Deceased Mother's Inheritance - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Meng Zhengyue’s Tight Embrace.

Meng Zhengyue’s embrace was tight.

Her strength was passed through the clothes to Yun Zhixue. She reached out to take the bag from Yun Zhixue’s shoulder, but Yun Zhixue reacted by gripping the strap and not letting go.

“It’s okay, honey, I’m here. Don’t be afraid.”

Yun Zhixue leaned weakly against Meng Zhengyue’s shoulder, her forehead resting on the other’s shoulder. Her mind was blank, as if all her strength had been drained. The moment Meng Zhengyue took her backpack, her legs went weak, and she almost fell, but a strong hand held her waist steady.

“Those beautiful eyes are all tear-stained.” Meng Zhengyue lowered her head, her fingertips gently lifting Yun Zhixue’s chin. The tears had already soaked Meng Zhengyue’s collar, and Yun Zhixue’s rapid breathing was expelled onto her neck.

What should I think about? My head hurts so much… Meng Zhengyue.

Meng Zhengyue curved her finger and wiped away the tears under Yun Zhixue’s eyes. “Do you still want to cry?”

Yun Zhixue wanted to say, “I won’t cry.”

“If you want to cry, then cry for a little longer.”

Yun Zhixue’s tears fell again.

“I’m here, I’m here.” Meng Zhengyue’s voice was close to her ear, building the strongest nest of love for her. It was clearer and hotter than a blurry last glimpse of life. The wind couldn’t get in, and Meng Zhengyue’s fragrant scent could completely cover her.

It was a strange and intoxicating scent. Yun Zhixue first thought it was a sister’s scent, but… Meng Zhengyue was her future mommy… was this a mommy’s scent? A mommy’s scent was so sweet.

Yun Zhixue nestled in Meng Zhengyue’s arms, continuing her second round of sobs. When she was tired of crying, Yun Zhixue moved to the side, feeling embarrassed. Meng Zhengyue held her hand and asked, “Do you want me to hold your hand to the elevator?”

Yun Zhixue hesitated, rubbing her hands together repeatedly.

Meng Zhengyue took her hand. “Let’s go.”

Inside the room, Meng Zhengyue took the backpack off her shoulder and placed it on the table.

She saw the neatly packed things on the table and the note, an expensive watch, a tube of ointment, and a fountain pen.

Meng Zhengyue had a bad feeling. She opened the bag and saw the knife and gloves inside. She turned her head and looked straight at Yun Zhixue.

It was too late for Yun Zhixue to stop her. She was afraid that Meng Zhengyue would discover her secret, despise her, mock her, and humiliate her for being so foolish. And then…

Meng Zhengyue’s face was cold. She put the watch on her wrist, fastened the strap, and then put on the gloves. The black latex fit tightly against her long fingers, stretching straight, with her knuckles protruding. She took out the ointment and smeared it on her fingertips.

She went up to Yun Zhixue, her face very serious. “Lift up your clothes.”

Yun Zhixue couldn’t think. She could only obey her command, slowly pulling out the tucked-in shirt and lifting it up. The scabbed wound showed some pink, and the three holes from the doctor were oozing bl00d.

Whether it was from shame or pain, her eyes turned red when the thin latex touched her wound, and they were moist with tears.

Meng Zhengyue bent down to apply the medicine for her.

“Does it hurt?”

“Don’t bite your lip.”

She looked up, making Yun Zhixue look her in the eye. Yun Zhixue nodded. Meng Zhengyue took the hem of the shirt from her hand, lifted it up, and directly took off her short-sleeved shirt. Yun Zhixue hugged her bare arms to cover her chest. Meng Zhengyue took the clean short-sleeved shirt from her bag, neatly folded it, and put it over her head, then carefully took her hands out of the sleeves.

She then glanced at her unevenly cut hair. When she tried to touch it, Yun Zhixue dodged her. Her long hair had been so beautiful before. Meng Zhengyue frowned.

“Did I hurt you?”

“No… your movements are very gentle.”

“Want to take a shower?”

Yun Zhixue said, “Mm.”

“Do you need help?”

Yun Zhixue didn’t know if she should refuse at this time. Meng Zhengyue patiently guided her. “Honey, if it’s inconvenient, I can help you. If you don’t want to, and you can do it yourself, then go ahead. But don’t force yourself.”

Yun Zhixue still couldn’t overcome her shame. She didn’t dare to go into the bathroom with her. “I can do it myself… Thank you.”

Meng Zhengyue handed her her phone. Yun Zhixue pressed her finger on the screen to unlock it. Meng Zhengyue put her own number in.

When Yun Zhixue came out of the bathroom, Meng Zhengyue was still on her phone. Yun Zhixue looked at Meng Zhengyue, her mother’s young lover.

Yun Zhixue didn’t have a strong concept of age. She just felt that she was very young, very fragrant, and very soft, but also very hard. It seemed… Yun Jing and she were not a good match.

Meng Zhengyue patted the empty space beside her. Yun Zhixue hesitated for half a minute and then slowly walked over.

Meng Zhengyue checked Yun Zhixue’s abdominal wound again. She had put a waterproof patch on it, and it hadn’t touched the wound. She hummed lightly, saying that Yun Zhixue was very well-behaved.

Meng Zhengyue held her wrist, placing her between her knees. Meng Zhengyue knelt, holding a new hair tie between her teeth. Her nimble fingers slowly untangled her unevenly cut hair.

The strands fell softly. The messy cuts from Du Mingxiao were particularly glaring under the light. Meng Zhengyue leaned over and opened her phone. She skipped various haircut tutorials and went directly to the last one: how to braid a cute hairstyle for a daughter.

When her fingertips moved through her hair, Yun Zhixue didn’t feel a single sting. She could only blink her sore eyes desperately.

Meng Zhengyue divided the remaining hair into small sections and cleverly braided them into the main hair. Finally, she loosened some of the braids and secured them with a hair tie.

Her fingers were against her scalp, and it felt itchy.

“All done.” She handed her a mirror.

The strands of hair that were violently cut were now transformed into delicate braids hidden in her thick, long hair, making her look more spirited than before.

“Zhixue is still very pretty.”

Yun Zhixue’s eyes felt warm again.

Meng Zhengyue put her arm around her waist, holding her close to give her enough security before she spoke. “Tell me about that Du Mingxiao.”

Yun Zhixue’s body trembled. Meng Zhengyue held her arm, making her lean against her. “It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

Meng Zhengyue asked, “Does your mom know?”

Yun Zhixue didn’t rush to talk about Du Mingxiao. She said, “She doesn’t care about me.” She said this with a selfish intention, hoping to hear Meng Zhengyue say, “I care about you.”

Meng Zhengyue didn’t answer that way. She said, “You’re an adult now, 18 years old. You can do anything freely, and you don’t need anyone’s permission. Being controlled is a restriction.”

The black gloves she had used, which were soaked in the scent of medicine, were thrown into the trash can. Yun Zhixue stared at them and asked, “Can I do anything I want?”

Meng Zhengyue said, “Yes, you are very smart.”

Yun Zhixue asked the most crucial question, “Then… I don’t need to tell her and ask for her opinion?”

She was referring to Yun Jing.

“Mm.”

Yun Zhixue’s eyes twinkled. She looked up at Meng Zhengyue. Meng Zhengyue was so beautiful. The bright eyes under her lashes were like two tempting honey fruits. She wrapped Yun Zhixue in a powerful, indescribable feeling. Yun Zhixue had been repeating a word in her mind, “Can I defy her too?”

“Of course.”

Yun Zhixue’s tongue moved in her mouth. She swallowed and said, “Can I put the medicine on you?”

“No need.”

Yun Zhixue paused and continued, “You should go take a shower.” She gave Meng Zhengyue permission to use her bathroom. The nightgown she had brought last time was neatly folded in the closet. She could also take it out for Meng Zhengyue.

Meng Zhengyue noticed that she was showing goodwill. She said softly, “I want to wait for a bit. I’m a little uncomfortable.”

Yun Zhixue could see it clearly. There was a very unfamiliar light in Meng Zhengyue’s eyes… It looked like sympathy.

Is she feeling sorry for me?

“Were you angry that day?” Yun Zhixue asked cautiously about that morning.

“Yes.”

“Then you…”

“But I can give a little kid a few more chances to be forgiven.”

Meng Zhengyue held her hand, pried her tightly clenched fingers open, and gently caressed her palm.

Her heart suddenly softened, like she had stepped into a void and landed in cotton. Yun Zhixue started to tremble uncontrollably again.

Yun Zhixue whimpered, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have argued with you that day. I’m sorry.”

Meng Zhengyue said, “Admitting your mistake makes you a good kid. I forgive you.”

Yun Zhixue clenched the fabric on her chest and buried her face in Meng Zhengyue’s arms. Meng Zhengyue wrapped her arms around her waist and carried her to the bed.

Meng Zhengyue sat by the bed for a while, waiting for her to calm down. Then, she went to clean up the pile of cut hair, tidying up everything neatly. After that, she took the purple nightgown and went to the bathroom.

The sound of water could be heard. Yun Zhixue gripped the blanket, her eyes glancing toward the bathroom several times. The bathroom was separated by a wall. The rich fragrance filled the room, enveloping her. She wanted more, so much more…

The dorm had a double bed, which was enough for two people to sleep in. Meng Zhengyue didn’t get on it. She lay on the Chinese-style wooden sofa, her head resting on her hands.

The phone’s light was set very low, but it still illuminated her chin.

In the middle of the night, Yun Zhixue woke up from a confused sleep. She turned to look at the sleeping Meng Zhengyue and then got off the bed to stand next to her and look at her.

A voice kept screaming in her ear, too loud to think.

Is this my mommy?

Is this my mommy?

…

The next day, the sky was a little gloomy. The phone screen showed a 60% chance of rain.

The sofa was empty. Yun Zhixue reached out and touched the empty thin blanket. A bitter feeling rose in her chest.

The room was cleaned very well. There was no trace of another person. Last night felt like a dream.

She felt a kind of indescribable loss. She walked to the sofa.

To make sure Meng Zhengyue had really been there, she hugged the pillow and sniffed it, then sniffed it again, and finally smelled the faint scent of gardenia.

When Yun Zhixue held her umbrella and arrived at the school gate, the rain had already intensified. She followed the destination on her phone and walked to the woods on the side of the school. She saw a group of muscular bodyguards in black surrounding her in a semi-circle, holding black umbrellas to shield Meng Zhengyue from the rain.

Meng Zhengyue was half-squatting, her hand with the black glove deeply embedded in Du Mingxiao’s hair. She yanked his head back hard. Rainwater slid down her taut arm. The wine bottle in her hand reflected a cold light under the streetlamp.

“Even?” She raised the bottle and smashed it down hard. The sound of shattering glass mixed with the sound of the rain exploding. “Hmm? Did I say we were even?”