Chapter 5

The concept of time had always moved slower in the town than in the city, even after tourism had picked up.

Now, it was as if the pause button had been pressed.

Paused in the inn after the rain cleared and the sky brightened. Paused in their locked gaze. Paused in Yun Huizhi’s surprise and Chu Ruoyou’s gently rippling smile.

Her smile came suddenly. The inscrutable delight in her eyes was something Yun Huizhi hadn’t seen before. Her mind went blank for a moment.

She quickly caught on. Chu Ruoyou was highly skilled. She hadn’t been intimidated by that nonsense line just now and had instead turned it back on her to make things difficult.

The things she was thinking were nothing more than those. It was inevitable. Seeing her covered in those marks, who could remain calm?

Not to mention it had only been a few hours. She didn’t have amnesia; she could still vividly recall how each mark had been made.

They were currently in the “morning after,” an inherently sticky phrase. But because they weren’t familiar with each other, it was hard to openly connect in broad daylight.

That kiss earlier had been cold, abruptly sobering.

It was different from the night, when they were both hot, yearning for each other’s embrace.

Not wanting to continue the topic, Yun Huizhi changed the subject. “Eat a couple more bites. Don’t waste it.”

Chu Ruoyou glanced at her one last time, said nothing, withdrew her gaze, and quietly picked up her chopsticks.

Not wanting to stay by her side any longer, Yun Huizhi ran off and silently tidied up the area around the bed.

During this time, Chu Ruoyou didn’t look back. Whether out of shyness or simply no time, she didn’t exchange another word with her.

After breakfast, while brushing through her phone, Yun Huizhi waited for Chu Ruoyou to change clothes and put on makeup.

When Chu Ruoyou had finished getting ready and stood in front of her, Yun Huizhi was, without any self-respect, stunned again. The feeling all over was just like the first time she saw her photo: plunging straight into water.

Her heart raced, trembling slightly.

Her curly hair was tied up, her makeup exquisite and elegant. She wore a black dress that reached her ankles, two silver chains dangling from her earlobes.

A greenish-yellow silk scarf was tied around her neck.

Words became pale and shallow before her. She was beautiful, a beauty that was both natural and artistic, exquisite and generous, stunning from every angle.

She ignored Yun Huizhi’s worthless gaze and picked out a bottle of perfume, spraying it on herself.

A wave of cold, urban scent hit her. It was slightly different from what she’d smelled yesterday, but it should be the same perfume, just a difference in top and base notes.

The overly unfamiliar scent of perfume abruptly sobered Yun Huizhi. The shameless face-con in her temporarily departed, replaced by pure appreciation.

She praised Chu Ruoyou from head to toe: “Wow, your makeup today is beautiful. The clothes are pretty. The perfume smells great too.”

Chu Ruoyou didn’t deflect the compliment but asked back: “Compared to my no-makeup look?”

“Each has its own charm,” Yun Huizhi cunningly replied.

“It won’t make you nervous again, will it?” Chu Ruoyou pressed.

Yun Huizhi heard the sarcasm in her voice. Sure enough, her next sentence was: “Being a little nervous is good. When you’re relaxed, you’re too relaxed.”

As she spoke, she even adjusted her silk scarf, covering the marks that weren’t actually so obvious, as a reminder.

What did this mean?

Was she blaming her for being too forward?

How interesting. Who was the one who, while supposedly asleep, suddenly said “let’s try again,” causing her to lose sleep and get sore arms?

“I’m not nervous anymore.”

Yun Huizhi responded with an innocent smile: “Yesterday, I didn’t know you well, Older Sister. Today is different. We’ve done everything we should do. We’re very close, right?”

Chu Ruoyou silently accepted her smile without any other reaction, acting as if she hadn’t heard.

She lowered her head to check the items she carried in her bag one last time. “Alright, let’s go.”

Passing through the front hall, Yun Huizhi saw someone that made her scalp tingle.

Little Zhang’s younger sister, Zhang Cai, was sitting in the hall waiting.

The moment she saw the two of them, her brows immediately furrowed in anger, and she stood up abruptly.

“Who’s she?” Zhang Cai’s tone was hostile.

Little Zhang looked up at Yun Huizhi and Chu Ruoyou, called Zhang Cai by her full name, and reminded her to mind her attitude.

Yun Huizhi, however, wasn’t embarrassed. She naturally took Chu Ruoyou’s hand and smiled at Zhang Cai: “My friend, came to visit me.”

“What kind of friend?”

“The kind of friend relationship not suitable for children to hear about.”

There was no one else around here, so Yun Huizhi spoke plainly.

Chu Ruoyou looked at their clasped hands, then at Zhang Cai’s demeanor, and roughly understood: a classic case of unrequited love.

She instantly found it boring, yet also amusing.

She didn’t show it on her face but secretly pinched the inside of Yun Huizhi’s hand, signaling her not to waste her time.

Yun Huizhi led her out of the small courtyard. Chu Ruoyou made things clear: “I hope you’ll deal with your own affairs and not bring trouble to me. I came here to relax; I don’t have the energy to deal with people.”

“It’s nothing, just a kid. I’m not even that close to her. Now that she’s seen you, she probably won’t bother me anymore. She’s Little Zhang’s sister. We only met when she came back for summer vacation, and then she kind of… got that idea.”

Chu Ruoyou asked, “You don’t like her?”

“No.”

Yun Huizhi answered decisively, adding, “And she’s still young, a minor. Couldn’t like her even if I wanted to.”

She emphasized to Chu Ruoyou: “I like people older than me.”

Chu Ruoyou agreed: “Same here.”

“Ah?”

“Isn’t everyone?”

Chu Ruoyou added with restrained regret: “What a pity. You got your wish, I didn’t get mine.”

No wonder when they first met, because she dressed too young, Chu Ruoyou had given her a sour look…

Wait, “the same here”? What circle was she referring to?

Yun Huizhi quickly asked: “So your ex-husband was older than you?”

Chu Ruoyou paused. “Mm.”

“Can I ask one more thing?”

“How much more are you planning to ask?”

“Not much more. If you don’t answer, I won’t ask again.”

Yun Huizhi displayed appropriate politeness.

“Oh, let’s hear it.”

From the first kiss last night, Yun Huizhi had been wondering: “Was your previous orientation totally straight, or bi?”

The answer to this question wasn’t important given their current relationship, but Yun Huizhi was curious. Since the topic came up, she wanted to know even more.

The two had chosen to walk today. After the rain, the sun wasn’t too harsh. By sticking to the shade, they didn’t need umbrellas.

Chu Ruoyou said leisurely: “I’m not going to answer that question.”

“…”

Greatly disappointed, Yun Huizhi still followed the rules: “Alright, that’s your privacy. I won’t ask.”

Perhaps her crestfallen expression at failing to gossip amused Chu Ruoyou. Chu Ruoyou generously offered: “It’s indeed private, but I can tell you when I’m in a better mood.”

Yun Huizhi had something to look forward to again: “Okay, I’ll wait for your mood to improve.”

But by now, she had already realized Chu Ruoyou was a difficult woman. She thought to herself, even if Chu Ruoyou did tell her, she couldn’t fully believe it.

In a relationship like theirs, who needed many truths?

Suddenly, she lost interest again.

Near noon, the temperature rose, and the sun gradually flexed its muscles.

But tourists, in groups of three to five, showed no sign of waning enthusiasm.

Yun Huizhi took Chu Ruoyou to a bookshop in town. It was called a bookshop, but the commercial atmosphere was too strong.

Few people came to read or buy books; instead, it was full of tourists drinking coffee, writing postcards, and taking selfies.

“Do you want to mail a postcard?” Yun Huizhi asked.

Chu Ruoyou wasn’t interested: “I have no one to send it to.”

Connected to the bookshop was a store selling souvenirs.

The town’s most distinctive landmarks were two small pagodas south of town, named Mountain-Viewing Tower and Water-Viewing Tower.

One tall, one short, their styles completely different.

Chu Ruoyou bought fridge magnets of both pagodas. She said she habitually bought magnets as souvenirs wherever she went.

“Then your fridge at home must be completely covered,” Yun Huizhi laughed.

Browsing further inside, they found many people picking out Lucky Beads, which consisted of a translucent bead and an embroidered zodiac animal on a sachet.

Yun Huizhi casually asked: “What’s your zodiac sign?”

Chu Ruoyou looked over the appearances of the twelve zodiac signs. She found her own sign embroidered with “majestic vigor,” even surpassing the dragon and tiger.

The tiger was too gentle, like a kitten; the dragon was too comical, like a big-faced worm. But they were all very cute, which was why young people often bought three to five at a time.

She said: “You’re a Dragon, right?”

Yun Huizhi played along: “You guessed that?”

“Did I even need to guess? You just graduated.”

“Then let me guess your sign.”

As she spoke, Yun Huizhi began comparing Chu Ruoyou’s face back and forth with the embroideries, as if there were clues to be found.

Chu Ruoyou told her not to bother: “It’s a bit difficult. Unless you saw my ID yesterday.”

“Actually, I didn’t. I was only focused on the photo and name. Why is it hard? Could we share the same sign?”

Expressionlessly, Chu Ruoyou looked at her. “That’s impossible.”

“Just kidding. Older Sister is very young, at most two or three years older than me, right? Tiger or Ox?”

Yun Huizhi deliberately lowballed.

“Both wrong. Since you’re not buying, let’s leave first.”

Yun Huizhi followed behind her: “Don’t you want to change your luck? I’ll treat you.”

“The beads here are just ordinary beads. They haven’t even been blessed. Do you believe they can change luck?”

Afraid Yun Huizhi would pester her further, she added coldly: “I don’t believe in blessed ones either.”

“Just like me. I don’t believe in this stuff either. If it worked, the world would be in chaos long ago.”

Yun Huizhi smiled and followed her out of the shop.

Across the street was a milk tea shop. Yun Huizhi recommended it to her, saying it was the best milk tea in town.

Chu Ruoyou didn’t feel like a sweet drink, but seeing the queue wasn’t long and Yun Huizhi wanted some, she queued with her.

She took out her phone to check the time. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Yun Huizhi suddenly step in front of her.

She looked up to see Yun Huizhi raising both hands, making a very cute gesture, her expression deliberately adorable.

“?” She didn’t understand what this was.

“Rat, little rat, right?” Yun Huizhi still hadn’t given up.

Chu Ruoyou mercilessly denied it: “Wrong guess. No more chances. Don’t guess anymore.”

They soon reached the front of the queue. The milk tea wasn’t overly sweet; the tea flavor was strong and fragrant.

Chu Ruoyou tasted it and found it quite good, taking a few extra sips.

Although the town’s options were limited, the food and drinks strangely suited her palate.

Yun Huizhi absolutely loved it and had quietly drunk more than half her cup. “What do you want for lunch?”

“Are there any local specialties?”

“Yes, but the local dishes tend to be sour and spicy. Can you eat that?”

“I can taste a little. You can eat the rest.”

Chu Ruoyou added: “This meal is my treat.”

After marking the menu and handing it to the server, Yun Huizhi suddenly asked out of the blue: “Pig?”

Chu Ruoyou’s unruffled expression made her understand before she even heard the answer.

Wrong again.

She counted on her fingers to calculate the age difference.

Still wrong.

That’s quite the age gap.

“Is this important?” Chu Ruoyou asked.

“Not really, but I just really want to know.”

“You want to know far too many things.”

Chu Ruoyou made a cool, cutting remark: “Should I tell you what color underwear I’m wearing too?”

“No need, I saw. White,” Yun Huizhi said cheerfully.

Chu Ruoyou’s brow twitched. She expressed her displeasure with silence.

“Over the line, right.” Yun Huizhi remembered this was her Client; she needed to rein it in.

“No more daring to tease.”

Chu Ruoyou recalled how, when Yun Huizhi had hurt her last night, she had retaliated by biting her on the ear.

Yun Huizhi had yelped in pain, “Woo.”

And said she wasn’t allowed to bite her ear. Her ears were afraid of both pain and tickling, so she didn’t like people touching them.

Right now, Chu Ruoyou looked at her, slightly gritting her teeth in a threatening manner: “Seems you weren’t bitten painfully enough last night.”

The unpleasant memory resurfaced. Before Yun Huizhi had time to feel aggrieved, a sudden realization dawned. She solemnly extended an index finger: “I know, you’re a Dog, right!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but the adjacent table just happened to hear. An entire table of people cast astonished looks their way.

Under the pressure from the surrounding gazes, Chu Ruoyou said in a low voice: “Shut up!”