Chapter 45: Awkward Blushes and Surprise Reunions

Jiang Yule, reacting first, ended the call.

The vibe was too tempting; she feared saying something improper.

Recalling two nights ago, her boldest words were “Sister, hug me~” and “Will you miss me?”

Her boldest move—leaning in for a kiss.

Now, she imagined tugging that towel…

Shaking her head, she hit the treadmill, trying to banish the steamy scene.

A faint phone buzz vibrated, pulling her thoughts back.

Unable to resist, she stopped after three seconds to check.

Su Yubai: [Hm?]
Quoting her morning message: [I’ll tell you tonight~]

Too shy for video, steadying her breath, she sent a voice message: “Your voice message came during my meeting, but I secretly listened.”

And got embarrassed, she swallowed.

Long silence.
About to resume running, Su Yubai replied: [What were you just doing?]

Mind racing, she replayed her voice message—two seconds in, cheeks exploded red.

Her voice had audible panting, easily misunderstood, but unintentional.

Deep breaths, texting: [Running.]

Quick reply: [Keep exercising, good.]

Awkward laugh, back on the treadmill, mortified, speeding up.

Days passed, embarrassment lingering.

Su Yubai acted unaffected, sending [Morning], [Noon], [Night].

Jiang Yule replied formally, avoiding boldness.

One noon, Su Yubai asked: [You’ve been odd lately.]

Heart dipping, [How so?]

A call came; answering, “Sister?”

“You seem distant,” Su Yubai concluded.

“N-no, not at all.”

“Busy lately?”

“Not really.”

“Nervous?”

Pausing, catching her slight stutter, adjusting, “Nope.”

Silence, then, “Embarrassed from seeing me post-shower?”

Instantly back to that night.

Realizing—if she wasn’t shy about the towel, why this voice message?

“Not embarrassed,” softly.

“Good.”

Blinking, “Sister, video tonight?”

Missed seeing her, only catching stiff official photos on the institute’s site.

“Want to see that again?” Su Yubai’s tone was calm but suggestive.

Lashes fluttering, “No, just… miss seeing you.”

Pure thoughts…

“Okay.”

Instant agreement, but worrying, “School’s starting soon, aren’t you busy?”

“It’s fine, frontline staff are busier.”

“Oh, good.”

That night, home, dinner, shower, hair dried in one go, slipping into a new nightgown, subtly applying pink lipstick.

Testing angles via a video call to Su Yingying, hanging up before connecting.

Su Yubai’s message: [Convenient now?]

PTSD from “convenient,” giggling, ending Su Yingying’s call, replying: [Yup yup.]

Video call popped up, heart racing, answering.

Su Yubai in long-sleeve pajamas, unlike her nightgown.

“Evening, Sister~” Waving.

“Evening.” A nod.

“Working tonight?”

Background looked like her study.

“No, nice view here.”

Flipping her camera, showing Hangsu’s nightscape.

“Pretty.”

“Your school starts soon?”

“Same day as B Uni.”

Camera still on the view, muffled, “Sister, I don’t wanna see this.”

“Hm?”

“I wanna see you.”

Seconds later, the camera flipped, showing Su Yubai.

Holding her phone left-handed, right hand propping her chin, Jiang Yule murmured, “You look good.”

Su Yubai stared, eyes lingering on her lips, “You too.”

Cheeks warming, “Not busy?”

“Nope.”

“Then go out.”

Staring into her eyes, “Lots of movies coming up, wanna watch.”

“Go, I’ll check nearby theaters.”

Her nose filled the screen, Jiang Yule’s smile deepened, then hid.

Turning wistful, “But watching alone feels lonely. I’ll ask Senior if she’s free.”

Su Yubai’s gaze froze, voice low, “Don’t.”

Lips curling, “Why not?”

Silence, staring, then looking away.

Blinking, softly, “I’m coming back soon.”

Smiling, “Okay, I’ll wait to watch with you.”

“Rest early, goodnight,” eyes down, avoiding her.

Too quick, staring at the screen, screenshotting, “Goodnight, Sister.”

Noticing Su Yubai didn’t hang up, puzzled.

A light cough, “Fix your clothes.”

Call ended.

Stunned, checking her camera, her nightgown’s neckline had slipped, nearly exposing.

Collapsing on the sofa, wailing.

Why always so embarrassing?

Not entirely unintentional…

Lips curving, cheeks hot.

Su Yubai said she’d return soon but gave no date.
Jiang Yule checked her door daily, knocking when passing, hesitating to ask when, fearing it seemed pushy or overly eager.

Since that video call, Su Yubai seemed busier, tired in rare video chats, faint dark circles showing.

Replies slowed—morning messages answered by afternoon.

Unlike before, when she sent anything, Su Yubai replied slowly but surely.
Now, Jiang Yule held back, doubting if Su Yubai liked her or if someone else was around.

Su Yingying, overseas, reassured, “Mom says Sis is super busy, rejecting family dinners.”

“Hard to reach by phone; Mom thinks she’s stressed.”

“Why stressed?”

“School starting, admin work, paper pressure.”

“Paper pressure?”

“She’s that scholar thing, has KPIs.”

“Okay.”

“Feel the pain of long-distance love?”

“Not even dating, and she might not like me.”

No defined relationship, no right to ask what she was doing.

Bitter smile.

“Come on, she’s so busy yet videos you. Videos! She’s too proper to video me or Mom.”

Silent, then, “Relax, sister-in-law, she’s just busy.”

“Fine, fine.”

Resuming sporadic messages, Su Yubai replied randomly but always did, even commenting on movies.

It felt okay.

Days into school, checking B Uni’s forum, Jiang Yule saw posts about her, new students asking about courses.

Her teaching schedule spanned the semester.

Even if Su Yubai returned, she wouldn’t stay long.

Typing a long message, she deleted it.

Su Yubai’s main job was B Uni’s professor, vice-dean.
No reason to stay in Hong Kong long-term, only visiting for projects.

Even together, her staying in Hangsu was normal.

Both had studies and work; no one could bind the other.

Recalling Su Yingying’s “drunk” words: Yule regrets not staying at B Uni.

Prophetic—she really did now.

After class, grabbing takeout, hearing noise from the elevator—her place empty, it had to be Su Yubai’s.

Rushing out, her door was open.

Heart leaping, knocking.

Two unfamiliar female voices—one with accented Mandarin, one standard, likely from the mainland—discussing rent and location.

Heart sinking, takeout dropping.

Pushing in, seeing two strangers: an older woman in a suit, a student-like younger one.

Surprised, the suited woman asked, “Hello, you are?”

“I live opposite,” forcing a smile.
“Viewing the house?”

The younger smiled brightly, “Yes.”

“You a mainland HKU student too?”

Nodding, glancing at the tea set, reassured, “Is this for rent? The current tenant’s stuff is here.”

“Yes, the landlord, an HKU professor, said the tenant’s lease ends this month,” the suited woman smiled.
“You might be neighbors.”

Heart sinking, smile fading, “Bye.”

Picking up her takeout, entering her apartment, hearing, “She seemed sad, did I misread?”

Shutting the door, emotions bottled.

Placing takeout on the shoe cabinet, sliding down, breathing deeply to calm.

Texting Professor Qiao: [Professor Qiao, is Su Yubai not renting opposite anymore?]

Thumb hovering, deleting the second half, retyping: [Professor Qiao, new neighbors moving in opposite?~]

No reply yet.
Glancing at her takeout, still intact despite the fall.

Sitting, dusting herself off, showering.

In a nightgown, Qiao replied: [Yup, if all goes well.]

Exiting, texting Su Yubai: [Sister, free for a call tonight?]

Her last message still unanswered.

Ignoring her phone, grabbing takeout, playing an old variety show.

No appetite, eating slowly, mind drifting.

Su Yubai not staying long-term made sense.
Low cost-benefit for renting, so ending it was logical.

Three hours later, treadmill done, Su Yubai’s reply: [10 okay?]

[Yup.]

Near 10, sitting on the sofa, waiting.

Right on time, a video call popped up.

Heart tightening, answering, flipping her camera.

Su Yubai, post-shower, hair half-dry.
“I just ran.”

Puzzled, “What’s inconvenient about that?”

Flipping her camera, Su Yubai said, “Just flushed cheeks.”

“No different otherwise.”

“Not ugly.”

Lips curling, “Oh.”

Joy fleeting, recalling the house, “Sister, not renting opposite anymore?”

Surprised, guessing she saw viewers, “Yup.”

“Oh.” Expected.

“Unhappy?”

“Nope,” forcing a smile.

A flicker in her eyes, changing topics, “How’re classes?”

Too busy to share daily life, “Fine.”

“Difficulty?”

“Manageable, I can ask Seniors.”

Staring, low voice, “Why not me?”

Feigning surprise, “You’re so busy, didn’t wanna bother.”

“No bother.”

“Oh.”

“Send questions via WeChat; I’ll give my take, use it or not, your call.”

“Okay.”

“Your paper’s submitted. I’ll send login details to check progress.”

Blinking, smiling, “Authors?”

“You and me.”

No revisions lately.

“You edited the final draft?”

“Yup, I’ll send it. Check my changes, compare, for reference.”

“Mostly reworked the Motivation section.”

“Good.”

Noticing her gaze shift, light in her eyes—maybe sending files.

Then, “I’ve got work to do.”

Staring quietly, “Don’t overwork, rest early.”

“Yup, goodnight.”

Call ended, attention shifting to rain tapping the window.

At the balcony, opening the window wider, light rain falling.

Quiet surroundings made it the only sound.

Reminding her of the graduation banquet’s rainy night.
Su Yubai’s light steps, approaching firmly.

No words, just a can of Coke on her windowsill.

She knew Jiang Yule needed it then.

And now.

Classes as usual, new friends made.

No noise from opposite, no movie outings.

Messages to Su Yubai sent sporadically, replied slowly but surely.

Experiencing long-distance longing, fearing it—though not together.

Su Yubai never confessed feelings.

Doubting her affection, recalling Su Yingying’s words eased it.

Nearing Mid-Autumn Festival, Su Yubai still absent, movies nearly off screens.

Letting go, messaging: [Sister, watching a movie alone tonight.]

Emphasizing “alone,” no probing.

At 5 p.m., bidding lab mates farewell, eating near home, walking to the nearby cinema.

Buying a prime ticket, ample seats—nearly private.
Grabbing a large Coke.

Waiting, checking her phone—no reply from Su Yubai.

Ten minutes later, ticket check announced.

Checking again, seven hours since her last message.

Used to it.

Pocketing her phone, heading to check-in, spotting a familiar figure.

Pausing, the figure turned.

Eyes met.

White shirt, black slacks, pulling a suitcase.

Blinking, fearing a mirage.

She approached, steps light like that rainy night.

Stunned, as she neared, certain—Su Yubai was back.

“Said I’d watch with you,” low voice.

Her voice snapped Jiang Yule out of her daze, noticing her dark circles.

Breath hitching, “Been busy this month?”

“Very.”

“Doing what?”

Staring, serious, “Finishing B Uni work to come watch a movie with you in Hong Kong.”

“Huh?” Blinking, fearing she misheard.