Chapter 13: Helping Her Stretch

Guan Ju was unwilling to give up. Eager to prove herself, she lifted her leg onto a slightly lower railing and tried again.

The result was exactly the same.

The pain was so intense she felt like her muscles were about to cramp.

The last time she’d experienced this kind of agony was when she’d first started martial arts training. After that, her flexibility had improved, and she’d never felt anything like it again.

Who would have thought she’d get a refresher course today?

“If you can’t do it, don’t force yourself,” Bai Weixi said softly. Her gentle voice carried little persuasive power.

“No. I have to do it today.”

Guan Ju clenched her teeth, determination blazing in her eyes. There was no way she was going to embarrass herself in front of her goddess.

Bai Weixi froze slightly.

She had never seen this childish side of Guan Ju before.

Oddly enough…

It was kind of cute.

“Then… be careful,” she murmured, the last few words nearly inaudible.

But Guan Ju’s ears were sharp enough to catch them.

Her mood instantly brightened.

After placing her leg on the railing again, she rolled her eyes thoughtfully before saying, “Sister Xi, this one’s a little too high. Could you help me stretch?”

Bai Weixi visibly stiffened.

Her first instinct was to refuse.

“Why don’t you try… a lower one?”

“But I want to use this one.”

Guan Ju put on a pitiful expression, her voice unconsciously slipping into a spoiled, coquettish tone.

She didn’t realize it herself.

Bai Weixi, however, felt her heart surge with emotion.

Between her and Guan Ju—

To call them lovers had never been quite accurate.

Master and servant would have been closer to the truth.

The eldest daughter of the Guan family had always carried herself like someone above everyone else. Even when she was trying to please someone, there was a sense of condescension hidden beneath the gesture.

Back then, blinded by love, Bai Weixi had devoted herself completely.

She had believed every word.

Not once had she noticed anything wrong.

While she carefully planned a future for the two of them, that person had likely been sharing someone else’s bed.

The thought crossed her mind.

Yet her heart remained strangely calm.

She had never been good at holding grudges.

Even after Guan Ju hurt her again and again.

When Guan Ju had been hospitalized, she had rushed to the hospital immediately.

And when she saw her wake up, she had genuinely felt relieved.

If only she had been a little crueler.

Perhaps she would never have ended up in such a humiliating situation.

Fortunately, just when she had nearly lost all hope, heaven had gifted her a ray of sunlight.

That face wasn’t really suited for acting spoiled.

Yet somehow, Bai Weixi found it adorable.

Like a little kitten waving its paws around.

Fierce and cute at the same time.

“…I’ll help you.”

Bai Weixi bit her lip.

Even she was surprised by the words once they left her mouth.

She had never imagined that the two of them would one day be able to interact normally again.

The moment her hand touched Guan Ju’s thigh, however, she jerked it back as if burned.

She stood there helplessly, fear lingering in her eyes.

During that brief contact, she’d accidentally pushed Guan Ju’s leg down a little.

The pressure had been light.

But it still hurt.

Suppressing the pain, Guan Ju forced out a smile that looked halfway between laughing and crying.

“Sister Xi, it’s okay. Take your time.”

The phrase take your time seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

Bai Weixi trembled.

Her rational mind slowly returned.

And when she noticed the strange expression on Guan Ju’s face, much of her fear seemed to dissipate.

Gathering her courage, she reached out again.

Her hand settled on the calf that had once kicked her hard enough to cause stomach bleeding.

Bai Weixi had no idea how much force she should use.

Or perhaps simply getting close to Guan Ju had already exhausted every ounce of courage she possessed.

She couldn’t focus on anything else.

Meanwhile, Guan Ju’s features twisted together again from the pain.

After enduring it for a full minute, she finally broke.

“P-Pain… it hurts, it hurts!”

Startled, Bai Weixi immediately withdrew her hand and stumbled backward two steps.

Fear filled her eyes as she stared at Guan Ju.

Under that gaze, Guan Ju suddenly felt unbearably wronged.

Without warning, tears rolled down her cheeks.

Whether from pain or grievance, even she wasn’t sure.

Bai Weixi’s heart tightened.

She panicked completely.

Wanting to help but having no idea what to do, she simply stood there with her hands awkwardly suspended in the air, staring at Guan Ju.

“Sister Xi, rub it for me a little.”

Guan Ju seized the opportunity, still using that pitiful tone.

“But… I don’t know how.”

Bai Weixi’s refusal came quietly.

She truly didn’t know.

Ever since childhood, everything in her life had been taken care of for her.

Even after moving in with Guan Ju, she’d never done a single household chore.

In fact, it wasn’t until Guan Ju lost her memory that she’d started learning how to handle such things herself.

“Just squeeze it however you want.”

Guan Ju pouted, desperately hiding her excitement.

Bai Weixi frowned.

However you want was an incredibly difficult instruction.

“Like this?”

She carefully pressed down with her fingers.

To her, it felt about the same force she used when rubbing her own stomach.

Guan Ju forced a smile and nodded.

Actually, it hurt.

Apparently, when the goddess said she didn’t know how, she had been telling the truth.

A proper massage should involve gentle squeezing and releasing, small rhythmic motions.

But Bai Weixi wasn’t doing that at all.

She simply pressed one spot and refused to let go.

The pressure wasn’t particularly strong.

Unfortunately, her fingernails hadn’t been trimmed in a while.

Long and sharp, they nearly dug into Guan Ju’s flesh even through her pants.

Tears welled up in Guan Ju’s eyes again.

This time, it was definitely from pain.

Seeing her cry, Bai Weixi immediately stopped.

Looking flustered, she asked, “I’m sorry… Did I hurt you?”

“No.”

Guan Ju shook her head so fast it was almost comical.

Despite the tears on her face, she smiled.

“Some dust got into my eyes.”

Seeing her laugh and cry at the same time sent a strange flutter through Bai Weixi’s chest.

She lowered her head, hiding her eyes.

“I’m sorry…”

“Sister Xi.”

Guan Ju’s voice softened.

“You don’t need to apologize to me. And I don’t want you apologizing to me either. From now on… can you stop saying sorry to me?”

There was gentleness in her tone.

And a trace of pleading.

Bai Weixi blinked.

Confused and lost, she stared at her own fingers without speaking.

She had spent so much of her life apologizing.

This was the first time anyone had ever asked her not to.

“So—”

The first syllable of another apology slipped out instinctively before she caught herself.

Guan Ju immediately burst into cheerful laughter.

“Hehe…”

Then she extended her hand.

“Sister Xi, can you help me up? My legs are a little sore.”

Afraid Bai Weixi would refuse, she deliberately added the last sentence in a pitiful voice.

Bai Weixi stared at the outstretched palm.

She still remembered the sting of being slapped across the face.

She hesitated.

And didn’t reach out.

Guan Ju wasn’t in a hurry.

She waited patiently.

The goddess might be afraid of getting close to her.

But Guan Ju could always find ways to make the goddess come closer instead.

Five minutes passed.

Finally, Bai Weixi tremblingly extended her fingertips.

Yet the instant they brushed Guan Ju’s palm, she withdrew them again.

As though she had touched something scalding hot.

It was a movement so simple that even a three-year-old could do it.

Yet for Bai Weixi, it required every ounce of courage she possessed.

She pulled her hand back and lowered her head.

“I’m sorry…”

A pang of heartache struck Guan Ju.

Closing her empty hand gently, she smiled.

“You don’t have to apologize. I think I’ve got enough strength to walk by myself now.”

She stood up as she spoke.

With her hands clasped behind her back, she looked unexpectedly lively.

“Sister Xi, let’s go back.”

She skipped ahead happily.

Bai Weixi silently followed behind.

Watching that cheerful figure, she repeatedly stretched out her hand—

Only to draw it back in fright each time.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Throughout the entire walk, she kept repeating the same motion.

Yet never found the courage to grab the other woman’s sleeve.

By the time they reached the elevator, her arms hung limply at her sides.

As if all those attempts had never happened at all.

Guan Ju pressed the elevator button and turned around with a smile.

“Sister Xi, what do you think Aunt Zhang made for lunch today?”

“Bones soup,” Bai Weixi answered softly.

That was what she’d accidentally spilled earlier that morning.

“Do you like bone soup, Sister Xi?”

The elevator arrived.

Guan Ju stepped inside first and held the door open.

Bai Weixi followed her in without answering.

The moment she entered, she moved as far away from Guan Ju as possible.

Just like when they’d come downstairs.

Guan Ju didn’t force the issue.

She obediently remained by the door, gazing at Bai Weixi with an expectant smile from across the elevator.

“It’s… okay.”

Bai Weixi’s lips moved slightly.

Her voice trembled.

She suffered from mild anorexia and had little interest in food.

Sometimes she would eat almost nothing for days.

Other times, eating just a little too much would make her throw up.

The small bowl of noodles she’d finished yesterday had already been her limit.

Seeing that she didn’t want to discuss food further, Guan Ju wisely dropped the topic.

Fortunately, they had already arrived at their floor.

Guan Ju stepped out first and held the elevator door.

As they brushed past each other, Bai Weixi hurried out with quick, anxious steps.

As though she were fleeing something.

Guan Ju finally realized that in enclosed spaces, the goddess’s fear of her became even stronger than usual.

Bai Weixi always tried to stay as far away from her as possible.

Guan Ju sighed inwardly.

When they were alone together, getting closer seemed nearly impossible.

Back at the apartment, Aunt Zhang had already finished preparing the soup and several side dishes.

“Miss Guan, you’re back! Come sit down and eat.”

Aunt Zhang greeted her enthusiastically, smiling brightly.

Guan Ju glanced at the dining table.

There was only one set of dishes.

Her expression immediately darkened.

“I’m not the only one who came back.”

Aunt Zhang’s smile froze.

She glanced at Bai Weixi suspiciously.

“What do you mean?”

“Sister Xi came back too.”

Guan Ju’s voice turned cold.

Her exquisite face seemed coated in frost as she stared at Aunt Zhang.

“Why didn’t you welcome her?”

Or…”

Her gaze sharpened.

“…are you saying she’s not welcome here?”

“I—I…”

Aunt Zhang was so frightened she could barely speak.

She shook her head frantically, looking genuinely pitiful.

Only then did Guan Ju realize she’d scared the poor woman.

She glanced toward Bai Weixi and found her pale-faced as well, apparently frightened by the sudden display.

Immediately, Guan Ju softened.

A smile returned to her face.

“Aunt Zhang, I’m just teasing you. Don’t take it seriously.”

“Y-Yes, Miss Guan.”

Aunt Zhang nodded repeatedly before practically fleeing into the kitchen.

Bai Weixi turned and hurried toward her bedroom.

Her steps were quick and panicked.

Just as she reached the door, a hand caught her arm.

“Let go of me!”

She suddenly screamed.

Tears instantly flooded her eyes.

Those beautiful, radiant eyes now looked empty and lifeless.

Guan Ju was stunned.

She had only grabbed Bai Weixi’s arm instinctively.

She simply wanted to invite her to eat together.

She had never expected such a violent reaction.

“I’m sorry. I’ll stay away from you.”

Immediately raising both hands in surrender, Guan Ju slowly backed away.

Only when she retreated all the way to the sofa did Bai Weixi gradually regain her composure.

She hurriedly slammed the bedroom door shut.

The sharp sound echoed through the apartment.

It felt like something had struck Guan Ju directly in the heart.

Her hands dropped weakly to her sides.

She had thought the events of that morning had brought them a little closer.

Now it seemed she had only widened the crack between them.

“What terrible luck…”

Guan Ju sighed bitterly.

Then she went to eat alone.

Next time, she promised herself—

She wouldn’t be so impulsive.