Cloud Girl Chapter Twelve
At 4:30 p.m., in the commercial office of "Lu's Enterprise" standing straight in the center of Tulo City.
A beautiful woman in her late twenties, impeccably dressed and impeccably groomed, wearing light beige suit pants and a white turtleneck sweater, exuded a captivating charm in the office.
The woman leisurely tidied up the things on the table, crossing out the "Going back to see my sister" mark on the calendar for Saturday.
Hearing the voice, Sisley, a short-haired girl who was working overtime with me, looked up and asked in surprise, "Wow, you're leaving so quickly after finishing your work?"
Chen Yiwen smiled slightly, "Yes, I'm going back to see my sister today..." Before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by Sisley, who was lying on the table, looking weak and listless.
"Oh, I know, I know. Your sister has the day off today... Tsk, I really envy your sister. She has such a good older sister like you, always talking about her. I'm miserable, I still have to work overtime here!"
Chen Yi smiled and playfully scolded, "You really are... I worked my butt off to finish this yesterday."
Hearing this, Sisley obediently stood up, stuck out her tongue, and said, "Alright, Sister Yiwen, then you should go and come back soon. I'm still waiting for you to bring me a gift when you go to Hong Kong on your business trip!"
Sisley was not stingy with her words in this regard, because they got along like sisters at the company, almost like when they went out together in school. Sometimes you would pay for me and I would pay for you, which was quite normal.
Chen Yiwen nodded, "Okay, I got it, bye!"
"Bye-Bye!"
The afterglow of the sun shines into the long corridor, where lush green vines twine and grow.
As Chen Yiwen hurriedly walked through the long corridor from the main office to the elevator, she was drawn to the magnificent colors of the sunlight and couldn't help but stand in the middle of the corridor.
Looking down at the transparent ceiling, with a bustling crowd beneath his feet, a sense of arrogance arose spontaneously.
Unexpectedly recalling the carefree life her father led back then, the slight smile on Chen Yiwen's lips instantly vanished—if her father were still alive, she would never be here, having to fawn over Sisley, that heiress with a hidden identity, and flatter her boss every day… even hypocritically dealing with those nagging people trying to take advantage of her.
Thinking of all this, a strange sense of resentment flashed across Chen Yiwen's face, but she managed to hide it.
As she finally boarded the elevator, she vaguely recalled the warm fingertips of that person who had gently helped her when she almost fell in the elevator last time, and a smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Chen Yiwen walked through the crowded people to the bus stop, boarded the bus with the sign for "Tuluoshan", found a window seat, and put on her headphones.
The car drove through the bustling downtown luxury shops and into the somewhat secluded mountain area.
Along the way, there were some elderly people sitting on the ground selling vegetables, their hunched figures were heartbreaking to see.
Chen Yiwen also felt sorry for him, but didn't think much of it.
After all, how each person lives is their own business. Instead of worrying about irrelevant things, it's better to take care of your own affairs!
The car continued driving and gradually entered a desolate mountainous area, where lush greenery filled the eyes, making one feel refreshed and relaxed.
Then, around the corner, a populated community appeared. The signs on a long straight road went from "Tu Luo Community", "Lu's Academy Elementary School", "Lu's Academy Middle School", "Lu's Academy Senior High School" to "Tu Luo Mountain". With the addition of the university section, the buildings on both sides of the street transitioned from old to brand new.
When the bus arrived at the "Tuluoshan" station, Chen Yiwen got off, took off her headphones, and it was getting dark.
She walked to the right-hand entrance to Tu Luo Mountain, where a group of high school students with backpacks were gathered around a food stall.
The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, people talking, and people walking around instantly drew Chen Yiwen into this vibrant world.
After thinking for a moment, Chen Yi walked towards the supermarket with a banner that read "Winter Break Big Sale." She greeted the owner, who was sitting at the checkout counter, head down calculating money, "Sister Wu."
The proprietress looked up and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, Yiwen, why did you suddenly come back?"
Chen Yi smiled faintly, "It's nothing, I just came back to see Nan Yi and the others."
As Chen Yi spoke, she picked up a basket and began browsing through the sparsely populated supermarket.
Chen Yiwen first took a bag of instant noodles and some daily necessities, then turned around and smiled casually, saying, "Sister Wu, Tu Luoshan opened a university these past few years, has business been any better?"
The proprietress, looking at Chen Yiwen's attire, seemed somewhat intimidated by speaking to someone so knowledgeable. She immediately rubbed her hands together. "Not at all! This location may be close to the high school, but what can high school students buy? Sigh, why doesn't your company build university dormitories here? It's separated by a high school, and those university students are all on Tu Luo Mountain for their classes, where would they come to buy anything here! Only you would patronize my business."
"Hey, we've been neighbors for years, no need to say more!" Chen Yiwen picked up two cans of food, smiled and replied. After comparing the prices, she hesitated for a moment and then took the cheaper one.
Seeing that Chen Yiwen was willing to talk to her, the proprietress became more casual. "Hehe, that's true. Oh, by the way, when are you coming back to work? You're not getting any younger. You know, a woman should marry when she's at her most precious. What I'm saying may be rough, but it's true. You'll eventually need to settle down, and it'll be good for you to take care of your sister here. They're lucky to have a sister like you, otherwise, I don't know what they would do!"
Chen Yiwen shook her head and smiled bitterly, lowering her eyes, "Don't mention it, I'm just glad they don't complain. I'm rarely home, and I couldn't be transferred back after joining the company, so I'm living a very frugal life. I always feel very guilty..."
Sister Wu immediately became anxious, "Look, I was just saying. Life goes on, and so many years of hardship have passed. Nan Yi has grown up and is so sensible. Won't you two still be able to live a good life together? If you're worried, go back and tell Nan Yi that she can come to me if she needs anything. My things are cheap, and I can take care of her from time to time..."
Chen Yi was impatient. What kind of care was this? Wasn't it just a roundabout way of asking her to invite Nan Yi to come and buy things here too?
Her enthusiasm waned slightly, but she still smiled and said, "I hope so!"
Chen Yiwen glanced around casually for a while, then went to the cashier to pay.
While doing the math, the proprietress said, "Can you carry all this stuff? Oh, by the way, why didn't you come back sooner? Nan Yi just finished class and went to the stationmaster's house to pick up Yi Jing! Otherwise, we could have carried it together."
Chen Yiwen nodded and smiled, "It's okay, I can manage on my own. Sister Wu, I'll be going now."
Chen Yi left on her own, unaware that she was leaving under the pity of the proprietress.
Fortunately, she didn't know, because if she had, it would have definitely made that person very sad—her pride alone wouldn't allow anyone to look at her that way.
Chen Yiwen hadn't originally planned to come back.
Chen Nanyi also knew that she never really liked coming back, so he wouldn't disturb her life.
This time, however, Chen Nanyi unusually called her and asked her to come back. He was usually straightforward and never spoke more than three sentences at a time. If she still couldn't understand what he meant by such a serious request, she would truly be a fool.
When Chen Yiwen returned home from the foot of the mountain, she greeted many people who were exercising in the evening. She entered her house with a smile, only to find Chen Nanyi offering a weak, forced smile, her eyes listless. "Sister," she said.
Chen Nanyi hadn't apologized for her perfunctory attitude during the previous New Year, and now that she was being asked to come back, she was showing this face again. Chen Yi couldn't help but feel annoyed.
She glanced at him indifferently, said nothing, and carried Chen Yijing, who was laughing and rushing towards her, upstairs without even responding to a greeting.
Chen Nanyi was confused and had even forgotten about the argument that happened before the Lunar New Year, which Chen Yiwen had unilaterally believed to be an argument.
She licked her dry lips, puzzled, and sighed softly. She could only tidy up the things Chen Yiwen had brought in and placed in the living room.
It's fine if you don't organize, but once you do, you find that some of the things are expired.
Frowning, Chen Nanyi picked out the expired items and placed them in the corner of the kitchen, then waited silently downstairs for Chen Yi to come down and smell them.
After Chen Yiwen coaxed Chen Yijing to sleep, she went downstairs.
The two remained silent. Chen Yiwen walked to a corner of the living room, picked up a pot of hot tea that Chen Nanyi had just brewed, and drank it.
Chen Nanyi sat on the sofa and thought for a moment, then smiled gently, her eyes softening. "Sis, don't buy from Sister Wu's supermarket next time. All those canned goods you bought have expired and have to be thrown away..."
Chen Yiwen, who hadn't said anything before, became unhappy upon hearing this. "I was just helping out her business. When I'm not home, the neighbors take care of you all..."
Chen Nanyi was utterly helpless, "...Taking care of her is one thing, but what if Yijing gets an upset stomach?"
Chen Yi's eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled and changed the subject, "What can I do? That's just how Sister Wu is... I'm hungry, are you hungry?" She grabbed an apron and walked into the kitchen, asking, "What do you want to eat?"
Chen Nanyi was stunned for a moment, and was speechless. She knew that she was always like this. If she couldn't answer something, she would just laugh it off and change the subject. This trick always worked with her parents, and judging from her appearance, it probably worked with many people as well. It was a special privilege, huh!
Chen Nanyi remained frozen for a long while before suppressing her anger and replying, "Whatever," before not knowing what else to say.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, Chen Yiwen asked while packing her things, "Why did you call me back in such a hurry this time? You wouldn't tell me on the phone!"
Chen Nanyi subconsciously wanted to avoid the question—after all, this wasn't the place she ideally wanted to discuss it—but after thinking about it, she realized there was nothing wrong with saying it, so she turned back.
Feeling a blinding light flash above her head, she leaned against the doorframe, carefully choosing her words, "...I went to the hospital for a checkup, and the doctor said I have a congenital ruptured pericardium, and it would be best to have surgery within three months..."
After saying that, Chen Nanyi closed her eyes tightly, exhaled a sigh of frustration, and then opened them as usual.
Unexpectedly, Chen Yiwen was stunned for a long time. When she came to her senses, she turned around and scrutinized him with a look that was both unfamiliar and ridiculously funny. "Ha, you're lying to me, right? No matter how much you want money, you can't say it like that! You've really gone too far. How did things turn out like this..."
Chen Yi scoffed, shook her head, and turned away helplessly to continue cooking.
Chen Nanyi clenched her fists tightly, and her short nails pricked her palms, causing a slight pain.
She understood Chen Yiwen's meaning all too well. If he hadn't said the second thing, she might have thought that Chen Yiwen couldn't accept the fact that she was sick all at once.
In reality, she knew that Chen Yiwen valued money too much, which was why she was annoyed by her constant demands for money.
Upon hearing the meaning behind those words, Chen Yi had already made up her mind not to give her a chance to discuss it—because she didn't even believe Chen Nanyi's heart problem, even though she had never joked about it.
Even though Chen Nanyi felt ashamed of begging for money like this, she calmed herself down, chose to lower her head, and continued to speak softly and patiently, "Sister, I'm telling the truth, and Yijing's illness needs further treatment... the doctor already mentioned it last time."
Even though Chen Yiwen looked displeased, Chen Nanyi still spoke earnestly.
Chen Yi casually replied, "Really? How come I didn't know... What, you took her to the hospital again? Where did you get the money?"
Chen Nanyi lowered her head and said softly, "It was from my living expenses... Yijing really isn't feeling well. She ran around and fell the day before yesterday. How can she let this happen? She can't just endure it."
Upon hearing this, Chen Yi slammed down the spatula and frowned. "I knew that no matter how much money I gave you, you would spend it all. I was wondering why you've been asking for so much lately..."
Chen Nanyi pursed her lips, seeing that Chen Yiwen was still planning to ramble on and try to ignore what she had just said by avoiding the important points—this was probably a technique she had learned from her father.
It seems she intends to take this opportunity to reprimand him, and then appease herself by compromising to get Yi Jing medical treatment, but she makes no mention of the surgery request that would require more effort.
Even though she made such a solemn request.
Small Theater
Chen Nanyi, "Why didn't you marry someone like my sister? Everyone saw you two as a perfect couple, and I thought you liked her..."
Xu Xiaomeng said, "Because I like traditional people like you! Although she seems kind, she doesn't have your sentiments or your soft heart... Besides, you're so loyal, always protecting Yi Jing on behalf of your mother."
Chen Nanyi frowned. "This is something that should be done in the first place. How can that be considered a reason?"
Xu Xiaomeng smoothed her loose hair. "But this seemingly obvious thing, she didn't do, and most people didn't do—your thing was."
Chen Nanyi, “Perhaps…”
Xu Xiaomeng pressed her lips to hers, "Maybe I didn't meet you first, but I think after all the twists and turns, I'll eventually settle on you."
Chen Nanyi (*he*), "If that's the case, I don't want you—you've been with other people, so I won't want you..."
Xu Xiaomeng (｀_ゝ), “What?! You dare to reject me?! Huh!! Right, what do you mean—I've been with other people—even if someone were to be with someone else, it would be someone else with me, okay?! Am I that unpopular? ╮(￣⊿￣)╭”
Chen Nanyi: "Hmph, you're a piece of trash!"
Xu Xiaomeng?
Chen Nanyi: "You're in high demand, so doesn't that make you a thing? I'm saying you're not a thing—because you're a person! That's why I say you're not a thing."
Xu Xiaomeng (/\"≡ _ ≡)= , "What the hell can I say?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
