Gloves - Chapter 44

Mr. Li had also heard about the major medical incident that happened in Haicheng a few years ago. After all, the entire coastal region seemed to be affected at the time. As he watched An Chujie speak about her father with a calm expression, Mr. Li couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. How many times must she have felt heartbroken to become so numb? Fortunately, he knew quite a lot of people and decided to use all the connections available to help An Chujie find her father’s whereabouts.

As Mr. Li had mentioned, An Chujie’s circle was indeed very clean. That was also why Qi Ruan had been relentlessly pursuing her. An Chujie was simple, yet far from being monotonous.

Things that come easily are often not cherished by people. Just like those women whose lives are in disarray, if you beckon them with a finger, they will come running. If you have a gold ring or a luxury watch on your hand, perhaps they will come even faster. But you won’t cherish them, and likewise, they won’t know how to cherish you.

An Chujie was completely different from them. Qi Ruan had to admit that An Chujie was indeed difficult to pursue. However, she believed that An Chujie’s love would be precious and without any impurities. If one day she were to fall in love with her, An Chujie would be faithful. That kind of love would be pure, which was what Qi Ruan had been searching for and longing for. For this, it would be worth paying any price.

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“Get lost! How many times have you said it yourself?!” The woman swung her hand and forcefully smashed her handbag onto the man’s face.

Feeling An Chujie’s grip tighten on his arm, Qi Ruan glanced towards the direction of the arguing couple.

“I’ve hit you, I’ve scolded you, will you forgive me one more time?” The man covered his face, trying to embrace the woman, but she used the sharp heel of her shoe to stomp on his leather shoes and said harshly, “There’s no forgiveness for repeated mistakes! The first time, I couldn’t bear to let go, the second time, I hoped you would change, but you keep repeating it, the third and fourth time…”

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An Chujie and Qi Ruan walked away, and the sound of the arguing couple slowly faded. “There’s no forgiveness for repeated mistakes.” Then what about Shang Zhuoxi? Isn’t all strength formed from the calluses of softness?

Lost in her thoughts, An Chujie’s hand was enveloped in warmth as Qi Ruan held it. The hand that was being held felt stiff, but this time, she didn’t rush to pull away.

“Why is your hand always so cold?” Qi Ruan looked ahead at the path.

“Is it?” Qi Ruan’s grip tightened, and she could even hear the other person’s heartbeat through their palms.

“An, let’s be together.” So that when I get close to you to give you warmth, you won’t feel so resistant.

An Chujie’s pace slowed down, and Qi Ruan immediately held tightly onto the hand she was about to withdraw.

“Don’t run away, An. I’m serious.” Qi Ruan stepped forward, facing each other.

“Xiao Ruan…” An Chujie didn’t know what to say for a moment. She looked at Qi Ruan, then shifted her gaze to the flowers and plants at her feet.

“Look at me and say it.” Qi Ruan gently reached out and touched her face, feeling the same coldness.

“I still need time.”

“…” She remembered last year when she said the same words to herself. She had waited for two years, but what difference would waiting a little longer make? Besides, Qi Ruan never easily gave up. It’s just that if Shang Zhuoxi hadn’t suddenly appeared, maybe she wouldn’t have wasted all this time.

“An, I’ll wait for you. Whenever you’re ready, just let me know. My arms are always open for you,” Qi Ruan leaned against the railing by the small river, speaking each word carefully. Against the backlight, An Chujie was bathed in a soft and beautiful golden glow from the setting sun. The gentle breeze tousled her tea-green hair, turning it into a fluffy golden brown under the sunlight, softly brushing against her fair face.

The weather was getting warmer, and the grass by the riverbank was lush green. An Chujie smiled and turned around, resting her hand on the railing. She didn’t reply. She was waiting too, waiting for the moment when she could truly accept Qi Ruan. Occasionally, when she felt cold, she did consider closing her eyes and diving into Qi Ruan’s embrace, but she had never done so.

An Chujie glanced at the person beside her. Qi Ruan’s gaze was so eager. She was indeed a good choice, but An Chujie didn’t want to lose such a friend. Besides, she had never felt that surge of love towards Qi Ruan.

“Xiao Ruan, whether you wait or not is your freedom. But during this time, if you meet that person, be more carefree and let go to be with her,” she said. Of course, if you’re willing to keep waiting, I’ll try to accept you. She didn’t say this because she was afraid it would create uncertain hope in Qi Ruan. Moreover, she couldn’t guarantee that she could actually do it.

“Perhaps I won’t encounter another person like you who makes me so unlike myself,” Qi Ruan said to herself. Even though it was already spring, her eyes still held the desolation of a cold winter.

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“…Yes, yes, I’ve encountered such things too. One of my mother’s old classmates, after working overtime continuously, rested for a moment with her head on the desk and never woke up again…” The words on the forum made An Chujie’s mind a mess. She closed her laptop, and the image of Shang Zhuoxi collapsing appeared in her mind.

Was she busy performing surgeries for others right now? Or was she busy in her oppressive experiments? Was she trying to rest on time as much as possible? Did she have regular meals? Who would massage her neck if it hurt… Shang Zhuoxi was so ignorant when it came to taking care of herself. Thinking about these things, An Chujie’s heart felt like it was being twisted. Ever since she saw Shang Zhuoxi that time, An Chujie often found herself thinking about her.

The more she tried to drive away those memories, the sharper they grew, deliberately or unintentionally touching An Chujie’s nerves, poking at her heart. But well, Shang Zhuoxi belonged to herself, what does it have to do with An Chujie? There is a bright spring scene waiting ahead, so why bother letting that dark cloud accidentally encountered on the road blur her vision?

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“Ah, ah, ah, Zichun, I’m going crazy,” Yang Yiluo complained, disregarding the fact that it was already one in the morning on the other side. It had been almost a month since she last saw Nian Zichun, and what made her feel even more desperate was the three-week-long shooting schedule.

“What’s wrong, Yiluo?” Nian Zichun had just laid down when her phone startled her awake. Seeing the special number, she rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Upon hearing Nian Zichun’s gentle voice, Yang Yiluo’s nose tingled, and she burst into tears. “They… they lied, saying it would only be half a month, but now, wuwuwu…” Yang Yiluo cried with grievances. Dorella, who was shooting alongside her, was startled by her and walked over, patting her back continuously.

“Are you okay? What’s wrong?” Not knowing how to handle the situation, Dorella looked at the crying Chinese girl.

“Wuwu, I’m fine,” Yang Yiluo said with teary eyes to the person behind her. Then she continued to pour her heart out to Nian Zichun, “Zichun, you have no idea how dirty it is in that stable we’re shooting in. Tomorrow, I have to run barefoot on the street. Just thinking about it hurts…” Yang Yiluo sniffled, speaking in Chinese that Dorella couldn’t understand. Similarly, Dorella tried to comfort her in English that Yang Yiluo couldn’t comprehend.

“Don’t cry, Yiluo, be a good girl,” Nian Zichun felt her heart ache as she listened.

“I never want to do any more reality shows, wuwu.”

“Don’t cry, Yiluo. Well… when I have free time, I’ll come to see you, alright?” It wasn’t sustainable to hear her cry every day.

“I… What? You’re coming to see me?” Yang Yiluo’s sobbing eyes widened. She didn’t mishear, did she?

“Yes, this weekend. But promise me first that you won’t cry anymore, okay?” Nian Zichun said, sounding like she was coaxing a child. She was already very tired.

“Alright, I won’t cry anymore. Zichun, you should rest early. I can miss you, but you don’t have to miss me, okay?” The feeling of missing someone was so painful, and Yang Yiluo muttered through her sniffles and tears.

Nian Zichun couldn’t help but laugh. What did she mean by not allowing herself to miss her? Speaking of which, Nian Zichun really wanted to pinch her cheeks right now.

“Why are you laughing, Zichun?” Yang Yiluo pounded the windowsill with her fists. How could she still find it funny when she was feeling like this?!

“Oh, nothing~”

“I clearly heard it!” Yang Yiluo persisted.

“If you don’t want me to miss you, then I’ll hang up,” Nian Zichun pretended to be disappointed.

“Hey! Zichun, that’s not what I meant, it’s just… uh…” She blamed herself for not reading enough books, not knowing how to express herself.

Dorella, who was nearby, finally understood what was going on. She turned to the others and shrugged helplessly, saying, “D~” She was just having an argument with her boyfriend.

Hearing Yang Yiluo’s anxious voice, Nian Zichun couldn’t help but laugh again.

“You’re laughing again?!” Yang Yiluo was about to cry from Nian Zichun’s teasing.

“Alright, Yiluo, you’re the cutest. I’ll stop now,” the woman on the other end of the phone said at the right moment.

“Um, that’s good enough. I won’t say anything more. Zichun, go rest quickly.” As soon as she finished speaking, Yang Yiluo quickly pressed the hang-up button. She didn’t want to continue delaying Nian Zichun’s sleep.