Chapter 34

“Bai Shuangshuang, come home with me this weekend!”

Bai Shuangshuang thought she’d misheard. “The holiday’s only two weeks away. Why go back now?”

Jiang Chan couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. “We really have to go back this time. Don’t worry—I’ve already bought your ticket too. Pack your things tonight, and we’ll head out right after class tomorrow!”

“So what’s the rush? What’s going on?”

From the look on Jiang Chan’s face, it didn’t seem like bad news.

She said excitedly, “My little auntie is getting married! That’s why I want you to come with me to the wedding!”

Bai Shuangshuang hadn’t expected happy news like that. She listened as Jiang Chan went on. “My uncle-to-be is the doctor who operated on her. He’s three years older than her and a really great guy. I went back home not long ago and had dinner with him. I could tell right then he was the one. And sure enough! Guess my judgment’s not bad. Oh, right—that money I owe you? I can pay you back later today.”

The groom-to-be had covered the money, but Bai Shuangshuang didn’t care about that. What Jiang Chan had said made her smile all of a sudden. “I think your little auntie has the better eye for people.”

Jiang Chan blinked, not getting it. “Huh?”

“Didn’t you tell me? Your little auntie said that someone who truly loves you will accept the people you care about.”

To commit to spending the rest of your life with her, even after she’d been sick and was still carrying another person’s child—that had to mean he really loved her.

“Right! Us Jiang family folks really do know how to pick ’em!”

“Your little auntie has the surname Jiang too?”

“Yeah… Anyway, enough about that. So, you’ll come back with me, right?”

“Since you’ve invited me, of course I will.”

Bai Shuangshuang didn’t tell Bai Tongsheng she was going back this weekend. She wanted to surprise her.

She called Yu Xichi first and learned that Bai Tongsheng had a class reunion that night. After dinner, she’d be going karaoke with her classmates.

Once she had the KTV address, Bai Shuangshuang started wondering when exactly to make her appearance.

Wait for her downstairs?

Or just barge into the private room?

Eh, she’d figure it out when the time came.

~~~

Liu Ming’s wedding wasn’t overly grand, but it was warm and heartfelt.

When the bride gave her speech, the girls in the audience burst into waves of sniffles and tears.

Bai Shuangshuang couldn’t help shedding a few tears herself, but when she saw the groom gently wipe them from the bride’s cheeks, she broke into a smile.

What a beautiful kind of love.

After the ceremony, Liu Ming pulled Bai Shuangshuang aside.

She was a truly gentle soul, much like Bai Shuangshuang had been in her previous life—the difference was that Liu Ming’s gentleness came from happiness, while hers had been a habit born of resignation.

She thanked her earnestly and told her that no matter what, she could always come to her for help.

In just those few minutes, Bai Shuangshuang could tell that someone like her deserved a lifetime of happiness.

On the walk home with Jiang Chan, she couldn’t help sighing. “Your little auntie is such a wonderful person. How could you bring yourself to lash out at her like that back then?”

Jiang Chan, who had long since reformed and become her little auntie’s devoted confidante, echoed the sentiment with a sigh of her own. “Yeah, looking back, how could I have been such a jerk? I was just too young and stupid. But luckily, she never gave up on me.”

Bai Shuangshuang felt a pang of emotion. “Say it was you in her shoes—do you think you could’ve stuck it out?”

Jiang Chan shook her head without hesitation. “No way. If it were me, I’d have given up ages ago. Thinking about it now, I’m so lucky. What about you? If it were you, what would you do?”

Bai Shuangshuang just smiled without answering.

She had already been that person once before.

It was just a shame she hadn’t been as lucky as Liu Ming in her previous life.

But—

This life made up for it.

She was lucky too.

~~~

“Shuangshuang, have you gone to pick up Shengsheng yet?”

“Yeah, I’m downstairs at the KTV. What’s up, Auntie? You didn’t tell her, did you?”

“No, no, of course Auntie didn’t say a word. I just wanted to ask—when you bring Shengsheng back, could you swing by and grab some duck necks for me? I saw them on TV earlier, and now I’m craving them. I tried calling that stinky little brat, but she hung up on me, so I figured I’d ask you instead. Would that be okay, Shuangshuang?”

Bai Shuangshuang laughed and agreed. “Of course! Besides duck necks, is there anything else you’d like, Auntie?”

Yu Xichi didn’t stand on ceremony. “Bring some dessert too, yeah? If there’s a milk tea shop, I want a matcha milk cap tea. That’s it—love you, Shuangshuang!”

“Okay, I’ll hang up then.”

“Alright.”

~~~

Shuangshuang had no idea which private room Bai Tongsheng and the others were in, or how much longer they’d be. After a moment’s thought, she went up to the front desk to ask.

Only one group of students was there singing that night, so the staff quickly gave her the room number. Shuangshuang thanked them and headed up the stairs.

The private room was at the end of the hallway. As she endured the onslaught of blaring music, she made her way toward it.

She was still a short distance away when the door swung open.

She spotted her at once, and a flood of longing welled up inside her. She opened her mouth to call out—just as the door opened wider and a petite figure slipped out. In the next instant, the girl wrapped her arms tightly around Bai Tongsheng from behind.

Shuangshuang let out a wry chuckle. She watched as Bai Tongsheng turned her head and said something to her. The little girl shook her head in a coquettish pout, pressing even closer without any sign of letting go.

From where Shuangshuang stood, the two of them looked for all the world like a pair of young lovers in the midst of a spat.

Before she’d fallen for Bai Tongsheng, she never would have imagined two close female friends that way.

But now, possessiveness stirred in her too.

Bai Tongsheng’s face darkened as she tried to shove away the girl clinging to her back—the one whose breath reeked of booze. A piercing gaze made her hesitate mid-motion. She turned and froze.

Patience gone in an instant, she didn’t care if the limp, ragdoll-like figure behind her tumbled to the floor. She yanked her off and strode straight toward the one waiting.

Wen Yuqiu stumbled with a lurch, barely catching herself against the wall or she surely would have gone down.

She wasn’t blackout drunk—most of her mind was still sharp. It was just the heavy stench of alcohol that made her seem wasted.

Seeing that Bai Tongsheng had no qualms about ditching her like some classmates might, she huffed and kicked the wall. “Bai Tongsheng! You’re just gonna abandon me like this?!”

Bai Tongsheng had already reached Shuangshuang. Too caught up to speak, she pulled her into a fierce embrace first, savoring her warmth and scent for a quiet moment before letting go. “When did you get back?”

Shuangshuang’s eyes were glued to the girl who looked like a living Barbie doll. Bai Tongsheng followed her gaze, her expression darkening as she stepped in front to block the view. “Don’t look at anyone else like that.”

Shuangshuang knew her chest felt tight and uneasy, but she also knew she couldn’t just swallow it down. She looked up at Bai Tongsheng. “She hugged you just now, and it made me unhappy.”

With that, she wrapped her arms around her and buried her face in Bai Tongsheng’s chest. “So you have to explain.”

Bai Tongsheng said nothing. She simply pinned her against the wall and kissed her.

Wen Yuqiu, watching from behind, looked like she’d been struck by lightning.

What the—?!?!

The supposedly frigid Bai Tongsheng was this eager?!

She felt like she’d stumbled onto something massive!

Satisfied at last, Bai Tongsheng pulled back. She wrapped an arm around Shuangshuang’s waist and pressed their foreheads together, explaining word by word.

“She’s my roommate. She got drunk and accidentally crashed into me when she started to fall. She wanted me to take her back, but right as I pushed her away, I saw you. Is that enough?”

Shuangshuang’s face turned red. “Mm.”

Then she added, “I didn’t misunderstand.”

She was just unhappy.

“Even if you did, it’s fine. I’m glad. I like you jealous.”

Shuangshuang shot her a glare. “What kind of nonsense is that!”

Bai Tongsheng stroked her hair, soothing her like one might pet a kitten. “Come inside with me, say hi to the others, and then we’ll go.”

“I’ll wait out here.”

“No, you’re coming in with me.”

Without further argument, she tugged her along. As they passed Wen Yuqiu, Bai Tongsheng’s expression eased a touch. “Want me to call Li Xiaoliang to take you home?”

Wen Yuqiu leaned against the wall, her face flushed from the alcohol, and waved her off. “Nah, I can make it back myself.”

Her eyes stayed fixed on Shuangshuang. Shuangshuang suddenly realized the girl had watched her entire wall-pinning kiss with Bai Tongsheng.

The thought set her face ablaze.

Unaware that her staring had been a bit too blatant, Wen Yuqiu scratched her head in mild confusion once Bai Tongsheng opened the door and pulled the other inside.

“I’ll head out first. You two carry on.”

“Bai Tongsheng, don’t go yet! We’ve only sung a few songs! Hey, who’s this sister? Where’d you find such a pretty girl?”

“Is she your sister? Miss, do you have a boyfriend? Like younger puppy-dog types?”

“Miss, don’t be shy. We’re all good people, nothing to fear. Stay and hang out with us. We’re Tongsheng’s friends—super easygoing.”

Bai Tongsheng’s face darkened as she pulled the embarrassed girl behind her, shielding her from the wolfish stares of the group inside the room.

“Forgot to tell you—this is my girlfriend.”

The room fell deathly silent.

It wasn’t until the others had left that everyone snapped back to reality.

“Holy shit? Holy shit! Holy shit?! What the hell did I just hear?”

“I don’t even know the girl’s name, and she’s already taken?”

“Bai Tongsheng is a beast—dropping that bomb out of nowhere!”

“No surprise. The ones who seem all stoic and monk-like are always the wildest deep down. I’m in love with this coming-out speed.”

…

Bai Shuangshuang had no idea what kind of uproar Bai Tongsheng’s words had caused. She caught on belatedly. “So, that’s why I had to come in too?”

Bai Tongsheng admitted simply, “Yeah.”

She wanted their relationship out in the open, in the light of day.

“Sister!”

The two of them froze and turned toward the voice.

Bai Tongsheng knew exactly who it was, but she was certain it wasn’t calling her.

Bai Shuangshuang glanced in confusion at Wen Yuqiu, who was running toward her with a beaming smile. “Are you calling me?”

Overcome with excitement, Wen Yuqiu forgot all about her girlfriend standing right there and threw her arms around Bai Shuangshuang, crying out in delight.

“It’s me!”

“It’s me!”

“I’m that lost little girl you picked up a few years ago!”