Chapter 23: A Promise Kept

“You said every meal in Hong Kong, we’d eat together.”

Su Yubai’s words triggered a memory in Jiang Yule—the night in Hangzhou when she’d invited her to dinner, saying, “If you come to Hong Kong, tell me. I’ll treat you every day!”

Caught up in the excitement of arriving, she’d forgotten their agreement.
Embarrassed, Jiang Yule said, “Sister Yubai, what do you want for dinner? My treat!”

Su Yubai shook her head, lifting her left hand to show the grocery bag.
“This is fine.”

Jiang Yule felt worse—she’d offered to treat, yet Su Yubai bought the ingredients.

“How about we save these for tomorrow? I’ll treat you tonight.”

“No need.”
Su Yubai shook her head again.
“Unless…”

Had she changed her mind?
Jiang Yule looked up eagerly.
“Go on!”

“Unless you cook. That counts as your treat.”

Jiang Yule blinked, doubting her ears, but Su Yubai wasn’t joking.

True, Professor Su rarely teased.

Biting her lip, Jiang Yule steeled herself.
“I can, but it might not taste great.”

“No matter.”
Su Yubai turned, walking on.

Jiang Yule followed, her steps heavy, the milk tea in her right hand feeling like a thousand pounds.

She feared her cooking would scare her off…

They returned to Jiang Yule’s place, Su Yubai coming in first.

Jiang Yule set her shopping bags on the shoe cabinet, reaching for the two in Su Yubai’s hands.

Noticing red marks on her palm from the bags, Jiang Yule gasped, gently touching them.

Her damp fingers brushed Su Yubai’s palm, slightly ticklish.
Su Yubai, a bit uneasy, said softly, “It’ll fade soon.”

Jiang Yule said nothing, releasing her hand and quickly pulling out a pair of slippers from a bag, offering them.
“For you.”

Pink bear slippers.

Su Yubai tilted her head, a glint in her eyes.
“You bought these for me.”

Embarrassed, Jiang Yule looked down, changing her own shoes.
“We’ll visit each other often, right?”

The words felt like moral coercion.
She added, “Sister Yubai, will you be busy? If so, don’t feel obligated.”
Her gaze drifted, avoiding her eyes.

A smile Jiang Yule missed flickered in Su Yubai’s eyes.
“Not too busy.”

Jiang Yule’s lips curved.
“Then you’re welcome at my place anytime.”

“Good.”

After changing, she handed Su Yubai the hand soap.
“Wash up. I’ll organize the groceries.”

Su Yubai took it, heading to the bathroom.

Jiang Yule sorted snacks and drinks into the cabinet and fridge, spotting Su Yubai emerging.

“You forgot purified water.”

“Oh, right! I’ll go get some.”

“No need. Come to my place. Your kitchen’s not ready for cooking.”

“Okay.”
Jiang Yule agreed.

On her way to store toiletries, she heard Su Yubai’s phone ring, quickly answered.

In the bathroom, she noticed a trash bag already set up.

Sister Yubai’s so thoughtful.
If she liked girls… she’d have so many admirers, Jiang Yule thought.

After placing her toiletries and washing her hands, she faintly heard Su Yubai’s voice nearing—

“I’ll ask my friend first.”

Freshly washed, Jiang Yule turned, puzzled.

Su Yubai gestured to her phone.
“My junior sister lives nearby and wants to join us for dinner. Is that okay?”

“Sure.”
Jiang Yule answered without hesitation.

Su Yubai hung up quickly.

Emerging from the bathroom, Jiang Yule was curious.
“Your postdoc junior sister?”

“My advisor’s daughter. I ran into her visiting my advisor today.”

She’d been with her advisor when replying earlier.

Jiang Yule nodded.
“Oh, got it.”

“Done?”
Su Yubai asked, meaning they could head to her place.

Jiang Yule hesitated, nervous.
“Sister Yubai, my cooking might really be bad.”
She felt safe with her, but cooking for a stranger required more thought.

Su Yubai was unfazed.
“No problem. I’ll cook.”

Relieved, Jiang Yule said, “I can help and learn.”

“Good.”

Grabbing her milk tea, she followed Su Yubai home, slipping into bear slippers again.

Her girly side matched her love for animal motifs!

“Tea or water?”

Jiang Yule looked up, raising her milk tea.
“Sister Yubai, didn’t you get one?”

“I’m fine. Milk tea—can I try?”

“Sure.”

She took a sip—strong tea flavor, not much different from mainland ones.

But good.

“It’s great. I like it!”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Good then.”
She poured herself cool tea.

“Sister Yubai, will tea keep you up tonight?”

“Usually not.”

They sat on the sofa, facing the TV stand and bookshelf.

No sign of that familiar book—probably didn’t bring much luggage.

Soon, the doorbell rang.

Jiang Yule started to rise, but a gentle hand on her right shoulder stopped her.

Su Yubai’s.

Her lashes fluttered, turning to hear, “I’ll get it.”

Su Yubai reached the door first, Jiang Yule trailing.

The door opened, revealing two young women—strikingly different in style.

One, lively, in a tank top and shorts, waved brightly.
“Senior Su, long time no see!”
Her cheerful tone carried a slight accent in Mandarin.

The other, in an ankle-length dress, gentle and reserved, said softly, “Hello, Senior Su.”

Her Mandarin was flawless.
Jiang Yule looked at her curiously.

Su Yubai nodded faintly.
“Long time.”

As they entered, Su Yubai stepped aside, introducing, “They’re twins. The elder, Huang Siheng; the younger, Huang Yuxin.”

The quiet one was Huang Siheng, the lively one Huang Yuxin.

Jiang Yule stood by Su Yubai, waving with a smile.
“Hi.”

The lively one, Huang Yuxin, noticed her before Su Yubai spoke.
“Your sister?”

Su Yubai lightly touched Jiang Yule’s shoulder.
“No, my friend, Jiang Yule.”

The closeness made Jiang Yule’s heart tighten.

“So young?”
Huang Yuxin seemed skeptical.

She’d never heard of Su Yubai having such a close friend, so young—barely in her twenties.

Su Yubai nodded, offering no explanation.

Huang Siheng found her name familiar, asking softly, “Are you Professor Qiao’s new PhD student?”

Jiang Yule was slightly surprised.
“Yes.”

She guessed Huang Siheng was an HKU PhD or staff, close with Qiao Anqing.

Su Yubai turned to Jiang Yule.
“Your senior sister, Huang Siheng, stayed at HKU after graduating.”

Her voice was so close, Jiang Yule turned, nearly brushing her face, feeling her warm breath.

Her heart skipped, shoulders stiffening under Su Yubai’s touch, not daring to meet her eyes.

Catching Huang Yuxin’s odd expression, she didn’t dwell, turning to Huang Siheng with a smile.
“Hello, Senior Sister.”

“Please guide me in the future.”

“We’ll learn together,” Huang Siheng replied warmly, smiling.

She seemed humble.

Jiang Yule’s eyes curved, her smile deepening.

Su Yubai watched, her usual coldness softening.
Huang Yuxin spoke up, “Senior, I brought you cloud mist tea from Guangnan.”
She raised a gift box.

Su Yubai’s gaze shifted.
“Thanks, too kind.”

“I meant to give it at B University’s conference,” Huang Yuxin said, handing it over.

Su Yubai’s hand left Jiang Yule’s shoulder, leaving an empty feeling as she took the box.

“Senior, I brought Zhou’s shrimp dumplings,” Huang Siheng added.

“Thanks.”

As always, Su Yubai kept it brief, taking the dumplings and passing both to Jiang Yule.

She took them, stepping back to give them space to change shoes, glancing at the tempting dumplings.

Su Yubai handed them disposable shoe covers.

Huang Yuxin, sharp-eyed, noticed Jiang Yule’s bear slippers, then Su Yubai’s matching pair, a flicker of dimness in her eyes.

As they changed, Jiang Yule went to the kitchen, storing the dumplings in the fridge.
“Sister Yubai, where’s the tea?”

Huang Yuxin glanced at her again.

“I’ll take it.”
Su Yubai placed the tea in the living room cabinet, returning quickly.
“Tea?” she asked the sisters, sitting at the tea table.

“I knew you’d like it, Senior,” Huang Yuxin said, sitting on a stool beside her.

Su Yubai’s expression stayed neutral, her eyes flicking to Jiang Yule.

Jiang Yule pursed her lips, sitting on the sofa opposite.

“Thanks, Senior,” Huang Siheng said, joining her.

Su Yubai nodded, brewing tea.

Huang Yuxin chatted, “Senior, you’re fully recovered now, right?”

“Mm.”

Recovered?
Was Su Yubai unwell before?
Jiang Yule froze.

Huang Siheng asked beside her, “Junior Sister, arrived today? Where are you staying?” interrupting her thoughts.

Jiang Yule snapped back.
“Senior, I’m across from Sister Yubai.”

Huang Siheng smiled.
“Professor Qiao gave you both her places.”

“Both are hers?”
Jiang Yule was surprised.

“Yes.”

Huang Siheng seemed close with Qiao, knowing her properties.

Qiao must be a caring mentor.

Jiang Yule asked, “Do you still attend our group meetings, Senior?”

She knew most online attendees but hadn’t heard of Huang Siheng.

“I don’t anymore.”

“Oh.”
Jiang Yule didn’t press, sensing something off.

Typically, post-graduation, staying at the same institution meant staying in the mentor’s group, especially with aligned research and low communication costs—at least on the mainland.
Hong Kong shouldn’t differ much.

A hot tea cup appeared beside her milk tea, Su Yubai’s hand lingering.

Noticing her watch, Jiang Yule looked up, smiling lightly.

Su Yubai met her gaze, nodding slightly.

Huang Yuxin asked about B University’s hiring standards, leaving Jiang Yule no room to join.
She quietly withdrew, asking Huang Siheng, “Senior, are you at the conference tomorrow?”

“I submitted a paper for Session 32. Come listen if you’re interested,” Huang Siheng said.

Jiang Yule was about to ask the topic when Su Yubai’s cool voice cut in, “Yule.”

She looked up, seeing Su Yubai’s lips part.
“Let’s cook.”

Done talking already?
Jiang Yule blinked, not yet standing, when Huang Yuxin said, “Senior, my cooking’s great. Want me to show off?”

Jiang Yule stood, looking at Su Yubai.

Su Yubai said calmly, “No need. Jiang Yule’s cooking is fine.”
She turned to her—

“Right?”