Yue Bai hadn’t expected He Shichun’s request to be this. She froze for a moment before giving Sang Wan a strange look.
What was going on here?
“I’m sorry, but my girlfriend is shy around strangers. She probably can’t switch seats with you.” Sang Wan lowered her gaze slightly, an endless mockery curling at the edge of her lips. She stood up openly and took Yue Bai’s hand. “While we’ve got the chance, let me introduce everyone. This is my girlfriend, Yue Bai.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than the private room, which had held a murmur of voices moments before, fell dead silent.
Everyone except those who already knew stared at the two women in shock.
Yue Bai shyly lowered her head.
The smile on He Shichun’s face grew a little rigid. She pushed herself up from where she’d been leaning on the table, her expression full of disbelief. “Sang Wan, when did this happen? Why didn’t I know about it?”
Wen Mo leisurely poured water for herself and Zhou Qingyan before picking up her porcelain cup to savor the show.
Sang Wan remained utterly calm. “No need to get into when it happened. And as for whether you know… what difference does it make?”
He Shichun bit the tip of her tongue, forcing her face to stay neutral. After holding back for what felt like ages, she shifted her gaze to Yue Bai. The words seemed squeezed from her throat. “Is that so? That’s… great.”
She pushed herself upright and turned to leave, only to pivot back after two steps. She patted Hua Yun, who was sitting on Yue Bai’s other side. “Let’s switch seats.”
“Sure.” Hua Yun had been enjoying the drama, but he had no desire to get dragged into the mess. Without another word, he stood up.
Yue Bai felt a chill run through her from that stare. Under the table, she and Sang Wan clasped hands discreetly, and Yue Bai tried her best to minimize her presence.
It seemed there was some history between her and Senior Sister. Yue Bai sneaked a glance at Sang Wan. The other woman kept her eyes demurely lowered, looking utterly unconcerned as she scalded the bowls and chopsticks again with hot water.
“Here.” Sang Wan slid the freshly scalded bowls and chopsticks in front of Yue Bai, then took the ones that had been in front of her and scalded those too, all without a single word.
The atmosphere in the room grew much heavier. Yue Bai awkwardly cradled her glass and took tiny sips, her slender fingers warping in the reflection of the water inside.
“Why is everyone so quiet?” Wu Ling couldn’t stand the tension any longer and tried to stir up some conversation. “Shichun, why’d you come back so suddenly? How was life in France?”
Yue Bai perked up her ears.
“It was fine, but I wasn’t used to it like I am back home.” He Shichun took a sip of water. “Things have been quiet lately, so I figured I’d come back.”
“Are you returning to A University?” Wu Ling pressed.
He Shichun had attended A University as a freshman before going abroad to study in her second-year fall semester.
“That depends on whether a certain someone wants me to.” He Shichun shot a meaningful glance at that “someone.”
Yue Bai caught the look He Shichun directed at Sang Wan and felt a jolt of surprise. Slow as she might be when it came to romance, even she could sense something off about those words.
What did she mean by that?
The room fell quiet again. No one picked up He Shichun’s thread, and all eyes drifted toward Sang Wan in unison.
Seeing that Sang Wan had no intention of responding, the others couldn’t exactly call her out—not with her ostensible girlfriend sitting right there.
“Who’s this ‘certain someone’ you’re talking about? Me? Well, of course I’d love for you to come back.” Jia Bing jumped in from Sang Wan’s side, joking to smooth things over.
“What are you even thinking?” He Shichun laughed and gave Jia Bing a playful shove before changing the subject. “Where’s the food? I’m starving.”
“I’ll go check.” Hua Yun, seated by the door, headed out.
He returned shortly with two bottles of soda. “Food’s coming. Anyone want juice?”
Zhou Qingyan took one bottle and poured some for the girls.
They waited another couple of minutes before the dishes arrived.
“Time to eat!” Zhou Qingyan called out cheerfully. Without ceremony, she picked up a chopstickful and placed it in Wen Mo’s bowl.
The topic shifted, and the room livened up again. Most of the chatter revolved around He Shichun’s experiences abroad.
“Little Bai, this one’s good. Give it a try.” Sang Wan picked up a piece of fish and placed it in Yue Bai’s bowl, her voice soft.
He Shichun noticed the gesture, and her tone slowed by a beat.
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai picked up a shrimp and put it in Sang Wan’s bowl.
Sang Wan’s knuckles twitched slightly as she prepared to eat it.
Clack. He Shichun shot to her feet, slamming her chopsticks down on the table with a resounding crash.
Everyone at the table froze mid-bite and stared at her in shock.
He Shichun fixed Yue Bai with a piercing glare, as if she could bore holes through her. “Don’t you know Sang Wan is allergic to seafood? And you still fed her shrimp?”
Yue Bai was startled into a daze. She flinched in shock and instinctively reached to remove the shrimp. “Sorry…”
She hadn’t even gotten out “Senior Sister” when Sang Wan turned to give her a reassuring glance. With elegant motions, Sang Wan peeled the shrimp, popped it into her mouth, and swallowed. Beneath everyone’s stares, she said, “It’s delicious.”
She lifted her eyelids lazily and added flatly, “How was I not aware that I’m allergic to seafood?”
“Ah Wan…” He Shichun stared in disbelief. “Even to get back at me, you wouldn’t go this far. Are you really gambling with your own health just to spite me?”
Yue Bai’s eyes darted back and forth between the two women, her head swiveling side to side.
“You’re overthinking it.” Sang Wan frowned faintly. She pulled a napkin to wipe the corner of her mouth and made to stand.
Zhou Qingyan reached out from under the table to press down on her hand and gave a slight shake of her head.
Sang Wan stared at her quietly for a few seconds.
“Shichun, sit down. You’re scaring the underclassman.” Hua Yun said with a placating smile.
He Shichun realized she’d lost control. She apologized to Yue Bai and sat back down.
Yue Bai’s appetite vanished in an instant.
The meal dragged to an end amid that strained atmosphere.
Sang Wan led Yue Bai out of the hotel by the hand. The group lingered in the square out front, chatting about where to go next.
“I’ve got something to take care of, so I’ll head out first.” Sang Wan spoke up before anyone else. She gave Yue Bai’s hand a tug—the intention to go on a date couldn’t have been clearer.
“Wen Mo and I have things to do too. Let’s get together next time.” Zhou Qingyan chimed in calmly.
“Then Jia Bing and I will keep her company for a bit.” Hua Yun tugged at Jia Bing.
“Yeah, you all go ahead.” Jia Bing picked up the cue right away.
“See you.”
“See you.”
“See you later.”
“Hua Yun, do you think they’re for real?” After Sang Wan had walked off, He Shichun stared dazedly at her retreating back. “I’ve only been gone a few months. How did Ah Wan end up dating someone?”
Hua Yun rolled his eyes inwardly. The way she phrased it, anyone would think she and Sang Wan had something going on before. For Sang Wan to sit at the same table with her so calmly without slapping her twice was already generous. “Who knows?”
“Senior Sister.” Once they were far enough away, Yue Bai softly tugged at the hem of Sang Wan’s clothes. Ever since they’d spotted He Shichun at the hotel, the laughter had faded from Sang Wan’s eyes, and even her usual gentleness had dimmed.
“Hm?” Free of He Shichun’s presence, Sang Wan’s mood had improved. She tilted her head. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Yue Bai had wanted to ask about her relationship with He Shichun, but this clearly wasn’t the moment.
“That woman’s back, so it was awkward not to show up. She’s a friend, at least.” Zhou Qingyan rolled her neck, producing a faint grinding of joints. “I know you hate it, but just play along. With Wu Ling and Jia Bing there, skipping out would’ve made them think something was up.”
“Mm.” Sang Wan acknowledged faintly. She held Yue Bai’s hand, her thumb rubbing gently over her skin.
“Oh, right.” Zhou Qingyan seemed to remember something. “Little Bai, don’t take what He Shichun said today to heart. That’s just how she is.”
“She’s bad luck anyway,” Zhou Qingyan added.
“Got it.” Yue Bai nodded, even if she didn’t fully understand.
Back at the Teachers’ Apartment, Sang Wan tiredly rubbed her temples and sank onto the sofa.
“Senior Sister.” Yue Bai poured a glass of warm water and handed it over.
Sang Wan took it and drank a couple of sips before setting the glass on the coffee table. She held her arms out to Yue Bai. “Come here. Let Senior Sister give you a hug.”
Yue Bai obediently climbed onto Sang Wan’s lap and hugged her back.
Sang Wan buried her face in Yue Bai’s neck, inhaling her scent softly. Her emotions gradually settled. After a long moment, she lifted her head. “There’s food in the fridge.”
“We just ate. I’m not hungry yet.” Yue Bai didn’t budge.
“Go take a look.” Sang Wan insisted.
“Fine.” Yue Bai got up.
She hurried to the fridge and opened the insulated compartment. Besides some seasonal vegetables, there were a few bottles of drinks.
Yue Bai peered inside and spotted a transparent glass bowl on the second shelf. Through the glass, she could vaguely make out something soupy mixed with what looked like chicken feet.
She pulled out the bowl. Inside were boneless chicken feet.
“Boneless chicken feet?” Yue Bai asked in surprise. “When did you buy these, Senior Sister?”
“I picked up some chicken feet after my morning run and made them myself.” Sang Wan eyed the bowl now on the coffee table.
“You made them yourself, Senior Sister?” Yue Bai was even more astonished.
“You said you didn’t dare eat the store-bought kind. I came back and saw you were still sleeping, so I made some ahead of time. Try them and see if you like it. If you do, I’ll make more for tonight.” Sang Wan smiled brightly as she pulled an unopened bag of bamboo skewers from the cabinet under the coffee table and drew out two.
Yue Bai’s pupils contracted, her heart swelling with emotion. She hadn’t expected Sang Wan to take her offhand comment so seriously—or act on it so quickly. She’d only mentioned it last night, and here it was, ready today.
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Yue Bai didn’t know what else to say.
“Silly girl, what are you thanking me for?” Sang Wan poked her cheek affectionately. “Go on, try it.”
Yue Bai licked her lips and brushed the stray hairs from her forehead behind her ear. She bent down halfway, speared a piece, and popped it into her mouth.
“Is it good?” Sang Wan asked, spearing a piece for herself.
A little sour. She had her answer.
“Delicious,” Yue Bai said, her eyes lighting up as she speared another piece.
“Isn’t it sour?” Sang Wan set down her skewer.
“Not at all. I think it’s perfect,” Yue Bai replied.
Sang Wan curved her lips into a smile. “That’s good, then. I only made lemon flavor this time. If there’s any other taste you’d like, just let me know.”
“What about spicy?” Yue Bai pondered for a moment before asking.
“Sure. I’ll make some for you tonight.” Sang Wan smiled.
There wasn’t much, so Yue Bai fed the last bite to Sang Wan before carrying the bowl to the kitchen to wash it.
Once she was done, Yue Bai returned to the sofa. “Senior Sister, why didn’t you wake me up this morning? Didn’t you say we were going to exercise together?”
The person scrolling through her phone couldn’t help laughing at the question. “I did call you, but you were sleeping so soundly you didn’t even stir. So I went by myself.”
Yue Bai: “…”
She really shouldn’t have asked.
“Senior Sister, how about we go to the Art Studio and pick up the painting?” Yue Bai said, changing the subject in embarrassed haste.
“Sure,” Sang Wan agreed. Her eyes, brimming with a misty springtime glow, curved gently downward. “After we get the painting, then what? Watch a movie?”
“The same kind as before?” Yue Bai teased deliberately.
“Hm?” Sang Wan let out a soft laugh. How was her little junior sister still remembering that?
She crooked a finger, beckoning Yue Bai to sit on her lap. “Why don’t you pick this time?”
