Chapter 42: Teasing Touches and Tipsy Truths

“Touch more, it’ll cool down.”

The words slipped out before Jiang Yule’s brain caught up.

What am I saying?!

Her cheeks burned hotter—especially as Su Yubai’s hand began gently stroking her face.

Releasing her hand, Su Yubai kept caressing, eyes deepening on Jiang Yule’s parted lips.

“Sister,” Jiang Yule whispered, locking eyes, glimpsing an unfamiliar emotion.

Snapping back, Su Yubai turned away, hand retreating, hiding its tremble and her uneven breaths.

Staring at her back, Jiang Yule’s cheeks cooled slightly.

Not that hot.

A soft cough.
Worried it was a cold, Jiang Yule started, but—

“Jiang Yule,” Su Yubai’s low voice cut through.

Lashes fluttering, “Sister, what’s up?”

“Aren’t you here to study?”

Su Yubai sat at the desk first.
Jiang Yule grabbed her laptop, pulled a chair, and sat opposite.

Su Yubai’s focus was already on her screen.

Amazed at her concentration, Jiang Yule opened her files.
“Sister, seen my paper?”

“Yes.”

Soon, her WeChat pinged—Su Yubai sent detailed notes.

Downloading, Jiang Yule marveled at the thorough comments.

Moments later, Su Yubai stood, fetching tea tools from a cabinet, setting them on the table.

Following, Jiang Yule sat on the table’s edge.
“Making tea, Sister?”

“Mm.”

Chat time.

“Sister, heard Senior Yuxin often visited you at school?”

Pouring water into the kettle, pressing start, “Mm.”

“She’s been to this office?”

No answer, just a glance, searching her face.

Blinking, “Something on my face?”

“You care about this a lot?”

Looking away, “Nah, just curious.”

“Oh.”

Uninterested in answering, Jiang Yule pursed her lips.
“Has she been here?”

Opening the tea canister, “If it’s irrelevant, why ask?”

“It’s not irrelevant.”

“Oh?”

“I want to know if I’m the first non-student here.”

Without hesitation, “No.”

Heart sinking, “Who else? Senior Yuxin?”

Flatly, “Teachers with business.”

Realizing, eyes curving, “Oh, so Yuxin hasn’t been here?”

No reply—confirmation.

Tilting to meet her eyes, a cold—

“Jiang Yule.”

Sitting straight, waiting.

“Study, or…”

Knowing the rest, “I’m not going home!”

“If you don’t study…”

“I get it, Sister, stop nagging.”
Back to the desk.

Her voice too soft, Su Yubai watched her back, taking a deep breath.

Tea’s rich aroma wafted; Jiang Yule glanced back, catching Su Yubai’s gaze, then pretended to study.

Nearly laughing, Su Yubai called, “Jiang Yule.”

Turning openly, “You called me, Sister.”

Looking away, “Come drink tea.”

Jumping up, she sat to Su Yubai’s right.

Su Yubai subtly shifted left.

Jiang Yule inched closer.

Shifting again, “Hot.”

“Oh.”
Backing off slightly.

Blowing on her tea, sipping, “Delicious!”

“Mm.”

“Drink more, calms the heart,” Su Yubai said lightly.

For her or me?

With Su Yubai’s example, Jiang Yule’s efficiency soared.

Her feedback focused on phrasing; the heavy-lifting data was solid.

Sending the file, “Sister, I’m done~”

Chin propped, waiting for rare praise—maybe “not bad.”

Instead, “How should we list authors?”

Stunned, smiling, “You decide, Sister.”

“Fourth author okay? Or none at all?”

Pausing, “You guiding me is fine, it’s academic integrity.”
Adding, “Fourth’s okay.”

Silent, “You only provided ideas, a guiding role.”

Confused, she listened.

“You should be first author,” Su Yubai’s lips parted.

About to protest it was just help, she recalled her master’s first lesson—academic ethics.

First author by contribution, yet often pushed to third or fourth in academia, or given to uninvolved mentors.

Stunned, “It’s yours, claim it.”

“Here with me, and with Qiao Anqing.”

“Your first author is yours.”

Nodding dazedly, “Sister’s the best.”

Who knows how many first authors Lin Siqiong stole…

Silent.

“Mad, Sister?”

A glance, “No, study.”

“But I’m hungry.”

Saving files, closing her laptop, Su Yubai stood fluidly.

Stunned, “Thought you were ignoring me.”

No reply earlier.

Waiting as she shut her laptop, Su Yubai stepped out.

Following, she waited as Su Yubai locked the door.

Downstairs, Su Yubai opened her umbrella; Jiang Yule reached for her arm.

“Hot.”

“Oh.”

Stopping, she opened her own umbrella, keeping a meter’s distance, like strangers.

Su Yubai glanced, silent.

Spotting a familiar doctoral classmate, Jiang Yule stepped forward to greet—

“Jiang Yule.”

Turning, Su Yubai watched her.

“What’s up, Professor Su?”

Professor Su again.

“Come here.”

Puzzled, Su Yubai approached, standing beside her, face serious.

“Yule! You’re at school!” Zhou Shiqi recognized her.

Smiling, “Shiqi! Long time!”

Su Yubai glanced at Zhou Shiqi.

“Dean Su,” Zhou Shiqi nodded.

“Mm.”

About to chat, Jiang Yule’s wrist was pulled forward.

Su Yubai’s umbrella was gone, now under hers, oolong tea scent hitting her nose, heart trembling.

“I’m busy,” coldly.

Her voice cold, her palm warm.

Eyes on her hand, Jiang Yule’s smile widened.

At the cafeteria, Su Yubai released her like shocked.

Folding her umbrella, Jiang Yule followed, linking arms.
“So cool in here.”

Pointed.
Su Yubai let her, lips curving faintly.

Summer vacation, few windows open.

Following, they grabbed food, Jiang Yule eating fast.

“So quick,” Su Yubai noted, her plate nearly empty.

“You said you’re busy.”

Another glance, silent.

Finished, Su Yubai handed her a tissue.

Wiping her lips, Jiang Yule recalled that night in the car, Su Yubai’s thumb brushing her lips.

Afternoon, back to the office.

PTSD kicking in, “Sister, students coming back?”

“No.”

Relieved, “Our little world then!”

A glance.

Shrinking, “I mean, figuratively!”

Is she clueless or pretending?
Her feelings were practically written on her forehead!

Focusing, she checked messages.

Qiao Anqing, thirty minutes ago: [Yule, our HKU project starts soon, meeting day after tomorrow. When’re you back?]

Clear intent.
Checking tickets, she booked an afternoon flight.

Replying: [Professor Qiao, I’ll arrive tomorrow evening, ready for the meeting~]

Glancing at Su Yubai, focused on her screen, a plan formed.

Spending the afternoon in the office, at dusk, “Sister, I’m off for family dinner.”

Looking up, “Mm, message when home.”

“Where’re you eating?”

“Cafeteria.”

“Don’t work too hard~”

She’ll need energy for tonight, Jiang Yule thought.

Oblivious, “Okay.”

On the ride home, she shared her plan with Su Yingying, getting enthusiastic support.

Home, she messaged Su Yubai: [Sister, I’m home~]

Quick reply: [Good.]

Parents not home, she cooked cucumber-egg stir-fry learned from Su Yubai, with rice.

Jiang HuaZhen, seeing her plate, “Yule’s cooking now?”

“Learned from Sister Yubai.”

Approving, “Learn more, take care of yourself.”

Sweetness bloomed, helping her mom cook.

“Mom, Professor Qiao wants me back tomorrow.”

Not surprised, “You just got back, they’re generous letting you come.”

“Work hard on your paper.”

“Okay.”

Packing, her short stay meant light luggage, done quickly.

Downstairs, “Mom, Yingying’s going abroad soon, might not see her for a while.”

Understanding their bond, “Meet up tonight?”

Exactly her plan.
“Can I sleep over at hers?”

A glance, “No fooling around.”

Visiting Su Yubai isn’t fooling around.

“You trust me, right, Mom~”

Recalling Su Yubai’s words, Jiang HuaZhen nodded.

Escaping, she cabbed to Su Yingying’s complex, then to a bar.

An hour in, Su Yingying moved to call Su Yubai.

Stopping her, “Do I look drunk?”

Flashlight on, “Not red enough, eyes too clear.”

Half a glass later, “Now?”

Head fuzzy, mind clear.

“Perfect, call Sis?”

“Mm,” hazy.

Su Yingying called, “Sis, Yule’s drunk, I’m tipsy. Can you pick us up?”

Cold reply: “Send the address.”

Su Yingying sent it, “She’s coming.”

Instantly alert, heart racing, palms sweaty, Jiang Yule chugged more, stealing Su Yingying’s drink.

Laughing, “Enough, don’t panic.”

Her boldest move ever!

Su Yingying buzzed with anticipation.

Thirty minutes, Su Yubai arrived, spotting them in a corner.

As Jiang Yule raised another glass, Su Yubai snatched it, pulling her up, glaring at Su Yingying.

Scared, “Sis, she insisted, I couldn’t stop her.”

Guiltier by the word.

“Move,” flatly.

Half-carried in Su Yubai’s arms, Jiang Yule inhaled her tea scent, “stumbling” on cue, caught by a firm hand on her waist.

Dizzy, she was lifted, arms looping her neck, murmuring, “Sister.”

A soft, “Mm.”

Heart trembling.

Seated in the passenger seat, belted in, Su Yubai’s face blurred before her.

Closing her door, Su Yubai took the driver’s seat, car moving.

Su Yingying in the back held her breath—her sister’s cold face was terrifying.

At their complex, Su Yingying tried to flee, stopped by—

“Why’d she drink?”

“Sis, she’s leaving for Hong Kong tomorrow, said she’ll miss you, regrets not staying at B Uni to be near you.”

Su Yingying!
Never said that!
Though, true, she regretted it now.

“Drunk,” Jiang Yule couldn’t protest, letting her “lie.”

Su Yubai’s chill softened, “Go home.”

Door shut, just them.
Jiang Yule held her breath.

Su Yubai messaged “Jiang HuaZhen”: [Aunt Jiang, Yule’s asleep, not sending her back.]

Catching her typing, Jiang Yule looked away fast as Su Yubai glanced.

Too focused driving, she didn’t “act drunk.”

In the parking garage, lifted again, she clung, calling, “Sister.”

Choking up, “I’m leaving tomorrow, will you miss me?”

A glance.

“You’re ignoring me.”
Pouting pitifully.

“I’m not.”

“Not what?”

“I’m not ignoring you.”

Playing dumb, “Who’re you? Sister Yubai?”

Another glance, “Mm.”

“Will you miss me?”

No reply, entering with a code, lights on.

Still carrying her, Su Yubai slipped off shoes, into slippers.

Squinting, Jiang Yule saw her heading to the guest room.

Pouting, nuzzling her neck.

Pausing, glancing at her own room, Su Yubai exhaled, continuing.

“Sister~” Sweeter.

Looking down, her flushed cheeks and hazy eyes held a trace of clarity.

Pretending not to notice, Su Yubai set her on the bed.

As she moved to stand, Jiang Yule clung, “Sister, hug me.”

Too cute, Su Yubai leaned in, embracing her.

“Mmm~” A satisfied sigh.

Regretting, Su Yubai tried to pull back, but her neck was locked, forced to meet hazy eyes.

Jiang Yule lifted her head.

Her nearing lips, heavy breaths—Su Yubai’s throat bobbed.

Her gaze felt consuming.

Breaths mingling, lips nearing, almost touching—

Hands around her neck were pulled away, pinned above her head.

Weak from little exercise, both hands no match for Su Yubai’s one.

Waist held by her other hand, Jiang Yule gazed pitifully.

Staring at her parted lips, Su Yubai’s throat bobbed again, turning to steady her breath.

Moments later, chuckling helplessly, “Jiang Yule.”

“You misunderstanding me?”

“Hm?” Hazy.

Her lips parted, “I’m not a saint, don’t look at me like that.”

“I might not hold back.”