Chapter 26: Taking Care

Xia Linxia felt so embarrassed that her toes could dig up an Oscar podium.

Talking badly about someone behind their back was one thing, but being accidentally exposed by her own mother, especially on a matter of dignity, was there anything more humiliating than this?

She stammered for a long time, her face flushed red, trying to change the subject: “Don’t call me Xiao Bao! Who said you could call me Xiao Bao!”

Ji Fengxue blinked and looked weak, pitiful, and helplessly at Xia’s mother. “Auntie…”

“Why are you being mean to Xiao Xue!” Xia’s mother immediately scolded Xia Linxia.

Xia Linxia: “…” Defeated, utterly defeated, I lost.

She’s such a black-hearted lotus, looking pure and cold on the outside, but actually full of bad intentions!

After spending this much time together, Xia Linxia had seen through her.

Finally, it was Xia’s father who broke the awkward silence. He looked at the medicine and asked, “How about your mom stays to take care of you for a few days?”

Xia Linxia was about to agree when her mom immediately refused: “No, I want to go home and watch my dramas.”

Her father suggested, “Then let’s hire a couple of maids.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea!” Xia Linxia strongly opposed. “Alright, alright, it’s not a big deal. I’ll just rest at home for a few days and be fine. You guys go back and watch TV, I’m getting so mad.”

“But we’re worried about you,” her mother said, showing a timely display of sadness. “You are our precious darling.”

Xia Linxia: “Really? I don’t believe it.”

Her mother: “Waaah.”

Xia Linxia: … You should be the movie queen, the Golden Broom movie queen.

They were stuck in a deadlock. Xia Linxia strongly opposed having strangers take care of her and preferred to manage on her own, but her mother disagreed. Her mother wanted someone to care for her but was more eager to go home and watch dramas. What kind of drama was so important, nobody could tell.

As they were at an impasse, Ji Fengxue said, “I’ll take care of her.”

As soon as she said that, all three people turned to look at her. Xia Linxia was about to object, but her mother was quicker, grasping Ji Fengxue’s hand: “That’s wonderful. It’s more reassuring for you to take care of her. We’ll leave Xiao Bao to you then, and we’re off.”

Before leaving, Xia’s mother whispered to Xia Linxia, “Be nicer. She’s willing to put her work aside to take care of you, so you should be grateful, understand?”

Xia Linxia was numb and just wanted them to leave quickly, so she nodded perfunctorily, “Got it.”

Xia’s mother continued, “And stop arguing all the time. Xiao Xue is really good to you. You can’t just break up with her over a small matter. If things don’t work out, remember, she’s your choice. Got it?”

Xia Linxia replied, “Got it, got it… Huh? What did you say? It’s too hard to hear you.”

Xia’s mother suddenly raised her voice, “Don’t break up with Xiao Xue! Did you hear me?”

Xia Linxia: “Whose mother are you, really?”

“Of course, I’m yours.” Xia’s mother yelled, feeling relieved, then turned and smiled gently at Ji Fengxue, “Thank you for taking care of Xiao Bao. It’s a lot of trouble for you.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Ji Fengxue smiled warmly.

Xia’s mother looked back several times as they left, reminding Xia Linxia, “Listen to Xiao Xue, alright? Don’t bully her, or you can forget about coming home.”

“Okay, you guys go rest early. It’s getting late,” Ji Fengxue said as she saw them to the door.

After walking them out, Xia’s mother pulled Ji Fengxue aside and sighed, “Xiao Xue, it’s not that I don’t want to take care of her, but Xiao Bao had an accident before.”

Her eyes reddened as she spoke and she lowered her head, stepping aside.

Xia’s father patted her shoulder and said heavily, “Xiao Bao was kidnapped once.”

Ji Fengxue looked at them incredulously.

“We were both busy with work and rarely home. Her brother was at school, so only a maid was at home taking care of her. The maid colluded with others and kidnapped her. She escaped on her own, jumping from the second floor. Fortunately, it was grass outside, so she wasn’t fatally injured.”

“After that, her mother quit her job but still felt guilty and has been most afraid of seeing her get hurt.”

“I understand. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her. Uncle, Auntie, you don’t have to worry,” Ji Fengxue assured them.

Inside the living room, Xia Linxia was maneuvering the wheelchair skillfully, clearly an expert. Seeing Ji Fengxue enter, she glanced behind her and asked, “They left?”

“Yes.”

“Finally. If my mom had stared at me any longer, she would have started crying.”

“You noticed?” Ji Fengxue was surprised. Xia’s mother seemed overly optimistic, hiding any sadness, yet Xia Linxia had seen through it?

“I know my mom too well,” Xia Linxia boasted.

“When do you plan to shower?” Ji Fengxue asked.

Xia Linxia immediately deflated, pouting, “You’re really planning to stay and take care of me? Just go home, I can handle it alone, it’s not a big deal.”

“I promised your parents, so I have to do it,” Ji Fengxue replied.

“I’m really fine,” Xia Linxia said, standing up from the wheelchair to demonstrate a perfect one-legged pose, “See, I’m… Ah!”

She almost fell, catching herself on the wheelchair at the last moment.

Ji Fengxue helped her up, “Don’t overdo it, you don’t want any lasting injuries.”

Hearing that, Xia Linxia sat back down obediently. But she rarely had guests, especially not someone she usually disliked like Ji Fengxue, and didn’t know what to do.

Ji Fengxue seemed a bit at a loss too. It was Xia Linxia’s home, and she had never taken care of an injured person before. She was worried about not doing a good job and upsetting Xia’s parents and her fans.

The two fell silent, Xia Linxia broke the ice, “What were you and Xiao Yuan talking about earlier?”

Awkward.

“What do you want to know?” Ji Fengxue asked, “Do you want to know if I still like her?”

“Yes.” Xia Linxia didn’t deny it. She wanted to know the answer, whether as a contractual girlfriend or a friend… Wait, had Ji Fengxue already become a friend to her?

She fell into thought.

“I don’t know.” Ji Fengxue sat on the sofa, eyes unfocused, thinking about the earlier conversation and smiling faintly. “Last year she told me she was in a relationship. I spent half a year avoiding her news, went back home for a while, and took another six months to get back to my career. We hadn’t seen each other for a year until today, but it felt natural, like old friends. It’s a strange feeling to be able to talk calmly with her again. Do you understand that feeling?”

“No,” Xia Linxia said bluntly.

“…”

“But it sounds more like you’re talking about friends. Isn’t that how friends are? No matter how long it’s been, it’s not awkward when you meet again. If I saw my ex-boyfriends, I’d beat them to death on the spot!”

“…”

Ji Fengxue was silent for a moment, thinking she had a point. Her feelings for Xiao Yuan were more about self-inflicted emotion. She had thrown herself into it, wanting to be with her, which left her feeling unfulfilled.

But today, seeing Xiao Yuan, she felt like she was back five years ago. Yet, she clearly felt that Xiao Yuan’s attraction had diminished, and she was less willing to pay attention to her.

“Let bygones be bygones. She’ll find her right person,” she said.

Xia Linxia rolled her eyes.

“What do you want to say?”

Xia Linxia said, “You’re a fool. You wasted your prime years building bridges and paving roads for her, showing her the world, and now she won’t look at you. Besides, you’re not famous anymore.”

Ji Fengxue raised an eyebrow, “Are you speaking up for me?”

“Women just need to have brains,” Xia Linxia sighed.

Ji Fengxue was inexplicably lectured and laughed in exasperation, “You sure mind other people’s business a lot. Were you jealous when you called my name in front of Xiao Yuran?”

“Jealous of what? You’re just a small cookie! Hmph, as if I’d ever be jealous! I’m Xia Linxia, and only others get jealous of me! It’s a joke to think I’d be jealous of someone else. Hahaha… hey, where are you pushing me?”

“Alright, time to remove your makeup and take a shower,” Ji Fengxue, tired of her babbling, pushed her into the bathroom.

Even as she was being pushed, Xia Linxia couldn’t stop her chatter, “I’m talking to you! Xiao Yuran’s every move, I know her tricks inside out. I’m a natural detector, specialized in dealing with her kind. Only an idiot would be lovesick over her.”

Bam—

Ji Fengxue pushed her in and closed the door with a grim face.

Xia Linxia shuddered, swallowed her remaining words, and frowned as she realized something. As her thoughts wandered, she finally recognized the biggest problem of the night!

She was injured and unable to move freely, and Ji Fengxue was there to take care of her, which made sense on the surface.

But! Did she really have such a good relationship with Ji Fengxue?

Moreover, who was Ji Fengxue? An old friend of hers!

Even if her heart was elsewhere, her body could still be very honest. It was inevitable that she might have some improper thoughts about her sacred and beautiful body. What if Ji Fengxue tried to force herself on her? She was currently defenseless, only capable of holding a cotton pad. How could she resist the old woman’s possible advances?

The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous it became. Her hands, trembling slightly, removed her makeup.

Half an hour later, Ji Fengxue knocked on the bathroom door, “Are you done yet? Did you use paint for your makeup?”

See, this old woman was getting impatient.

Xia Linxia smirked, “I’m done.” Let’s see what you’re going to do!

Ji Fengxue pushed the door open and asked, “Where’s your nightwear?”

“On the rack at the entrance of the wardrobe.”

Ji Fengxue came back with the nightwear and handed it to her. Xia Linxia glanced at it and raised an eyebrow, “Nice choice, you picked the sexiest one.”

“I grabbed it randomly.”

Xia Linxia gave her a look of disbelief.

Ji Fengxue didn’t want to argue, fearing it would turn into another hassle. She went to fill the bathtub and placed the shampoo and shower gel on the stone tray next to it.

When she turned around, she saw Xia Linxia looking at her meaningfully, “Nice move, you even want to use the bathtub? Quite experienced, aren’t you?”

Ji Fengxue: “?”

They stood there, unmoving. Ji Fengxue, puzzled, asked, “Need my help?”

Xia Linxia sneered, “Hmph, pervert.”

“…?”

Xia Linxia grabbed a rubber duck from the shelf, pointed it at Ji Fengxue, and squeezed it, making it quack.

Ji Fengxue blinked reflexively, staring at the duck in confusion.

“Stop pretending. Just admit it, you have your eyes on my body, don’t you?” Xia Linxia said confidently. No one could resist her charm!

“What are you thinking? I’m not interested in you.”

Xia Linxia’s face fell, “Seriously? Are you a eunuch?!”

“Xia Linxia,” Ji Fengxue called her by her full name, “Are you going to wash or not? Believe it or not, I’ll dunk you in there myself!”

Xia Linxia, surprised to see Ji Fengxue angry for the first time, was somewhat impressed.

“Okay, okay, I’ll wash.” Xia Linxia’s voice softened, grumbling, “No need to get so angry.”

Ji Fengxue massaged her temples, “I don’t want to be angry either, but I’m really annoyed. Just because I like women doesn’t mean I want to be with everyone I see.”

“Oh.”

Xia Linxia soaked in the tub, her injured leg resting on the edge, watching the blurry silhouette outside the glass door. She squeezed the rubber duck, “Ji Fengxue, why do you dislike me?”

After a while, a voice drifted in from outside the door, “When did I ever dislike you?”

“From the start, you disliked me.”

“When did I dislike you from the start?” Ji Fengxue felt exasperated, “It was you who was hostile to me from the beginning. I didn’t even know you.”

“So, I was so insignificant? Great, your words have successfully angered me. I’m mad now!”

“…”

After a moment, Xia Linxia squeezed the duck again, curious, “So you didn’t dislike me before?”

“Yeah.” Ji Fengxue paused, then suddenly smiled, “But now, I’m starting to dislike you a bit.”

“Ji Fengxue!” Xia Linxia angrily squeezed the duck.

The rubber duck: “Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack.”