Chapter 66: Kiss Her
You Ruxu was about to hang up when Zhou Tianzui called out, stopping her. She held the phone and responded, “Hmm?”
Zhou Tianzui heard a knock on the door, and Yu Qiao’s voice called out, “Xiao Tian, I made you some soup, come have a bowl.”
Zhou Tianzui said to You Ruxu, “Hear that?”
You Ruxu said, “So?”
“Your godmother made me some soup.” Zhou Tianzui’s tone made it sound as if Yu Qiao wasn’t her own mother. You Ruxu chuckled, “Then go have some.”
“I’m full.” Zhou Tianzui said, “I ate at your place.”
You Ruxu: …
Could this person speak normally for once?
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, too preoccupied with Yao Zhao’s case to bother with Zhou Tianzui’s teasing. She said, “The injuries are minor, can we still press charges for domestic violence?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Don’t you already know the answer? Why are you asking me?”
Yes, she did know, that was why she asked, hoping for a different answer, even though she knew it was unlikely. But she didn’t want the case to just end like this. What Yao Zhao would face if she went back home was obvious.
You Ruxu sighed.
She leaned against the bed, rubbing her temples, and heard Zhou Tianzui say, “Can’t you just treat this as an ordinary case?”
“How?” You Ruxu said, “How old is she?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Fourteen, not that young.”
“Only fourteen.” You Ruxu said, “She’s still a minor. If I don’t help her, who will?”
Zhou Tianzui chuckled softly, “A Ran, are you projecting your mother onto her?”
You Ruxu said, “I’m not, I just think she needs me.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, she needs you, now she needs you to help her escape her family, and what about later? Later she’ll need you to help her with her relationships…”
You Ruxu interrupted her: “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying, are you overly concerned about her, more than you should be for just a subject of a news story?”
You Ruxu paused.
She admitted she felt differently about Yao Zhao. Initially, she thought it was because Yao Zhao reminded her of her mother, but she knew Yao Zhao wasn’t her mother, and she wasn’t putting herself in the role of a savior. She just felt that for a child, a minor, if she also gave up, wouldn’t that be sending Yao Zhao back into the lion’s den?
As a reporter, she wasn’t just holding a microphone, but also a responsibility towards the people she interviewed.
You Ruxu said, “It’s not that I’m overly concerned about her, it’s that you’re too rational.”
Zhou Tianzui was momentarily taken aback, rendered speechless by You Ruxu’s words.
She was rational, because she had seen too much since she was young. But did seeing more of such things make her judgment infallible? She knew about Yao Zhao’s self-harm, thinking she was giving her a chance, subtly prompting her to confess, but she hadn’t considered why, why Yao Zhao would hurt herself.
She was too rational, her approach different from You Ruxu’s.
Zhou Tianzui let out a soft “mm” sound.
She was speechless. You Ruxu asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Zhou Tianzui said, “You’re right.”
You Ruxu, picturing her expression and tone, wanted to laugh. Zhou Tianzui, hearing this, asked, “What’s so funny?”
“I’m not laughing.”
“Admit it.”
“I’m really not laughing.”
Childish and pointless, yet You Ruxu felt a sweetness overflowing within her. Their phone call lasted over an hour. When she finally hung up, her phone felt warm to the touch. Returning to the living room to work, she saw Yao Zhao’s door was still open. She peeked inside and saw Yao Zhao lying on her side in bed, the blanket half-covering her. You Ruxu walked in and tucked her in. Yao Zhao stirred, her voice muffled, “Sister.”
You Ruxu said, “Did I wake you?”
Yao Zhao said, “No, I wasn’t asleep yet.”
You Ruxu said, “What were you thinking about?”
Yao Zhao said, “Sister, am I a bad person?”
You Ruxu looked at Yao Zhao. She had sensed the girl’s insecurity and timidity during their first meeting, so she hadn’t expected Yao Zhao to lie, to fabricate such a story. To her, Yao Zhao didn’t seem capable of such a thing. Yet, when she found out about the lie, she wasn’t surprised.
She was timid, but not cowardly.
She was insecure, but not resigned.
After what happened, she had tried to find a solution, although her method was wrong, she had protected herself within her limited capacity. You Ruxu’s praise was sincere.
She found Yao Zhao strong and brave.
You Ruxu said, “You’re not a bad person at all.”
She thought of Zhou Tianzui and said, “Do you remember Dr. Zhou from today?”
Yao Zhao said, “Yes, I do.”
“She’s a bad person.” You Ruxu said, “You should learn from her.”
Yao Zhao was surprised: “Dr. Zhou?”
You Ruxu nodded, “Yes, what do you think of Dr. Zhou?”
Yao Zhao thought carefully. Every time she saw Zhou Tianzui, she felt intimidated, afraid to meet her gaze. She said, “She seems to come from a good family, and she has a strong sense of justice.”
It was the kind of righteousness cultivated from a good upbringing. In her limited understanding, only a privileged background could cultivate such an aura, commanding respect without even speaking, like someone raised in a family of high-ranking officials.
You Ruxu said, “That’s not the case.”
She said, “Dr. Zhou, when she was young, just like you, suffered a lot.”
Yao Zhao said, “She suffered too?”
You Ruxu said, “Yes, when she was very young, her father was wrongly accused, and she and her mother were constantly subjected to abuse. They moved around a lot, she met all kinds of people, some understood her, some didn’t, but she was strong, and Yao Zhao, you’ll also be strong. Be brave, overcome this hurdle, and you’ll have a different life.”
A small spark ignited in Yao Zhao’s heart because of You Ruxu’s words, a warmth spreading through her, warming her cold hands and feet.
She had thought some people were just born with advantages, but they weren’t. They also had to work hard, step by step. This afternoon, she had felt Zhou Tianzui was unattainable, with a respectable job, beauty, and a righteous aura, all the good things seemed to belong to her, making her seem distant and untouchable. But You Ruxu’s words gave her a glimmer of hope, a glimpse into another world.
That night, Yao Zhao had a dream.
In the dream, she went to high school, went to university, got her master’s degree, found a decent job, and like everyone else, lived an ordinary and peaceful life. The dream was so beautiful that she was still slightly dazed when she woke up. You Ruxu was making breakfast. Hearing the noises, Yao Zhao walked out and said, “Sister, I’ll help you.”
You Ruxu said, “No need, go wash up.”
Yao Zhao lowered her head, gave a small “mm-hmm,” and went to the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror, her face had some color, a rare good night’s sleep, undisturbed by nightmares or fear. She looked much better than before. When she finished brushing her teeth, Zhou Tianzui had arrived and was sitting in a chair, talking to You Ruxu. She didn’t know what they were talking about, but You Ruxu glared at Zhou Tianzui, who smiled back.
She had never seen Zhou Tianzui smile like that before, a warm and gentle smile, completely different from her usual serious and formal expression.
She knew they were good friends, she had heard about it at the hospital. But she also felt they were closer than just friends. Yao Zhao thought, if only she could also have a friend like that.
Zhou Tianzui, turning her head, saw Yao Zhao and felt slightly awkward. With another person in the apartment, she couldn’t be as casual with You Ruxu.
You Ruxu said, “Breakfast is ready.”
Zhou Tianzui picked up a steamed bun and asked You Ruxu, “Are you going to the hospital today?”
You Ruxu said, “When will her report be ready?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “This afternoon, probably.”
You Ruxu nodded, “I have filming this afternoon, if I can’t make it, can you bring it over after work?”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, “Okay.”
You Ruxu ate her breakfast. Zhou Tianzui finished first. When Yao Zhao went to her room to get her books, Zhou Tianzui followed her. Just as Yao Zhao turned around, Zhou Tianzui handed her a hair tie.
It was a simple red hair tie, very elastic, no bows or patterns, just a plain, ordinary hair tie.
Yao Zhao looked at Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui said, “I bought it from the shop downstairs this morning, for you.”
Her tone was casual. Yao Zhao froze, looked at the hair tie, then at Zhou Tianzui, her hand trembling slightly as she reached out. Zhou Tianzui placed the hair tie in her hand and turned to find You Ruxu.
Yao Zhao stood there, clutching the hair tie tightly in her hand.
After a moment, she went to the bathroom, looked at herself in the mirror, her long, dark hair loose and messy, her thick bangs like a small pot lid on her head, making her look listless. She looked at the red hair tie, bit her lip, then combed her hair and tied it into a high ponytail, leaving a few strands loose around her face. Perhaps because she wasn’t used to tying her hair up, she looked at her reflection and felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.
As if she had seen this before.
In her dream.
She had seen herself like this in her dream.
Yao Zhao pinched her cheek, a sharp sting that brought tears to her eyes. She quickly wiped them away, washed her face, and walked out. You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui were ready to leave. You Ruxu said, “I’ll drive you to school, it’s on my way.”
She looked at her hair tie, “You look much more refreshed like this.”
Perhaps it was psychological, or perhaps because she felt more refreshed, but her mind also felt clearer. Yao Zhao felt a little different from before, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Downstairs, Zhou Tianzui asked, “Can you see the road more clearly now that your hair is tied up?”
Yao Zhao nodded without hesitation.
Zhou Tianzui said, “If you can see the road clearly, you won’t fall so easily.”
Yao Zhao paused, hearing these words, and looked at Zhou Tianzui. She had thought Zhou Tianzui would dislike her for lying, but not only did she not dislike her, she even bought her a hair tie and told her such a simple yet profound truth.
The small spark in Yao Zhao’s heart flickered again, warming her cold hands and feet.
You Ruxu dropped her off at school, then drove Zhou Tianzui to the hospital. Nearing the hospital, Zhou Tianzui was still looking down at her phone. You Ruxu said, “We’re here, you can get out now.”
Zhou Tianzui hummed in response, but didn’t move.
You Ruxu asked, “What are you looking at?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “CPR simulations, I’m filming a training video later.”
She looked up at You Ruxu: “Help me.”
You Ruxu said, “How?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Be my model.”
You Ruxu: “Now?”
Zhou Tianzui: “Tonight.”
You Ruxu asked, “What kind of CPR?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.”
You Ruxu’s breath hitched, looking at Zhou Tianzui, her heart racing. It was absurd, they had kissed countless times, yet hearing these words, she felt a tingling in her throat.
A sudden urge to kiss her right now.
You Ruxu: This mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, are you being serious?
Zhou Tianzui: …
Leave a Reply