Chapter 44: Friends Part 2

Her phone alarm rang, and only then did she open her bleary eyes. Dazed for a few seconds, she fumbled for her phone on the tea table—3 p.m.

She glanced at the time.

Then bolted upright.

3 p.m.!!!

Her flight!

Jiang Ruoning slapped her forehead, on the verge of tears.

Whatever.

Next flight.

Jiang Ruoning checked her phone for the next flight—after 6 p.m.

Plenty of time.

She lay back down.

Hearing the noise, Shi Sui came out of the room. Jiang Ruoning sat up abruptly, turned to look at her. Their eyes met, countless familiar scenes flashing before Jiang Ruoning’s eyes. She didn’t speak. Shi Sui said, “You’re awake.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded slightly.

Shi Sui asked, “Hungry?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “A bit.”

Shi Sui looked at her: “Go change clothes. I’ll take you out for lunch.”

After saying that, Shi Sui went into the bathroom. Jiang Ruoning sat still for four or five seconds, then got up too. She searched the room but couldn’t find her clothes. Helplessly, she asked Shi Sui, “Where are my clothes?”

Shi Sui was brushing her teeth, mumbling unclearly, “Washed.”

Jiang Ruoning: …

She tugged at her lips.

No need to be so diligent, right?

Now that they’d been washed, what was she supposed to wear? Shi Sui’s clothes?

Jiang Ruoning wasn’t unfamiliar with wearing Shi Sui’s clothes. Back when they had just confirmed their relationship, she often wore Shi Sui’s school uniform. Though the uniforms were the same, she just preferred Shi Sui’s. Even for naps, she’d cover herself with Shi Sui’s uniform.

Back then, she thought Shi Sui’s clothes smelled like vanilla.

Years later, she still remembered that scent.

Shi Sui finished washing up and entered the room. She saw Jiang Ruoning staring blankly at the wardrobe, so she walked over, picked out a dress, and handed it to her. It was a light pink mid-sleeve style with silk edging around the collar—not a high neck, but the edging could cover the marks on her throat.

It was a good choice.

Jiang Ruoning took the dress and couldn’t help but comment, “Why are all your clothes so…” She searched for the right word. “Old-fashioned?”

Shi Sui didn’t think so. She looked puzzled. “Are they?”

Jiang Ruoning: “Aren’t they?”

Shi Sui said, “Then we’ll go to the mall later, and you can buy your own.”

Jiang Ruoning started, “My taste—” But before she could finish, she faltered and glanced at Shi Sui, letting out a soft chuckle.

What was she going to buy? She didn’t even live here. What was the point?

Shi Sui didn’t catch her murmur and turned her head. Their eyes met, and Jiang Ruoning rolled her eyes at her. Shi Sui: …

Jiang Ruoning quickly changed into the dress, washed up, applied light makeup, and let her long hair fall loose as she followed behind Shi Sui. The weather was unusually fine, with a clear blue sky on the horizon. Jiang Ruoning felt like it had been ages since she’d stopped to gaze at the clouds.

She used to love it back in school. During class, she’d daydream out the window, staring at the clouds and describing them to Shi Sui. “Look, doesn’t that one look like a cow?”

Shi Sui would peer out seriously for a long time before shaking her head at her.

Tch, no sense of fun.

She lowered her gaze and heard Shi Sui say, “Get in the car.”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Isn’t there food nearby?”

Shi Sui replied, “I’m taking you somewhere else.”

So mysterious. Jiang Ruoning didn’t press and opened the passenger door to sit down. As she turned her head, she noticed Shi Sui’s slightly swollen cheek. “Your mom hit you—couldn’t you dodge?”

Shi Sui turned to meet her eyes, her tone calm. “You didn’t dodge back then either.”

Jiang Ruoning’s heart skipped a beat. She narrowed her eyes at Shi Sui, a strange thought crossing her mind. “Are you using the old me to punish the current you?”

Was that why she hadn’t dodged when Xu Qingqing hit her?

Shi Sui pressed her lips together.

Jiang Ruoning felt she’d guessed right. “No need for that.”

Shi Sui glanced sideways at her.

Jiang Ruoning continued, “Back then, I didn’t dodge because I liked you. Looking back, it was really stupid. Don’t do the same as old me—I won’t be moved enough to like you for it.”

Shi Sui asked her, “So you don’t like me now?”

She was so direct, completely unlike her earlier subtle probing. Was it the cold and fever making her bold?

But since she was being so straightforward, Jiang Ruoning didn’t hold back. “Of course not. You don’t seriously think after deceiving me for so long about so many things, I’d still like you, do you?”

Shi Sui nodded. “Then why did you sleep with me today?”

Jiang Ruoning gripped her bag strap tightly.

This woman was insane!

Her face stiffened for a couple of seconds before she said, “Wasn’t it your idea? If you don’t want to…”

“I do.” Shi Sui cut her off bluntly, lowering her eyes, which were slightly red.

Jiang Ruoning couldn’t stand the atmosphere in the car. “Also, about our relationship—no one else should know except in front of your mom.”

Shi Sui nodded lightly. “A bedmate on call.”

Jiang Ruoning choked.

Shi Sui added, “In front of my mom.”

Fair enough.

Jiang Ruoning fell silent.

Shi Sui gave a mirthless smile. “Sounds good.”

Jiang Ruoning wasn’t bold enough to ask what exactly was so good about it. Instead, she watched the scenery flash by outside the window. They’d already left the city center. She turned to Shi Sui. “Where are we eating?”

Shi Sui said, “Almost there.”

But it took another ten minutes. The route grew more familiar to Jiang Ruoning. When Shi Sui parked the car, she saw a noodle shop with its door open, and a familiar figure stepped out. Jiang Ruoning murmured, “Little Aunt.”

Her relationship with Little Uncle and Little Aunt was neither close nor distant.

Jiang Qin was the eldest daughter in the family, with a younger sister and a pair of fraternal twins—a brother and sister—about ten years younger, so they weren’t particularly close. Her aunt had gone abroad when Jiang Ruoning was very young and had barely been heard from since. She hadn’t even returned for the grandparents’ funerals. Relatives called her an unfilial daughter, but it didn’t bring her back. Besides the aunt, there was Little Uncle.

When Jiang Ruoning was little, she stayed at her grandparents’ house. Little Uncle took her climbing hills, catching fish and shrimp. Once, he pulled a snake out of a cave and got bitten. Jiang Qin immediately brought her to Linping, and from then on, she stayed by her mother’s side, only going back for holidays.

Without contact, relationships faded.

Jiang Qin said that as a child, she often clamored to go back to Grandma’s, but once she started kindergarten, she claimed not to remember.

Jiang Ruoning really didn’t remember much, but she remembered Little Uncle’s wedding. They moved to Linping and borrowed fifty thousand from her mom for a house down payment. Her mom had savings, but they were meant for Jiang Ruoning’s college. She watched her mom sit in the main room with Little Uncle, saying, “This money is for my daughter to go to college. Pay me back once you’re on your feet.”

That day, her mom looked at her and explained that in their hometown customs, sisters always helped with a brother’s wedding. But since she had no extra money, she was just lending a bit, hoping Little Uncle could repay it before college.

She was in junior high then, worrying over those fifty thousand.

The next year’s New Year, Little Uncle and Little Aunt came with gifts and repaid the full amount. During the meal, Jiang Qin said, “Don’t blame your sister. She doesn’t have much ability…”

Little Uncle stayed silent.

Little Aunt said, “Sis, you lending us that money was already a huge help. We know how much you’ve suffered raising Ningning alone. Da Qiangzi and I decided to pay you back first as soon as we had the money. Sis, don’t feel bad about us—we’re the ones who borrowed it. If anyone’s embarrassed, it’s us, not you.”

That day, Jiang Ruoning thought Little Aunt was so pretty.

Little Aunt even smelled nice.

She liked Little Aunt.

But after going to Shangjing, she lost touch with Little Uncle and Little Aunt. One New Year, she asked Jiang Qin if they should go back home for the holiday. Her mom’s face turned grim and tense—she hadn’t understood why then.

Putting it together with what she knew now…

Xu Qingqing’s influence had likely reached Little Uncle and Little Aunt.

Jiang Qin already felt guilty, and this would make her too ashamed to face them.

Shi Sui opened the car door and came around to Jiang Ruoning’s side, pulling it open. Jiang Ruoning glanced at her. Shi Sui said, “Getting out?”

Jiang Ruoning pressed her lips together.

She got out with Shi Sui.

Before they reached the door, they heard Little Aunt’s voice: “Shi Sui!”

Full of surprise and familiarity.

Jiang Ruoning lowered her head.

Then she was spotted too: “Ningning?”

Little Aunt exclaimed joyfully, “Is that Ningning?”

Jiang Ruoning looked up. She was much taller than Little Aunt now and could clearly see the few gray strands—deep and light—in her hair. For some reason, her nose stung, and she called out, “Little Aunt.”

Little Aunt responded warmly and shouted inside, “Her uncle! Da Qiangzi!”

Jiang Ruoning suddenly didn’t know where to put her hands and feet.

Soon, a middle-aged man rushed out wearing an apron. He hurried to the door, his honest face beaming with a smile. Little Aunt pulled him over. “Look who it is.”

Jiang Ruoning awkwardly called, “Little Uncle.”

“Ah!” The man paused blankly for a few seconds. Little Aunt nudged him, and he immediately said, “Come in, come in! What brings you here today? No heads-up? Where’s your mom? Did she come back too? How’s her health?”

Faced with the barrage of questions like firecrackers, Jiang Ruoning opened her mouth.

Little Aunt saw her discomfort and asked, “Have you eaten?”

Shi Sui shook her head. “Not yet.”

Little Aunt urged, “Go make two bowls of noodles. I’ll chat with Ningning.”

Little Uncle didn’t want to leave but withered under Little Aunt’s glare and reluctantly headed to the kitchen.

Jiang Ruoning remembered that Little Uncle had always been a bit afraid of Little Aunt.

Little Aunt sat across from them. “Where’s your mom? Is she back?”

Jiang Ruoning shook her head. “No, I came back secretly.”

She gave a dry laugh.

Little Aunt nodded in understanding, glanced at Shi Sui, then asked, “How’s her health?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “She’s good. These past couple years, she’s even gone traveling.”

Little Aunt sighed in relief. “That’s really great. Your Little Uncle and I often see news about you online. You’re doing so well.”

Jiang Ruoning listened to her speaking in that same coaxing tone from childhood, and her eyes unexpectedly heated up. She asked, “How have you and Little Uncle been?”

Little Aunt smiled. “We’re good. The shop’s business is pretty decent.”

Jiang Ruoning looked around and asked Little Aunt, “Did you buy the shop?”

Little Aunt said, “We just paid off the loan this year. Shi Sui helped a lot. Without her, we couldn’t have opened this place.”

Jiang Ruoning glanced at Shi Sui from the corner of her eye.

Little Aunt’s gaze darted between them, unable to hold back. She probed, “Have you two made up now?”

“No,” Shi Sui said. “We’re just ordinary friends now.”