Chapter 15 : A good night’s sleep

Jiang Yule’s lashes trembled.
She turned, catching Su Yubai and Su Yingying’s eyes on her—

She hadn’t stepped far to take the call.
Jiang Huazhen’s loud voice carried clearly through the phone, her question overheard by both.

Su Yubai’s gaze held a deep meaning.
Jiang Yule had never been so embarrassed in her life.

Her mind raced, throwing the question back.
“Mom, what relationship could I have with Professor Su?”

“Someone said you’re close. Do you… have feelings for her?”

Jiang Yule’s heart tightened.
Did “feelings” mean liking Su Yubai, as rumored?

Had that night’s incident reached her ears?
Who was this “someone”?

Stunned, a cool voice cut through.
“Want me to take it?”
Jiang Yule looked up—Su Yubai was beside her.

Jiang Huazhen heard the movement, raising her voice.
“Give the phone to Yubai.”

Jiang Yule handed it over, watching Su Yubai walk away.
Their conversation was out of earshot.

She felt uneasy but trusted Su Yubai—she wouldn’t spill everything about her past with Lin Siqiong.

Su Yingying patted her shoulder.
“It’s fine. Trust my sister.”

“But why does Aunt Jiang think you and my sister have something going on?”

Jiang Yule paused, then recounted that night’s awkward showdown in full.

Memories flooded back, and she cringed, toes curling.

Su Yingying’s jaw dropped.
“Such juicy gossip, and you didn’t tell me right away?”

Jiang Yule gave an awkward laugh.
“I couldn’t even think about it—so embarrassing…”

Su Yingying chuckled.
“You don’t actually like my sister, do you?”

?
Jiang Yule turned, just as Su Yubai returned from the call.

Taking a deep breath, she dodged Su Yingying’s question.
“Professor Su, what did you talk about?”

Su Yubai’s expression was calm, handing back the phone.
“Not important. It’s handled.”

“Does she know about that night?”

Su Yubai headed toward the stairs.
“Not yet.”

Meaning, she didn’t know now, but might later.

Too many people knew.
If unresolved, it’d be a ticking time bomb in Jiang Yule’s life.

Who told Jiang Huazhen she and Su Yubai were unusually close?

Lin Siqiong was the likeliest, yet the least likely.

If the truth came out, her past with Jiang Yule would be exposed—cutting off any chance of benefiting from the Jiang family’s network.

The three went to their rooms to rest.

Su Yingying dropped her luggage and barged into Jiang Yule’s room, her gossip-fueled curiosity blazing.

Jiang Yule was tight-lipped.
“It was just Professor Su helping me out.”

“Definitely not liking her. Isn’t she straight?”

Su Yingying flopped onto the window-side sofa, pondering.
“Mom once said she’d set my sister up, but she claimed she had a boyfriend.”

“But since she came back, I haven’t seen a single guy around her.”

“So, straight status: questionable!”

Don’t judge without the full picture.

Jiang Yule changed the topic.
“Wanna go shop? Get gifts for Mom?”

“What if we run into Lin Siqiong?”
“She doesn’t have time to wander.”

Lin Siqiong worked for a big boss, handling major projects.

“But she came all the way here for you.”

That gave Jiang Yule pause.

“Should we call my sister?”

“No, no, it’s fine. Even if we bump into Lin Siqiong, what’s she gonna do? Eat me?”

Su Yingying eyed her skeptically, sensing guilt.
“Why not call my sister?”

“Professor Su’s time is precious. She’s always reading papers.”

Su Yingying gave a thumbs-up.
“No wonder you’re my sister’s little padded jacket.”

Her childhood nickname for Jiang Yule.

Jiang Yule smiled, not arguing.

As she spent more time with Su Yubai, childhood memories grew clearer.

She recalled Su Yubai’s words before leaving the country.
They couldn’t be her true feelings—maybe just a heated outburst from arguing with Su Kaihua.

Her phone rang again.

Jiang Yule flinched, a bit traumatized, calling to Su Yingying.
“Yingying, check who it is, please?”

Su Yingying grabbed the phone from the coffee table, gasping.
“Oh no, your mom again.”

Jiang Yule groaned, taking the phone reluctantly.

“Mom.”
“Yule, Yubai’s not with you, right?”
Jiang Huazhen’s tone was much softer.

It felt like high school exam days.
Jiang Yule grew curious—what did Su Yubai say to flip her mom’s attitude?

“No. Want me to get her, Mom?”
“No, good. I need to talk to you.”

Jiang Yule’s heart sank, hearing her continue.
“Help your sister Yubai more. Learn from her, ask about writing papers, and if possible, get her to mentor you…”

“Mom.”
Jiang Yule’s emotions teetered toward frustration, cutting her off.

“I know. I’ll ask Professor Su if I need help.”
“You’re getting impatient. I’m teaching you how to navigate life.”

Was “navigating life” just climbing social ladders and begging for co-authorship?
Jiang Yule recalled the night she saw off Professor Qiao, her mom’s question: “Can your relationship go further?”

She asked helplessly, “Mom, do you trust my abilities so little? I can publish papers myself.”

Her papers with Lin Siqiong were mostly her work—she was the true first author.
She could publish in top domestic journals on her own.

“Your focus shouldn’t be domestic journals. Aim international, like I taught you.”

“I’m writing English papers. Professor Qiao’s guiding me too.”
“Do what you think’s best.”

She was mad.
Jiang Yule softened her tone.
“Mom, trust me a little, okay?”

“I’ll work hard, make you and Dad proud, alright?”

“I just want what’s best for you.”
Jiang Yule laughed lightly.
“I know. You love me most, Mom. Put on a face mask tonight, check out my Wuzhou photos—it’s gorgeous.”

Jiang Huazhen took the out.
“Alright. Stay safe out there. Call me or your dad if anything happens.”

“Master mom-coaxer, Jiang Yule.”

Jiang Yule gave Su Yingying a helpless look.
“Wanna try?”

“My mom doesn’t hover like that.”

Lin Zhiying poured her guilt over Su Yubai into spoiling Su Yingying.
Whatever she wanted, she got.

Jiang Yule used to envy her.
After learning about Su Yubai, she didn’t anymore.

Jiang Yule and Su Yingying left the guesthouse, heading back to the scenic area.

They scanned their IDs to re-enter, feeling the stark contrast—
Quiet outside, bustling inside.

Maybe due to the daytime heat, evening tourists outnumbered the day’s.

They strolled along the river, Jiang Yule snapping photos for the family group chat.

She opened a Xiaohongshu post saved in the car, dragging Su Yingying to check out shops.

Su Yingying followed, entering a jewelry store.
“Getting jewelry for Aunt Jiang?”

“Yeah. See anything for Aunt Lin?”

At the fourth shop, Jiang Yule found the perfect piece, snapping a photo of a bracelet for Jiang Huazhen.
[Mom, accept my gift and don’t be mad!]

Su Yingying admired it.
“Wow, that’s nice. I’ll get one for my mom—matching sister bracelets!”

“Cool.”

They paid, stood outside, paused, then said in unison, “Let’s head back.”

They burst out laughing.

“Today was exhausting. Time to sleep.”

Their step count was off the charts, pushing their limits.
They ambled back to the guesthouse.

At the entrance, a familiar figure stepped out.

Su Yubai, in a tracksuit, nodded lightly as she passed, starting a jog.

“My sister usually morning runs. Wonder why she’s night running,” Su Yingying murmured.

“So disciplined.”
Jiang Yule sighed in awe.

She showered, crashed on the bed, and slept.
Discipline was not her thing.

A good night’s sleep.
When the alarm rang, Jiang Yule lingered in bed briefly.

After washing up, she grabbed her stuff and headed downstairs to the front desk.
“Hi, I’d like to order breakfast.”

She ordered noodles, then asked softly, “Have you seen Ms. Su from 206?”

“Today? Not yet.”

Jiang Yule relaxed, sitting on the lobby sofa, watching the stairs.

Soon, a familiar figure appeared.

Su Yubai really had a morning run habit.

Jiang Yule gripped her paper bag, standing quickly.

Su Yubai looked mildly surprised.
“Up so early?”

Jiang Yule took a deep breath, raising her right hand.
“Um…”

Su Yubai noticed the gift bag.
“For me?”

Jiang Yule, embarrassed, shoved it into her arms, mumbling, “Yeah.”

Su Yubai saw the pearl earrings in clear packaging, her eyes flashing with meaning.
She looked at her steadily.
“Another thank-you?”