All Chapters of The Flaming Lips: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Inside, my heart was as turbulent as the flower fields outside, flickering under the warm yellow sunlight, noisy and chaotic.If it weren't for the fact that Stan Wallace had never asked me to stay, never told me I could date, never taught me that alcohol should only be drunk with someone I like, and never shown any sign of trying to matchmake me with Martin Ernest...Could I have interpreted Stan Wallace's kindness towards me as something else... something more than just sibling affection?This thought was too bold, almost as daring as skipping the essay in the college entrance exam.Just as I was thinking, my phone suddenly vibrated. Before I could unlock it, a message from Stan Wallace appeared on the screen: "Not home yet?"My hand holding the phone trembled, as if caught red-handed by Stan Wallace through the air. I hastily pulled myself together and replied: "With Martin Ernest, coming back soon."Stan Wallace probably thought I would come back late again, but after I sent

"Leaving at what time?" I stood up, smoothing out the creases of my pants, lifting and then lowering my feet, feeling somewhat at a loss. "I learned how to make the fish you taught me yesterday. Can I cook it for you?"Before he could answer, I turned and headed towards the kitchen. "It'll be quick. If you're in a rush, you can take it with you and eat in the car. You have to eat dinner anyway."In the evening, Stan Wallace said he didn't need me to pack his meal, and I thought he was going to work overtime.He didn't tell me he was leaving."Don't bother,"Stan Wallace seemed to say something like that, but I didn't quite catch it. The plastic bags in the fridge rustled as I rummaged through them, and a frozen fish slipped from my hand, thudding lifelessly on the floor."Gloria Kit." Stan Wallace had somehow come to stand beside me, his palm touching the top of my head. He seemed to want to say something, but before he could, the door was pushed open by Gu Sui.Stan Wallace pro

The flat was much larger than the typical apartment, with spacious and sunny bedrooms on either side of the entrance. Behind the bedrooms were bathrooms equipped with showers and a kitchen.Although it was fairly modern, it wasn't fully equipped; in winter, coal had to be burned for heating, and in summer, Grandma would use a double electric blanket to keep warm, as the kang (traditional Chinese bed) could still be chilly otherwise.After washing up, Florence Bobby lay down on the double electric blanket. There was space next to her, but no pillow or quilt for me. I didn't want to sleep beside her anyway.Besides Stan Wallace, having anyone else around made me feel unsafe.Florence Bobby showed no intention of acknowledging me, probably still angry about our unfinished conversation earlier.I sat on the edge of the kang, swinging my feet back and forth, and finally decided not to cause trouble for Stan Wallace. I went to the cabinet, grabbed another quilt, and laid it at the other

The wooden door creaked open and then closed, emitting a few sharp, broken sounds.I buried myself under the blankets, trying my best not to hear what they were saying next. It wasn't until everything was completely silent that I got out of bed on tiptoe and went to the bathroom to freshen up.When I entered, Stan Wallace was changing the bandage on Grandma's arm. There was a deep cut where it had caught on a protruding splinter from the shelf.Florence Bobby was there as well, so I couldn't help much. All I could do was collect and dispose of the used gauze and cotton balls."Your dinner is waiting for you; it should still be warm. Go ahead and eat," Grandma said with a smile. "They can handle things here."My hands froze, the gauze suddenly feeling heavy, too heavy to lift. "Oh, okay, thank you, Grandma."Grandma was very gentle, and she looked beautiful when she smiled. She patted my hand affectionately just now, her palm warm and comforting.She didn't dislike me at all. On

Through Stan Wallace's reaction, I was convinced that my shoulder had been smashed. Later, the doctor applied some disinfectant and then there were no further steps, "Alright, let's wait for the X-rays. If everything is fine, you can go home."The doctor said it was just a scrape, but the bruising was quite severe, and he prescribed some ointments for pain relief and to reduce the bruising.It must have been due to the angle at which the brick fell when I pushed Stan Wallace; otherwise, I wouldn't have been so lucky. Even if his thick arm wasn't holding a brick, a punch from him would probably be too much for my bones to handle.The incident of the conflict between the two parties quickly reached Stan Wallace's superior, who happened to be Florence Bobby's father. After hearing that his precious daughter was injured, Mr. He demanded that Stan Wallace send her home immediately and drop the project.Apart from answering a call from Mr. He, Stan Wallace remained silent. Once back in t