Chapter 14: Milk Tea

The instant the movie stopped, the person on her shoulder seemed to sense it. Her fine eyelashes fluttered slightly, showing signs of waking.

Gu Yu tried her best to stay calm, doing her best not to look at her. She lit up her phone and swiped randomly. Just as Jiang Bomu woke, Gu Yu, in a fluster, randomly tapped on Weibo’s trending topics.

The weight on her shoulder abruptly lifted. Soft, long hair slid slowly across her back, a slight tickle there. The next second, it slid over the back of her neck, an electric shock-like sensation, like a slow-motion scene in a movie, jolting Gu Yu into sitting ramrod straight.

She’d already been feeling guilty about her secret action. Now, being teased by this unintentional touch, her heart turned into a frantic deer again.

“I fell asleep?”

The just-woken voice was slightly hoarse, her expression a bit dazed. It differed from her usual dignified and elegant image, but who doesn’t love an older sister’s gap moe? Gu Yu’s lips curved up. She nodded gently.

Jiang Bomu massaged her temples and asked, “How long was I out?”

“About an hour and a half, I think,” Gu Yu thought for a moment, then added, “You slept quite soundly.”

So soundly you didn’t even notice me stealing a kiss.

Jiang Bomu glanced at her, surprised. “I slept on your shoulder the whole time?”

Getting an affirmative answer, Jiang Bomu’s gaze shifted downwards, frowning slightly at her shoulder.

Today, Gu Yu was wearing a spaghetti-strap dress. The thin straps only emphasized how slim her shoulders were. Looking closely, there was a tiny mole hidden in the hollow of her shoulder, adding a touch of allure.

Jiang Bomu stared, lost in thought for two seconds, then abruptly lowered her gaze, inwardly mocking herself. She’d meant to check if her shoulder was uncomfortable, but she’d ended up staring, captivated.

Though she was just a twenty-year-old girl, she possessed a blend of innocence and an unconscious sensuality, so beautiful in every way it made others envious. Who could bear to look away immediately?

Steadying herself, Jiang Bomu asked, “Is it very sore?”

Her voice had returned to its usual gentleness, like a spring breeze caressing the face.

Gu Yu rolled her eyes. She was about to say it didn’t hurt, but after a moment’s thought, she put on an act, touched her shoulder, and said innocently, “A little bit, maybe.”

Would she offer a massage?

Unexpectedly, Jiang Bomu said, “I have a massager in my room. Do you want to use it?”

Gu Yu decided to take the initiative. “That’s such a hassle. How about you just massage it for me, Sister? Just for a minute.”

So saying, she turned her back. She silently counted to three. A pair of soft hands hesitantly landed on her shoulders. Even though she’d been expecting it, a wave of indescribable tingling sensation still spread through her.

“This is my first time giving a massage. Tell me if it hurts.”

Her voice was soft and gentle, and her touch was relaxing. Gu Yu closed her eyes, enjoying it. A kiss and a massage from watching one movie? An absolute bargain.

Jiang Bomu, naturally, had no idea what she was really thinking. She just kept her eyes lowered, her gaze repeatedly falling on that tiny mole. Her fingertips subconsciously avoided that spot. She massaged quietly for two minutes, then withdrew her hands. Her palms still retained the smooth, silky sensation, like fine mutton-fat jade, warm to the touch.

Gu Yu stretched. Her shoulders felt significantly looser. She smiled and thanked her, “That’s so much better. Thanks, Sister!”

As they walked out of the room, Gu Yu asked, “Do you want to go back to your room and sleep a bit more?”

There was still time before dinner.

Jiang Bomu felt foggy-headed and heavy. She indeed hadn’t slept enough. She gave a small nod. Just as she was about to reach the master bedroom, she suddenly asked, “What was that song called?”

Gu Yu paused for a second, remembering the song she’d played while painting. She teased her a little. “A song by that obscure singer Sun Yanzi. ‘What I Miss’.”

Jiang Bomu’s lips twitched into a cooperative smile. Back in her room, she opened the default music app on her phone and searched for it. The slightly melancholic intro began. She leaned against the door, listening silently.

Of course, she knew who Sun Yanzi was. In school, some classmates had been big fans, always talking about Jay Chou, Sun Yanzi, and JJ Lin. But she rarely listened to music. She’d never discovered the power of lyrics until today.

“I remember that year’s birthday / Also remember that song / Remember that starry sky / The tightest right hand / the warmest chest / Who forgot…”

Every word, every line, reminded her of seven years ago.

Her heart, calm for so long, stirred again because of this song. A dull ache throbbed in her chest.

She set it on single repeat and closed her eyes to the sound.

As evening approached, her eyes suddenly snapped open. She stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment, carelessly wiping away the tears lingering from her sleep. She sat up, but had already forgotten what she had dreamed.

Her phone had automatically shut down. She plugged it in to charge, composed herself for another moment, and then went to cook.

As an actress, she certainly didn’t show any cracks in her facade in front of Gu Yu.

After dinner, she still felt mentally and physically exhausted. She didn’t want to go for a walk—too noisy and chaotic. It would be hard to quiet her mind. So she suggested painting at home.

Gu Yu had said painting could calm the mind, and it seemed to be true. Every time she evenly filled a section with color, it felt like she was mending a hollow, empty space in her heart, stopping her emotions from leaking out.

Gu Yu didn’t detect anything amiss with Jiang Bomu at all. Since the art lessons were starting tomorrow, she chatted while painting, discussing when to start and some things to pay attention to. She talked until her mouth was parched.

Jiang Bomu poured her a glass of water. Gu Yu looked at the tasteless, clear liquid and asked pitifully, “Can I have a drink instead?”

“Drink less soda, more water. If you absolutely must switch, it can only be milk.”

Gu Yu: “…” Never mind, then.

She obediently finished the water and asked curiously, “Haven’t you had any drinks for a long time?”

Jiang Bomu nodded and said calmly, “I had half a small cup of milk tea about three months ago.”

Three months! Half a small cup!

Being a star really wasn’t for everyone. Gu Yu shuddered. If she went a week without two cups of milk tea, she’d feel miserable all over.

Just mentioning milk tea made her crave it. But it was too late in the evening now, so she forced herself to endure.

The next day, after breakfast, she moved her easel into the living room. Just as she was about to begin the lesson, the milk tea delivery arrived at the door.

Student Jiang looked at her with disapproval. Teacher Gu spoke with righteous conviction: “I haven’t had one in forever!”

As she spoke, she tore off the straw wrapper, stabbed it into the cup, and inhaled deeply, all in one fluid motion.

The mochi and crushed ice melted together in her mouth. The sweet, fresh peach flavor made Gu Yu want to spin with happiness. She couldn’t resist taking two more gulps before finally starting the lesson.

They had decided yesterday to study for two hours each morning, with the rest of the time free. Although it was just casual learning, Gu Yu had still prepared her lesson seriously and taught with great attention to detail.

Jiang Bomu studied earnestly. But during the last half hour, when asked to draw the cube in front of her, she still hesitated to put pencil to paper.

Gu Yu had initially planned to be completely hands-off. Seeing this, she personally demonstrated it, encouraging, “Just take the first step. I won’t laugh at you no matter how it turns out. I’ll be the president of your personal cheerleading squad!”

Seeing Jiang Bomu finally start to draw, Gu Yu stopped hovering. She knew well that beginners were always nervous at first, especially with a teacher watching over their shoulder. Putting herself in her shoes, she moved away a bit, sipping her milk tea and scrolling through her phone.

Twenty minutes later, she went over. Jiang Bomu had finished. Gu Yu’s face broke into a smile. “Sister, you drew it really well! You understood everything I taught.”

Receiving the praise, Jiang Bomu visibly relaxed.

Her comprehension was indeed good. Gu Yu felt a proud, vicarious sense of achievement. She asked playfully, “Can I treat you to a sip of my milk tea as a reward?”

Jiang Bomu looked down at the cup, still half full. Her expression was hesitant. One sip shouldn’t really matter, right?

So she asked, “Is it good?”

Gu Yu blinked. Seeing that she was really going to drink it, she quickly started her sales pitch. “It’s peach-flavored. It’s got mochi and popping boba inside. Fragrant, chewy, and refreshing—bursting with juice!”

She held it forward. Jiang Bomu leaned down.

Gu Yu usually only shared milk tea with her closest friends. It had always meant nothing before. But this time was different. Her eyes sparkled as she fixed her gaze on the other woman’s crimson lips, imagining the invisible mark they’d leave on the straw.

Her stare was too intense. Jiang Bomu naturally sensed it. Feeling slightly self-conscious, she took a sip. Her heartbeat quickened a little.

“Is it good? Is it good?”

So she was just asking about the flavor. Jiang Bomu pressed her lips together lightly and gave a small nod.

Only after a long moment did Gu Yu, with a studied air of nonchalance, take a sip of the milk tea. Her heart felt scorching hot.

Hehe, that sort of counts as an indirect kiss, right?