Chapter 29

Trains speed towards their terminus like shooting stars, possessing planned trajectories and rhythms. Each one is not merely itself; its name is just a code, carrying countless worlds within.

When trains intersect, the harsh screech is like tearing silk, disturbing the quiet moments on both tracks.

Then, they pass each other by.

This phenomenon brings prosperity to cities, contemplation to the sensitive, and benefits to exam question setters.

Yun Huizhi’s math used to be her worst subject. She could never figure out the duration of two trains intersecting, or deduce their speeds based on that duration.

Just like she couldn’t calculate how much time was left for this encounter between her and Chu Ruoyou.

Even though Chu Ruoyou gave a rough timeframe—”the end of the week”—who knew if she would accelerate her departure, with no one the wiser.

Their tracks might only have this one meeting point. After this, worlds apart, never to meet again.

“The new skirt is so pretty.”

“Watch your manners. A compliment is fine, but keep your hands to yourself.”

“Not my fault. Legs are long and slender. So tempting.”

“Are your legs short?”

“Then I’ll let you touch mine too. Mutual touching, hm.”

“Go away!”

Just chatting casually with each other, not even leaving the room, and the whole morning passed.

During that time, they kissed five or six times, some long, some short.

Watched a new video together of Wen Zi and Yuanyuan, still looking very sweet.

Under Chu Ruoyou’s supervision, Yun Huizhi drank a bottle of mineral water.

Under Yun Huizhi’s interference, Chu Ruoyou only managed to read five pages.

Simple. Happy. Ordinary.

No different from usual. If there was a difference, it was when Yun Huizhi inadvertently glanced at Chu Ruoyou’s screen and saw a group message notification pop up, revealing Chu Ruoyou’s workplace.

Chu Ruoyou quickly swiped the notification away, but the first two or three characters were memorized by Yun Huizhi. She quietly searched it—it was a famous boarding middle school in Xiacheng.

She realized, belatedly, that one thing she and Chu Ruoyou had in common was a professional qualification certificate.

A certain thought leaped out. She clutched it tightly in her arms, hiding it firmly, refusing to let it see the light of day.

She should have contractual integrity. Part on good terms.

If she chased after her to Xiacheng, to Chu Ruoyou, it would be a massive disturbance.

Chu Ruoyou treated her well, had never wronged her. She, too, should be content and let go obediently.

Her stubborn clinging would be a form of biting the hand that fed her.

Being able to accept women didn’t mean including “dating a woman, growing old together” in her life plan. Since Chu Ruoyou had been married once, she would most likely marry again in the future.

Regarding this, Yun Huizhi held no critical spirit. Her criticism was worthless.

Understandably, the calm, stable path was always the easiest to walk.

Having a recognized small family, bustling and lively, was truly most people’s dream.

Anyone who could accept the opposite sex, who wasn’t one hundred percent bent, would most likely return to that high-speed, obstacle-free track.

So, don’t let your mind wander. Don’t harbor hopes.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, even if Chu Ruoyou decided never to marry, willing to be with a woman—that person still wouldn’t be her.

How could she even entertain the thought of causing trouble?

She warned herself over and over.

—

Dinner was at an open-air food stall. Passing by here last night, Chu Ruoyou had said the atmosphere was great. Tonight, they joined in.

Yun Huizhi had sharp eyes. From afar, she spotted Little Zhang off work, drinking with a few friends.

That lively, energetic demeanor, compared to his usual deathly stillness at work, was like he’d drunk a resurrection potion.

Yun Huizhi said, “I want to drink a little too.”

Chu Ruoyou agreed, “Drink if you want. I won’t. If you get drunk, I can still take care of you.”

Although the inn was only a few steps away, they were still out in public. Both being drunk wouldn’t be safe.

Despite saying this, it wasn’t strictly enforced. She took the first sip of Yun Huizhi’s beer.

It left a faint lipstick mark. Yun Huizhi gently wiped it away with a tissue.

Seeing this, Chu Ruoyou immediately pounced, “Disgusted by me.”

“No way. I just wiped casually.” It was purely an obsessive-compulsive impulse.

“From now on, I’m not eating your things.”

Yun Huizhi looked innocent, “What’s this about? Whether I’m disgusted by you or not, don’t you know in your own heart?”

Let alone a lipstick mark, where exactly had she ever been disgusted by her?

Teasing Yun Huizhi put Chu Ruoyou in a good mood. Her wide-eyed look when defending herself was the cutest.

“Why do you suddenly want a drink?”

Yun Huizhi smiled, “Just feel that tipsy, comfortable state is nice. Plus, everyone here is drinking. When in the shop, do as the locals do.”

Chu Ruoyou poured cold water on it. “With this kind of beer, no matter how much you drink, you probably won’t get drunk.”

“Hard to say. My alcohol tolerance is pretty average.”

Halfway through eating, Yun Huizhi spotted a woman sitting down at Little Zhang’s table. Her sixth sense was very accurate. “I feel like this is that neighbor sister of his!”

“You go sit at that table.” Chu Ruoyou couldn’t stand her excitement and offered a suggestion.

Yun Huizhi was genuinely a bit tempted. She asked her, “Can I go?”

Chu Ruoyou sneered, “I don’t mind. But nosy onlookers should have a little self-awareness.”

“Tsk, ah, forget it. Better not.”

Though she said ‘forget it,’ she still craned her neck to look. “Even though I can’t see the full face, she looks quite pretty. Great figure. Little Zhang has some taste.”

“How many years difference?”

“According to reliable intelligence, seven or eight.”

“And the other person has a child?”

Chu Ruoyou assessed calmly, “It’ll be difficult.”

“No fear.”

“You know that again?”

“The world’s difficulties are as vast as the sea and sky. Each one is a test. It’s all about human effort. Someone always manages to overcome a difficult task, and someone always skirts all the difficult ones.”

Yun Huizhi saw that Chu Ruoyou thought her words were nonsense and gave an example. “Just like your friend, knowing it’s hard to love a straight woman, yet still loving her for over ten years.”

Chu Ruoyou instantly froze, her heart burning with a suffocating ache.

She pretended to stay calm as she set down her chopsticks, reached for Yun Huizhi’s last sip of beer, and drank it.

Yun Huizhi’s alcohol tolerance really was quite poor. Her face flushed from fair to crimson the moment she drank, yet the stars in her eyes seemed to multiply.

Looking at people, so obediently.

Chu Ruoyou asked, “You think she’s very stupid, right?”

“Not at all. She’s a hero. Loyal, steady, knowing what she wants so she refuses to give up. It’s just that the other’s rejection and the helplessness of reality turned over ten years of her life into a few lines of pale regret. How can you blame her?”

Chu Ruoyou lowered her gaze and said sullenly, “Is that so? Then you’re more suited to be her friend.”

Yun Huizhi laughed at that, “I know. You scolded her, didn’t you. You’re so rational, you’d never let someone affect you. You must think she’s foolish and stubborn, ruled by love.”

“I said worse than that.” Chu Ruoyou said coldly.

“Ruoyou, you have to be tolerant. Try to understand your friend. Every experience has meaning. As an observer, of course, you weigh the pros and cons. You’re crystal clear about it, just ticking boxes directly.

But the person inside the situation doesn’t care about right or wrong. She’s more idealistic. During those ten-plus years, she must have been bathed in the light shed by the one she loved. Maybe she was happy, proactive, full of hope for every day. Maybe occasionally melancholic and disappointed, but it didn’t stop her from gaining a lot.

Just because it didn’t end well, does that make her a fool? Who can guarantee that if she’d let go and fallen for someone else, she would have found happiness? Not necessarily. Maybe she would’ve ended up even more miserable than now.”

The light in Yun Huizhi’s eyes was like the radiance cast by a lamp. It fell upon Chu Ruoyou, and only then did she realize someone could empathize with her foolish, stubborn past.

“What you said is right. I’ll try to be more tolerant.”

“Mm. You have to be a bit nicer to your friends, or they won’t dare tell you what’s on their mind. Next time she’s sad, just tell her: it’s okay to be sad, but don’t regret, don’t blame yourself, don’t wallow in it. Move forward.”

—

Chu Ruoyou finished paying the bill and realized Yun Huizhi wasn’t at their table. Although she hadn’t drunk much, Chu Ruoyou’s heart still tightened.

She scanned the area and finally spotted Yun Huizhi sitting at Little Zhang’s table.

“…”

She truly had to hand it to her.

Chu Ruoyou walked quickly over and found Yun Huizhi chatting them up.

She stood behind Yun Huizhi, exchanging a look of exasperation with a helpless Little Zhang, her gaze apologetic. Little Zhang waved a hand, indicating it was fine.

The woman at the same table was indeed very beautiful. The others, not sure if they were Little Zhang’s friends or relatives, included a somewhat plump gentleman who was inviting Yun Huizhi, “How’s your alcohol tolerance? Let’s drink together.”

Yun Huizhi said directly, “My tolerance is terrible. I get drunk right away. I won’t drink. I don’t like drinking.”

Then she grinned again, “I’m drinking tonight because my mood is bad. Any more and I’ll throw up.”

“Worried about what at such a young age?”

“Lots of things. For example, troubled by love.”

As Yun Huizhi spoke, she still didn’t forget to glance at Little Zhang, wanting to dig up some gossip about him.

But Little Zhang looked up, past her, at Chu Ruoyou behind her.

Chu Ruoyou kept her head low, her eyes only on Yun Huizhi now, her micro-expressions hidden in the backlight.

“Don’t overthink things… Yo, is that your friend behind you?”

Yun Huizhi whipped her head around, immediately got up, “It’s my friend. I’m done chatting, you guys take your time. Bye bye.”

Chu Ruoyou helped her walk. “After paying, I came out and couldn’t find you. Then I saw you over here.”

“Hehe, sorry, I forgot.”

“Why are you leaning on me to walk? Heavy.”

Yun Huizhi acted spoiled, “Because I’m drunk. I fall easily. Need sister to support me.”

Chu Ruoyou exposed her, “That little bit of alcohol wouldn’t even get a kid drunk.”

“I’ve always sat at the kids’ table.”

“Pathetic.”

Chu Ruoyou didn’t believe a word. Last time at the bar, Yun Huizhi’s tolerance was more than this. Back then, she could still steadily ride the bike back.

She was just in a bad mood tonight.

“Huizhi.”

“What’s up?”

“You know, right? You’re wonderful in every way. Lots of people will like you.” Chu Ruoyou’s voice was tangled by the wind.

“Really?”

“Really. Weren’t you the most confident one?”

Inside the room, Chu Ruoyou made her sit down, crouched in front of her, and looked up at her. “Don’t be troubled by love. If the person you like doesn’t like you enough, just change to someone else. Don’t be as stubborn as my friend.”

“Okay.” Yun Huizhi tilted her head and smiled. “I listen to sister the most.”

“Good girl.”

She thought for a moment, then continued, “But even the people who love me the most would leave me so easily. Since I was very little, I’ve been wondering: how come no one wants to keep me by their side? Later, I realized, everyone loves themselves more.”

“Of course. You have to love yourself more too.”

“Then do you love me?” Yun Huizhi asked her abruptly.

Tears, without any warning, instantly welled up in her eyes, then fell, drop by drop.

Chu Ruoyou hadn’t expected this. Flustered, she reached out to catch them, holding a few of her teardrops. “Why are you crying?”

“Are you going to leave me?”

Yun Huizhi was probably truly drunk, starting to speak drunken nonsense. How could such a question be asked?

Chu Ruoyou was at a loss from her crying. The words “I will too” simply refused to leave her mouth.