Gloves - Chapter 45

“Everyone, squeeze in and find a seat!” shouted a middle-aged man with a friendly smile. The more people there were here, the more money he could make. Qi Ruan looked at An Chujie helplessly, then at the people cramming into the minivan. She felt frustrated. They had just been here not long ago, so why were private cars suddenly not allowed? Although there weren’t many people visiting this area, being crammed into the same small minivan was still too crowded.

“Uncle, can you make another trip? I’ll pay you double the price!” If Qi Ruan were alone, she would reluctantly squeeze in with the others, but she didn’t want An Chujie to suffer like this.

“Miss, it’s not about the money. I need to get back home for my wife and…” The driver explained apologetically.

“Alright, Xiao Ruan,” An Chujie pulled Qi Ruan’s arm, hoping she wouldn’t make things difficult for the driver. Then she quickly said to him, “Uncle, let’s get on the car.”

“Alright! Handsome guy, you can hold your girlfriend and sit down,” the driver said as he opened the door and waved to the other tourists behind them.

“…She’s not my girlfriend,” the man said quietly. The driver then shifted his gaze to An Chujie, the only one who hadn’t gotten on the car yet.

“Miss, could you consider…” he started to say.

“I’ll sit with her,” An Chujie said understandingly, pointing at Qi Ruan.

When An Chujie sat on Qi Ruan’s lap with her back facing her, Qi Ruan’s heart almost jumped out of her chest. Her hands wrapped around An Chujie’s waist, feeling a bit unsure, afraid that she might apply too much pressure and make her uncomfortable, yet also afraid of not exerting enough force and causing her to be unstable.

An Chujie also had her concerns. Her body had become somewhat stiff, and she was equally worried about making Qi Ruan uncomfortable. The people in the car seemed to disappear, leaving only two hearts cautiously exploring each other.

The soft and warm strands of hair unintentionally brushed against Qi Ruan’s face, carrying the pleasant fragrance of the person in her arms. This was the first time An Chujie allowed herself to be embraced by Qi Ruan without any resistance. It was unexpected, especially in this situation.

Suddenly, the car went uphill and turned, causing An Chujie to lean back forcefully. The binding around her waist tightened, and the softness her back touched made her blush with embarrassment. Qi Ruan’s lips, however, curled up in a smile that An Chujie couldn’t see.

However, when the vast green fields and floral gardens came into view through the window, everyone felt that the hardships of the journey were worth it.

“Xiao Ruan, are you uncomfortable?” This was the first time An Chujie sat on someone other than Shang Zhuoxi, so she felt guilty. After all, no matter how Shang Zhuoxi held her in his arms, she never felt this awkward.

“Not at all, An. You should eat more,” Qi Ruan still thought An Chujie was too thin, as her protruding spine at the back of her neck had been noticeable throughout the journey.

“This is a private farm that’s not open to the public, so not many people know about it. They are probably friends of the owner or something. If this place were developed, I can guarantee it would be at least a four-star attraction,” Qi Ruan followed behind An Chujie, introducing and admiring the woman who seemed almost one with the floral garden.

“It’s so beautiful. Do you know the owner?” An Chujie asked, squatting down and gently touching the petals with her fingertips, causing them to tremble. She smiled warmly.

“Um…” Qi Ruan looked at An Chujie’s expression and replied absentmindedly.

“Xiao Ruan?” An Chujie stood up and called out to the slightly dazed person. Her voice was filled with delight that could be heard:

“Come over here.” What were you doing just now? An Chujie waved her hand and pointed to the pale purple flowers at her feet, like a little girl who had discovered something interesting.

“Oh, okay,” Qi Ruan walked over.

“Wow, Xiao Ruan, did you see? They’re actually greeting us!” An Chujie happily tugged at Qi Ruan’s sleeve, completely unaware of the stray strands of hair on her forehead and the flower petals on her shoulder.

The flowers were beautiful, but An Chujie’s presence made them pale in comparison in Qi Ruan’s eyes. She knew that An Chujie was interested in plants and flowers, but she didn’t expect them to bring her so much joy.

“An, I don’t know much about them. Could you enlighten me?” Qi Ruan’s voice turned gentle, as if speaking too loudly would disturb the surrounding beauty.

“Well, you see, the ones beside our feet are tulips. The people who manage this place must take great care of them. The colors and fragrance are so natural, so the seeds must be pure…”

“…”

“… So these are also hibiscus flowers? Just different colors?” Qi Ruan listened attentively to every word An Chujie said.

“Mhmm, Xiao Ruan, you’re doing great,” An Chujie bloomed a beautiful smile for Qi Ruan.

“The first time I met you, you had this scent on you,” Qi Ruan’s lips curved up, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at An Chujie.

“Hibiscus flowers can be eaten, you know.”

“Oh~ That’s why I’ve been wanting to ‘eat’ you,” Qi Ruan bit her lip, winking at An Chujie.

“Oh, what is going on in your head, Xiao Ruan?” An Chujie pushed the mischievous person beside her.

“I miss you,” Qi Ruan leaned closer to her again.

“I remember… Shang…” An Chujie’s lips froze, her voice suddenly disappearing. She seemed to remember something, but hesitated to speak.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Ruan was getting excited by her words.

“It’s nothing… Anyway, hibiscus flowers can also be used as medicinal herbs,” An Chujie spoke up again, but her voice fell silent. She turned around, and the twinkling stars in her eyes slowly faded away.

She remembered what Shang Zhuoxi had said. She said she had the same sweet scent of hibiscus flowers as her mother, that she was just like them… But the truth had proven otherwise. An Chujie wasn’t like them at all. Because the language of hibiscus flowers symbolized gentleness, perseverance, and eternity. Over time, An Chujie couldn’t even distinguish whether it was Shang Zhuoxi who didn’t want her anymore, or if she herself had given up on that person.

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The spring rain fell gently, like tiny needles, sprinkling incessantly onto the earth. It seemed as if it wanted to wash away the scars left by the lingering winter, bringing forth the revival of all things. However, there were always those who disliked this continuous spring rain. At least, Shang Zhuoxi didn’t like it. To her, the rain couldn’t wash away the scars in her heart. For her, rainwater was a dirty and corrosive thing.

“How long have you been waiting?” Shang Zhuoxi closed the umbrella and her furrowed brow gradually relaxed when she saw Wang Shili. It was evident that the girl sitting there had taken great care to dress up.

“Not long, just arrived,” Wang Shili stood up to greet Shang Zhuoxi, tenderly wiping away the raindrops from the tip of her nose.

“What would you like to eat?” Her voice had the professional tone of a flight attendant.

“Just order something you like,” Shang Zhuoxi felt somewhat surprised that Wang Shili chose this restaurant.

This restaurant was a place where Shang Zhuoxi used to bring someone else frequently. The decoration here was unique, not ordinary or conventional, yet not overly complicated. The ceiling was high, giving a spacious feeling as soon as one entered. The surround sound effect was good when there was music playing, and the restaurant’s layout was clear and easy to understand. Most importantly, the taste and presentation of each dish were good. However, for some reason, the customer flow was low.

The restaurant was quiet during lunchtime, with only the sound of utensils clinking and the faint patter of rain outside.

“…Shang Zhuoxi, can you say something?” Wang Shili couldn’t get used to this atmosphere and couldn’t help but speak first.

Shang Zhuoxi glanced at the person in front of her, smiled, but didn’t answer. There really wasn’t much to say, especially since she had just finished two surgeries. Hunger and fatigue left her with little desire to engage in emotional communication with others.

“Um, Shang Zhuoxi, I invited you to dinner this time mainly to thank you, and also… can I be friends with you?” Shili asked cautiously, filled with anticipation.

Friends? Shang Zhuoxi inexplicably felt repulsed by these two words, repulsed by the existence of such a relationship.

“Hmm?” Shang Zhuoxi paused, her hand stopped in mid-air. She swallowed the last bite of food and made a questioning sound.

“I want to get to know you,” Wang Shili continued, her eyes shining brightly like a vast blue sky, yet filled with immense loneliness. “You seem like someone who is always alone.”

Shang Zhuoxi motioned for her to continue, intrigued by the sincerity in Wang Shili’s words.

“If there’s anything that’s bothering you, please tell me. Maybe I can help you, or at least share some of the burden,” Wang Shili pleaded, her fingers tightly intertwined.

“Why?” Shang Zhuoxi raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding why a girl would want to get close to her out of the blue, especially since they hadn’t interacted much.

“Because… you… um, I don’t know how to put it into words, but I just feel like you’re a good person,” Wang Shili stumbled over her words, struggling to express herself.

“A good person?” Shang Zhuoxi chuckled, finding the vague term and unclear reasons amusing.

“Yes,” Wang Shili nodded vigorously.

“Well then, tell me, in what way am I a good person?” Shang Zhuoxi took a sip of tea, propping her chin up with her hands, her eyes fixed intently on Wang Shili’s slightly flushed face.

“You take me home, you take care of my health, and… you agreed to have lunch with me,” Wang Shili pouted, lightly tapping her index finger on the table.

“And that’s what makes me a good person?” Shang Zhuoxi couldn’t comprehend how these actions constituted her being considered “good.”

“What else then?” Wang Shili retorted.

“It means you don’t really understand me,” Shang Zhuoxi responded, shaking her head.

“Then let me get to know you,” Wang Shili quickly interjected.

Shang Zhuoxi smiled faintly and said, “Do you know that there are many things in this world that can only be observed from a distance? Like a fluffy ball of fur that, when you approach and touch it, you realize it’s actually a hedgehog with thorns. Or how the moon may appear soft and beautiful, but you’re unaware of the pits and distortions on its surface.”

“But you’re not a hedgehog or a distorted planet,” Wang Shili countered. “You’re a doctor who has saved countless lives. I don’t understand.”

“Well, perhaps I’m worse than those things, little flight attendant,” Shang Zhuoxi replied calmly. “If I were to tell you that I am constantly accompanied by words like ‘bastard,’ ‘selfish,’ and ‘scum,’ would you still want to be friends with me?”