Incurable Pain

IP Chapter 41.2

Incurable Pain | Chapter 41.2

On the days of the exam, Bai Xunyin’s heart was truly calm.

The three years of high school were really dedicated to studying hard. Every important question was kept in her mind, and she answered the paper methodically. Bai Xunyin treated the college entrance examination as a normal test, just like every monthly test and midterm exam.

Except for a long sigh of relief when leaving the exam hall, there was hardly any difference from usual.

Just after leaving the exam venue, Bai Xunyin received a message from Yu Luoyin.

[I was caught by my dad for a family dinner today. I’ll find you tomorrow. How did the exam go?]

Bai Xunyin couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, feeling fortunate that she and Yu Luoyin were not in the same examination room.

Furrowing her brows for a moment, she glanced down to send a message back to Yu Luoyin.

[I did fine, don’t worry about me. You should eat well and take your time. I’m also heading to my grandmother’s house in the countryside for a couple of days.]

Bai Xunyin felt… it was time for them to cool off.

But it wasn’t a lie or an excuse to deceive Yu Luoyin; Ji Huiying had indeed mentioned taking her to visit the countryside after the exams.

For many years, regardless of whether their family was prosperous or declining, their grandparents had lived in the old town after retirement, living a simple and contented life.

Linlan was a waterside town, with frequent rainy seasons unsuitable for growing crops typical of the north, so their grandparents grew some fruits and vegetables suitable for the climate.

Both grandparents received retirement pensions, and whatever they grew was merely for hobby. When they saw Ji Huiying bringing Bai Xunyin back, their faces lit up with joy.

“It’s good that you’ve come back. You never visit during the New Year. Did you forget who raised you?” 

Grandma took Bai Xunyin’s hand, but her gaze shot a sideways glance at Ji Huiying, complaining incessantly. 

“It’s been almost a year since I last saw our precious Yinyin. You must stay a few more days this time!”

“Mom, it’s not that I don’t want to come back.” Ji Huiying smiled helplessly. 

“You know we can’t leave Hongsheng unattended. I can’t stay for long, I have to take the early bus back to Lin Lan tomorrow.”

“If you want to go back, go back yourself.” Grandpa also chimed in, his stern face showing a hint of displeasure. 

“Yinyin should stay with us for a few more days.”

“…”

Ji Huiying hesitated. 

Looking at her grandparents whom she hadn’t seen for over a year, Bai Xunyin actually wanted to stay longer. She couldn’t help but smile softly and said, “Grandpa, Grandma, don’t be upset. I’ll stay here to accompany you.”

She didn’t have much to do now anyway, so she wanted to stay a few more days in the countryside.

Grandma, nearly seventy years old, still had jet-black hair with very few white strands. She had a slender figure and wore a traditional qipao that was characteristic of the ancient town, giving her the appearance of a refined lady from the Jiangnan region. Standing next to Grandpa, who was also spirited and wearing a Zhongshan* suit, they looked like a perfect couple.

*T/N: Chinese tunic suit

Every time Bai Xunyin saw them, she felt like she was witnessing the most perfect interpretation of the words ‘love’ and ‘future’.

However, Grandma, who had always been generous and bold, became emotional when she heard Bai Xunyin speak. 

She held her hand and sighed incessantly, “Being able to speak now… When we talked on the phone before, I couldn’t sleep from excitement. Now seeing you and hearing you speak in person, I feel that your voice is so beautiful, just like our Yinyin’s tone.”

As she spoke, she pulled Bai Xunyin towards the old house behind them.

The old house in the ancient town was quaint and elegant, from the peach wood gate to the house inside, exuding a solemn beauty.

Bai Xunyin was not unfamiliar with this place. She had even lived here with her grandparents for two years when the Bai family business was just starting out, when both Ji Huiying and Bai Hongsheng were too busy. Later, Bai Hongsheng couldn’t bear to leave his only daughter alone and brought her back.

Coming back to live here again, it still felt inexplicably familiar and comforting.

During dinner, Grandma specially made Bai Xunyin’s favorite lotus root and pork rib soup. Grandpa, with a smile on his face, asked, “Xiaoyin, how did the exam go?”

Grandpa had worked in the education bureau when he was young, and even after retiring for many years, he still had an air of scholarly refinement. He had experienced many ups and downs in the academic world and had seen countless exams.

For him, the college entrance examination was just like any other exam, so when he asked Bai Xunyin, he was very calm.

Bai Xunyin nibbled on a dumpling, nodded vaguely but firmly, “It went well, probably similar to my second mock exam.”

Grandpa blinked in surprise, “Then Xiaoyin, you can get into any university.”

Bai Xunyin smiled obediently.

“We’re amazing, just like Grandpa and Dad, both good at studying.” Grandma happily served her another small bowl of soup. 

“Which university are you planning to apply to?”

As they spoke, the three of them enthusiastically discussed various universities for Bai Xunyin.

This couldn’t be treated as simply estimating scores and applying to colleges based on that. They had to consider it carefully and conservatively.

Bai Xunyin listened quietly, and at the end, she put down the half-empty bowl of soup on the table and said, “I want to go to the North, to the University of Engineering.”

This sentence successfully broke the lively atmosphere at the table, plunging it into an awkward silence.

“The University of Engineering… isn’t bad.” 

Grandma was the first to break the silence, her gentle voice asking with concern, “But it’s in the north. Yinyin, will you be comfortable there? And it’s so far away?”

Their granddaughter had grown up in a waterside town since childhood. She used to be pampered, so was it really necessary for her to go far from home?

“That’s right.” 

Grandpa also said, “Think about it some more.”

Ji Huiying frowned slightly, somewhat annoyed, “Why didn’t you inform me of your decision beforehand?”

Bai Xunyin lowered her eyes, staring silently at the dragonfly that flew over to the table.

In the evening in the ancient town, everyone liked to eat outside in the cool breeze, so it wasn’t uncommon to see such small creatures.

The dragonfly landed on the table, its transparent wings fluttering lightly, rhythmically, just like Bai Xunyin’s current mood.

It seemed everyone disagreed with her decision, but unfortunately, she had made up her mind.

Because most elderly people were soft-hearted and tended to go along with the younger generation.

Sure enough, seeing Bai Xunyin lower her head and remain silent, looking ‘helpless’ and ‘miserable,’ the three of them began to relent.

“Forget it, if you want to go, then go.” 

Finally, Grandpa spoke up, with a somewhat nostalgic sigh, “The more places you go, the broader your horizons and knowledge will be.”

Bai Xunyin’s expression ‘changed,’ she raised her head and smiled sweetly, “Okay.”

She respected and appreciated those who had always respected her decisions.

The next morning, Ji Huiying alone boarded the early bus from the ancient town back to Linlan, while Bai Xunyin stayed behind to accompany her grandparents for a few more days.

Life in the ancient town was very pleasant, and the most tiring thing she had to do was water the  fruits and vegetables in the courtyard.

Here, there was no hustle and bustle of the city, although it was simple, it exuded a sense of being ‘untouched by the world.’

When she was young, Bai Xunyin only felt that it was damp and quiet here, merely because she was too young. But now, coming back to live here again, she felt a sense of peacefulness and tranquility.

In the afternoon, when Grandma went to play mahjong with some other ladies, and Grandpa went to listen to Pingtan with his old friends, Bai Xunyin sat alone in the courtyard of the old house, often basking in the sun on a long bench, squinting her eyes and spending the whole afternoon like that.

Only when the lonely little monsters couldn’t bear it, they couldn’t help but come to disturb her.

On the third day of staying in the ancient town, Yu Luoyin couldn’t help but rush over — it was probably because the little boy couldn’t bear the temptation.

He wore khaki pants and a black linen short-sleeved shirt, which matched the environment of the ancient town very well. His pitch-black hair was cut shorter, and he looked like a college student who had come to sketch.

The conspicuousness of youth couldn’t be hidden, and his body exuded a dazzling light.

Following the address Bai Xunyin gave him, Yu Luoyin found Bai Xunyin’s grandparents’ old house. Both grandparents were not at home, and the peach wood door was slightly ajar. After knocking a few times with no response, he hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door open. With a faint creak, he entered.

The s.p.a.cious courtyard was lined with grape arbors, the vines entwined beautifully.

But even more beautiful was the girl resting on the recliner under the grape arbor — Bai Xunyin seemed to have been well-nurtured these past few days. Her fair skin resembled warm jade, and her long and thick eyelashes cast a shallow shadow on her eyelids.

After a while, Bai Xunyin’s eyelashes trembled, and just as Yu Luoyin was staring at her in a daze, she suddenly opened her eyes, her sapphire pupils appearing even lighter in the sunlight, almost as if they were drilling into his heart.

After silently locking eyes for a moment, the air seemed to be filled with the sweet scent of grapes and fruits.

“What a pity,” Yu Luoyin’s throat rolled imperceptibly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips as he said with a hint of regret, “I didn’t even get to kiss you yet, and you woke up. How did you wake up?”

“Aren’t sleeping beauties supposed to be awakened by a prince’s kiss?”

“Conceited.” Bai Xunyin gave a cold evaluation, but couldn’t help but smile, her eyes showing a rare hint of genuine joy.

She turned her body, her upturned eyes extremely cunning, “You’re not a prince at all. You’re just a rascal.”

There are two things in this world that should not be directly looked at — the sun and the human heart.

— “Journey Under the Midnight Sun” by Keigo Higashino