Chapter 19: Take Me With You

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

The voice was urgent, tinged with grievance.

It was the first time since returning to China that she’d called her “Sister Yubai.”
A name reserved for specific moments, specific emotions.

Su Yubai responded instantly.
“I haven’t left… far. Come downstairs.”

A snap decision, or perhaps long-awaited.

“Okay, wait for me!” came the rushed reply.

The call ended.

Rain poured outside, the streetlamp casting a hazy glow.

Su Yubai stared through the wipers’ rhythm, watching the lit room go dark.

Then another room’s white light flicked on.

Jiang Yule returned to her bedroom, dragging out her still-unpacked suitcase from the trip.

At the stairs, she lifted it, hurrying down.

Afraid Su Yubai would wait too long—or leave—Jiang Yule practically ran.

At the foyer, she slipped on random shoes, pushing the suitcase with her right hand, opening the door with her left.
As it swung open, she froze—

Su Yubai stood outside, holding a black umbrella.
Her cyan qipao blended into the night, a deep, elegant green.

The storm roared like a tidal wave, yet she stood still, unshaken.

The only constant in a shifting world.

Jiang Yule locked eyes with her for ten seconds, then blinked.
“Professor Su, how’d you get here so fast?”

So fast that she’d only grabbed her suitcase and come down, and Su Yubai was already at the door.

Back to “Professor Su.”
Su Yubai didn’t answer, stepping forward.
“Let’s go.”

Jiang Yule turned to lock the door.
Su Yubai had already taken her suitcase.

Holding the umbrella in her right hand, pushing the suitcase with her left, Su Yubai tilted her body, waiting.

Jiang Yule smiled.
“Professor Su, sorry to trouble you again.”

Su Yubai met her gaze, voice low.
“If you’re unhappy, you can cry.”

“No need to smile.”

Jiang Yule’s lips stiffened, her sadness and disappointment laid bare.
“Okay, you saw through me.”

Su Yubai looked away.
“You can tell me what’s upsetting you.”

Then added, “If you’re comfortable.”

“Let’s leave first.”
Jiang Yule stepped under the umbrella.

The faint oolong tea scent hit her strongly.

Su Yubai stiffened briefly, then relaxed, walking in sync with her.

At the car, Jiang Yule took the umbrella as Su Yubai indicated, their warm fingers brushing.

Her palm tingled.
Jiang Yule steadied her breathing, tilting the umbrella toward Su Yubai, watching her lift the suitcase into the trunk.

“Thanks, Professor Su.”
She regretted it instantly.

Su Yubai had said no thanks were needed.

She didn’t reply, closing the trunk and taking the umbrella, heading to the driver’s side.

Jiang Yule was escorted to the passenger door, settling in, her gaze following Su Yubai as she opened the driver’s door and got in.

Su Yubai didn’t linger, starting the engine.

In her car, Jiang Yule felt oddly at ease, speaking up.
“Professor Su, here’s the thing.”

The car went quiet for a moment before Su Yubai said, “Go ahead.”

Jiang Yule realized she needed to focus on driving.
“It’s okay, I’ll tell you when we get there.”

Only then did she realize this was a destination-less “running away.”

“Professor Su, I have my ID. Just drop me at a nearby hotel.”

Another brief silence.
Su Yubai said, “Come to my place. Is that okay?”

Jiang Yule nodded quickly.
“Totally fine.”

The car’s dim lights cast shadows.
Jiang Yule glanced ahead, catching Su Yubai’s reflection in the windshield.

The pearl earrings swayed on her right earlobe, stunning.

She’d never been to Su Yubai’s home.
At family gatherings, she’d heard it was near the university, a place even the Su parents hadn’t visited.

Only Su Yingying had crashed there for a couple of days.

Jiang Yule grew nervous.

“You can play music,” Su Yubai said suddenly.

Jiang Yule noticed they’d stopped at a traffic light.

“Okay, how about Rainy Days?”

Su Yubai nodded.

The rain and music blended into a perfect ambiance, inexplicably evoking “romance.”

Jiang Yule shook her head, but couldn’t help stealing glances at her.

Su Yubai’s beauty was captivating.
What’s with admiring a gorgeous woman? Jiang Yule thought.

They entered the complex, descending to the underground garage.

Her nerves peaked.
She regretted calling on impulse.

Su Yubai opened her door to get out, but Jiang Yule beat her to the trunk.

Su Yubai’s pace was steady.
“No need to rush. Come here.”

Caught again, Jiang Yule’s cheeks flushed as she grabbed her suitcase.

Following her to the elevator, she saw Su Yubai press “16.”

“What a coincidence, Professor Su. Your place is 16 too.”

“Mm. What were you going to say in the car?”
Her expression was calm.

Jiang Yule gathered her thoughts.
“So, I told you at dinner I’m going to Hong Kong alone.”

“My mom initially wanted to stay with me for a month. We agreed if my article got accepted by China Economic Studies, I’d go solo.”

“A few days before graduation, it was accepted. She said I could try being on my own. But she’s gone back on it.”

Su Yubai turned, listening intently.

“She secretly applied to her journal for a month-long visit to Hong Kong, timed exactly with my departure.”

“The application’s stamped. I saw it in the study picking up papers.”

Ding.
The elevator arrived.

Jiang Yule pushed her suitcase out, waiting for her.

Su Yubai said, “I heard Aunt Jiang accepted a conference invite there.”

“So when you asked me earlier, it’s because the info was unclear, and I couldn’t tell if she’s going for a few days or to stay with me for a month—or longer.”

Su Yubai nodded.

“So I’m really upset this time.”
“And sad. We had an agreement.”
Her tone was heavy with disappointment.

Su Yubai stopped, looking at her.
“This is worth being upset about.”

Her emphasis seemed to fall on “this,” leaving Jiang Yule dazed.

Was there something not worth being upset about?

Su Yubai opened her door, turning on the foyer and living room lights.

Jiang Yule noticed her left shoulder was wet from the rain.
“Professor Su, your clothes are wet.”

“I’ll change soon.”

Following her inside, Jiang Yule recalled seeing the place briefly during a video call with Su Yingying.
Now, it felt like its owner.

Gray-toned decor and furniture, minimalist, almost cold, with no extra ornaments.

No pillows, no plush toys, even the sofa looked stiff.

Jiang Yule wondered about her bed…

“Jiang Yule, change shoes,” Su Yubai reminded softly.

Snapping back, she looked down, seeing a pair of bear slippers.

Not disposable.

“These?”
She checked with Su Yubai.

“Mm.”

With her nod, Jiang Yule slipped them on.

Surprisingly soft.

Su Yubai carried her suitcase into a room, returning to say, “You’re staying here.”

Jiang Yule suppressed a thank-you, saying, “Okay.”

“I’ll make ginger soup. Make yourself at home.”

Seeing the damp patch on her qipao, Jiang Yule blurted, “No rush, Professor Su. Change first so you don’t catch a cold.”

Su Yubai turned, saying, “Alright.”

Jiang Yule caught a faint smile in her eyes.

Su Yubai went to her bedroom.
Jiang Yule sat on the sofa—it wasn’t as hard as it looked, comfortably firm.

Safe, solid softness.

Her curiosity about Su Yubai’s bed grew.

She stood, creeping to her assigned room, cracking the door open.
It was completely different—vibrant light yellow.

Su Yubai liked light yellow?
Her home wasn’t uniformly styled.

Surprised, Jiang Yule closed the door.

Back on the sofa, Su Yubai hadn’t returned.

Her phone buzzed.
She pulled it from her bag.

The lock screen showed a message, and her pupils shrank.

It was like a dormant volcano erupting.

Su Yubai emerged in loungewear, finding the living room quiet.

Jiang Yule sat on the sofa, her blue shirt blending with the gray room, her silhouette slightly fragile.

Sensing something off, Su Yubai called softly, “Jiang Yule.”

She turned, revealing red-rimmed eyes.
A choked voice followed—

“Professor Su, do you have any wine?”