Devil or Angel (GL) - Chapter 25

For those who suffer from insomnia, the night can feel unbearably long. They wait and wait for the morning light, yet it never comes, and in these moments, people tend to overthink or become irritable.

Just like this, in the quiet darkness, Yiyang sat on the edge of the bed, her hands holding her head, her emotions tangled and unable to calm. Why? How did this happen?

Although she was used to occasional insomnia—mostly due to childhood shadows—now, whenever she lay down, her mind was filled entirely with the image of that woman.

That smile, turning back toward her, so captivating, made her heart race in a way that even thoughts of Lin Wei, buried deep in her heart, never did. Seeing her father’s concern for the woman and the intimate gestures he displayed stirred an unexpected sense of rivalry in Yiyang—a kind of jealousy mixed with a twinge of bitterness, distinct from her longstanding grievances with her father.

The tension Liu Ma noticed in her tonight was real, though Yiyang was unwilling and afraid to admit it. To admit she was nervous around that woman would be to acknowledge that she was slowly starting to accept her into her life.

But this acceptance was not the kind a daughter feels for a stepmother. In Yiyang’s heart, she never regarded Zhi Yu as a parental figure, let alone someone to call “Mom” in the future.

Ah, what is love in this world, that leaves the person so bewildered? Yiyang was puzzled by her own behavior. Why had she acted so unusually today? Why had she cared so much about that woman, to the point of physically defending her?

Touching her dry lips, Yiyang closed her eyes, replaying the afternoon’s events in her mind. A smile appeared on her face—one full of deep meaning that even she didn’t fully understand. She alternated between bitterness and foolish grins, looking almost like a person losing their mind.

Unconsciously, dawn arrived. Yiyang had spent the entire long night this way. Watching the sunlight outside, she stretched her aching body, dressed in sportswear, grabbed her iPod, and went out for a run.

Meanwhile, Zhi Yu had also woken up. Hearing the door close in the neighboring room, she saw how early the brat was up. She intended to sleep a little more but couldn’t, as she hadn’t rested well the night before.

The events of yesterday were vivid in her mind. She had agreed to the shoot purely to help the brat, never imagining she would end up falling into the pool. A childhood incident, where she had almost drowned, had left her with a lasting fear of water.

In the pool, Zhi Yu had thought of many things. What if she had really drowned? How would her parents cope? They would be heartbroken! Thinking of her unfinished life and unfulfilled filial duties, she had felt a despair and regret like never before.

But just as hopelessness enveloped her, strong arms had rescued her from the water. Though unconscious, she vaguely heard someone calling her name.

It was that voice that rekindled her will to live. She desperately wanted to wake, perhaps thinking her mother was calling her. But when she opened her eyes, she didn’t see her mother—only a delicate face, and she distinctly felt the warmth of lips pressed against hers.

Her heart raced faster than ever before. Even her ex-boyfriends’ kisses had never made her feel like this. Yet now, during the simple act of life-saving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, she felt this intense, abnormal reaction.

Zhi Yu sighed softly, refusing to acknowledge her unusual feelings. Instead, she reflected on the futility of trying to win the brat’s favor; his heart seemed frozen, and the path forward in life was full of uncertainty.

Since she couldn’t sleep anyway, Zhi Yu got up, went downstairs for breakfast, and then took a walk in the garden. Liu Ma had already prepared breakfast and rushed to the market to buy ingredients for lunch and dinner. Zhang Guodong had left early, leaving the huge house empty except for Zhi Yu.

After watering the plants, Zhi Yu, unsure what to do, sat in the living room to watch some TV, lazily flipping channels to pass the time.

“Liu Ma!” Yiyang called as she returned from her run, walking toward the inner room.

Hearing the voice, Zhi Yu stood and went out. Their eyes met briefly. Yiyang quickly looked around for Liu Ma, but she wasn’t there.

“She’s gone to buy groceries. Why didn’t you bring a towel with you for your run? Look at all that sweat.” Zhi Yu told her about Liu Ma’s absence and handed her a towel.

Yiyang stood frozen, only slowly realizing Zhi Yu was speaking. Scratching her head, she muttered, “I forgot it when I went out.”

“Next time, remember! Don’t catch a cold!” Zhi Yu said, stepping closer to wipe the sweat.

Yiyang noticed her movement and immediately held her wrist. Surprised, Zhi Yu instinctively pulled back, dropping the towel.

In that moment, both bent down to pick it up—moving in perfect unison. Their heads bumped together. Zhi Yu got the towel first, and Yiyang’s hand landed directly on hers.

They looked at each other. Yiyang, subtly, held her hand holding the towel, drawing his face closer.

Though she had grown accustomed to the brat’s occasional closeness, Zhi Yu’s heart still thumped wildly. Just as their lips were about to meet, Liu Ma returned.

“Yang Yang, Zhi Yu, what are you two doing squatting on the floor?”

Hearing her voice, Yiyang snapped back to reality, quickly letting go and standing. “Uh… the towel fell. Liu Ma, can you bring me breakfast? I’ll go shower and come down.”

Liu Ma went to the kitchen, then asked Zhi Yu, still standing there, “Yang Yang didn’t bully you, did he?”

“Ah? No, no!”

“What’s going on with you two? Stuttering like that—it’s really strange!” Liu Ma shook her head. Young people these days were hard to understand—nervous one moment, indifferent the next.

Yiyang went upstairs to shower, still in a daze. She patted her head, thinking: had she gone crazy, actually feeling an impulse to kiss that woman? Luckily, Liu Ma had returned in time; otherwise, it could have ended in disaster.

Dressed and back downstairs, she saw Zhi Yu watching TV. Yiyang sat at the table, head lowered, not speaking. Sharing the same space, yet no interaction—suddenly the room felt lifeless.

“I’m done, I’m going upstairs!”

“Wait, sit with Zhi Yu for a while. She’s bored alone, and you’ve got nothing to do upstairs anyway.” Liu Ma coaxed them to sit on the couch together.

Awkwardly, Yiyang sat beside Zhi Yu, resting her head on the sofa. Glancing at her, she whispered, “Watch whatever you want, don’t worry about me.”

Zhi Yu wasn’t interested in the program anyway. With someone beside her, she barely paid attention to the screen, lost in thought.

Though sitting together, they were immersed in their own worlds. Yiyang grew sleepy and gradually closed her eyes.

After a while, Zhi Yu felt a weight on her shoulder. The brat had fallen asleep. Seeing her peaceful profile, Zhi Yu didn’t want to wake her, quietly placing her left arm under Yiyang’s head as a pillow.

Scented and comfortable, Yiyang drifted into a deep, satisfying sleep. Passing through the living room, Liu Ma couldn’t help smiling. Finally, everything looked harmonious.

Two hours passed. Yiyang showed no signs of waking. Zhi Yu’s arm was going numb under her head, but she endured it, letting her rest. She looked exhausted and deserved the sleep.

Liu Ma quietly approached, whispering, “Zhi Yu, aren’t you tired? This kid often doesn’t sleep at night, then dozes during the day. Completely upside-down schedule.”

“Why doesn’t she sleep at night?”

“Ah, long story. Yiyang is a pitiful child. She used to rely on medicine to sleep. No matter what I said, she wouldn’t listen, so I hid the pills. Enough—let her wake. It’s nearly lunchtime.” Liu Ma returned to the kitchen.

Hearing this, Zhi Yu wondered what kind of experiences had made her live so wearied, feeling a bit of sympathy for the child.

Looking at the young face before her, Zhi Yu reached out. First thought: youth is wonderful—smooth even without makeup. Second: the hand felt good. Third: this mischievous brat only let her guard down in sleep.

Perhaps sensing something unusual on her face, Yiyang slowly opened her eyes, startling Zhi Yu, who forgot to retract her stealthily extended hand.