Chapter 40

In the not-so-spacious living room, a single lamp burned. Jiang Mu and Lu Yuqing sat on the sofa, their shadows overlapping, both looking displeased.

“No, I have to call Tangtang and ask. I don’t think she would do that.” Jiang Mu picked up her phone from the coffee table.

“Why ask? She ignored Lin Ye for five years. That shows she knew exactly why they broke up, and she never defended herself.” Lu Yuqing crossed her arms, still upset about Jiang Mu’s actions tonight.

Seeing her irritation, Jiang Mu softened her voice. “Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe her friend’s birthday wasn’t that day and the photos were just old ones?”

Lu Yuqing picked up her own phone, logged into Instagram through a VPN, opened Tang Feiwan’s friend’s profile, and handed the phone to Jiang Mu. “Look. Her friend’s birthday is December sixth, the exact day Lin Ye’s mother died.” She paused for two seconds, then added, “A junior of mine was also studying in Heidelberg and happened to be in one of the photos. She shared the post, so I learned Tang Feiwan went to her friend’s birthday party that day. It wasn’t some school matter.”

Jiang Mu’s expression grew serious. “Then we have all the more reason to ask Tangtang why she lied and why she treated Dr. Lin like that.”

“Ask what? Even Lin Ye doesn’t ask. Lin Ye doesn’t believe Tang Feiwan would lie to her. She says it’s a matter of trust and that it wasn’t the reason they broke up.” Lu Yuqing sighed. “But it’s obviously a lie. The evidence is right there. Lin Ye is just too kind. She believes everything.”

Jiang Mu frowned and dialed Tang Feiwan’s number. It rang several times with no answer.

Lu Yuqing grew anxious. “I’ll call Lin Ye.”

Lin Ye’s phone was out of battery and turned off.

Lu Yuqing panicked. With alcohol in her system, her thoughts began spiraling. “Do you think Tang Feiwan might do something to Lin Ye?”

Jiang Mu tapped her on the forehead. “What could she do? What are you imagining? At most, they’re both willing, and old flames reignite over alcohol.”

“Jiang Mu, don’t forget I’m six years older than you. Are you showing no respect to your elders?”

“Six years? I don’t feel like you’re older than me. Aren’t we just as childish, always fighting over who tops in bed?” Jiang Mu, who had been leaning against the sofa, slid down and rested her head in Lu Yuqing’s lap. Looking up at Lu Yuqing’s still-flushed face, she said with a half-smile, “Then should I call you older sister?”

“Huh?” Lu Yuqing looked down and met her eyes. With alcohol at work, she felt a fire smoldering inside.

Jiang Mu’s voice lilted upward. “Isn’t there a saying?”

“What?”

“By day, I call you ‘sister’; by night, ‘sister’ does the calling.” As she finished, Jiang Mu reached up, hooked her arms around Lu Yuqing’s lowered neck, shifted onto her lap, and leaned in to kiss her.

“Mm, mm, we haven’t showered.”

Jiang Mu smiled, her slightly heroic brows lifting. She deliberately lowered her voice and asked hoarsely, “Just kissing. What does older sister want to do?”

Lu Yuqing’s skin was already hotter than usual. Teased like this, she blushed even harder and her heart raced. Her right hand clutched Jiang Mu’s shirt, then slid beneath the hem and traced upward along her waist. She responded passionately, pulling Jiang Mu closer.

Their breathing quickened. Jiang Mu half-closed her eyes and allowed Lu Yuqing to unclasp her bra. But before things went further, a WeChat notification suddenly rang.

Lu Yuqing’s eyes were reddened at the corners. She said in a low voice, “Ignore it.”

“What if it’s Tangtang?” Jiang Mu pecked her lips, looked away, and reached for her phone with her left hand. She opened WeChat.

[My phone was on silent earlier. Can’t call right now.]

Jiang Mu glanced at Lu Yuqing in front of her and understood. She typed, [Where’s Dr. Lin?]

[Asleep. At my place.]

“Jiang Mu, look at her!” Lu Yuqing was furious.

“Shh, wait, let me ask.”

[Why didn’t you take her home?]

[Couldn’t find her keys. Didn’t want to disturb Aunt Hui in the middle of the night.]

“See? She meant well.” Jiang Mu pointed at the screen.

Lu Yuqing couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Who knows what she’s really doing?”

Jiang Mu moved off her lap and sat beside her. “Should I ask her about the birthday party?”

Lu Yuqing nodded. “Mm.” She was waiting for Tang Feiwan to admit it so she could scold her and vent.

Jiang Mu put on her elder’s tone. [Tangtang, I want to ask you something. Answer honestly.]

[Okay.]

[What were you doing the day you and Dr. Lin broke up?]

[My advisor organized an observation of an emergency surgery. Type A aortic dissection caused by Marfan syndrome. The surgery lasted about seven hours.]

[Then what’s with your friend’s birthday photo?] The weight in Jiang Mu’s chest lifted slightly, but she pressed further, or Lu Yuqing wouldn’t believe her.

[Friend? Photo?]

[Yes.] Jiang Mu sent the three photos. [Look.]

[Oh, Jennifer’s birthday. I passed by her room late that night on my way home, and she dragged me in for a photo.]

[Damn, you fool. You’ve been misunderstood for five years.] Jiang Mu motioned for Lu Yuqing to come look.

[Misunderstood for what?]

[Dr. Lin and Dr. Lu misunderstood that you went to a friend’s birthday party and ignored her. And wasn’t that the day Dr. Lin’s mother died?]

For the next three minutes, no new messages appeared. Jiang Mu asked Lu Yuqing, “Is she upset?”

“Who knows?” Although Lu Yuqing still disliked Tang Feiwan because of her past behavior, she now believed Tang Feiwan wouldn’t lie at this point. Her anger eased.

[No. The reason we broke up won’t be a misunderstanding. I know why she ended it.]

“Tsk. She says the same thing as Lin Ye.” Lu Yuqing pursed her lips.

“Now do you believe it? I told you, with Tangtang’s personality, she can’t play tricks. How could she deceive anyone?” Jiang Mu said earnestly, “She did wrong by giving Dr. Lin the silent treatment, but she didn’t do it deliberately. It was caused by unconscious behavior. You can say she was heartless, yes. But saying she’s malicious? Not quite.”

Lu Yuqing fell silent. She had, after all, misunderstood Tang Feiwan for five years.

Jiang Mu turned and asked, “Didn’t you ask me what I was planning tonight by inviting Dr. Lin to dinner?”

“Mm.”

Jiang Mu said honestly, “Do you read stories about love rekindled after a breakup? It’s exciting. So I wanted to push them together.”

“No.” Lu Yuqing’s tone allowed no argument. “Even if she didn’t lie to Lin Ye, what she did back then is still unforgivable. As a girlfriend, especially in a hard long-distance relationship, shouldn’t she have taken more initiative to care? Did she? During that time, Lin Ye’s mother died, and then the breakup. I didn’t know what to do except stay by her side. I watched her lose weight for half a month, until she was skin and bones.”

Jiang Mu, experienced in love, considered it and replied, “Forgiveness should be decided by the people involved. We’re only bystanders.”

Lu Yuqing challenged her. “You are not allowed to play matchmaker.”

“You can’t stop me.” Jiang Mu looked at her expression, barely holding back a smile.

“Lin Ye and I have been friends for years. I don’t want her hurt again. I can help her evaluate.”

“I’m Tangtang’s little aunt. I want her to be happy. I can be her advisor.”

Lu Yuqing ground her teeth. “May the best one win.” In truth, she wouldn’t overstep in Lin Ye’s love life. She knew Lin Ye wasn’t a child and would make her own judgment. Saying this was purely to oppose Jiang Mu.

“Fine.” Jiang Mu messaged Tang Feiwan. [Are you going to explain this to Dr. Lin?]

[No need. Like I said, she didn’t break up with me because of a misunderstanding.]

Ten minutes earlier, after closing the bedroom door, Tang Feiwan had washed up in the bathroom and lain on the living room sofa, replying to Jiang Mu. She answered the barrage of questions patiently. But when she saw the words “Dr. Lin misunderstood” and the three photos, her heart still clenched painfully.

But the next second, Tang Feiwan shook off the thought. No matter how disappointed Lin Ye had been, she wouldn’t have distrusted her.

That was what long familiarity had taught them about each other. So she opened Jennifer’s Instagram and checked the time of the post: December 7, 2013, 00:08. By then, she had already received Lin Ye’s message.

The living room lights were off. The whole house was dark. But the spark in Tang Feiwan’s heart seemed to have a tendency to spread into a wildfire. She reached into the drawer and took out a photo of Lin Ye, stroking that refined and gentle face. Her eyes softened again and again.

The rain outside grew heavier. Lin Ye’s recorded voice, singing a song, lingered in her ears. The photo pressed to her chest, Tang Feiwan curved her lips and finally fell asleep.

At eight the next morning, Tang Feiwan woke to an alarm. She rubbed her bleary eyes and glanced left. Seeing the bedroom door still closed, she relaxed. She sat up, paused, then went to the bathroom to wash up. Afterward, she busied herself in the kitchen.

The toaster made fresh toast, along with two boiled eggs and a plate of vegetables. She would heat the milk once Lin Ye woke. She placed the breakfast on the counter and went to the balcony to feed Tomato.

Woof, woof, woof! Tomato wagged his tail, waiting anxiously.

“Beef and rice. Eat slowly.” Tang Feiwan had cooked minced beef and vegetables for the little Shiba Inu.

“Tomato, are you bored when I go to work?” Tang Feiwan chatted with the dog, answering herself. “Do you need a companion?”

“But you’re already neutered, so another dog wouldn’t help. How about a cat?” In mid-August, Gu Yan’s cat had given birth. Tang Feiwan had asked her to save one, planning to bring her home once the kitten was weaned.

“Just so we’re clear, you can’t bully her.” She murmured for a long time, then straightened and turned. She immediately came face-to-face with Lin Ye, who had appeared behind her at some point.

Tang Feiwan’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed her lips together and said, “Morning.”

“Morning.” Lin Ye’s voice was still cool, but her face no longer carried its usual chill. Five minutes earlier, when she opened her eyes, she didn’t remember exactly what she had said while drunk. But she vaguely recalled Tang Feiwan bringing her home. She had also noticed the neatly folded blanket on the living room sofa. Feeling guilty, she added, “Last night, thank you for everything.”