Chapter 25: A Seaside Stroll

A breeze swept through, easing the summer heat.

Jiang Yule’s lips curved uncontrollably, a quiet joy bubbling up.

Glancing sideways, she saw Su Yubai’s slightly red chin and couldn’t help asking, “Sister Yubai, weren’t you going to read that paper?”

Su Yubai sighed helplessly.
“I meant for you to read it.”

She’d already read it.
Jiang Yule touched the back of her head, sheepish.
“I misunderstood.”

“Misunderstood what?”

Jiang Yule didn’t answer, pointing to a nearby convenience store.
“I’ll grab an ice pack.”

Her steps quickened as she spoke, then she turned, eyeing Su Yubai’s chin.
“Cold compress will help.”

Su Yubai lightly touched her own chin with her distinct knuckles, a subtle allure in the gesture.
Jiang Yule looked away.

Inside the store, an Alaskan dog lying down suddenly stood and charged toward Jiang Yule.

Sensing trouble, she started to turn, but Su Yubai grabbed her wrist, pulling her behind.

Even with the quick dodge, the familiar sensation hit—Jiang Yule sneezed.

Looking up, she saw Su Yubai glaring at the shopkeeper, saying in cold Cantonese, “Please control your dog.”

Her Cantonese was surprisingly pleasant.
Jiang Yule blinked at the back of her head.

The shopkeeper responded in Cantonese, unintelligible to Jiang Yule, and the dog slunk back to its spot, lying down pitifully.

Jiang Yule gave the shopkeeper a grateful smile, feeling for the dog.

She wasn’t against animals—she was just allergic to fur.

Leaving with the ice pack, she said, “Sister Yubai, thanks to you.”

Su Yubai held up the ice pack.
“Were you scared?”

Jiang Yule shook her head.
“No, I actually like animals.”

Her tone carried regret.

Su Yubai tilted her head.
“Hm?”

“I’m allergic to fur. Getting close to furry animals makes me sneeze, itch, or even get fevers and rashes.”

“Any symptoms now?”

“None, thanks to you pulling me back.”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Good.”

Jiang Yule pointed at the store.
“I think they sell purified water here.”

Su Yubai paused, then asked, “Don’t you need a water dispenser?”

“Right.”

“They don’t sell those here. We can get water later.”

Water was heavy to carry.

Jiang Yule nodded, crossing the street with her, spotting a sign in traditional Chinese: “Seaside Road.”

Testing the waters, she asked, “Sister Yubai, any work tonight?”

“Taking the day off,” Su Yubai replied, glancing at the sign, then fixing her deep gaze on Jiang Yule.

Unnoticing, Jiang Yule pressed, “Want to walk by the sea?”

Su Yubai’s lips twitched into a barely-there smile, gone when Jiang Yule looked.
“Yes.”

Jiang Yule grinned brightly.
“Great! I’ll take the night off too. I’ll grab my luggage from Senior tomorrow.”

“Which senior?”

“Ji Zizhen. You met her in Hangzhou.”

“Oh, don’t recall.”

Jiang Yule described eagerly, “She speaks Hong Kong-style Mandarin, always smiling, dresses in a chic Hong Kong vibe, super lively.”

Near the sea, a strong breeze carried Su Yubai’s faint voice, barely audible.

“Did you remember her so clearly?”

Jiang Yule frowned, puzzled.
Did she mishear?

Su Yubai said no more.

They strolled toward the sea.

Her phone rang.
Jiang Yule pulled it from her bag—Jiang Huazhen.

“Sister Yubai, I’m taking a call.”

Su Yubai nodded, her gaze drifting afar.

Jiang Yule answered, “Mom.”

“Yule, eaten yet?”
“Yes.”

The sea’s roar carried through the phone.

“Where are you?”

Here came Mom’s tracking.
Jiang Yule answered honestly, “At the seaside.”

Glancing at Su Yubai, she added, “With Sister Yubai.”

Jiang Huazhen seemed relieved.
“What’re you doing there?”

“Walking.”
“Alright.”
“Okay, Mom.”

“Oh, and—”
“Not alone, with Sister Yubai.”

Covering the phone, Jiang Yule asked, “Sister Yubai, Mom wants to talk. Are you okay with that?”

It wasn’t about convenience—she wondered if Su Yubai wanted to.

Su Yubai didn’t hesitate.
“Sure.”

Jiang Yule handed her the phone, realizing they’d reached the beach.

Hong Kong’s beaches were full of stunning women.
Jiang Yule kept her eyes on Su Yubai.

The sea breeze persisted, muffling the call.

She only caught Su Yubai’s voice—

“Aunt Jiang, good evening.”
“Mm.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t worry.”
“Mm, goodbye.”

Su Yubai tossed the ice pack in a bin, returning the phone.

Jiang Yule, confused, wondered what her mom said.

Before she could ask, Su Yubai volunteered, “Your mom said…”

Jiang Yule stepped closer, ears perked, afraid to miss a word.

Su Yubai paused.
Jiang Yule urged, “What?”

Turning to look, a warm breath grazed her ear—

“To take you to eat every day.”

Jiang Yule froze, her breathing hitched.

The warmth at her ear faded, but she was still dazed.

Su Yubai stepped back slightly.
“You don’t want that?”

Catching her sidelong glance, Jiang Yule avoided her eyes, shaking her head.
“No.”

Why did she feel so guilty?

Taking a deep breath, she met Su Yubai’s gaze.
“Your cooking’s so good, it’s my honor.”

Su Yubai’s stare didn’t waver.

Under dim streetlights, with Su Yubai backlit, Jiang Yule couldn’t read her expression or eyes.

“Auntie, want to buy flowers for this sister?”

A young girl with a flower basket, speaking halting Mandarin, addressed Su Yubai.

The “auntie” was jarring.
Jiang Yule blinked.

Su Yubai turned, bending to the girl’s level.

Jiang Yule touched her nose, expecting the “unapproachable” Su Yubai to buy a flower to humor her.
Instead, she heard a cool—

“No.”

The girl’s hope deflated.
“You’re mean!”

Jiang Yule stepped in front of Su Yubai.
“How’s she mean?”

The girl started crying.
Jiang Yule crouched, pulling tissues from her bag, wiping her face.
“Don’t cry, I’ll buy, okay?”

“Okay,” the girl sniffled.

Su Yubai stood, watching quietly behind Jiang Yule.

Jiang Yule paid, buying seven roses, then turned to see Su Yubai waiting under a bright streetlamp.

She stayed crouched, chatting with the girl.

Su Yubai watched as Jiang Yule and the girl approached.

“Sister, sorry, I shouldn’t have called you auntie.”

Su Yubai’s gaze shifted from the girl to Jiang Yule, her confusion clear.

Jiang Yule smiled, handing her the roses.

“May you stay forever young!” the girl chirped, scampering off.

Su Yubai took the flowers.
“Thanks.”
She pulled out six, handing them back.
“Returning the gesture.”

Jiang Yule’s eyes curved.
“Thanks for your flowers, Sister Yubai!”

Noticing her emphasis on “sister,” Su Yubai gave her a sidelong glance.

They walked back together.

Jiang Yule’s smile lingered.
Unable to wait, she asked, “Sister Yubai, aren’t you curious what I told her?”

“To wish me eternal youth?”

Her quick reply, as if waiting for the question, caught Jiang Yule off guard.
She marveled at Su Yubai’s unique mind.

Her smile deepened, playing along.
“I’m already forever young.”

Su Yubai stopped, looking at her seriously.

Jiang Yule blinked, unnerved by her stare.
“What, don’t you want to be friends anymore?”

“No,” Su Yubai said, resuming her walk.

Her calm reaction made Jiang Yule regret her joke.
Su Yubai was so proper—teasing wasn’t right.

“Sister Yubai, I won’t make those jokes again. Sorry.”

Su Yubai didn’t pause.
“What joke?”

She hadn’t noticed.
Jiang Yule’s guilt grew, shaking her head.
“Nothing.”

Su Yubai didn’t press, looking ahead.
“There’s a store selling water dispensers.”

“Awesome, lead the way, Sister Yubai!”

Su Yubai took her to a shop for a dispenser.

Back at the convenience store near home, Su Yubai entered first, Jiang Yule following.
No sign of the dog.

She grabbed a 10L water jug.

“I’ll help,” Su Yubai said, eyeing the jug’s handles, offering to share.

Remembering her red palms from earlier, Jiang Yule shook her head.
“No need, just carry the dispenser.”

Su Yubai didn’t insist.

On the way home, farther from the sea, Jiang Yule asked softly, “Sister Yubai, jogging by the sea tomorrow?”

Su Yubai paused, thinking, then said, “Yes.”

“Great.”

Su Yubai’s sidelong glance caught Jiang Yule’s flickering eyes.

Her lips curved slightly.

Jiang Yule’s gaze met hers, her voice shy.
“Can I… join you for a morning run?”