Chapter 37: It Doesn’t Matter Anymore
“…Take me out, it’s okay.”
Sitting in place, Lu Zhiyin saw Long Qinxin’s difficulty.
She wasn’t trying to solve Long Qinxin’s problems, she simply didn’t want to watch a meaningless mother-daughter affection like a third party anymore.
Long Qinxin’s mother’s desire to drive her out didn’t affect Lu Zhiyin in the slightest. Lu Zhiyin didn’t like Long Qinxin that much to begin with.
So, it didn’t matter.
“…Mm.”
Lu Zhiyin’s words shifted the balance in Long Qinxin’s heart. She let go of her mother and put Lu Zhiyin back in the wheelchair.
After ensuring her mother wouldn’t be exposed to sunlight, Long Qinxin opened the floor-to-ceiling window and pushed Lu Zhiyin into the small courtyard.
“Stay here for a while, dear. I’ll go get medicine to tend to their wounds, I’ll be back soon.”
Gently comforting Lu Zhiyin, Long Qinxin reluctantly returned to the dim room. As soon as she went back in, she closed the floor-to-ceiling window again.
“…Yawn…”
Lu Zhiyin was left alone in the courtyard. She yawned.
The winter sunlight was exceptionally warm and pleasant, making one feel sleepy when it shone on the body.
Lu Zhiyin leaned lazily in the wheelchair. The light scratch on her neck was no longer bleeding.
“Long Qinxin’s parents don’t seem to be in good condition. Long Qinxin might be busy taking care of them for a while. I might have more time to deepen my relationship with Qin An.”
Lu Zhiyin muttered to herself, planning her next steps.
Being scratched by Long Qinxin’s mother and being disliked, it didn’t matter. After all, Lu Zhiyin wasn’t the female lead in a Mary Sue novel, and she wouldn’t stage melodramatic mother-in-law conflicts.
She had a premonition that Long Qinxin’s parents wouldn’t live much longer. Judging by Long Qinxin’s mother’s physical state, her skin was already beginning to rot, and she refused to go to the hospital. How could she live much longer?
Lu Zhiyin probably knew why Long Qinxin’s mother was in such a miserable state. It was all because Long Qinxin focused entirely on her and neglected her parents, leading to their lack of care and worsening conditions.
However, Lu Zhiyin felt no guilt, as it wasn’t as if she forced Long Qinxin to stay.
She began to wonder if Long Qinxin would blame her after her parents passed away.
“Probably? Will she drive me away out of resentment? That would be great.”
If Long Qinxin drove her away, she could conveniently deal with one less female lead.
Her mood was unexpectedly good. Lu Zhiyin sat in the wheelchair, basking in the sun and dreaming of the future.
Her pleasant mood lasted for a long time, until the previously clear sky was covered by dark clouds, and large raindrops fell on her face.
Lu Zhiyin quickly maneuvered her wheelchair back under the eaves, but her hair was inevitably wet. The damp strands clung to the wound on her neck, making it feel stuffy and itchy.
Lu Zhiyin endured for a while longer under the eaves until Long Qinxin came out of the house after finishing her tasks.
“Are you done?”
Turning her head, Lu Zhiyin looked at Long Qinxin, who was standing quietly beside her.
Long Qinxin lowered her head, her hands clasped tightly at her sides, looking unhappy. She carried the scent of disinfectant.
“Mm… Let’s go home.”
Long Qinxin opened her mouth, wanting to say something to Lu Zhiyin, but in the end, it was reduced to the monosyllabic “go home.”
While tending to her mother’s festering wounds, her mother expressed her recent suffering and longing for her, trying to get Long Qinxin to stay with her for some time. However, Long Qinxin’s mother disliked Lu Zhiyin and told Long Qinxin not to bring Lu Zhiyin to the villa again.
Honestly, Long Qinxin wanted to spend some time with her parents, but that meant she would be separated from Lu Zhiyin for a while. As newlyweds, they should have had a passionate honeymoon period, not be separated immediately.
Long Qinxin didn’t know how to tell Lu Zhiyin. She felt her thoughts were unfair to Lu Zhiyin.
They silently returned to the car, and the car started shortly after. Lu Zhiyin and Long Qinxin remained silent.
“Dear?”
Lu Zhiyin brushed her slightly damp hair and hugged one of Long Qinxin’s arms. She had learned what actions would make Long Qinxin feel relaxed and happy.
“I’m here.”
Long Qinxin was still thinking about how to talk to Lu Zhiyin about their separation and was a bit absent-minded.
“It feels like Auntie doesn’t seem to be in good shape.”
Lu Zhiyin brought up her mother’s health first.
“…?”
Upon hearing about her mother, Long Qinxin sat up straighter. She looked at Lu Zhiyin, her gaze settling on the small nail marks on the girl’s neck.
Those were left by her mother. Long Qinxin suddenly remembered that she hadn’t apologized to Lu Zhiyin for her mother’s actions, but perhaps she wasn’t very good at apologizing right now?
“I think you might need to spend some time with Auntie?”
Lu Zhiyin held Long Qinxin’s hand, her voice very soft.
“The tree desires tranquility, but the wind does not cease. The son wishes to nurture, but his parents are no longer there. I don’t know how to say it, but I always feel that Auntie may not be able to hold on for much longer. As a child, you should really spend more time with her.”
As Lu Zhiyin finished speaking, Long Qinxin’s pupils widened slightly.
She also had a faint bad premonition, but she was unwilling to believe it.
She didn’t want to admit that her own immaturity had put her parents’ lives in danger.
“What about you?”
Long Qinxin turned her head.
“If I’m not here, can you take care of yourself?”
She looked at Lu Zhiyin’s legs.
Long Qinxin was very worried about whether Lu Zhiyin could take care of herself.
“As for me… you don’t need to worry, dear. I lived alone for a while before I met you. Making meals, showering, and such are all fine. Going downstairs is a bit troublesome. As long as you can make time to buy ingredients, there won’t be any problems.”
Lu Zhiyin smiled slightly and squeezed the pad of Long Qinxin’s index finger.
Looking at Lu Zhiyin’s smiling face, Long Qinxin struggled and finally made a decision after a long time.
“Okay… Then I’ll start living at the villa tomorrow.”
Long Qinxin didn’t want to leave herself with regrets that she would lament for the rest of her life.
She thought that she and Lu Zhiyin were still young and had plenty of time to spend together, but her parents didn’t have much time left.
It would be fine to live together with Lu Zhiyin after accompanying her parents during their final days, right?
She easily accepted the premise that her parents wouldn’t live much longer, as it was an undeniable fact.
Would she feel sad? Undoubtedly, yes. But it seemed… the sadness wasn’t too intense.
Her love for her parents also seemed to have been worn away too much by time.
“Mm.”
Unlike Long Qinxin, who was in a complex mood, Lu Zhiyin was simply delighted, though she didn’t show it on her face.
