Behind the "Take What You Need"

"Sister, I've been recovering well lately, and the doctors say my emotions have stabilized. Let me move back home to live with you so you won't have to work so hard."

Although Cen Yao had never mentioned it, Cen Ning was well aware that the cost of the sanatorium was no small amount.

If it weren't for her being a burden, her sister's life would be easier.

"Stay here and recuperate until you're fully recovered. Don't worry about anything else."

"I've been dragging you down for so many years, I don't want to continue like this."

"Cen Ning!" Cen Yao's eyes reddened, biting her lower lip so hard it almost bled.

In her eyes, she had never been a burden!

Cen Ning's thin shoulders trembled violently, and tears streamed down her face.

Cen Yao looked at her, embracing her with all her strength.

She had been busy working and earning money, thinking she was providing the best treatment environment for Cen Ning, but she never considered that her sister might also be under pressure.

"You are the only relative I have in this world, you must always stay with me, understand? I've already lost my mother; I can't lose you too."

To Cen Yao, Cen Ning was the most important person. If anything happened to Cen Ning, she would truly be left alone.

The two embraced and cried, their ideas different, but both decisions were made for the other's good.

In the evening, after Cen Ning had taken her medication and fallen asleep, Cen Yao left the sanatorium.

Back home, she took a comfortable hot shower. Tired from the day, she prepared to rest early.

But not long after lying down, her phone lit up.

It was a video call from Shao Xichen.

She didn't intend to answer, but somehow, she pressed the accept button.

"Sleeping?"

"Just getting ready to." Cen Yao yawned.

At that moment, it was still daytime abroad, and the phone was placed on the desk, with the camera aimed at Shao Xichen.

His slender fingers quickly tapped on the computer keyboard, and his sharp eyes occasionally glanced at the screen.

"Turn on the light." It was pitch black on the other end, and he couldn't see anything.

Cen Yao turned on the bedside lamp, and the soft light illuminated her fair face.

Looking at her delicate face, Shao Xichen suddenly frowned.

"Cried?"

"No." Cen Yao's eyes dodged.

Her eyes were red like a rabbit's; it was hard to believe she hadn't cried.

However, Shao Xichen didn't press the issue further.

"It turns out I planned to come back this weekend, but with the current progress of work, it looks like I'll have to wait until next week."

"Oh."

"Do you want anything for a gift?"

Cen Yao pursed her lips. She had heard that there were very skilled psychologists abroad, and if there was a chance to send Cen Ning for treatment overseas, she might recover faster.

But after thinking about it, she decided against it. It was impossible for her and Shao Xichen to bring this up. She didn't want him to know about her family matters.

But since it was a rare opportunity, she hesitated for a long time before finally dismissing the thought.

"No."

"Tomorrow it's going to get cold in the country, wear more layers." Shao Xichen made small talk.

Cen Yao nodded, "It's getting late, I have work tomorrow." The implication was that she wanted to rest.

"Alright, goodnight."

Shao Xichen was nominally just a captain for now, but according to Cheng Xue, he was already taking over the family business.

This trip abroad was for the airline company.

Taking over the Shao family business was only a matter of time.

Cen Yao knew that the distance between them was more than a galaxy away.

In recent days, it had been domestic flights, all day trips.

So, in the afternoon, she would generally visit Cen Ning at the sanatorium. She took the opportunity to go more often, so as not to run out of time when she got busy later.

In addition, she occasionally received text messages from Shao Xichen.

Mostly asking if she had eaten on time and reminding her to throw away expired food in the fridge.

If she happened to see them, Cen Yao would reply, but usually not more than five words.

"Texting someone?"

"No one." She carelessly put her phone back in her pocket.

Cheng Xue squinted her eyes with a sly glint, "It's Shao Xichen, right?"

Cen Yao felt guilty; even if she didn't say it, Cheng Xue had probably guessed most of it already.

"We've been friends for so many years, how could you hide anything from me."

She took Cen Yao's hand and said seriously, "Yao Yao, what I said before was out of anger. As long as you're happy, I fully support whatever you want to do with whoever, so there's no need for you to hide it from me."

"I wasn't trying to hide it from you, I just didn't know how to tell you. And we're not together, it's just take what you need. He needs to vent, and so do I."

Cheng Xue was completely confused and couldn't quite understand Cen Yao's meaning.

She wasn't conservative; between men and women, apart from emotional exchanges, it was mostly physical.

If it were anyone else, she would tell them to do whatever made them happy.

But facing Cen Yao, she had a thousand worries. She was afraid Cen Yao would suffer losses and even more worried about her getting hurt in this relationship.

"Did it start from that night at the alumni association?"

"Mhm." She admitted honestly.

Cheng Xue gasped, holding her forehead as if she was about to faint.

"I don't have the energy to nurture a relationship; this is fine for me, no one owes anyone anything."

There's never a question of owing or not owing in matters of the heart; it's always about whether you like someone or not.

She was worried that Cen Yao might like him without realizing it, and by the time she realized it, it would be too late.

Just as she was preparing to have a serious talk with Cen Yao, a voice suddenly came from outside the break room.

"Cen Yao, there's someone looking for you."

Cen Yao quickly responded, "I know."

Cen Ya Qin was wearing sky-high heels, her black dress reaching down to her ankles, making her look like she was cut in half.

"Yao Yao, I went to your place and you weren't home, so I came here. I hope I didn't disturb your work."

Whether it disturbed or not, she had already come.

Cen Yao looked at her coldly, no different from a stranger.

Cen Ya Qin looked a bit awkward, rubbing her hands nervously.

"Why not come over for dinner at my place in a few days? Your cousin is also there; you two sisters must have a lot to talk about." In the dark and gloomy days when the Cen family fell, Cen Yao had felt too much of the world's indifference and cruelty. There were those who took the opportunity to laugh at her misfortune, those who rejoiced in her misfortune, and even some who added insult to injury.

Too many, too many to count. Even after so many years, she clearly remembered those people's faces. Zhang Xinrou was the only one who reached out to help her.