhao Haiyue's regrets went, there was no escaping the present. She lowered her head and briefly recounted the story of her "cousin," this time with a new update.
"So, my cousin planned to confess last night. She bought every rose she could find, trimmed and prepared each one, and even arranged a huge, beautifully wrapped bouquet to give directly to her… childhood sweetheart." Zhao Haiyue forced herself to tell the story of her "cousin and her childhood sweetheart." It was her last shred of defiance.
But, as the fireworks lit up the sky, the moment she saw herself reflected in Yun Lingjian's gentle gaze, her limbs went numb. The numbness spread to her brain, leaving it completely blank. Under that gaze, she was too nervous to speak.
She could hear her own heart, feeling as if it would leap out of her chest. Extreme nervousness brought a sense of suffocation, and for a moment, Zhao Haiyue even felt like she was going to die. She stared blankly at Yun Lingjian under the fireworks, thinking how incredibly beautiful she was. That image alone would be seared into her mind for a lifetime.
Trembling, she tried to compose herself and took out the bouquet. With roses scattered all over the ground, she knelt on one knee before Yun Lingjian and offered up the large bouquet. "Yun Lingjian, I…"
"I… I…" She repeated "I" for what felt like an eternity, but the words "like" or "love" refused to come out. Her mind was blank, the numbness making it impossible to control herself. In the awkward atmosphere, she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out, "I wish you a Happy New Year!"
"A new year, a new beginning! Your research will surely make more progress, and in this Wasteland, our lives will definitely get better and better. We'll survive together!" Zhao Haiyue had no idea what she was saying anymore. Blood rushed to her head, and somehow, tears started streaming down her face. In a complete loss of composure, she shoved the bouquet into Yun Lingjian's arms and, without even waiting for a response, fled from beneath the fireworks in utter disgrace.
She didn't even stay to watch the New Year's Eve chorus. She ran straight into her house and locked herself in.
Yun Lingjian followed soon after, knocking on the door. "Zhao Haiyue, are you okay?"
Zhao Haiyue felt she was very much not okay. She leaned against the door, running her hands through her long hair in frustration and helplessness, her composure completely gone. Why did she run? She'd messed it up, messed everything up. She buried her face in her knees and hugged herself tightly.
She couldn't… she, she couldn't be responsible for Yun Lingjian. Yun Lingjian was such a good person, but she had no great ambitions, nor could she make any huge contributions. She didn't really understand a lot of what Yun Lingjian researched; she only wanted to listen and learn because Yun Lingjian's whole being seemed to glow when she talked about it. In reality, she had no interest in that knowledge at all. She just, just…
Zhao Haiyue felt like her mind was a complete mess. She had already made up her mind, already gathered her courage. Why, why… No, she had already ruined it. She couldn't even face Yun Lingjian.
Yun Lingjian must think she was so strange, right? Giving roses as a New Year's gift… Kneeling on one knee just to say Happy New Year was just too stupid. Zhao Haiyue was in a terrible state. She should get up and explain to Yun Lingjian, or at least try to salvage the situation. If the confession failed, she had to at least smooth things over, then wait for the next time she could muster her courage, wait for the next chance. But right now, she didn't want to do anything, didn't want to deal with anything. She just wanted to wallow in her emotions.
Silence fell both inside and outside the room. Zhao Haiyue closed her eyes in despair, the only sounds being the occasional boom and flash of fireworks from outside. She didn't know how long she sat there, frozen like a statue, until the world outside fell silent, until the crowds had gone home to rest, and the shelter's streets were empty.
She staggered to her feet, a mess of tears falling to the floor without a sound. Numb and regretful, she used the wall for support, nearly stumbling again. It was then that a voice came from outside the door. "Are you okay?"
Yun Lingjian, she was still there?
Zhao Haiyue bit her lower lip hard, frozen in place, not knowing how to respond.
After a long time, what sounded like a sigh came from outside the door. It might have just been her imagination.
"It's late. I have things to do tomorrow, so I'm heading back to rest."
"Happy New Year." Yun Lingjian's voice seemed to hesitate for a moment before she added, "I really like the New Year's gift."
"…Are you sure you're not going to open the door?"
Zhao Haiyue's body was rigid. She spun around, her hand on the doorknob, but she couldn't bring herself to turn it. She stared intently at her hand, at the doorknob. In the suffocating silence, Yun Lingjian spoke again from outside, her voice as gentle as ever. "Then I won't disturb you. Haiyue, Happy New Year. Get some rest."
Yun Lingjian left.
And it was only after a very, very long time that Zhao Haiyue dared to open the door and look out into the empty, dark hallway.
That was her New Year's Eve.
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