Cherishing You As Always - Chapter 18

Lights Off

I knew she meant well, so I didn’t argue with her, but I also wasn’t planning to continue the conversation. Deep down, I had a vague feeling that Zihui treated me differently from how she treated others, so I tried to avoid being alone with her whenever possible. Still, after so many years of knowing her, I continued to see her as an older sister even though sometimes I couldn’t handle how overly close she liked to get.

“Alright, alright, my good sister, I get it. I’ll be careful, don’t worry! Can I go now?”

I straightened my clothes and looked outside. I couldn’t hold back my curiosity about this academy or the person who owned this courtyard.

Yin Yunchi, what kind of person are you, really?

On the only bed in the room, the sheets were a mess. There was one pillow and a thin blanket. Zihui suddenly exclaimed, “Miss, don’t tell me you and that Yin girl slept like that last night.”

Not wanting to get tangled up in more conversation, I quickly replied, “Exactly.”

At the same time, I realized there wasn’t anything else in the room to keep warm. So I turned to Zihui and said, “It seems we forgot to bring any bedding. Look around there’s nothing in here. How about this: later, go down the mountain and buy a few quilts for me, both light and heavy ones, and some pillows. Just enough for two people.”

Instinctively, I didn’t want Yin Yunchi to sleep like she did last night again. Letting the host sleep on a chair while I took the bed it didn’t sit right with me.

Zihui’s expression turned slightly pale. She gritted her teeth and asked, “Miss, are those quilts for me, or for that Yin girl?”

I didn’t quite understand what she meant, but truthfully, I was thinking of bedding for Yin Yunchi and myself. Zihui could use what the academy provided. But what came out of my mouth was, “For you and me, of course. But also bring some for Miss Yin. She seems a bit poor, and if she catches a cold and passes it to me, won’t you be the one to suffer?”

Only then did Zihui smile and say gently, “You really are thoughtful. Alright then, I’ll bring two quilts for her. We wouldn’t want her cold to spread to you. Now go on to class I’ll clean up around here.”

I was about to nod in agreement, but then I remembered the pair of scissors I had shoved under the bed last night. I immediately said, “No need. You should go have breakfast. Don’t worry about cleaning. We’re away from home you don’t have to be so particular with me. Have some fun if you can.”

She was folding the thin blanket while smiling, “My duty is to take care of you. I’m your servant. You’re the only one I care about. Let me do this. If I don’t help you, it just feels… wrong.”

“But…”

The words stuck in my throat. I glanced at the space under the bed, hoping she wouldn’t get too diligent and move the whole thing to clean underneath it. That’s where the sharp object was. I still didn’t understand what Yin Yunchi was up to. First scissors, then sleepwalking, and now some absurd request that for the next month, I could only enter the room after she had gone in first. It just made no sense.

Stepping outside, I watched Zihui bustling about. She really was a good girl. Just two and a half more years, and she’d be free.

Walking toward the academy grounds in the morning sun, I saw the Dean standing at the entrance, watching me from a distance.

I walked over slowly, keeping proper manners. I bowed and smiled, “Good morning, Dean.”

Inside the school building, a loud chorus of reading echoed. I looked past the Dean into the classroom everyone was wearing identical white school uniforms, each holding a book, nodding and swaying as they read aloud. Apparently, studying here was just like it had been at my old school reading aloud with exaggerated motions. Quite amusing.

Unintentionally, I thought of that strange girl I shared a room with. I looked back at the Dean, not sure whether I should scold him for giving me such a bizarre roommate. But then I remembered I had been the one to find her first. The Dean just helped me out. So it wasn’t his fault. If there was anyone to blame, it was me for impulsively assuming Yin Yunchi was a good person, without knowing a thing about her.

But how could a good person hide a pair of scissors under her pillow?

Those people had treated her so cruelly, and she was so terrified of being touched. Why? What had happened?

Somehow, in just one night, I had developed a desire to understand this woman. As I looked at the Dean’s face, all I could think about was Yin Yunchi’s sleeping expression from the night before. My mind drifted.

“This uniform suits you. It looks like it was tailored just for you,” the Dean said with a smile as if he wanted everything else around us to fade so I’d only see him.

Unfortunately, to me, he was always just ordinary.

I replied, “I haven’t thanked you yet for rushing to have the clothes delivered overnight. Since we’ve run into each other, I’ll say it now: Thank you.”

It sounded reluctant and it was. Why should I thank him? I paid tuition to study here. Uniforms were part of the deal. But honestly, if I didn’t bring up the clothes, I had nothing else to talk to this guy about.

I shifted my eyes away and was about to walk past him into the hall to find my seat. Before I could, he said, “Actually… actually, it’s nothing really. Just a set of clothes. No need to thank me. Really. Haha.”

He laughed heartily. I just thought to myself what thick skin. But I kept a calm expression and said, “Dean, you’re not standing here just to wait for me, are you?”

He scratched his head and chuckled sheepishly, “Yeah… I’m here waiting for you. Your seat and materials are all prepared. I’ll take you there.”

He walked a few steps ahead, and I followed behind. I couldn’t help but ask, “Dean, are you always this free? Free enough to personally hand out each student’s materials and even show them to their seats?”

I’ve always been extremely curious. Whatever I want to know, I must get an answer. Like this question I wouldn’t rest until I knew.

The Dean stood there for a moment without turning back. Then he continued walking, leaving behind just one sentence:

“You’ll understand in time.”

Was that supposed to be an answer? Let’s assume it is. This Dean he seems lazy on the outside, but there’s a strange seriousness to him. Sunshine mixed with solemnity, making it hard to see who he really is. I have no idea how Father knows him. And how did someone so young become a Dean? What’s his real ability? So far, I haven’t seen anything impressive about him.