No Longer Escaping (ABO) - Chapter 9
Yang Lulong couldn’t even remember how long she had been here.
“Xiao Yang! Come get your stuff!” Zhang Long’s shout simultaneously called both Yang Lulong and Wan Niang out of their rooms. Wan Niang watched in surprise as Yang Lulong took a large pile of tools from Zhang Long’s hands.
“What is this?”
“Xiao Yang asked me to get her some woodworking tools from town a few days ago,” Zhang Long explained honestly.
“Woodworking?”
“I know a little…” Yang Lulong stammered. It wasn’t really woodworking, more like a crafting hobby. She just wanted Zhang Long to bring some tools to pass the time. Relying on the little chicks to pass the time wasn’t really working.
Wan Niang saw Yang Lulong eagerly pick up the tools, ready to try them out. She took some brushes and paper and began to draw on the paper with ink.
Wan Niang watched curiously as she drew.
She had never known anything about this, so she couldn’t understand what Yang Lulong was drawing.
“What are you drawing?”
“A wheelchair. Like a carriage, but it’s a chair, a chair you can push.”
“Is it for Sister Fang?”
“Mmm.” Sister Fang’s situation would occasionally weigh on Yang Lulong’s mind. Although Wu Yu had nothing to do with her, the guilt had never faded.
“Oh…” Wan Niang’s tone revealed a hint of disappointment.
Suddenly, Yang Lulong tore off a strip of paper, asked Wan Niang to extend her hand, and measured her wrist with the paper strip.
“What are you doing now?”
“It’s a secret,” Yang Lulong teased.
For the next few days, Yang Lulong toiled in the courtyard, building the wheelchair.
After many tests, and once the quality was finally up to par, she delivered the item to Sister Fang.
Upon receiving the gift, Xiao Wen was even more excited than Sister Fang, hugging Yang Lulong tightly in gratitude.
“Mama can go out and play with us too now,” Xiao Hua was also very happy and came over to hug Yang Lulong. “Thank you, Xiao Yang.”
Xiao Wen heard what she said and slapped her on the head. “Is ‘Xiao Yang’ what you call her? You should call her Aunt Yang, no manners.”
“Aunt Xiao Wen and Uncle Zhang call her that too, why can’t I?” Xiao Hua was not to be outdone, pouting and complaining.
“No, no, from now on, you’re my sister! I’ll call you sister from now on. Alright, Sister Yang.”
“Me too, Sister Yang,” Zhang Long also joined in the fun.
“You don’t have to call me that…” Yang Lulong was speechless.
Suddenly, Sister Fang’s house was filled with laughter.
To celebrate, everyone went to a picnic on the grassland by the fields.
Yang Lulong was pulled by Xiao Wen and the others to go fishing. Xiao Hua, being playful, also joined them, leaving only Sister Fang and Wan Niang at the campsite.
“Wan Niang…”
“Hmm?”
“I know, after what happened with Wu Yu, I might not have the right to say this… but… she is indeed a very good person. You’ve felt it too, haven’t you?”
“Mmm…”
“If that’s the case… then don’t miss your chance.”
After hearing Sister Fang’s words, Wan Niang fell into thought. She understood what Sister Fang meant. From the moment she first met Yang Lulong, she could feel that Yang Lulong was simply a quiet person, but definitely not a bad person. Through their daily interactions over the past few days, her understanding of Yang Lulong gradually deepened. She had been worried that if Yang Lulong remembered her past, she might leave. After Yang Lulong confessed to her, that question no longer bothered her. However… she wasn’t sure what Yang Lulong thought of her.
Xiao Wen and the others were lucky; they caught many large, plump fish.
Everyone happily enjoyed the picnic, but Yang Lulong noticed that Wan Niang seemed to be troubled by something. Ever since they returned, Wan Niang had been quiet, only occasionally smiling along.
It was the same on the way back home.
Back home.
“I’ll go boil some water first…” Wan Niang said, about to head to the kitchen.
“Wait a moment,” Yang Lulong suddenly called out to her. “This is for you.” She took out a wooden bracelet from her embrace, with some patterns carved on it.
“For me? Why?” Wan Niang took the bracelet, a smile gracing her face, and examined it carefully.
“Just wanted to give you something,” Yang Lulong said shyly.
Wan Niang immediately put the bracelet on her wrist. “It’s beautiful, thank you…”
Seeing Wan Niang looking very pleased, Yang Lulong also became happy.
Having received Yang Lulong’s gift, Wan Niang recalled what Sister Fang had told her earlier that day. Perhaps Yang Lulong felt the same way as she did. Finally gathering her courage, Wan Niang slowly spoke.
“Yang Lulong…”
“Hmm?” Yang Lulong met her eyes, not looking away as she usually would, but looking back at her sincerely.
“I like you…”
Yang Lulong froze. She looked at Wan Niang’s hopeful expression, feeling a bit overwhelmed. She thought she and Wan Niang were good friends. She didn’t understand the line between friends and lovers. Having never had a friend before, let alone been in love, she was at a loss. She didn’t dare to reject Wan Niang; she was afraid of losing this friend. But did she like Wan Niang in a romantic way? She had never thought about it in that sense. After thinking for a long time, she could only stammer out an ambiguous phrase.
“I don’t understand…”
Hearing her reply, Wan Niang also froze.
“It’s okay… I was wrong…” Wan Niang forced out a smile. “I’m a little tired. I want to go to sleep now…” She quickly turned around, not daring to let Yang Lulong see her reddening eyes.
Yang Lulong watched her hurriedly flee and felt very sad. She seemed to have made Wan Niang sad.