Chapter 39

When Bai Kou saw Pei Yue off in the taxi, her phone had run out of battery, so she left it in her room to charge.

When she returned, as soon as Bai Kou opened the door to their home, Bai Xiaochu turned her head to her daughter and said, “Xiao Xi called you several times.”

Bai Kou was slightly stunned. She wondered, ‘Is that real?’

“What’s with that expression?” Bai Xiaochu asked, puzzled. “Did you two fight again?”

“Oh, no.” Bai Kou came back to her senses.

She entered her room, and the phone’s buzz buzz vibration continued nonstop on the desk.

Bai Kou hurried over with a couple of quick steps and swiped to answer. “…Hello?” Her voice held some uncertainty.

“Gone to take a shower?” Yang Wanxi asked.

“No.” Bai Kou replied, “Do you have something urgent? Why did you call so many times?”

Yang Wanxi said, “Not that many. Once every five minutes. That’s only seven or eight times.”

Seven or eight times wasn’t a lot? Bai Kou slowly sat down. She wanted to say it had been ages since you last called me proactively—this was way too exaggerated.

“Alright—okay, I’ll check my schedule tomorrow—” Yang Wanxi sounded like she was talking to someone else.

Bai Kou patiently waited for Yang Wanxi to finish saying “bye-bye.” Once the call went quiet, she asked again, “You’re not in the dorm?”

Yang Wanxi made an “mm” sound and said, “Out with friends, surfing the net.”

Surfing the net?

Bai Kou reacted after a second and exclaimed in surprise, “Ah? You’re at an internet cafe?”

She even subconsciously stood up and quickly shut her room door.

In the living room, Bai Xiaochu, who was watching TV, glanced distractedly toward Bai Kou’s room. She thought, ‘What’s the point of closing it now? I heard everything.’

Yang Wanxi laughed on the phone. “Haha, Bai Doudou. I can imagine your expression right now just from your voice—it must be hilarious.”

Bai Kou leaned against the door, her fingers tightening on the cotton fabric of her pajama pants. An internet cafe was such a dangerous place, and it was already eight at night!

“Didn’t you say your dorm does bed checks every night?” Bai Kou asked.

“Yeah.” On Yang Wanxi’s end came the tap tap of two keystrokes. “But I’m tight with the student council. They’ll help cross my name off.”

“You!” Bai Kou’s eyes widened. “How did you turn out like this!”

The two hadn’t spoken on the phone since that night at the airport, and messages had been few and far between.

But now, Bai Kou was convinced Yang Wanxi had “gone bad.” For the moment, she overlooked the distance between them. Clutching her phone, she paced her room while lecturing her. “Yang Kuikui, you can’t do this!”

Yang Wanxi listened to Bai Kou nag her for nearly half an hour.

Her friends around her kept watching dramas or playing games. Her computer screen stayed on the desktop the whole time. She leaned back in her chair, listening to Bai Kou’s voice.

She smiled lightly, looking quite happy.

Bai Kou talked until her mouth went dry. She even dragged out words from their homeroom teacher, but the person on the other end stayed silent.

“Hello? Are you even listening?” Bai Kou frowned. “Yang Wanxi, you didn’t just put me on hold, did you?”

“I listened.” Yang Wanxi finally drawled out. “You make good points. I won’t come out to stay up all night next time.”

“The best is to avoid internet cafes altogether.” Bai Kou sat down. “Your dorm has computers.”

“Mm-hmm.” Then Yang Wanxi clearly yawned.

Bai Kou’s brows furrowed even tighter. She held the phone up to look at the “Yang Kuikui” on the screen, then put it back to her ear. Her tone softened. “So how are you guys supposed to sleep at the internet cafe at night?”

By the end of the call, Bai Kou had forgotten that Yang Wanxi was the one who called her first. She put the phone on speaker on the table.

While squeezing toothpaste, she said, “Alright then, I won’t bother you anymore. Go play, college student.”

“Mm.” Yang Wanxi paused. “Good luck at the Sports Meeting, high schooler.”

Bai Kou said, “Bye-bye.”

Yang Wanxi made an “mm” sound, then went quiet.

Bai Kou brushed brushed brushed her teeth, gargled gargled her mouth, then looked down and saw the call time was still running.

“Hm?” Bai Kou picked up the phone. “Hello?”

No response.

She hung up.

Bai Kou had arranged with Pei Yue to meet at the sports hall at nine the next morning.

Pei Yue had originally wanted to pick her up, but Bai Kou refused with all sorts of excuses.

Pei Yue had no choice but to go along with it. But because she really wanted to see Bai Kou soon, she arrived at the sports hall entrance at eight-ten.

Since she had evening self-study back at school that night, she wore her school uniform with her bag slung over her shoulder.

She waited alone under a tree, pacing back and forth.

When she wasn’t smiling, her face looked extremely cold, as if she was in a bad mood.

Bai Kou also wore her school uniform. As she got out of the taxi and turned around, she saw the icy, statue-like figure standing under the tree. She blanked out for a moment. She wondered, ‘Did I arrive late?’

She checked her phone while running over—it was only eight-forty-five.

As she got closer, Bai Kou realized Pei Yue seemed to be spacing out. She immediately lightened her steps, then called out, “Hey!”

Pei Yue’s shoulders twitched. She turned her head, her cold face turning into a smile.

“No need to stand on ceremony. Just call me Xiao Man.”

Pei Yue’s friend was just a high schooler too, but she was dressed far more professionally than Bai Kou—athletic tank top and shorts. After a greeting, she led Bai Kou straight to the high jump mats. “Pei Yue said you’ve practiced some at school. Tell me about your issues first.”

Bai Kou nodded and briefly recounted her school practice experience.

“Hm, got it.” Xiao Man walked to the mat and picked up the long pole. “For your situation, let’s start with stationary back-over practice.”

Bai Kou nodded again and obediently watched the pro demonstrate.

The other girl slowly swung her arms, then straightened her waist and abdomen. Bang! She fell straight backward, her waist and back nearly suspended in midair, landing only on her shoulders on the mat.

Bai Kou couldn’t help asking, “Just… straight back like that?”

“Exactly.” Xiao Man got up. “Get used to the motion first, then add the jump for full back-over practice.”

“Oh… okay, I’ll give it a try.” Bai Kou said as she switched places with Xiao Man.

But it was like the first time bungee jumping. She swung her arms, but every time she was about to fall backward, her heart tightened.

Then everything from her shoulders to her feet went rigid, unable to move.

Xiao Man said, “This move looks simple, but mastering it really takes some time.”

After all, she was troubling someone else to teach her, and failing repeatedly… Bai Kou rarely encountered this. Her face inexplicably heated up.

She looked at Xiao Man apologetically. “Sorry, I-I’ll try again.”

“No problem.” Xiao Man smiled. “Don’t be nervous. Take it slow. Don’t worry, just fall back—I’ll catch you anytime.”

Pei Yue had gotten up from the long bench in the corner of the hall when she saw Bai Kou get stuck the second time. She hurried over to their side.

As she approached, she heard Xiao Man’s words and suddenly said flatly, “Need a catch? I’ll do it.”

Bai Kou finally turned and noticed Pei Yue. “Huh? When did you get here?”

“Just now.”

Pei Yue kept a calm expression on her face, as if she belonged there.

Perhaps with two people helping, or maybe because she felt everyone was watching and she had to be brave.

In any case, on the next try, Bai Kou closed her eyes, steeled herself, swung her arms, and extended them.

Bang! She fell straight backward onto the mat.

And Pei Yue’s hand just happened to rest lightly on the small of her back.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After continuous attempts, Bai Kou finally wasn’t afraid anymore. Thin sweat beaded on her forehead. Before leaning back once more, she smiled at Pei Yue. “Okay, no need to catch me anymore. Go sit down!”

Pei Yue nodded to her and said warmly before leaving, “Good luck.”

After some time, Bai Kou wiped her sweat and asked Xiao Man when she could add the pole today.

“Today… probably not.” Xiao Man thought about it. “If things go fast, mastering the back-over is already great.”

“Oh, okay!”

Bai Kou didn’t mind. After all, it all depended on human effort. She’d try her best before the Sports Meeting and go as far as she could.

The back-over practice took a while. Xiao Man told Bai Kou she could sit and rest on the spot before continuing.

Bai Kou sat alone in front of the high jump mat and looked far toward Pei Yue’s side.

Hm?

The corner that should have had only a few people suddenly had a crowd gathered.

She couldn’t see Pei Yue anymore.

Actually, Bai Kou was pretty tired after practicing so long. She had planned to conserve her energy and find Pei Yue after they finished.

But she thought about it, stood up, and quietly walked toward the crowded corner.

Through gaps in the crowd, she heard someone ahead laughing. “Pei Yue, it has to be you. Peanut liked you before, and who knew after all these years, Sesame likes you too.”

…What peanut? What sesame?

Bai Kou couldn’t squeeze in from her side, so she circled around and saw Pei Yue squatting. On Pei Yue’s shoulder stood a…

What was that? A hamster? A squirrel?

Someone else spoke up. “Weird. Last time Sesame came, it bit me and drew blood. How’s it so friendly with Pei Yue?”

Still couldn’t get in.

Bai Kou circled around again, happening to end up by Xiao Man. She simply patted her arm. “Xiao Man—”

When the other turned, she quietly continued, “What animal is on Pei Yue’s shoulder?”

“Sugar Glider.”

Bai Kou made a vague “oh” of understanding, then looked down. This little black fuzzy thing was sprawled out in a big “da” shape directly on Pei Yue’s shoulder.

Eyes closed, sleeping.

“Pei Yue was always this magical as a kid.” Xiao Man walked back with Bai Kou. “The cats, dogs, even turtles from the kids in our compound—all got closer to Pei Yue.”

“Haha.” Bai Kou smiled. “Come to think of it, her house is like a zoo.”

“You’ve been to her house?” Xiao Man was surprised.

Bai Kou didn’t understand. “Hm? Yeah.”

“Oh, so you’ve met Aunt Pei?”

Bai Kou frowned in thought. Strictly speaking, she hadn’t seen Pei Yue’s mom at home—only back in middle school at school.

That counted as meeting, right?

She nodded. “Yeah, saw her back in middle school.”

“Oh.” Xiao Man gave her a thumbs up. “To stick it out this long, you’re impressive.”

Just as Xiao Man predicted, that morning, Bai Kou only barely succeeded at the back-over once. When time was up, they ordered delivery lunch from a nearby restaurant.

The sports hall they were training in was a branch venue, fairly small. One side practiced high jump, the other badminton.

When the boxed meals arrived, Xiao Man and the others got up to push away the badminton net.

The next second, this group pushed over a white sheet, about twice the height of the net.

“Here.”

“Oh, thanks.” Bai Kou took the chopsticks Pei Yue handed her, her attention fully on the sheet.

What was this for?

As she wondered, snap. The lights in the sports hall dimmed.

“Wanna watch Yin-Yang Road today?” Xiao Man passed by Bai Kou, not sure who she was asking.

Then someone suddenly sat closer to her.

Bai Kou turned her head.

In the instant Pei Yue met Bai Kou’s eyes, her face showed no obvious change, just staying very nonchalant. She set down her lunchbox, zip, and pulled her jacket collar all the way up.

“What’s up? You cold?” Bai Kou still felt hot.

Pei Yue shook her head. “Not cold. Easier to eat this way.”

What logic was that? She’d heard of rolling up sleeves to eat, but never zipping a jacket to the top.

“OK!”

Soon, an image appeared on the still white sheet.

Yellowish-white opening credits swept by. Before long, blood-red—Yin-Yang Road—floated through a creepy forest.

Oh!

Bai Kou held her lunchbox in realization. A horror movie.

She immediately scooted closer to Pei Yue and whispered, “Pei Yue, if you’re scared, we can go eat outside?”

Pei Yue kept her head down, silently scooping a bite of rice. “It’s fine. What’s there to be scared of?”

Didn’t she say last time she didn’t like horror movies? Bai Kou wondered. So it was just dislike, not fear?

Alright then.

Bai Kou sat up straight, head tilted back, shoving rice into her mouth amid drifting hell money on screen. As she chewed, she thought, This braised pork rice is so good!

Pei Yue seemed immersed in the food too. Though she chewed slowly, whenever Bai Kou looked up to focus on the movie—

Pei Yue never lifted her eyes, never stopping, just eating.

The only light in the sports hall came through the glass windows. After finishing, everyone put the foam boxes in a plastic bag, tied it off, and continued the immersive viewing.

Bai Kou sat next to Pei Yue, hugging her knees.

After about ten minutes, she suddenly remembered she’d seen this movie as a kid!

Probably with Yang Wanxi and her sister.

As the plot deepened, Bai Kou fully recalled what happened next, so she watched less intently than before.

She nudged Pei Yue with her elbow, without turning her head, and asked in a low voice: “Have you seen that other Hong Kong horror movie called Office Has Ghost? I feel like that one was a bit scarier than this, with ghosts around at any moment.”

Gulp.

Pei Yue swallowed, then… she slowly, slowly, lightly tugged at Bai Kou’s arm, completely shifting to Bai Kou’s side.

“You, you better not tell me these things anymore.”

Bai Kou turned to look at Pei Yue.

The gym was very dark, and Pei Yue’s expression looked blurry, but it was obvious that she was nervous. She gripped Bai Kou tightly, her face almost hiding behind Bai Kou’s shoulder.

Pfft. Bai Kou secretly laughed in her heart and slightly tilted her head to ask: “Are you scared?”

Pei Yue still shook her head, insisting: “Not scared, just don’t like it.”

At that moment, Bai Kou felt an urge to tease Pei Yue. She let out a drawn-out “oh,” deliberately pried Pei Yue’s hand off, and tried to shift to the other side, saying: “Since you’re not scared, then don’t hide behind me—”

“Bai! Bai—” Right as the terrifying scene played, Pei Yue panicked in an instant. She stuttered and flailed, following Bai Kou.

She even shifted from sitting to kneeling, completely shrinking behind Bai Kou.

“Scared…”

The hot breath from Pei Yue’s breathing unconsciously sprayed on the back of Bai Kou’s neck.

She said weakly, almost aggrieved, in a low voice, “Bai Kou, I’m really scared…”