Chapter 131: Tattoo
Zhou Tianzui waited for You Ruxu to finish the call and asked, “What was that about? Why is she coming to Yuhai?”
You Ruxu said, “She’s here to investigate a case.” She glanced at Zhou Tianzui, “Four years ago, I covered a missing infant case.”
Zhou Tianzui’s face paled instantly. You Ruxu saw it clearly, a pang of guilt in her heart. She gripped her chopsticks tightly. Zhou Tianzui would never forget that case.
The case where You Ruxu almost died.
She asked, “Does she need your help?”
You Ruxu shook her head, “No.”
Zhou Tianzui breathed a sigh of relief, her face regaining some color, but the image of You Ruxu lying in a pool of blood flashed before her eyes, “If she needs your help…”
She stopped mid-sentence, her tongue wetting her lips, “Just eat.”
If Captain Zhou needed You Ruxu’s help.
She wouldn’t refuse.
No matter how many times she had been hurt.
Asking would only make her feel worse, so Zhou Tianzui focused on her noodles. The taste was very different from Jindu’s, perhaps because of her lack of appetite, she stopped after a few bites. You Ruxu, noticing this, asked, “Not eating anymore?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Saving space for other food.”
You Ruxu ate a little more, and after paying, they walked along the street lined with food stalls. Zhou Tianzui asked if You Ruxu wanted to drop off the equipment first, and You Ruxu said, “I can take it to the station tomorrow.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded, “Then let’s walk around.”
There were a few schools nearby, a middle school and two high schools, many students milling about, food stalls lining the street. Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu walked along the edge, passing by the entrance of City High School No. 1, “Have you been back here?”
You Ruxu shook her head: “No, I haven’t had time.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Want to go inside?”
You Ruxu looked at Zhou Tianzui, “We can’t, we need a student ID.”
Zhou Tianzui asked, “Can’t we just register at the entrance?”
You Ruxu said, “I haven’t tried.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Let’s try then.”
You Ruxu followed her, hearing her ask, “Which class were you in?”
You Ruxu said, “Class 1.”
Zhou Tianzui nodded and walked with her to the security guard, an elderly man wearing glasses, carefully scrutinizing the students entering and leaving. Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu approached him, “Uncle, we’re here to see someone.”
The guard, seeing their attire and demeanor, relaxed slightly, “Who are you looking for?”
“Someone from Class 1, You Ruxu.” A playful lilt in Zhou Tianzui’s voice. You Ruxu, hearing this, turned to look at her. Zhou Tianzui winked and smiled at her. You Ruxu pursed her lips.
“Class 1?” The guard said, “Alright, register your information.”
Zhou Tianzui took out her ID card and registered. The guard, after scrutinizing it, seemed satisfied, then returned to watching the students. You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui entered the school. You Ruxu felt a strange sensation, hearing Zhou Tianzui say her name just now.
As if the Zhou Tianzui from her school days had really come looking for her.
You Ruxu smiled faintly, and Zhou Tianzui asked, “Want to see your old classroom?”
“No.” You Ruxu said, “They’ll be starting their evening self-study session soon.”
She shook her head, her beautiful features attracting the attention of several students. The two of them, tall and elegant, walking through the school grounds, were a striking sight. Several students whispered, “Which teacher is that?”
“I don’t know, new here?”
“Wow, she’s gorgeous! Why isn’t she teaching our class…”
You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui walked towards the sports field. There was a basketball court next to the field, and a small shop beside it. The shop had been there since You Ruxu’s school days, it looked the same. The sports field, however, had been renovated, the equipment new. There was a raised platform for events, and next to it, benches for the basketball court, where several students were sitting, chatting and eating snacks, watching a basketball game.
Everything looked familiar.
You Ruxu stood there, hearing Zhou Tianzui ask, “Any hobbies back then?”
“No.” You Ruxu thought for a moment, “I was always busy studying, what about you?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Me neither.”
Her school years had been difficult, filled with ridicule, cold stares, and whispers, she hadn’t had time for anything besides studying, not a pleasant memory. You Ruxu sensed her mood shift and looked at Zhou Tianzui’s profile, “It was a long time ago.”
You Ruxu’s voice was low, “I’m sorry.”
“Buy me some snacks.” Zhou Tianzui, not wanting to dwell on the past, entered the small shop. The snacks were mostly cheap, a dollar or two each. Zhou Tianzui, who usually only went to supermarkets, now carefully browsed the shelves, finally choosing a pack of gum and two lollipops. Outside, she unwrapped one and handed it to You Ruxu.
You Ruxu smiled faintly, taking the lollipop.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she had one, probably not since starting work. She held it in her hand, watching Zhou Tianzui put hers in her mouth, her right cheek puffing out slightly, an endearing sight.
She couldn’t resist poking it gently.
Zhou Tianzui turned to look at her, and You Ruxu looked down, the lollipop in her mouth. They walked towards the basketball court. It was almost time for evening study, most of the students had left, the court empty. Zhou Tianzui asked, “Can you play?”
You Ruxu shook her head.
Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll teach you.”
You Ruxu was surprised, “You know how to play?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “No.”
You Ruxu: …
She glared at Zhou Tianzui, who picked up a basketball from the rack, aimed, and threw it towards the hoop, missing. She hissed softly, as if not believing she missed, determined to make the shot, but missed four or five more times. You Ruxu chuckled. Zhou Tianzui frowned, pretending to measure the distance, then threw the ball again, missing.
You Ruxu laughed.
She said, “Do you even know how to play?”
Zhou Tianzui said, “You don’t either.”
You Ruxu pursed her lips and sat down, watching Zhou Tianzui’s continued attempts at shooting, her slender figure, the court lights illuminating her face, her cheek puffed out from the lollipop, less serious, more childlike.
You Ruxu took out her phone and snapped a few photos.
She looked down at the photos, smiling faintly, when she heard the bouncing of the basketball getting closer, she looked up, Zhou Tianzui was standing beside her, holding out her jacket.
You Ruxu took it. Zhou Tianzui brushed her hair back, leaned closer, “Let me borrow this.”
Before You Ruxu could react, Zhou Tianzui’s fingers were in her hair, removing the hair tie, then putting it on her own wrist. She gathered her hair and, pulling up her sweater slightly, revealed the skin around her waist, You Ruxu saw a faint pattern where the scar was, but the court lights were dim, so she couldn’t see clearly, just a vague shape.
She was about to ask when Zhou Tianzui walked away, dribbling the basketball.
She seemed to be enjoying herself, playing for about fifteen minutes. A few students were still walking around the track, teachers hurrying past with their books. You Ruxu watched as Zhou Tianzui put down the basketball and came back, sitting down beside her.
Her body radiated warmth, making You Ruxu feel a little warm as well.
Her cheeks flushed.
She took a deep breath, trying to hide her reaction, and looked down at her phone. Zhou Tianzui, beside her, said, “Here you go.”
It was her hair tie.
You Ruxu said, “I don’t…”
Before she could finish, Zhou Tianzui’s fingers were in her hair, gently gathering it, wrapping the hair tie around it three times, then loosely tying it back, a few strands framing her face. You Ruxu lowered her head, her hair falling around her cheeks, tickling her skin.
The sensation spread from her cheeks to her heart.
She coughed slightly.
Zhou Tianzui said, “Ready to go back?”
You Ruxu stood up, “Yes.”
She stood up too quickly, and her phone slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Zhou Tianzui picked it up and handed it back to her. You Ruxu said, “I took some photos of you earlier.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Photos? What photos?”
You Ruxu said, “Of you playing basketball.”
Zhou Tianzui tilted her head, “Let me see.”
You Ruxu, her gaze lowered, saw Zhou Tianzui’s profile as she leaned closer, the faint scent of fruit-flavored candy, her lips unpainted but still moist, the lollipop stick between her teeth. She opened her photo album and handed the phone to Zhou Tianzui.
Zhou Tianzui took the phone and looked at the photos.
You Ruxu looked away, the cool breeze making her face even warmer.
Zhou Tianzui said, “They’re good, Teacher You is quite the professional.”
You Ruxu, feeling a little flustered, the familiar address bringing a rush of memories, she said, “I think they’re good too, I was just thinking, if I wasn’t a reporter, I could be a photographer.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “A photographer?”
You Ruxu nodded, “I could film a documentary about you, then show it to you when you’re old.”
Zhou Tianzui said, “Show it to me?”
You Ruxu looked at her, then after a pause, didn’t answer.
They left the school, walking side by side. Back in the car, Zhou Tianzui put on her jacket, and as she did, her shirt rode up slightly, You Ruxu saw the pattern near her waist again, and couldn’t help but ask, “What is that?”
Zhou Tianzui looked down, following her gaze to her waist. The car’s interior was dim, but You Ruxu’s gaze seemed to penetrate the darkness, making Zhou Tianzui’s skin tingle. She coughed slightly, her voice a little unsteady, “It’s nothing.”
