Ling Yunshu’s voice paused slightly, then she picked up the water cup in front of her and took another sip before continuing, "Actually, after you left that day, Shi Che and I had a big fight."
"I know, that incident shouldn’t be blamed on you or Shi Che, after all, it was just an accident, but at that time, I... was too irrational, couldn’t hold back, and said something particularly hurtful."
Ling Yunshu’s voice echoed, word by word, in the quiet space, and when Ling Chuxia heard the last sentence, her hands involuntarily clenched together tightly, her heart trembling slightly.
She instinctively felt that it was something she didn’t want to hear, but Ling Yunshu’s words still reached her ears.
"I said, ’Even if you seek comfort, you can’t turn to Xiaxia—it’s time she stopped being your substitute. If you substitute so much, then be with her.’"
Ling Chuxia’s throat tightened as if gripped tightly by a large hand, her eyes stared wide-open, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Comfort... Substitute...
"It’s too much, right?"
Ling Yunshu seemed oblivious to Ling Chuxia’s expression, and bitterly smiled, "That day, we parted on bad terms. Later, when I calmed down, I was shocked at how I could say such things. But I couldn’t bring myself to apologize to him. And Shi Che never came to look for me; I knew that my words were too harsh and hurtful, and him being angry and not coming to see me was understandable... So, in the end, I went to look for him." Original content can be found at N0velFire.ɴet
"But Xiao Zhao told me he had gone on a business trip to Lin City, and you... were also here. Then I thought, maybe Shi Che, upset by my words, went to find you. And as it turned out, I guessed right."
Ling Yunshu still smiled, but her eyes were brimming with tears. She bit her lower lip lightly and continued, "Actually, I’ve been here for a few days, always... following you two. Like earlier, when you were at the restaurant, I was there too. After tonight, I am certain that there is nothing between you and Shi Che, and I was overthinking everything. Xiaxia, I’m truly relieved."
These days, elder sister has always been... Could it be that Shi Che also noticed elder sister a long time ago but just didn’t say anything?
Suddenly, Ling Chuxia understood everything, all the doubts, all the entanglements, were resolved in that moment.
She finally understood why Shi Che’s attitude suddenly changed, became so gentle towards her—she also realized what his actions tonight were about, not towards her, but towards her elder sister.
The table full of dishes she liked to eat—she and her elder sister were twins, their tastes were almost identical. The piano piece of confession, those emotion-filled eyes, everything, everything was conveyed through her as a substitute to her elder sister.
She was just a tool for him to find consolation.
Suddenly, Ling Chuxia wanted to laugh, but her tears fell first, landing with a plop on the back of her hand.
Ling Chuxia was startled, fearful that Ling Yunshu would notice her distress. She raised her hand, trying hard to wipe away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more they flowed, unable to be wiped away.
Ling Yunshu looked up quietly, gazing at her for a while, a fierce light flashing through her eyes, vanishing in an instant, then she spoke again, her voice still so soft, "Xiaxia, have you fallen in love with Shi Che?"