Chapter 38: Tangled Hearts in Hangsu

Jiang HuaZhen didn’t scold her for skipping classes, cheerfully promising to pick her up tomorrow afternoon.

Relieved, Jiang Yule thought of Su Yubai and Huang Yuxin, frustration making her roll on the bed.
She called Su Yingying.

“You know Huang Yuxin likes your sister.”

“Guessed as much. Why else chase her to Hangsu? What’s up?”

Denying, “Nothing.”

Su Yingying paused.
“What’re you getting at? Spill!”

“Well…” Jiang Yule tested.

Su Yingying held her breath, hearing—

“You think Huang Yuxin might turn your sister queer?”

“Nah… Sis probably isn’t into the clingy type.”

In her head, Su Yingying mused: She likes reeling them in herself.

Pursing her lips, “Oh, I’m heading to Hangsu tomorrow.”

“You’re coming back?”

“Yeah, don’t get too excited.”

Too late.
“You’re coming for my sister, aren’t you?”

“No, just homesick.”

Su Yingying laughed, “Sure, sure, totally for her!”

“Whatever you say, I’m sleeping. Night!”
She hung up fast.

Heart still pounding.

Packing lightly—most necessities were at home—she ran on the treadmill for 45 minutes.

To avoid insomnia, she lit sleep incense, searching for music and recalling Su Yubai’s car violin piece (Chapter 36).

After half an hour, she found it, looping it with a 30-minute timer.

Incense and music lulled her to sleep instantly.

But it wasn’t restful—dreams of exam halls, unfinished papers, and fights with her mom, who wouldn’t listen.

No Su Yubai in any.

Waking at 5:30, eyes wet, fear and anxiety lingered.

Washing her face with cold water, she lay back down.

Thinking of Su Yubai’s moments together eased her.

She slept well, waking at 9 a.m.

After washing, she grabbed brunch nearby, then headed to the airport.

On the plane, sleepless, she felt a nervous homesickness, despite once wanting to escape.

Landing, she grabbed her luggage, meeting Jiang HuaZhen.

“Miss home so soon? Ditching summer classes?”

Explaining patiently, “They’re not mandatory, almost done. Missed home.”

Adding, “Cleared it with Professor Qiao.”

Jiang HuaZhen patted her head.
“Home it is.”

Guilty, “Mom, I haven’t seen Yingying in ages. Can I have dinner with her tonight?”

Surprisingly, “Sure, your dad and I have a dinner anyway. Was wondering about your meal.”

Relieved, “Great.”

In the car, she messaged Su Yingying: [Landed, dinner tonight?]

[Where?]

Exiting, she tapped Su Yubai’s white avatar, probing: [Sister Yubai, tried those restaurants? How were they?]

Quick reply: [Not yet, planning to tonight.]

Eyes lighting up, [Which one?]

[Zhinanfang.]

To Su Yingying: [Zhinanfang! 6 p.m.!]

[Time?]

Probing Su Yubai: [Sister Yubai, it’s popular—go early to skip lines~]

[Mm.]

“Something fun? You’re grinning,” Jiang HuaZhen teased.

Pocketing her phone, “Just picking a restaurant with Yingying.”

“Really? Not secretly dating?”

Smile fading, “No way.”

Home, she left soon after, meeting Su Yingying at Zhinanfang.

Scanning the hall, no familiar figure—probably not in a private room.

To a server, “Can two get a private room?”

“Yes, but there’s a 1088 minimum.”

Too much for two.
She gave up.

“What, we need a private room?” Su Yingying grumbled, used to street food dives.

Smirking, “Just asking.”

“Hungry?”

“Not really.”

“Me neither. Let’s sit in the hall.”

Su Yingying, suspicious, “What’s this about?”

Grinning sheepishly, “Your sister’s coming with Huang Yuxin.”

“Catching them in the act?”

Blinking, “Huh?”

“No, I mean—you get me.”
Su Yingying fumbled.

Glaring lightly, “Just want to share a table.”

Eyes widening, “You came all this way to eat with my sister?”

“Haha, guess.”

They bantered until a familiar figure entered.

Staring, “They’re here.”

Su Yingying followed—Su Yubai with an unfamiliar woman.

Pulling Su Yingying, Jiang Yule pretended they just arrived.
“Sister Yubai, what a coincidence.”

Surprise in Su Yubai’s eyes, noting her watch.
“Yule, why’re you in Hangsu?”

“Classes not done? Skipping?” Huang Yuxin smiled beside her.

Fixing on Su Yubai, “Classes aren’t mandatory. Missed home.”

Adding, “Didn’t expect to run into you, Sister Yubai.”

Su Yubai nodded.

“Sis, who’s she?” Su Yingying eyed Huang Yuxin curiously.

“My junior, Huang Yuxin.”

To Huang Yuxin, “My sister, Su Yingying.”

Hearing sister, Huang Yuxin smiled, “Hi, Yingying.”

Su Yingying, overly friendly, grabbed her arm.
“Hi, Senior Yuxin, let’s eat together.”

Eager, “Sure, sure.”

Jiang Yule caught Su Yingying’s signal, chuckling at their backs.

“Laughing at what?” Su Yubai asked softly.

Pouting, “Sister Yubai has so many sisters.”

Faint resentment.

Without pause, “Just one.”

Meaning blood sister?
Straight-girl logic, understandable.

Following Su Yingying and Huang Yuxin, they sat at a four-person table.

Su Yingying winked at Jiang Yule.

Smiling, she sat opposite with Su Yubai.

Casually lifting her arm, adjusting her hair.

Huang Yuxin noticed her watch, then Su Yubai’s, eyes dimming.
“Wow, your watches match.”

Smiling, “Not a coincidence.”
Showing her wrist, “Sister Yubai’s birthday gift.”

Beaming at Su Yubai, “Right?”

“Mm,” a faint nod.

Su Yingying’s eyes glinted, smile widening.

Each side had an ordering tablet.

Leaning to Su Yubai, “Sister Yubai, I want this.”

Eyes pleading.

“Order it.”

Pointing at fish, “This looks good too.”

Blinking eagerly.

Su Yubai glanced away.
“Order.”

Across, Huang Yuxin spoke, “Senior, this dish?”

A glance, “Fine.”

“Sister Yubai…”

Huang Yuxin cut in, “Senior, this drink looks good.”

“Order what you want,” Su Yubai said flatly, handing Jiang Yule the tablet.

Smiling at Huang Yuxin, “Done, Senior Yuxin.”
She returned it to the server.

Huang Yuxin glanced at Su Yingying, who nodded.

“We’re done too.”

Su Yingying snorted a laugh.

Dishes arrived, chatter sporadic, Su Yubai typically quiet.

Peeling shrimp, she caught Jiang Yule’s eager stare but didn’t look.
“Want some?”

Nodding, eyes bright, “Yeah!”

A glance.
“Peel it yourself.”

“Oh.”
Slightly disappointed.

As she reached for a shrimp, a peeled one landed in her bowl.

Blinking, she leaned to Su Yubai’s ear, whispering, “Thanks, Sister Yubai.”

Her peeling paused.
“Mm.”

Huang Yuxin’s eyes darkened watching them.
“Professor Qiao okay with you dropping the course?”

“She was.”

Remembering, Jiang Yule texted Qiao: [Professor Qiao, safely in Hangsu~ Thanks for your care~~]

“Lots of big-name lecturers later, right?”

Smiling, “Plenty of chances.”
Glancing at Su Yubai, “Got a top scholar right here.”

Su Yingying’s grin broke, laughing, “Sorry, thought of a joke.”

Su Yubai glanced at Jiang Yule, adding another peeled shrimp to her bowl.

Jiang Yule beamed.

Dinner was unhurried.

Done, Su Yubai asked, “How’d you get here?”

“Drove,” Jiang Yule said, bold.
“Sister Yubai, give us a ride?”

“Mm,” a faint reply.

Su Yingying clung to Huang Yuxin’s arm, trailing behind.

Huang Yuxin tried pulling away but couldn’t, too polite to force it.

Jiang Yule reached the passenger seat first, smiling back, “Sorry, I get carsick, taking the front.”

Su Yubai, at the driver’s door, flashed a smile.

“Yeah, Yule gets carsick after eating, better up front,” Su Yingying added.

Huang Yuxin smiled, “Sit steady then.”

Buckled in, Jiang Yule ignored her, wondering if Huang Yuxin had sat here often.

What if she was staying at Su Yubai’s?

Sourness rose.

“Sister Yuxin, where’re you staying? Seen much of Hangsu? We can plan your itinerary.”

Not wanting to engage, Huang Yuxin replied curtly, “Near B Uni.”

Relieved, “Oh, not the best spot. Beihu’s better for sights and transport.”

Annoyed, “I’m not here to sightsee.”

Feigning surprise, “Oh? Then why?”

“I…” Huang Yuxin pivoted, smiling, “My mom knows Aunt Lin. I’m visiting her for Mom.”

“When?”

“Tomorrow night.”
To Su Yubai, “Senior, okay?”

At a red light, “Sure.”

Jiang Yule’s smile deepened.
“Perfect, I haven’t seen Aunt Lin since Hong Kong. I’ll join.”

Huang Yuxin nearly laughed in frustration, full of question marks.

Su Yubai’s lips curved faintly.

“Getting boring—let’s play music.”
Jiang Yule tapped the car’s Bluetooth.

“Whoa, my Bluetooth connected instantly!”

Realizing, “Oh, right, connected last time.”

Su Yingying stifled a laugh, hearing a soft, “Mm.”

“Sister Yubai, what song? Best Times again?”

Su Yingying teased, “Yule knows Sis so well.”

Huang Yuxin forced a smile, “Senior likes that? I do too.”

Noticing Su Yubai’s right turn signal—toward her place—Jiang Yule said, “Sister Yubai, we’re not done chatting. Drop Senior Yuxin first.”

The signal went off, driving straight.

To Huang Yuxin, “What food do you like? Sister Yubai’s busy, but Yingying and I can show you around.”

Politely declining, “No need.”

“No way, we’re hosts.”

Su Yubai glanced; Jiang Yule shrank.
“Senior Yuxin, plan your own, but message me or Yingying if needed.”

At Huang Yuxin’s hotel, Su Yubai dropped her off.

“Rest well, Senior Yuxin~” Jiang Yule lingered.

Another glance from Su Yubai; she looked away.

Su Yingying got out too.

The car went quiet.

Without pretense before Su Yubai, Jiang Yule tensed.

Parking at the complex gate, Su Yubai didn’t move.

Tension mounting, heart constricting, she couldn’t look.

A torturous silence, like awaiting judgment.

After an eternity, a clear voice—

“Jiang Yule.”

Eyes darting, “Yubai… Sister Yubai, what’s wrong?”

Su Yubai gazed, eyes deep, leaning closer slowly.

Jiang Yule held her breath, heart racing.