Chapter 43: Long Qinxin Returns Home Unexpectedly
After returning home with Qin An, Lu Zhiyin went back to Long Qinxin’s house, while Qin An went to sleep.
Lu Zhiyin didn’t know what Qin An would be like after today’s events, but she should be changing for the better.
“Sigh…”
Sighing, Lu Zhiyin touched her neck.
The tissue paper covering her wound on her neck clung tightly to it. Although it concealed the ugly spot, the gradually drying tissue made Lu Zhiyin uncomfortable, both itchy and painful.
The plain water had long since evaporated, and what adhered her skin to the wound was the pus flowing from it.
Lu Zhiyin intended to clean her wound again, but just as she was about to act, the sound of a key inserting into a lock was heard in the air.
With a click of the lock cylinder turning, the door was opened, and Long Qinxin returned, holding some groceries.
She was wearing a thick down jacket and a light pink scarf, looking dust-covered.
Lu Zhiyin was slightly stunned when she saw her; theoretically, it wasn’t time for their agreed meeting yet.
“I was a bit worried about you, so I took advantage of my parents resting to sneak back early to see you.”
Looking at Lu Zhiyin, Long Qinxin smiled like a blooming flower.
It was hard work taking care of her parents, especially with their deteriorating condition, requiring them to be wiped down periodically.
Long Qinxin was tired, but all that fatigue vanished without a trace upon seeing Lu Zhiyin.
“Mhm? I’m fine, but thank you for coming, Qinxin.”
Composing herself, Lu Zhiyin returned the smile.
Long Qinxin put down the things in her hands, then walked behind Lu Zhiyin, placing her hands on Lu Zhiyin’s shoulders and affectionately rubbing her face against Lu Zhiyin’s.
It was at this moment that she noticed the tissue paper on Lu Zhiyin’s neck.
“What’s this?”
Long Qinxin peeled off the tissue paper, revealing an inflamed wound.
“…Did this happen when I brought you home last time?”
Long Qinxin’s thoughts drifted back a few days, recalling what had happened at her house.
If nothing went wrong, the wound on Lu Zhiyin’s neck should have been left when her mother grabbed Lu Zhiyin’s neck.
Although it was her mother who injured Lu Zhiyin, the root of everything was herself.
Long Qinxin felt a pang of guilt.
She touched the slightly swollen wound on Lu Zhiyin’s neck and pushed her towards the bathroom.
“Let me help you with it.”
The good mood she had upon seeing her beloved disappeared, and her heart felt heavy.
Upon arriving at the bathroom, Long Qinxin found the household first-aid kit.
She first cleaned Lu Zhiyin’s wound with clean water, then repeatedly wiped the surface of the wound with iodine, carefully using a small knife and a cotton swab to scrape away some of the necrotic tissue from the wound. Long Qinxin quickly treated the seemingly horrifying wound.
Her movements were much more efficient than Lu Zhiyin’s.
“…”
In silence, Lu Zhiyin simply pursed her lips tightly.
The wound on her neck was bearable if left alone, but it was excruciatingly painful when Long Qinxin treated it.
Fortunately, Lu Zhiyin was prepared in advance, preventing her from crying out.
Although Lu Zhiyin didn’t cry out, the cold sweat beading on her forehead betrayed her.
Long Qinxin bandaged the wound with gauze and then carefully wiped away the sweat beads on Lu Zhiyin’s forehead.
“I’m sorry…”
She apologized softly.
“I apologize to you on behalf of my mother.”
Long Qinxin pressed on the gauze on Lu Zhiyin’s neck and then pushed her back to the living room.
“…It’s alright.”
Lu Zhiyin glanced at the open door with her peripheral vision.
The door to Qin An’s house opposite was closed. She didn’t know what she was doing at home, probably sleeping.
Lu Zhiyin closed her eyes.
“Auntie just loves you too much and is afraid someone will snatch you away.”
Lu Zhiyin displayed a magnanimous demeanor.
She wasn’t actually magnanimous; on the contrary, she held grudges, although holding grudges was often useless.
“…”
Listening to Lu Zhiyin’s words, Long Qinxin fell silent. She felt inexplicably sad. Wasn’t it a good thing that her wife was so understanding? Why did she feel sad?
Long Qinxin couldn’t understand and wracked her brain but couldn’t pinpoint the reason for her sadness.
“I’ll make dinner.”
She awkwardly changed the subject.
“No need, I can make it myself.”
Lu Zhiyin grabbed Long Qinxin’s wrist.
Long Qinxin could have broken free, but she didn’t. Perhaps she wanted to hear what else Lu Zhiyin would say, or perhaps she was simply afraid of hurting Lu Zhiyin by struggling.
“Here… Qinxin, go back and take care of Auntie.”
Lu Zhiyin closed her eyes, placed her hands on her thighs, revealing the conspicuous wedding ring.
This subtle gesture caught Long Qinxin’s attention. Seeing that the ring was still securely on Lu Zhiyin’s finger, her previously uneasy heart immediately calmed down.
“I’ll stay with you a little longer.”
Long Qinxin would not abandon her parents, but she also did not want to be separated from her beloved so soon.
“No, go be with your parents. I can take care of myself, but they can’t.”
Lu Zhiyin held Long Qinxin’s hand.
“We are a family now, so your parents are my parents too. I don’t want them to be alone. Besides, if anything happened to your parents while you were away, could you live with it? Would you really have no complaints towards me? Even if you didn’t resent me, I would resent myself. So, for my sake, and for our future life, go back to your parents.”
Lu Zhiyin spoke a great deal at once, appealing to emotions and reason. The change in her address for Long Qinxin’s parents further closed the distance between them.
She thought for a moment, then slowly stood up and began to smooth out the slight creases on her down jacket without a word.
“Will you really be okay?”
Long Qinxin cast a concerned gaze at Lu Zhiyin, asking one last time.
Lu Zhiyin’s reply remained unchanged.
“I’ll be fine.”
Smiling, Lu Zhiyin waved her hand, touching the ring on her finger.
Long Qinxin was silent for a moment, then she got up and left.
She had only been home for less than an hour before leaving again. Looking at the living room that had become empty once more, Lu Zhiyin felt at ease.
“Good, I didn’t take off the ring immediately after getting home.”
Muttering softly to herself, Lu Zhiyin took off the ring.
She touched her finger, then took the groceries by the door to the kitchen and began to prepare dinner for the day.
As Lu Zhiyin busied herself preparing dinner, Qin An tossed the filter of a cigarette into the trash can.
She heard Long Qinxin return and also heard the conversation between Long Qinxin and Lu Zhiyin.
Honestly, she yearned for such sincere affection, but Qin An knew it wasn’t meant for her, so she smoked anxiously.
