Chapter 74

That evening at home, Ming You helped Yan Ningxi out in the kitchen, and time flew by. After dinner, the usually terse Yan Qixiang only asked Ming You one question: “Do you know how to play Go?”

When she answered “No,” she nearly bit her own tongue.

If she’d known meeting the parents would involve a Go test, she wouldn’t have wasted time on five-in-a-row—she should’ve learned Go back in elementary school!

Yan Ningxi patted her shoulder comfortingly. “My dad is deeply into that hobby. Mom and I haven’t kept up with him in decades.”

“The weather forecast says partly cloudy turning to light rain tomorrow. You two should head out early in the morning. Get some early sleep tonight. Ningxi will pick you up at the hotel in the morning, and you’ll go to the train station together.” Yan Qixiang didn’t even ask if they’d bought tickets—he just made the arrangements.

Yan Ningxi signaled Ming You not to speak. “Got it, Dad. I’ll walk her back to the hotel first.”

A few minutes later, the two walked along the road to the hotel.

It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet, but most of the shops along the street had already closed. There were few people about, and now and then a kitten or puppy chased each other, letting out piercing yowls.

Up ahead by a trash bin sat a big black dog. It stuck its head in, sniffed around, and found nothing.

It twisted its head to glance at Ming You and Yan Ningxi, circled the bin a couple more times, barked once, then trotted toward them.

Yan Ningxi’s heart raced, but the feeling eased when Ming You grabbed her hand. “Don’t be scared. Stray dogs aren’t rabid. Even if it were rabid, I’d make it bite me first.”

Ming You led Yan Ningxi forward slowly. The big black dog paused a few seconds when it got close, then ran off ahead.

“Never mind.”

“Never mind what?” Yan Ningxi didn’t understand Ming You’s sudden sigh.

“‘Never mind’ means,” Ming You switched hands to hold hers, keeping herself on the outside, “you shouldn’t walk me back. You’d have to come this way alone on the return—too dangerous.”

“I’m not that scared…” Just that being by your side, I like it and I’m used to being protected by you.

“No way. I’m walking you to the building entrance. Then I’ll head back to the hotel alone.”

And so, after two or three hundred meters, they turned around and headed back, Ming You still holding Yan Ningxi’s hand without letting go.

She asked, “Afraid of dogs… what’s the story behind that?”

This time, Yan Ningxi didn’t dodge. She answered honestly. “It was elementary school too. One afternoon, I was walking home with a few classmates who lived nearby. It was just like today—we ran into two mangy big dogs circling a trash bin. One mischievous boy picked up a rock and threw it. It scared one off, but the other charged at us barking like mad. We ran until we were gasping for breath.”

“Did it catch up? You kids with your short little legs—could you outrun a dog?”

“It caught up.”

“Did it bite you?” Ming You stopped, looking at her tensely.

“No. The fat kid who’d thrown the rock was the slowest. He was behind us, crying and wailing. I tried to pull him to run faster, but we both tripped. Luckily, some adults by the roadside shouted, and shopkeepers chased the dog off with brooms—it was lunging at us barking furiously.”

“Once bitten by a snake, afraid of well ropes for ten years. In the end, it was all that little fatty’s fault! He hurt you, hurt the dog, and hurt himself.” She was filled with righteous indignation.

After venting, she pictured little Yan Ningxi being chased by the dog and almost laughed.

She held back the laugh, pulled Yan Ningxi along, and continued. “It’s fine. From now on, I’ve got you. I’m bold as brass—nothing scares me, nothing I won’t do. I can fend off any dog.”

“You’re laughing in your heart, aren’t you? Laughing at how I overestimate myself, laughing at how cowardly I am.”

“No way! You’re the kindest kid in the world! If I’m laughing, it’s at your pig of a teammate.” Ming You pulled her close seriously. “Tell me about it! How’d you end up playing with such unreliable little brats as a kid?”

“Pfft.” Yan Ningxi burst out laughing.

“That’s more like it. I like seeing you smile better.”

…

A dozen meters from the complex entrance, Yan Ningxi hugged Ming You. “Thank you for spending New Year’s first day with me.”

“There’ll be lots more first days.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

They faced each other saying goodbye, neither turning away.

Yan Ningxi smiled. “You go first.”

“Oh.” Ming You obediently turned and took a few steps, then immediately looked back. Sure enough, Yan Ningxi was still standing there.

“Yan Ningxi.” She hurried back. “New year, new vibes. That question I asked you on the mountain last time… could you maybe…” give a new answer?

“No. Ming You, the deadline hasn’t come yet. You said yourself answers need time to think.”

“Fine, I was… too hasty.” No prep at all, trying to get something for nothing—daydreaming. Her skin had thickened without her realizing. All her own impulsiveness.

Thwack—her forehead got a flick. “Thinking of bolting back to the hotel with your suitcase tonight?”

Ming You: ???

She, rejected after confessing, was now being teased by the confessor!

She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, exhaled, and huffed, “Don’t worry, I’m not running. I’ll wait for you to pick me up tomorrow.”

The girl turned and stormed off. Yan Ningxi called after her, “Text me when you get to the hotel. I’ll buy tickets back to Huai’an later—yours and mine.”

Back to Huai’an together.

Tomorrow night, she’d get to hold Yan Ningxi while sleeping!

“I wanna sleep in! Don’t buy too early! I won’t wake up, and I’ll miss it!” The girl waved over her shoulder. “See you tomorrow.”

Yan Ningxi had already bought their two plane tickets—her ID info was on file with Yan Ningxi.

That night before bed, Ming You opened an online Go tutorial video, intending to cram seriously. But less than ten minutes in, she was drowsy and successfully turned in early.

…

New Year’s Day Two, nine in the morning. Yan Ningxi knocked on the hotel room door.

The girl on the bed rolled around a few times before sitting up. Squinting, bedhead wild, she opened the door.

No good morning, no sis, not even a glance—she just crawled back into bed.

Yan Ningxi thought she was mad about last night. Or maybe bedhead grumpies. She didn’t say much, took off her coat, set the suitcase aside, and laid out the breakfast she’d brought. They’d bought tickets for one in the afternoon anyway.

The room had the heat on, but cold breakfast wouldn’t taste good. She sat on the bed’s edge and coaxed, “Ming You, eat breakfast first, then sleep.”

The girl grabbed her hand. “Pull me up.”

She got pulled up, but half her body slumped onto Yan Ningxi, and through their clothes, she chomped down.

It was a real big bite—Yan Ningxi hissed in pain.

“Who told you to bully me last night.”

“I… mmph.”

Ming You had gone to bed early and woken around eight for the bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth.

This time, she showed no mercy. Though Yan Ningxi wore a fitted sweater, she navigated smoothly with her exceptional learning ability, comprehension, and perseverance, summiting the peak she admired once more, pitching camp right there for some solo fun.

Her palm was warm, but it made the woman beneath feel “cold.” So cold her body trembled uncontrollably.

Gazing down at the powerless person pinned beneath her, Ming You nibbled her lip and coaxed seductively, “Yan Ningxi, at a time like this, do you still dare say you don’t like me?”

Ming You wasn’t some border collie—she was a wolf. And Yan Ningxi was the little lamb under her jaws.

Little Sheep.

“Doing this to me just makes me feel humiliated.” What humiliated her wasn’t the acts themselves, but being forced during them to say words she didn’t want to and couldn’t say.

The girl’s hands and mouth stopped at once. Yan Ningxi’s words hit her like thunder.

Had she misunderstood all along?

Had Yan Ningxi always seen her clinging and intimacy as humiliating?

Lust in the girl’s eyes turned to mist in an instant, clouding the light and the love. “So what am I then? A beast? A rapist?”

Hearing her angry outburst, Yan Ningxi knew she’d misunderstood.

The girl who’d just pushed up was pulled back down. Her hand, not fully withdrawn, slid a few more centimeters forward with the motion.

Yan Ningxi’s expression showed it—that sensitive, fragile spot poked by a fingertip? Of course it hurt!

Ming You’s palm enveloped it gently, afraid to hurt her, not daring to move a fraction. The mist in her eyes turned to tears. She huffed proudly, “You curse me but won’t let me go—what do you want?”

“Silly.” Yan Ningxi reached up to stroke her face, thumb wiping the tears welling at her eye corner. “Why cry? When did I curse you?”

“You did.”

Tears flowed faster, too many to wipe, smearing Yan Ningxi’s face.

Too lazy to wipe now, she pulled her into an embrace, stroking to soothe—only to get complaints. “Yan Ningxi, you’re so annoying! Hateful and hypocritical.”

“Yes, I’m annoying, hateful, hypocritical.” Yan Ningxi repeated, then asked, “So do you still like me?”

The sniffling girl, pissed, opened wide for another big chomp—on the shoulder, same side, same spot. Fabric fuzz in her mouth: “I like you even if you don’t like me! I’ll masochist, okay!”

The masochist was her—and her too. Yan Ningxi said, “Be good. Wait a bit longer, okay?”

Wait for me to find the best solution, wait for me to gain courage and confidence. Then I’ll tell you how much I like you.

…

Petty squabbles deepened their bond. Yan Ningxi fed her breakfast bite by bite.

The two returned to Huai’an together, planning for Ming You to head back to school early the next morning. But that evening, He Huan showed up unannounced.

She hadn’t checked if Yan Ningxi was at the apartment. If she was, hand over the local specialties she’d brought. If not, leave them at the front desk.

She stood at the door for three or five minutes, not knowing why she was so stubborn, why pick dinnertime, why torture herself.

It was just probability, but woman’s intuition told her Yan Ningxi was back—and Ming You was definitely there too.

What did she want to see? Their lovey-dovey bliss, to make her heart ache again and again?

Inside, Yan Ningxi cooked while Ming You tended plants.

A knock at the door.

Ming You set down the clippers, peeked through the peephole before opening. It was He Huan. Toward her, she felt no love, no hate—just a touch of guilt.

Yan Ningxi said she was a warm person, but that warmth was only for Yan Ningxi—never shared with anyone else.

“Teacher He.” Ming You opened the door, greeting politely, adding, “Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year.” He Huan looked normal, a faint smile as she raised the bag. “I told Yan Yan before break I’d bring her some specialties.”

“Come in.” Ming You set out slippers, then called toward the kitchen loudly, “Sister Yan, Teacher He is here.”

Before, she’d called her Teacher Yan in front of He Huan to needle her, make her uncomfortable. She didn’t know when it changed, but Yan Ningxi was just Yan Ningxi in her heart now.

Sister Yan was her special endearment.

“Teacher He?” Yan Ningxi still wore her apron, turned off the stove, plated the last dish. She’d only been off her phone half an hour—missed a message or call?

“Figured you’d be back today, and you usually walk to work, so better to drop it off now.” Plus, she hadn’t prepped for other teachers—awkward to take it to school.

“Thanks, sorry you made the trip.” Yan Ningxi untied her apron to greet Teacher He. “I just made dinner—join us.”

Ming You quickly finished the vase and set it on the cabinet. “Teacher He, have a seat. I’ll get bowls and chopsticks.”

He Huan pulled an item from the pile. “Add another dish—sauce-plated duck. I’ll slice it.”

“You sit, I’ll handle it.” Yan Ningxi took the bag and went into the kitchen.