Little Aunt clearly froze for a moment. “Oh.”
She knew that Shi Sui and Jiang Ruoning were dating. She still remembered that summer vacation when the two girls had held hands and accompanied Jiang Qin to their home for a meal. Back then, she and Da Qiang were still working night shifts at the factory. On their way, they had bought a bunch of groceries. Along the road, she chatted with Da Qiang, “Sis said Ningning has a partner now.”
“Yeah.” Da Qiang chuckled. “Who knows which boy it is. Ningning’s grown up so pretty.”
But when they got home and saw them, they were dumbfounded.
It wasn’t a boy—it was a girl.
Just as dainty and pretty and tall as Jiang Ruoning, strikingly beautiful. Jiang Qin stood in front of the two, somewhat awkward. “I was passing by, so I brought the kids to show their faces. It’ll be easier for them to drop by with gifts in the future.”
“Sure, okay…” Da Qiang didn’t know what to mumble. She pushed him into the kitchen to cook while she stayed in the living room to entertain them.
She learned they were high school classmates who had gotten together after graduation. Now one was at Jiaoda and the other at Jing University—both top schools.
Though it wasn’t quite what she had imagined, she still blessed them because she could tell Jiang Qin had accepted it.
What reason did they have not to?
So they happily kept Shi Sui and Jiang Ruoning for lunch. When they left, she even stuffed five hundred yuan into Shi Sui’s hand. Shi Sui stubbornly refused to take it, but she forced it into her palm. “It’s our custom here. Just take it.”
Jiang Qin nodded too. “Your Little Aunt is giving it to you. Just accept it.”
Only then did Shi Sui pocket the money.
These past two years, she had wondered if Shi Sui took such good care of them because of that five hundred yuan back then.
Shi Sui had helped find the shop, and she had negotiated the price. They hadn’t known market rates at the time, but later they realized they had only paid half—the other half must have come from Shi Sui. She had offered to make up the difference, but Shi Sui refused every time and even said she wouldn’t come back again.
That kid.
She had no choice but to make extra tasty dishes for her whenever Shi Sui visited.
The location was great—close to schools, with a Chinese medicine hospital across the street. From the day they opened, they never worried about foot traffic. Last year when they bought a new house, their gratitude toward Shi Sui went without saying, but they also missed Jiang Ruoning.
Little Aunt looked at Jiang Ruoning. “We tried contacting your mom, but her number changed.”
Jiang Ruoning’s expression filled with guilt. “She always felt like she caused trouble for you all.”
“Trouble what?” Little Aunt said. “We’re family. There’s no such thing as trouble. It wasn’t your fault anyway.”
Jiang Ruoning thought Little Aunt was practically a saint.
She couldn’t do it herself.
She couldn’t help resenting Shi Sui.
Little Uncle came out carrying two bowls of shredded pork noodles. Jiang Ruoning took them with both hands. Steam rose from the noodles. She sat quietly, feeling the heat gradually warm her face. Little Aunt still sat across from her and said, “Bring your mom back to visit when you have time.”
Jiang Ruoning nodded. “Got it, Little Aunt.”
Little Aunt pushed the bowl toward her. “Eat. It’ll get cold.”
Jiang Ruoning picked up her chopsticks and took a bite. The flavor was mild—either that was their usual taste, or they had made it light especially for her. Though she hadn’t deliberately dieted, she always controlled her intake. Every morning, the first thing she did after waking was step on the scale to see how many calories she could afford that day. Today, there were none.
She had eaten so much haphazardly that morning, and now another big bowl of noodles far exceeded her usual portion. But Jiang Ruoning finished every bit, even though her stomach felt stuffed. She rubbed it. Wu Jie’s call came right on time, saving her from the emotions about to spill over. Jiang Ruoning sniffed, then walked out of the noodle shop.
The shop grew busier, probably nearing dinnertime. Many people came for takeout, grabbing sides and buns too. Jiang Ruoning stood by the glass outside, peering in. Shi Sui was chatting with Little Aunt about something—they seemed to be having a pleasant conversation, mostly Little Aunt talking while she listened attentively.
When had their relationship gotten so good?
Better than her own with Shi Sui.
“Ruoning.” Wu Jie’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Jiang Ruoning came back to herself. “Hm?”
Wu Jie said, “Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon at LESS. Should I have Miao Miao pick you up?”
Jiang Ruoning was still watching Shi Sui. “Two tomorrow? Isn’t the shoot on Tuesday?”
Wu Jie explained, “Fitting and styling first.”
Jiang Ruoning had no objections. “Have Miao Miao come a bit early.”
Wu Jie agreed. “No problem.”
She could tell Wu Jie was in a good mood, her voice upbeat and rising at the end, sweeping away the gloom of the past half-year—positive and happy. “So, Yongquan on Wednesday or Thursday?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Wednesday. Better to go early and check things out.”
Wu Jie said, “That’s what I thought too. I’ll book your Wednesday flight.”
Jiang Ruoning hummed in agreement. Wu Jie heard the traffic and crowd noise on her end and asked, “Where are you?”
“At—” Jiang Ruoning thought for a moment. “At my hometown.”
It was the first time Wu Jie heard her mention her hometown. “Where’s that?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Linping.”
Wu Jie racked her brain for the name—it sounded familiar, but she couldn’t place it. She didn’t dwell. “Far? When are you coming back?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Tonight.”
Wu Jie: “OK.”
Jiang Ruoning hung up and went back inside. She had finished her noodles. The tables around them were full. Shi Sui saw her coming and stood, saying to Little Aunt, “We’ll head out then.”
Little Aunt nodded and smiled at them, calling to Little Uncle in the kitchen.
Jiang Ruoning grabbed Little Aunt’s hand. “Little Uncle’s busy. Don’t bother him.”
“Drive safe then.” Little Aunt said reluctantly. “Come play anytime.”
Jiang Ruoning nodded.
They had said no need for an escort, but Little Uncle and Little Aunt still saw them to the car and even packed Jiang Ruoning some beef sauce—heavy and substantial in her arms. Long after they drove off, she saw Little Aunt standing in the doorway, watching their direction.
Jiang Ruoning had never thought of herself as sentimental before, but her eyes inexplicably welled up. She tried to wipe them casually, but a tissue appeared. She turned to look at Shi Sui.
Her eyes were slightly red, glistening with tears. She sniffed, looking utterly pitiful.
Shi Sui slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the curb.
Jiang Ruoning wiped her eye corner, her voice muffled. “Why’d you stop?”
Shi Sui said, “Can’t drive.”
Jiang Ruoning glanced at the dashboard. “Car broken?”
Shi Sui said, “Car’s fine. Person’s not.”
Jiang Ruoning frowned. Shi Sui said, “I think I have a fever. You drive.”
She leaned her head forward slightly, as if waiting for Jiang Ruoning to check her forehead. The obedient Jiang Ruoning reached out instinctively but pulled back before touching. She yanked open the door. “I’ll drive.”
They switched seats quickly. From the rearview mirror, Jiang Ruoning could no longer see the noodle shop. She asked Shi Sui, “When did they open the shop?”
Shi Sui seemed sluggish from the fever, thinking for a long time before saying, “Over two years ago.”
Not long after she returned to the country.
Around half a year, maybe.
Jiang Ruoning said, “Did you pay for their shop?”
Shi Sui didn’t hide it. “Money and effort. I found the place and negotiated the price.”
Jiang Ruoning had meant to thank her, but those smug words soured her mood. She glanced over. Shi Sui sat quietly in the passenger seat, black leather wrapping her body, her face pale—she clearly looked sick.
Maybe she shouldn’t have suspected Shi Sui of faking the fever.
Guilt tugged at Jiang Ruoning. She lowered her eyes. “Thanks. How much? I’ll transfer it.”
Shi Sui paused at that. “Transfer to me?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “The money for their shop.”
Shi Sui turned to meet her gaze. “Already did.”
Jiang Ruoning blinked. “When?”
Little Aunt had just secretly told her Shi Sui wouldn’t accept money.
Shi Sui said, “Now.”
She reached out, pressing her palm to the back of Jiang Ruoning’s head. They hadn’t buckled up yet after getting in, so their bodies tangled easily. Jiang Ruoning couldn’t move her neck or the back of her head, forced forward as a pair of thin lips pressed hotly against hers.
Like fire burning.
It suddenly reminded Jiang Ruoning of the end of senior year. The school had loosened up by then. Evening self-study was optional—some came, some studied at home. Their class dwindled to about twenty students. One Thursday, she and Shi Sui had planned to attend but lost track of time playing. By the time they returned to the classroom, everywhere was silent. Passing a stairwell, Shi Sui pulled her in.
They kissed for what felt like two class periods.
Pecking like little chicks, no technique, just instinct. But in the end, Shi Sui left her breathless.
Just like now.
Jiang Ruoning’s hands, which had meant to push away, somehow ended up on Shi Sui’s shoulders, fingertips digging into her thin clothes. Warm to the touch.
A bit feverish.
Shi Sui wasn’t lying.
She really had a fever.
Jiang Ruoning shoved her away and pursed her lips. Shi Sui hadn’t kissed hard—just pressed her thin lips to Jiang Ruoning’s, tracing the outline with her tongue tip. So her lips were left moist. She sat still.
Shi Sui settled back too.
Jiang Ruoning eyed her for two seconds, then stepped on the gas.
Not toward home. Shi Sui looked out the window. “Where to?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “Hospital.”
Shi Sui: …
No matter how much she disliked it, Shi Sui still ended up at the hospital with Jiang Ruoning. She couldn’t refuse her the way she had Jiang Nuan, so she softened her voice. “Can we not go?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “What are you, three? Scared of shots or IVs?”
She remembered Shi Sui wasn’t afraid of hospitals.
Shi Sui’s face stiffened. She got out of the car anyway. It was late—only the ER was open, and it was quiet. Jiang Ruoning got her registered, then they waited for blood test results. Viral meant IV; otherwise, just meds. Jiang Ruoning had been scared by Qin Zheng’s frequent relapses before. Back then, Qin Zheng’s stamina was awful—she lost so much weight, thin as paper. She didn’t want Shi Sui turning out the same.
Fortunately, the results were good.
Not viral.
The doctor prescribed meds and instructed Jiang Ruoning: A fever that night was fine as long as it didn’t exceed 39.5 degrees—no need for drugs then. But monitor closely; Shi Sui had been burning for a day and a night already.
Jiang Ruoning listened while watching Shi Sui.
Shi Sui seemed distracted.
Outside the hospital, Jiang Ruoning asked, “What’re you thinking?”
Shi Sui took the bag of meds from her hand. “Nothing.”
Seeing she didn’t want to say, Jiang Ruoning didn’t press. “My six o’clock flight—did you have Jiang Nuan change it?”
“Change the flight?” Shi Sui had completely forgotten about buying Jiang Ruoning’s ticket. She had planned for them to fly back to Shangjing together that afternoon. Asking for her ID was for peace of mind—to prevent her buying her own and ensure they sat together. But she had napped, then gone to Little Aunt’s.
Her daze was obvious.
Jiang Ruoning narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t forget, did you?”
Shi Sui checked the time. “Eight o’clock work?”
Jiang Ruoning had no schedule until tomorrow morning. She nodded. Shi Sui had Jiang Nuan book the tickets. Once confirmed, she said, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Ruoning looked at her. “Where?”
Shi Sui said, “I need to go back and pack clothes.”
She hadn’t brought much, but her suitcase held company files and contracts she needed to take back. Jiang Ruoning felt half-awkward. She still drove. Linping was small—from East City to South City took just over an hour. They soon reached the garage. As they got out, Shi Sui checked her phone, seemingly getting a message. She looked up at Jiang Ruoning. “Little Aunt wants your contact.”
