Chapter 193: Come Home with Me
The barbecue arrived, and Yu Linna, her appetite whetted, eagerly dug in, her motto: food over all else. She remembered her childhood hunger, the constant rationing, the fear of taking too much when staying with foster families. Now, she would make up for lost time.
Ye Zhiyun ate sparingly, picking at the leeks and bok choy, her meat untouched.
She was simply there to watch Yu Linna eat.
This girl loved food, her mouth a constant blur of motion, her appetite insatiable. And yet, she never seemed to gain weight, a fact that both fascinated and frustrated Ye Zhiyun.
“Zhiyun, aren’t you eating?”
“Of course, I’m just a slow eater. You go ahead.”
Truthfully, she cared more about Yu Linna than the food, this late-night outing simply an excuse to see her.
“Miss Ye, your drinks are here.”
Tu Zi brought their drinks, a fawning smile on his face. He loved it when Miss Ye brought her friends to his stall, especially this ravenous blonde girl. His business was booming tonight; he would be making a good profit.
The night was beautiful, the city lights twinkling. Ye Zhiyun, her chin resting on her hand, gazed at the cityscape, remembering her early days in Guangnan City, a place she had initially disliked, but had grown to love.
“Nana, I want to ask you something.”
“What is it? Go ahead.”
“During the summer break, would you… come home with me?”
“…”
What was this? Yu Linna, her mouth full of chicken wings, looked at her, confused.
“It’s nothing special. My mother… she heard me mention you, and she wants to invite you to our house. My family lives in Shanghai; it won’t take long. I want to show you around.”
Ye Zhiyun was inviting her to her home? This was… unexpected.
And a bit of a headache. Yu Linna had planned to spend her vacation writing, but now, her plans would have to change. And she had already promised to go on a trip with Huo Ningning; she would have to coordinate their schedules.
“Okay, but… I might have to go a bit later.”
“That’s fine. I can wait.”
As long as she agreed, everything was fine.
When had she started caring so much about this person? She used to despise her, yet now, she wanted to give her the world.
Had she ever cared for anyone this much before?
She was becoming stranger and stranger.
They lingered over their late-night snack, chatting for over an hour before finally settling the bill. Ye Zhiyun, wanting to spend more time with her, suggested a walk, though most shops were closed, the streets deserted. Before they knew it, it was midnight.
“It’s late.”
“Yes, it is. I should…”
“Nana, it’s late. Why don’t you… stay at my place tonight?”
“…”
Yu Linna fell silent. Ye Zhiyun seemed… different tonight.
It was indeed late. Though Ye Zhiyun would have driven her home, it wasn’t safe for a girl to be out alone at this hour. And Ye Zhiyun’s apartment was nearby, a place she had lived in before. It didn’t make sense to go all the way back to her own apartment.
“Okay.”
Yu Linna agreed.
Ye Zhiyun’s smile widened. Having Yu Linna by her side always brought her joy, an inexplicable happiness. She wanted to be closer to her, to deepen their connection.
To take their relationship to the next level…
They walked in silence, the distance between them shrinking, their hearts beating in sync, until, without realizing it, they were walking side by side, their shoulders almost touching.
From rivals to this… their relationship was truly remarkable. A year ago, Ye Zhiyun wouldn’t have imagined this girl, this “golden-haired loser,” would become one of the most important people in her life.
She led her home, opening the door, the lights illuminating the familiar apartment. Yu Linna, looking at the place she had once called home, felt a wave of nostalgia. When she had left, she was just starting her journey. Now, she had returned, successful, her life transformed.
“The place hasn’t changed. Have you showered?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go take a shower then. You can watch some TV. Your old room is still the same; you can stay there.”
Ye Zhiyun went to her room to get her clothes, then headed to the bathroom.
Yu Linna, with nothing to do, opened the door to her old room. It was just across the hall from Ye Zhiyun’s, the best room she had ever had, a stark contrast to her previous living conditions.
The bedsheets and comforter were the same, a layer of dust covering the furniture, the room untouched. The stuffed animal Ye Zhiyun had won for her at the arcade still sat on the nightstand, in the exact same spot she had left it, a memento she had left behind as a thank you for Ye Zhiyun’s kindness. She hadn’t expected Ye Zhiyun to keep it, to leave it untouched.
The room, except for the bed, hadn’t been cleaned.
Yu Linna found a broom and swept the floor, then wiped down the furniture.
This was where it had all begun, her memories of her time here a bittersweet reminder of her past, a time when she was still a girl with an eighty-million-yuan debt, her dream of becoming a novelist just a distant hope.
And not just her life, but Ye Zhiyun’s life had also changed.
Though she had no regrets, she felt a sense of… something missing. Returning to this place, the feeling intensified, memories of her time with Ye Zhiyun flooding her mind.
When Ye Zhiyun emerged from the shower, dressed in her pajamas, she found Yu Linna sitting on the sofa, not watching TV, not playing on her phone, just… staring into space.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing. Just thinking… I haven’t been here in a while.”
“Of course. You only lived here for three months, and it’s been… what? Three or four months since you left?”
Had it really been that long? Yu Linna thought, having lost track of time.
She had left with nothing, and now she had returned, with fame and fortune, yet they were both different people, their lives transformed.
Ye Zhiyun sat beside her, closing the distance between them, her arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. Yu Linna, surprised, tried to pull away, but Ye Zhiyun held her tighter.
“Zhiyun? What’s wrong? You’re acting… different tonight…”
Yu Linna didn’t understand. Ye Zhiyun had been acting strangely since the barbecue restaurant, a departure from her usual aloof demeanor.
Ye Zhiyun remained silent, her grip firm. She wouldn’t let go. The image of Yu Linna with Tang Yulong at the cold drink shop flashed through her mind, a pang of jealousy, a desire to tear apart anyone who got too close to her, a feeling that both frightened and confused her.
“Nana… it’s nothing. I just… want to be with you for a little longer.”
She was afraid, afraid that one day, Yu Linna would be holding another man’s hand.
Though inevitable, the thought was suffocating. She didn’t want it to happen. She wanted Yu Linna to be hers, and hers alone.
Was that… normal?
“Zhiyun, you’re hurting me…”
“Sorry. Nana… can we… hug?”
“Why…?”
“Don’t ask why. Just… sit still.”
Without waiting for a response, Ye Zhiyun adjusted her posture and enveloped her in a warm embrace. The feeling was strange, yet… not unpleasant. Being held by Ye Zhiyun brought a sense of security, of belonging, like a lost child finally finding their way home.
It was warm.
Yu Linna hugged her back.
“Nana…”
“Hmm?”
“Are you sleepy?”
“No, are you?”
“No.”
They held each other, talking, until, gradually, Yu Linna’s eyelids grew heavy, her body relaxing, and she drifted off to sleep in Ye Zhiyun’s arms. Ye Zhiyun, carrying her to her own room, held her close, slowly drifting off to sleep herself.
They slept, entwined, a picture of peaceful intimacy, a scene worthy of a yuri manga.
Ye Zhiyun didn’t know what was happening to her lately, her emotions in turmoil, a strange anxiety gnawing at her, her gaze lingering on Yu Linna, her anger flaring whenever she saw her with another man, her heart soaring whenever she was near.
It was like… she was in love with her.
That was wrong, wasn’t it? It wasn’t normal. She told herself she was just being foolish.
Gazing at her sleeping face, Ye Zhiyun slowly drifted off to sleep.
