Chapter 24

“Bai Shuangshuang! Come play at my house tomorrow, okay? You promised me last time—surely you haven’t forgotten?”

Bai Shuangshuang certainly remembered. She thought for a moment. “How about Saturday? If we go on Friday, it’ll already be almost five by the time school lets out, right?”

“Ugh, just bring an extra set of clothes. Stay over at my place tomorrow night, and I’ll send you back the day after. It’s settled then—see ya, catch you tomorrow.”

Bai Shuangshuang hadn’t even had a chance to speak before Jiang Chan hurriedly slung her backpack over her shoulder and dashed out of the classroom.

She felt helpless. This girl hadn’t given her any chance to refuse at all.

……

Bai Shuangshuang had already called Yu Xichi the night before to say she’d be staying over at Jiang Chan’s, but this morning, Yu Xichi called again.

She didn’t say anything else, just asked for Jiang Chan’s address. Bai Shuangshuang didn’t know it either, so assuming her aunt was just worried, she said she’d borrow a phone once she got there and give her a safety update.

“Mm, that works. Auntie will hang up then. Shuangshuang, you’ve got class soon, right? It’s rare for you to go play at a friend’s house, so have a blast these next couple days, okay?”

“Got it, Auntie. See you.”

……

The moment Bai Shuangshuang stepped into the house, she could tell the place was a bit different from a typical family home.

As if reading her mind, Jiang Chan didn’t hide anything and came right out with it. “My parents passed away in an accident. My little auntie’s been taking care of me since then. She’s been super busy lately, often working overtime until the early hours and crashing at the company. She won’t be back until tomorrow morning.”

Bai Shuangshuang didn’t show any pity or other expressions that might make someone uncomfortable. Instead, she kept her usual gentle demeanor. “Then your little auntie must be a really great person.”

Jiang Chan didn’t respond. When Bai Shuangshuang’s attention shifted to the painting on the wall, she muttered something so low that no one could make it out: “I actually wish she wouldn’t be so good to me.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

She shook her head with a smile. “Anyway, what do you want to drink? I picked up some sodas at the supermarket yesterday, along with a few snacks.”

“Aren’t we about to have dinner?”

“True. What do you want? Braised beef, spicy beef, pickled cabbage beef, or mushroom chicken stew?”

Bai Shuangshuang’s eyelid twitched. “Kang’s secret recipe?”

Jiang Chan looked a bit embarrassed for once. “I usually just get takeout, but since I’m bringing you home today, I forgot. We’ve got a few instant noodle packs left. If you don’t like that, I can go grab takeout now?”

“Never mind. Whatever you’ve got at home, I’ll cook it.”

“You know how to cook?”

Bai Shuangshuang sighed. “Isn’t that a basic survival skill?”

Jiang Chan shrugged. “I don’t, and I’ve survived just fine without it.”

“……”

“But we only have a few eggs at home. Besides egg fried rice, can you whip up anything else?”

“……”

……

“This is the first time I’ve had a guest do something like this. Feels kinda weird.”

They’d just come out of the supermarket, and Jiang Chan scratched her head awkwardly.

“Isn’t this your first time inviting someone over?”

“Yeah, now that you mention it, my guilt’s gone. It’s pretty novel, huh?”

“……”

“Bai Shuangshuang.”

Bai Shuangshuang saw her stop dead in her tracks and turned back in confusion. “What’s up?”

Jiang Chan swallowed hard. “Why do I feel like that person wants to kill me?”

She jolted in surprise and followed her gaze ahead.

Bai Tongsheng stood there with a darkened expression, looking exactly like she’d caught someone in the act.

……

“Bai Shuangshuang, is everyone in your Bai family this amazing?”

Bai Shuangshuang had been shooed straight out of the kitchen by someone with a cold face. Jiang Chan waved her over and, once she approached, asked curiously.

“Does knowing how to cook make someone amazing?”

Jiang Chan said seriously, “Yeah, ’cause all I can do is boil instant noodles. But you and your sister? You can stir-fry dishes—that’s pretty impressive to me.”

“Mm……”

“But does your sister not like me?”

Even though Bai Tongsheng had glanced at Bai Shuangshuang the next second, that spine-chilling sensation it gave Jiang Chan hadn’t fully faded even now.

“She’s just like that. Don’t mind her.”

Bai Tongsheng would give Bai Bingyang a cold look and make him pull his hand away even if he just touched her casually—let alone facing Jiang Chan.

Bai Shuangshuang couldn’t guess what Bai Tongsheng was really thinking and vaguely felt that whatever the reason, she shouldn’t pry.

It was like Pandora’s box. Once opened, a lot of things might never stay the same.

She didn’t have the courage to face it and could only cowardly choose to run away.

“That, then, will your sister be staying here tonight too? My bed isn’t very big, but three people lying sideways should be able to squeeze in.”

“No need. I’ll send her back.”

Bai Shuangshuang had already promised Jiang Chan she’d spend the night and had even brought her clothes, but she didn’t think Bai Tongsheng would be willing to sleep over at someone else’s house.

“Still, having your little sister cook alone in the kitchen while we two big sisters just sit here waiting—doesn’t that feel a bit off?”

Bai Shuangshuang had mulled over this question years ago and was long since used to it. She pressed the person who was about to get up back down onto the sofa. “I’ll go take a look. You sit tight. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready.”

“Hey? But I’m the host here!”

Bai Shuangshuang didn’t hear her. She had already turned and headed into the kitchen.

Jiang Chan froze for two seconds, scratched her head, picked up the remote, and turned on the TV.

~~~

“How did you get here?”

Bai Tongsheng was bent over the cutting board, chopping vegetables. At those words, she let out a light scoff. “Made some new friends and suddenly don’t want to go home anymore?”

Bai Shuangshuang thought her words lately had gotten more and more baffling. They definitely sounded like jealousy, but there was something extra mixed in.

At the very least, they weren’t the kinds of things sisters ought to say to each other.

She drew closer and stood by her side, frowning as she said, “A-Sheng, I think we need to talk. Have you run into some kind of trouble lately?”

Bai Tongsheng didn’t look up. Her voice turned cold. “There’s nothing I want to talk to you about.”

“A-Sheng!”

Realizing her voice had come out too heated, Bai Shuangshuang let out a soft breath and gentled her tone. “I’m your sister. If something’s happened—if you’ve got any problems at all—you can tell me. Even if I can’t fix it for you, I can at least help you shoulder some of the burden.”

The sharp thunk of the knife hitting the cutting board fell silent. Bai Tongsheng turned around and took a step toward her.

Bai Shuangshuang thought she was finally willing to open up. The light in her eyes grew even softer. “A-Sheng—”

Bai Tongsheng’s lovely dark eyes reflected the face right in front of her. She could clearly see the tension and unease in the other girl’s gaze. When she spoke, her breath brushed warm against her face.

“Bai Shuangshuang, you don’t want to know.”

She raised a hand, grabbed some seasonings from the cabinet, took a step back, and returned to the counter.

The steady rhythm of the knife chopping resumed. Bai Shuangshuang stood there in a daze.

Just now, when Bai Tongsheng had leaned in so close, her heart had skipped a beat—as if it had lost control for a moment.

Hearing the hurried footsteps retreating, Bai Tongsheng lowered her gaze, hiding the complicated, shadowed emotions in her eyes.

~~~

“It’s getting late. You should head back now. It won’t be safe if you’re out too much longer.”

Water rushed in the bathroom sink. Hearing no reply from Bai Tongsheng, Bai Shuangshuang assumed she hadn’t spoken loudly enough and leaned in closer to repeat herself.

“A-Sheng, it’s late. It’s dark out—you—”

Bai Tongsheng cut her off. “Me, go back?”

Catching the implication in her tone, Bai Shuangshuang brought up Yu Xichi. “I already told Auntie I’m sleeping here tonight, so you should head back now. If it gets too late, she’ll start to worry.”

Bai Tongsheng’s voice was icy. “Bai Shuangshuang, you knew I wouldn’t agree, didn’t you? That’s why you didn’t tell Mom a single word.”

Bai Shuangshuang panicked and looked away—because she was right.

If this had been the Bai Tongsheng from when they were kids, she wouldn’t have needed to go to such lengths. But now…

She was a little afraid of this impassive version of Bai Tongsheng, even though she had never actually hurt her.

“Fine, if you want me to go back.”

Bai Shuangshuang whipped her head around to look at her.

“You come back with me.”

“I already promised Jiang Chan I’d sleep here tonight. A-Sheng, don’t be childish. I’ll head back tomorrow.”

At those four words, the air pressure around Bai Tongsheng dropped sharply, carrying an intangible chill that made Bai Shuangshuang shiver involuntarily.

“Bai Shuangshuang, since I was able to track you down here, do you really think I don’t have ways to make you come home with me? I’m giving you a choice right now: come back with me on your own, or I’ll use some methods to make you.”

“Bai Tongsheng!”

Looking at the faintly annoyed girl, Bai Tongsheng’s lips curved up. “Pick one. You’ve got three minutes.”

Bai Shuangshuang glared at her in fury. Just then, Jiang Chan pushed open the door. Seeing the tense standoff between them, she froze mid-towel-dry. “What’s going on with you two?”

From start to finish, Bai Tongsheng’s gaze never left that one person.

Bai Shuangshuang knew she wouldn’t be able to stay the night after all. She turned to Jiang Chan with an apologetic look. “Jiang Chan, I won’t be able to stay here tonight.”

Jiang Chan felt a bit disappointed, but catching sight of Bai Tongsheng’s expression, she guessed it was because the little sister was too attached to her big sister and wouldn’t let her stay. With a twinge of regret, she quickly brightened up and said breezily, “No problem—there’ll be other chances. Are you leaving right now, or sticking around a little longer?”

“It’s getting late; we might as well head out now. We’ll get going first, then—see you at school.”

“Mm. Be careful on the way home. Want me to walk you?”

“No need. We can make it back on our own.”

“Text me when you get home. Don’t forget.”

“Got it.”

~~~

Bai Shuangshuang’s attitude was uncharacteristically cold. “Happy now?”

Bai Tongsheng reached for her hand, but Bai Shuangshuang—still fuming—jerked it aside. “Don’t touch me. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

Bai Tongsheng wasn’t the hesitant type like her sister; she wasn’t above a little force. With one firm yank, she seized her.

“Bai Tongsheng!”

She struggled fiercely to pull away, but Bai Tongsheng drew her in with a gentle tug, wrapping her tightly in her arms once more, right there in the middle of the street.

That day, rain had been falling, and Bai Tongsheng’s voice had mingled with the downpour, coming through muffled and indistinct.

Now, beneath the dim yellow glow of the streetlamp, her low murmur sounded perfectly clear against her ear.

“Bai Shuangshuang.”

“Don’t push me.”