Chapter 32: Like Part 2

She seemed to recall those cringey middle-school days—playing and goofing off with Qin Zheng, going to school and back together, tagging along on her dates, helping her find Yun An. Back then—back then, there seemed to be someone else by her side.

Jiang Ruoning was used to these sudden flashes of intuition.

She knew she’d dated someone in school, but when that person’s face overlapped with Shi Sui’s, gaining a concrete image, the once-vague memories started to sharpen.

That erotic dream the night she first met Shi Sui.

Maybe it wasn’t just a dream.

Maybe it was something that had actually happened between her and Shi Sui.

Was it really that intense?

Jiang Ruoning’s face flushed for a moment. Zou Nian called her: “Ruoning?”

She snapped back, heart pounding, a hint of shyness in her eyes. She lowered her gaze as Zou Nian asked, “Can I borrow this book? I don’t know where mine went.”

Without hesitation: “Sure, take it home and read.”

Zou Nian tucked the book under her arm. “Thanks.”

From outside, Jiang Qin called, “Ruoning.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded toward the door at Zou Nian. “Let’s go. She’s calling us.”

Zou Nian followed her out. Jiang Qin had set out fruit and melon seeds on the coffee table and beckoned her. “Come, have some.”

Jiang Ruoning awkwardly scraped her bangs with her finger. Zhang Zhilan said to Zou Nian, “You two already knew each other last year, but you didn’t tell me when you got home. If you’d told me sooner, I could’ve come find your Auntie Jiang earlier to travel together.”

Zou Nian picked up an apple and cut it into slices. She said, “I didn’t expect the two of you to know each other either.”

Jiang Qin pushed the fruit platter closer to her. “That just means it’s fate.”

“Of course.” Zhang Zhilan looked at Jiang Ruoning, who wore a white dress that was neither too long nor too short, made of all-cotton fabric that looked incredibly comfortable. Her long hair was tied to the side on the right, making her seem even more beautiful than the night before. Her lips were red, her teeth white, and she looked fresh and clean.

She really liked her.

Ever since Zou Nian had dated someone after graduation, she hadn’t been with anyone else. At first, Zhang Zhilan thought she couldn’t forget that girl and even encouraged Zou Nian to go to that girl’s city to find her. She had even said that if they really got back together, Zou Nian could settle there.

As long as Zou Nian was happy, that was all that mattered.

But Zou Nian said the other person had already started a new relationship and that she herself had let go a long time ago.

Letting go was good. Only then could she start anew with someone else.

If she could really end up with Jiang Ruoning, it would be doubly wonderful.

Their families lived so close by, the two girls’ jobs had no conflicting interests, and they even had mutual friends. They knew each other inside and out—how perfect.

Zhang Zhilan felt that Jiang Ruoning was simply a match made in heaven.

She urged Zou Nian, “Be more proactive!”

Zou Nian’s face turned dark.

Proactive.

Proactive.

She had already been proactive and gotten rejected.

How much more proactive could she be?

But maybe this time it could actually work?

After all, Jiang Ruoning’s reason for rejecting her before was that her mom was in poor health and wouldn’t approve. She was afraid her mom would get angry and it would affect her health if she found out.

Now, her mom was actively arranging this matchmaking. She definitely approved.

Maybe…

A spark of hope flickered in Zou Nian’s heart. She picked up a toothpick from the fruit platter, speared a piece of apple, and offered it to Jiang Ruoning. Jiang Ruoning stared blankly for two seconds before taking it. She nodded at her. “Thanks.”

“No problem.” Zou Nian watched her chew the apple and asked, “Do you have anything this afternoon?”

Before Jiang Ruoning could speak, Jiang Qin said, “No, she’s free this afternoon. You two can go out and stroll around. Have dinner out tonight.”

“Mom.” Jiang Ruoning said, “I do have something this afternoon.”

Jiang Qin looked at her. “What?”

Jiang Ruoning faltered. “I…” Suddenly, three pairs of eyes turned to her. She wasn’t good at lying anyway. She blinked and said, “I have plans with Zhengzheng this afternoon.”

“Zhengzheng? That’s fine, Mom will let her know.”

Jiang Ruoning gritted her teeth. “No, I have a group dinner tonight too, with Zhengzheng and the others.”

Jiang Qin said, “Don’t you gather all the time? Can’t you skip today?”

Jiang Ruoning: “But…”

Zou Nian smoothed things over. “How about this, Ruoning? I’ll drive you to the dinner.”

Zhang Zhilan perked up at those words and glanced at Zou Nian. She knew her daughter was getting ideas. She chimed in, “Yeah, Ningning. Let Nian send you. What if you drink and can’t drive? She can bring you back. That way, your mom will feel at ease too, right?”

Jiang Ruoning was cornered.

Jiang Qin nodded. “You always take a cab back from those dinners, and Mom worries. Let Zou Nian drive you.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “That’s too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all.” Zhang Zhilan said, “She doesn’t have anything to do at home anyway. It’s good for her to get out.”

Jiang Qin nodded. “That’s a good idea. Ningning, didn’t you say Zou Nian knows Xiao Man? She can meet Zhengzheng and the others too. You’re all young people; you’ll get along great.”

Jiang Ruoning met Jiang Qin’s gaze, full of hopeful expectation.

The fury that used to appear whenever she mentioned liking girls was gone now, completely different.

She didn’t need to resist too stubbornly and make things worse.

Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Okay, sorry for the trouble.”

Zou Nian said, “No trouble. I’ll stop by Xiao Man’s place this afternoon anyway.”

Jiang Qin said, “Xiao Man’s? Hey, can you take me along?”

Jiang Ruoning immediately asked, “What are you going for?!”

She was too tense, and Jiang Qin gave her a strange look.

Jiang Ruoning swallowed. “Your health isn’t fully recovered yet.”

Jiang Qin said, “It’s fine. I brought some toys for Xiao Guai from the trip. I can drop them off.”

Zou Nian said, “No problem. Then…”

“I’ll go with Zou Nian.” Jiang Ruoning interrupted her, even though it was rude. She couldn’t help it. Jiang Qin opened her mouth, but Zhang Zhilan pulled her back and smiled with narrowed eyes. “Alright, alright. Then you two go this afternoon, and head to the dinner together after.”

Zou Nian looked at Jiang Ruoning. “Sounds good.”

Jiang Ruoning’s scalp tingled, but she forced a smile under the pressure.

The meal ended on a fairly happy note. Afterward, Zou Nian and Jiang Ruoning were shooed out the door for a walk. With no other choice, they went to a nearby movie theater and sat for two hours, watching a film. Jiang Ruoning stared at the big screen but kept thinking of the movie she’d watched at Shi Sui’s place.

Such a bloody scene, and now it felt surprisingly warm.

OMG.

Memories could beautify things.

But they weren’t supposed to rewrite them completely.

She turned her head and looked at Zou Nian beside her. For a moment, she felt like she was looking at Shi Sui—propping her chin with one hand, both eyes on the screen ahead, one hand on the armrest with fingers dangling down.

So sexy.

In the darkness.

Jiang Ruoning closed her eyes in despair.

Beside her, Zou Nian called out, “Ruoning?”

Jiang Ruoning snapped back. “Huh?”

Zou Nian said, “Did you fall asleep?”

Jiang Ruoning shook her head. “No.” She smiled. “I didn’t sleep well last night.”

Zou Nian said, “I didn’t sleep well either.”

As she spoke, she leaned closer to Jiang Ruoning, who instinctively pulled away to the other side.

So she could dodge.

Her reaction speed was pretty fast.

Then why did she let Shi Sui kiss her yesterday?

Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips.

Zou Nian asked, “See if my dark circles are worse?”

Jiang Ruoning: …

She examined her seriously. “It’s too dark in here. Can’t tell.”

Zou Nian laughed, amused by her.

After the movie, Jiang Ruoning followed Zou Nian to the car. Zou Nian drove a black sedan, standard model with plenty of space. Jiang Ruoning sat in the passenger seat, watching cars pass by one after another. She didn’t know why she was so nervous. Shi Sui was definitely at work by now.

They wouldn’t run into her at this hour.

But what if?

She was afraid of that what if.

Jiang Ruoning lowered her eyes and pressed her finger on the window button. Zou Nian noticed but said nothing. They arrived at Zhou Man’s home in silence.

Zhou Man had just returned from the supermarket with Xiao Guai. She opened the door and froze at the sight of them together. “How did you two end up coming together?”

Jiang Ruoning held up a bag of toys and smiled. “It’s a long story.”

Zou Nian said, “A blind date setup.”

Zhou Man didn’t take it seriously and laughed too. “Who was on the blind date?”

Zou Nian said, “Us two.”

Zhou Man froze. “Huh?”

Xiao Guai came running out of the room. Her eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Ruoning, and she bounced over. “Sis!”

Jiang Ruoning picked up Xiao Guai. “Why didn’t you go to school today?”

Zhou Man replied, “She had a fever this morning, so I just kept her home.”

Jiang Ruoning touched Xiao Guai’s head. “Not burning anymore, right?”

Zhou Man said, “She’s fine now.”

Jiang Ruoning set Xiao Guai down and lifted the bag. “Look what sis brought you.”

“Bunny!” Xiao Guai spotted the wind-up bunny that hopped in place right away. Zhou Man sighed helplessly. “Toys for three- or four-year-olds, and she’s thrilled.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Kids are all like that.”

She still had her favorite toys too.

Xiao Guai pouted at Zhou Man’s comment and tugged Jiang Ruoning toward the room with the toy. Jiang Ruoning noticed Zou Nian and Zhou Man had business to discuss, so she went into the room with Xiao Guai. There was a new train track set with two green trains. Xiao Guai set down the toy and pulled Jiang Ruoning to sit on the rug to play with the electric train. Jiang Ruoning asked, “When did you get this?”

Xiao Guai replied crisply, “Sis gave it to me.”

Jiang Ruoning: “Sis?”

Xiao Guai nodded. “Shi Sui Sis.”

Shi Sui Sis.

Acting all young.

Jiang Ruoning ruffled Xiao Guai’s head. “Call her Auntie from now on.”

Xiao Guai blinked in confusion. “Why?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “She’s old.”

Xiao Guai said, “Aren’t you the same age?”

Jiang Ruoning was surprised. “How do you know?”

Xiao Guai said, “Shi Sui Sis said so. You two were classmates before.”

Jiang Ruoning: …

Why was she telling a kid all this?

So boring.

Jiang Ruoning held back her irritation. “What else did she say?”

Xiao Guai didn’t hesitate. “She also said she likes Ning Sis. Likes her a lot. Really likes her…”

Jiang Ruoning clamped her hand over Xiao Guai’s mouth.

Her face burned like it was about to explode.

Xiao Guai blinked innocently at her, pure and clueless.

Jiang Ruoning: …

She was going to kill Shi Sui!!!!!