The next day was a rare fine day in summer. Thick clouds covered the blazing sun. Even the wind was three parts less scorching. Filtered through layers of leaves, it carried a hint of coolness.
Amidst the high-rises, the air conditioner hummed 24/7. The person asleep, however, had a flushed face and a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead. Moments later, her red lips parted slightly, muttering softly: “Sister…”
Sometime later, sunlight broke through the clouds. It streamed through a gap in the half-drawn curtains, shining directly onto the face of the person with disheveled long hair lying on the bed.
Gu Yu reached up, extremely unwilling, to block the sunlight. Even if she didn’t want to, she had to tear herself away from her beautiful dream.
Realizing the dream was fading, she rolled around on the bed in frustration, tangling the sheets. She’d almost kissed her! They were so close!
Her bad mood persisted until she opened the door with a grumpy face. Unexpectedly, she saw Jiang Bomu right outside. Her gaze instinctively dropped to those alluring lips.
There’s a term for it: naturally red without rouge. Jiang Bomu’s lips were exactly that—always a vibrant crimson, no matter when. Her lip pearl was distinct. Her lip shape was full yet delicate, glistening faintly, making one want to taste them.
Gu Yu swallowed and guiltily averted her eyes.
“I was just about to call you to wake up. I didn’t expect you to open the door before I even knocked.”
Those lips parted and closed. Gu Yu’s gaze involuntarily fixed on them. She answered casually, “We’re on the same wavelength.”
The lips curved into a perfect smile. Jiang Bomu said, “Go wash up. Breakfast is ready.”
Saying this, she turned towards the kitchen. Gu Yu hurried to the bathroom. She didn’t even care about brushing her teeth yet. First, she splashed a handful of cold water on her face to calm down. In a daze, she recalled the first day—she had done the same thing.
It had been so long, and she was still so easily bewitched by beauty!
Gu Yu silently chanted, “Amitabha,” to compose herself. A moment later, she walked out as if nothing was amiss, ready for breakfast.
Just as she pushed open the door, Jiang Bomu’s voice reached her: “I told you, don’t call me again.”
The deliberately lowered voice couldn’t suppress the seething anger. Every word reached Gu Yu’s ears with crystal clarity.
She couldn’t help but wonder who was on the other end of the line, but she immediately knew it wasn’t her place. She deliberately closed the door a little louder.
The person standing with her back to Gu Yu glanced her way. Immediately, the call was cut off. She turned, smiling calmly and gently. “Xunxun, come eat.”
Just like always.
Gu Yu almost believed she had imagined that sentence just moments ago.
The acting skills of a Best Actress truly were beyond the reach of ordinary people.
She pushed down her thoughts and sat down. Using the action of grabbing a piece of bread, she stole a look at the person across the table. She caught a fleeting glimpse of exhaustion and desolation across that beautiful face.
Gu Yu’s movements subconsciously paused for a beat. Then, she bit into the bread nonchalantly. An ache spread through her heart. Dispiritedly, she wondered: was it a phone call from an ex wanting to reconcile?
She didn’t even know if Jiang Bomu had ever been in a relationship.
But she was twenty-seven. Who would believe she’d never dated?
She’d always forced herself not to dwell on this. But today, she couldn’t help but agonize over it. Even the fragrant, soft bread became hard to swallow.
Just moments ago, her mind was full of romantic thoughts. Now, only bitterness remained in her heart.
Afraid Jiang Bomu would notice, Gu Yu masked her feelings by opening her phone. Coincidentally, a message popped up.
Jian Ya: [Wanna grab hot pot for lunch?]
Jian Ya was her high school friend. Their gaydar had pinged each other. They’d hit it off instantly and been close for three years. They went to universities in different cities, but they still made time to meet during holidays.
Even though it had been half a year since she’d seen her best friend, Gu Yu replied without hesitation: [No.]
Jian Ya: [Shocked.jpg]
Jian Ya: [You don’t love me anymore, baby!]
Jian Ya: [I’m your beloved Xiao Ya!]
Jian Ya: [Is there another woman in your life now!]
Then came a bombardment of voice messages. Gu Yu was speechless. Her friend was great in every way except one—she was a complete chatterbox. She could talk nonstop for an entire day. With a headache forming, Gu Yu replied: [I’m busy. In a few days.]
She still had to teach Jiang Bomu to paint. That was the top priority.
But just as the message sent, the person across from her spoke. “Xunxun, let’s take a break today. I’m not feeling very well.”
Gu Yu’s finger froze mid-air. Was it because of the person on the phone?
Acting as if nothing was wrong, she answered, “Okay. Coincidentally, I have something to do today too.”
She hoped Jiang Bomu would ask what it was. But the other woman just gave a small nod and continued eating, slow and deliberate.
Not even the slightest bit of curiosity?
Disheartened, Gu Yu retracted her last message and agreed to meet her friend.
At half past eleven, she arrived punctually. Jian Ya had arrived even earlier and was already holding the menu, ordering food. Seeing Gu Yu walk in, she huffed, “Thought you weren’t coming? What changed your mind?”
Gu Yu shrugged nonchalantly. “My crush didn’t need me. Had to settle for you, I guess.”
That was the exact line Jian Ya always used whenever she’d bailed on Gu Yu. Now, finally, it was Gu Yu’s turn. A small sense of dark satisfaction welled up, finally pushing away some of her gloomy mood.
Hearing this, Jian Ya forgot all about ordering. Her eyes lit up. “Who is your crush? I’m dying of curiosity!”
Ever since she’d known Gu Yu, she’d known she liked someone. But all these years, her lips remained as tightly sealed as ever. Jian Ya sometimes wished she could just crouch by her bed at night and listen to her talk in her sleep.
Gu Yu just smiled and still didn’t say. She took the menu from Jian Ya, picked a few dishes, and changed the subject. “Dual-flavor pot? Who are you looking down on?”
She decisively crossed it off and chose the beef tallow spicy pot instead.
Today, she wanted to burn it all away with spice!
Jian Ya rolled her eyes. She’d only chosen the mild option for Gu Yu’s sake, knowing she couldn’t handle spice. No good deed goes unpunished!
Still failing to dig out the identity of her crush, Jian Ya gave up, used to it by now. While waiting for the food, she chatted idly. “Tell me, how exactly did she not need you today?”
Before Gu Yu could answer, she started guessing on her own. “Did she start dating someone? Or did she figure out you like her and is now avoiding you? Or…”
“This morning, I overheard her ex calling her.”
Jian Ya fell silent too.
Someone you’ve loved isn’t so easy to let go of. There are often lingering ties, until the love finally fades completely.
The melancholy hadn’t lasted three seconds before Jian Ya suddenly caught on. “Wait. ‘This morning’?”
Gu Yu answered airily, “Yep. I’m living with her.”
Jian Ya stifled a scream that almost burst out. She shook Gu Yu’s shoulders frantically, venting her shock. She raised her voice, “You’re literally living together and you STILL haven’t won her over?”
Gu Yu replied woodenly, “Truth be told, it’s been almost half a month. I haven’t even figured out her sexuality yet.”
Her conversations with Jiang Bomu always stayed superficial. They never touched on slightly deeper topics. The topic had only come up once, during that walk, but Jiang Bomu had deftly changed the subject. She hadn’t dared to press further—that would just be annoying.
Jiang Bomu guarded her personal romantic history with a watertight seal. Gu Yu, on the other hand, was the one who couldn’t hold back. She’d already blurted out her feelings early on, letting Jiang Bomu know she had a secret crush.
Dealing with an older sister was tough. Especially when that sister was also a Best Actress with unparalleled acting skills.
But Jian Ya, completely unaware of these nuances, looked at her with a pained expression. Two words were clearly written on her face: So Pathetic!
As a seasoned veteran of the dating scene, Jian Ya offered a few tactics to her novice friend. Gu Yu felt they clashed with the image she wanted to maintain in front of Jiang Bomu and politely rejected them all.
Still, even if the ideas were terrible, they gave her a little inspiration.
As they talked, the beef tallow broth began to boil. Steam billowed up. The scent of Sichuan peppercorns and chilies spread everywhere. Gu Yu immediately covered her mouth and sneezed. She bravely kept eating, tears streaming down her face.
The result of insisting on spice despite not being able to handle it: pain levels rising rapidly. Gu Yu held it together in front of her friend, but the moment she got home, she made a beeline for the fridge. Even the milk didn’t smell unappetizing anymore. She gulped down a whole glass. The scorching heat lingering on her lips and tongue finally subsided.
“Actively drinking milk today?”
Suddenly, Jiang Bomu’s voice came from behind her. Gu Yu instinctively looked up. Only then did she notice she was in the living room, holding a paintbrush, seemingly working on the digital oil painting.
Normally, this would be her naptime.
Because of that phone call, she couldn’t sleep?
The heat was gone, but bitterness spread. Afraid Jiang Bomu would notice her off mood, Gu Yu quickly lowered her head to rinse the glass. She called out, “The hot pot was way too spicy. Milk helps.”
Returning the glass, she went to check out the oil painting.
In just a few hours away, quite a bit of it had been completed. Gu Yu looked up at the person diligently painting. Had she been at it all this time?
Suppressing her swirling thoughts, Gu Yu worried about her eyes. She suggested they make up the lesson they missed today.
Jiang Bomu nodded.
Gu Yu felt she reeked of hot pot, so she decided to shower first. Before heading into the bathroom, she seriously told her, “Sister, no more painting now, okay?”
Jiang Bomu put down her brush, a gentle “Okay” of agreement.
That phone call seemed to have only bothered her for a fleeting moment. Now, she was once again the calm, detached Jiang Bomu, serene as a chrysanthemum.
Gu Yu took a quick shower and sprayed on the perfume Jiang Bomu had given her. It seemed to wash away some of the faint melancholy between her brows too. She became bright and radiant again.
So what if an ex was pestering her? Big deal.
As the saying goes, the one closer to the water gets the moon first. Only she could admire the twilight view right before her eyes.
The lesson began quickly. As usual, Gu Yu explained everything first, then let Jiang Bomu draw. But this time, Gu Yu didn’t leave her side. She stood right there, her gaze not staying on the paper but following her hand.
Until a clear mistake appeared. Gu Yu stepped forward half a step and placed her hand over that pale, soft hand.
The afternoon sun was glaring. Short, neatly trimmed nails reflected a faint glow. Even her fingertips seemed touched by magic, glossy like jade, warm and slightly heated.
Gu Yu clearly felt that hand flinch slightly. She held on tighter. “Focus,” she said slowly, her tone all business.
After guiding the correction, she immediately let go with a smile. “Sister wasn’t listening carefully. I explained this part in great detail just now.”
As if the touch had been purely out of necessity.
Jiang Bomu lowered her gaze and continued drawing.
At first glance, she seemed utterly composed. But the hand holding the brush trembled slightly. And her earlobes quietly turned red.
Gu Yu’s eyes slid over, taking in the scene without seeming to. She leaned in quietly. Feigning innocence, she asked, “Why is Sister’s face red?”
