Chapter 18
The early morning sun had not yet risen, and the temperature was still low. Pingshun was still asleep in a quiet and peaceful state.
Only Pei Yunle was woken up by the heat and couldn’t sleep. She went downstairs at just past 6 o’clock and sat in the small courtyard to pass the time. It was quite interesting to watch the sky change.
Chen Qingtang also got up early. The two of them had a quick breakfast, washed up, and were ready to go open the store.
Pei Yunle thought about it. This seemed to be the first time she and Chen Qingtang had left the house at the same time. After all, this person never called her and always left alone.
Passing the calm river and walking from the small alley to the main road, the streets here were clean, with trees and green belts planted on both sides, occasionally dotted with small flowers for color. Other than the gentle breeze, there was only the “shasha” sound of sweeping.
The two of them walked on the sidewalk. Pei Yunle wanted to say something, but she felt that there was no topic that could be sustained. The usual gossip she was so good at was completely gone, her mind a blank slate. She was afraid that the other person would not be interested in, dislike, or not respond to what she said, which would make her seem stupid, boring, and talkative.
In the past, when she didn’t care about someone, she would be unrestrained and release herself. Otherwise, she would be extremely careful and cautious in front of the other person.
Pei Yunle was a little uneasy. The tip of her tongue couldn’t help but want to lick the soft flesh under her lip. The stud had been removed, leaving a small hole. Although it wasn’t very noticeable, you could still see the mark.
As her thoughts wandered, Pei Yunle lost her balance and stumbled forward. The movement was not big, but the sound was enough to make Chen Qingtang stop and look back at her. Pei Yunle smiled sheepishly, her mouth a little dry. “My leg didn’t lift up just now, I tripped on the flat ground.”
A new coffee shop had just opened on the side of the road. Flower stands were placed in front of the store. The exterior was painted a large area of yellow and white, with raw wood decorating the doorframe and windows. The blank walls were painted with not-so-exquisite graffiti, which instead made passersby turn their heads to look.
Since coming to Pingshun, Pei Yunle hadn’t had coffee in a long time. Her life was already bitter enough, and drinking an iced Americano would only make it more so, making her life seem even more bitter.
But after being glanced at by Chen Qingtang just now, Pei Yunle felt that the moisture in her mouth had been completely dried up. She wanted to drink something to soothe her throat, even if it was bitter.
With a legitimate reason, she confidently grabbed Chen Qingtang’s forearm and pointed at the words on the coffee shop’s sign. “Look, buy one get one free. Do you want some?”
Chen Qingtang had never had this kind of thing before. After all, it wasn’t a necessity of life, and she never bought things she didn’t have to spend money on.
The distance between the two of them was suddenly shortened. The fingertips of the hand Chen Qingtang was holding trembled slightly. She saw that Pei Yunle’s eyes were very bright, and she seemed to really want to drink this thing. Although she wasn’t uninterested herself—
But Chen Qingtang still followed her wishes and couldn’t help but nod.
The store had just opened, and the owner’s attitude towards customers was naturally very enthusiastic. She wiped the cup in her hand, her face full of smiles. “What would you two like to drink? The coffee is on the left, the other drinks are on the right, and the snacks are at the bottom. You are the first customers of the day, so you can get a free cake.”
Looking at the strange names of the drinks, whose ingredients she couldn’t even guess, Chen Qingtang couldn’t help but want to frown. But in an instant, she immediately suppressed the urge. She nonchalantly adjusted her position so that Pei Yunle was standing in front of her, making it easy for her to naturally see what she was ordering.
Although it was buy one get one free, Pei Yunle, mindful of her limited funds, still looked at the less expensive options.
“I’ll have an iced shaken raspberry blackcurrant,” Pei Yunle said decisively. She turned her head to look at Chen Qingtang. “What do you want? I’ll order for you.”
Chen Qingtang didn’t really want anything. She had never had raspberries before, but seeing that Pei Yunle had ordered it, she figured it couldn’t be that bad. So she chose something similar.
“Then I’ll have a berry sparkling cold brew.”
The owner took the order. “We’ll charge for the more expensive one.”
Pei Yunle paid, and the two of them chose a seat. The drinks were made quickly. Since they had ordered different things, the cups were also different, with various shapes and features.
“Wait a minute, let me take a picture.” Pei Yunle had never been interested in taking pictures before meals, but she realized that this was her and Chen Qingtang’s first time having such an experience. Such a first time felt very interesting, and it would be a pity not to commemorate it.
“Take a look, is it okay? If not, I’ll adjust it.”
Chen Qingtang looked at the phone that was handed to her. The first thing she noticed was the beautifully decorated drinks on the round wooden table. The second thing she couldn’t help but notice was Pei Yunle’s phone. There were no fine cracks, not even a single dirty fingerprint. It was a world of difference from her own broken phone.
She, who had never disliked her own phone before, for the first time had a strong desire to get a new one. The fine cracks in the glass had already crawled from the phone screen into her heart, and some strange feelings were slowly emerging from those cracks.
Seeing that the other person didn’t speak, but her eyes were very serious, Pei Yunle held her phone, a little unsure. Was the picture not good? Just as she was about to retake it, Chen Qingtang nodded first, indicating that it was okay.
There were some sticky notes and a few pens on the table for customers to write down their suggestions. Chen Qingtang picked one up and wrote, stroke by stroke—Can you send it to me?
“Yeah, yeah, of course. Wait for me to add a filter, and then I’ll send you both. You can keep whichever one you think looks better.” Pei Yunle nodded like a chick pecking at rice, sighing in relief.
“Excuse me, sorry to bother you two.” The owner brought over a small plate of Basque cheesecake and placed it in front of them. “Just made. As I said, this is on the house. I hope you’ll give us a good review.”
“Definitely, definitely.”
A burnt black crust wrapped around a delicate and moist interior, a dessert of contrasting textures.
“I gave it a name a few days ago, ‘First Love Basque.’ I hope every customer who tries this cake for the first time will like it.”
Pei Yunle hadn’t dared to look up before. Hearing the owner say this, her eyelids naturally lifted, revealing the pale white folds. She thought to herself, so the name was literal. This owner was quite interesting.
Forget it, not interesting.
“By the way, I saw you two taking pictures just now and almost forgot about the event in the store. Any couple who has purchased something in the store can take a picture on the spot.”
The owner glanced at the two of them and felt that her words were not quite appropriate. “But it’s not limited to couples. Friends are also welcome, or partners.”
Pei Yunle took a sip of the raspberry blackcurrant. The first taste was sour and tart, then the sweetness of the fruit swept over the insignificant sourness. The taste in her mouth was a repeated interweaving of sourness and sweetness. Paired with the First Love Basque, it was a perfect match.
As for Chen Qingtang’s berry sparkling cold brew, the berry here was not raspberry, but strawberry. The sourness was negligible. The soda water created a large number of bubbles in her mouth, which was very suitable for this hot summer. It was more like a special drink for a cicada-filled summer, noisy and refreshing.
Pei Yunle held her own cup and leaned over, looking at Chen Qingtang with eager eyes. “Is yours good? I’ve never had it before.”
Chen Qingtang was taken aback, a little surprised that there was something Pei Yunle hadn’t tried before, even if it was just an insignificant drink.
She dazedly handed her own cup over.
Neither of the two cups had a straw, so they could only be drunk from the rim. The branches outside the window cast shadows through the light. A lipstick mark remained on the rim of the cup, not the bright color of lipstick, but the moist sheen of lip balm.
It looked sticky, and maybe… sweet.
Pei Yunle thought of some lip balms that had a fruity sweetness.
She took Chen Qingtang’s cup and hesitated about how to drink it. The soda water in the cup was still bubbling with pink bubbles. In the dappled light, they were exposed to the air and burst one by one, splashing a little water.
Pei Yunle felt as if it had splashed on her face.
With her heart pounding like a drum, Pei Yunle didn’t dare to directly cover the sticky, sweet lipstick mark in front of Chen Qingtang. She could only drink a mouthful from a spot just next to it, not tasting anything.
The soda water soothed her throat, the bubbles bursting all the way down her esophagus, as if singing joyfully.
This drink was quite interesting.
Pei Yunle thought that maybe she would come back and buy this one to try next time.
The two of them finished the rest of their drinks intermittently, and the Basque cheesecake was also finished. Only two empty cups and an empty plate were left on the round wooden table.
“You’re finished. Do you want to take a picture inside or outside? The light outside is very good, and the pictures will be beautiful. But the interior has decorations that create a nice atmosphere. Which one do you prefer?”
Pei Yunle thought for a moment. All coffee shops were decorated more or less the same. Who would remember this place in a few years?
“Outside, what do you think?”
Chen Qingtang didn’t like taking pictures and had no plans for this kind of thing. It was the same for her wherever they took it. Naturally, she nodded.
“Okay, then I’ll get a Polaroid to take a picture for you. You can choose an angle and background outside first.”
Pei Yunle had had countless pictures and videos taken of her since she was a child. She knew which side of her face was more photogenic, which poses showed off her figure, and which expressions were more beautiful. She was even at ease in a two-person photo. But at this moment, she was like a dazed bird, standing next to Chen Qingtang, not knowing what pose to strike.
The owner held up the Polaroid, framing the two of them. The plane tree was tall, and the dappled light fell on their heads and shoulders. The coffee shop behind them filled the background.
“Are you two friends?” the owner suddenly asked.
Pei Yunle was stunned for a second. She was actually not one to take the initiative to define a relationship. What if the other person didn’t think so? It would make her seem self-absorbed and awkward. If it weren’t for her overwhelming emotions, she would never take the initiative to build a relationship with someone, whether it was a friend or a lover.
But Chen Qingtang couldn’t speak, so this question was destined for her to answer.
Pei Yunle glanced at Chen Qingtang. Unfortunately, she was half a head taller than Chen Qingtang, and from this angle, she couldn’t see her expression at all, only the high, upturned tip of her nose.
There was no other way. Pei Yunle’s mouth felt like it was glued shut. In desperation, she could only hum a random sound.
The owner didn’t hear clearly whether it was a yes or no, so she just assumed it was. “If you’re close, then get a little closer. You don’t have thorns on you. You’re standing so far apart, I can’t even fit you in the frame. I’m almost standing in the middle of the road.”
Neither of them moved. The next second, they both took a step towards each other in sync, closer but not close.
“Strike a pose that looks good and natural. You two are more rigid than a marriage certificate photo, hahaha.”
Pei Yunle didn’t know what to do. She just felt that her hands and feet were stiff. She saw that Chen Qingtang had moved and was just making a peace sign.
That pose was so old-fashioned. Wasn’t that what elementary school students did?
Pei Yunle pouted. The next second, she also made a peace sign.
The owner laughed out loud. “Are there any other poses? This one is too common. Is there a pose that’s unique to the two of you?”
Pei Yunle thought to herself, how would I know if we haven’t done it yet? Then she was shocked by what she was thinking.
She looked at the camera and could only move her peace sign to Chen Qingtang’s side. Chen Qingtang noticed and copied her action.
From a distance, it looked like one person was hugging the other from behind. But to the owner in front, she only saw two desperate, stiff people.
“Okay, okay, hahaha. It’s only your faces that are holding it together. You should practice more next time.” The owner took out the photo, held it by the edge, and shook it in the air. The figures of the two people gradually appeared on the photo.
“Do you two not like taking pictures? Or to put it another way, have you never taken a picture together?”
Chen Qingtang took the photo. The two of them were leaning against each other. Perhaps because of the misaligned poses, from this angle, it looked like Pei Yunle’s side profile was lightly resting on her.
“No, this is the first time,” Pei Yunle said, a little embarrassed.
“Oh, oh, you should take more pictures together to commemorate it. Life is unpredictable. It’s good to record the beautiful moments. Countless moments make up eternity, right?”
Pei Yunle nodded. The two of them said some auspicious words to the owner for her business and then left.
Chen Qingtang held the photo, occasionally wanting to take it out for a look. Her steps couldn’t help but slow down, making Pei Yunle turn her head in curiosity.
“What’s wrong? Why are you walking so slowly?”
Chen Qingtang hid the photo in her palm, naturally raised her hand to brush away the hair that had been blown by the wind, and smiled and shook her head.
“Big Sis!”
Fang Xiaoduo appeared out of nowhere, her posture frozen.
Both of them were taken aback. Pei Yunle asked her, “What are you doing here?”
“I was just playing a game with the kids. I got frozen, and they went back to class. They haven’t been let out yet, so I can’t move.”
“You’re playing ‘Red Light, Green Light’ again, aren’t you?” Pei Yunle looked up at the big sun in the sky. She was already sweating profusely.
“This time it’s called ‘Freeze Tag.’ I got frozen by someone, and I need someone to ‘ding’ me to unfreeze.”
Pei Yunle was a little speechless. “You might as well just carry a microwave with you to defrost.”
“Can I?” Fang Xiaoduo asked seriously, as if she was really considering the rationality of the suggestion.
“No! You’re too big to fit in.”
“Oh, oh, then can you unfreeze me?”
Pei Yunle rolled her eyes, really not in the mood to get entangled with someone who wasn’t all there. She pulled Chen Qingtang to leave.
But Chen Qingtang wouldn’t move. She was stronger than her, and Pei Yunle couldn’t do anything about it. She really couldn’t pull her.
Under Fang Xiaoduo’s pitiful gaze, Chen Qingtang extended her hand and tapped her on the shoulder.
“You have to say ‘ding’,” Fang Xiaoduo explained.
This time, it was Chen Qingtang’s turn to be speechless. How could someone mess with a mute person like this?
Pei Yunle couldn’t watch anymore and added from the side, “Ding!”
Fang Xiaoduo’s limbs immediately started moving again. She hugged Chen Qingtang’s arm as if she had seen her savior, her head even resting on her shoulder.
Chen Qingtang wanted to push her away, but thinking that Fang Xiaoduo wasn’t all there, and that she had been like this before, she thought about it and just let her be.
“Big Sis, what’s in your hand?” Fang Xiaoduo’s eyes were fixed on Chen Qingtang’s tightly clenched palm.
Chen Qingtang had no choice but to show her the photo.
“Wow, I’ve never taken a picture with you. I haven’t taken a picture with her either. Can you take me to take a picture next time?”
Chen Qingtang didn’t nod, nor did she shake her head.
Seeing that she didn’t respond, Fang Xiaoduo shook her arm. “Can we? Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go.”
Chen Qingtang walked in front of Pei Yunle. The person behind her didn’t react. She only had one pair of eyes, and they were in the front, so she really couldn’t see anything.
Sure enough, taking a picture was just a very insignificant thing. Who would care about such a thing?
Fang Xiaoduo took her silence as a confirmation and tucked the small flower she was holding behind Chen Qingtang’s ear. “Sure enough, we’re good friends. I’ll give you a flower next time too.”
Chen Qingtang gave her a smile.
Pei Yunle, who had been excluded from the “friend” category, silently walked behind the two of them. Hearing that Chen Qingtang would also go take pictures with her good friend, her heart felt like a rotten rag, easily twisted into a ball by someone. When it was released, it was still a tattered rag with holes in it.
Pei Yunle licked her somewhat dry lips, took out her phone, and opened Baidu. She tapped on the keyboard, typing out a question she had never cared about before:
—How to make friends with someone?
Pei Yunle felt that this was not good. She deleted it and re-edited: How to make someone want to be friends with me?
She saw Fang Xiaoduo’s head resting on Chen Qingtang’s shoulder again. She gritted her teeth, deleted two words, and added:
—How to make a little mute girl take the initiative to be friends with me?
