NOVEL NEXT 23: Make a Wish
Ye Lan’s initial excitement cooled as she noticed Bai Yu’s unusual behavior, suddenly wanting to express something.
“Bai Yu, in a sense, you’re actually the first friend in this phase of my life.”
The first friend after starting a new life—no mistake there.
Bai Yu smiled and said, “Is that so? I feel honored. It’s wonderful to be Ye Lan’s first friend.”
“Before having friends, I always entertained myself alone. I played games alone, chatted with myself, always speaking my true feelings to the air, never expressing my most genuine thoughts to anyone.”
“Hmm… that sounds pitiful. But now you have me, so Ye Lan doesn’t need to talk to herself anymore.”
“Yes, but talking to myself is a habit. It can’t be changed.”
“I see.”
Ye Lan continued speaking, and as she said these words, her inner thoughts became increasingly firm.
“Bai Yu, what’s your view on friendship?”
“Friends? They should be able to chat with each other, help each other, find ways to share their good moods, and try to dispel each other’s bad moods. I suppose it’s something like that.”
“Mm, if that’s the case, why don’t you tell me about your troubles instead of suppressing them, Bai Yu?” Ye Lan stared directly into Bai Yu’s eyes, as if trying to see through her.
“Eh…?”
Bai Yu tilted her head, feeling a bit dazed.
How annoying, what’s with this feeling of being seen through?
“Ye Lan, this is our first time meeting in person, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then why does it feel like you understand me so well?” Bai Yu slowly lowered her head.
“Bai Yu, I think you’re not good at hiding your feelings in front of others.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well… because that dejected expression you just had didn’t appear in front of your sister. It seemed perfectly hidden, always smiling, as if deliberately conveying a message to her: ‘I’m happy, don’t worry about me.'”
“Hmm… was it that obvious?” Bai Yu’s words indirectly confirmed that what Ye Lan said was mostly correct.
The smile on Bai Yu’s face had already diminished considerably.
At least it was no longer that forced, gentle happy smile, but rather a somewhat helpless smile.
“I can’t help it. Because my sister is always suppressing herself, as if she’s living for my sake. I don’t want her to be like that.”
Hearing these words, Ye Lan knew that Bai Yu seemed ready to “lay her cards on the table.”
Bai Yu slightly pursed her small mouth, glaring at Ye Lan with mock anger, complaining in a not-at-all fierce manner.
“Really, just a Ye Lan, merely a friend I’ve just met, yet you’re exposing my brilliant facade. It’s so unreasonable.”
“Um, I’m sorry…”
Ye Lan wasn’t sure if what she did was right or wrong, and was somewhat apologetic.
“I’m not angry, you know. I just think Ye Lan is really a very gentle person. I really don’t understand why I’m your first friend.”
Bai Yu couldn’t comprehend Ye Lan’s social circle; logically, she should have had many friends by now.
Ye Lan continued to muster her courage and said, “Bai Yu, you’re my friend. If you have any troubles, you can tell me. I’ll help you solve them.”
Bai Yu pondered for a moment, seeming to compromise.
“The biggest trouble, I guess, is with my sister. She’s always unhappy because of my health condition. Although she pretends well in front of me, I can still see it.”
Ye Lan understood a bit.
Was the cause Bai Yu’s “terminal illness”?
“Is Senior Bai Tu’s mood very depressed?” Ye Lan was a bit confused, at least she couldn’t tell.
She hadn’t spent much time with Bai Tu, and Bai Tu’s expression was always very cold. Ye Lan couldn’t discern much.
Bai Yu nodded affirmatively.
“Well, I am her sister after all. How could I not notice her mood?” Bai Yu smiled.
When talking about her sister, her gentleness wasn’t feigned.
“To cure my illness, my sister has been constantly searching for effective treatment methods, but she hasn’t found any so far, so the pressure keeps building up. If I were to leave one day, my sister absolutely wouldn’t be able to bear it.”
“Hmm…”
Ye Lan remained silent, agreeing with Bai Yu’s words.
The loss of a loved one is indeed unbearable for many people.
Bai Yu continued speaking slowly: “Our parents passed away early, leaving just us two sisters to rely on each other. I’m thinking, at least before I leave, I should maintain a happy state, an attitude of indifference, as if dying like this isn’t a big deal at all. Perhaps this will make it easier for my sister to accept.”
“Then your true feelings…”
“Hmm… I guess I really do want to cry a little bit. Just a little.”
Ye Lan stood up and hugged her.
Despite being so timid, she instinctively made such intimate physical contact with Bai Yu.
“Ye Lan…?” Bai Yu’s gaze was somewhat dazed.
“Crying might make you feel a bit better. I’m here with you now, you don’t need to hide under the covers to cry anymore.”
“Mm…”
Mist gradually appeared in Bai Yu’s eyes. When hugged by someone, she wasn’t as strong as she had imagined. The sadness and grievances in her heart seemed about to break free from their seal.
“I don’t want to cry… I really don’t want to cry…”
Ye Lan gently stroked her hair, as if peeling away the layers of protection around Bai Yu’s heart.
“Don’t do this…” Bai Yu’s choked voice came through.
Ye Lan said softly, “Letting it out might make you feel better. At least let me be your confidant this once, okay? We’re friends.”
“That’s so unfair… saying that so suddenly…”
Bai Yu, who had been holding back until now, finally couldn’t resist and began to cry loudly.
“Waaah——“
Bai Yu’s tears flowed down her cheeks like an unstoppable stream, as if releasing all the pent-up emotions from this period.
Ye Lan quietly patted her back gently, trying to make her voice as soft as possible.
“Cry, go ahead and cry… I’m here.”
……
After nearly ten minutes, Bai Yu’s crying finally stopped.
Bai Yu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her face slightly flushed. It seemed she was embarrassed.
“Sorry for using you as a trash can…”
“It’s nothing. Although it’s the first time, I’m still willing to do it. If you want to confide in someone again, just contact me.”
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, I have something to do now. I’ll come back to keep you company in the evening.”
“Mm…” Bai Yu nodded reluctantly.
Having made a friend for the first time and shared so many things she wanted to say, Bai Yu was very reluctant to see her leave now.
“Um, this is the first time I’ve said these things in front of a friend. If possible, could you not tell my sister? I’m afraid she’ll worry even more.”
Hearing this, Ye Lan nodded with a smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep it a secret.”
“That’s good…”
Before leaving, Ye Lan suddenly asked a question as if possessed.
“Bai Yu, if you had a chance to make a wish come true, what would you wish for?”
Bai Yu showed a bewildered expression.
“I guess I’d wish for my sister to still be happy even after I’m gone…”
“Is that your true wish?”
“That’s not important…”
“But, I think your true wish is very important to me.” Ye Lan stared directly into her eyes, her expression very serious.
“You want to live, don’t you?”
“Eh?” Bai Yu’s pupils dilated slightly.
“Your online name has already given it away. You still yearn to live on in your heart, rather than being indifferent to everything.”
“Mm…”
She indeed had such strong feelings before, but after repeated examinations and experiencing disappointment time and time again, it seemed to have faded.
Now, does her heart still yearn to live on?
If making a wish, the wish that could be realized would be omnipotent, right?
Even if it’s just an illusion.
“I want… to live on.”
Hearing this answer, Ye Lan showed an adorable smile.
“What’s this, being honest like this is better, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I’ll try my best to help you fulfill your wish!”
At this moment, Ye Lan’s heart was filled with motivation, eager to learn more.
And she didn’t know that after granting Bai Yu a certain qualification, the hidden power within her body began to show signs of awakening.