Lady By The Pillow - Chapter 56

56 A Love Triangle (2)

“Haven’t you ever forced me?”

The moonlight was shattered into a thousand pieces by the intersecting wisteria vines, casting tiny pinpricks of light that looked like a sieve. But not a single beam of light fell on Wei Jiuyi.

She stood completely in the shadows. The distant streetlights behind her looked like tiny yellow dots. The faint moonlight wove through the leaves and reflected off the stone pillars into her eyes. Her pupils didn’t move, and the light in them reflected a chilling blade.

In front of her, Fei Ying sat on the ground. She looked up at the sudden figure in front of her and finally recognized who it was with the help of the faint moonlight.

Of course. The owner of the Audi A8L that had been following her and Shi Qing the whole way, the woman who was always watching over Shi Qing, deliberately creating a scandal by being close to her on the set. Who else could it be but Wei Jiuyi?

“Heh…”

Fei Ying let out a cold laugh, filled with sarcasm and bitterness. She pushed herself up from the concrete, patting the dust off her clothes.

“Miss Wei, how have you been?”

Wei Jiuyi bit down on her back teeth. The extreme patience couldn’t contain her anger. She took a step forward, blocking Shi Qing.

“While I still have the patience, leave now.”

The rude tone angered Fei Ying. It seemed like Wei Jiuyi and Shi Qing were actually together. Otherwise, why would she have the right to tell her to leave?

“I’m afraid you don’t have that right. What happens between Xiao Qing and me is our private matter, and it’s none of your business.”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t back down.

“A private matter? Or are you just selfish and arrogant? If you really loved her, you would know that her back is very fragile right now and can’t be injured again!”

Even Yu Qing, who had been blocked by Shi Qing, knew to find a doctor for her. Yet Fei Ying could push her so hard against a stone pillar.

Was that what she called love?

The air grew quiet. Fei Ying knew she had been impulsive, but it was Shi Qing’s desperate struggle that had caused her back to hit the pillar. She couldn’t be blamed entirely. Besides, even if she was to be told to leave, it should have been Shi Qing who said it herself, not Wei Jiuyi, who was a mere “bed partner” who had just appeared out of nowhere.

“Is that so? Then why did she fall from a horse this time? You were right there next to her. Why didn’t you protect her then?!”

Wei Jiuyi glared at her. “I’ll take responsibility for my negligence, but that’s not an excuse for you to hurt her!”

Fei Ying took a deep breath. “What? Are you going to lecture me on behalf of Xiao Qing? Who are you? What gives you the right to make decisions for her?”

Wei Jiuyi sneered. “Who I am is none of your concern. Fei Ying, I respected you before because A-Qing once liked you. I didn’t get into all the messed-up things you did. But if you’re going to hurt her, I’m sorry. As long as I’m here, you won’t have that opportunity ever again. Otherwise, I’ll settle the score with you, one by one.”

Wei Jiuyi’s eyes had completely inherited her mother’s, Wei Shu’s. Even without Wei Shu’s experience, she was still a leopard that had just run out of a cave, ready to bite someone’s neck.

Youth was prone to impulsiveness, and impulsiveness would create enemies. A capable leopard, however, would snap the enemy’s neck the moment it created one.

Fei Ying’s spine straightened, and she didn’t say anything.

While she was silent, Wei Jiuyi had already helped Shi Qing up, letting Shi Qing’s arm rest on her shoulder and taking the weight off her. With her two hands wrapped around Shi Qing’s waist, she said cautiously,

“A-Qing, are you okay?”

The impact was not light. Luckily, Dong Ya had reminded her to wear her back brace before they left, which had absorbed most of the impact and prevented a more serious injury. It was a little painful to walk, but she could bear it. As they passed Fei Ying, Shi Qing stopped, her eyes fixed on the end of the corridor. She didn’t turn back.

“Sister Fei, I’ve said all I need to say. You should go back.”

Her kind words were the last bit of gentleness Shi Qing had for Fei Ying.

In that instant, Fei Ying heard the sound of a tall building collapsing. It didn’t matter that Shi Qing had rejected her again and again before. But tonight, she had told Shi Qing about the most miserable years of her life abroad, and not only did it not make Shi Qing confirm her feelings, but she was repeatedly avoided and was finally rejected completely.

She had already laid her entire heart bare for her to see. What more did she want?

Shi Qing was already walking away, supported by Wei Jiuyi, and had stepped out of the corridor. As they left the wisteria’s shade, they were bathed in the golden glow of the streetlights. Shi Qing was half-leaning on Wei Jiuyi, who was supporting her waist and asking her something. Shi Qing shook her head, and the two of them continued walking slowly.

Until they disappeared around the corner of the path.

The scene was so heartwarming it felt ironic.

Fei Ying walked away in a daze, her legs moving mechanically. Suddenly, she tripped on a step and fell.

She forgot what she was supposed to do. She just sat on the damp ground, looking up at the lights on in every house in the complex.

A million lights, but not a single one was lit for her.

Back at her place, Shi Qing finally returned with Wei Jiuyi’s support. The moment before she opened the door, Shi Qing let go of Wei Jiuyi’s shoulder.

“You can let go now. It wouldn’t be good if Xiao Ya and the others see us.”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t let go, her eyes filled with worry.

“Are you okay? Should we go back to the hospital for a checkup?”

Shi Qing directly pushed her hand away, her tone a little cold.

“I’m fine.”

She held the key in her hand for two seconds before putting it in the lock. Her lowered eyelashes fluttered, and she said with a bitter laugh, her voice full of questions:

“Don’t tell Xiao Ya and the others about what happened today. Just pretend it never happened.”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t understand. “Why? I have to tell Xiao Ya. At least she can help you block Fei Ying if she ever comes looking for you again.”

Shi Qing was displeased. “Xiao Ya is just my assistant. She’s not obligated to handle this kind of thing for me.”

Wei Jiuyi got agitated. “Then what do you want to do? Handle it all by yourself? Take it all on yourself?”

“What else?”

“A-Qing.”

“Don’t call me that.”

Wei Jiuyi composed herself, took a deep breath, and let the cold air dissipate the heat in her lungs before slowly exhaling.

“Alright, I won’t call you that. Teacher Shi, Shi Qing, you’re a human, not a piece of wood or metal. If you run into trouble, you can ask for help from the people around you. Fei Ying tried to force herself on you while you were injured. Xiao Ya needs to know so she can block her if she shows up again.”

Shi Qing didn’t say anything. She seemed to be trapped in a mental whirlpool, her beautiful eyes staring at the pattern on the security door. After a long time, she let out a bitter laugh and asked,

“Haven’t you ever forced me?”

“I…”

Wei Jiuyi couldn’t argue. The night they had their biggest fight was when she had forcefully kissed Shi Qing.

Shi Qing turned around, a hint of sharpness in her soft gaze.

“She just hugged me. Have you forgotten what you did that night? Speaking of forcing, you were much worse than her.”

Wei Jiuyi couldn’t defend herself. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t come out. After several attempts, she finally said,

“I was in the wrong that night.”

She was indeed out of line that night. She had thought Shi Qing would yell at her or hit her, but she didn’t.

Tonight, she had saved her, and she had thought Shi Qing would be grateful and accept her, but she didn’t.

The similar experiences sparked the same kind of resentment. Wei Jiuyi knew her sin. Even her current thoughtfulness and care couldn’t erase the hurt she caused Shi Qing that night.

What made her think Shi Qing would forget? What made her think that Shi Qing would forgive her just because she stopped Fei Ying tonight? A few acts of kindness could not make up for the initial pain. The more outrageous Fei Ying was, the more Shi Qing would remember that night.

To Shi Qing, who was hurt, Wei Jiuyi was no better than Fei Ying.

The key went into the lock. She twisted it halfway to unlock the latch, then stopped before the final twist.

“What you both want from me is the same.”

With that, she pushed the door open and went in.

Wei Jiuyi stood at the door in a daze. The voice-activated light flickered off, and her shadow on the wall disappeared, instantly blending into the darkness.

How could it be the same? How could she be the same as Fei Ying?

She loved her so much, so afraid that she would get hurt, that she wished she could take out her heart and feed it to her, piece by piece.

What did Fei Ying do? Every time something happened, she would just stand by and do nothing, never helping, not even speaking up online. She would only use the excuse “I’m busy” and only show up after Shi Qing’s problems were completely solved.

Fei Ying only liked the problem-free Shi Qing. She, Wei Jiuyi, had always helped Shi Qing deal with her problems.

How could it be the same?

How could it be the same!

Was it just because she lost control and did something out of line that night? A-Qing, you’re not that vengeful. You didn’t yell at me, and you didn’t hit me, which means you’ll forgive me, right? As long as you’re willing to forgive me, no, as long as you gently nod your head, I’ll abandon all my pride, lose all my dignity, break all my arrogance, and stay by your side for the rest of my life.

The sound of the elevator arriving came, and the light above her head turned on. The elevator door opened, and a delivery guy with a large box of food came running out.

“1202…”

The delivery guy glanced at the apartment number and realized that the woman in all black standing in front of him was at the right door.

“Hello, did you order this food?”

Wei Jiuyi snapped out of her deep sadness and quickly blinked twice, hiding the redness in her eyes.

“Oh, no.”

The delivery guy found her a little familiar. He didn’t know if he had been watching too much news lately, but she looked like the main character of a news story about catching a homewrecker.

She’s not here to cause trouble, is she?

“No? Then why are you standing in front of someone’s door?” the delivery guy asked.

“I forgot my key,” Wei Jiuyi said, very good at lying.

“Then why did you say you’re not from 1202? I’m here to deliver food.”

Wei Jiuyi finally remembered that Shi Qing had said last night that to thank her and Zhang Yulan for their help, she had ordered some dishes to thank them.

She reached out to take it.

“Oh, that’s ours. You can give it to me.”

The delivery guy didn’t give it to her. He asked, “Is your phone number ending in 1314?”

Wei Jiuyi didn’t think twice. “Yes.”

The delivery guy cautiously took a big step back. “Then you’re not the one who ordered this. The number for this order ends in 5201.”

Wei Jiuyi was stunned. Even the delivery guy is messing with her?

Before she could explain, the delivery guy had already dialed the number Shi Qing had left.

“Hello, your food is at your door. It’s 1202, right?”

The delivery guy’s phone was on speaker by default so he could answer it while riding his scooter. Wei Jiuyi stood there foolishly, listening to the sound of fabric rubbing together, and then Shi Qing spoke.

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

The delivery guy warily looked at Wei Jiuyi. “Don’t open the door yet. There’s a woman outside your door. I don’t know if she’s your friend or what, but she’s been standing there.”

Wei Jiuyi was indignant. “I’ve only been standing here for two minutes.”

The delivery guy ignored her. “She looks a little emotional. Take a look through the peephole to see if you know her. If not, you should call the police first. I’ll wait.”

Wei Jiuyi: “…”

The door opened. Shi Qing, in a change of clothes, took the food from the delivery guy’s hand and said, “Thank you.” She then saw Wei Jiuyi standing by the emergency exit in a huff, her back against the wall, her hands behind her, looking like a wronged wife.

Shi Qing sighed. After the delivery guy got on the elevator, she spoke.

“What are you doing standing there?”

It was better not to ask. As soon as she did, Wei Jiuyi’s tears fell.

She had a lot to say to defend herself, to argue that she was not like Fei Ying, to state that she wouldn’t be reckless like that night again, all while hiding her true feelings. But with so many things to say and so many emotions, not a single word came out.

She quickly wiped away her tears with her hand, holding back a sob. After a long moment, she finally said,

“You hate me.”