Chapter 12 : How did Su Yubai know that she liked to drink cheese and peaches?

“Professor Su.”
Seeing Su Yubai, Jiang Yule inexplicably trembled.
Her mind raced, frantically wondering if she’d said something wrong.
But she’d only spoken her heart.

Su Yubai nodded as usual.
“Call me when you’re done. I’ll take you out to eat.”
Her voice was flat.

Jiang Yule saw no emotion in her eyes, but her lips seemed to hide a faint smile.

“Did my sister… just smile?”
Su Yingying was stunned.

“Seems like it.”
Su Jinyun looked dazed, realizing she might have been morally pressuring Su Yubai.

It was getting late, nearing noon.
Jiang Yule and Su Yingying quickened their tour.

Su Jinyun sped up her explanations, covering only essentials—like Su Yubai’s foster mother, Su Shuzhen.

Jiang Yule listened closely.
From Su Jinyun’s words, she could tell she deeply admired Teacher Su.

They left the museum at 11:45.

Su Yubai wasn’t in the courtyard.

Jiang Yule was about to speak when Su Jinyun headed to the back.
“Yubai’s probably in the back courtyard.”

She opened a small door in the museum’s corner.
Jiang Yule realized there was another world back there.

The back courtyard was about the same size as the front museum.
Likely the “home” Su Jinyun mentioned.

Behind a small tree, Jiang Yule spotted Su Yubai by a glass window.
She was looking down, perhaps reading the latest journal article.

Jiang Yule recalled last spring, Su Yubai in China Economics class.
Alone in the upper-left corner, silver glasses on, engrossed in a paper.

Outside, cherry blossoms fell.
Inside, students laughed.
She was unmoved by the beauty or the noise.

The scene was so striking, a classmate snapped a photo and posted it on the campus wall.
It was later picked up by the school’s PR, now featured in the “Faculty Spotlight” on the website—
The origin of her “Goddess of the Academy” title.

This moment was beautiful too.
The willow by the window didn’t block all the sun, casting her half in light, half in shadow.

Jiang Yule stared, lost in thought.
When she snapped back, Su Yubai was looking at her.

Her eyes shimmered, clear and breathtakingly beautiful.

Caught in her gaze, Jiang Yule couldn’t look away.

She stepped toward the window, uneasy, when—

“Yule, seen my sister?”
Su Yingying called from nearby.

Jiang Yule paused.
“Ah.”
Her voice softened unconsciously.
“Professor Su’s here.”

Looking back, Su Yubai had lowered her eyes, sorting papers.
That glance felt like an illusion.

But Jiang Yule knew it wasn’t.
She’d seen an emotion in Su Yubai’s eyes she’d never seen before—though its meaning was unclear.

Soon, Su Yubai stood and walked out.

“What do you want to eat?”
She asked the group, but her eyes fixed on Jiang Yule.

Su Jinyun and Su Yingying turned to Jiang Yule too.

Her heart fluttered under their stares.
“I’m fine with anything.”

“Me too.”

Su Yubai said nothing, heading out of the workshop.

Su Jinyun locked the door behind them.

Su Yubai led them out of the alley, along the river.

Soon, they reached the bustling center of Wuzhou Ancient Town.

The town matched the Xiaohongshu posts, but today’s clear skies lacked the “misty江南” vibe of cloudy days.

Shops lined the river, similar to other ancient towns.

The narrow riverside path had tourists in hanfu.

Jiang Yule realized they were in the scenic area.
“Don’t we need tickets?”

Su Jinyun explained.
“Yubai bought yours in advance. You were asleep during entry checks, so we didn’t wake you.”

Jiang Yule’s voice rose.
“Thanks, Professor Su!”

A cool reply came from ahead.
“No need to be polite.”

Su Yingying chuckled softly.

Su Jinyun eagerly pointed out sights and specialty shops.

Passing a qipao store, Jiang Yule glanced at Su Yubai’s slim, upright figure.
She nodded, then shook her head.
Professor Su probably wouldn’t wear a qipao.

They followed Su Yubai into an alley, entering a Sichuan restaurant.

“This place isn’t too spicy. Check the menu.”
Su Yubai handed it to them.

“My hidden gem!”
Su Jinyun’s eyes sparkled.

Jiang Yule saw “maoxuewang” and “boiled fish” and got excited.
“I’m good.”

Su Yingying had no objections.
The four sat down.

This was Jiang Yule’s third time eating with Su Yubai since her return.

Recalling the first two times, her scalp tingled.

“You order.”
Su Yubai spoke.

Su Yingying passed the menu to Jiang Yule.
“You first.”

Jiang Yule didn’t decline, asking quietly, “Maoxuewang okay?”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Fine.”

They ordered, and Jiang Yule poured water for everyone.

The table was small.
Sitting across from Su Yubai, Jiang Yule felt nervous.
She sipped water quietly, then said, “Professor Su, Yingying and I can help this afternoon.”

“The memorial items are ready. It’s just making a few dishes she liked.”

Jiang Yule touched her nose.
It sounded like she and Su Yingying couldn’t help much.

“Sis, we’re hopeless at cooking.”
Su Yingying said glumly.

Su Yubai didn’t mind, saying calmly, “It’s fine. Su Jinyun will show you around later.”

Jiang Yule didn’t respond, unsure if they were here to help or sightsee.

The location was remote, with few tourists.
The food arrived quickly.

Jiang Yule tasted it.
As Su Yubai said, the Sichuan dishes weren’t too spicy.

A spice level Hangzhou and Suzhou folks could handle.
And delicious!

But Su Yubai hadn’t stayed in Wuzhou long.
How did she find this tucked-away spot?

“Taste okay?”
Su Yubai asked, her eyes flicking up briefly to Jiang Yule.

“Delicious,” Jiang Yule answered without thinking.
“I wanna pack some back to Hangzhou,” Su Yingying exaggerated, echoing Jiang Yule’s thoughts.

Su Jinyun beamed at their reactions.
“Locals love this place. Tourists haven’t found it yet.”

Jiang Yule focused on eating, remembering her neglected blog.
She snapped a photo and posted:
[Wuzhou Ancient Town’s Sichuan restaurant is to die for!!]

After lunch, they returned to the workshop.
Su Yubai asked Su Jinyun to take Jiang Yule and Su Yingying to explore the town.

They exchanged a look.
“We’ll tour after the memorial for Aunt Su tonight.”

Su Yubai didn’t insist, pulling ingredients from the fridge.

Jiang Yule and Su Yingying assisted, chopping scallions, peeling garlic, cracking eggs, cutting vegetables.

Su Yubai cooked with ease, her steps practiced.
No recipe needed, like she had her own method.

“Professor Su, did you cook a lot abroad?”
“Yes.”

Jiang Yule found watching her cook pleasing.
But those hands seemed too refined for it.
Unless she enjoyed it, of course.

Su Shuzhen’s fifteenth memorial wasn’t as grand as Aunt Lin Zhiying described.
Just the four of them.

Jiang Yule and Su Yingying tactfully avoided the topic, buying two chrysanthemum bouquets to show respect.

When they returned, Su Yubai had prepared four dishes, cleaned a bamboo basket, and placed the plates inside.

Jiang Yule saw her take a cake from the fridge, likely Su Shuzhen’s favorite.

She handed it to Jiang Yule.
“Hold this. Try not to bump it.”

Jiang Yule’s lashes trembled.
She vowed to be extra careful, not to betray… her trust.

Tasks assigned, the four set off to honor Su Shuzhen.

Even talkative Su Jinyun stayed quiet.

Jiang Yule carefully guarded the cake.
Thankfully, the destination wasn’t far.

Su Shuzhen’s tombstone, in a small cemetery outside the scenic area, was unassuming.
But the flowers and offerings before it stood out, suggesting many had visited.

“Teacher Su didn’t like noise, so mourners come in batches,” Su Jinyun explained.

Up close, Jiang Yule saw the tombstone read “Su Shuzhen” and “Filial Daughter Yubai.”
A black-and-white photo showed a young, beautiful woman with a bright smile.

She glanced at Su Yubai.
As always, her emotions were unreadable.

Su Yubai set down the basket and offerings, wiping the tombstone gently with a cloth.

After she finished, Jiang Yule carefully placed her chrysanthemums and cake, recalling her hometown’s New Year rituals.
She bowed deeply, reverently.

Su Yingying followed her lead, bowing in turn.

Su Yubai said nothing, bowing silently.

Jiang Yule signaled Su Yingying and Su Jinyun to leave first, guessing Su Yubai might want a private moment with Teacher Su.

They waited briefly at the foot of the hill.
Su Yubai joined them, carrying the basket, cake, and an electronic lantern.

“Let’s go.”

“I’ll take it.”
Jiang Yule reached out.

Su Yubai looked at her, handing over the cake.
“No need to be so careful.”

She was telling her to relax.
Jiang Yule nodded firmly.
“Okay.”

Halfway back, Su Yubai hung the lantern on a branch.

Hangzhou and Suzhou had similar customs, likely to light the way for the departed.

They followed Su Yubai back, this time along the river’s other side.

Jiang Yule noticed shops she’d missed, including a bubble tea chain she loved.

Thirsty from the sun and lack of water, she was about to suggest it when Su Yubai paused.
“Want bubble tea?”

“Yes!”
Su Yingying answered first.
“Me too,” Su Jinyun echoed.

Su Yubai scanned the QR code at the door, asking, “Su Yingying, what do you want?”
“Su Jinyun?”

After they ordered, Su Yubai hadn’t asked her.
Jiang Yule wondered if she’d been forgotten.

She pulled out her phone to scan the code when Su Yubai said, “I ordered for you.”

Jiang Yule blinked.
“Oh, thanks, Professor Su.”
Her heart raced.
What did she pick?
Hopefully not a miss.

Soon, Su Yubai fetched the drinks and handed them out.

Jiang Yule thanked her again, opening hers.
It was her favorite—Super A Cheese Peach, five-sugar, no extra pulp.

How did Su Yubai know she loved cheese peach?
Down to the sugar level and toppings?