MQSP - Chapter 51
Chapter 51
It was late at night when Baiye woke up. After a long sleep, she felt much more energetic, unlike before when her head had been groggy and she'd had no strength.
Opening her eyes, she saw she was lying in a hospital room. Baiye was stunned for a moment, then gradually remembered what had happened, a wave of lingering fear washing over her.
She lifted her hand and found it was being held. Looking down, she saw Auntie Lin dozing in the chair beside her. One of her hands was propping up her chin, while the other was pressed on Baiye's fingers, seemingly to prevent her from bending them and touching the wound on her palm.
A warmth spread through Baiye's heart. She squeezed Auntie Lin's hand, pulling it closer to look at it for a while. Such long, delicate fingers. So beautiful.
Unconsciously, she brought the hand to her lips. She leaned forward, just about to sneak a kiss, when her movement froze. She suddenly remembered the disgusting postures she had made on Xue Yuexian's bed, and a trace of revulsion, even disgust, rose from the bottom of her heart.
She looked at Auntie Lin's hand again, then slowly put it back.
"Why didn't you kiss it?"
Baiye froze, like someone caught red-handed. She snatched her hand back and met Auntie Lin's bright, dark eyes, feeling a flash of guilt.
"I didn't…"
"Didn't you want to kiss it? Why did you stop?"
"No… I didn't. I was just… looking. Yes, just looking." Baiye turned her head, avoiding Auntie Lin's direct gaze, and shrank back into the blankets.
But Lin Yuqing wasn't buying it. She leaned over and brought the back of her hand to Baiye's lips. "Kiss it."
"Eh?"
"I'm telling you to kiss it."
Baiye was a little dazed. "Ah?" She hadn't processed it at all.
Lin Yuqing moved her hand closer to her lips again, almost touching them.
Baiye pressed her lips together, her eyes darting around. She seemed to casually purse her lips and lightly touch the back of her hand.
However, Auntie Lin didn't move, looking as if she'd stay there all night if Baiye didn't kiss her. Baiye looked at her hand, leaned forward, and gave it a proper kiss.
"Isn't that nice? If you want to kiss it, just kiss it. What's there to hesitate about?"
"…" Baiye didn't speak. She pulled at the blanket, hiding half her face inside, leaving only her big, bright dark eyes showing.
"Are you hungry?" Lin Yuqing picked up the thermos on the table and poured half a bowl of congee. "Get up and eat something first."
She helped the little one sit up, placed a pillow behind her back for support, and adjusted the bed to a suitable angle.
Baiye raised her hand to take the bowl of congee, but Lin Yuqing pressed it down. She scooped up a spoonful and offered it to Xiao Ye.
"Hm? Open your mouth."
The little one stared blankly for a long moment before hesitantly opening her mouth. "Mmph…" she let out a soft cry.
"What is it?" Lin Yuqing paused, pulling her hand back to look. She brought the congee to her own lips to test the temperature. Ahem, a little hot…
"Auntie Lin, I can eat by myself…" She felt that Auntie Lin was acting strangely.
Lin Yuqing ignored her, blew on the congee, and took another sip to test the temperature. Once she was sure it wasn't hot, she brought it back to Xiao Ye's lips. "Do you dislike me?"
"Of course not!" She promptly ate the spoonful.
Lin Yuqing smiled, as if she had received tremendous encouragement, and continued to earnestly feed her the congee.
"Auntie Lin…"
"Hm?" Lin Yuqing was earnestly stirring the congee. She looked up and saw the little one's eyes were red-rimmed. "What's wrong?" she asked hurriedly.
"Could you… not be so good to me?" Xiao Ye sniffled softly.
"What?" Lin Yuqing was stunned for a moment. Who else would I be good to, if not you?
"I'm not worthy…"
Clang. Lin Yuqing angrily threw the spoon into the bowl.
"Gu Baiye, if you spout any more nonsense or let your imagination run wild, I'll!" She pointed at her angrily, but the words got stuck.
"I'll… break your dog legs!"
Seeing Auntie Lin looking so flustered and exasperated, Baiye's heart warmed instead, and tears welled up uncontrollably. "But Auntie Lin, I wasn't born in the year of the dog."
"…Rabbit legs, then." Lin Yuqing's tone softened, and she reached out to wipe away her tears.
"Xiao Ye, no matter what, I will never abandon you. I've always remembered what I said. So you, you have to be strong, too. At least, you need to have a strong heart."
"Auntie Lin…" Baiye looked at Lin Yuqing with tear-filled eyes. They looked at each other for a moment, then the little one nodded and wiped her tears dry.
"Auntie Lin, I want to go home. I want to take a bath and change my clothes."
"You can't go home yet. The wound on your head needs to be observed in the hospital for another two days. If you feel uncomfortable, I can help you wipe down. Xiao Zi brought clothes; I'll help you change."
"I can do it myself…"
"No, the wound on your hand can't get wet."
Lin Yuqing got up and went to the outer room. She had thought everyone had left, but it turned out only Lu Qing had actually gone. Fang Yi and Jiang Boyan were still waiting tenaciously.
"Xiao Zi, go prepare a basin of warm water."
"Why are you still here?" she asked, looking at Jiang Boyan.
She had already told them clearly that Xiao Ye didn't know her own life story yet and couldn't meet these people as Xinran's daughter for the time being. This was especially true for Jiang Boyan, whom Xiao Ye had never met before; there was even less reason for them to meet.
"Is she awake?" Fang Yi asked hurriedly.
"She's awake. She just ate something."
"Did she… say anything?"
"She said she wants a bath. I'm going to help her wipe down first."
Fang Yi nodded, looking preoccupied. Seeing Xia Xiaozi return with the basin of water, she immediately went over and took it. "Let me do it. You should try to persuade that one first," she said, glancing at Jiang Boyan sitting upright on the sofa. "She just keeps sitting here and won't listen to anything." Then, without waiting for Lin Yuqing's response, she bypassed her, went into the room, and locked the door from the inside.
Lin Yuqing frowned. Her intuition told her something was wrong. It seemed like Fang Yi was deliberately avoiding her about something. Did she and Xiao Ye have a secret between them?
Inside the room, the little one was hugging her knees, staring blankly into space.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Auntie Fang, why is it you?"
"Hm? Aren't I the one you most want to see right now?" Fang Yi wrung out the towel and sat on the edge of the bed. If Lin Yuqing were to help her wipe down at a time like this, she would surely die of embarrassment.
Baiye pouted. "Auntie Fang, what should I do…"
Fang Yi wiped her forehead, carefully avoiding the wound. "If it were before, I would have remained neutral, or even opposed your bold idea."
"But now, I support you. If you like someone, go after them. Don't leave yourself with any regrets."
If you like someone, go after them. Don't leave yourself with any regrets. That was Xinran's life motto.
"But I… right now, I…" As she spoke, her eyes reddened again.
"What is it?" Seeing her clutch the collar of her shirt, Fang Yi understood.
"You, don't take it so seriously. She didn't touch you at all; she just drugged you unconscious."
"She did touch me. I remember it. And at the time… I…" Baiye looked vexed, hitting her own head in frustration.
"Alright, it's not your fault. It's her fault. You don't need to blame yourself so much. If we're really assigning blame, it's my fault for not protecting you well enough, which gave her an opening. Don't blame yourself, be good." Fang Yi pulled her into an embrace, gently patting her back to soothe her. Thank goodness it was Xue Yuexian this time. If it had been someone else, the consequences would have been truly unimaginable.
"Let me help you wipe down and change into some clean clothes." The conspicuous red wine stain on Baiye's clothes was particularly jarring.
Baiye hesitated for a moment, then stopped resisting.
Fang Yi unbuttoned her shirt and carefully wiped along her delicate collarbones. Baiye closed her eyes, silently adjusting her mindset, trying to erase those filthy images.
After she had mostly finished cleaning her, Fang Yi lifted Xiao Ye's chin and looked from side to side. "Don't always walk around with a long face. If the sky falls, we'll be here to hold it up for you. Straighten out your attitude, don't think about unhappy things, and live every day happily from now on, understand?"
"Do whatever you want to do. I'll support you in whatever you do. As long as you think it's worth it, don't back down."
"Thank you, Auntie Fang."
"Mhm, I'll go get your clothes."
After bringing the clothes into the room for the little one to change into herself, Fang Yi closed the door. "Did Jiang Boyan leave? What did she say? What does she want?"
"She hopes to have Xiao Ye stay with her for a few days."
Fang Yi took a sip of water and nearly choked. "When Yilan was alive, she was deeply in love with her. Even after Yilan got married, she never gave up for a moment. Don't tell me she's shifted her target to Xiao Ye now?"
Hearing this, Lin Yuqing's brow furrowed sharply. It's not impossible, is it?
Seeing her reaction, Fang Yi laughed inwardly. "Ah, Jiang Boyan. Good personality, good family background, rich and powerful, excellent character and looks—she's a reliable person to entrust someone to. She's also gentle and considerate, meticulous and…"
Smack. Lin Yuqing slammed her palm on the armrest of the sofa, glaring at Fang Yi in annoyance.
"I'm just speaking a little truth~ It's better than a certain someone who's short-tempered and always slamming tables and throwing bowls. If Xiao Ye were with her, she definitely wouldn't be mistreated."
"Have I mistreated her?" Lin Yuqing's brows shot up as she glared furiously at Fang Yi.
"That, I don't know. But a person's personality is closely related to their upbringing. The weak and timid way Xiao Ye sometimes acts must be related to a certain someone being too overbearing and subjecting her to long-term oppression. There's no doubt about that."
Lin Yuqing frowned and gradually calmed down. Is it because I'm always so fierce with her?
"The little one has a knot in her heart right now. If a certain someone could be a little gentler with her, care for her and cherish her more, it probably wouldn't take long for her to become her optimistic and cheerful self again."
"Sigh, I wonder if a certain someone can even understand," Fang Yi said to herself, holding a paper cup.
Lin Yuqing glanced at her. Even though Fang Yi wasn't looking at her, it was obvious those words were meant for her. If she couldn't even understand that, she might as well be stupid.
"Hmph." On the surface, however, she had to maintain an appearance of ignoring her. As if I need you to remind me. Meddlesome!
Over the next two days, Xiao Ye's mental state recovered quite well. Lu Qing came to see her from time to time, bringing lots of delicious food with her each time, which left Xiao Ye completely bewildered.
Fang Yi deliberately created opportunities for her and Lin Yuqing to be alone, so she didn't visit often. The few times she did come, it was to drag away the big third wheel, Lu Qing.
Lin Yuqing had taken Fang Yi's words to heart. For the past two days, she had basically been by Baiye's side at all times, personally feeding her, helping her change her dressings, and even accompanying her to the bathroom. She cared for her without leaving her side for a moment.
Today was the day the little one was discharged from the hospital. Fang Yi came specially to pick her up, while Xia Xiaozi was at home preparing a sumptuous dinner to celebrate.
Just as they entered the house, Xia Xiaozi came out to greet them. But before she could get a good look at her, the little one gave a simple greeting and ran upstairs.
"Hey, what's wrong with her?"
"She probably went to take a bath. She's been clamoring to come home and bathe for the past few days."
"But her hand…"
"You two go ahead and cook. I'll go check on her," Lin Yuqing said, then followed her upstairs.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw the little one ducking into the bathroom. Lin Yuqing quickened her pace just before she could close the door.
"Auntie Lin? I'm going to take a bath, you…"
"I'll help you."
"Ah? N-no, I can wash myself!"
"Your hand is like that, what do you mean you can? Either I wash you, or you endure not washing. You choose."
"I… Auntie Lin…" She sounded so aggrieved she was about to cry.
"If you're really that shy, you can have Xia Xiaozi help you after dinner. She used to bathe you often when you were little, remember?" Lin Yuqing stroked her head. The loving expression on her face left the little one a bit dazed. When did her Auntie Lin become so gentle…
"But I feel really uncomfortable right now…" Baiye muttered under her breath.
Hearing that, Lin Yuqing pushed her into the bathroom without another word.
"Hey, Auntie Lin, I don't want to wash anymore, I don't want to!!" The little one quickly shrank into a corner, hugging herself.
Lin Yuqing glanced at her, walked over to the bathtub, gave it a quick rinse, and started filling it with water. She added some bath salts, using the water to create a large amount of bubbles. Rolling up her sleeves, she stuck her arm in to stir the water, testing the temperature and depth at the same time.
Before long, a layer of milky-white foam covered the surface of the tub, and the water was about full. Lin Yuqing stood up, wiped her hands, and turned to look at the little one in the corner. "Get undressed and soak in there yourself. That way I won't be able to see you, so you don't have to be shy."
Hearing this, Baiye's pretty face flushed red. Auntie Lin, so thoughtful…
After giving her instructions, Lin Yuqing turned and left. She went back to her own bedroom, changed out of her damp clothes, and after some deliberation, put on a long, short-sleeved T-shirt. She looked in the mirror, nodded in satisfaction, and then returned to Xiao Ye's room.
When she entered the bathroom, the little one was already sitting in the tub, her body completely enveloped in foam, so nothing was visible. Lin Yuqing took a clean towel, dipped it in the bathwater, and gently wiped her back.
"Is this okay?"
"Mhm!" Baiye nodded in satisfaction. Auntie Lin completely catered to my little worries. This way, nothing can be seen, so I won't be shy! So thoughtful!
However, when she wiped certain private areas, Baiye couldn't help but feel shy and flinch away.
Although Lin Yuqing couldn't see, she could still feel. For example, when she brushed against her little buns, Baiye's neck turned red, so she didn't touch them again. But when she wiped her stomach, the little one flinched again, so Lin Yuqing deliberately poked her little tummy twice.
"Aiya, Auntie Lin, you're so mean!" Being tickled by Lin Yuqing, Baiye burst out laughing.
"Say I'm mean again, and I'll haul you out of the tub," she said, putting on a stern face to scare her.
Baiye immediately clamped her mouth shut. Lin Yuqing took the opportunity to tease her a couple more times before stopping.
After wiping her down once, Lin Yuqing tested the water temperature and added a little more hot water. "Anywhere else feel uncomfortable?"
"My neck."
Hearing that, Lin Yuqing carefully wiped along her collarbones again. "There."
"Mmm." Baiye still seemed a little reluctant.
"That's enough. Any more scrubbing and your skin will come off."
"What does 'skin will come off' mean?"
Seeing the little one's bewildered expression, Lin Yuqing smirked and reached into the tub to pull the plug.
"Eh? Ah, Auntie Lin! I'm not… don't… I… ahhh!" Watching the water drain rapidly, Baiye panicked, quickly using her elbows to gather the nearby foam to cover the crucial parts.
"Alright, I've already felt everything, so seeing it is no big deal. Besides, we're both women. What is there that can't be seen?" Lin Yuqing said righteously.
"Auntie Lin, you… you're too mean!"
"Didn't I say that if you called me mean again, I'd haul you out of the tub?"
"Eh? No, no, no! Auntie Lin is the best, the best! The number one best person in the world!!!"
Lin Yuqing didn't listen to her at all. She put her hands under Baiye's armpits and pulled her straight up. Baiye didn't know where to put her hands, wishing only that she had several more pairs. Thankfully, there was still a bit of foam on her body to cover herself.
"Raise your hands. The wound isn't allowed to touch water. Otherwise, you can sleep without clothes tonight."
Hearing that, Baiye shivered. Her Auntie Lin would probably do as she said…
She quickly raised both hands high above her head, but that meant…
"Wuu… Auntie Lin…" she looked at Lin Yuqing with teary eyes.
Seeing the little one obediently holding her hands up, Lin Yuqing really couldn't hold back her laughter. But she had teased the little one to the point of tears, so laughing out loud now would probably be a bit unkind…
Lin Yuqing quickly turned on the showerhead and rinsed the foam off Xiao Ye's body. The little one just stood there with her hands held high, not daring to move, like a statue. Watching from behind, Lin Yuqing was dying of laughter.
The moment she was wrapped in a towel, Baiye finally breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like she had come back to life. She truly regretted insisting on taking a bath. Now she'd been seen completely naked by Auntie Lin. She was too ashamed to face anyone!
While Lin Yuqing was dressing her, the little one had completely given up resisting, letting Lin Yuqing handle her as she pleased. In the end, Auntie Lin put her in a long, over-the-knee T-shirt of the same style as her own. Baiye looked down at the design on her shirt, then at Auntie Lin's. "Eh, is this a parent-child outfit?"
Lin Yuqing's hands froze, her face darkening. Parent-child your ass!
Is she… is she an idiot!
By the time the two of them were done, dinner was ready. Xia Xiaozi had just called upstairs when she saw the pair coming down, one after the other, wearing matching T-shirts. Setting everything else aside, just the sight of those four long, pale legs was enough to make her drool.
"Yo, you're even wearing parent-child outfits," Fang Yi couldn't help but laugh as she snarked.
"???" Lin Yuqing had a look of utter confusion. This is clearly a couple's outfit, can't you people tell???
She turned her head to look at Xiao Ye's shirt. The design was of a little girl extending her right hand forward. Her own shirt had a design of a woman extending her left hand backward. When they stood together, it meant I will hold your hand. How could they not understand such an obvious meaning?
During dinner, Lin Yuqing frequently put food on the little one's plate, gently telling her to eat more. Xia Xiaozi watched from the side, stunned. Why does it feel like the boss has become a different person? Who drugged our boss?
Fang Yi saw this and knew her words from the other day had worked. She raised her eyebrows at Xiao Ye, and the two exchanged a look.
Lin Yuqing looked up just in time to see the two of them smiling at each other. She immediately frowned. "What are you two doing?" Flirting with your eyes right in front of me? That's not very appropriate.
When the topic of school came up, Baiye's newly lifted spirits dissipated again.
"It's fine. I'll help you handle the school matter. Don't worry about it anymore."
"What school matter?" Seeing the little one's worried expression, Lin Yuqing immediately sensed something was fishy.
"It's nothing, really nothing," Baiye said, shaking her head quickly. She secretly shot Fang Yi a look.
"Here, Auntie Lin, you've worked hard these past few days. Eat more."
"Oh, and I haven't even properly celebrated your award with you. When my hand is better in a couple of days, I'll make you a big feast to make up for it, okay?" she said, eagerly putting food on Lin Yuqing's plate.
"Mhm." Lin Yuqing nodded and didn't press the matter further. The rest of the meal was very harmonious.
After dinner, Lin Yuqing shooed Baiye off to her room. As she was seeing Fang Yi out, she stopped her at the door.
"What happened at school? Why doesn't she want to go back?"
Fang Yi knew she couldn't hide it anymore, so she told her everything. After listening, Lin Yuqing's brows twisted into a knot. "This is how you take care of her!?" she fumed.
"It wasn't convenient for me to step in, so I arranged for someone to help her. Besides, this incident is a lesson for her. It lets her see how sinister people can be. When you're out in the world, you can't be too naive."
"Ye Jingwen. I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."
"One of Xue Yuexian's people."
Lin Yuqing understood, remembering she had seen someone like that during the casting. "Then let Xue Yuexian handle this. It'll be a good way for her to atone for her mistake."
"That's what I was thinking, too."
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