Chapter 23: Because of Fear

Chapter 23

Shen Yue did not answer, but moved aside to let Zou Xuerong in.

Zou Xuerong was overjoyed and immediately rushed into the room hugging her pillow, afraid that Shen Yue would change her mind.

Only after coming in did she realize that compared to yesterday, Shen Yue had changed to a much bigger and softer bed, completely different from the hard mud pits they had been sleeping in.

Zou Xuerong, who should have been happy that Shen Yue was willing to let her share the bed, was inexplicably nervous when she saw Shen Yue's bed.

She looked back at Shen Yue slowly walking towards her and explained, "I didn't come over because I wanted to sleep in your bed, I just...wanted to be with you..."

Shen Yue rarely responded to Zou Xuerong by nodding her head, then taking her hand and walking to the bedside.

Because Shen Yue had turned off the cameras yesterday, today the program team repeatedly told her not to turn them off, otherwise the next three rewards would be forfeited. Shen Yue could only endure the discomfort and allow the cameras to film her.

While holding Zou Xuerong's hand, she also tidied up her pajamas a bit.

Feeling Shen Yue's actions, Zou Xuerong suddenly remembered that there were still cameras in the bedroom.

She quietly moved closer to Shen Yue and said, "I know how to turn off the cameras! We can secretly turn them off and turn them back on in the morning!"

Shen Yue nodded. If someone else turned off the cameras instead of her, it shouldn't be considered violating the agreement.

Zou Xuerong fiddled with the cameras in the room for a while, and the blinking red light went out. After confirming that the cameras were off, Zou Xuerong was like a different person, jumping and skipping towards Shen Yue, "I turned off the cameras!"

What she didn't see was that although the red light of the camera was off, the lens moved slightly as she turned away.

【What is Zou Xuerong talking about? Aren't the cameras still on? Did I see something fake?】

【She probably thought she turned them off.】

【Haha, this is going to be fun to watch!】

【Let me, auntie see what tricks you two are up to.】

【I knew something was off with how Zou Xuerong acted towards sis Yue this morning, so this is where she was waiting for me!】

【Let me see what you two are planning to do after turning off the cameras while sharing a room!】

【Good grief, not a single good person in this entire livestream.】

While the bullet screen quarrel became heated, Shen Yue had already sat up and took out a beautiful little box embroidered with lotus flowers. She handed it to Zou Xuerong.

【Those above, what do you mean by dragging our Xingxing? With Shen Shuang's inaction, could Xingxing manage everything alone?! 】

【It's a fact he didn't help, what are you telling our bro Shen to do? Bro Shen earned a lot of money today and even bought noodles for everyone, are you blind? Really like idol like fans.】

【Indeed like idol like fans, some are as arrogant and aloof as her Shen bro.】

While the bullet screen quarreled fiercely, Shen Yue had already sat up and pressed around on Zou Xuerong's legs. Finding several places that made Zou Xuerong reveal uncomfortable expressions, Shen Yue determined where the lactic acid had accumulated.

She had memories from the prison sister teaching her how to massage, so she lifted Zou Xuerong's leg, located the right spots, and started massaging.

It hurt when massaging her sore legs. Zou Xuerong unconsciously struggled, kicking Shen Yue with her leg. Meanwhile the kicker was still immersed in pain, completely unaware.

Shen Yue didn't mind the kick from Zou Xuerong, she just found it hard to massage properly with the unconscious struggling. So she spoke up and said, "Don't move, I'll massage it for you so your legs won't hurt tomorrow."

Hearing Shen Yue speak, Zou Xuerong was stunned for a moment, even the pain on her leg was ignored.

She stared blankly at Shen Yue, "Yueyue you...can talk..."

Shen Yue nodded, "Mm."

Zou Xuerong seemed to think of something, her expression suddenly turned very bad, and cautiously asked again, "So normally, you can't speak?"

Shen Yue's massage movements paused for a moment, but soon resumed normally.

Perhaps it was easier for the heart's defenses to fall at night, or perhaps since obtaining strange memories, Shen Yue had never confided in anyone before, or maybe it was Zou Xuerong's careful yet concerned words that made her inexplicably feel she could rely on her.

It wasn't to maintain the autistic child persona, nor was it to listen to big brother, the reason she didn't want to speak was...

"It's not that I can't, I'm just very afraid."

She was afraid of being influenced by those memories that belonged yet didn't belong to her, she was afraid those familiar to her would eventually leave her, she was afraid of the unknown.

So she chose silence, both out of fear and avoidance.

The only reason she was willing to talk to Shen Yichen was simply because on the day she fell into the water and woke up, this brother was willing to cater to her unreasonable demands. And on the day she was bullied, Shen Yichen was willing to temporarily leave work to come find her.

Shen Yue was still just a 12 year old child. After suddenly gaining too much knowledge, she needed a pillar of support.

And Shen Yichen was this pillar.

But she wouldn't tell anyone this. She would only... hurry up to sleep and eat.

Upon hearing Shen Yue's reply, Zou Xuerong suddenly responded, "Mm, me too."