Thought: Liang Xiaoqing has always held a special place in her heart

Illness, as they say, lingers like pulling silk from a cocoon. When Liang Xiaoqing woke on Saturday, the light outside was already bright. Perhaps because she hadn't fully recovered, her body felt heavy, and she couldn't bring herself to get out of bed. She glanced at the bed beside her—it was empty, nothing on it. Since summer had begun, she and Jiang Xu had gone back to sleeping separately; squeezing together on the narrow bed was simply too hot. Sometimes it got so hot that even the fan didn't help.

Liang Xiaoqing lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as her senses gradually returned. She heard clattering sounds coming from the kitchen. A sense of relief settled in her chest—Jiang Xu must be in there.

No matter how heavy her body felt, she could still manage to get up. She propped herself up, swung one leg onto the bed and the other off, and shook her head.

She wasn't sure if the medicine wasn't working or if her body had gotten weaker. A whole night had passed, and the little cold still hadn't cleared up.

She slipped on her slippers and shuffled over to the window, opening it. She hadn't turned on the fan the night before because the rain had been enough to quench all the heat. A cool breeze drifted in through the window. The rain had stopped, but the air still carried moisture. The trees' leaves, washed by the rain, looked even more lushly green. The breeze brushed gently against Liang Xiaoqing's cheeks, and she finally felt a bit more awake.

She stood by the window for a while, then walked out of the bedroom.

On the table sat a bowl of porridge, along with a light vegetable dish. Jiang Xu had already finished her chores. Seeing her come out, she smiled. "Xiaoqing jie, you're awake."

"Sit down and eat. I made it specially. Since you're just getting better, this should be perfect for you." For Jiang Xu, it must have been quite hot—she'd been busy all morning without a chance to sit down and rest.

Liang Xiaoqing hummed in response. Jiang Xu came over and pulled her toward a chair. "Sit, Xiaoqing jie."

Liang Xiaoqing didn't move, so Jiang Xu added, "It'll get cold soon."

Actually, it was still fine—steam was rising from the porridge. Urged by Jiang Xu, she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat.

"What about you?" Liang Xiaoqing asked halfway through.

Jiang Xu sat beside her, hands resting on the table. "Already ate."

She was beaming, watching Liang Xiaoqing.

Liang Xiaoqing's throat moved as she swallowed the porridge, feeling a bit awkward. This was supposed to be her job.

She pursed her lips and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Xiao Xu."

Jiang Xu's smile grew even wider.

The porridge and greens tasted pretty good. After finishing, Liang Xiaoqing felt noticeably better. Her stomach was warm and cozy. Jiang Xu slipped on the apron she usually wore—it was a different size, since Jiang Xu was thinner than her, and it hung loosely on her frame. Liang Xiaoqing sat in her chair for a moment after eating, observing Jiang Xu.

She had a slender, delicate figure—thin and fragile.

But at her chest...

That area didn't look so empty.

Liang Xiaoqing suddenly realized something.

...Right, Jiang Xu had grown up. It was her own fault for never noticing before.

Jiang Xu efficiently took the bowls and chopsticks she'd used to wash them.

She took off the apron and hung it on the hook behind the door.

Liang Xiaoqing watched her bustle around the room again.

It looked like she was about to clean. She swept the floor with a broom first, then mopped the tiled areas.

Seeing her ready for a big effort, Liang Xiaoqing felt a bit helpless.

What had she told her last night? In just one night, had she forgotten everything?

Or maybe—even if a child growing into adolescence was obedient and sensible, there was still a rebellious streak?

Liang Xiaoqing wasn't sure if Jiang Xu had a rebellious phase. But in her view, she didn't. Any small tantrums were just minor squabbles; mostly, she was obedient and thoughtful.

Maybe she'd never have a rebellious day.

"Go do your homework and review your lessons. What are you doing working here? Mornings are when your mind is sharpest—studying now will give you twice the results with half the effort. I'll take care of all this." Liang Xiaoqing stood up, walked over to Jiang Xu, and took the broom from her, her brows slightly furrowed.

She wasn't pleased.

Sometimes, she felt Jiang Xu would never understand her good intentions. She didn't want Jiang Xu doing these things for her at all.

"Go on."

Jiang Xu glanced at her expression but insisted, "It won't affect my studies. I already finished most of my homework at school yesterday."

She wanted to help—it would make up for things a little, and it would settle her heart.

"No need." Liang Xiaoqing had already taken the broom. "Xiao Xu, I told you, you don't need to do these things. I don't want you to feel any grievance here. Everything I do for you is willing. And I'm not without expectations—my only wish is for you to get into high school, then a good university." Looking at Jiang Xu's face, damp with sweat, silent, eyes cast down, her tone softened. "You know, I have high hopes for you. You have real potential in your studies."

Jiang Xu seemed to take it in, or maybe not. She said with a hint of grievance, "I understand." Liang Xiaoqing felt her words had been too heavy, and at this crucial moment, she shouldn't put too much pressure on Jiang Xu. Then Jiang Xu quickly added, "But Xiaoqing jie, you're sick... You got sick because you came to pick me up. What I'm doing is nothing, and it won't hold back my studies."

"..." Liang Xiaoqing realized she couldn't say anything more.

Jiang Xu continued, "We've always cleaned together before, haven't we?"

"..."

And so, it was Liang Xiaoqing who gave in. The two divided the work and launched another thorough cleaning of the small home.

It really was more efficient than doing it alone.

After a few hours, covered in sweat, Liang Xiaoqing felt much lighter. She collapsed onto the sofa, head tilted back, watching Jiang Xu tidy the coffee table. Once that was done, the cleaning would truly be finished.

Perhaps the older you got, the easier it was to tire out. Liang Xiaoqing looked at Jiang Xu's back and said, "So tired, Xiao Xu. Are you tired?"

On the coffee table lay a copy of Journey to the West. In her spare time, Liang Xiaoqing liked to curl up on the sofa and read. She'd read it as a child, and again when she was about Jiang Xu's age. Now, reading it anew, she could always find something different in it.

Jiang Xu placed the thick book in the corner of the coffee table. "Not really," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead. It was a bit hot.

"Ah, I guess I really am getting old." Liang Xiaoqing curled deeper into the sofa, her slippers scattered messily on the floor.

"No way!" Jiang Xu turned around, her expression serious, and handed her the water cup from the table. "Drink some water. Xiaoqing jie, you're just weak after being sick. How can you say you're old?"

Jiang Xu sat down on the sofa too, looking utterly earnest.

She stared at her, which instead made Liang Xiaoqing feel embarrassed.

"Xiao Xu~" Liang Xiaoqing covered her face with her hands, not letting Jiang Xu look at her.

Jiang Xu pulled her hands away, eyes curving into a smile. "It's true, Xiaoqing jie. You're the most beautiful teacher I've ever seen."

It was impossible not to be pleased. Liang Xiaoqing's heart bloomed with joy. She couldn't help pinching Jiang Xu's cheek—it was full of collagen, springy and soft. She laughed, her tone a bit exaggerated. "Oh my, are you still the Xiao Xu I know?"

Jiang Xu let her pinch her cheek.

Liang Xiaoqing continued boldly, "When did you get so good with words, hm?"

Jiang Xu smiled even more brightly, her eyes curving like crescent moons, showing her white teeth.

Liang Xiaoqing felt a feeling she couldn't put into words. So this was what it felt like to have an adorable, sweet-talking girl of her own. She couldn't help it—her heart swelled with warmth, like the first rays of winter sun, cozy and glowing.

"Such a good girl!" She couldn't resist planting a kiss on Jiang Xu's round cheek. It was as if Jiang Xu had truly become her daughter.

After the kiss, she rubbed Jiang Xu's cheek again.

"Alright, Xiaoqing jie will make you lunch. What do you want to eat?"

Maybe the tiredness was also related to hunger. As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Xu's stomach rumbled loudly. Liang Xiaoqing marveled at her own foresight. "Wait right there." She got off the sofa barefoot to find her slippers, giving Jiang Xu's head a quick ruffle out of habit—the gesture had long become second nature.

It didn't matter much if she went hungry, but she couldn't let Jiang Xu go hungry. Jiang Xu was still growing.

Jiang Xu sat frozen in place, staring blankly at Liang Xiaoqing's retreating back. Her cheek still felt slightly damp. Suddenly, she understood something—or maybe not. She raised her hand, fingers trembling slightly, touched the spot that had just been kissed, then quickly pulled back. She lightly touched it again, like a feather, sending a jolt of heat through her whole body.

She couldn't stop it... she wanted more... more.

As soon as she realized what she was thinking, cold sweat broke out all over her.

It was almost shameful... for her age, such thoughts were too heavy to bear.

It dawned on her slowly.

So this was how it was?

One moment bathed in winter sun, the next plunged into fire and water.

On this day, so ordinary and unremarkable.

The summer sun was blazing, and Jiang Xu was suddenly drenched in sweat. The cicadas outside seemed to shatter her eardrums.

How could she have such thoughts about Xiaoqing jie?

Restless, hidden, filthy...

In truth, Jiang Xu had long noticed she was different from the other girls around her.

It made her both miserable and faintly, inexplicably excited.

On this ordinary afternoon, Jiang Xu took another step toward growing up.

That afternoon, she sat at her desk doing homework. She didn't have the habit of napping, but her mind clearly wasn't on her work. She slowly processed that feeling that defied ethics, needing to constantly restrain herself and suppress those thoughts. Once she calmed down, she'd feel much better.

Liang Xiaoqing had the habit of napping. She went to bed for a while, drawing the curtains, though they didn't block much light and the room stayed bright. It didn't affect her sleep, though. Jiang Xu tiptoed in, not wanting to disturb her, and draped a thin blanket over her.

Her brows were furrowed slightly, a faint confusion in her eyes.

She thought that what had just happened was perhaps a mistake. It wasn't as if she'd never been close to Liang Xiaoqing before—they'd even shared a bed. Thinking back carefully, Jiang Xu had never had such thoughts before. She sat by the bed for a while, watching Liang Xiaoqing's sleeping face, her breathing steady, sleeping soundly. Perhaps because the light from the window was too bright, Liang Xiaoqing unconsciously turned onto her side toward Jiang Xu.

Following the path of the light, Jiang Xu's gaze drifted to the window.

They'd need to change the curtains and pick ones with better blackout.

Just then, she sat by the bed, blocking the sunlight for Liang Xiaoqing. The afternoon sun stretched shadows long.

As she sat there, Jiang Xu seemed to grow drowsy too, propping her face on her hands and dozing off.

So habits really were contagious. In her small mind, she seemed to figure something out. Struggling back and forth, deciding on an answer held no meaning.

No matter what, Liang Xiaoqing was special in her heart.