After getting Han Xuan into the car, Chu Susu drove off first to prevent Xia Zilu from chasing after them relentlessly, then temporarily parked nearby in some random spot.
There happened to be a spare thin hoodie in the car. She pulled it out and handed it to Han Xuan, sighing as she apologized again. “You didn’t even get to eat, and I scared you.”
Han Xuan quietly took off her wet clothes in the back seat. Chu Susu averted her gaze downward, listening as she softly said, “It’s fine. It’s not your fault.”
After people go through an incident together, their distance inevitably draws closer—like the two of them right now.
Han Xuan had finally stopped insisting on using the formal “you” to address her.
“All changed?”
“Mm.”
Her frame was even more slender than Chu Susu’s, and the hoodie was already a loose fit. On Han Xuan, it hung even more emptily, with the collar settling just below her delicate collarbone.
Pipi also sensed the somewhat awkward atmosphere between the two in the car and obediently rubbed up against Han Xuan. This actually surprised Chu Susu a bit—she’d never seen Pipi act this way toward someone it met for the first time. Normally, it would play for a bit before its enthusiasm faded.
Han Xuan held Pipi in her arms, gently stroking its yellow-and-white fur, then returned to the front seat, seemingly a bit afraid to talk to or look at Chu Susu.
This was understandable. For something like this to happen on their second meeting—whoever it was would be shaken. Plus, Xia Zilu had basically outed Chu Susu on the spot.
“Do you like crab roe buns?”
She softened her voice, turning to gaze at Han Xuan with gentle reassurance, her upturned peach-blossom eyes shimmering with soft light. “I know a place with really good ones. It’s just a short drive, no line. Shall we go buy some now?”
“N-No, no need.”
“How could I ruin your evening and then send you home hungry? Let me make it up to you, okay?”
Han Xuan paused, a faint blush tinting her porcelain-like cheeks. She nodded, then shook her head like a rattle. “You didn’t ruin tonight.”
Afraid Chu Susu wouldn’t believe her, she emphasized again, “Really.”
It was just past six now, with nightfall quietly surging in. The daylight hadn’t fully faded, and the horizon still held traces of dim yellow blended with indigo light. Through the car window, it reflected on Han Xuan’s hair, casting a bubble-like shadow on the side of her cheek and neck—one that seemed ready to burst at a touch.
Chu Susu smiled. “Then let’s go buy those crab roe buns now.”
Imperial Capital’s evening rush hour was always gridlocked. What was usually a five-minute trip now took over twenty minutes. While waiting at a red light, she caught Han Xuan’s hesitant expression in the rearview mirror.
“Hm?”
Han Xuan hurriedly shook her head in embarrassment, but the meaning in those clear, doe-like eyes clearly said otherwise.
Chu Susu could guess what she was curious about. After all, it was her ex-girlfriend who’d freaked her out. An explanation was only right.
The light turned green, and the car slowly started moving.
“I’m a lesbian. That person really was my ex-girlfriend.” She said frankly. “We’ve been broken up for a while. I didn’t expect to run into her today.”
“You seem to really dislike her.”
At the mention of Xia Zilu, Chu Susu’s tone grew flat. “An ex who throws tantrums regardless of the occasion after the breakup, and even drags an innocent person like you into it—how could I not be annoyed?”
Han Xuan thought for a moment. “No.”
“Hm?”
“The way you look at her is like…” She paused, seemingly unsure how to phrase it. She pursed her lips, hesitating before saying, “Like you’re looking at a dead person? So I feel like… you dislike her because something bad happened before.”
Her odd metaphor made Chu Susu chuckle. “Spot on.”
Before long, the car pulled up in front of the crab roe bun shop. Chu Susu placed the order on her phone and quickly went inside to grab the packed paper bag. “There’s other soup dumplings inside too. I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I got a variety.”
She then turned the car around. “Where’s your place? I’ll drop you off.”
Han Xuan named a residential complex.
Pipi smelled the aroma of the soup dumplings and excitedly nudged at the paper bag, only to get a light tap on the head from Chu Susu. “No messing around. If you’re hungry, eat your dog food at home.”
After that, the two fell silent for a good while, neither saying another word.
The rush hour wasn’t over yet. When the car stopped at the third red light, Chu Susu suddenly said something out of the blue:
“She laid hands on Pipi.”
Han Xuan let out a soft “Ah,” but there wasn’t much surprise in her eyes.
Once the words were out, Chu Susu regretted it a bit. She didn’t like complaining to others—it was just that her thoughts were a jumble, and it slipped out.
She forcefully suppressed the displeasure from bringing it up, only to hear Han Xuan beside her slowly say, “Actually, I guessed it earlier. The moment she came in, Pipi was terrified. When I was holding it, I felt like there were wounds on its body that hadn’t fully healed yet…”
At the mention of Pipi’s injuries, Chu Susu’s brows furrowed deeply, her hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly it seemed like her fingers might sink into it.
“It was my fault for not protecting it.” Her throat felt dry as she said it.
Chu Susu and Xia Zilu had met at a friend’s gathering. Back then, she’d helped Xia Zilu block some drinks and naturally earned her favor.
Xia Zilu had been well-protected by her family growing up, with a simple personality. Her way of expressing affection was direct and reckless, which wasn’t without its charm.
At first, their relationship was harmonious. But later, Xia Zilu started showing her spoiled side.
She dug relentlessly into Chu Susu’s colorful past, jealous to the point of obsession, wanting to investigate every woman she’d ever been with.
“Others told me you only like the quiet and obedient type. So why are you with me? Are you just playing around with me?”
Chu Susu didn’t mind much about that stuff. She’d coax if she could; if not, she’d just buy a gift.
Until Xia Zilu turned her attention to her pet.
That evening, Chu Susu’s project was wrapping up, so she stayed late at work. Suddenly, the pet home monitoring app on her phone sent an alert.
She would never forget that scene.
Xia Zilu, in high heels, kicked Pipi viciously, sending it flying into the leg of the living room table. Her sweet face was twisted in ferocity.
“You damn dog.” The muffled voice came through the app, furious. “You bark every time you see me. Are you afraid I’ll steal your owner? Let me tell you, I’m her girlfriend—you’re just a beast!”
Of all days, Xia Zilu had come to her place that day. And of all days, she’d been too busy with work to bring Pipi along.
Chu Susu couldn’t remember how she’d numbly driven home. She only recalled Pipi’s small body trembling in her arms, whimpering and howling, yet still licking her hand to cheer her up.
“I didn’t mean to! The moment I walked in, it charged at me barking like I was a thief. It looked like it was about to bite me—I was scared, so…”
In the pet hospital, Xia Zilu frantically explained to her, but it was already pointless.
“Get out,” she said.
Xia Zilu froze. “You’re talking to your girlfriend like that over a dog?”
“You’re not anymore. And you never will be again.”
After that, she and Xia Zilu cut ties completely.
Chu Susu gave Han Xuan a brief rundown of the incident. She really wanted to take a few hits from her vape to ease her irritation, but she didn’t.
The little dog seemed to sense its owner’s low mood and let out a couple of soft whines, but Chu Susu couldn’t bear to look into its pure eyes.
She really was a lousy owner.
Han Xuan was undoubtedly a great listener. Even without Chu Susu looking at her, she nodded attentively, responding, “It’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.”
She lowered her head and gently petted Pipi, continuing in a voice that gradually softened, “How could anyone be so cruel… to hurt it like that…”
Before she knew it, they’d arrived. Chu Susu pulled up at the entrance to the complex.
Han Xuan, wearing the loose hoodie and carrying the crab roe soup dumplings along with her dirty clothes, stood by the car window. Her hair swayed in the night breeze, making her look like a slender dandelion ready to scatter at a breath.
“Thanks for the soup dumplings,” she said softly. “I’ll wash the hoodie clean tonight and return it tomorrow.”
Chu Susu smiled faintly. “It looks pretty on you. If you don’t mind, it’s yours.”
“How could I?” Han Xuan jumped in surprise. “This… isn’t cheap, right?”
Chu Susu didn’t reply. Instead, she grabbed a bag with perfume from the back seat and handed it to her. She’d originally planned to give it to a friend, but since Xia Zilu had misunderstood it as a gift for Han Xuan, she might as well make it true.
“Here, this is for you too. It smells great—I picked it out for myself and bought a few bottles.” She said, “I got you splashed today, so take this as my sincere apology. You have to accept it. Text me when you get home—stay safe.”
Han Xuan hesitated as if to refuse, but Chu Susu didn’t give her the chance. After a quick goodbye, she turned the car around and drove off.
She’d just seen her friends start a voice chat in their WeChat group, so she tapped in and connected via Bluetooth.
“Hello?”
“Eldest Miss!” The one calling her that must be Li Le’er. Her tone carried a hint of guilt, afraid Chu Susu would get angry. She proactively confessed her mistake, “We were just gossiping about Xia Zilu earlier, hehe…”
“Heh, boring.”
Now it was Zhou Xiaoying speaking: “Did she splash your little lamb all over with water?”
“How did you know?”
“Forgot to say, when you were in the restaurant, someone recorded a video and it spread here. We were just discussing it—wondering if Xia Zilu did it on purpose.”
Chu Susu sneered coldly. “Doesn’t matter. The one who lost face wasn’t me anyway.”
She only hoped she’d never have anything to do with Xia Zilu again.
The others chimed in noisily: “Don’t be so heartless. A dog is just a pet, after all—how can it compare to a person? Not to mention she’s your girlfriend. If you still like Xia Zilu, don’t ditch the watermelon for sesame seeds.”
After those words, the group voice chat fell instantly silent, like a dead, stagnant lake.
“Qiao Qian,” Chu Susu said calmly, “I’ll pretend what you just said was fart. Say one more word, and you’re no friend of mine anymore.”
Qiao Qian was too scared to speak. Li Le’er stepped in to smooth things over: “Alright, alright. Susu didn’t dump her for no reason—there’s a cause, right? Let’s not speak up for that dog-food girl, ptoo ptoo ptoo. Susu, don’t blame her. This silly kid just doesn’t know how to talk.”
“Right, right.” Zhou Xiaoying chimed in, changing the subject. “Oh yeah, how’s it going with you and the little lamb?”
With the out offered, Chu Susu took it. “Pretty good. Very cute.”
“Just cute? Pure like a blank sheet of paper?”
Chu Susu didn’t answer. She pondered thoughtfully—it probably wasn’t that extreme.
After all, this was a girl who’d gone alone to a nightclub the night before her interview.
Did she really just go there to “sketch”?
—
At the entrance to Jinxin Community, Han Xuan stood for a moment. She took out the perfume from the box, eagerly tore open the packaging, sprayed some on her wrist, then lowered her head to sniff.
After the car drove off into the distance, she didn’t enter the community. Instead, she hurried off in another direction.
A faint fragrance filled her nose, Chu Susu’s earlier words echoing in her ears.
“Picked it for yourself.”
The same scent as hers.
