Why Suffer for This Distress (GL) - Chapter 6

Su Xiyan was inexplicably excited by her own idea. She wasn’t just speaking casually; she had already visited the properties in Shihao, and was very satisfied with the community’s construction and house design. However, for a matter like buying a house, she still had to consult Su Nan’s opinion. Su Xiyan figured she should make a move once her brother returned from his honeymoon. Although she might speak ill of He Jingmo, in reality, she had long been accustomed to He Jingmo’s care. Once one gets used to a life where clothes are handed to them and food is placed in their mouth, it’s not something that can be changed overnight.

Thinking about the happy life ahead where she wouldn’t have to worry about anything, Su Xiyan excitedly hummed a tune. She turned to look at He Jingmo for resonance, but was met with eyes as cold as a deep pool.

Unaccountably, Su Xiyan shivered.

He Jingmo glanced at Su Xiyan, turned her head, and said flatly, “I’m a little tired. Let’s go back.”

Seeing He Jingmo’s extremely unpleasant expression, Su Xiyan knew she had said the wrong thing again. For a moment, her heart felt heavy. This situation hadn’t occurred just once or twice. Since graduating from college, He Jingmo would always inexplicably change her face like this. She would be fine one second, and the next, she would turn hostile and refuse to acknowledge her. Not only that, Su Xiyan could clearly sense that she had something on her mind, something very heavy. But every time she pressed, He Jingmo would just smile faintly and say nothing. This made Su Xiyan feel increasingly uncomfortable. They had promised to be best friends for life, so why was she suddenly keeping things hidden? What was this supposed to be?

He Jingmo stood still, watched Su Xiyan’s changing expression, sighed, and said, “I’m hungry.”

“Hungry?” Su Xiyan came back to her senses, thought for a moment, and said, “There’s that Wood Cabin BBQ skewer place you love up ahead. Shall we go eat?”

“No.”

Her suggestion was immediately rejected by He Jingmo. Su Xiyan looked up at her, frowning as she asked, “Then what do you want to eat?”

“Let’s go to the night market.”

He Jingmo looked her in the eye and said. Su Xiyan looked at He Jingmo’s high heels and mocked, “Aren’t you afraid of twisting your ankle?”

“I am.” He Jingmo replied readily. She blinked at Su Xiyan and opened her arms with a half-smile, “So, same as always.”

“No, absolutely not!” Su Xiyan shook her head like a rattle-drum. He Jingmo ignored her theatrics, pulled her right leg back, and started preparing to run.

“I’m a person who’s been drinking…”

Su Xiyan made one last desperate struggle, but He Jingmo ignored her. Just like in college, He Jingmo leaped up with a whoosh, and Su Xiyan shouted, “Mommy!” and quickly bent down. He Jingmo took advantage of the momentum and vaulted onto Su Xiyan’s back with a graceful posture. Her movement was standard and elegant, drawing onlookers. However, Su Xiyan, who was carrying her, was clearly uncomfortable. The huge force made her stagger a few steps forward, nearly falling. She gritted her teeth and, completely losing her image, grabbed onto a nearby man who was intently watching the commotion.

The man looked at Su Xiyan in terror. Su Xiyan took a breath and said to him, “Just borrowing you for a moment.” Then, she let go. The man looked at the obvious circle of pinch marks left on his arm, swallowed, and ran away in a flash.

“…”

After the initial stumble, Su Xiyan finally regained her composure and slowly walked toward the night market with He Jingmo on her back.

“You’re supposed to be a dignified mentor. What if your students see you?”

Sweat was starting to bead on Su Xiyan’s forehead. She finally understood. The esteemed lady on her back was deliberately tormenting her because she was in a bad mood today. He Jingmo rested her head on Su Xiyan’s shoulder, inhaled the scent on her, and smiled.

“What’s wrong with you lately? Why is your temper so bad?” Sensing He Jingmo’s improved mood, Su Xiyan asked, seizing the opportunity. He Jingmo rubbed her cheek against Su Xiyan’s neck and said languidly, “How is it bad?”

He Jingmo’s action tickled Su Xiyan. She said awkwardly, “Behave. It’s uncomfortable.”

“It used to be like this, didn’t it? What’s uncomfortable? You’re being a hypocrite!” He Jingmo was amused and carefree. This was the only way she could discipline this big idiot.

Su Xiyan habitually pouted, “If anyone from the company saw me like this, I’d lose all my face.”

“Serves you right. Who told you to pretend to be a Queen in front of them?” He Jingmo snickered. Su Xiyan became annoyed, raised an eyebrow, and retorted, “What do you mean ‘pretend’? I am a Queen!”

“Oh really?” He Jingmo put one arm around Su Xiyan’s neck and slowly moved the other hand downward. Su Xiyan instantly flinched as if she had been electrocuted, and snapped, “If you touch me inappropriately again, I’ll throw you on the ground and kill you.”

“Alright, no more touching, be good.” He Jingmo coaxed Su Xiyan like a child. Looking at her slightly pink ears, her mood brightened considerably.

Upon reaching the night market, under the strange gazes of the surrounding people, He Jingmo finally consented to get down. Su Xiyan panted heavily and glared at He Jingmo. He Jingmo smiled and pulled her hand toward the crowd.

After strolling for only a short while, Su Xiyan felt tired. She felt like she was genuinely getting old. She hadn’t walked many steps with He Jingmo on her back, yet her head started to feel fuzzy. She remembered she used to carry He Jingmo all the way home from school. Time truly shows no mercy. He Jingmo saw Su Xiyan’s slumped, droopy appearance and knew she was tired. She pursed her lips and pulled Su Xiyan toward home. Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived home, Su Xiyan instantly became energetic, starting to throw a tantrum, insisting on eating He Jingmo’s homemade noodles.

“Didn’t you just eat?”

He Jingmo looked at Su Xiyan, frustrated. When would she ever break this habit of irregular eating? Su Xiyan was unhappy. “I carried you for so long, and I can’t even have a bowl of noodles?”

He Jingmo rolled her eyes and didn’t argue with her. She turned, washed her hands, and went to the kitchen. Su Xiyan smiled contentedly, changed her clothes, and went to the bathroom to shower. By the time Su Xiyan finished showering, He Jingmo had finished cooking the noodles. Seeing the two very tempting fried eggs on top of the noodles, Su Xiyan practically lunged at the bowl.

“Slow down.”

He Jingmo instructed. Su Xiyan happily looked at He Jingmo while gulping down the noodles. “Why are you so nice today, giving me two eggs?”

He Jingmo was tidying up the long dress Su Xiyan had just tossed on the floor, and replied without lifting her head, “Mm, made to look like your chest.”

“…”

Su Xiyan choked. She looked up and glared at He Jingmo, but the other woman was focused on cleaning the room and didn’t even look at her. After glaring for a while, Su Xiyan felt it was pointless, lowered her head, and continued eating. By the time she finished, it was past eleven at night. She stood up and stretched, “Jingmo, you should go to bed first.”

“What about you?” He Jingmo came out of the room holding the hairdryer. Su Xiyan yawned and looked at her, “I still have files to look at. I have a very important meeting tomorrow morning, so I need to review them.”

“Mm, alright.” Knowing her personality, He Jingmo didn’t say much. She simply walked to the sofa and said softly, “Blow-dry your hair first.”

“It’s fine, air-drying is okay.” Su Xiyan touched her damp hair. He Jingmo didn’t say anything, but looked into her eyes. Su Xiyan coughed and nodded, “Okay.”

Su Xiyan’s migraine issues started in college. Her lazy nature meant she wouldn’t spend time blow-drying her hair. He Jingmo was both annoyed and anxious, and since then, blow-drying her hair after showering had become an unbreakable habit.

“This is really nice, it feels like we’re back in the old days.” Su Xiyan rested her head on He Jingmo’s lap, squinting her eyes and enjoying her thoughtful care. The feeling of her slightly cool fingers lightly touching her hair was very soothing.

“You must blow-dry your hair after washing it from now on.” He Jingmo instructed worriedly. Su Xiyan pouted, “Nagging.”

“If I don’t nag, will you remember?” He Jingmo pinched Su Xiyan’s cheek. Su Xiyan ignored her, grabbing her hand to stop her from moving. Once her hair was dry, Su Xiyan urged He Jingmo to go to sleep, and then she stood up and went into the study. Although college courses weren’t numerous, managing those adolescents in the throes of youth was enough to give anyone a headache. Su Xiyan would absolutely not let He Jingmo stay up late with her.

He Jingmo also knew Su Xiyan’s temper and allowed herself to be pushed into the bedroom. Not until Su Xiyan tucked her into bed did she turn off the light and confidently close the door to leave.

The door closed. He Jingmo shook her head and smiled. She threw back the covers, got up, turned on the bedside lamp, and picked up a book to read.

This kind of silent waiting had never stopped all these years.

Half the book was read, and the clock pointed to one o’clock. He Jingmo rubbed her tired eyes. She casually picked up a jacket, put it on, stood up, put on her slippers, and quietly pushed open the door, heading toward the study.

In the study, a faint orange light still shone. He Jingmo gently pushed open the slightly ajar door and sighed when she saw Su Xiyan, who was already sprawled on the desk, frowning and sleeping painfully.

Walking to the desk, He Jingmo removed the pen from Su Xiyan’s hand, put one arm around her shoulder and the other under her legs, and lifted her into a horizontal carry.

“Sleepy…”

In her daze, Su Xiyan buried herself into He Jingmo’s embrace, mumbling impatiently. Her long hair, which still carried a fresh scent from her shower, cascaded down like a waterfall, covering her pale neck, adding a sense of vulnerability to her. He Jingmo carried Su Xiyan toward the bedroom, gently responding, “Mm, good girl, sleep.”

Carefully placing Su Xiyan on the bed, He Jingmo took a blanket and covered her. She then half-squatted beside the bed, gazing at Su Xiyan’s sleeping face.

Without the mischief of everyday life or the sharpness of work, Su Xiyan slept like a child, even showing a shallow smile because she felt the softness of the bed. Under the lamplight, her skin was almost transparently white, and she slept soundly, clutching the pillow with both hands. He Jingmo looked at Su Xiyan with complete affection. After a long moment, she leaned down, lightly stroked Su Xiyan’s nose, and softly sighed, “You little Cheap Shou.”