Chapter 44: Long-Distance Longing and Playful Teasing

Entering the boarding lounge, Jiang Yule sat and checked her phone, seeing Su Yubai’s message: [I’m heading to school. Safe travels.]

Quick reply: [Okay~]

Then tackling piled-up WeChat messages.

She’d messaged her mom earlier, now updating: [Sister sent me to the airport~]

Realizing she should say “Sister Yubai,” she edited it.

After sending, hesitating, she texted Su Yingying before boarding: [I think Sister might like me a bit.]

Eyes curving into crescents.

Su Yingying called instantly: “Spill! What happened?”

“Nothing big, just… she hugged me, said she’d miss me.”

“That’s it?”

“Yup.”

“Nothing last night?”

Already answered this morning, Jiang Yule affirmed, “Nope.”

“No kiss? Were you not bold enough?” Su Yingying questioned her seduction.

Recalling last night—clinging to her neck, soft “Sister” calls, nearly kissing—she blushed, too shy to say.

“Not telling you.”

“Fine. If you were bold and she held back, it means…”

Heart leaping, “What? I’m not charming enough? Or she doesn’t like me?”

“No, my sister’s just steady.”

Relieved, “True.”

Recalling tripping into her lap with water, Su Yubai calmly helped her up—unfazed.

Su Yingying added, “Or, since you were ‘drunk,’ she might’ve felt kissing you was taking advantage.”

“Huh?”

“Strong morals. She’s a proper lady!”

“Okay.”
Wouldn’t mind her taking advantage…

Softly, “Does she maybe like me?”

Back to square one.

“Possibly,” Su Yingying said firmly.

Very possibly, she thought.

Relieved, “So she won’t go on blind dates, right? Can you…”

Too shy to finish, Su Yingying teased, “Her last date, Zhuang Feng, you know him?”

Heart sinking, “Yeah, did he spread bad rumors?”

Worry resurfaced.

Laughing, “No, he wouldn’t dare.”

Confirming Jiang Yule’s thought: Zhuang feared offending Su Yubai and her family.

Curious, “What then?”

“He told the matchmaker to stop setting her up. Said no man’s good enough.” Su Yingying cackled.

Grinning, “And?”

“It reached Mom, who already thinks no one matches Sis, being the academic ceiling of her age.”

“Totally.” Smiling wider.

“But tradition wins; they’ll keep setting her up.”

Heart sinking, lips pursing, then, “But I feel she won’t go.”

“Hm?”

“First, she likes you.”

“Possibly likes me,” correcting with a smile.

“Fine, possibly. Second, she hasn’t eaten at home lately. Mom thinks Zhuang upset her, so no more setups for now.”

“Their relationship’s fragile, one misstep and…”

Relieved, “I’m cautiously optimistic.”

“Be fully optimistic,” Su Yingying laughed.

Boarding call sounded.
“Yingying, gotta board.”

“Safe flight.”

Landing in Hong Kong, Jiang Yule recalled Su Yubai’s “call when you land.”

But was she still in a meeting?

Switching SIMs, she texted: [Sister, I landed~]

No instant reply.
Clearing customs, her phone rang—Su Yubai.

Heart trembling, answering, “Hello?”

“Arrived?”

Her cool voice soothed like summer shade.

“Good thing I didn’t call earlier, didn’t want to disturb work.”

“It’s fine.”

Surprised, “Hm?”

“Afternoon meeting wasn’t mine to lead. Calling’s okay; I’d step out.”

“So busy yet you’d take my call? You’re the best.”

A pause, then softly, “Almost done. Still at the airport?”

Catching her dodge, smiling, “Yup, about to clear customs.”

“Good, contact me when home.”

Blinking, she hung up.

Only hours apart, why miss her so much?

In the taxi, wondering what Su Yubai was doing, resisting messaging since she said “when home.”

Handling other messages, answering her mom’s call.

Gazing at clouds, planning morning and night runs, hoping to surprise Su Yubai by matching her pace in Hong Kong.

Lips curving.

Phone buzzed—Su Yubai: [In the car?]

Didn’t she say message when home?

Eyes curving, she snapped a selfie: [Sister~ In the car~]

Her usual: [Mm.]

Flat response.

Pouting, texting: [Miss me, Sister?]

No reply.
Sending more selfies: [Look at these when you miss me~]

Quick response: [Received.]

So formal.

Pocketing her phone, no reply.

Mind wandering—tomorrow’s project, their future.

At her building, facing Su Yubai’s closed door, memories flooded.

Sighing, unlocking her door, she entered, turning on the AC, standing in the cool air, calling Su Yubai.

Quick answer: “Yule.”

Her voice calmed, easing longing.

Softly, “Sister, I’m home~ Miss you~”

Her tone steady, “What’s for dinner?”

Giggling, “Your cooking.”

A pause, then, “Plenty of chances before, didn’t see you so keen.”

Referring to her avoiding dinners, too shy from feelings.

Guilty, unable to admit, “Sister~ I was wrong.”

“Mm.”

Asking her burning question, “Do you miss me?”

Silence.
“And my photos?”

“Mm.”

“Pretty?”

“Mm.”

Grumbling, “All you say is ‘mm’?”

“Good-looking.”

Her voice cool, yet restrained.

Eyes curving, softer, “So, do you miss me?”

Silence, breath held.

Seconds later, “I’m looking at your photos.”

Call ended abruptly.
Stunned, realizing she answered her earlier text.

Lips curving wider, cheeks warm.

Body reacting—rolling on the sofa.

She didn’t even confirm missing her, yet Jiang Yule was smitten!

Phone buzzed—Su Yubai: [Ordered you takeout, arrives in 20 minutes.]

Twenty minutes? She ordered ahead!

Rolling again, replying: [Sister’s the best~ Muah~]

Too flirty, no reply.

Doorbell rang; takeout arrived—Sichuan dishes: boiled pork, fish-flavored pork, red date chicken soup.

Snapping a photo, sending with voice message: “Sister~ You’re the best.”

Her reply: a one-second voice, “Mm.”

Voice for my voice?

Imagining her expression.

Post-dinner, messaging for paper feedback, she saw Professor Si Qing’s message: [Yule, heard you were in Hangsu? HKU work not started?]

Curious how she knew—Lin Siqiong?

Uneasy, replying: [Thanks for your concern, Professor Si. I was back briefly, now in Hong Kong~ Didn’t contact you due to the rush. Professor Qiao’s project starts tomorrow.]

Instant reply: [Got it. Free tonight? Junior Yu Wan’s writing a proposal, but I’m busy. Can you help?]

Tossing her phone, fuming—she’d graduated, joined another group, yet more work?

Calming, to Su Yubai: [Sister~ Paper feedback done?]

[Not resting? So eager.]

Voice message, helpless: “Sister, send it quick~”

File arrived.
Another voice: “Sister, one more message—‘Finish revisions tonight and send.’ Okay?”

She complied.

Deleting the voice, screenshotting, sending to Si Qing: [Sorry, Professor Si, Professor Su needs my revisions tonight QAQ]

No reply.
Opening Su Yubai’s file—her original, unedited.

Double-checking, no notes.

Voice message: “Sister, wrong file? It’s my old version~”

Her reply: “Not wrong. Rest well.”

Heart warming, “Sister~”

[What.]

“Just wanted to call you.”

[Oh.]

Reading papers, then treadmill for an hour, faster than before.

Thinking—Su Yubai could see her photos; what could she see? Her official headshot?

Next morning, seaside run, meeting Huang Yuxin.

Awkward, “Morning, Senior Yuxin.”

Nodding, “You’re back.”

Running together, silently avoiding Hangsu talk.

Post-run, Yuxin invited her for breakfast.

Hesitating, agreeing.

“Is Sister Su straight?” Yuxin asked softly.

Stunned, shaking head, “Dunno.”
Adding, “Maybe not.”

Changing topic, “You know about my sister and Professor Qiao, right?”

Heart leaping, “Huh?”

“I saw Sister Su cover your eyes on the balcony.”

“Oh.”

“So you saw Professor Qiao’s car…”

Blushing, “What’re you saying, Senior?”

“It’s a tough path. My mom doesn’t approve of Sis with a woman. Yours?”

Dodging, “Why doesn’t Professor Chen agree?”

“Traditional views, normal, right?”

“Normal, but it’s Senior Sijiong’s life.”

Shaking head, “You’re naive.”

Not a compliment.
Pursing lips.

“Their rebellion’s outcome?”

Recalling Su Yubai, “Professor Qiao might lose her deanship?”

Surprised glance, looking away, “Would you give up power for a woman?”

Power and gain.

Smiling, “I would.”

Ignoring her, “How’d your parents, with their status, treat your girlfriend?”

“If Professor Qiao loses HKU’s deanship, her academic strength would land her a dean or vice-dean role anywhere in China.”

Odd look, “And my sister?”

“She could go too, if willing.”

“Worst case, Professor Qiao keeps her post.”

“You’re crazy too,” Yuxin said, then fell silent.

Smiling, thinking: Not even with Su Yubai yet, and obstacles arise.

8 a.m., at school, prepping for the meeting.

Ji Zizhen, beside her, wailed, “My mainland trip’s canceled.”

Laughing, “Plenty of chances later.”

Snapping a photo for Su Yubai.

Reply: [Morning.]

Giggling, [Wanna hear your voice~]

No new message; Qiao Anqing entered.

Pocketing her phone, sitting upright.

Phone buzzed in her pocket; sneaking a peek—Su Yubai’s voice message.

Grabbing Bluetooth earbud, covering her ear, she played it:

“Jiang Yule, don’t push it.”

Fingers trembling, cheeks burning.

Shutting off data, stowing earbud and phone, relieved.

Too embarrassing, even if unnoticed.

Deep breaths, refocusing.

Qiao Anqing outlined the project, assigning tasks—Jiang Yule and Ji Zizhen on theoretical analysis, text-heavy; senior students handled complex data.

Meeting done, retrieving her phone, texting Su Yubai: [Sister’s mean.]

Smiling, back to the meeting room.

WeChat pinged—Su Yubai: [Hm?]

[Tell you tonight.]

Despite saying tonight, at lunch, she sent a meal photo: [Miss your cooking~]

Her reply: a cafeteria photo, [I’m eating here too.]

Meaning she didn’t get her own cooking either.

Small comfort.

“Junior, you’re in a great mood,” Ji Zizhen noted, sensing a shift.

Hangsu’s magic?

“You noticed, Senior,” no hiding.

Eyeing her joy, “In love?”

“Maybe soon.” Blushing.

Evening, home, unable to resist, she called Su Yubai.

“Evening, Yule,” low voice.

Used to her calm, following her heart, “Sister, miss me today~?”

Silence.
Background rustling, unnoticed.

Pouting, “Look at my photos when you miss me. What do I do?”

Quick reply, “I don’t like photos.”

“Then…”

Call dropped; stunned, then her video call popped up.

Answering, seeing floor or wall, then darkness—camera off.

Whining, “Why hide, Sister?”

“Inconvenient.”

Hmph, “Don’t like you anymore.”

“Who then?”

“Senior Zizhen, Senior Yanqing, they’re great.”

Adding, “They show their faces on video.”

“You videoed them?” Low voice.

Giggling, “Yup.”
Group meetings count, right?

Next second, her camera flipped on—Su Yubai in a towel, upper body bare, pale skin, delicate collarbone, deep cleavage…

Breath hitching, her cool voice: “Told you, inconvenient.”

Helpless smile.

Cheeks exploding red.