Transmigrating Into A Sadistic Novel And Becoming A Master Of Painting Rosy Pictures - Chapter 118

April is rainy season, still tinged with the atmosphere of Qingming Festival.

The ancients said, “During Qingming, rain falls in torrents; travelers on the road are heartbroken.”

But H City’s Qingming is like a fairyland; after the storm, the Bauhinia flowers carpet the ground.

On the streets, many young women, in beautiful clothes and carrying parasols, take photos amidst the falling blossoms.

The Shang family is busy, but the Bian family, with Bian’s mother present, celebrates Qingming and other festivals with great ceremony.

Tonight, she invited Bian Yingning and Shang Qinghui to dinner. Bian Yingning took Shang Qinghui home after work.

While waiting at a red light, seeing the beautiful scenery, Bian Yingning asked, “Should we take some photos?”

Shang Qinghui, leaning on her shoulder, scrolling through her phone, replied listlessly after glancing out the window, “Do you know where caterpillars like to stay?”

Bian Yingning: “…”

She didn’t know, and didn’t want to know.

Shang Qinghui didn’t wait for a reply; she continued looking at her phone. Bian Yingning, curious, leaned closer.

The phone showed a search page; the search bar displayed: “What should I pay attention to when going to my girlfriend’s house for dinner during Qingming?”

Shang Qinghui, not finding what she wanted, tried different phrases: “Why did my girlfriend’s mother invite me to dinner during Qingming?”

#What if my girlfriend’s mother knows our relationship and pays me to leave?

#My girlfriend’s mother was nice to me at first; will her attitude change after she finds out I’m with her daughter?

Bian Yingning: “…”

What to do? My girlfriend seems a little slow.

She was about to ask Shang Qinghui how she knew her mother disliked her, then remembered her guess in France. …Forget it; let her figure it out.

At the Bian residence, Bian’s mother treated Shang Qinghui warmly, as if she were her own daughter. Shang Qinghui seemed anxious and uneasy under her warmth.

Bian Yingning found it amusing. The fearless Shang Qinghui was acting timid, as if engaged in some clandestine operation, afraid of Bian’s mother discovering their relationship.

Bian Yingning offered her water; Shang Qinghui politely thanked her. When Bian Yingning offered her food, Shang Qinghui stepped on her foot under the table and glared at her.

When Bian Yingning suggested going to her room, Shang Qinghui remained rooted to the sofa. When Bian Yingning sat closer, Shang Qinghui pushed her away.

Bian’s mother came out of the kitchen with fruit and saw this; she was startled.

Later, while Shang Qinghui was in the bathroom, she questioned Bian Yingning, “What’s going on between you and Huihui? Are you fighting?”

Bian Yingning: “…” She’s just too naive.

Bian Yingning looked exasperated. Bian’s mother thought she had unspoken difficulties; seeing her daughter’s complex expression, she sighed; she had to help.

After Shang Qinghui came out, she asked her to go to the greenhouse to pick flowers. Shang Qinghui looked at Bian Yingning for help. She knew Bian Yingning, having made such intimate gestures, couldn’t hide their relationship; Bian’s mother would probably ask her to leave.

She had been nice because Shang Qinghui had amnesia and wouldn’t be with Bian Yingning again. She hadn’t mentioned it to avoid triggering her memories; now, knowing they were together again, she might get angry.

What should she do? Should she cry and say she and Bian Yingning truly loved each other? That wouldn’t fit her persona.

Shang Qinghui thought wildly. Before Bian Yingning could speak, Bian’s mother said, “Xiao Li from the company needs you; it’s urgent; answer her call.”

In the greenhouse, Shang Qinghui followed Bian’s mother. Bian’s mother didn’t get straight to the point; she asked, “Huihui, I heard you’re a great dancer?”

Shang Qinghui’s mind raced—was this a way to stop her from dancing if she didn’t leave her daughter?

“I’m just average.”

Bian’s mother looked at her disapprovingly; before Shang Qinghui could feel disheartened, Bian’s mother said, “Nonsense. Our Huihui is the best girl in the world.”

Shang Qinghui blushed, “No…”

Was this a softening tactic?

It was embarrassing.

“The national team is selecting dancers; if you’re interested, apply. I’ll get you an application form.”

“Application form?” Shang Qinghui was surprised.

“Yes. A friend mentioned it; I thought of you and asked her for a form. I don’t know if you’re interested.”

Shang Qinghui nodded. Bian’s mother smiled; Shang Qinghui was increasingly confused.

“Are you fighting with Ningning?” Bian’s mother finally asked.

“No,” Shang Qinghui replied blankly.

“Really? You seem distant today.”

Shang Qinghui didn’t know what to say.

“If there’s a problem, tell Auntie; I’ll help you.”

Shang Qinghui looked at Bian’s mother. Bian’s mother said softly, “I like you; I want to play with you every day; you haven’t come over lately.”

Since she had been wondering about her past with Bian Yingning, she hadn’t visited often.

“I had to find a reason to invite you; don’t think it’s strange that I invited you for Qingming dinner.”

Shang Qinghui smiled sweetly, “No, Auntie. I’ve been busy with school; I would have come every day if I knew.”

“Come often… invite your parents; let our families have dinner together.”

Shang Qinghui understood. A family meeting.

…

Late at night, Shang Qinghui crossed out an entry in her notebook. Bian Yingning’s family liked her; even if she and Bian Yingning were together, they liked her. It felt good to be accepted.

…

Shang Qinghui filled out the application form seriously. She liked dancing; she wanted to try. She couldn’t rely on her family’s status forever. Bian Yingning supported her decision.

After applying, Shang Qinghui started preparing for the selection. She didn’t know what to perform. She opened her dance wardrobe to find inspiration.

As she opened the closet, her phone rang; it was Bian Yingning.

“Kid! Do you know what day it is?!” Bian Yingning’s excited voice came through the phone.

Shang Qinghui entered the closet, thinking. Today? Valentine’s Day? No, that was when they went to the amusement park.

“The day you love me?” Shang Qinghui replied casually.

Bian Yingning was silent for a moment, then exclaimed, “That’s right! Our 100th day anniversary!”

Shang Qinghui was startled. They had been together for 100 days?

“Only 100 days?” It felt like much longer.

“Exactly 100 days.”

Bian Yingning said excitedly, “Come to Caiyuan Road restaurant tonight; I’ll cook for you; there’s a surprise!”

Shang Qinghui could sense her love. The restaurant was near their school; it was Bian’s family’s business; they had eaten there many times; Shang Qinghui liked the chef. Bian Yingning was a good cook, but Shang Qinghui rarely ate her food; she was too busy.

“Surprise?” Shang Qinghui bit her lip, hesitantly asking, “Are you proposing?”

It was unlikely; they hadn’t discussed it, but Shang Qinghui wanted to tease Bian Yingning.

Bian Yingning chuckled, “Yes. Don’t be a coward.”

“Chen, tell everyone, 80% off tonight.”

Shang Qinghui frowned; what was this spendthrift doing?

“Why such a big discount?”

“Because we’re together!” Bian Yingning said confidently.

Shang Qinghui: “…”

“You have too much money, right?”

Bian Yingning continued talking; Shang Qinghui opened the wardrobe. A white dress she had worn for a duet. A cool crop top she wore for K-pop dance. A water sleeve dance dress… Shang Qinghui took out a white dress.

As she pulled out the dress, the wide sleeves trailing on the floor, her heart pounded. Memories of practicing in the dance studio flashed through her mind. This was her training dress. But she couldn’t remember what competition she had participated in. What had she forgotten?

She had gone to the hospital where she had stayed after the accident; the doctor said she hadn’t lost any memory; her brain was healthy. But was that feeling fake?

Shang Qinghui tried to grasp the feeling of something being suppressed but trying to emerge. Something was about to come out, but an invisible membrane was holding it back. She struggled, she raged, she wanted to break free, to breathe…

“What’s wrong?” Bian Yingning asked, not hearing her reply.

Hearing her voice, Shang Qinghui’s heart pounded; it felt like her heart would jump out of her mouth. She felt like a drum; Bian Yingning’s words were like a drummer hitting her hard.

…

Shang Qinghui couldn’t speak; her hand slipped; her phone fell to the ground; the call didn’t disconnect; Bian Yingning called her name anxiously. Her voice was weak, but the words were clear. It was like a mantra; she was the monkey wearing the tight headband.

Her head ached; she felt like she was being squeezed. Countless images flashed through her mind, like a fast-forwarded movie; she couldn’t catch them. She didn’t know what was happening, but she wanted to help herself.

She slapped herself. It was a weak slap. But in her mind, she heard a loud slap. Her action overlapped with a memory. She saw herself slapping someone, making them turn their head.

“Bian Yingning…”

Tears streamed down her face; she crawled to a cabinet in the middle of the closet. She opened a hidden compartment; an old blue velvet box lay inside. Tears fell like pearls. Shang Qinghui took out the box; her hands trembled; she opened it.

A set of black and white water sleeve dance costumes, with ink landscape paintings, lay inside. Shang Qinghui couldn’t hold herself up; she felt like she had been scraped clean. She couldn’t handle the information overload; she collapsed. She had found the truth.

…

A graceful woman leaped; her water sleeves swirled; her skirt flowed; her bare feet touched the ground. Ornate decorations adorned her slender feet, like precious jade. Two lake-green silk rings spun around her ankles; everything was beautiful. This was her performance after practicing water sleeve dance. Then, she saw a pair of phoenix eyes in the audience.

When Shang Qinghui opened her eyes, she was confused. Someone asked her something; she didn’t hear it; or she didn’t want to. She remembered many things. Not just this life… but the last one.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

“What?”

Bian Yingning, pale, had been watching by the bed; she finally saw Shang Qinghui wake up; she pressed the call button frantically, calling for a doctor, then softly asking Shang Qinghui. She saw her lips moving; she couldn’t hear what she was saying. Bian Yingning leaned closer.

“I’m sorry…”

Bian Yingning’s nose twitched.

“Who are you sorry to? You haven’t done anything wrong!”

Shang Qinghui’s eyes were vacant; she seemed lost in her own world. Bian Yingning kissed her, “You haven’t done anything wrong.”

Everything she had done was voluntary; she didn’t need her to feel guilty.

…

“Is Qinghui still like this?” Bian’s mother touched Shang Qinghui’s hand. Shang Qinghui was wearing a blue and white striped hospital gown; her face was pale; her face was expressionless; she stared out the window without blinking.

Bian Yingning nodded, her eyes filled with heartache. It had been a week. Since Bian Yingning called her to celebrate their 100th day, she had been like a shell without a soul. Bian Yingning had been talking about the candlelit dinner; she hadn’t heard Shang Qinghui’s voice; she called out a few times. Then she heard a thud, some rustling, and a sob; then nothing.

Bian Yingning called the Shang family to check on Shang Qinghui while rushing from the restaurant to the Shang residence. Shang Qinghui was sent to the hospital. The doctor said her brain cells were very active, possibly the reason for her unusual behavior. Bian Yingning thought she might be merging memories from two lifetimes.

“She’ll be okay,” Bian Yingning said, not sure who she was talking to.

“Why don’t you make some food? She might want to eat what you made,” Bian’s mother suggested.

Bian Yingning felt relieved with Bian’s mother there. Thinking of the nearby restaurant and the candlelit dinner they hadn’t had, Bian Yingning nodded and left.

After the door closed, Shang Qinghui’s fingers moved slightly. Bian’s mother felt it; she held her hands, warming them.

“Huihui, if you’re unhappy, tell me. You’re a good girl; don’t keep things bottled up.”

Bian’s mother talked to her, sharing random thoughts.

“It’s funny; I always wondered who Yingning would end up with; I thought she’d be alone.”

“Not that she’s bad; she’s just cold; she’s independent and knows what she wants. I couldn’t imagine her being unconditionally kind to anyone; only Cancan is close to her.”

“Then I met you. At first, I was scared; how could you two be together? But slowly, I realized how ridiculous I was…”

“Being with you is her blessing and mine.”

Shang Qinghui blinked; she looked at Bian’s mother. Bian’s mother was startled.

“My dear, why are you crying?” Bian’s mother hugged her, patting her back.

“Aun… Auntie…” a hoarse voice. This was the first time Shang Qinghui had spoken in a week.

“Yes!” Bian’s mother replied earnestly.

Everything had changed; her days of humiliation and loneliness were gone. Her regret and self-hatred were fading. Now, she had warmth, love, and a bright future. Shang Qinghui, like a migratory bird, had returned to her warm south.

Sunlight streamed in, illuminating them. Bian’s mother’s phone rang. She apologized and answered; it was Bian’s father; she didn’t avoid Shang Qinghui.

“Hello?”

…

Shang Qinghui ran out of the hospital; she saw a restaurant not far away engulfed in black smoke. Smoke billowed into the sky; the sirens were piercing. Police had set up barriers; firefighters were extinguishing the fire.

Shang Qinghui stumbled; she almost fell. Bian’s mother looked at this in disbelief. It was Bian’s family’s restaurant; Bian Yingning had just gone there to cook for Shang Qinghui.

“Yingning!” Bian’s mother screamed, running towards the restaurant, but a police officer stopped her.

Shang Qinghui walked towards it, like a zombie. She had just felt like she had returned to the world. Why had she fallen back into hell? She hadn’t told her she loved her. She hadn’t thanked her. She had so much to do with her; would they have another life?

“Bian Yingning!”

“Don’t leave me again…”

Bauhinia flowers bloomed; the purple and white flowers were beautiful. The wind blew; petals fell like rain. A dark figure ran from the restaurant, hugging Bian’s mother, then approaching Shang Qinghui. The wind picked up; love arose.

—

“Have you seen the wind?”

“Yes.”

In the falling petals, in the waves, in the rustling leaves, and in your eyes.