Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

I silently watched them as Liao Huifang cried hard, resting on Luo Zhiqiang.

I wondered... something seemed different with him too. For a moment, I thought I imagined things

Was he smiling just now?

It was so faint that I could hardly see it. My intuition said that I shouldn't disturb them, so I waited quietly in the corner. Then, a few minutes later, Liao Huifang withdrew and wiped her tears. She sniffled and softly smiled, but which seemed sad and painful.

"Sorry for your…"

Luo Zhiqiang shook his head. "You don't have to apologize."

"No...you had to recall it b-because of me…"

I glanced at Luo Zhiqiang, and...he also seemed in grief.

Did something happen?

"I recall it every day. Not a day had gone by since my brother's death that I haven't remembered him and that I didn't remember that day when he left me forever. It is carved in my mind. I never let myself forget it."

I widened my eyes in surprise.

Brother? 

Liao Huifang seemed hesitant, but she said nothing.

Silence hung in the air.

It seemed as it was time, so I gently knocked on the door.

Liao Huifang was startled, and she looked at my side. 

"X-Xin Lei!" 

I smiled and walked up to her. Luo Zhiqiang seemed to go back to his usual expression, and he looked indifferent once again.

I typed. "I was worried about you, so thought that I should check on you but…" I sneakily glanced at him and typed again, "I think it isn't necessary anymore."

She lowered her head and seemed embarrassed. 

My intuition is saying once again that something will definitely…

I coughed.

I hugged her tightly and patted her back. She softly said, "Thank you…"

I smiled and signed. "Let's go."

She nodded.

***

---

Dongcheng.

Ying Yue reached her home after her work in the bar. Her mother, Ying Lan, hugged her in a warm embrace. 

"Dear, you are back."

Ying nodded.

"You must be tired. I will set the dinner for us."

"Mom, you should have had your dinner earlier. I said not to wait for me."

Ying Lan gently smiled and flicked her forehead. "I like to eat with you." She pouted. "Don't you like to eat with your mother anymore?"

Ying Yue shook her head as her mother started again with the same conversation.

"It's not good for you to be hungry this long."

"And so it is not for you too. Hmph, now no arguments."

"Cousin!" A woman ran up to her Ying Yue. She was her cousin - her mother's sister's daughter. She was two years older than her and was currently studying at the same University as her.

"Cousin, you are back." Xue Jingjing gently smiled. However, Ying Lan's mood turned a bit sour. She pursed her lips.

"Cousin, how was your day?" She brightly smiled to which Ying Lan inwardly scoffed.

As if you care about that.

Ying Yue plainly said without much change in her expression. "Same as always."

She sighed. 

"Oh, is it Yue?"

Ying Lan's expression turned worse. That was her elder sister, Xue Xiying. Ever since her husband's death, they were living together with Ying Yue and Ying Lan.

No matter how much Ying Lan wanted to drive them away, she couldn't because there was debt they had to pay that Xue Xiying's husband left them with.

"You must be tired." Xue Xiying smiled. "Jingjing, why are you crowding at the door? Let your sister come inside first." She helplessly shook her head. "Sorry, Lan. Seriously this child lacks delicacy."

Ying Lan grudgingly smiled.

Xue Jingjing sheepishly said, "Sorry, Mom. Oh, yes! Let's all have our dinner now."

Ying Lan asked, "But didn't you already have your dinner?"

Xue Xiying's smile twitched. "Huh?"

"I saw Jingjing bringing some containers when she returned an hour, and I smelled food's aroma from it. She didn't say anything to me, but then I saw the empty containers in the trash can. So you two didn't wait for dinner. If you eat now, it would be heavy on your stomach."

They stiffened for a bit, but Xue Xiying quickly said, "Ah sis, that wasn't our dinner. It was just some light snacks. Jingjing! You didn't offer your aunt! How rude!" She berated her.

Xue Jingjing panicked. "I-I thought I kept one container for aunt."

"Forget it." Ying Lan very well knew this mother-daughter duo's acting. That was their dinner in reality, and they didn't bother to bring some for her and Ying Yue. "Yue. Let's go."

Xue Xiying quickly said, "Lan, are you mad? Jingjing will apologize. It's my mistake. I should have checked it with-"

"Forget it, sis." Ying Lan smiled and cut her off. "Let's have dinner."

Xue Xiying and Xue Jingjing awkwardly smiled.

At the dinner table, they talked a little while Ying Yue didn't react much as usual. Ying Lan would just hum.

Xue Jingjing smiled. "Sis…"

Ying Yue raised her head and looked at her expressionlessly.

"You know about my project, right? I am in fashion designing, and in my annual project, I have to create a unique design for a gown. Hehe~~ I needed some materials for that. You must have got your paycheck tonight, right? Can you give me some money?" She sweetly smiled.

Ying Lan clenched her fingers into her fist. "Jingjing dear, didn't you already bring all the stuff you needed last week? You had asked Yue…"

"Sorry, aunt. When I checked, I realized that I needed some more. I missed it out the first time."

"Jingjing, you cannot be so careless!" Xue Xiying scolded her. "Yue dear, I am sorry for the mess she made, but if you could help her a bit…"

Ying Yue said nothing. 

Ying Lan gritted her teeth. "Sis, it is her important project. How can she forget?"

"Don't be so harsh, Lan. Jingjing is still young. She can make mistakes."

She scoffed. Twenty-two and she is still young?

Then Xue Xiying probed. "Lan, it was difficult for my husband too to help you when you had nobody to depend on. If not for him, then Yue would have..." Her gaze dimmed. "It's alright, Lan. I understand. Jingjing, make do with the materials you have."

A vein popped on Ying Lan's forehead.

Once again...once again, she reminds me of my debt. 

Ying Yue didn't respond. She calmly opened her bag and handed them a few bills. "It's alright. I don't mind. Take this and buy whatever you need."

Xue Jingjing's gaze brightened, but she expertly hid it. "No sis…How can I? Aunt is right. I was careless."

"It's okay. Take it. Project is important."

Ying Lan wanted to stop her, but she couldn't. She could only bear the injustice in silence. Her heart ached to see her daughter giving her hard-earned money to them.

She was even suspicious of whether Xue Jingjing wanted it for her project or she wanted to waste it on shopping.

Xue Xiying smiled. "Thank you, dear. I knew that Yue would understand. But Jingjing, be careful next time, okay? Don't bother her every time."

"Okay, Mom!" She cheerfully said. The Xue's were happy but not Ying Lan. She narrowed her eyes.

"Jingjing. When you go shopping for your materials, tell me too. I have some things to buy too, so I will accompany you."

This way, I would make sure that she uses the money only for the project materials and not waste on anything else. Hmph!

Xue Jingjing and Xue Xiying stiffened. "Aunt. Why do you take the trouble? I will bring what you need." She smiled.

"No, I will come with you. I am bored sitting in the home all day anyway."

Xue Xiying pursed her lips. "Lan, it isn't necessary…"

"Why are you so against me coming with her?"

"No, of course not! I think it's a good idea. Jingjing, take aunt with you too, okay?"

Xue Jingjing awkwardly smiled. "Sure…"

Ying Yue got up. "I am full. I am going back. I have to complete some assignments."

She quickly went inside her room and closed the door behind. She softly sighed. 

She knew her mother didn't like the Xue duo live with them, but they were helpless. As for her, she didn't have any opinion about them. It's just that she didn't like seeing her mother sad. Her gaze dimmed.

She didn't want to see her mother troubled. But she wasn't capable enough to free themselves from them. Her Uncle's debt bound them.

The pay she got today was high, and it would certainly help, but she needed more. Once she compensates for the help given to her by the Xue family, they could finally live in peace.

Ying Yue logged in to her accounts to check if she could get some other high paying job. She had applied for many job openings.

As she was browsing through her mails, one of them caught her attention.

'Are you troubled with your family expenses? Do you want to gain financial independence as soon as possible? Join FriendsChat and explore the jobs you need. We assure you that we will find the best and high-paying job that is just right for you.'

Ying Yue blinked her eyes. She kept staring at it, deep in thought. She slowly raised her hand and hovered her finger above the 'Join' button until it was just a few centimeters apart.