Forbidden Feelings and a Sister’s Claim

Jiang Li had lied.

While she hadn’t continuously stared at the sleeping Xi Yao, whenever sleep eluded her at night, her gaze would occasionally drift to the shapely contours beneath the blanket.

When the moonlight was sufficiently bright, she could even discern Xi Yao’s serene and adorable face in slumber.

What used to be an occasional, unwitting glance had, in recent days, become an increasingly frequent observation, a change Jiang Li herself couldn’t explain.

She couldn’t help but wonder what Xi Yao did when she wasn’t around, and which girls might be accompanying her.

And when she slept at night, what beautiful dreams did she weave, and who populated them?

‘Perhaps this is just a straight girl’s curiosity,’ she mused.

In any case, she decided, she would seek out her sister tomorrow to ask.

****

Friday arrived.

As the final day before the weekend, the students naturally lacked enthusiasm; while their bodies remained in the classroom for lessons, their minds had already drifted to the coming weekend.

During the break after the second class of the morning, everyone, their thoughts far from textbooks, was preoccupied with their own affairs.

Xi Ruo, with one hand idly flipping a coin, used her other hand to browse the school’s encyclopedia for information on the “Houde Zaiwu Hall” (TL Note: Literally ‘Virtue Carries Things Hall,’ suggesting a place for cultural or moral cultivation), wondering if she should bring a small pillow for tomorrow.

Her ability to multitask was already somewhat accomplished.

Over in the high school division, Aileen returned to the Student Union building, ignoring the strange looks from others as she made her way to her private office, searching through her desk drawers for the key to the “Houde Zaiwu Hall.”

The school boasted a tranquil building, divided into three halls: one named ‘Mingjing Zhishui’ (TL Note: ‘Bright Mirror Still Water,’ implying clarity and calm), another ‘Dili Qianxing’ (TL Note: ‘Forge Ahead,’ suggesting perseverance), and the third, ‘Houde Zaiwu’ (TL Note: ‘Virtue Carries Things Hall’).

Students and clubs could apply to rent these as activity rooms, though the application process was far from straightforward.

Of course, for Xi Ruo, applying was simple; she was a legend.

For Aileen, it was equally simple; she possessed the key.

While those two lived for tomorrow, Jiang Li lived firmly in the present.

After class, she swiftly made her way to the school doctor’s office, seeking out her sister who was not on duty today.

“You’re here,” Jiang Wan said gently. “I’ve received the data you uploaded these past two days; a new schedule is currently being arranged.”

On her days off, she would change into casual clothes, her neat white shirt highlighting her graceful figure, a vision that haunted the dreams of countless high school boys.

Alas, the school doctor’s private office was not open to the public; one could only glimpse her at work in the infirmary.

In recent days, as Xi Yao had begun her morning runs according to the schedule, Jiang Li had been diligently recording her condition and data, then forwarding them to Jiang Wan to adjust the itinerary as needed.

“She’s adapted to the previous morning run intensity,” she mused thoughtfully. “Continue at this pace; the morning run doesn’t need to change. We can, however, appropriately add some other exercises, such as sit-ups in bed during her lunch break and in the evening.”

“Mm-hm.”

Jiang Li nodded, indicating she had noted it down.

Jiang Wan gently poured a cup of tea, then tentatively suggested, “It’s still early before class, isn’t it? Why don’t you sit for a while?”

Jiang Li had been thinking the same thing, so she quickly took the tea. “Mm-hm.”

The sisters’ intentions converged; both wished to discuss something with the other.

Jiang Wan harbored doubts about the relationship between Xi Ruo and Xi Yao, sensing it was more complex than mere sisterhood, and hoped to glean some information.

Jiang Li, on the other hand, was in need of a little psychological counseling; her mindset had felt off these past few days.

“Sister, I…”

“Xiao Li, have you heard about…”

Their voices collided as they spoke simultaneously, causing both sisters to fall silent.

Jiang Wan paused, then smiled. “You go first.”

“No,” Jiang Li shook her head resolutely. “You speak first.”

‘What I have to say is quite a lot; it’s better to wait until you’ve finished.’

“Alright,” Jiang Wan said, without further delay, and directly asked, “Are you familiar with Xi Yao and her sister, Xi Ruo?”

“Familiar, yes,” Jiang Li replied without hesitation. “Xi Yao is my roommate, so I’m definitely familiar with her. As for Xi Ruo, there are very few at Wenlu Academy who don’t know her; I’ve heard about her many times, and I’m very familiar with her accomplishments.”

She recounted tales: how Xi Ruo had given others an hour’s head start before beginning her exam, how she had challenged all four major ball sports in the gymnasium within a single day, defeating every opponent in a reverse-round-robin battle, and how her forum live stream speech had drawn tens of thousands of simultaneous viewers, setting a new viewership record.

She rattled them off as if listing cherished possessions, even including minor gossip like “occasionally falling into a brief period of melancholy when returning to school from home.”

“Xiao Li, you’ve misunderstood,” Jiang Wan said, forcing a smile. “What I mean is, do you understand Xi Ruo *as Xi Yao’s sister*?”

‘Xi Ruo, in her capacity as a sister?’

Jiang Li furrowed her brow, pondered for a long while, then shook her head. “I don’t know. Xi Yao has never mentioned it, and aside from that day in the sports room, I’ve never actually seen Xi Ruo.”

“I see.”

Jiang Wan mused inwardly, realizing she likely wouldn’t gain any useful intelligence from Jiang Li; she knew her own sister well, and Jiang Li was not naturally adept at social interactions.

‘I’ll find an opportunity to ask others later.’

“Xiao Li, what was it you wanted to say earlier?” Jiang Wan asked, pouring herself another cup of tea and taking two leisurely sips. “Go on, tell me.”

Jiang Li hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth and confessed, “My emotions haven’t felt quite right lately.”

“How so?” Jiang Wan asked casually.

She hadn’t majored in psychology, having only read a few books at most, so she could only try her best to offer her sister some solace.

“It’s like this: I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I always thought I was straight,” Jiang Li whispered, revealing her innermost thoughts. “But lately, I suspect I might have fallen for her.”

Had it been anyone else, Jiang Li would never have admitted it, but this was, after all, her own sister, and a doctor to boot.

Most importantly, her sister was a lesbian… *cough, cough*, a ‘lily’ (TL Note: ‘Baihe,’ a Chinese term for lesbian, similar to yuri in Japanese manga/anime, often used in a more romantic or idealized context), which meant she was perfectly suited to the topic. It was precisely why Jiang Li dared to voice her suspicions.

“Oh?”

Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow, her interest immediately piqued, her spirits soaring. “How did you come to suspect that? Tell me.”

Over the past six months, due to her sexual orientation, Jiang Wan had grown increasingly distant from her family, and her sister’s lack of understanding particularly filled her with inner bitterness.

Now, hearing that her sister might also be ‘bent’… *cough*, might also be walking down the ‘right path,’ how could Jiang Wan not be overjoyed?

She had already decided: even if it was a fifty-fifty chance, she would firmly declare, “Yes, you have fallen for her.”

“I always find myself staring at her,” Jiang Li said slowly. “When she talks to other girls and leaves me aside, I feel very unhappy inside.”

Jiang Wan nodded, a gentle smile consistently gracing her face.

‘It certainly sounds like she’s fallen for someone. It doesn’t matter if it’s a misconception; with enough encouragement, even a misconception can become reality.’

Jiang Wan softly began, “Xiao Li, I think this feeling of yours, it’s definitely…”

“I feel like I’m completely wrong,” Jiang Li continued, still self-reflecting. “I shouldn’t feel that just because she’s my roommate, she has to take me everywhere and can’t just leave me. But I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“…definitely a misconception.” Jiang Wan’s smile vanished instantly, her beautiful face becoming expressionless. “You need to think about this more carefully.”

‘Xiao Li, you absolutely cannot… no, you absolutely cannot fall for *her*!’

‘She’s *mine*!’