Ye Zhibai hammered out her reply as quickly as possible.
It was remarkably concise.
“Stuffed full, heading out now.”
“Gotcha! I’m right downstairs, sis. Just come out and look to the right—you’ll spot your dear Yun’er!”
Modern people had a habit of tossing in a dog-head emoji after every sentence when texting.
If not that, then a sticker.
But Yun’er never did that sort of thing. Her messages were always straight to the point, never any pointless emojis.
This time, though, she’d actually capped it off with a rare sticker of someone rubbing their hands in eager anticipation!
~~~
When a person’s words brimmed with an unusual, ecstatic joy unlike their usual self, it meant she’d been bottling up her excitement for ages.
Ages meaning at least half an hour.
The only thing you could do in that moment was respond to her wait as fast as humanly possible.
Otherwise, kaboom—spontaneous combustion on the spot.
Zhibai Quotes, recorded.
By now, Guang Yu had slipped back into invisibility, stuffing her things into Ye Zhibai’s backpack and slinging it over her shoulder, ready to head home and crash hard!
Meanwhile, Chi Yuliang had quietly fetched several large plastic bags from just outside the booth at some point.
“Hmm? Little Bai, where’d that little fox… Miss Guang Yu go?”
“She’s tapped out, gone invisible. Still here, though.”
Guang Yu let out a little “awoo!”
It was her way of signaling to Chi Yuliang that she was still nearby!
Honestly, cut that out.
Sister Liang couldn’t see her right now—just hear the voice. She sounded exactly like a ghost!
Ye Zhibai took a few of the plastic bags from Chi Yuliang’s hands and helped her sort and pack up the leftovers.
With steady motions, Chi Yuliang tied each bag shut without spilling a single drop of soup.
As she worked, a sly, “naughty” smile gradually bloomed on her gentle face.
“Little Bai’s in such a rush to get back. I’m guessing your little sis is the one hounding you, huh?”
“You can even… tell that?”
“Mm-hmm. After all, Little Bai checked her phone and suddenly decided to bolt. Sigh… I wanted to chat more with you, but it’s getting late—past ten already? Can’t keep the family waiting. Here, take these dishes home.”
“Nah, if I take ’em, they won’t survive till tomorrow. You hold onto them, Sister Liang.”
It was obvious, really.
Yun’er cooked every meal herself these days, had just ordered a shiny new wok online, and was gearing up to experiment with fresh recipes.
Under those circumstances, she sure as hell wouldn’t tolerate restaurant leftovers cluttering up the fridge!
The fate of those dishes if Ye Zhibai brought them home? Predictable.
Straight into the trash bin overnight!
After Ye Zhibai laid all this out for her, Chi Yuliang stopped protesting.
If she took them, at least they’d stretch to a couple more meals.
Alrighty then~ With Sister Liang having packed up all the plastic bags, it was about time to hit the road!
Tonight’s chat with her had been a blast—Ye Zhibai was bound to sleep like a rock!
She reached out to push aside the three-panel screen, meaning to bid Sister Liang farewell and head out with Guang Yu—
When behind her, the rustle of plastic bags being lifted, then gently set back on the table.
Followed by Chi Yuliang’s voice, laced with hesitation and a hint of urgency.
“Little Bai…! Could you wait just a sec longer?”
“Hm?”
A short wait was no big deal, but danger lurked everywhere, Sister Liang! If at all possible, better not!
Ye Zhibai started to turn back to explain, but midway through the pivot—
She caught the faint, sweet breeze of milky fragrance wafting toward her.
It came from Chi Yuliang hurrying over, a scent that cleared the mind and soothed the soul.
Little Bai was pressed for time, and Chi Yuliang knew it.
That was why her plea to wait had sounded so conflicted and rushed.
But… there was one thing she absolutely had to do!
No point wasting breath on words when Little Bai was in a hurry.
Better to ask forgiveness than permission!
Ye Zhibai whipped around to find her shoulders seized in a firm grip!
She barely had time to react.
Chi Yuliang swept her own purple hair aside with one hand, leaned down, and brought her face close to Ye Zhibai’s!
Hm?
Hm?!!
What the—again?!
Lin Zihan had pulled something like this earlier today!
Guang Yu eyed the scene, too blasé to get excited anymore. No snacks to munch on anyway. Probably just like with Lin Zihan—forehead-to-forehead BFF intimacy?
Yawn.
Guang Yu had just given a wry shake of her head—
When a faint
“mwah!”
rang out.
Hm?!
An actual kiss?!
Well, sort of.
Ye Zhibai felt a warm, soft touch, but it landed on her right cheek.
Gentle as Sister Liang’s cherry lips.
A featherlight kiss brushed onto Little Bai’s profile.
Chi Yuliang slowly lifted her head, a rare flush of girlish shyness coloring her mature, composed features.
Dazed, Ye Zhibai touched her cheek with her hand.
Gently.
As though afraid to rub away the lingering warmth.
Because…
Proof of that surprise smooch!
Why… why?!
Rather than explain, Chi Yuliang let her actions speak.
Seizing the moment while Ye Zhibai was still stunned, she drew her into a tight embrace, cradling the back of her head and pressing it firmly against her chest!
This time, Ye Zhibai’s entire face registered the delicious elastic give!
So… incredible…!
Logic screamed to pull away, to lay down the law.
But cotton candy doesn’t argue!
It was like being drawn into pillowy softness, a craving to melt right in.
Pathetic Ye Zhibai… buried her face in the cotton candy, staying quiet for the moment.
Mm… just for a little bit…
From the side, Guang Yu could see that Ye Zhibai’s frosty expression had thawed into something visibly relaxed.
She really seemed at ease now.
Chi Yuliang gently patted Ye Zhibai’s back.
The rhythm echoed the longing she’d buried deep in her heart all these years.
“Little Bai… be good, just like that… mm, truth is, sis has wanted to do this forever. When you specially invited me out to eat… you have no idea how thrilled I was to get that message… but what I really craved wasn’t the fancy food…? It was holding my Little Bai like this. We’ve finished eating—think you can slip away without a hug?
Fat chance.”
Wu, Ye Zhibai had never heard a “fat chance” sound so tenderly!
“Greedily” nestled against Chi Yuliang’s plush chest, she waggled her head.
Her cheek rubbed against the fabric, tickling Chi Yuliang’s bosom.
Little Bai… such a tease.
Ye Zhibai mustered her scant energy to strain for distant footsteps.
If Yun’er came charging up…
I’ll hightail it home on the spot!
But for every extra second… please, just let Sister Liang hold on a little longer.
Time flowed like water, gentle as moonlight, light as willow fronds swaying in the breeze.
Moments couldn’t be captured, but tomorrow still dawned, and the future stretched long ahead.
Chi Yuliang wouldn’t keep Little Bai uncomfortable any longer than necessary.
Reluctantly, she loosened her embrace.
Her eyes, mild as a warm summer night, brimmed with indulgence.
“It’s fine… Little Bai, we’ll hang out again sometime. Stay in touch—call me anytime you wanna see your sis.”
“Sure… but Sister Liang, there’s one thing you gotta get.”
“Hm?”
“I was kinda… mm, but hey, I’m not a little kid anymore, y’know?”
“Pfft… did my ‘be good’ bruise Little Bai’s pride? Hahaha!”
“Don’t laugh…”
It hurts my feelings!
Sometimes the coquettishness just slips out! Can’t you at least let me have this tiny win with words?!
Chi Yuliang scooped up the packed leftovers from the table.
She stepped ahead to push the screen aside, clearing the path for Ye Zhibai.
“Off you go, Little Bai. Your sis must be getting antsy.”
“Yeah, probably…”
Sorry, Yun’er.
I’ll grab you a pudding popsicle on the way to cool your jets.
