Chapter 9

Yesterday, Chu Ruoyou said she wouldn’t be able to get up, but when Yun Huizhi went out for breakfast, she decided to come along.

Yun Huizhi had disturbed her sleep last night, acting very uninhibited. Feeling guilty, she said: “Sleep a bit more. I’ll buy some and bring it back for you.”

“No need.”

Chu Ruoyou sat down to put on her shoes: “Can’t fall back asleep anyway. Let’s just go eat. Didn’t you say it tastes better at the shop?”

“Oh, then let’s go together.”

Chu Ruoyou put on her sneakers. Yun Huizhi thought, with her aura and leg shape, she would look great in high heels.

Too bad she was too clear-headed. Coming to the mountains for fun, she’d only brought shoes good for her feet.

Chu Ruoyou abruptly asked her: “How long have you been single?”

“…”

Yun Huizhi dragged her gaze away from Chu Ruoyou’s legs and fell into silence. Not because the question was difficult to answer, but because Chu Ruoyou’s motive for asking wasn’t kind.

“Not long,” she said vaguely.

Chu Ruoyou nodded, not questioning it. She believed her. A pretty girl wouldn’t lack for partners.

“Then you must be…”

Before she could finish, Yun Huizhi picked it up: “Although I haven’t been single long, Older Sister is too charming. I have no immunity to you.”

“And every time we’re intimate, Older Sister seems to really enjoy it. The sounds you make are very pleasant to hear. I thought Older Sister liked it, so of course, I put in more effort.”

She had tied her hair in a high ponytail, looking youthful and pretty, wearing a beige dress like a little white flower.

The smile on her face was simply too innocent, yet she was anything but innocent. She was doing it on purpose. This string of “Older Sister”s was purely to torment her.

Chu Ruoyou was silent. Her gaze was slightly complex, but without the slightest impatience or disgust.

This made Yun Huizhi even bolder. Although her Client was occasionally domineering, cunning, and distant, she wasn’t fierce.

Her temper was relatively mild; she just had a sour face.

She teased even more, leaning her face in: “How about a kiss before we go out? My lips aren’t dry. I just drank a big glass of water!”

Her pouting lips were pink and moist. Her eyes curved with a smile, a smile clean yet a little wicked.

The wicked smile always carried a hint of childishness, as if afraid she was too annoying, so she deliberately let you see it so you could catch her handle.

Then, refuse her.

Perhaps she didn’t even want a kiss that much, just wanted to smoothly sidestep the previous topic.

But Chu Ruoyou didn’t want to catch her handle, nor did she want to refuse. So she hooked Yun Huizhi’s chin and kissed her directly.

Without patience for lingering, she planted two solid pecks on her lips. She said calmly to Yun Huizhi: “Very good. You’ve been drinking your water properly.”

As she spoke, the finger hooked under her chin retracted, the fingertip tapping lightly just below her lip.

In those few seconds, Yun Huizhi almost lost all consciousness.

How could she be such an Older Sister?

How could she not care about anything, not even feel shy, and even lean in to kiss her back?

Didn’t she find it annoying?

Not only did Chu Ruoyou not find it annoying, she was even in a rather good mood, showing a smile as she headed downstairs. “The morning air is so nice.”

Yun Huizhi followed her. “It’s the mountains, after all.”

“The photos you took last night were quite good,” Chu Ruoyou suddenly praised her.

Yun Huizhi raised her eyebrows, clearly proud, yet still saying humble words: “You flatter me. It’s just that you’re beautiful.”

They ordered two bowls of rice noodles and had just found seats when they saw Little Zhang’s sister at the table in front of them, staring at them with a gaze as resentful as a discarded wife.

Yun Huizhi waved at her in greeting. The girl turned her face away, looking like she was angry and wanted to be coaxed.

Quite cute. A typical high schooler, either cheering or bristling.

Comparatively, Chu Ruoyou’s emotionally stable Older Sister type was easier to accept.

Just as the noodles were served, Little Zhang’s sister finished eating and was about to leave. She stopped at their table and asked: “Are you planning to leave town?”

Yun Huizhi was surprised: “Who said that?”

“She probably won’t stay here long. Then, won’t you leave with her?”

“I have no such plans for now,” Yun Huizhi replied.

Little Zhang’s sister seemed relieved upon hearing this. With a bit of tsundere, she said: “I don’t care, anyway. Before I give you my WeChat, you’re not allowed to just leave.”

She left after speaking.

Chu Ruoyou seized on the phrasing: “No plans for now?”

“None ever. Just rest assured. I won’t cling to you. We’ll part amicably when the time comes. I just said it like that so she wouldn’t keep being so persistent.”

Yun Huizhi began eating heartily.

“It’s only the second day, and you’re already rushing to talk about parting amicably?” Chu Ruoyou teased her.

“Right, how long are you planning to stay?”

“At least a week. After a week, it depends on my mood.”

Yun Huizhi blinked and asked frankly: “Depends on my performance, right?”

“You could say that.”

“The pressure’s on.”

After breakfast, the two continued to wander around the town. Not long after, they passed a coffee house.

The shopfront was very small but decorated with great character. The artistic vibe was so intense it seemed afraid of not attracting pseudo-artsy types.

Chu Ruoyou pushed the door open and casually asked Yun Huizhi: “What will you have?”

Clearly, she intended to treat again.

“Flat white.”

It was Yun Huizhi’s first time inside. She took a few photos of the shop’s interior and also captured Chu Ruoyou’s leisurely posture as she sipped her coffee.

They sat facing the window, a window full of lush green grass and trees, making the shop feel as if it were in the wild.

Unlike when she drank her milk tea boldly, Yun Huizhi sipped slowly, letting the richness and bitterness of each mouthful linger between her teeth.

Chu Ruoyou’s phone rang. Yun Huizhi’s gaze was drawn to it.

Before she could see the name on the screen, Chu Ruoyou picked up the phone and hung up.

A spam call?

This thought flashed through Yun Huizhi’s mind. But seeing Chu Ruoyou’s expression, she knew it wasn’t an insignificant call.

It had successfully disturbed Chu Ruoyou’s state of mind, making her unable to idly while away time in the coffee house any longer.

The phone rang again. This time, Chu Ruoyou lost the resolve to hang up decisively. She said, “I’ll go outside and take this call.”

Yun Huizhi didn’t react, because Chu Ruoyou was just informing her. She left right after speaking.

Yun Huizhi slowly finished half her coffee while scrolling through her phone.

Someone had messaged her too.

Her aunt asked if she was tired of staying here, and if the inn was still comfortable.

Her mother asked how she was doing lately and if she wanted to change places for the summer vacation.

Her father… seemed to be trying to set her up on a blind date.

She only replied to her aunt: [I’m very happy here. Everywhere’s good. Waiting for you to come back.]

Chu Ruoyou came back into the shop after the call. Though she tried hard to act as if nothing was wrong, that made it even more off.

The coffee house played light English songs, but they were almost completely drowned out by the noise from another table of customers.

Yun Huizhi felt irritated. She glanced over at them and silently rolled her eyes.

Then she refocused on Chu Ruoyou’s dazed state. “Did something happen?”

“No.”

Yun Huizhi paused, then went straight to the point: “Your ex-husband called you?”

Chu Ruoyou glanced at her, seemingly surprised she knew.

Yun Huizhi understood it was him. “Did he call to check on you, or to harass you?”

“Neither. Just talked about something.” Chu Ruoyou’s voice was muffled.

“If it makes you unhappy, then don’t answer it in the future. Block him,” Yun Huizhi egged her on.

“Mm. I told him I was traveling and not to bother me for a while.”

Yun Huizhi was gratified: “Exactly. You finally got the chance to come here, so have a good time. Don’t let trivial matters upset you.”

“Am I upset?” Chu Ruoyou asked.

“You are.”

Yun Huizhi wasn’t afraid of her getting angry and pointed between her brows: “Even a little bit sad, actually.”

Hearing this, Chu Ruoyou was indeed displeased and didn’t admit it. “There’s no one worth being sad over right now.”

“Exactly, I agree. He’s impotent, so hurry up and tell him to get lost.”

Yun Huizhi said sharply.

Chu Ruoyou was expressionless for a moment, then suddenly smiled. “You’re right.”

After a solid nap, they woke up at three in the afternoon. The sunlight outside had weakened somewhat.

Chu Ruoyou saw Yun Huizhi wasn’t in the room. After changing, she messaged to ask where she was.

A while later, Yun Huizhi ran upstairs. Wiping her sweat, she said she’d gotten a bicycle.

“Where did the bike come from?”

“Stolen. No big deal; I steal often.”

She said it righteously, completely straight-faced.

“Fine, as long as it’s no big deal.”

She wanted to take Chu Ruoyou on the bike to see the Twin Pagodas from the fridge magnet. “We’re doing things backwards. Haven’t seen the landmark yet, but already bought the souvenir.”

Sitting on the back of her bicycle, Chu Ruoyou said: “The town’s development needs impulsive consumers like us.”

“Then be a bit more impulsive.”

“My biggest impulse was you. Isn’t that enough?”

At first listen, the words sounded deeply affectionate, like a confession in the heat of passion. But a closer thought made them ruthlessly awkward.

Chu Ruoyou felt the line wasn’t good after saying it, but Yun Huizhi’s bright laughter gave her no chance to dwell on it.

“Well said. You’ve also contributed to the town’s development.”

The Twin Pagodas, one tall and one short, looked majestic after their renovations.

The legends about the pagodas were mystical: they were precious artifacts of the mountain gods and also suppressed evil things. The entire town’s feng shui depended on these two pagodas.

The square in front of the pagodas bustled with tourists. Countless selfie sticks were extended for commemorative photos.

Yun Huizhi took photos for Chu Ruoyou too. Her angles and style were very good, different from typical tourist photos.

But her shooting poses were too attention-grabbing. Chu Ruoyou only cooperated for two shots before she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Let’s go. I’m tired.” She wanted to escape.

They bought some snacks on the nearby Commercial Street for dinner. Honestly, the taste was average. Commercial streets like this were no different anywhere in the country.

Back at the inn, Chu Ruoyou didn’t say much. She immediately went to remove her makeup and shower, then climbed into bed after coming out.

Although Yun Huizhi was the one riding the bike, Chu Ruoyou was very tired today. She didn’t want to talk or move.

That inexplicable phone call today had disturbed her.

Yun Huizhi came over a little later. She crouched by the bedside, poked her, and asked softly: “Asleep?”

Chu Ruoyou lifted her head from the covers: “No.”

Yun Huizhi smiled at her, then slowly raised her hand. Dangling from her palm was a small red sachet.

On the sachet was embroidered a roaring little dog, mightier than the dragon or tiger, along with a crystal-clear Lucky Bead.

Chu Ruoyou was stunned. “When did you buy this?”

“This afternoon.”

Yun Huizhi gently consoled her: “For you. Maybe it can turn your luck around. You’ll definitely encounter better things and better people in the future. You should be happier, don’t worry.”

Chu Ruoyou woodenly took the sachet and squeezed the bead.

Could it turn luck?

Yun Huizhi smiled and recommended: “Although it hasn’t been blessed, I chose it carefully. Its color is the best among its friends, flawless. It can definitely work.”

“Among its friends…” Chu Ruoyou also smiled. What kind of phrasing was that?

“Do you like it?”

“I do.”

Chu Ruoyou pulled her up to sit on the edge of the bed. She kissed her cheek and said once more: “Thank you.”