Friend(GL) 145

Chapter 145: Nightgown

Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu lingered until evening, then Zhou Tianzui went home to check on Yu Qiao, who was having dinner. Seeing her, Yu Qiao stood up and served her a bowl of soup, seemingly aware of her plans for the evening, not asking any questions, just saying, “You just got back, you should rest.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, business trips are also a form of rest.”

No more endless shifts, no more rushing back to the hospital in the middle of the night, no more back-to-back surgeries. These past two weeks had indeed been a break, although the training program was also mentally taxing, her complexion had visibly improved.

Yu Qiao nodded, “Have some soup before you go.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Okay.”

Yu Qiao asked, “Coming home for lunch the day after tomorrow?”

Zhou Tianzui nodded, “I should be able to.” She had an hour and a half lunch break, but she never came home before, just in case there was an emergency at the hospital, Yu Qiao nodded, “Then I’ll make some of your favorites.”

Zhou Tianzui took a sip of soup, “Is the interview over?”

Yu Qiao gave a small “mm-hmm,” “It’s over.”

Zhou Tianzui asked, “What did you talk about?”

Yu Qiao said, “Want to know? Why don’t you just stay home?” She looked at Zhou Tianzui, whose expression faltered slightly, “We didn’t talk about anything,” Yu Qiao said.

Zhou Tianzui leaned closer, her head on Yu Qiao’s shoulder, drawing out the word, “Mom…”

Her tone almost coquettish. Yu Qiao turned to look at her, wanting to pull her hand away, but Zhou Tianzui held on tight, Yu Qiao chuckled, “Just drink your soup.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “A mother’s love is the best in the world, after all.”

Yu Qiao said, “What? Is You Ruxu not treating you well?”

Zhou Tianzui paused, then said, “She’s fine.”

Yu Qiao didn’t reply.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, Ruxu knows about her father contacting you, she’s very grateful.”

“There’s no need.” Yu Qiao said, “I don’t need her gratitude.”

Zhou Tianzui bit her tongue, suppressing the words she wanted to say, and finished her soup. Yu Qiao saw her to the door, “Wear more clothes, it’s cold outside.”

The weather was getting warmer. Zhou Tianzui was only wearing a thin, beige jacket, and having just had hot soup, she wasn’t cold. She took Yu Qiao’s hand, “Are you warm?”

Yu Qiao smiled and patted her hand, “Drive safe.”

Zhou Tianzui nodded. Yu Qiao watched her leave, then went back inside, stood by the window, and watched as Zhou Tianzui’s figure appeared below, walking towards a car, the door opening, You Ruxu stepping out, Yu Qiao drew the curtains.

You Ruxu asked Zhou Tianzui, “Haven’t had dinner yet?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “My mom was almost done eating, so I just had some soup, where are we going for dinner?”

Having been in Yuhai for a while, she was craving the noodles from that restaurant in Jindu, They drove to the area near the hospital, and while ordering, they ran into a familiar face, “Dr. Zhou, Sister!”

It was Yao Zhao.

Yao Zhao had grown taller since the New Year, looking elegant and poised as she stood before them, no longer shy and timid. You Ruxu smiled, “Have you eaten yet? Join us?”

Yao Zhao said, “I just finished.”

Her friend, who was with her, waved at Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu, a bright, cheerful smile, “Then you two enjoy your meal, I’ll be going now,” Yao Zhao said.

Zhou Tianzui nodded, “Take care.”

Yao Zhao still seemed a little afraid of her, an ingrained fear of doctors, she nodded and left the restaurant. You Ruxu commented, “Yao Zhao has changed so much.”

Zhou Tianzui said, “She has.”

It was in moments like these that she truly understood the meaning of being a reporter.

Zhou Tianzui, holding her chopsticks, said to You Ruxu, “Actually, I didn’t understand my father when I was young,” Even now, she still didn’t fully understand You Ruxu. She handed You Ruxu a pair of chopsticks, “I remember once, for my birthday, my dad bought two cakes, a big one and a small one, I asked him who the other cake was for, he said it was for a little girl, a friend’s child, and I couldn’t understand why he was being nicer to someone else, even buying a bigger cake for their child, than for me.”

Later, she found out that the child’s parents were divorced, and neither wanted her. She suddenly thought of Zhou Qiming.

She wondered what he had been thinking when he bought that cake, was he trying to make up for all the cakes she wouldn’t be able to eat in the future? Zhou Tianzui looked at You Ruxu, “I even had a fight with him back then, was I being selfish?”

You Ruxu said, “No, you…”

A voice called out from behind, “Dr. Zhou.”

Zhou Tianzui and You Ruxu turned around and saw Yao Zhao, holding a small, six-inch cake box, she walked over to Zhou Tianzui and said, “Happy birthday.”

Zhou Tianzui froze, looking at Yao Zhao.

You Ruxu took the cake, “How did you know it was her birthday?”

“I saw it on her ID card when she took it out.” Yao Zhao blushed slightly, embarrassed. She had been bringing her classmates to this restaurant these past few days, hoping to run into Zhou Tianzui. She hadn’t dared go to the hospital, or even message her, afraid of disturbing her.

Zhou Tianzui chuckled, “How could you afford to buy a cake?”

“I earned the money myself!” Yao Zhao said proudly, her chest puffing out slightly, then she looked down shyly, “I was going to give it to you in a couple of days, but I was afraid I wouldn’t see you again, so I bought it just now, share it with Sister.”

Yao Zhao’s eyes were bright as she looked at You Ruxu and Zhou Tianzui, a hopeful anticipation, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, her face flushed, You Ruxu, afraid she would explode from embarrassment if they didn’t accept it, said, “Join us?”

“I’m not eating,” Yao Zhao glanced at Zhou Tianzui, although still slightly afraid of her, she was truly grateful, Zhou Tianzui said, “Are you in a hurry?”

“Yes, I have to go back to school.” Yao Zhao relaxed, hearing her speak, “Then I’ll be going.” Before leaving, she turned back and said, “Dr. Zhou, happy birthday!”

Zhou Tianzui smiled.

Yao Zhao skipped away happily, her steps light. You Ruxu held the small cake and said to Zhou Tianzui, “Do you understand a little now?”

Zhou Tianzui didn’t speak, just looked at the cake in You Ruxu’s hand, then at You Ruxu, and continued eating her noodles, her head lowered.

After dinner, they placed the cake in the car, Zhou Tianzui wanted to go home, but You Ruxu said they should walk around for a bit. Seeing this, Zhou Tianzui asked where she wanted to go, and You Ruxu casually pointed at the mall across the street.

She hadn’t bought Zhou Tianzui a birthday present yet.

She had bought her gifts in previous years, but Zhou Tianzui would either leave them untouched or put them away, she rarely used them. They didn’t usually celebrate special occasions either, birthdays being the only exception. Once, on Valentine’s Day, they were having dinner, and a little girl came by selling flowers, Zhou Tianzui bought them all, and You Ruxu thought they were for her, but Zhou Tianzui had simply taken them home and put them in a vase, without a word.

They had been so awkward back then, Zhou Tianzui not mentioning it, and she never asking.

This year, it was different.

You Ruxu asked, “What do you want for your birthday?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Shouldn’t you buy it secretly and then surprise me on my birthday?”

You Ruxu said, “Or I can buy it now, according to your wishes, and you can use it in advance.”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her, “Anything I want?”

You Ruxu took out her card and handed it to Zhou Tianzui, “Within my budget.”

Zhou Tianzui took the card, smiling, “Okay.”

They entered the mall, the jewelry section on the third floor, You Ruxu had wanted to buy Zhou Tianzui a watch, a specific model she had seen earlier, Zhou Tianzui followed her to the store, but the watch was out of stock, You Ruxu picked out a few other options, but Zhou Tianzui didn’t like any of them. They went to two other jewelry stores, then Zhou Tianzui, leaning against the railing, looking down, said to You Ruxu, “Let’s go to the second floor.”

“Second floor?” You Ruxu looked up, the second floor was the clothing section, “To buy clothes?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “To buy lingerie.”

You Ruxu: …

She followed Zhou Tianzui to a lingerie store on the second floor. Zhou Tianzui browsed, finally choosing a light blue lingerie set with rose embroidery, not very expensive, the shop assistant very enthusiastic, “Anything else? We have a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal.”

You Ruxu was about to say no when she heard Zhou Tianzui say she wanted to look around some more. She suppressed her words, smiled at the shop assistant, then turned around and saw Zhou Tianzui holding a sexy nightgown, and she choked slightly, looking away. It was a bright red nightgown, completely backless, with thin straps, the material silk, smooth and luxurious, the shop assistant, a little embarrassed to introduce it, just smiled at Zhou Tianzui, “We have other styles as well.”

Zhou Tianzui asked You Ruxu, “What do you think? Does it look good?”

You Ruxu imagined Zhou Tianzui wearing it, her hair loose, the dim light of the bedroom, Zhou Tianzui had also been enjoying having You Ruxu sit on top of her lately, You Ruxu had lost count of the marks she had left on Zhou Tianzui’s back, usually covered by her pajamas, but this backless design, You Ruxu shook her head.

Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll take this one, thank you.”

You Ruxu froze for a moment, “Didn’t I say I don’t like it?”

Zhou Tianzui said, “Didn’t you say you would buy whatever I wanted?”

You Ruxu: …

She couldn’t argue with Zhou Tianzui and paid, gritting her teeth. Zhou Tianzui carried the shopping bag, “Want to look around some more?”

You Ruxu, afraid she might buy something even more outrageous, immediately dragged her home. In the car, Zhou Tianzui opened the cake box, a fruit-flavored cake with a small card thoughtfully inserted, she smiled and scooped up some frosting with her finger, offering it to You Ruxu, who said, “I’m driving.”

“It won’t affect your driving.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Open your mouth.”

You Ruxu’s lips parted slightly, and Zhou Tianzui’s finger traced their outline, You Ruxu instantly blushing, she pursed her lips, the sweet taste of frosting spreading through her mouth, a pleasant warmth.

Half an hour later, they arrived home. You Ruxu carried the shopping bags, following Zhou Tianzui, who was holding the cake. They couldn’t possibly finish the entire cake, so after arriving home, they each cut a small slice, a light and refreshing fruit flavor, not too sweet, but Zhou Tianzui, being Zhou Tianzui, couldn’t just eat her own slice, she had to feed You Ruxu, who refused, and they playfully bickered until they finally finished the cake, You Ruxu’s face now also smeared with frosting. She went to the bathroom to wash up, and while showering, she suddenly thought of the nightgown Zhou Tianzui bought, she wasn’t even drunk, but her face flushed, she quickly finished her shower, and back in the living room, she saw a small slice of cake on Zhou Tianzui’s bedside table, not the large slice they had earlier, just a small piece, “Are you still eating?”

Zhou Tianzui looked at her, stood up, wiped the frosting from You Ruxu’s lips, and said, “I’ll eat it later.”

Her tone was casual, yet You Ruxu found it strangely suggestive. She looked down, watching Zhou Tianzui go to the bathroom, hearing the water running.

The apartment was quiet. You Ruxu looked at the cake, imagining how it would be eaten, perhaps Zhou Tianzui would be wearing the nightgown she bought, she was still thinking about it when her gaze fell on the shopping bag.

The nightgown was still inside, hadn’t Zhou Tianzui taken it with her?

Wasn’t she going to wear it?

You Ruxu felt a strange pang of disappointment, she was actually disappointed? Realizing her own thoughts, she bit her lip, and just then, she heard Zhou Tianzui’s voice from the bathroom, “A Ran.”

She looked up.

Zhou Tianzui said, “Can you get me my pajamas?”

You Ruxu said, “Okay.”

She stood up, took a pair of cotton pajamas from the closet, walked to the bathroom door, then hesitated, her gaze lingering on the shopping bag on the bed, the red fabric peeking out, her heart pounding, her hand clutching the pajamas tightly, her lips bitten red against her pale skin, after a moment, You Ruxu turned back, took the nightgown from the bag, and quickly slipped it into the bathroom.

Zhou Tianzui: You’re so bad, A Ran, wanting me to wear this.
You Ruxu: Shut up…