Chapter 21: A Summer Morning

In the midsummer morning, someone forgot to close the curtains last night.

Sunlight streamed through the gap, flooding the gray-toned room, hitting the bed directly.

The summer sun, blazing and bright, woke Jiang Yule.

Opening her eyes, she saw a familiar face up close—Su Yubai.

Her exquisite features, flawless even in the morning light, were so close that even her fine peach fuzz was visible.

The term “goddess” came to life.
Jiang Yule’s heart raced, threatening to leap from her chest.

Su Yubai’s warm breath, tinged with faint alcohol, brushed between her brows.

Jiang Yule’s lashes fluttered as she realized she was half-cradled in her arms, her neck resting on Su Yubai’s right arm.

Startled, she glanced down.

Her clothes were intact—relief washed over her.

But then her eyes caught the delicate, pale skin at Su Yubai’s collarbone…
The sight was too striking.
Jiang Yule quickly looked away, her breathing uneven.

She was nervous.

Looking around, she realized this was Su Yubai’s bedroom.

Last night, she’d wondered if her bed was hard—never expecting to wake up in it today.

It was, indeed, firm.

Checking herself, her clothes were properly on, as expected.

They must’ve been too drunk last night, ending up sleeping together.

Thankfully, nothing out of bounds happened… but Jiang Yule regretted dragging Su Yubai into drinking.

What a mistake.

Though, Su Yubai had asked if she wanted to drink, likely to keep her company.

She vaguely recalled Su Yubai drinking more fiercely—glass after glass of red wine.
Even now, with sunlight hitting her eyelids, she hadn’t stirred, seemingly more drunk than Jiang Yule.

But why… did Su Yubai need to numb herself with alcohol?

A flash of last night’s question surfaced in her mind.

Her heart tightened.

Seeing the sunlight spreading across Su Yubai’s face, Jiang Yule resolved to get up and close the curtains.

But a slight movement triggered something—Su Yubai’s right arm lifted, pulling her closer.

No sign of waking, just an instinctive act.

This wasn’t right!
Jiang Yule’s orientation was women!

How could she be this close with a girl?
Even if Su Yubai was straight!
Even if her beauty made her heart race!

The sunlight grew broader.
Determined, Jiang Yule propped herself up with her right hand, using her left to pry Su Yubai’s arm from her neck and chest.

She loosened it slightly, ready to push harder, but the arm tightened—unmovable.

Something felt off.
She glanced back, meeting Su Yubai’s gaze.

Awake now, eyes sleepy and hazy, her grip as strong as ever.

“P-Professor Su.”

Jiang Yule stammered, “Sorry, I don’t remember how I ended up here.”

Su Yubai stared.
“I remember. You helped me over.”

“Then why am I sleeping here?”

Her eyes seemed to say, “Ask yourself.”

Did she cling here last night?
Jiang Yule wanted to sink into the floor, laughing awkwardly.
“Uh, Professor Su, did you forget to let go?”

“Oh, my arm’s numb.”
Su Yubai slowly released her.

More embarrassed, Jiang Yule sat up, gently massaging her arm.

“Sorry, Professor Su.”

“It’s fine. My arm might have its own ideas.”

A joke?
Jiang Yule chuckled.

Su Yubai lay there, watching her smile against the light, momentarily stunned.

Jiang Yule massaged a bit longer, feeling the position awkward.
“Feeling better, Professor Su?”

She glanced over, catching Su Yubai staring.

Jiang Yule paused, touching her face.
“Is something on me?”

“No, much better.”

She stopped, getting out of bed.
“I’ll go wash up.”

Opening the door to leave, Su Yubai’s voice pulled her back—

“Jiang Yule.”

Her heart skipped.
She turned.
“What’s up?”

Su Yubai sat up on the bed’s edge, gazing at the light filtering through the curtains onto the wardrobe.
“That thing I said back then…”

Jiang Yule’s face stiffened, then she smiled.
“Wha—”

Su Yubai looked at her.
“You didn’t forget.”

Feigning ease, Jiang Yule said, “What thing?” avoiding her eyes.

Su Yubai caught her dodging gaze, speaking softly, “Sorry, I—”

A sealed memory flooded Jiang Yule’s mind.

She remembered it clearly, even years later.

That morning, she’d said, “I really like Sister Yubai,” and asked, “Does Sister Yubai like me?”

Su Yubai hadn’t looked at her but nodded, saying softly, “Mm.”

Jiang Yule recalled her joy at that affirmation.
But that evening, seeking her out to play, she overheard Su Yubai’s anger:
“I don’t hate them—I hate everything here.”

Su Yubai had glanced at her as she said it.

Jiang Yule had wondered how she went from being liked in the morning to part of what Su Yubai hated by night.

She held back tears, reflecting endlessly, dissecting every detail.

Was it because she offered her a lollipop, and Su Yubai didn’t like candy?

As an adult, she dismissed that childish reason but never understood why she was hated.

“Not… including you,” Su Yubai said, each word deliberate, resounding.

Jiang Yule laughed lightly.
“Oh, I thought your glance meant I was included.”

Su Yubai stood, approaching.
“So you remember. Were you hurt?”

Facing her advance, Jiang Yule’s eyes flickered.
“Just a little, Professor Su. Don’t worry about it.”

“Jiang Yule.”
Su Yubai spoke again.
“Every day abroad, I thought of that moment, your hurt expression.”

Jiang Yule met her gaze.
“So it’s guilt? You’re making up for it?”

Referring to her one-sided help.

Su Yubai fell silent.

Disappointment rising, Jiang Yule said quickly, “I’m going to wash up.”
Turning, she was suddenly stopped by a grip on her wrist—

“Not entirely.”

Her lashes trembled as Su Yubai continued, “But I owe you a formal apology. Sorry.”

“Can you forgive me?”

Feeling Su Yubai’s fingers tighten, Jiang Yule looked at her earnestly.
“Su Yubai.”

Her full name made Su Yubai’s breath catch, then Jiang Yule’s warm voice followed—

“I feel your kindness, sincerity, and care.”

“Before your explanation, I already knew.”

“From that can of cola to last night’s drinks, I see you genuinely care for me.”

“I don’t mind anymore—really. Even if you did hate me then, you’re so good to me now, aren’t you?”

“People change. That should be okay. We live in the present.”

“Likewise, Sister Yubai, you don’t need to feel guilty or ask for forgiveness.”

“I understand your mindset back then, and… I still like you, like I did then.”

Spilling her heart, Jiang Yule felt Su Yubai’s grip loosen, then release.
Su Yubai nodded, responding earnestly, “Me too, but not entirely.”

Her eyes held unreadable emotions.
Her words were vague, but Jiang Yule thought she meant she liked her as before.

Her heart leaped.

“Alright, I’m off to wash up!”

The old knot finally unraveled.
Jiang Yule stepped lightly to her assigned room, grabbing toiletries from her suitcase.
In the bathroom, she found a new set of supplies on the counter.

Su Yubai was too kind, too thoughtful, Jiang Yule marveled again.

But she used her own travel kit—Su Yubai’s didn’t seem disposable.
She’d only stay a few days; opening them would be wasteful.

Brushing her teeth, she heard a knock on the frosted glass door.

“Yule.”

“Hey!”
She mumbled through foam.

“What do you want for breakfast?”

Spitting out the foam, she opened the door, smiling.
“Noodles.”

“Okay.”
Su Yubai headed to the kitchen.

Jiang Yule felt blissful staying here, tasting her cooking.

Since leaving Wuzhou, she often thought of that dinner’s flavor.

Not bland, not heavy, nothing special, yet delicious, unforgettable.

She longed to taste it again.

Today, her wish came true—Su Yubai’s handmade noodles!

She finished washing, drying her face, and went to the kitchen to help.

Su Yubai had already sliced cabbage and pork, even beaten eggs.

Her usual speed.

Jiang Yule approached, standing aside to admire her cooking, then asked, “So…”

She hesitated to say “Sister Yubai”—how did it slip out last night?

Probably too much trust.

“Hm?”
Su Yubai waited.

“Do you cook at home often, Sister Yubai?”

The words felt hot, rushed out quickly.

Su Yubai turned, saying earnestly, “Sister Yubai rarely cooks at home.”

Why was she calling herself “Sister Yubai”?

Her tone was serious, her expression unchanged, but she was teasing.

Jiang Yule wasn’t annoyed—her smile deepened, feeling natural.

Su Yubai turned back, heating the pan, adding oil.
“Do you really stay at the office until 10:30 on holidays?”

“And they say you work year-round, and suitors line up to the Fourth Ring. True?”

Su Yubai poured egg mixture into the pan, frying it.

“Who said the Fourth Ring?”

Jiang Yule couldn’t recall.
“Everyone.”

“Oh.”
She flipped the eggs, adding pork strips, speaking slowly.
“How don’t I know about all these suitors?”

The pork was nearly done; she added water.

“Yet I’m still single.”
She looked at her, pouring water.

Professor Si tried matchmaking her, so Jiang Yule guessed she was single, but her focus seemed odd.

“You really work year-round?”
She was curious.

“No.”
Su Yubai was concise.
“Even AI needs maintenance downtime, let alone people.”

The water boiled; she added noodles.

“What do you do on holidays? Travel?”

“Sometimes hiking, camping.”

So disciplined.

“You?”
Su Yubai asked.

“Me?”
Jiang Yule thought.
“I travel with Yingying sometimes, go to concerts, music festivals, or get tipsy at bars.”

“Less outdoor stuff like you.”

They were from different worlds.

“Nice. Let’s do it together sometime.”

“Great!”
Jiang Yule agreed, then sighed, “But I’m leaving soon.”

“Plenty of time later.”

She nodded eagerly.
“Mm!”

Su Yubai used minimal seasoning, but Jiang Yule loved it, not leaving a drop of broth.

After breakfast, she insisted on washing dishes.

Su Yubai didn’t refuse, grabbing her phone and laptop, turning off “Do Not Disturb,” replying to overnight messages.

Mostly work.
She responded calmly, seeing a networking request email, replying simply:
[She’s not going.]

Jiang Yule finished dishes, seeing her work.
“Sister Yubai, you going to campus today?”

Su Yubai looked up.
“Mm. Want to come?”

“There’s a usable computer in the office.”

She nodded—staying alone here would be boring.
“Can you wait for me to shower? It’ll be quick.”

“Sure, I need one too.”

Su Yubai had another bathroom in her bedroom; they showered separately.

Jiang Yule found her phone on the coffee table, checking messages.
The family group urged her to stay safe outside.

Oddly, her mom hadn’t called or texted incessantly.

Unusual.
She replied in the group:
[Okay.]

Grabbing a long dress and toiletries, she showered quickly.
Emerging, Su Yubai wasn’t in the living room—relief.

Waiting on the sofa, she noticed English books on the bookshelf.

Before she could inspect, she heard noises from Su Yubai’s bedroom.

She’d finished showering.

Jiang Yule turned, seeing her in a fitted dark gray dress, ignoring the clashing briefcase.

A sisterly look that made her heart skip!

Forcing her gaze away—her childhood friend, a straight woman!
No more staring!

“Yule.”
Su Yubai called.

“Hey, Professor Su, let’s go.”

Su Yubai gave her an odd look.

Jiang Yule shrank, following her.

At the foyer, Su Yubai changed shoes, grabbing keys.

Jiang Yule stood close, catching a fresh mint scent—her shower gel, pleasant.

In her car again, Jiang Yule said, “Sister Yubai, I’m leaving in a couple days. Might trouble you a bit longer.”

“Not going home to pack?”

“Main luggage is already shipped.”

Su Yubai nodded, starting the engine.

Jiang Yule felt at ease—Su Yubai didn’t push her to reconcile or ask about her call with her mom.

She respected her choices.
If she wanted to leave, she’d take her.
If she wanted to drink, she’d join her.

Su Yubai drove straight to campus, and Jiang Yule felt a twinge of nerves.

“Sister Yubai, not many people at the institute now, right?”

“Just a few research office teachers.”

Why were they working during summer break?

Jiang Yule felt uneasy about going to her office.

“Sister Yubai.”
“Hm?”

Too late to back out, she forced out, “Nothing.”

Soon, her phone rang.

Su Yubai rejected it.

Parking under the institute building, she said, “Wait, I’ll return some calls.”
She dialed back missed ones.

Jiang Yule waited quietly.

“Let’s go.”

They got out, climbing to the second floor.

At the top, they ran into a familiar face.

“Dean Su’s here!”
“Hey, Jiang Yule?”

The research office director, Teacher Yu, grinned wider seeing them together.

Su Yubai nodded.

“Hello, Teacher Yu,” Jiang Yule said, feigning calm.

“Dean Su bringing her sister to study?”

Her sister was Su Yingying—common knowledge.
The Jiang-Su family tie was known too?

“Meeting in forty minutes,” Su Yubai said, not answering, leading Jiang Yule down the hall.

“Hey, Dean Su’s dress is stunning today.”

“Where,” Su Yubai replied flatly.

Jiang Yule followed, entranced by her back.

Passing the graduate office, she heard, “Senior Sister Jiang!”

Turning, she saw a familiar junior from the conference, waving back quickly.

She recalled her saying, “I thought you and Dean Su were close.”

Now confirmed.

No denying it—who’d have thought she’d become close with Su Yubai in half a month?

Her phone buzzed.
The junior:
[Senior Jiang, studying with Dean Su~ I knew you were close!]

Jiang Yule typed quickly:
[Haha, what a coincidence, you’re here too.]

[Yup, summer duty.]

Finishing, she saw Su Yubai opening her office door, relieved.

In her office, no more awkward run-ins.

Su Yubai held the door, letting her enter first.

Not Jiang Yule’s first time here—she’d needed the deputy dean’s signature before.

But those were brief, unmemorable, as they were just teacher and student then.

Not close.

Inside, she saw a large filing cabinet with documents, English economics books, and papers.

Further in, a small table by Su Yubai’s desk held a celadon tea set and several tea canisters.

Pretty.

“Tea?”

Jiang Yule turned.
“Sure.”

Su Yubai set down her briefcase.
“Green, red, oolong, or jasmine?”

Surprised she drank floral tea, Jiang Yule said, “Jasmine!”

“Okay.”
Su Yubai brewed with fluid, professional grace—more elegant than Jiang Huazhen, who’d studied tea.

Jasmine’s scent filled the room, delightful.

Jiang Yule realized her home lacked a tea set.
“Sister Yubai, you don’t drink tea at home?”

“Sometimes. The set’s stored.”

Probably because she’s mostly home at night.

Su Yubai noticed her standing.
“Sit.”

Jiang Yule sat across, but Su Yubai’s phone rang—system default ringtone, so her.

She didn’t rush, pouring tea.
“Careful, it’s hot.”

Jiang Yule took the cup as Su Yubai answered her phone.

“Where.”
“Oh, I can’t go.”
“Next month’s uncertain too.”
“Okay, another time.”

Jiang Yule sipped, not eavesdropping.

When she seemed done, Jiang Yule said, “This tea’s fragrant.”

“There’s unopened packs. Take some later.”

Su Yubai offered a sealed canister, but Jiang Yule waved it off.
“No need, Sister Yubai, I have plenty at home.”

“Okay.”
She didn’t insist, handing her a laptop.
“All common software’s installed. Download what you need—papers, anything. Connect to the printer for documents.”

Jiang Yule saw the printer in the desk’s corner.

“Okay.”

Su Yubai’s desk was spacious, documents neatly organized.
Sitting opposite, it wasn’t cramped.

Jiang Yule opened her cloud drive, importing data, when Su Yubai’s phone rang again.

She stepped outside to answer, returning to find Jiang Yule focused on the screen.

“Yule, am I disturbing your work?”

“No, I’m about to go to a meeting.”

Relieved, Jiang Yule dove back in.

Soon, a knock.

“Come in,” Su Yubai said.

“Dean Su, I’m here to organize documents.”

Jiang Yule turned, seeing Teacher Chen from the research office, curious eyes on her.

“Yule, when did you…”

Before she could answer, Su Yubai said, “Thanks, Teacher Chen, but it’s done.”

Jiang Yule followed Chen’s gaze to a box of files on the floor, cushioned by cardboard.

Teacher Chen nodded.
“Dean Su’s efficiency is top-notch.”

Jiang Yule smiled, sensing Chen was about to say more, when Su Yubai spoke.
“Teacher Chen, please notify everyone about the meeting.”

Chen’s attention shifted, nodding.
“On it.”

As Chen bent to lift the box, Jiang Yule offered, “Need help?”

“No, no, study with Dean Su.”

Jiang Yule turned back, hearing the door close.

“Sister Yubai, should I study in the classroom?”

“They won’t come again.”
Su Yubai stood.
“I’m off to the meeting.”

Jiang Yule glanced at the computer’s clock—nearly ten minutes until her “forty-minute” meeting time.

No one else came, but Su Yubai’s busyness was clear—endless calls, a box of files, frequent meetings, and research pressures.

Jiang Yule focused, importing data, coding.

By the time her analysis finished, Su Yubai hadn’t returned.

Su Yingying called.

“Yingying, what’s up?”

“Heard you fought with Aunt Jiang and ran away? Where are you?”

Their argument wasn’t a secret, like Su Yubai’s family rift.

“Your parents aren’t nearby, right?”

Su Yingying laughed.
“What’s our bond? You don’t trust me?”

“Just checking!”
Jiang Yule was cautious.

“I’m alone in my room. So, where are you?”

“Studying at school.”
“Come to my place?”

That’d be walking into a trap.
“No, school’s good.”

“Go to my sister’s! No one’d guess you’re there!”

A knock.
Jiang Yule turned—Su Yubai was back.

“I’m at Sister Yubai’s office now.”

Su Yubai glanced at her phone.
Jiang Yule explained, “It’s Yingying.”

Su Yingying went quiet, then said faintly, “I’m a prophet. Gotta go.”

Hanging up, Jiang Yule heard Su Yubai ask, “What for lunch?”

“Is the third canteen’s boiled fish still open?”

Su Yubai shook her head.
“Not sure. We can check.”

“What do you usually eat?”
“Self-select.”

Balanced, customizable dishes.

With time before lunch, Su Yubai sat reading papers.

Jiang Yule’s gaze drifted to her, recalling her focus in class years ago, just as intense now.

“Jiang Yule.”

Caught, she flinched.
“Huh?”

“Study well.”
“You staring distracts me too.”

Busted.

“I-I got distracted.”
She looked back at her screen, typing as if nothing happened.

Su Yubai said no more.

Jiang Yule wrote her analysis, losing track of time.
A knock snapped her out—she’d nearly finished.

“Come in,” Su Yubai said.

“Yule, you’re here.”
Chu Guoan’s voice.

Jiang Yule turned, seeing her dad at the door, her mom behind him.

How did they find her?

Noticing their weary faces, she regretted last night’s impulsiveness.

Uncertain, she stood, but Su Yubai was already beside her.

Instant calm.

“Aunt Jiang, Uncle Chu,” Su Yubai greeted.

“Yubai, sorry for the trouble,” Jiang Huazhen said, stepping forward.

Su Yubai glanced at Jiang Yule, edging closer.
“No trouble. It’s only right.”

Jiang Huazhen turned to Jiang Yule.
“I’m sorry.”

Jiang Yule blinked, doubting her ears—her mom’s first apology.

“I didn’t think it through. If you don’t want me in Hong Kong, I won’t go.

“I’m a first-time mom too. After your brother, I wanted a daughter. When you came, I wanted to give you everything, plan it all.

“I overlooked your wishes, forgot you’re grown. It’s time to let go. Come home with us?”

Grievance surged, her eyes reddening.

A hand rested on her shoulder.
She turned—Su Yubai.

“Don’t cry,” Su Yubai said calmly.
“Do you want to go home with them?”

Jiang Yule looked at her mom’s hopeful, red-rimmed eyes, hesitated, then nodded.

Su Yubai released her, and Jiang Huazhen hugged her.

“I was wrong.”

Jiang Yule’s suppressed tears fell again.

She never doubted her mom’s love, only wished her intentions were respected, not overridden.

“Mom, I’ll be braver. Don’t find me annoying.”
She smiled.

“How could I?”
Jiang Huazhen stroked her hair, smiling.

Su Yubai watched, nodding lightly at Chu Guoan in greeting.

“Want some tea, Aunt, Uncle?”

“No trouble. Is Yule’s luggage at your place?”

Su Yubai nodded.

Jiang Yule felt an odd emptiness.

Jiang Huazhen and Chu Guoan offered to treat Su Yubai to dinner, but she declined, citing work.

“I’ll send Yule the house code. You can go straight there.”

“That’s too much.”

Jiang Yule met her gaze—brief, faint.

This goodbye’s next meeting was uncertain.
Yet Su Yubai’s look was so light.

Jiang Yule looked away, saying, “Thanks, Sister Yubai.”

“You’re welcome.”
Formal.

An indescribable pang hit her—disappointment, bitterness, or something else.

She couldn’t tell anymore.

Chu Guoan waited in the garage; Jiang Yule and her mom went to get her luggage.

“Did you trouble Yubai?”

Trouble?
What counted as trouble?

Lost in thought, Jiang Huazhen asked, “Still upset?”

“No, just… leaving Hangzhou soon. I’ll miss it.”

Jiang Huazhen hugged her shoulders.
“Come back anytime you miss home. I’ll cover the flights.”

“Okay.”
Jiang Yule smiled.

Entering Su Yubai’s home again, she slipped into the bear slippers.

Jiang Huazhen was surprised.
“Yubai bought you slippers?”

“Not specially, probably for guests.”

Jiang Huazhen said no more, waiting at the door.

Jiang Yule went to the light yellow room.

After one day, her luggage was barely unpacked, ready to go.

Before leaving, she grabbed her toiletries from the bathroom, packing them.

She checked everything, ensuring it looked untouched.

As if she’d never been here.

At the living room, she wanted to peek at a familiar book on the shelf but turned as—

“Let’s go,” Jiang Huazhen urged from the door.

First, Su Yubai likely didn’t read novels; second, definitely not queer ones.

Jiang Yule dropped the thought, heading out.
“Coming.”

As she closed the door, Jiang Huazhen said, “Thanks to Yubai this time.”

Jiang Yule’s heart trembled, realizing why they went straight to her office.

She’d told her mom she was dining out last night, so they assumed she was with Su Yubai—not strange, but their attitude shifted fast.

She recalled the call Su Yubai answered for her in Wuzhou.

“Mom, did you call Sister Yubai last night?”

“Of course. Knowing you were here, your dad and I were relieved.”

No wonder Su Yubai wasn’t surprised.

“Did she say anything?”

Jiang Huazhen paused, stroking her hair.
“Yubai’s great. Ask her for help with anything.”

Evading, as usual.
Jiang Yule didn’t press, nodding.
“Okay.”

Back home, Jiang Yule had no contact with Su Yubai for two days.

The only news came from dinner with Su Yingying, who mentioned, “Mom keeps asking Sis to come home for dinner, but she’s always ‘busy.’”

“I bet she’s not really busy—just doesn’t want to go home.”

Jiang Yule shook her head, recalling her endless calls.
“Probably actually busy.”

“But I saw her Moments—she’s dining out with friends.”

Since her breakup with Lin Siqiong, Jiang Yule rarely checked Moments.

She remembered Su Yubai’s Moments being blank before—her personality didn’t seem the type.

“Really?”

“See.”
Su Yingying showed her—a photo from the restaurant Jiang Yule took her to, no caption.

“It’s pretty good,” Jiang Yule said, changing the topic.

On the way home, she opened Su Yubai’s Moments—only that post.

Impulsively, she liked it.

Departure day for Hong Kong arrived.
Su Yingying and her parents came to see her off.

Jiang Huazhen gave endless instructions; Jiang Yule answered patiently.

At security, she hugged them goodbye, suddenly thinking of Su Yubai.

No messages from her, despite knowing she was leaving.

Recalling that Moments post, Jiang Yule sent:
[Sister Yubai, I’m heading to Hong Kong soon~ See you at winter break!]

Her phone buzzed with messages.
She replied, always noticing Su Yubai’s white avatar.

No response.

At boarding, she turned off her phone, heading to the gate.

She slept through the flight.
Landing, clearing customs, and exchanging currency, it felt unreal.

The only reality was the proliferation of traditional and English signs.

Switching to a data card, she reported safety to family and friends, seeing Su Yubai’s reply from two hours ago:
[Safe travels.]

No mention of “winter break.”
A slight disappointment.

Her mom called via WeChat.

“Mom.”

“You’re there. Check the place Professor Qiao arranged. If it’s bad, find another or stay in a hotel for a couple days.”

“Okay, don’t worry.”

Jiang Huazhen gave more advice.

Hanging up, Jiang Yule took a cab to Qiao’s address.

Hong Kong’s sea-surrounded skies were endlessly blue, clouds breathtaking.

She snapped photos, posting to Moments with a cloud emoji.

After bridges and a tunnel, seeing HKU’s logo, she knew she was close.

A long journey.

Checking Moments, she saw 32 unread notifications.

Opening her post, she spotted Su Yubai’s white avatar—she’d liked it.

Her last like and comment on Su Yingying’s post seemed coincidental.

Su Yubai was actually using Moments now, posting and liking hers?
Jiang Yule was stunned.

“Arrived,” the driver said in Cantonese.

“Thanks.”
She paid and got out.

Qiao’s address was on the 22nd floor, a two-unit-per-floor building.

In the elevator, she entered the code from Qiao, and the door opened.

As she opened it, she heard another door.

About to push her suitcase in and greet her neighbor, she heard—

“Student Jiang, what a coincidence.”

Turning, she saw Su Yubai.

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