After Being Watched by My Paranoid and Gloomy Deceased Wife - Chapter 31

I felt guilty towards Guan Lan for this unfounded association.

This girl, also called “Lan Lan,” smiled brightly and warmly embraced my arm.

It was summer, but she was wearing thin, long sleeves. I felt a faint tingle against the fabric.

“Lan Lan, why are you wearing long sleeves in the summer? Excessive sun protection isn’t good for your health.”

I remember a classmate who wanted to emulate vampires in movies and TV shows, always wearing long sleeves and long pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and even covering her face with a full-face mask.

People always admire and emulate imagined powerful beings, and appearance and clothing are the easiest barriers to imitation.

That classmate suddenly fell unconscious during class in his junior year and was sent to the hospital. Since then, teachers have paid attention to this unhealthy trend of trying to achieve a vampire complexion, and the biology teacher has been providing scientific education in class.

The girl, who looked almost identical to Guan Lan, ignored my advice but remained beaming.

She hugged my arm and coquettishly addressed me in a sweet voice.

“Sister Xinlu is so gentle and considerate. I’m so lucky to have met you!”

Her voice always rose at the end, a stark contrast to Guan Lan’s usually calm and gentle voice. I could barely distinguish the two overly similar voices.

Honestly, I wasn’t used to her speaking to me like this with her childish Guan Lan face, and I don’t like too much physical contact with others.

I tried to quietly push her away, but the girl tightened her grip on my arm. My skin tingled and itched, and I couldn’t help but frown.

“What’s wrong, Sister Xinlu? Don’t you like being close to Lanlan?” She spoke with a hint of grievance, even her eyes, which had been smiling just a moment ago, drooped, as if she’d been bullied, pitiful.

“Or…does Sister Xinlu hate me?”

Her attitude made my teeth ache. I couldn’t imagine the usually gentle and steady Guan Lan acting like this.

This couldn’t be Guan Lan!

Ever since I woke up from the car accident and saw Guan Lan visiting me, she’d always been steady and reliable. Her words and actions were measured and methodical, her tone always gentle, never a hint of frivolity.

Although she was a few years younger than me, she seemed much more reliable.

Sometimes, when I looked at her, I felt like there was someone else like her in the past.

My memory was inevitably flawed after the accident. I’d only ever seen Guan Lan act like that, so perhaps it was a glitch in my memory that gave me this false impression.

“She’s still a child, she doesn’t understand anything. Was my attitude too cold? Is this a bad idea?” “

After all, this is her sister she raised. Even though we’re not related by bl00d, we’ve depended on each other for so many years. For her sake, I shouldn’t…”

These thoughts flashed through my mind, like a voiceover in a movie or a play, supplementing the current situation.

“Uh… That’s not true. Why would Lanlan think that?” I smiled awkwardly, not sure if my face was flushing with anxiety from the difficulty of coping with the situation.

I was surprised to find that my voice was unusually stiff and polite when I spoke.

Logically, when I met a child so similar to my best friend, even if it was just empathy, I would have shown a little more favoritism towards her. However, a sense of discomfort and resentment welled up in my heart that I couldn’t ignore.

No one knows me better than I do. My attitude was a little too cold.

Frowning slightly, I leaned aside with the snake in my free arm as she pressed herself almost halfway against me.

The snake’s head was oval, not the dangerous triangle. It was a juvenile python, just over a meter long, still within my control.

After calming down, I realized it was a blue-colored green tree python, quite valuable. If appraised, it would be worth a luxury car.

But… no matter what, giving a python as a gift is a bit rude, isn’t it?

I sighed and patiently explained why I wanted to keep my distance.

“This snake is rare, but it’s wild and untamed. And hasn’t it been fed before? It seemed very hungry. When you gave it to me just now, it was trying to figure out if it could swallow me.”

“It’s very dangerous to bring it out. What if no one is around? Pythons are very strong. Once they wrap around you, you can’t guarantee your safety.”

“Don’t get too close to me. If they whip their tail hard, I’m afraid they’ll use that opportunity to wrap around you. They’re so hungry now, and the force of their grip will be so strong that it could break a person’s larynx in an instant.”

“Huh? Is that so?” the girl asked in surprise, her eyes wide and innocent.

“I thought it liked Sister Xinlu, that’s why it wanted to be as close to her as I do.”

The child was truly clueless about these dangerous behaviors. While I said that to keep my distance, a hungry python is certainly dangerous.

“Is there a place to keep it here?” I asked.

A servant trotted over with a box. “I’m sorry, sorry. I didn’t keep an eye on Second Young Lady’s pet and let it wander over here, disturbing the guests.”

The girl smiled sweetly at the unfamiliar servant. “No, I brought it out here because I wanted to play with it. Now it’s Sister Xinlu’s gift!”

I quickly shook my head. “No, no, blue snakes are rare. Finding one this pure is hard. I don’t take away what’s best, and I don’t like pet reptiles. Since it’s Lanlan’s pet, please take it back.” Just kidding,

I had no intention of keeping a snake. And now, holding the snake by its seven-inch point, I just watched calmly, even though my clothes were soaking wet.

Oh my god, I don’t know where I found the strength to control the snake.

Perhaps it was the strength that erupted in a moment of crisis. After the servants took the snake, I felt my arm muscles ache, so weak I could barely lift them.

The girl pouted, looking incredibly unhappy. “Sister Xinlu, don’t you like my gift?”

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to fall.

I’d never seen Guan Lan cry. She was always so energetic. Even after staying up all night with me and having to deal with work the next day, she never looked tired. I’d never seen her look so vulnerable, like crying.

Now I saw it through another, almost identical face.

“Does Sister Xinlu have a problem with me? Is it because I’m too clingy?” “

But Lanlan really loves you, and Sister Xinlu too. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have wanted to give her her favorite pet.”

She cried so pitifully, and I hesitated, unsure how to respond.

“How could that be? You’re sisters. It’s normal for you to be close. Besides, she raised you. How could I have a problem with you?” After a few thoughts, I finally found a soothing remark.

When I was with her, I kept feeling like something was off, but nothing seemed to be wrong, so my brain didn’t dwell on it, and the problem just slipped away.

I took out a tissue and asked her to wipe her tears. Seeing her smile again, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Coaxing a child is so hard; I’ve never had to do that since I was little.

“Xinlu, you’re so kind,” she said, taking my hand. Suddenly, she uttered, “Huh?”

I stopped and followed her gaze, puzzled, at my arm.

My fair skin was now red and swollen. No wonder I felt a burning pain, like it had peeled from the sun, or like countless tiny needles pricking my swollen skin.

After a moment’s pause, I realized it was an allergy.

How could I have an allergy out of nowhere? I hadn’t been exposed to any allergens.

The girl named “Lanlan” held my arm with concern. Her sleeve touched my skin, which hadn’t yet reacted, and a burning sensation spread through the area.

The next moment, I saw that the once-fair skin had swelled up.

“Sister Xinlu, what happened? How did your hand suddenly become like this?” The girl yelled anxiously, calling for someone to find the family doctor and bring a medical kit to treat me.

I had a guess in my mind, so I just asked her for anti-allergic medicine and ointment.

“Nothing, it’s an allergy.”

She was a little skeptical of my overly nonchalant attitude, frowning with worry. This expression was almost a replica of Guan Lan.

“Sister Xinlu, don’t hold on. It’s so swollen. If my sister saw it, she would definitely be heartbroken.”

I’m still not used to the tone of her voice. The main reason is that she and Guan Lan are so similar, and Guan Lan never speaks like this. They are like the two poles of the earth, one at the South Pole and the other at the North Pole.

“It’s nothing,” I shook my head at her. “No need to make such a fuss.”

I hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Is Lanlan’s dress made of linen?”

The girl nodded. “I’ve had a bit of a summer heat this year. Everything I wear causes me to get heat rash. My sister was worried about me, so she had someone make it for me. It’s made of mulberry silk and cotton and linen, so it’s super breathable and sweat-wicking. Even the design was approved by my sister.”

“Although we’re not related by bl00d, they have such a close relationship. Someone like me, who doesn’t have any sisters, can’t possibly understand that.”

I sighed inwardly, joining in the sigh, “You two have such a good relationship. You know, many sisters don’t have such a close relationship.”

She was stunned for a moment, as if she hadn’t expected me to say such a thing. Her bright smile faltered for a moment, then she stared at me intently, her lips curled, her eyes curved, and a brighter smile bloomed again.

“Yes, my sister is so good to me. When I was little, I even said I wanted to be her wife when I grew up.”

I was amused by her innocent and childish words.

“That’s impossible. Aunt Guan loves your mother so much. Even if you’re not related, stepsisters can’t be together. If they were, wouldn’t that be incest?”

“Lanlan’s” smile faded. I was checking my allergic skin and didn’t notice she was staring at me expressionlessly, her dark pupils devoid of any warmth.

“Yes, Mom and Aunt Guan love each other so much,” she said sweetly, her bright, innocent smile returning to her face.

“Yes, Aunt Guan and your mother’s relationship is truly enviable. They’ve been so loving after all these years.”

I nodded casually. If Aunt Guan didn’t love her mother, why would she change her child’s name, just to relieve her lover from missing their old lover and give them a sense of security?

She approached me again, took my other, intact arm, and coquettishly said, “Then can I like Sister Xinlu? Sister Xinlu is so kind and beautiful. When I grow up, I want to have a girlfriend like her.”

A burning pain pierced through me, and I hissed, and she quickly let go.

“Ah! I’m sorry! But, but Lanlan didn’t do anything…”

Facing the little girl’s flustered attitude, I waved my hand and stepped aside, keeping some distance.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m allergic to linen. It happens to everything made of linen. It’s not your fault. I didn’t explain myself clearly, and you didn’t mean to do it. I’ll just apply some ointment and take some medicine, and it’ll be fine.”

Then I saw Lanlan’s eyes suddenly turn red, and I was frantic.

“Hey, don’t cry,” I hurriedly pulled another tissue from my pocket to wipe her tears. She looked at me with a guilty and pitiful look.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have worn this dress my sister had made for me. I was so happy. I knew Sister Xinlu was coming, so I wanted you to see me in my new clothes.”

“I didn’t know Sister Xinlu was allergic to linen, and I rubbed against you. Woohoo, but I really didn’t mean to.

I just love Sister Xinlu so much and wanted to be close to you. I didn’t expect to give her an allergy instead. I’m sorry, woohoo…”

It’s common for children to wear new clothes and show them off.

I didn’t think much of it except to lament how well she was raised. Even at her age, she still had a childlike attitude, which showed how deep the sisterly bond was.

“What’s the big deal? It’s not a big deal. Take some medicine and it will be fine.”

She stopped crying and looked at me doubtfully, her eyes and nose red and pitiful.

“Really? But having an allergy must be really uncomfortable. If Sister knew I hurt Sister Xinlu, she’d be mad, and I don’t want her to be angry.”

Facing her eyes, which were just as innocent as Guan Lan’s, but moist, I forced a smile, swallowing the pain in my arm.

“Lanlan is still young, how could she possibly think so much? Your sister won’t blame you, you didn’t mean it. Okay, stop crying, okay? It’s not your fault.”

Then she insisted she’d cook for me herself and apologize. She also said she wanted me to come along, to show her sincerity, so she wouldn’t think she was just trying to save face while secretly handing the job off to the chef.

I sat helplessly on the chair she’d brought in, watching her busily prepare the food.

I tried to help, but she stopped me and forcibly pushed me back to my seat. With that kind of strength, I doubted the green tree python was any danger.

She might be young, but she was also an adult. Since she was so confident she could cook a whole meal, I shouldn’t have doubted her.

My chair was close to the window, and I rested my chin on the armrest, looking out.

“Bang!” The knife struck the cutting board with force. The loud noise drew my attention back to the kitchen, and I quickly stood up.

“What happened to Lanlan?” I swallowed anxiously, my eyes, which had just been focused, falling on the chopping block, and my pupils suddenly dilated with shock.

The blue-colored green tree python, worth millions, had been beheaded, its head still moving its tongue.

I saw a face identical to Guan Lan’s, splattered with bl00d. As if noticing my gaze, she glanced at me with an innocent smile, her bright black eyes filled with laughter, unconcerned by the bl00d splattering on her face.

The scene was so strange and jarring that my heart trembled, and I was speechless at my own failure.

But… setting aside the value of that green tree python, didn’t “Lan Lan” just say—

‘But Lan Lan really loves me, and also loves Sister Xinlu, otherwise she wouldn’t have wanted to give her favorite pet to Sister Xinlu.’ ‘

Huh? Favorite pet? Put it in the pot right away?!’

She had already begun to skin the snake with deftness. The scene was bloody, but she kept smiling brightly. Noticing my gaze, she tilted her head to look at me, humming a song, and with a smile, she peeled off the remaining skin completely.

“What’s wrong, Sister Xinlu?” Her voice was still cheerful and sweet, but I could now clearly distinguish her from Guan Lan.

After all, Guan Lan would never do such a thing. She was the kindest person. We once volunteered together at a stray animal rescue center, and she had unnoticed the dirtiness of pulling that injured kitten out of the abandoned sewer.

Something seemed off. I remembered someone saying something about a snake—

a schoolbag, a snake, Guan Lan…

My thoughts suddenly stopped at that point, jumping to another point, and I unconsciously overlooked the anomaly.

Lanlan’s mental health didn’t look promising, but fortunately, she wasn’t a bad kid, just young. With proper guidance, she’d be fine.

“How could a child she raised be so bad? Perhaps it was because she went to college and then became so busy with work that she had no time to care for her sister, that she temporarily neglected her sister’s mental health,” the narrator said.

I couldn’t agree more.

“Lanlan, isn’t this… isn’t this your pet snake?” I asked hesitantly.

She looked up and chopped it down again with the kitchen knife. Her bare hands were stained with bl00d, and she smiled at me.

“Yeah, what’s wrong?”

How can pets and food be confused? I tried to explain the difference, but she curled her lips, looking cheerful.

“It’s because it’s my favorite pet that it deserves to be Sister Xinlu’s apology~”

Then she pouted. It should have been cute, but the bl00d still on her face gave the scene a terrifying feeling, like something out of a horror movie.

“And it just scared Sister Xinlu, didn’t it? That’s too much. No one and nothing can steal Sister’s attention from me.”

Her eyes were filled with an exquisitely gentle smile, a trance that vaguely resembled the image of Guan Lan in my mind.

But… t-that’s not necessary, is it?

Just because this snake scared me, I killed it?

She spoke a little too softly for me to catch the last part, so I asked, “What did Lanlan say after that?”

“Lanlan” glanced at me with a smile, her eyes curved. “Nothing, what’s wrong, Sister Xinlu? I’m almost done. The snake soup will be ready soon!”

I looked at the python she had skinned and fleshed, the bloody processing table, and the aroma of food, and I felt a little nauseous.

Finding a wet wipe in my pocket, I fought back the nausea and the inexplicable cold sweat as I moved closer to wipe the bl00d off her face.

“There’s bl00d on your face,” I frowned, slowly wiping away the drying bl00d, not daring to use too much pressure.

She blinked, full of surprise, and I could clearly see the disbelief in her eyes. It was just the generation gap that made it hard for me to understand what little girls like them were thinking.

It was all just some wild, unpredictable thing, so why bother trying?

“Sister Xinlu, aren’t you scared?”

I glanced at her in confusion, unsure of what she was asking.

“Huh? What for?”

She lowered her eyelashes, a gesture that reminded me of bl00d…bloody something?

“Nothing, I just think Sister Xinlu is so interesting.” She pursed her lips and smiled, a smile so innocent and endearing.

Then, in a whisper so soft only I could hear, standing beside her, wiping the bl00d off her face.

“No wonder Sister Xinlu can’t let it go~”

Her tone was sweet and gentle, yet it gave me goosebumps all over my arms.