Chapter 85
Li Qinyue resumed her life as Miss Li even before Zhuo Zhi’s arm fully healed.
It wasn’t that she was impatient. That night in the bathroom, things had gone on a bit too long, and after they finally went to bed, Zhuo Zhi developed a fever.
She always ran hot, but this time, she was burning up.
Li Qinyue was startled and wanted to take her back to the hospital, but Zhuo Zhi managed to convince her otherwise.
Developing a fever after a fracture was common, the doctor had explained it to them and prescribed medication. Zhuo Zhi, with her naturally strong constitution, felt fine after taking the medicine.
She was a little delirious, clinging to Li Qinyue’s arm, her words slurring as she drifted off to sleep.
Li Qinyue, however, couldn’t sleep. She checked Zhuo Zhi’s temperature countless times throughout the night, changing the cold compress on her forehead, only relaxing slightly when the fever finally subsided and didn’t return.
Zhuo Zhi woke up late the next morning, having dreamt of unusual sounds. When she opened her eyes, she saw that her dream had been a reality.
There were two extra people in the apartment. A housekeeper was cooking in the kitchen, and a young female doctor was sitting in the living room, organizing medication on the coffee table.
Li Qinyue didn’t bother introducing them. She took Zhuo Zhi to the bathroom, took care of her morning routine, even helping her take off her pants to use the toilet.
After that, Zhuo Zhi, refreshed and clean, sat at the dining table. The aroma of the housekeeper’s light and nutritious meal filled the air.
Li Qinyue called out to the doctor in the living room, “Is this okay, Dr. Chen?”
Dr. Chen walked over and glanced at the food, “It’s fine, have her take her medicine after breakfast.”
“Okay,” Li Qinyue then handed Zhuo Zhi a spoon and chopsticks, “Open your mouth, time to eat.”
Zhuo Zhi looked at the housekeeper and the doctor, “Aren’t you joining us?”
The housekeeper smiled and said, “We’ve already eaten.”
Li Qinyue lightly tapped Zhuo Zhi’s head with the back of her chopsticks, “Look at the time.”
Zhuo Zhi finally realized that it was neither breakfast nor lunch time.
She blushed slightly, “I don’t know why I slept for so long.”
“You didn’t sleep for that long,” Li Qinyue said, “Do you remember having a fever last night?”
“Of course I remember.”
“Then do you remember that I didn’t sleep at all last night?”
Zhuo Zhi froze, staring at Li Qinyue, “Ah…”
Li Qinyue: “Naturally beautiful, I don’t get dark circles even if I don’t sleep.”
“Ah…” Zhuo Zhi’s heart swelled with gratitude, a smile spreading across her face, “Right, you don’t look tired at all.”
“Do I look pretty?” Li Qinyue’s lips curved into a smile.
Zhuo Zhi glanced at the housekeeper and the doctor, who were both on their phones, and whispered, “You’re beautiful.”
Having a live-in housekeeper and a private doctor in the small apartment at White Birch Lane felt a little crowded.
Li Qinyue had booked a hotel room for the housekeeper. The doctor stayed in the other bedroom, just in case anything happened to Zhuo Zhi.
Zhuo Zhi, unfortunately, had two more episodes of low-grade fever over the next two days, giving the clearly bored Dr. Chen something to do.
On the third night, snuggling in bed with Li Qinyue, Zhuo Zhi whispered that she was feeling much better now and didn’t need the housekeeper or the doctor anymore.
“Can you cook?” Li Qinyue glanced at her cast.
“We can…”
“No more takeout, I don’t like takeout,” Li Qinyue said immediately.
Zhuo Zhi thought, You used to love takeout, but knowing that Li Qinyue was doing this for her, she didn’t argue, “The housekeeper can just come during mealtimes, but you should let Dr. Chen go, it’s a waste of her talent.”
“She’s the one who wanted to be a private doctor, I didn’t force her,” Li Qinyue said, “Easy work, good pay, safe environment, she’s happy.”
Zhuo Zhi couldn’t argue with the logic of the rich, so she just sighed.
After a few seconds of silence, Li Qinyue suddenly nudged her shoulder, “Are you annoyed by their presence?”
“What? No, of course not,” Zhuo Zhi said instinctively.
“Really?” Li Qinyue said, “You haven’t kissed me much these past two days.”
Zhuo Zhi blushed, “No, it’s just… there are other people around.”
“Hmm, that’s a problem,” Li Qinyue pinched her nose, “You don’t even have a chance to show off your left hand.”
“Hey, I wasn’t thinking about that!” Zhuo Zhi whispered.
“Damn, you’re lying in bed with me, and you’re not even thinking about that?” Li Qinyue puffed out her chest, pressing against Zhuo Zhi’s arm, “Are you, or are you not? Choose your words carefully, or you’ll be single for the rest of your life.”
Zhuo Zhi, her heart racing, leaned in and kissed Li Qinyue’s nose, “I am.”
“Tsk,” Li Qinyue, however, moved back slightly, “Kids these days, with a broken arm, all they think about is sex.”
Zhuo Zhi burst out laughing, “You’re so mean, Sister, you always say the most outrageous things.”
“I’m mean?” Li Qinyue raised an eyebrow.
“But I love you,” Zhuo Zhi retorted smoothly.
Ever since Zhuo Zhi’s arm had been injured, Li Qinyue’s efficiency had increased dramatically.
Zhuo Zhi had only mentioned it casually that night, and Li Qinyue had even objected, so she hadn’t pursued it. She hadn’t expected Li Qinyue to take it so seriously. The next morning, Li Qinyue had the housekeeper pack their things. After Zhuo Zhi finished breakfast and read for a while, while the midday sun was warm, the driver arrived downstairs.
Only then did Li Qinyue tell Zhuo Zhi, “We’re moving, baby.”
Zhuo Zhi froze for a moment, “Moving where?”
“To a bigger place.”
“But… why… I mean, I know why,” Zhuo Zhi looked at Li Qinyue, “But isn’t this a bit much, Sister? It’s a shame to leave this place…”
“What’s there to be a shame about? We’re not giving up this apartment, it’ll always be mine, you can come and stay here anytime you want,” Li Qinyue said.
“Then now…”
“Now is not the time. You need to be taken care of, and we need more space,” Li Qinyue said, squatting down in front of Zhuo Zhi. “Come on, I’ll carry you downstairs.”
Zhuo Zhi looked at her legs, then changed her mind, accepting the inevitable, “I can walk, Sister, there’s no need.”
“I want to,” Li Qinyue beckoned to her, “Hurry up.”
“It’s four floors, the staircase is narrow,” Zhuo Zhi said, her eyes darting around, “What if you trip and we both fall? I’ll have to get my arm reset.”
Li Qinyue immediately stood up, “You have a point.”
“Then…” Zhuo Zhi walked around the apartment, “I’ll see if there’s anything I need to bring.”
Li Qinyue followed her, “I’ve probably already packed everything you can think of.”
Zhuo Zhi looked around, and it was true. Everything that held memories of their life in this apartment, anything that could be packed, had been packed.
Including the new plants in the living room.
The apartment, which had felt crowded before, now felt empty, making Zhuo Zhi a little melancholic.
“You have to adapt to your new life,” Li Qinyue rubbed Zhuo Zhi’s head. “Life with the rich Miss Li.”
“Wasn’t that how it was when we first met?” Zhuo Zhi turned to look at her.
“That was different,” Li Qinyue frowned, looking displeased. “Was our relationship the same back then?”
“It really wasn’t,” Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “I was so scared of you back then.”
“Are you still scared of me now?”
“I am,” Zhuo Zhi wrapped her left arm around Li Qinyue’s waist, “I’m afraid you’ll stop liking me.”
“I still like you now,” Li Qinyue, ignoring the housekeeper and the driver who were still moving their things, leaned down and kissed Zhuo Zhi’s forehead, “As for the future, you’ll have to work hard to keep me interested.”
“I’ll do my best,” Zhuo Zhi’s smile was radiant.
With the money issue resolved, everything became easier.
Zhuo Zhi went downstairs and got into the spacious car with Li Qinyue. They drove to a skyscraper near the city center, took the elevator straight up, and the doors opened to a modern, stylish duplex apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view, bright and airy, like being in the clouds.
And they were indeed high up. The bustling city below was completely silent.
Soft piano music filled the apartment, its source unknown, not intrusive, but creating a pleasant atmosphere.
The housekeeper started unpacking. Li Qinyue took Zhuo Zhi upstairs.
The second floor was their private space: bedroom, bathroom, study, and gym.
The sun was shining brightly on the balcony. Li Qinyue pushed Zhuo Zhi onto a white beanbag chair, the warmth enveloping her.
“What do you want to drink?” Li Qinyue asked.
“Orange juice,” Zhuo Zhi sank into the chair, feeling so comfortable that she decided to just relax and enjoy, “Thank you.”
Li Qinyue tapped her head lightly, then returned with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, thoughtfully using a cup with a lid and a straw.
Zhuo Zhi took a sip, her face beaming, “Delicious.”
“Anything else, Miss Zhuo?” Li Qinyue asked, still squatting beside her.
“Nothing,” Zhuo Zhi closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun, “Life is good.”
Li Qinyue sat down next to her, “How is it good? Tell me.”
“Living in the most expensive apartment in Nanhai without spending a penny,” Zhuo Zhi smacked her lips, “And with a beautiful woman in my arms.”
“This isn’t the most expensive one, the most expensive ones are by the central lake.”
“This is the most expensive one for me. When I first came down the mountain, I told Master that I would work hard and buy her a big apartment in the city center,” Zhuo Zhi said.
“Call Master, let her come and live here now,” Li Qinyue said.
Zhuo Zhi chuckled, “This is yours, not mine, we should keep our finances separate.”
“You didn’t seem to care about separating finances when you were spending my money,” Li Qinyue leaned back, resting her head on Zhuo Zhi’s left shoulder, also enjoying the sunlight. “Comrade Xiao Zhuo, why are you so double-standard?”
“That’s different, my money wasn’t much, back then I was thinking, if you wanted to start a business or something, I would give you the prize money from the competition,” Zhuo Zhi smiled. “That was the most money I’ve ever earned, but it was also indirectly from you.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that anymore, even if I just lie here and do nothing, I can still support you,” Li Qinyue gestured around them, “At this level.”
“You’re amazing,” Zhuo Zhi opened her eyes and looked at Li Qinyue, her face glowing in the sunlight. “I really have to work hard, otherwise I won’t be worthy of you.”
“Silly girl…” Li Qinyue, feeling sleepy from the warmth of the sun, said, “You’re a thousand times better than me.”
“You’re the one who’s a thousand times better than me…” Zhuo Zhi paused, then said seriously, “Sister, I’m not going back to work at the police station.”
“Hmm,” Li Qinyue wasn’t surprised, “I think you know that after what happened, even if I let you, Officer Zhao wouldn’t dare to let you continue working there.”
“I want to take the college entrance exam this year,” Zhuo Zhi said.
“Hmm?” Li Qinyue’s eyes snapped open, the sunlight making her vision blur, “Why did you suddenly decide to take the exam?”
“It’s not sudden, I’ve been thinking about it since the New Year,” Zhuo Zhi raised her injured arm, “And even more so after the accident. Although it hasn’t been long, I’ve thought about it very carefully.”
“Why?” Li Qinyue asked.
Zhuo Zhi hesitated, then said, “I risked my life to save Sun Qi, I saved one life, but I think I can do more, do more good, save more lives. I’m not sure how yet, but studying, going to a good university, will definitely help me find the right direction, help me make a bigger difference.”
Li Qinyue sat up straight, looking at her with a smile, “You sound like the male protagonist in a shonen manga now.”
Zhuo Zhi also smiled, then said, “But the most important reason is that, no matter how noble my ideals, I’m still selfish. This life, this wonderful life I have now, it doesn’t just belong to me, I have family, I have someone I love, I want them to feel safe, secure, happy, and proud.”
All the words Li Qinyue had prepared, all the reassurances she had wanted to offer, were no longer necessary.
While she was trying to be responsible for Zhuo Zhi, preparing to change her life, Zhuo Zhi was also doing the same, without hesitation.
Although their rebellion against the world seemed to have softened, they hadn’t given up.
Li Qinyue felt like she had reached a higher level in life, able to look back at her past self with a sense of detachment, while Zhuo Zhi stood beside her, growing up with her, despite the differences in their backgrounds and experiences.
“You sound like the female protagonist in a shoujo manga now,” Li Qinyue said with a smile.
“A yuri manga,” Zhuo Zhi leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “And you’re the other female protagonist.”
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