Chapter 34: Blurred Lines and Birthday Nights

Knowing Su Yubai was proper and wouldn’t call her over for anything improper, Jiang Yule still hesitated, trembling as she typed: [Sister Yubai, what’s up?]

Instant reply: [Discuss the paper.]

Proper indeed.
Her cheeks flushed, gaze flitting to the package, heart racing despite herself.

Sliding off the sofa, she slipped on shoes, pausing every two steps but reaching the door quickly.

Not changing, she put on shoe covers and stepped out.

Opening her door, she saw Su Yubai’s already ajar—no need to ring, leaving her little time to brace herself.

Steeling herself, she pushed it open.

Su Yubai’s hair was half-dry, dressed in a white shirt, lounging on the sofa, sipping tea.

Jiang Yule entered, half-turning to close the door.

“Tea?”
Su Yubai didn’t glance her way.

Glancing at her, Jiang Yule looked away.
“No thanks.”

Tea might keep her up, and she didn’t need that.

Su Yubai stood, walking toward her.
Her gaze flicked to Jiang Yule’s shoe covers, then away.

Jiang Yule’s eyes dropped to the slender legs approaching, heart pounding.

The air felt thin.

About to step back, she saw those legs turn, hearing, “Come here.”

Looking up at Su Yubai’s back, she followed to the study.

No AC—the heat on Jiang Yule’s cheeks soared.

“Sister Yubai,” she mumbled, stealing a glance.

Only then noticing Su Yubai’s shirt barely covered sensitive areas.

Averting her eyes, she heard a cool, “What?”

Glancing at the AC, she said, “It’s hot. Turn it on?”

“Mm.”

With her nod, Jiang Yule grabbed the remote from a cabinet, setting it to 18°C.

Su Yubai had her laptop open, sitting primly, waiting.

Jiang Yule stepped closer, stopping three or four paces away.

Even at that distance, she caught a faint, sweet peach scent—likely her shampoo, a favorite.

Unexpected on Su Yubai, though.

“Here,” Su Yubai said, marking a spot on the screen, turning to her.

Jiang Yule craned her neck but stayed rooted, feet nailed down.

Su Yubai’s voice was soft.
“Can you see clearly?”

Slightly nearsighted, Jiang Yule squinted at the dense text—blurry.

Stepping closer, she made out the title “(1) Theoretical Analysis,” but the rest was unclear.

Another step, still blurry.
As she lifted her foot, an arm pulled her—

“There’s a small issue here.”
Su Yubai released her right arm, pointing at the screen with her left.

Too close, Jiang Yule bent slightly, the peach scent hitting her.

Forcing focus on the screen, she heard Su Yubai explain tying the theory to the theme.

Nodding, “Got it.”

Su Yubai turned suddenly, breath grazing her neck—ticklish.

Jiang Yule’s gaze wandered, catching an unbuttoned shirt and a glimpse of fair skin.

The moment mirrored last night’s intimacy.

Freezing, she turned.
“Sister Yubai, maybe we discuss later?”

Stepping away, her wrist was caught.

“Scared of me?”

Not daring to look back, Jiang Yule stammered, “N-no, just tired.”

“Okay.”
Su Yubai released her, eyeing her red ears.

Like a wild horse, Jiang Yule bolted to the door.

Bang—it shut.

Su Yubai stared at her raised hand, lost in thought.

Back home, Jiang Yule leaned against the door, breathing hard.
Oddly, she lifted her left hand, staring at the wrist Su Yubai grabbed.

Rushing to the bathroom, avoiding the mirror, she splashed cold water on her face.

Calming down, she messaged: [Sister Yubai, really tired—been hectic. No run tomorrow, good night~]

Washing up, she checked her phone repeatedly—no reply.

No tea, yet why so wired?

Puzzled, she glanced at her treadmill order from an online mall.

Opening it, she started running.

Her mind replayed chasing Su Yubai and Huang Yuxin running.

After 30 minutes, exhausted, she checked her phone—Su Yubai replied 15 minutes ago: [OK]

Not mad, or she’d have ignored her!

Relieved, Jiang Yule sent a cute emoji.

Showering, she felt drained, skipping her mask.

Glancing at the package, she wondered what to do with it.

Whatever—Su Yingying’s “thoughtful” gift.

In bed, she fell asleep instantly.

In a haze, someone pressed against her, hands wandering, as she kept calling “sister.”

Bolting awake, alone, Jiang Yule gasped at the dream.

That blurry face… calling “sister”…

Shaking her head, she splashed her face again.

Passing the living room, she eyed the unopened package.

Next morning, Jiang Yule woke past 8.

Leisurely brushing, washing, applying light makeup, she left past 9.

Su Yubai’s door was shut.

Eating breakfast at a random shop, she took the subway to school.

Arriving late, luckily Qiao didn’t require check-ins—less awkward.

The office was quiet, only keyboard clicks.
She tiptoed to her desk.

Ji Zizhen looked up.
“Morning?”

“Morning, Senior.”

“Tonight, dinner then karaoke.”

Jiang Yule nodded.
“Cool, where for dinner? I’ll book.”

“All set, just show up.”

Ji Zizhen was always thorough.

Grinning, “I’ll graciously accept then.”

On WeChat, Su Yubai sent the annotated paper.

Jiang Yule replied: [Got it~]

She revised per suggestions.

Done before lunch, she sent another version.

Su Yubai: [Received.]

She ate at a farther cafeteria.

Ji Zizhen recommended dishes, but Jiang Yule thought of Su Yubai’s garlic shrimp noodles.

Their lives were on track—no time for shared meals, normal, she reasoned.

Afternoon, she polished her paper and emailed Qiao.

Near 5:30, someone spoke, “Time to clock out?”

“Dinner time~ Happy birthday, Junior!” Wen Yanqing chimed first.

“Happy birthday!”

Smiling shyly, “Thanks, everyone~ Let’s have fun tonight!”

As they sorted cars, Jiang Yule hesitated but messaged Su Yubai: [Sister Yubai, group dinner tonight, might be late. If the paper needs tweaks, send them. Can do another version tomorrow morning.]

Cars assigned, she rode with Ji Zizhen, familiar and easy.

In the car, Ji Zizhen handed her a gift box.
Jiang Yule waved it off.
“Thanks, Senior, dinner with everyone’s enough~”

Tilting her head, Ji Zizhen asked, “Not friends?”

Stunned, Jiang Yule laughed, “Of course we are!”

Taking it, “Just feel bad—you planned and now a gift.”

“It’s your birthday, can’t let the star stress.”
Ji Zizhen’s Mandarin was improving.

Eyes curving, “Thanks, Senior~”

Worried it was pricey, she opened it—a book, relieving her.

Ji Zizhen noticed, explaining, “Saw you post about liking this book.”

Jiang Yule recalled sharing a WeChat Reading link with a short review, visible only three days.
Ji Zizhen remembered.

“Senior, your memory’s amazing. I love this book.”

Noticing the missing plastic wrap, she saw an author’s To-sign:

[To: Jiang Yule
Happy birthday, always joyful~]

“Thanks, Senior, even a To-sign!”

Ji Zizhen, catching her toned-down excitement, chuckled, “Don’t misunderstand, a friend at the publisher signed it. I’ve sent plenty to friends—Wen has one too.”

Smiling, “Cool, thanks, Senior.”

At the restaurant, others arrived.

Wen Yanqing, last, carried a big cake.
“Yule, happy birthday~”

“Happy birthday!”

Bowing, “Thanks, everyone~ Grateful to meet you all, guide me forward!”

Wen unwrapped the cake, inserted candles, and lit them.

Someone dimmed the lights.

“Make a wish!”

Candlelight glowed on faces as birthday songs filled the air.
Jiang Yule looked at each person, closed her eyes, and made three wishes.

Two minutes later, she blew out the candles.

“Yay!”
“Happy birthday!”

Amid the noise and warmth, she thought of Su Yubai’s cool voice, feeling an odd emptiness.

Lights back on, servers brought food.

She ate heartily, even sipping wine with everyone.

The cake untouched, they planned to take it to karaoke for later.

At the karaoke venue, the birthday setup was vibrant—likely Ji Zizhen’s doing.

Everyone settled, a master’s student urged Jiang Yule to sing.

She picked a familiar song and sang.

Others teased, “Junior got a story?”

“Spill, Senior!”

Smiling, “No story, pick your songs!”

Sitting between Wen and the junior, she sipped water.

“Water? Drink wine!”
Ji Zizhen, beside Wen, handed her red wine.

“No escaping~”

Laughing, “Fine.”
She sipped, listening to the junior sing.

Recalling dinner, she’d tried to pay but learned someone already had.

“Senior, bathroom break.”
She slipped out.

At the counter, she confirmed no one paid, relieved.

Noticing a recharge deal, she picked the best for tonight’s spending.
“Hi, charge A36’s expenses to this card, thanks.”

On her way back, she ran into Huang Yuxin.

“Yule, what a coincidence.”
“Hi, Senior Yuxin.”

“Who’re you with?”
“Friends.”

Walking on, Huang Yuxin followed, not leaving.

Stopping outside the room, “Senior Yuxin, anything else?”

“Nope, just saying hi to Senior Su.”

Lashes flickering, “Sister Yubai’s not here.”

Unconvinced, Huang Yuxin pushed the door open.

Everyone’s eyes snapped over.

Unable to stop her, Jiang Yule smiled, “Ran into a friend.”

Huang Yuxin scanned, saw no Su Yubai, but noticed the birthday vibe.

“Yule’s birthday? Happy birthday~”

Still smiling, “Thanks, Senior Yuxin. Join us?”

“No, got stuff to do. Have fun.”

She left; Jiang Yule entered, smiling.

No one noticed anything off, but a junior said, “Senior, that girl took a photo at the door.”

Glancing at the door’s glass, Huang Yuxin was gone.

Smiling at everyone, “No big deal, she’s a friend.”

The group carried on singing, undeterred.

Such events were rare—everyone sang with gusto, likely venting work stress.

Past 10, no one wanted to stop.
To Wen, Jiang Yule said, “Senior, might head back—it’s late.”

A junior overheard, “Senior, it’s only 10! Nightlife’s just starting!”

Classic Hong Kong.

With no sign of stopping, Jiang Yule didn’t want to spoil it.
“Alright, let’s keep singing.”

Past 11, Wen spoke, “Let’s call it.”

Jiang Yule eyed the untouched cake.

Ji Zizhen approached, “Need a ride?”

Noticing, “Senior, you drank, right?”

Ji Zizhen remembered, “I’ll get a cab for you.”

“No, too much trouble. I’ll manage.”

Downstairs, Wen watched everyone get in cars.
“Text when you’re home!”

In the cab, Jiang Yule checked WeChat—no new messages.

About 30 minutes later, she reached her building, glancing up.

Su Yubai’s place was dark—likely asleep.

In the elevator, the hall’s voice-activated light flicked on.

Stepping out, she noticed Su Yubai’s door ajar.

Thinking it was forgotten, she moved to close it, hand on the knob, when a pull yanked her forward—

Stumbling, she fell into soft arms.

Cheeks burning, she heard that cool voice—

“Not scared of me now?”