Chapter 22: If You’re Tired, Come Home

“Where are you going? Still want to go drink?”

Xia An’s face was pale. She lowered her head and remained silent, not stopping her steps.

In the next second, Ye Jin grabbed Xia An’s wrist. The wrist was incredibly slender, grating against the palm of her hand.

On the street, the two suddenly engaged in a tug-of-war, deadlocked.

Ye Wan was sick and refused to take her medicine, crying to see Xia An.

It was because of this that Ye Jin had driven over to Night Colors.

She had parked the car on the side of the street and originally intended to call Xia An, but before she could even dial the number, she saw a small, familiar figure through the car window, supporting herself against the wall, vomiting violently.

It was Xia An.

Xia An struggled with her wrist, feeling like a clown, especially as people were watching. At that moment, she only wanted to escape, only wanted to be alone in a corner where no one could see her.

But Ye Jin refused to let go.

Xia An finally looked up, making eye contact with Ye Jin. “Ye Zong ?”

Even if she could control her tears, the redness around her eyes was difficult to hide.

Just as Ye Jin was about to say something, Xia An abruptly turned her head away, gritting her teeth to endure, before bending over and vomiting again.

Because she hadn’t eaten anything, she was almost vomiting bile.

Ye Jin released Xia An. “Do you want to go to the hospital?”

“I’m fine, I just drank a little too much.”

Xia An lowered her head, staring at the base of the wall, answering with forced composure.

All her usual poise and self-possession had vanished at that moment. It could only be said that everyone had a side they didn’t want others to see.

Xia An calmed her breathing and then said softly, “I’ll go back later. You should go first.”

Ye Jin looked at Xia An for a few seconds before turning and walking away.

‘She left?’ Xia An breathed a sigh of relief.

Her stomach churned again, dry-heaving endlessly.

Close to her breaking point, Xia An felt lost and disoriented, wondering how much longer she could endure these days…

The pressure was growing, and she could only take things one step at a time.

When Ye Jin returned from the convenience store with purified water and wet wipes, Xia An was still dry-heaving, still refusing to show weakness despite her condition, putting on a show of being alright.

Feeling slightly better, Xia An straightened up a little, only to see another dark figure to her side. Then, a wet wipe was handed to her.

‘So, she hadn’t left.’

Xia An was stunned, not looking at Ye Jin, not taking the wet wipe that was offered.

‘Still being stubborn…’

Looking at Xia An’s face, exhausted and worn-out, Ye Jin frowned.

Without saying a word, she directly reached out, using the wet wipe to wipe the corners of Xia An’s mouth.

Xia An jerked her head away as if she’d been shocked. “Don’t… it’ll get dirty.”

Ye Jin handed the wet wipe to Xia An again. “Wipe it yourself.”

Xia An turned her face away, wiping her mouth clean.

Ye Jin then handed over the purified water.

With her head lowered, she accepted it. “Thank you.”

She rinsed her mouth briefly, tidying herself up a little, so that she appeared less wretched.

“Don’t come here anymore,” Ye Jin said.

These words, spoken in Ye Zong’s usual tone, carried a hint of command.

By this point, Xia An had calmed down considerably.

She squeezed the water bottle in her hand, smiling as she looked at Ye Jin.

“That should fall under my private life, right? Didn’t you say we wouldn’t interfere with each other?” 

Xia An clearly remembered that cold and impersonal agreement between them.

Ye Jin was at a loss for words, staring at Xia An for a long while.

That smile made it seem as if nothing had happened.

Ye Jin had never met someone like this before, their stubbornness had to have a limit.

She said bluntly, “Your father is currently lying in the hospital, needing someone to take care of him. If you end up in the hospital because you’ve drunk yourself sick, who do you expect to take care of you both?”

“Ye Zong” Xia An interrupted Ye Jin, smiling again as she emphasized, “This is my private life.”

“Still smiling.” Ye Jin’s tone suddenly became heavier. “How long do you think you can keep this up? This isn’t being strong; it’s being foolish. Always acting tough will only mean you can’t do anything well.”

Every word Ye Jin spoke struck Xia An’s heart, piercing her deeply.

It was true, acting tough about everything only meant she couldn’t do anything well.

The pressure from her studies and her financial burdens were both like mountains weighing down on her shoulders.

On one side was her ideal, on the other was harsh reality.

Xia An felt exhausted, and she knew it would be difficult for her to juggle everything.

Countless times she had felt like she was about to collapse, never to rise again.

“If I don’t smile, should I cry?” Xia An quietly said to Ye Jin.

The corners of her mouth, which she had been forcing upwards, slowly relaxed.

She took a breath.

“My family is poor, and my dad basically doesn’t have much ability to work. The year I was in my senior year of high school, my grandmother didn’t want me to take the college entrance exams. She wanted to find a family for me to marry into. I remember crying and begging for so long, crying until I couldn’t shed any more tears, but it was no use. In the end, I said I wouldn’t ask him for a single cent in the future, and that’s how it finally ended…”

Xia Hexian [Xia An’s Father] had always felt guilty because of this, hoping he could take care of Xia An, but he didn’t have the ability to do so.

Not only could he not help at all, but he could only become a burden.

He had thought about killing himself, but Xia An had discovered it, earning him a harsh scolding.

Ye Jin listened to Xia An speaking, her tone calm, as if she were recounting someone else’s story. Looking at Xia An’s tranquility at that moment, she felt complicated.

“Smiling, but I can’t?” Xia An retorted, questioning Ye Jin.

Even as she said this, tears inadvertently slipped from the corners of her eyes.

Xia An fell silent, then realized she had lost control of her emotions. She sniffled, realizing she had really drunk too much tonight, turned stupid.

These things, which were originally buried deep in her heart, had been easily revealed to an outsider.

And she was even crying in front of an outsider.

She, who could always hold back her tears, was crying.

Ye Jin had never realized that she was so bad at comforting people.

When Xia An suddenly started crying while smiling, she felt a little lost, not knowing what comforting words to say.

After hesitating for a moment, Ye Jin simply remained silent, reaching out to gently wipe away Xia An’s tears.

Perhaps tears would only flow more with each wipe.

Unexpectedly, Xia An looked up at her, and tears streamed down her face again.

Ye Jin wiped them away for her, and she no longer dodged, just letting her wipe her cheeks.

It had been so long since she had cried so unrestrainedly.

Ye Jin couldn’t keep up with wiping away Xia An’s tears. “Crying doesn’t mean you’re weak.”

Xia An looked at Ye Jin blankly. In fact, when she spoke softly, there was a special kind of gentleness.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Jin asked, seeing the other woman staring at her, dazed.

These three words were asked with even more gentleness, making Xia An’s heart tremble.

Was this what it felt like to have someone to rely on? She had never thought of relying on anyone, but today…

Xia An didn’t answer. Instead, she rested her forehead heavily on Ye Jin’s shoulder.

The faint scent entered her nose. She smelled so much better now. Xia An wanted to hug her, but she didn’t dare.

“So tired,” Xia An whispered, her eyes closed. “I’m so tired…”

The most genuine side of her was now exposed.

But with those words spoken, she felt much more at ease.

Tonight, she would just pretend she was drunk, Xia An thought, leaning against Ye Jin. Ye Jin was truly an exception for her.

Xia An couldn’t say why, but in front of Ye Jin, she always felt like an injured sheep, and she didn’t mind it at all.

Ye Jin’s body stiffened, but she continued to maintain this intimate position with Xia An.

If they got any closer, it would be a hug. Ye Jin turned her head slightly.

Xia An might only look like a sheep, but in fact, she thought Xia An was more like a hedgehog.

“If you’re tired, go home and sleep,” Ye Jin whispered, her gaze falling on Xia An’s face.

If you’re tired, go home and sleep…

These words completely moved Xia An.

They were just acting, but did Ye Zong have to say it so emotionally? Xia An could no longer suppress her impulse, raising her arms to suddenly hug Ye Jin’s waist, burying her head in the other woman’s shoulder.

She deepened the embrace.

The weather was a bit cool, so this hug was very warm.

Like Xia An, Ye Jin also felt a surge of warmth from this hug.

She actually… actually liked this feeling a little? When Xia An held her tightly, Ye Jin felt the other woman’s body temperature. Her lips curled slightly as she lowered her eyes.

After hugging for two seconds, Xia An stopped there, asking for only a brief moment of comfort.

Moreover, she could tell that Ye Jin seemed to mind being touched.

Last time she hugged Ye Jin, she could see the disgusted expression on Ye Zong’s face.

Just as Xia An was about to release Ye Jin, she was pulled closer. She was surprised, but Ye Jin was definitely holding her now.

The two were intimately close together.

She was holding her very tightly, tight enough that Xia An’s breathing quickened.

She pursed her lips and smiled. Since Ye Zong was indulging her tonight, she wouldn’t stand on ceremony.

Xia An closed her eyes, fully enjoying this heartwarming embrace.

After a long while.

Ye Jin saw that Xia An was still hugging her. She didn’t take the initiative to let go but simply said, “Ye Wan is still waiting for you, clamoring to see Little Xia An.”

That illusion came again. Every time Ye Wan was mentioned, Xia An felt like they weren’t in a fake marriage, like it was all real.

“I…” Xia An released Ye Jin first. She was covered in the smell of alcohol, and her eyes were swollen. “I’ll go over later.”

“Are you still going to drink tonight?”

“I didn’t say I was going to drink.”

Ye Jin said again, “Ye Wan is sick and refuses to take her medicine. She’ll only listen if you coax her.”

“What’s wrong with Ye Wan?” Xia An asked anxiously.

“She caught a chill and is coughing a little.” Ye Jin saw that Xia An’s legs were covered in goosebumps, wearing just that short skirt on such a cold day, it served her right for being so cold,

“Go home.”

“I’m covered in the smell of alcohol.” Xia An had told Liang Laotai that she was busy with experiments and papers at school, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to go back drunk in the middle of the night.

“Take a shower and then go back.”

“Go… Where would I take a shower?”

“I have an apartment nearby. Get in the car first.” @无限好文，尽在晋江文学城

“Okay.”

After getting in the car, Ye Jin didn’t immediately start the engine but said, “Don’t come to Night Colors anymore.”

The same topic again.

Xia An didn’t say anything.

“It wouldn’t be good if Liang Laotai found out.”

“How would Liang Laotai find out?” Xia An retorted.

“It will always reach her ears. Also,” Ye Jin turned to look at Xia An, “Miss Xia, even though we’re in a fake marriage, please put in some effort.”

“How am I not putting in effort?”

“How many times a week do you come home?”

“Didn’t you say that as long as I had a reasonable reason, I could live outside?”

“That doesn’t mean you can live outside every day. Is there any newlywed couple like us?”

“We’re not really married…” Xia An muttered softly.

Okay, as expected, she could never win an argument against Ye Zong .

“Starting today, you’ll come back and live with me every night,” Ye Jin continued to make demands.

“Ah?” Xia An gave a wry smile. “That’s not what we agreed on.”

“Just think of these as my additional conditions.” Ye Jin started the engine, and the car slowly moved.

She gripped the steering wheel, continuing, “I know that if you don’t work part-time at Night Colors, your financial pressure will increase, so as compensation, I’ll cover your father’s treatment costs first.”

Ye Jin had figured out Xia An’s personality; she would definitely refuse if she gave her money directly.

“This…” Xia An was increasingly confused.

“I don’t like owing people favors. Besides, I’m not giving you this money for free. You can pay it back before the divorce.”

Xia An thought about it. If she didn’t work part-time at Night Colors, she was still studying, “It might not be paid off before the divorce.”

“Then pay it off before you get divorced.”