Silence swallowed the air the moment Su Ye’s voice fell.
In that instant, Yue Chengqi suddenly felt as if she were a bit of a joke. Her actions, her worries—everything felt like a collection of punchlines.
After Su Ye had left in a fit of anger earlier, Yue Chengqi had been reflecting on whether she had truly done something wrong. She had replayed every conversation they’d had since entering the shop, talking to herself and searching for loopholes or mistakes. She was terrified that she had said something problematic, causing Su Ye to get so angry she wouldn’t even say goodbye.
By the end of her mental review, she had decided never to call Su Ye “clumsy” or “silly” again. She had resolved to coax her and make amends as soon as she returned.
To that end, she had ignored her comfortable house and her books, choosing instead to squat by the courtyard gate and wait for Su Ye, even though her back had grown so stiff and sore she could barely stand straight.
She never expected this to be the news she received upon her return.
What kind of luck was this? A freak car accident happens, and one person ends up being the victim’s family, while the other is the ignorant, pitiable soul who caused the disaster in the first place.
Su Ye runs off to clear her head after a family argument, only to run straight into that person—and that person is practically begging to be her apprentice.
Yue Chengqi felt her palms turn ice-cold, as if she were gripping icicles plucked from the eaves in the dead of winter. She felt paralyzed; a chill rose from the soles of her feet, enveloping her until she lost all sensation in her legs.
It was already May, but this wasn’t the warmth of May. Only one thought echoed in the depths of Yue Chengqi’s heart—
What comes next? Next time, will they go out to play together? Or what? At this rate, I might be kicked out of this house before the New Year even arrives. And then my mother will come to rent this place, and there is no way I could or would ever live with that woman.
Was sending me back to 1998 just so I could watch her find her own happiness with my own eyes, only to be forced further and further away from her?
God of Fate, you are truly cruel.
So it’s definitely that person, isn’t it? I don’t need to waste any more effort looking for anyone else. I knew it—the moment I laid eyes on Qi Sheng, I knew she wasn’t a good person. I was right!
God of Fate, why do you want me to bear witness, yet refuse to let me witness a happy ending? Do you want me to watch her walk toward loneliness and ruin?
You are so cruel.
Su Ye’s questioning voice snapped her back to reality. The young girl was looking at her strangely, pointing toward the door. “That’s my room. Do you have something you need to come inside to say?”
Yue Chengqi jerked as if her soul had been snapped back into her body by a rubber band. She remained dazed for a long moment until Su Ye poked her in the waist. “What’s wrong? Have you gone stupid? Don’t tell me you’re sick again?”
“No.” Yue Chengqi took a step back, avoiding her hand, and shook her head. “I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
“Oh…” Su Ye watched her. “Well then, goodnight. Tomorrow we keep grinding.”
“…Yeah. Goodnight.”
Yue Chengqi turned to go to her own room. After taking two steps, the stagnation in her chest hadn’t cleared at all.
She spun around abruptly, but the words “I wanted to say…” died on her lips, leaving only a faint trailing sound.
The speed at which the girl closed her door exceeded her imagination, as if her own movements had been set to slow motion. By the time she turned around, Su Ye had already shut the door, and a faint, dim yellow light was already leaking through the cracks.
The tightly shut door blocked Yue Chengqi’s voice and halted her hand as it drifted in mid-air.
It was so awkward she didn’t know how to pull it back.
Hesitantly, she pressed her palm lightly against the door, gritting her teeth.
Auntie Su Ye, I’ve returned to 1998. The gap between us is no longer twenty-two years; it’s only three. Why… why can’t that person be me?
Clearly, we are the ones who spend every day and night together.
Yue Chengqi rested her forehead against the back of her hand, suppressing her trembling and cowardice. Only when separated by a door did she dare to reveal a sliver of her selfishness and her deep-seated flaws.
She had never been a good person.
But her desires were forcing her to act like one.
Let me indulge myself here tonight, just for a moment. Tomorrow, I will definitely step back to where I belong.
I will.
On the other side of the door, Su Ye listlessly reached for the light cord. The moment the old-fashioned pull-switch clicked and the light flickered on, she heard a faint sound from outside.
It’s Yue Huan.
She hasn’t left yet.
Su Ye felt the strength leave her body. She leaned back against the door, resting her head against the wood, her eyes fixed on the lightbulb, which had grown dark at the base from age.
For some reason, she was a little afraid of seeing Yue Huan.
Every time she saw that person, she lost control of her emotions. Because the idea that Yue Huan “came for her” was so ingrained in her mind, she felt that no matter how she acted out, Yue Huan wouldn’t blame her. Even if her temper exceeded what Lin Wanjia and her husband could tolerate, it didn’t matter; Yue Huan could take it.
And that seemed to be the case.
Yue Huan always silently endured her temper. She didn’t talk back, only offering a subtle jab or two at most. Even when she was at her angriest, she would just run away quietly; she never directed her anger toward Su Ye. It had reached a point where Su Ye felt a bit spoiled—so spoiled that she was afraid to face Yue Huan.
She wasn’t like this. She wasn’t a fickle person, nor was she someone who got angry every other day. How did she become like this? How did she become… so dependent on Yue Huan?
So concerned about her.
A soft sound came from the door panel.
Hasn’t she left yet? Su Ye wondered. Does she want to ask about Qi Sheng? Or does she want to ask why I was angry today? Or does she want to ask nothing at all, and just lean there like me, resting for a while?
To be honest, when she saw Yue Huan squatting so pitifully at the gate, she had really, really wanted to hug her. Just like at the market earlier that day, she wanted to hold her tight.
Why?
How can I have such strange thoughts?
Why can’t I control my own emotions?
Why am I so easily influenced?
Su Ye slowly raised her hand, placing it against the wood.
It was just a wooden door; how thick could it be?
It was just a question; how hard could it be to ask?
But why did Yue Huan look like she’d been struck by lightning when Su Ye mentioned taking Qi Sheng as an apprentice? Was it because, like her, Yue Huan couldn’t control her emotions?
Would Yue Huan feel that way?
It doesn’t seem like her.
Is it because she might be a “lesbian,” so she thinks getting close to girls is a bad thing?
But it’s not like she keeps her distance from other women normally.
Su Ye retracted her hand from the latch and slid down the door until she was sitting on the floor. She covered her face with both hands and let out a long, low-pitched scream, though she kept the sound muffled and very, very quiet.
Only this could provide a tiny bit of relief for the frustration in her heart.
Only this.
You must return to normal tomorrow, Su Ye! she told herself.
Tomorrow, you must return to a normal money-making mindset. Anything else can wait, but money cannot! Do you hear me?
Anything could fail her, but money never would.
Therefore, she had to be sufficiently devout toward money.
She sat against the door for a long time, lost in thought, until she heard footsteps outside that were lighter than light.
Normally, they would be inaudible, but in the silence of the deep night, with two restless young women in the house, every rustle was magnified and became crystal clear.
Suddenly, Su Ye sprang up and pulled open the door.
The living room light was already off; the filament had cooled completely, leaving not even a faint ember of light. It must have been turned off for a long time.
Was it… a hallucination?
She had thought that Yue Huan would also be feeling conflicted and would sit there for a long time, thinking.
As it turned out, she was the only one so agitated that she was hearing things.
Su Ye covered her face with a bitter smile and shook her head.
This is what happens when you aren’t devout enough toward money!
Once people get busy, many conflicts end up being shelved. After both had set aside their issues for a day, they each mistakenly assumed the other had also temporarily moved on. They were young and high-spirited; within two days, they were back to normal, huddling together to figure out the most convenient way to make money.
As for that thorn shelved in their hearts, it was like a Spikeweed from Plants vs. Zombies. It wouldn’t jump out to poke you on its own, but it was always there. Every time you brushed past it, it would sting a little. The damage wasn’t high, though.
At least, the damage wasn’t too high for now.
Most of May had passed, and the weather was getting hot. The semi-enclosed environment of the market was even hotter. When there were no customers, Yue Chengqi would sit at the entrance with a fan to catch the breeze, even entertaining the thought of swapping jobs with Su Ye.
But the girl refused to swap no matter what. After all, going out meant she could eat ice cream and drink cold water, which was better than being stifled in the market.
What could Yue Chengqi say? She stayed put.
“Little Yue, I boiled some Mung Bean Tea. Do you want some?”
This was Sister Xie from the fresh noodle shop across the way. She was in her early forties and spent her days tending to various types of noodles. Yue Chengqi wasn’t close to her, but she was very familiar with Sister Xie’s daughter, because in the future, this shop would be passed down to the girl. When Yue Chengqi was a child, she was often sent here to buy noodles for home.
Yue Chengqi’s impression of them was that they were good people who made excellent dough. No wonder they stayed in business for decades.
Now, being offered food again, she rubbed her head sheepishly. “Sister, I’ve already ‘borrowed’ several bowls from you. I’m starting to feel bad.”
“Aiyoo! What’s there to feel bad about?” Sister Xie waved it off with a smile. “If it really bothers you, just get me a lightbulb. The one at my place needs replacing.”
“Coming right up.”
Trading a cheap lightbulb for a bowl of Mung Bean Tea was a great deal. Meanwhile, Auntie Niu from next door traded a handful of raisins for a bowl of tea. The three women sat at their respective shop entrances, stealing a bit of free time.
Auntie Niu couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s so great that your place can have a stove!”
Yue Chengqi didn’t know how to charm the neighbors, so she just nodded along foolishly.
Sister Xie waved her hand and laughed. “That’s nothing.” She leaned in mysteriously and lowered her voice. “Doesn’t Old Zhu’s family have a stove too? But that matrilocal husband of theirs is no good. I bet he’ll ruin the reputation they worked so hard to build sooner or later!”
Yue Chengqi picked a stray hair out of her bowl and said calmly, “That man will definitely be kicked out. It’s only a matter of time.”
Sister Xie laughed loudly. “Young people really are different! Are you talking about a divorce?”
Yue Chengqi replied, “Given the current situation, I think we should call it ‘firing’ him.”
The two older women laughed even harder. Auntie Niu didn’t forget to pat Yue Chengqi’s shoulder. “Xiao Huan, someone’s at your shop. Go do business!”
Yue Chengqi ran back and greeted the newcomer with familiarity. “What can I get for you? We have household goods, fruit, and a bit of veg.”
The woman seemed somewhat timid, as if she were afraid of something. She kept avoiding Yue Chengqi’s gaze, looking down as she stumbled over her words. “I… I’ll just look. I’ll look around myself, thank you…”
“Alright, let me get you a bag.”
When she took the bag, she finally looked up. Her down-turned eyes held a touch of pitiableness, and the corners were already marked with fine lines. She said weakly, “Tha… thank you…”
![Us Outside of Time [Rebirth]](https://i1.wp.com/dobytranslations.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/rebirth.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Us Outside of Time [Rebirth]")
