reconciliation
The next morning, the birdsong was clear and melodious.
Su Baiwei's eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened her eyes. As she stood, a familiar blue shirt slipped from her shoulders, and she instinctively grasped it in her hands. Looking around, she saw the simple furnishings of the tramp room. This wasn't her boudoir, lingering with the aroma of medicine. Memories of last night gradually returned, and she remembered she hadn't gone back.
"Where's Tiaotiao?" Her heart tightened and she got up from the bed.
There was a rustling sound beside the couch. Mu Jin rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, her voice still hazy from just waking up: "Miss, are you awake?"
Su Baiwei had already bent down to put on her shoes. Her eyes fell on the bedding that Mu Jin had spread on the ground. She couldn't help but frown slightly: "Why are you sleeping on the ground?"
"You usually sleep restlessly and wake up easily. Last night you slept soundly, which was rare. I was afraid that going to bed would disturb you." Mu Jin said as she folded the bedding neatly.
Su Baiwei felt a pang of sadness. She carefully folded the blue shirt in her hand and asked, "Why don't you sleep in my room? Where's the jumping man?"
"I was worried you'd need some tea in the middle of the night and no one would be around to take care of you," Mu Jin replied as she rolled up her bedding. "The young master is resting in the clinic."
"Clinic?" Su Baiwei's voice rose unconsciously, and the hard and narrow examination bed appeared in front of her eyes. "How can he sleep well there with so many injuries on his body? There is not even anyone to take care of him..." Her mind turned and she immediately understood his intention. A warm current mixed with bitterness surged in her heart: "Why bother..."
She hurried toward the door, but suddenly felt dizzy and quickly held onto the doorframe to steady herself. After calming herself down and taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and walked out.
"Miss, you haven't fully recovered yet! Wait, let me help you over!"
"No need." Su Baiwei's voice was wrapped in a slight breath and dissipated into the morning breeze. "Go prepare breakfast."
By the time Mu Jin hurriedly packed up and rushed out the door, the pale green figure in the corridor had already vanished. She stared blankly at the empty corridor, her image of last night's leaping, stumbling figure and this morning's eager footsteps seemingly overlapping. Her eyes welled up, her nose ached, and she muttered, "These two... each more stubborn than the other, each less self-respecting."
The door of the clinic was ajar, and a ray of morning light quietly seeped in through the crack.
Su Baiwei gently pushed open the door, and the faint bitter aroma of herbs lingered in the air. As expected, Tiaotiao was sleeping on the narrow examination bed, his slender figure looking a little cramped, with a thin blanket casually draped over him.
He was not sleeping soundly, his brows were slightly furrowed, and his breathing was light and shallow.
Su Baiwei watched silently, a wave of bitterness and pity welling up in her heart. She approached with light steps and quietly sat down on a nearby stool. She didn't know why she had come. Perhaps she just wanted to see for herself if he was okay, or perhaps she just couldn't help but want to get closer.
She quietly watched him sleeping, her gaze brushing across his thin profile. A corner of her heart seemed gently touched, and a faint yet tender smile curved the corners of her lips. But before the smile could bloom, it was replaced by a deeper sorrow, like morning dew that appeared only to fade quietly into the sunlight. She sighed softly. Almost at the same moment, his eyelashes fluttered.
Su Baiwei sat quietly for a moment, the morning light gradually shifting through the window lattice, falling just on his closed eyelids. He seemed disturbed by the light, his eyes moving slightly under his thin eyelids. She subconsciously reached out, shielding him from the bright light with her wide sleeve.
His brows gradually relaxed, as if he had returned to a peaceful sleep, only the fingers in his sleeves curled up slightly.
Su Baiwei maintained this somewhat strenuous posture, motionless, just staring at him intently, as if the whole world was left with only this sleeping face in front of her.
"It would be wonderful if I could stay this peaceful forever," she thought to herself. Only when his breathing grew deeper did she slowly withdraw her slightly numb arm and breathe a sigh of relief.
She stood up, but suddenly her vision went dark. She hurriedly held onto the corner of the table to calm herself. When the dizziness subsided a little, she walked lightly to the window and gently drew the curtains together, blocking out the morning light.
Then she stood quietly by the bed, gazing at him for a moment before gently placing the neatly folded blue shirt beside his pillow. Her fingertips lingered on the shirt for a moment, as if reluctant to let go, but she finally withdrew her hand and quietly turned away.
The door was gently closed, and through the gradually shrinking gap, the last ray of sunlight brushed across her sleeve, and then her figure completely disappeared outside the door.
When the last ray of light was blocked by the door, Tiao Tiao slowly opened his eyes.
Su Baiwei dragged her frail body, walking and resting, step by step, towards her room. Suddenly, she felt dizzy, her legs gave out, and she stumbled forward. But she didn't fall to the ground; instead, a pair of hands held her steady.
Su Baiwei's body instinctively stiffened. Her breath was still unsteady, her ears ringing, and she had no choice but to cling to the other person. As her blurry vision gradually cleared and she finally saw the person, her heart trembled slightly—it was Sally.
"Sorry..." Su Baiwei said weakly, and was about to pull away. But Sally didn't let go, instead she held her more firmly.
"You're like this now. You'll fall again after a few steps." Sally's voice was lower and softer than usual. She turned away, not looking at Su Baiwei, staring at the bluestone tiles beneath her feet. "If you get hurt again, someone... will be heartbroken."
Su Baiwei stopped and turned to look at her.
Sally still tilted her face to the side, pursed her lips, and seemed to struggle for a moment before she said, "Rainbow Cat and Blue Rabbit... told me everything." She curled her fingers, then reluctantly loosened them, her voice so low it almost melted into the morning breeze, "I'm sorry."
Those three words were heavy, hoarse, and carried the sincerity beneath her usual pride. Su Baiwei felt the hand supporting her was cold, and when she glanced over, she noticed that the clothes on her shoulders were soaked with morning dew.
"You..." She was stunned. "You haven't been here... guarding all night?"
Sally didn't answer, nor did she look at her. She simply silently supported her and walked forward step by step. Amidst the melodious chirping of birds, sunlight gradually crept onto Sally's shoulders, dispelling the chill of the night dew. The morning light lengthened their shadows, interweaving and blending on the ground.
At this moment, all the alienation and defensiveness seemed to melt away quietly in the morning light. Su Baiwei's initially stiff body gradually relaxed, and she finally stopped struggling, allowing Sally to support her as she walked forward.
Not far away, Tiao Tiao, about to return to his room, leaned against the doorframe of the clinic, barely keeping his balance. His left foot tapped the ground, his entire weight resting on his right leg. His face was as pale as paper, but his gaze remained fixed on the two figures leaning against each other. A slight curve curved the corners of his lips, but the hint of relief faded before it reached his eyes, fading into a bottomless bitterness. His wound throbbed with each heartbeat, as if silently mocking the fleeting time he had left.
He gritted his teeth, reaching into his arms, his fingertips touching the hard outline of something. He paused, but ultimately didn't remove it, simply tracing its shape over and over with his fingertips. As if as long as it warmed his heart, the unspoken attachment he felt wouldn't be lost.
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