It wasn’t a weekend; classes were still going on. Jiang Ruoning climbed the steps. The gate faced the teaching building, not climbed all at once but in sections—four or five areas. She remembered the left side used to be for bikes; now it was greenery. The right had been dorms and a big bathroom; the bathroom was still there, but no dorms. Jiang Ruoning asked Shi Sui: “Where are the dorms?”
“Moved to the back.” Shi Sui asked: “Want to see?”
What was there to see?
Jiang Ruoning didn’t know. Back in school, she’d been a day student, no boarding, so no strong feelings for the dorms. But stepping here revived memories buried deep in her bones—even the dorms she cared least about, she wanted to see.
In the end, she followed Shi Sui there. Next to the dorm building was the cafeteria.
Jiang Ruoning remembered solving lunch and dinner there. In her first two years, it was her, Qin Zheng, and a few classmates racing downstairs after class straight to the cafeteria. When Yun An transferred in senior year, they slowed down a lot.
In her memories, Shi Sui’s impression had blurred.
So she asked Shi Sui: “Did you eat at the cafeteria too?”
“Yeah,” Shi Sui said. “But we often went to that street outside school too.”
Jiang Ruoning remembered that in the second semester of her senior year of high school, her mom had been afraid she’d wear herself out and had given her double the usual pocket money. They’d grown tired of the cafeteria food back then and loved going out instead. Everyone took turns treating, one person per day. Ye Yu hadn’t had money, so they’d pooled together to cover her share.
She nodded.
A person emerged from the cafeteria, glanced at them, and paused in her steps, as if in disbelief and delight. “Jiang Ruoning!”
Jiang Ruoning recognized the familiar voice and turned her head. “Teacher Zhou.”
She was their homeroom teacher for senior year. They’d called her “Old Zhou” every day back then, though she hadn’t been old at all. Later, she’d become the director of instruction. Jiang Ruoning wondered if she’d been promoted since.
Teacher Zhou was genuinely surprised to see her.
Over the years, she’d taught many classes, but none as chaotic as theirs.
Even the English teacher often sighed that theirs was the most memorable class.
Just Ye Yu’s situation alone had drawn reporters for interviews—from the principal to Teacher Zhou to every subject teacher. She remembered one time when Ye Yu was participating in some entertainment event. People from the program crew had come to invite them for a surprise, but they weren’t sure if a sudden appearance would be a pleasant shock or a fright, so they’d politely declined. Interviews had tapered off in the last couple of years, but class gatherings happened every year.
Ye Yu was always the topic at those gatherings. She’d been a nobody in class before, but now she’d transformed into a huge star—the untouchable kind. The classmates didn’t envy Ye Yu the most; they envied the few who were close to her.
They said those girls had real foresight.
“Jiang Ruoning’s a big model now too, and she even backs Ye Yu up on stage sometimes,” the classmates had said enviously. “She had the vision to latch onto a big thigh early.”
Of course Teacher Zhou remembered Jiang Ruoning.
It wasn’t just because of Ye Yu. Back then, when Teacher Zhou had been slandered by a colleague, Jiang Ruoning had run around helping to clear her name. How could she forget such a straightforward, warm-hearted girl?
She hadn’t seen Jiang Ruoning since graduation.
Jiang Ruoning hadn’t come to any of the annual gatherings.
Not just her—Qin Zheng, Yun An, those memorable kids—none of them had shown up. But Teacher Zhou and Shi Sui had shared a meal once. At the table, the principal had respectfully raised a glass to her. Teacher Zhou had heard from colleagues that the new teaching building on the west side had been donated by Fuli Group, and Shi Sui had attended on their behalf.
After that, Teacher Zhou occasionally spotted Shi Sui on the sports field on weekends.
Every time she saw her, it reminded her of their school days, and the conversation would turn to Qin Zheng and Jiang Ruoning.
Teacher Zhou had always wondered how Jiang Ruoning and the others were doing. Seeing her now out of the blue, how could she not be happy?
Jiang Ruoning was happy too.
Teacher Zhou had cleaned up so many messes for them in senior year. Every time they got into trouble, she’d storm into the classroom with a dark face, look at them helplessly, and end up covering for them.
Thinking back, Jiang Ruoning felt a bit guilty toward Teacher Zhou.
She hadn’t even brought fruit or anything.
Teacher Zhou didn’t care about that. She asked, “Have you two had breakfast?”
Jiang Ruoning was about to speak when Shi Sui cut in. “We have, Teacher Zhou. Have you eaten?”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t understand why she was lying but didn’t call her out. Teacher Zhou smiled. “I just finished too.”
As she spoke, a voice came from behind her. “Shi Sui?”
Jiang Ruoning looked over. It was another teacher who seemed to know Shi Sui. Shi Sui said to Jiang Ruoning, “I’ll go say hi.”
Why explain to her?
It felt weird.
Jiang Ruoning wasn’t pleased but nodded anyway.
Shi Sui quickened her pace and stood before the teacher. The two chatted happily about something.
Teacher Zhou asked, “You two… are you back together?”
The question made Jiang Ruoning’s eyes widen in shock.
She hadn’t realized Teacher Zhou was so open-minded these days, jumping to the conclusion they were together just from seeing them walk side by side.
Jiang Ruoning stammered, “W-what do you mean, together?”
Teacher Zhou looked puzzled by her reaction. “You and Shi Sui, of course. Aren’t you two dating?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Uh… Shi Sui and I aren’t dating.”
Teacher Zhou nodded. “I see. Does her mom not approve?”
Jiang Ruoning bit her tongue. “How did you know that, Teacher Zhou?”
Teacher Zhou said, “Her mom is—” She seemed at a loss for words and shook her head. “Back when she found out you two were dating, she even sabotaged your mom’s job. Is your mom doing okay now?”
Jiang Ruoning truly hadn’t known about any of this. She’d thought Jiang Qin had gone to Shangjing because she’d quit voluntarily to take care of her.
Shi Sui’s mom had sabotaged it?
She spaced out for a moment. “Sh-she’s okay.”
Teacher Zhou said, “That’s good, but it’s a shame about her job. She was about to get promoted to supervisor.”
Jiang Ruoning knew Teacher Zhou had relatives at her mom’s workplace—probably where she’d heard it. But Jiang Ruoning had no memory of it. She racked her brain, but her head went blank; nothing came up.
Shi Sui returned.
She glanced at Jiang Ruoning and Teacher Zhou.
The bell rang, and Teacher Zhou said, “I have to go teach. Come back and visit more often.”
Jiang Ruoning and Shi Sui watched Teacher Zhou hurry back to the teaching building. After the bell faded, the surroundings grew even quieter. Jiang Ruoning walked beside Shi Sui with her head down. Suddenly, she remembered something. “That teacher just now—she taught you too?”
Shi Sui said, “She was my homeroom teacher in sophomore year.”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Weren’t we in the same class in sophomore year?”
Shi Sui shook her head. “We only got in the same class after class assignments in junior year.”
Jiang Ruoning was distracted.
Shi Sui asked, “Want to keep walking around?”
Jiang Ruoning looked up. Unbeknownst to them, they’d reached the school gate. She wasn’t in the mood anymore and shook her head. Shi Sui said, “Then let’s get breakfast. That place we used to go to.”
There was a shop at the street corner that sold youtiao and soy milk. Back then, whenever Jiang Qin worked night shifts or Jiang Ruoning didn’t want to eat at home, they’d come here for a bowl of dry-mix noodles or soy milk with xiaolongbao. Shi Sui remembered—ever since they’d confirmed their relationship, breakfast had been their dating ritual. She’d arrive early, order, and wait at the window seat. Jiang Ruoning would rush in every time, flashing her a big smile, drop her bag across from her, and say intimately, “Morning, Shi Sui.”
She was like sunshine.
Able to dispel all gloom.
Shi Sui had felt warm and comfortable.
She liked Jiang Ruoning.
From back then until now.
Always, always.
The familiar storefront was right ahead. Nothing had changed. Shi Sui asked Jiang Ruoning, “Dry-mix noodles okay?”
Jiang Ruoning was still mulling over Teacher Zhou’s words and came back to herself. She said flatly, “Sure.”
Shi Sui went in, ordered dry-mix noodles and soy milk, and turned around to see Jiang Ruoning already seated in their usual spot.
“Ready to pay.” The server saw Shi Sui still looking back and called, “Ma’am?”
Shi Sui snapped out of it and scanned to pay.
Jiang Ruoning gazed out the window at the familiar scenery.
Even this seat felt familiar.
If she remembered right, she’d come here often in senior year for noodles and soy milk—sometimes with Qin Zheng, sometimes with Qin Zheng and Yun An, and sometimes—with Shi Sui.
When she sat down, it was as if she saw someone across from her.
In school uniform, propping her chin and looking at her.
Jiang Ruoning remembered.
It was Shi Sui.
She lowered her eyes.
Shi Sui returned to the seat, set down the receipt. Habitually, Jiang Ruoning asked, “What number?”
She had little patience. Back then, Shi Sui always ordered first. If Shi Sui was late, she’d ask upon entering, “What number?”
Past and present overlapped.
The same question.
Shi Sui didn’t answer right away, swallowing the sourness in her throat. “Number thirty-six. Four people ahead.”
Jiang Ruoning nodded.
She made small talk. “The school’s changed a lot.”
Shi Sui said, “Yeah, it changes every year.”
Jiang Ruoning narrowed her eyes, pulled out her phone, opened her chat with Qin Zheng, and messaged: [Awake yet?]
Two minutes later, Qin Zheng replied: [What time is it? Still sleeping.]
Jiang Ruoning: [Who knows how wild you got last night.]
After sending it, she felt like she was the crazy one.
Qin Zheng: [……]
Pretending to be casual but tense, Jiang Ruoning typed: [Hey, got a question for you.]
Qin Zheng: [What?]
Jiang Ruoning: [Did Shi Sui’s mom sabotage my mom’s job back then?]
Qin Zheng: [Who told you?]
Jiang Ruoning: [So it is true?]
Qin Zheng: [……]
Jiang Ruoning had gotten good at prying info.
She bit her lip, thought for a moment, and replied honestly: [Yeah, she came to make a scene twice.]
Jiang Ruoning’s chest instantly tightened with anger.
No one had ever told her before.
Jiang Qin had lost so much for her.
She asked Qin Zheng: [What else?]
There had to be more. She refused to believe it was just one job—her mom wouldn’t avoid coming back to Linping over that. There must be other things!
Qin Zheng called her upon seeing the message.
Jiang Ruoning answered. Her voice buzzed in her ears as Qin Zheng asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I just went to school and ran into Teacher Zhou,” Jiang Ruoning said. “She told me.”
“School?” Qin Zheng paused. “You’re back in Linping?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Yeah.”
Qin Zheng asked, “Why’d you go back suddenly?”
Jiang Ruoning stammered, “J-just a little thing.”
Qin Zheng said, “Because of Shi Sui?”
Jiang Ruoning fell silent. A few seconds later, she said to Qin Zheng, “Tell me.”
Qin Zheng said, “She didn’t just cost Auntie her job. She got several of your relatives fired too.”
Jiang Ruoning froze.
That explained it. Back in Linping, they’d had family visits, but after going to Shangjing, all the relatives had vanished.
She’d really thought they just didn’t want to keep in touch.
Turns out it was because Jiang Qin felt guilty.
Too embarrassed to contact them.
Jiang Ruoning could understand that shame. In her memories, Jiang Qin had strong self-respect and had always taught her to be independent—to not trouble others if she could avoid it. And now, because she’d dated someone, not only had her mom’s job been ruined, but her relatives’ jobs too.
Jiang Ruoning, already simmering with frustration, grew even angrier. She started glaring at Shi Sui.
Shi Sui noticed the shift in her gaze, looked down at the payment receipt, then felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and took it out.
Jiang Ruoning glanced at the screen. “Your mom?”
Shi Sui looked at the flashing contact name and nodded.
Jiang Ruoning reached out. “Give it to me.”
Shi Sui stared at her, stunned for a second.
Jiang Ruoning snatched the phone from her hand and pressed the call button.
