Chapter 18: Just Look at Me

“Don’t look back. Just look at me.”

Jiang Yule froze, replying softly, “Okay.”
She stared at Su Yubai, searching her face for any hint of emotion.

But Su Yubai, as always, revealed nothing.

Jiang Yule shook her head, trying to dismiss stray thoughts.

Su Yubai spoke again.
“Eat properly.”

Jiang Yule nodded, assuming she meant it literally.

The dim yellow light overhead reminded her of the teacher appreciation banquet.

In her qipao, Su Yubai seemed more approachable than that night, yet still refined.

She was just helping, but Jiang Yule felt guilty for reading too much into her words.

“Jiang Yule.”
“How’s your econometrics coming along?”

She looked up, blinking.
“Applied stuff’s okay, but I’m lacking in theory.”

Discussing academics at dinner, Jiang Yule grew cautious.

“Mm. Study hard with your teachers at summer school.”

She nodded firmly, smiling.
“Professor Su, we’re not in school right now.”

“I know.”

The topic started abruptly and ended just as suddenly.

Jiang Yule noticed Su Yubai hadn’t touched her chopsticks much—she must be done.

Amazed again by her attentiveness, Jiang Yule sped up.

Eating in silence felt rude, so she tried, “Professor Su, is the food to your taste?”

Su Yubai glanced at the dishes, nodding.
“I don’t eat much usually.”

“You exercise so much—do you get enough nutrition?”

“I supplement protein and vitamins in measured amounts.”

Jiang Yule nodded.
“So disciplined.”

Su Yubai wasn’t on her phone, her gaze fixed outside.

Jiang Yule finished, looking out too, only to meet Su Yubai’s reflection in the glass.

Her lashes trembled, instinctively wanting to look away, but Su Yubai’s eyes held steady, meeting hers in the reflection.
“Done eating?”

“Y-Yes, done.”
Jiang Yule felt inexplicably nervous.

“Wait for me a moment.”
Su Yubai looked back, standing.

“Okay.”
Jiang Yule wiped her face with a wet tissue, tidying up, then paused, remembering something—

She glanced back, seeing Su Yubai’s graceful figure at the counter.

Grabbing her phone, she jogged over, calling softly, “Professor Su.”

Su Yubai turned, saying lightly, “You forgot your bag.”

“I should be the one paying.”
Jiang Yule fumbled, seeing the receipt in her hand.

“You’ll get it in Hong Kong. My treat this time.”

Just a polite excuse, but Jiang Yule felt a bit down, returning for her bag.

She headed to the exit, where Su Yubai waited.

Before she reached her, Su Yubai called from afar, “Upset?”

“No, just…”
The favors were piling up, impossible to repay.

“Next time, you treat. Definitely.”
“Deal!”

“Mm.”

Su Yubai’s voice was clear, and Jiang Yule felt certain—she wouldn’t lie to her.

In Su Yubai’s car again, Jiang Yule took the front seat, buckling up immediately.

She checked her phone, finding a message from her master’s advisor, Professor Si Qing:
[Yule, free lately? New students in the group. Want to come back, chat, share study tips?]

She replied politely:
[Sorry, Professor Si, I’m packing for Hong Kong. No time right now.]

Si Qing sensed something off, calling via WeChat.

Jiang Yule declined it.

A low voice beside her.
“Why not answer?”

“Professor Su, when my mom asked about our relationship, was it Professor Si who said something?”

Su Yubai didn’t start the engine, turning to her.
“Why suspect her?”

Jiang Yule lowered the window.
“That night, it was just you, me, Professor Qiao, Professor Si, and Lin…”

“Mm.”
Su Yubai nodded for her to continue.

“Neither of us would say anything. Lin Siqiong wouldn’t dare. Professor Qiao doesn’t know my mom well. That leaves her.”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Good analysis.”
She started the engine.

Jiang Yule moved to raise the window, but Su Yubai said, “Keep it open if it feels nice.”

“Professor Su, you’re so nice. My mom doesn’t even let me open windows with the AC on.”

She added, “I’m not comparing you to her, just… you’re really great.”

“Mm,” Su Yubai replied softly.

Leaving the parking lot, the wind was strong, blowing comfortably through the window, mussing Jiang Yule’s hair.
She lowered it slightly.

Her phone buzzed again—Si Qing:
[Your thing with Dean Su wasn’t me telling Editor Jiang. She guessed it.]

Jiang Yule nearly laughed.
Would her mom have guessed without Si Qing acting suspicious?

She didn’t buy it, replying:
[Professor Si, I’m really swamped. I’ll have more time after Hong Kong.]

Maybe.
A polite rejection.

Si Qing responded quickly:
[Alright, see you then.]

A civil end to their advisor-student tie.

“Don’t dwell on it,” Su Yubai said, stopping at a red light.

“I’m not.”
Jiang Yule smiled.
“But what did you tell my mom last time?”

The light turned green.
“I’ll tell you later.”

The car moved on, and Jiang Yule fell quiet.

Summer night air brushed her face, the wind loud in her ears.

“Looks like rain.”
“There’s an umbrella in the trunk. I’ll walk you to your complex.”

“Thanks, Professor Su!”
“No need.”

No need?
Jiang Yule turned to her, saying earnestly, “Professor Su, you’re really beautiful.”

What would she say?
“Thanks”?
“You too”?
Or a humble “Not really”?

Jiang Yule waited, but no reply came.
Fair enough—it wasn’t a question needing an answer.

She looked away, raising the window a bit, when Su Yubai asked—

“Where am I beautiful?”

Caught off guard by the counter-question, Jiang Yule laughed.
“Professor Su, where do you think you’re not beautiful?”

They reached her complex.
Su Yubai parked, staring at her silently for a moment.

Jiang Yule shrank back, then said softly, “Everywhere.”

“Jiang Yule.”
“Your place is No. 16.”
As if she’d stopped just to confirm the address.

Jiang Yule nodded firmly.
“Yes. Your memory’s amazing, Professor Su.”

After all these years, Su Yubai still remembered her address.

At her doorstep, Jiang Yule unbuckled, lingering.
“Professor Su, no idea when we’ll meet again. Wishing you smooth work and a happy life! See you!”

A flicker of depth in Su Yubai’s eyes.
“You too. Good luck with your studies.”

After their goodbye, the rain hadn’t started.

But as Jiang Yule stepped inside, it poured.

Jiang Huazhen and Chu Guoan had messaged the family group—they had a work event tonight.

The house was dark, save for the fish tank’s glow.

Jiang Yule flicked on the light, changed shoes, and rushed to the study to close the window.
Papers were there, likely scattered by the wind.

She dashed upstairs, entering the study.
Unbound documents littered the floor.

Stepping carefully, she closed the window, then picked up papers one by one.

Halfway through, she glimpsed “Hong Kong University” on a sheet.

Thinking it was hers, she grabbed it, only to see—

China Economics Journal Overseas Visit Application Form

Below, the applicant’s name: Jiang Huazhen.
Start date: the day Jiang Yule leaves for Hong Kong.

Her grip on the A4 sheet tightened, anger and grievance surging.

Like a long-held dam breaking, rain poured down.

The wipers sensed it, swiping rhythmically across the windshield.

Amid the howling wind, Su Yubai sat in dim light, unaware, staring at the passenger seat.
She reached out, touching the backrest.

Still warm.

She looked up, watching the house’s lights flicker on, from the first floor to the second.

Her gaze lingered on the last lit room.

Suddenly, The Best of Times played.
Snapping back, Su Yubai grabbed her bag from the back seat, fingers trembling as she took her phone and answered—

“Sister Yubai, can you take me with you?”
“Anywhere.”