Chuxia Ling nearly held her breath all the way to the hotel, and only when she stood at the apartment door did she stop. She looked up at the closed door, a flicker of hesitation still crossing the depths of her eyes.
Just yesterday, her elder sister was already so heartbroken, could she really continue and confess her feelings to her?
Chuxia Ling’s mind was slightly muddled, recalling her sister’s pale and unlovely face, she involuntarily took a step back, her hands clenching fiercely.
But... but what if she really just left ? What about her and Shi Che...?
Shi Che’s indulgent gaze, his gentleness voice, also uncontrollably surged in her mind, her wavering heart, little by little, firmed up again.
Elder sister, I’m sorry, let her be selfish just this once, let her live for herself just this time.
Chuxia Ling closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and with trembling hands, she reached out and gently knocked on the door.
After waiting a short while, the door opened, and Yun Shu Ling stood inside, her long hair falling down, her dark hair making her little face even paler, devoid of any color, and she looked terribly unwell.
One could imagine just how upsetting her crying had been yesterday.
The moment Chuxia Ling saw Yun Shu, it was as if her throat was brutally blocked by something, the sourness spilling over, and with great difficulty, she managed to squeeze out a word, "Sister..."
Yun Shu Ling lifted her eyes to look at Chuxia Ling, her voice hoarse as she spoke, "Come in." With that, she stepped aside and turned back towards the inside of the apartment.
Chuxia Ling stared blankly at her departing figure, frozen for quite a while before she slowly took steps and entered the apartment.
She walked a few steps inside, and upon seeing a somewhat familiar figure on the sofa, she stopped in her tracks, slightly startled.
The man turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting Chuxia Ling’s, and he faintly lifted a smile, "Xiaxia, long time no see."
Chuxia Ling was stunned for several seconds before she came back to her senses, her eyes slightly widened with surprise that hadn’t yet faded, "Brother Xiao? You... how come you’re here?"
The Xiao Family and the Shi Family were relatives, Xiao Chen was Mrs. Shi’s nephew and also Shi Che’s cousin, and would often come over to the Shi Family to hang out, therefore growing up together with them.
It had been a long time since she had last seen him, reportedly having also gone abroad for further studies, she didn’t expect to encounter him here.
Before Xiao Chen could reply, Yun Shu Ling responded, "I’m feeling a bit unwell, he came over to check on me."
As Yun Shu Ling said this, Chuxia Ling suddenly understood; Xiao Chen had studied medicine in university and had gone abroad for further studies in medicine, now it seemed, he was officially a doctor.
And, hearing Yun Shu Ling mention feeling unwell, Chuxia Ling’s hand clenched involuntarily, her teeth fiercely biting her lower lip, her heart as if pricked by a thorn, the discomfort was extreme.
For a moment, the atmosphere turned quite heavy and stiffly tense, Xiao Chen looked around and as if knowing nothing, said, "Alright, I have something else later, so I’ll be leaving now, Xiaxia, take good care of your sister."
As he spoke, Xiao Chen gathered his things and stood up, then walked towards Chuxia Ling, stopped in front of her, took out a business card, and handed it to her, "This is my business card, call me if you need anything, okay?"
Chuxia Ling accepted the business card in a daze, nodded, and Xiao Chen curved his lips, then stepped away.
After Xiao Chen left, the room fell into utter silence, so quiet that one could likely hear a pin drop with absolute clarity.