Chapter 136: Lullaby

Page (1/3) — The Superstar Falls in Love with Me

Xu Shu came over gently, removed the pillow supporting my back, and ordered me in a tone that brooked no argument, “Come on, be good. Lie down and sleep.”

I really did want to sleep, but without a cigarette, I simply couldn’t settle down. I gave her a sycophantic smile. “All right, all right! I’ll sleep, but… could I… could I have just one cigarette before I do?”

Xu Shu put on a stern face. “No! Until your injuries have healed, you are not allowed to smoke!”

No… surely not! How long would it take for my injuries to heal? How was I supposed to live like this? I turned toward my younger sister, intending to complain and plead with her, only to find her sitting blankly on the stool, mouth hanging open, looking completely petrified.

Only then did I remember that Xiaoying had just met her idol. She was probably so thrilled and shocked that her mind had stopped working. I said to Xu Shu, “Look at my sister. Seeing you has left her completely speechless. The power of a celebrity really is something else! Could you help bring her back to her senses?”

Xu Shu had heard me mention my sister when we first met, and she knew Xiaoying was one of her most devoted fans. Smiling, she walked over and affectionately put an arm around Xiaoying’s shoulders.

“Xiaoying, is it? Your brother has told me all about you. I’ve finally met you today, and I never expected you to be so beautiful. You don’t look anything like your brother!”

I nearly choked to death on my own saliva. What was Xu Shu trying to say?

My sister’s eyes instantly filled with tears. Trembling, she reached out to touch Xu Shu’s arm and stammered emotionally, “Is… is it really you? I’m not… dreaming, am I?”

Xu Shu fondly reached out with her other hand and stroked my sister’s hair. With a smile, she nodded.

“Yes, it’s me. I’m Xiaoxin’s older sister. Does my sister often come to your house to play? She told me your room is covered with my posters. Your brother also said he can sing all my songs. Is that true? I’m so happy!”

My sister could no longer hold back her tears. Great drops rolled down her cheeks as she cried, “I’m… I’m so happy! Can I… can I hug you? I’ve dreamed of embracing you and talking to you.”

Xu Shu opened her arms and smiled. “If you want, I’ll let you hug me every day.”

My sister’s eyes lit up, and she threw herself into Xu Shu’s arms. The happiness on her face was beyond words. Xu Shu laughed and hugged her back, but her eyes turned toward me. Hidden within her gaze was a faint, unmistakable look of triumph.

I smiled as I watched the two beautiful women, one older and one younger, clinging to each other. I knew how much Xu Shu meant to my sister. Even after I had suffered such serious injuries, Xiaoying hadn’t shed a single tear. Yet the moment she saw Xu Shu, she had cried like this! The thought made me feel a little jealous of Xu Shu.

My sister hugged Xu Shu so tightly that she refused to let go. With no other choice, Xu Shu looked at me and silently mouthed, “Go to sleep!”

I smiled and mouthed back, “I want a cigarette!”

Xu Shu pulled a helpless face. Then she gently patted my sister’s back and said softly, “Xiaoying, let’s get your brother to sleep first. Then your sister will have a good talk with you, all right?”

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My sister finally came to her senses a little from her excitement and wild joy. She moved slightly away from Xu Shu’s embrace and stared at her idol in confusion.

“Why? Why are you in my brother’s hospital room? Why have I never known that you and my brother knew each other?”

Xu Shu stroked the top of her head and smiled. “I don’t know either. Go ask your brother.”

Xiaoying suddenly spun around, grabbed my ear, and angrily demanded, “You rotten brother! What are you up to? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? You obviously knew who my favorite person was, and you deliberately kept it from me, didn’t you? I’m furious! I’m not letting you off!”

I could only shout, “Ow! That hurts! Let go!”

Xu Shu hurried over and pulled Xiaoying into her arms. “Let’s talk this out. Don’t hit him! Your brother is still injured!”

One had to listen to one’s idol. My sister finally released my ear and muttered resentfully, “I’ll settle accounts with you later!” Then she turned around, wrapped her arms around Xu Shu, and grinned.

“Did that hurt, sister-in-law? You should marry my brother soon! I’ll be so impressive at school then—the superstar Xu Shu will be my sister-in-law. Just imagine how jealous all my classmates will be. Hehe!”

Xu Shu’s face suddenly caught fire and turned bright red. She squirmed awkwardly.

“Xiaoying, don’t… don’t say things like that. Your sister-in-law is someone else.”

I also said sternly, “Xiaoying! Xu Shu is my friend. Don’t make baseless remarks!”

My sister laughed in disbelief. “Ha! You’re still keeping it secret? Do you think I’m blind? Brother, I really can’t believe it! How could you possibly be with… This is unbelievable! Is the world really coming to an end? Is humanity regressing? How could something this shocking happen?”

I rolled my eyes. Unable to catch my breath, I began coughing violently. The coughing immediately tugged at my injuries, and cold sweat broke out all over me from the pain.

Xu Shu was so frightened that she quickly released my sister. Forgetting that she ought to keep her distance in front of others, she supported me and gently patted my back.

“How are you? Are you all right? Does it hurt? Should I call the doctor?”

I shook my head and forced down the discomfort in my throat. With a bitter smile, I said, “No need! I say, little sister, did you come here to take care of me or torture me? Is that any way to talk to your brother?”

Xu Shu tried to smooth things over. “All right, all right. Lie down and rest. Look how pale you are. Hurry up and get some sleep, or you won’t recover anytime soon.”

Tang Ying watched the two of us with a beaming smile.

“You’re already this affectionate and you still refuse to admit it? I’m your real sister, you know! Sister-in-law, why is my brother like this? You can’t be like him. You’re my idol—you can’t lie to me!”

I was just about to explain everything clearly when Xu Shu pushed me back down. Knowing what I intended to say, she said, “That’s enough. I’ll explain everything to your sister later. For now, close your eyes and go to sleep!”

I lay in bed, but how could I possibly sleep? Xiaoying leaned over with a mischievous grin.

“Brother! Sister-in-law! Do you need me to leave for a while? Hehe!”

I snapped, “I’ve already told you that she isn’t your sister-in-law. Why do you keep calling her that? She has her dignity, you know. Stop making a fool of yourself!”

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Tang Ying stuck out her little tongue. “You’re so mean! All right, all right, I won’t call her that. Anyway, it’s only a matter of time, and waiting a couple more days won’t hurt.”

Good grief! This little sister of mine was impossible. There was simply no reasoning with her.

I couldn’t be bothered to answer. Turning to Xu Shu, I said, “Xu Shu, you haven’t had any proper rest all day and night. You must be exhausted. You’ve been so good to me—I’m truly proud to have a friend like you. But your status is different from ours. If you keep appearing here so often, the reporters and paparazzi will eventually discover you, and then the whole city will be in an uproar. I think you should stop coming here whenever possible, to avoid unnecessary trouble. My family can take care of me now. You should go home and get some rest.”

Xu Shu’s face had been flushed, her eyes bright and shifting. There was a hint of shyness, a hint of embarrassment, and another hint of happiness. But after hearing my words, her expression gradually turned to disappointment. She lowered her eyes and said softly, “Is that so? All right. But let’s talk about it after you fall asleep. If you want me to go home and rest sooner, then close your eyes and get to sleep!”

I pulled a miserable face. “But… I can’t sleep without having a cigarette.”

The moment I said this, Xu Shu and my sister each collapsed onto one side of the hospital bed in speechless exasperation.

Xu Shu climbed back up, both annoyed and amused.

“So after all that, smoking is still the only thing on your mind? Good heavens, I give up. But I really can’t let you smoke. If you can’t sleep… perhaps I could sing you a lullaby? I guarantee that you’ll fall asleep the moment you hear it. How about that?”

I said dejectedly, “A lullaby? Come on! I’m not a child anymore!”

My sister, on the other hand, became excited.

“Yes, yes! Sister-in-law—well, future sister-in-law—I love listening to you sing. Come on, sing one! I’ve been dying to hear you!”

Xu Shu smiled and lightly pinched her nose.

“All right, then. Let me test you. Didn’t you say you know all my songs? I’ll sing one line, and you sing along.”

My sister nodded happily and gave a soft hum of agreement.

Xu Shu turned to look at me. Her bright, captivating eyes seemed to hold a thousand words. She gazed at me for a long moment, then gently began to sing a tender, winding melody.

“You… you truly leave me lost in love and confusion. I want to ignore you, yet I can’t stop myself from secretly watching you. You… you make my heart twist and turn. I want to reject you, yet I cannot bear to let go of this love…”

Xu Shu’s voice was haunting and tender, as though she were giving perfect expression to the feelings of a woman who loved someone deeply but dared not confess it. After she had sung only two lines, my sister joined in. She sang the harmony from the song. Though the two of them had never sung together before, their voices blended so naturally that it was impossible to tell whether they were performing live or whether I was listening to a recording.

Amid their singing, I found myself drifting back to that snowy night. On Wuyi Road, I had carried Xu Shu on my back while she sang, and together we had floated onward as though walking through the clouds.

I smiled, and my heart gradually grew calm. The pain throughout my body seemed to vanish with the music. I closed my eyes and, before I knew it, fell asleep.