Chapter 34

“Let’s talk about it once we’re back.”

At the edge of the Teachers’ Apartment complex, Wen Mo propped herself up on one foot to stop her scooter. Zhou Qingyan up ahead seemed to sense something and came to a halt not far away.

“We’re going to park. You two head up first. Here’s the key—you know the exact spot, right?” Wen Mo pulled a key from her pocket and handed it to Sang Wan.

“I do. I’ve been there before.” Sang Wan reached out and took it.

She hurried over to Zhou Qingyan’s scooter and patted her shoulder, chin lifted slightly. “Drive a bit farther ahead. Little Bai’s foot isn’t convenient for walking.”

Zhou Qingyan twisted around to flash a gesture at Wen Mo, then drove straight forward. She stopped beside a certain building and called out to Sang Wan, who had jogged up behind her. “This is the one.”

With Sang Wan’s support, Yue Bai put all her weight on her good leg and wobbled down from the back seat. Her swollen ankle was wrapped in bandages.

“Be careful,” Sang Wan cautioned.

Yue Bai let out a soft breath and leaned on Sang Wan to stand.

“She can’t really walk like that,” Zhou Qingyan said, eyeing Yue Bai’s fragile ankle with pity. “She’ll have to hop on one foot, but there’s an elevator inside. Once she gets past this short stretch, it’ll be fine.”

Yue Bai nodded faintly while leaning against Sang Wan and murmured a quiet “mm.”

“Not safe.” Sang Wan spoke up abruptly, frowning at the short expanse of uneven cobblestone path ahead. “The ground’s bumpy. If she hops on one foot, she might twist the other one too.”

She flexed her wrist. “I’ll carry you across.”

“Huh?” Yue Bai startled, then waved her hands frantically once she realized what was said. “It’s fine. I’ll be careful—no problem.”

“No.” Sang Wan’s tone remained soft and gentle, but there was an unmistakable firmness beneath it. She lowered her gaze and added, “I won’t feel easy about it.”

“Tch.” Zhou Qingyan had just turned her scooter around when she caught the words. She let out a surprised “huh,” caught Sang Wan’s meaningful glance, shrugged, and chimed in to help. “No big deal—let Senior Sister Sang carry you. What if you twist the other foot? She’s in the gym all the time, and you’re so light; it’d be a piece of cake for her.”

“No, it’s not that.” Yue Bai’s face flushed as she protested. She was just embarrassed, nothing more.

“Good, then it’s settled.” Sang Wan rubbed her wrist, her hand already resting at Yue Bai’s waist. “Don’t squirm. No one’s around right now—no one will see.”

She bent her back slightly, slid her other arm behind Yue Bai’s knees, and lifted her straight up with a firm grip.

Yue Bai had been about to struggle, but the moment she was airborne, her push against Sang Wan’s chest lost all strength, her palm merely resting lightly over Sang Wan’s heart.

She didn’t want to hurt her.

So light. Sang Wan noted it to herself as she turned her head to glance at the wide-eyed Zhou Qingyan. “We’re heading up first.”

With that, she strode toward the building entrance.

Zhou Qingyan twitched her lips and said to Wen Mo, who had just arrived, “Sang Wan is way too good to Little Bai.”

Wen Mo cast a meaningful look at Sang Wan’s retreating figure, carrying Yue Bai. She curved her lips in an easy smile. “Let’s go park.”

“Oh.”

Yue Bai’s arms looped around Sang Wan’s neck, her cheek pressed to the warmth of Sang Wan’s chest. She couldn’t help tightening her hold a little. Sang Wan’s breathing was clear and steady—even the thump of her heartbeat reached Yue Bai’s ears.

Sang Wan’s scent enveloped her completely.

Yue Bai buried her head below Sang Wan’s line of sight, so Sang Wan couldn’t see her burning cheeks.

That short distance felt endlessly long to Yue Bai. Her palm slid down to clutch the fabric at Sang Wan’s shoulder, wrinkling it in her grip.

At the elevator, Yue Bai sighed in relief. Finally, she could get down. She whispered, “Senior Sister, I can stand now.”

Sang Wan dipped her head slightly, her shadow falling over Yue Bai. She looked down at the girl tucked against her and tightened her hold without thinking. “Wait a sec.”

The elevator doors slid open. Sang Wan shifted, hooked her fingers under Yue Bai’s knees, and pressed the button for the fourth floor.

The elevator rose smoothly and stopped after a few seconds.

Sang Wan stepped out. To the left was the apartment Wen Mo and the others had arranged for them.

She bent down carefully and set Yue Bai on the floor. “Stand steady—watch that foot.”

She fished the key from her pocket, slid it into the lock, and turned the handle. With a click, the door swung open.

Sang Wan pushed the door wide, stepped aside to steady Yue Bai, her hand on Yue Bai’s arm. “Mind the step.”

Once Yue Bai was settled on the living room sofa, Sang Wan went back to the door and flicked on the room lights. The once-dim space brightened instantly.

By the time Wen Mo and Zhou Qingyan returned, they saw Sang Wan propping Yue Bai’s leg up on a chair in front of her, the coffee table shoved aside.

“Turning on lights in broad daylight? It’ll be a hassle paying the electric bill when we leave,” Zhou Qingyan said as she grabbed several bottles of yogurt from the fridge and passed them around. When she handed one to Sang Wan, she couldn’t resist teasing.

“Feel free to cover it if you’re offering,” Sang Wan replied, poking a straw into the hole and passing it straight to Yue Bai.

Yue Bai paused at the unopened yogurt in her own hand but took it anyway, handing hers over to Sang Wan in exchange.

“Your rooms are that way. Beds are all made up.” Wen Mo’s cool voice cut clearly through the room as she pushed open the door to the second bedroom for Sang Wan to see inside.

Sang Wan stepped in for a look. “Looks great. We’ll be imposing on you for a while.”

“No trouble at all.” Wen Mo smiled faintly. She glanced back at the two in the living room, then at Sang Wan. “They’re just first-year freshmen who’ve barely started school. It’s understandable they’d be so competitive.”

Sang Wan’s expression remained neutral. “Does being competitive justify something like that? It was just a friendly match. Was it really worth it? That’s straight-up bad character—no morals at all.”

“Don’t worry. I know my limits,” Sang Wan said evenly.

In the living room, Yue Bai propped her chin on her hand, looking glum. “I get injured just a month and a bit into school. I must be the most tragic college student in history.”

“No.” Zhou Qingyan shook her head. Under Yue Bai’s expectant gaze, she continued, “You’re just the most tragic freshman at A University this year.”

“Thanks a lot.” Yue Bai’s tone went rigid.

“You’re welcome.” Zhou Qingyan leaned back, shaking her head leisurely.

Her stomach rumbled—she was hungry. Yue Bai checked the time: past six in the evening, and no dinner yet.

“Senior Sister Zhou, I’m hungry,” Yue Bai said, clutching her belly, thoroughly embarrassed.

“Here.” Zhou Qingyan grabbed an apple from the coffee table and tossed it to her, then called toward the second bedroom. “Sang Wan, your junior is hungry. Hurry up and make some food.”

“Senior Sister Zhou.” Yue Bai tried to stop her, but it was too late.

Sang Wan, who had been talking with Wen Mo, emerged from the second bedroom. She took the apple from Yue Bai’s hand and set it back on the coffee table. Half-squatting down, she fixed her gaze on Yue Bai while addressing Zhou Qingyan. “Handing Little Bai an unwashed apple?”

Zhou Qingyan opened her mouth to retort but got patted on the head by Wen Mo.

“There’s ingredients in the fridge,” Wen Mo said, pointing.

“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai spoke up weakly. Surrounded by the three seniors, she could barely get a word in—or rather, didn’t dare. “We could just order takeout.”

“No way.” Zhou Qingyan shot that down first, looking at Yue Bai with heartfelt pity. “Little Bai, how can you eat takeout right now? You need something nutritious to build your strength back up.”

“Right, Sang Wan?” Zhou Qingyan grinned.

“Mm.” Sang Wan ruffled Yue Bai’s hair and stood. “I’ll go make you some food, Senior Sister.”

The fridge was stocked. Sang Wan selected a few items and headed to the kitchen. Zhou Qingyan grinned triumphantly. “Sang Wan’s cooking is top-notch. Free meal again.”

Then, with a look of exasperation that Yue Bai wasn’t taking full advantage, she tapped Yue Bai’s forehead. “You, seize the moment and milk your Senior Sister Sang for all she’s worth. Whatever you want to eat, just tell her.”

Yue Bai nodded in a daze, blinking. “Senior Sister Sang’s cooking is good?”

“It’s decent among us,” Zhou Qingyan said, rubbing her nose.

Yue Bai got it. She sipped her yogurt, suppressing the gnawing hunger.

The afternoon basketball friendly match had drained her stamina; her stomach ached from it now.

Soon, Sang Wan came out holding a bowl and chopsticks. Inside was a freshly fried egg. “Eat this to tide you over.”

“Thanks, Senior Sister.” Yue Bai took it happily.

The egg steamed with heat. Yue Bai blew on it twice and took a small bite.

“Sang Wan, I’m hungry too,” Zhou Qingyan sidled up eagerly.

Sang Wan smiled and glanced at the apple on the coffee table. “That’ll do for you.”

She turned and headed back into the kitchen without a backward glance.

“Heh, favoring beauty over friends.” Zhou Qingyan muttered under her breath.

Wen Mo elbowed her. Zhou Qingyan’s head snapped up to Yue Bai, who was eating with relish.

Good. She hadn’t heard.

After finishing the fried egg, Yue Bai felt better. Aside from the occasional twinge in her ankle, everything else was okay.

Her three roommates had sent concerned messages; she replied to each one.

Setting her phone down, Yue Bai suddenly wanted to watch Sang Wan cook. She glanced glumly at her leg propped on the chair, pondering the fallout if she got caught hopping around on one foot.

Senior Sister Sang probably wouldn’t scold her. Besides, she was so gentle—at worst, Yue Bai would get a light scolding, nothing she couldn’t handle.

So, while Wen Mo and Zhou Qingyan were in the master bedroom, Yue Bai pushed herself up from the sofa. She crept forward on tiptoe, then hopped along with one hand braced against the wall or whatever furniture was nearby, until she reached the edge of the kitchen.

Sang Wan was stir-frying the last dish. Her expression was calm as she tended to the food in the wok, her slender frame blocking most of Yue Bai’s view—and holding the younger woman’s gaze captive.

As Yue Bai watched, her mind drifted back to the moment Sang Wan had held her in her arms. She’d been too embarrassed to think straight at the time, but now she realized just how safe that embrace had made her feel.

How could such a slim body hold so much strength?

Senior Sister Zhou had said Senior Sister Sang went to the gym often, and it looked like she was right.

Yue Bai wondered if Senior Sister had abs. Her thoughts bounced around wildly, and without realizing it, her eyes drifted down to Sang Wan’s midsection.

She probably did. The last time Yue Bai had accidentally pressed against her, she was pretty sure she’d felt them.

Unconsciously, Yue Bai pinched her own belly. All soft flesh, one big squishy slab.

“Little Bai, what are you doing over here?” Sang Wan sensed the intense stare and assumed it was Wen Mo or Zhou Qingyan standing there. But when she turned her head, it was Yue Bai.

Her heart leaped into her throat. She immediately switched off the stove and strode over in a few big steps. “Your foot’s injured—why are you hopping around like this?”

“I just wanted to watch Senior Sister cook.” Caught red-handed, Yue Bai ducked her head, looking every bit like a child who’d done something wrong.