Chapter 17: Crossing Boundaries

Since Jiang Xihan sprained her ankle, Ye Wenzhu’s visits to hang out had increased.

“Peipei, I brought you flowers.”

Ye Wenzhu held a fresh bouquet of green bellflowers, smoothly entering the password. As she stepped in, a rich aroma hit her.

Ji Pei was cooking again. Though Ye Wenzhu knew it was for Jiang Xihan, eating Ji Pei’s food was a treat in itself.

In college, Ji Pei rented a place near campus.

At first, she ate all three meals at school, inseparable from Ye Wenzhu during classes. But tired of seeing Xie Zhen’s face, she stopped eating there.

That’s when Ji Pei’s cooking skills skyrocketed.

Ye Wenzhu even thought Ji Pei was an all-around genius—painting, sculpting, playing instruments, all mastered.

She’d say she only dabbled, but her skills surpassed those with formal training.

Still, Ye Wenzhu loved Ji Pei’s cooking the most.

For Ji Pei’s meals, Ye Wenzhu gave up dorm life, crashing at Ji Pei’s rental, handling grocery shopping and dishwashing.

Later, Ji Pei’s parents returned, saw their daughter “slumming” it in a rental, and splurged, buying the entire complex for Ji Pei to live in as she pleased.

If public schools could be bought, Ms. Liu Yanfen might’ve purchased one and made Ji Pei principal.

“You only show up when you want something. Come eat.”

Ji Pei took the bellflowers, sniffed them, and placed them in a vase.

Bellflowers attract bugs, so Ji Pei only dared keep them on the dining table.

Once, she’d put a bouquet by her bed. One night, something crawled on her hand. Turning on the light, she nearly flung her hand miles away.

After finding the bug’s source, Ji Pei tossed the blooming bellflowers into the trash that night.

“You’ve been coming over just for this, right? Too lazy to cook, always mooching food and drinks.”

Ye Wenzhu and Ji Fan slurped soup. Ji Pei, already eaten, sat packing lunchboxes to bring to Jiang Xihan.

“You’re delivering three meals a day to Jiang Xihan? So much hassle. Why not hire a courier?”

Ji Pei packed the lunchboxes into a bag. “I enjoy it. I’ve been too bored lately. I need something to do.”

Ye Wenzhu suggested, “You’re so idle. Didn’t Bulgari send you an invite to be their designer? Why not do it? It’d kill time.”

“Don’t want to.”

Ye Wenzhu suddenly realized. “I get it. Because of Xie Zhen.”

Xie Zhen was indeed impressive, smooth and tactful, loved by higher-ups. Even the counselor favored her back in school.

Even Ji Pei was initially fooled by her facade.

Ye Wenzhu’s eyes darted, offering another idea.

“How about this: register as a Meituan rider, deliver food.”

Ji Pei hadn’t considered it. “Would that work? Won’t I get complaints?”

“Don’t like delivering food? Register as a Didi driver. You love driving around. You’ve got all those sports cars in your garage—don’t waste them. Switch cars daily.”

Ji Pei caught Ye Wenzhu’s jab at her daily trips to Jiang Xihan, stuffing a chicken drumstick in her mouth.

“Food can’t even shut you up.”

***

When Ji Pei visited Jiang Xihan, she was being helped by Aunt Wang to sit on the sofa.

After icing all night, Jiang Xihan’s swollen ankle had subsided significantly, less painful than yesterday.

Aunt Wang nodded to Ji Pei and left.

Ji Pei set the lunchboxes on the dining table, extending her right hand to Jiang Xihan.

“Professor Jiang, I’ll help you to the table to eat.”

Jiang Xihan gently grasped Ji Pei’s hand, standing with her support, slowly walking to the table with Ji Pei’s arm for balance.

Her ankle didn’t hurt much anymore, and with the spray, she could hobble a short distance.

But to avoid complications, Jiang Xihan felt she needed Ji Pei’s help. What if she walked alone and sprained it again?

With that thought, Jiang Xihan felt at ease. She sat at the table, noticing Ji Pei had brought four lunchboxes today.

That morning, Ji Pei had come by, bringing scallion pancakes, lean pork congee, and a round, golden fried egg.

Before making the egg, Ji Pei messaged to ask if she liked runny yolks.

Such thoughtfulness genuinely shocked Jiang Xihan.

She wanted to ask if Ji Pei was this kind to everyone.

But asking might disappoint her, so she held back.

She had no claim here—asking would be crossing a line.

Opening the lids revealed a bowl of soup, a stir-fry, and steaming rice.

Ji Pei made pigeon soup, fish-flavored pork shreds, and garlic-stir-fried greens—homey dishes, likely suiting Jiang Xihan’s taste.

After hearing Ye Wenzhu’s gossip yesterday, Ji Pei started paying extra attention to Jiang Xihan.

She glanced at her casually, then looked away, pulling out her phone to find Bai Yin’s WeChat.

After Bai Yin treated her to fried skewers, they’d added each other but hadn’t chatted.

Ji Pei: [Senior, do you have Professor Jiang’s class schedule? Can you send it to me?]

Half a minute later, Bai Yin replied.

Bai Yin: [Got it, I’ll send it.]

Ji Pei checked the schedule. Besides Thursday afternoon’s elective, Jiang Xihan had classes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, plus a public lecture Monday afternoon.

Ji Pei hatched a plan, giving Jiang Xihan a harmless smile.

“Professor Jiang, is the food I made to your taste?”

Jiang Xihan paused her chopsticks, meeting Ji Pei’s eyes. “It’s very good.”

Ji Pei’s eyes curved. Jiang Xihan, so picky about food, actually praised her cooking.

***

That evening, Ji Pei came again to deliver dinner, this time with extra bags.

She’d bought clothes for Jiang Xihan. Since their sizes were similar, Ji Pei used her own measurements.

Before coming, Ji Pei had the clothes dry-cleaned and packed, ready for Jiang Xihan to wear.

After setting down the bags, Ji Pei left.

Jiang Xihan wheeled over, opened the bags, and found clothes, still warm, likely just dried.

She took them out one by one—perfect sizes, all matching her aesthetic.

Jiang Xihan touched the clothes, lips curving. After eating and bathing, she eagerly tried them on.

***

The next morning, Jiang Xihan washed up and put on the new clothes Ji Pei bought.

She had a public lecture today. She picked a light blue shirt but put it back.

She was over thirty, and there was an age gap with Ji Pei.

Though her face didn’t look thirty, standing beside Ji Pei, she felt she should dress younger.

It was Monday. Would Ji Pei come to bring breakfast?

Jiang Xihan settled on a simple white shirt, black pants, and a coat, wheeling to the door.

But the next moment, the faint loneliness in her eyes was replaced by growing shock.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Looking up, Ji Pei stood in a camel coat, the hem of her fitted shirt tucked into her waistband, legs long and straight.

Behind her, fiery red maples rustled, leaves scattered on the ground. She waved at Jiang Xihan in the wheelchair.

“Professor Jiang, I’ll take you to school.”