Chapter 13 : Sweet and tasty

“What did my sister get you?”
Su Yingying peered at Jiang Yule’s drink.

Jiang Yule glanced at Su Yubai, then said slowly, “Super A Cheese Peach, five-sugar.”
Her tone lingered on the last three words.

Su Yingying’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t expected her sister to nail the exact sugar level.
“Wow, that’s your favorite!”

With the topic laid bare, Su Yubai only glanced at them, no guilt, no explanation.
Utterly composed.

Jiang Yule thanked her, probing slightly.
“Thanks, Professor Su. You got my usual sugar level.”

“Oh, what a coincidence.”
Su Yubai left it at that and walked ahead.

Jiang Yule felt she was overthinking, too sensitive.
How else could she catch a hint of something else in Su Yubai’s tone?

She followed the group toward the embroidery workshop, casually browsing riverside shops.

Each shop had a few people, not too crowded—likely due to the heat.

Su Yubai led them to the back courtyard’s living room, turning on the AC.
“Sit, make yourselves at home.”
She handed Jiang Yule a tissue, then went to sort items.

Jiang Yule sat on a bamboo chair with Su Jinyun, shedding her sun-protective jacket.

Thankfully, the jacket was waterproof and sweat-resistant, or it’d be soaked.
That iced fruit tea saved her from heatstroke.

Her eyes caught tea on the wooden table, brewed by Su Yubai before they arrived, now perfectly cooled.

“Want tea?”
The fruit tea was too sweet, not quenching.
Half a cup, and she was still thirsty.

“Yes.”

Jiang Yule stood to pour.
At the fourth cup, Su Yubai returned, taking the freshly poured cup from her.

The tea’s rich aroma mingled unexpectedly with Su Yubai’s faint scent.
Jiang Yule’s fingers brushed her cool skin, not yet letting go.

Her fingertips trembled.
Su Yubai’s movements were natural, like this was routine.

After tea, it was evening.
The sun was setting.

“Senior sister, time to light the lamp,” Su Jinyun said quietly.

Su Yubai seemed not to hear, staring out the door, lost in thought.

Jiang Yule followed her gaze.
It seemed fixed on a pine tree outside.

“Senior sister, if you… want someone to go with you,” Su Jinyun offered.

Su Yubai looked back, glancing at Jiang Yule and Su Yingying, then settling on Jiang Yule.
She said nothing.

For the first time, Jiang Yule saw a faint, fragile emotion in her eyes.
Her heart ached, as if gripped.
She blurted out, “Can I go with you?”
She stood.

Su Yubai looked at her deeply, then nodded slowly.

The oil lamp was ready.
Su Yubai fetched the key to Su Shuzhen’s room.

Jiang Yule followed closely, like years ago.
But she couldn’t say, “Sister Yubai, where are you going? Can I come?” anymore.

Su Yubai opened Su Shuzhen’s door.

A puff of dust hit them.
“Achoo!”

“You okay?”
Su Yubai looked back.

“Fine, fine.”

Jiang Yule looked up, seeing walls covered in certificates, all bearing “Su Yubai.”
From elementary to high school, they lined the head and foot of the bed.

“So many awards.”
“Yes.”

“Aunt Su must be so proud of you.”
“I hope so.”

A hint of melancholy in her tone.
Even with countless honors or criticism, Su Yubai never showed emotion.
Today was different.

Jiang Yule sensed it, staying quiet.
She watched Su Yubai place an oil lamp by the bedside table.

Her gaze swept the room, landing on a photo on the right cabinet.

It was blurry but showed a young Su Yubai with Su Shuzhen.
Handwritten text read: Yuzhan weeps for the wind-torn tree, the sun never lingers on its branches.

The frame was dusty.
Jiang Yule pulled a tissue from her skirt pocket, wiping it carefully.

Su Yubai lit the lamp.
Jiang Yule explained, “Professor Su, I saw dust, so…”

“Thanks.”
Su Yubai cut her off, walking around the bed to her, seeing the calligraphy.
“She gave me my name.”

Her faint tea scent hit Jiang Yule.
She froze, looking at her.
Su Yubai’s gaze was softer than she’d ever seen.

So close, Jiang Yule could see the fine hairs on her face.
Her skin was flawless, poreless.

Her eyes drifted to her thin lips…
Jiang Yule quickly looked back at the photo, saying awkwardly, “Aunt Su must’ve loved you so much.”

“Yes.”
Su Yubai turned away.

Jiang Yule realized why, despite being family, Su Yubai and Su Yingying’s names were so different.

Perhaps Su Yubai’s “Su” wasn’t Su Kaihua’s, but Su Shuzhen’s.

Jiang Yule followed Su Yubai out of Su Shuzhen’s room, back to the living room.

The oil lamp was lit, tasks done.
The workshop’s atmosphere lightened.

The sun was half-set, the air cooling slightly.

“Want to stroll by the river?”
Su Jinyun asked.

“Let’s go!”
Su Yingying was excited.

Jiang Yule nodded.
“Sure.”

All three looked at Su Yubai.
She was tapping on her phone, maybe filling out a survey.

Seconds later, she looked up.
“Let’s go.”

Jiang Yule’s lashes flickered, her mind flashing to the cyan qipao from earlier.

“Awesome!”
Su Yingying cheered.
Her first time shopping with her sister.

Su Jinyun had family matters and said goodbye.

Su Yubai led the way, Jiang Yule and Su Yingying trailing.

At the alley’s corner, a stylish woman with a fan sat under a tree outside a convenience store.
She stared at Su Yubai’s group, smiling brightly.

“Yubai, was that Sichuan place good? My recs are solid, right?”
“Very good. Thanks.”
Su Yubai nodded.

So that’s how she found the restaurant.

“Master Su’s ceremony all done?”
“Yes.”

“Going for a stroll?”
“Yes, they haven’t been to Wuzhou.”
Su Yubai gestured back.

The woman noticed the two girls, covering her mouth with the fan, whispering loudly to Su Yubai.
“Both your sisters?”

Her voice carried clearly to Jiang Yule.

Su Yubai subtly stepped back, then gestured to Su Yingying.
“This is my sister.”

Jiang Yule looked at her, curious how she’d introduce her.
Su Yubai glanced faintly.
Her clear voice followed—
“This is… a friend.”

The woman was surprised.
“Such a young friend! College student?”

She was nosy.
Jiang Yule clarified, “Ma’am, I’m a master’s graduate.”

“Oh, so young! Smart like our Yubai.”

Jiang Yule smiled shyly.

“We’re heading out.”
Su Yubai said goodbye.

Jiang Yule followed, not far along when the woman’s voice carried again, talking to someone.

“Yubai’s changed so much! Used to be so quiet. This morning, she asked me about a Sichuan place! Just now, she chatted with me!”

Jiang Yule’s heart stirred, glancing deeply at Su Yubai ahead.

They reached the scenic commercial area by the Wuzhou River.

Su Yingying’s interests were broad, dragging them from shop to shop.

Soon, they reached the qipao store from earlier.

“Yule, you love qipaos, right? Wanna check it out?”

Su Yingying grabbed her arm, pulling her inside.

Su Yubai followed.

Since they were here, Jiang Yule headed straight for the cyan qipao.

Su Yingying looked with her.
“You like this one?”

“It’s gorgeous, but not quite me.”
Jiang Yule stole a glance at Su Yubai.

Su Yingying studied the qipao, then concluded, “I think it suits my sister.”

Jiang Yule stared at Su Yubai, about to speak when her phone rang—
“Mom” on the screen.

“I’ll take this outside.”
Jiang Yule stepped out of the qipao store, answering.

“Mom.”
“Why’d it take so long?”
“I was in a shop. It wasn’t convenient, so I stepped out.”

“You’re shopping? Is Yubai’s stuff done? Didn’t I tell you to help? Why’re you out playing?”

Another scolding.

Jiang Yule listened quietly.
“Professor Su’s done. She’s taking us out.”

“Oh, that’s fine then.”

Jiang Huazhen asked for details—how big was it, how many people, what did you help Yubai with?

“Her foster mother was a Wuzhou embroidery inheritor. Why so few people?”

Jiang Yule explained patiently.
“Master Su liked quiet. Professor Su had mourners come in batches.”

Jiang Huazhen dropped it, switching topics.
“I still want to stay with you in Hong Kong for a month.”

Jiang Yule’s heart sank.
“Mom, didn’t we agree on daily video calls?”

“I’m still worried.”

Here we go again.
Jiang Yule paused, then said, “I’m in my twenties.”

“Fine, fine, have it your way.”
Jiang Huazhen didn’t push.

Jiang Yule relaxed, then tensed, sensing it wasn’t over.

She hung up, turning back to the qipao store.
A familiar figure flashed by.

She wouldn’t be here.
Jiang Yule looked away.

Inside, Su Yingying was in a pink, modernized qipao.

Jiang Yule was about to ask where Professor Su went when the fitting room curtain parted—

Su Yubai stepped out in the cyan qipao, walking toward her.

Slim waist, long legs, the cyan hue making her skin glow.

Like a sweet lotus root hidden among lotus flowers.