Chapter 103: The Distance Between Hearts
Holding her, letting her lean against her, the two remained silent for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts. Ye Zhiyun seemed to relish this quiet moment; as long as this person was there, nothing else mattered.
“Just let me lean on you like this…”
Her head rested against her chest, just lying there on her. Ye Zhiyun had always been a strong and assertive person. For her to have such a moment of vulnerability was truly unexpected for Yu Linna. But precisely because she saw her like this did she understand that even someone as strong as Zhiyun had moments when she couldn’t cope. After all, Ye Zhiyun was also just an 18-year-old girl.
“If I just leaned on you like this, forever… would you refuse?”
Her face pressed against her chest, her eyes hazy, her voice incredibly fragile. The pride ingrained in her bones had vanished overnight, losing so much; her heart could no longer be hard. Ye Zhiyun was that kind of complex person.
“Don’t talk about forever, even in the next life, it’s okay. You saved my life; you can do whatever you want with me.”
Yu Linna hugged her back and said these words.
If it weren’t for Ye Zhiyun, she would have long become Orange River’s toy, Nangong Ying’s substitute. She would never forget that day at the train station, that hand reaching out, forcefully pulling her back from the railway tracks. She had wanted to die, but she lived. Because of Zhiyun, she lived.
Originally having nothing, because of Ye Zhiyun, she lived on. Even with nothing, no attachments, she still had to live well. As long as she lived, she would definitely find meaning in life.
What Ye Zhiyun gave her, she would never forget. Even if she was told to leave immediately, she wouldn’t refuse.
“How can you say that? You can’t say that. Your life is your own. You have to live for yourself.”
Ye Zhiyun stroked her hair, inhaling her scent, just leaning against her like that.
She saved Yu Linna, spending 80 million to buy her from Orange River, precisely because she hoped she could live well. Although it was a losing deal, it was the deal she regretted least. She didn’t want Yu Linna to feel indebted to her because of this incident. She only hoped Yu Linna could live well.
This girl had never received love, never had a comfortable home, since childhood. She promised her that she would give her everything she lacked. So after she moved in, she didn’t let her do any work, didn’t let her take on part-time jobs, even bought clothes and shoes for her, all because she hoped that she could experience a home, a home she had never experienced before.
She didn’t know what family meant, so she would give it to her. No one ever bought clothes for her, so she would. She hadn’t experienced three meals a day, so she would make sure she had them.
Everything she lacked, she would give it to her.
She simply wanted Yu Linna to live well. Just this one wish.
She didn’t want to see that look of despair again, that unfocused, hopeless gaze she saw at the train station. No one knew, when she brought her home that day, Yu Linna crying in front of her, her heart ached. After that day, she swore, she wouldn’t let her cry anymore. She wouldn’t let go of anyone who made her cry.
Especially Nangong Ying.
“Nana, I want you to live well, live well. Don’t live for me, live for yourself…”
“…Okay.”
She hugged her back, just uttering this single word.
The two embraced, no longer speaking. Some things didn’t need words; as long as their hearts understood each other, that was enough.
Although Yu Linna still couldn’t fully comprehend the meaning behind it, she at least knew that Ye Zhiyun truly cared about her. Perhaps from childhood until now, no one else would be this good to her. Ye Zhiyun treated her even better than the uncles and aunties in her past foster families. Such a warm feeling, she didn’t want it to slip away. She held her tightly.
One night passed. They didn’t know when they fell asleep. The blanket on the bed was large enough to cover two people. Ye Zhiyun held Yu Linna in her arms, sleeping soundly. This night was the most comfortably she had slept in a while.
Ye Zhiyun, although just a child, acted like an adult, doing adult things. Even though she could endure, even though she was outstanding, she was still a child. There would be times when she couldn’t cope. Having Yu Linna in her arms made her sleep soundly. Holding her felt like possessing the whole world. With this in life, what more could she ask for?
When Yu Linna woke up, Ye Zhiyun was still sleeping. Looking at her up close, she discovered that Ye Zhiyun’s face was quite beautiful, especially those lips, truly alluring. Ye Zhiyun was a great beauty to begin with, her family wealthy. With her long legs, she was like a model in commercials. She must have many pursuers, but it was a pity she never paid attention to them.
Yu Linna tried to struggle a bit, but found she couldn’t break free at all. Ye Zhiyun held her tight; she couldn’t exert any force. Plus, she was afraid of waking her up, so she could only let herself be held like this. She looked at the clock on the table; it seemed it was only eight o’clock. Forget it, let her continue sleeping; she’s also very tired.
Yu Linna also closed her eyes. And with this closing, she fell asleep again.
Waking up again, it was already noon. Yu Linna opened her eyes to find that Ye Zhiyun had already been awake for a long time; she was just staring at her sleeping face.
Looking from up close, Ye Zhiyun discovered Yu Linna’s eyes were truly very beautiful, especially beautiful. Those long eyelashes evoked boundless imagination. Although she hadn’t eaten well when she was young, causing her height to remain stunted, her face was truly beautiful, prettier than many celebrities.
Sometimes she really didn’t understand why Yu Linna’s biological parents disappeared after giving birth to her. Whether they were alive or dead, why not even a single word? Letting such a child wander through society alone, living all by herself, did they even understand this child’s hardship?
“Awake?”
Ye Zhiyun discarded the thoughts in her heart and looked at her calmly, uttering this single word. Where was the fragility from last night now? She had reverted back to her usual, proud self.
“Mm… Good morning?”
“Morning? It’s noon.”
Flicking her forehead, Ye Zhiyun smiled. Yu Linna touched her forehead, staring blankly at her smile. This girl looks so beautiful when she smiles.
“What are you looking at? Get up, time for lunch.”
Ye Zhiyun sat up, a smile on her face, smiling at Yu Linna again.
Initially, she was a proud girl, never showing a pleasant expression to this blonde girl, arguing every time they met. Later, as their relationship grew closer, she no longer spoke coldly to her, but the pride ingrained in her hadn’t diminished. Until that time at the train station, she protected her. From then on, she let go of her pride, treating her wholeheartedly. As long as this girl was fine, she was also fine.
Although she needed time to walk out of the shadow of failure, as long as this girl named Yu Linna was by her side, she would get through any hardship. As long as she was there, everything could pass.
Yu Linna stared blankly at the smiling Ye Zhiyun. She found that Ye Zhiyun’s mood seemed to have improved significantly, no longer in the state from last night. And Ye Zhiyun’s smile was truly beautiful, stunningly so.
The two got out of bed together and went to the bathroom to wash up. Although they usually washed up together, a situation like this, where they both slept in late, was truly rare. The two girls, one with black hair, the other blonde, brushing their teeth and rinsing their mouths in the bathroom. Moreover, the two were of different heights, creating a comical scene standing together.
After brushing her teeth, Yu Linna changed clothes and checked the refrigerator for any leftover dishes. Because she had been eating alone these past few days, there weren’t many dishes in the fridge, just eggs, tomatoes, and frozen pork left.
“Not many dishes left. Let’s eat something simple today.”
“It’s okay. Anything is fine.”
Ye Zhiyun didn’t care what they ate, as long as she could eat with Yu Linna, that was enough.
Yu Linna put on an apron and used the few remaining ingredients in the fridge to simply cook sweet and sour spare ribs, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and then used the remaining eggs to make fried rice. When it was done, two bowls of fried rice and two small dishes were neatly arranged on the table.
“Starving! Let’s eat.”
Ye Zhiyun had full confidence in her cooking skills. Even if it was just ordinary home-cooked food, she still ate with relish. A mouthful of fried rice went down, soothing her stomach. She had eaten many delicacies, but the simple home-cooked food whetted her appetite.
Seeing her eat so happily, Yu Linna smiled too. As a cook, having people enjoy the dishes she cooked made her quite happy.
The two just ate like that. Although not speaking, both were happy. This was the most relaxed meal Yu Linna had eaten since moving in. She was no longer reserved, no longer stiff, feeling relaxed for a rare moment.
After eating, Yu Linna went to wash the dishes according to usual practice, and this time Ye Zhiyun didn’t just sit there, but helped clear the table. After washing the dishes and wiping her hands, Yu Linna returned to the living room. At this moment, Ye Zhiyun was sitting on the sofa. Seeing her coming over, she waved, signaling her to come.
“Let’s watch TV together.”
“Okay.”
The two sat shoulder-to-shoulder, leaning against each other, watching the television content, another step closer. Although they said little, their hearts were incredibly close. The TV was currently showing a drama starring Li Yuexin. The two were quickly drawn in by the captivating story. Neither noticed their hands slowly clasping together…
At the very beginning, they were enemies.
Disliking each other, arguing upon every meeting. That encounter on the bus, because of two yuan, started their feud. Ye Zhiyun even said it was impossible for them to ever be on good terms in this lifetime.
But how could fate let them go? Drawing them closer again and again, interaction after interaction, the distance between them constantly shrinking. Although they had argued, and experienced unpleasantness, they ultimately reached this day.
Those clasped hands were a testament to the journey they took together.
As long as they could hold each other’s hands, what was there to be afraid of on the road ahead?
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