Chapter 23: Thank You, Noah

The hot pot meal cost over $200 in total.

The ice water to tame the spice alone was nearly $30.

Suyue felt her stomach sloshing with every step.

She hadn’t expected Luoyao to handle spice so well.

That explosive chili sauce was like ketchup to her, no effect at all.

Oh well.

As long as the little miss was happy.

After, Suyue took Luoyao to browse the clothing stores.

Luoyao tried on several dresses.

One white cinched-waist dress, with lace at the collar, cuffs, and hem, looked perfect on her.

She seemed like an elegant fairy, pure and otherworldly.

The shop assistant and other customers praised her endlessly.

Suyue watched Luoyao twirl before the mirror, clutching the skirt’s hem, clearly fond of it.

“Like it? I’ll buy it for you,” Suyue said.

“No need, just trying it on.”

“It’s fine, I—”

“Miss, please help me change out of this, thanks.”

Luoyao gave Suyue no chance to curry favor.

She grabbed her own clothes and headed to the changing room.

Soon, she returned in her navy-blue dress, handing the pricey white dress back.

She felt nothing for Suyue.

This “date” was just to mess with her.

Even if Suyue offered gifts, Luoyao saw no reason to accept.

Like rejecting past suitors she didn’t like:

I don’t care for you.

No matter how nice you are, it’s pointless.

I won’t take your gifts—save your money for yourself.

At the arcade and hot pot, Luoyao insisted on splitting the bill.

She had many ways to “punish” Suyue.

Making her spend money was the shallowest, least effective one.

Besides, Suyue wasn’t short on cash—she drove a sports car.

“You seemed to love that dress,” Suyue said. “It’s not too expensive, consider it a reward for today’s date.”

“I do like it, but accepting gifts on a first outing feels wrong,” Luoyao said with a smile. “Let’s keep exploring.”

“Hm? So you’ll accept my gifts on future dates?” Suyue grinned.

Her words implied more outings to come.

Luoyao caught the hint and laughed it off. “We’ll see. Oh, I’m craving spicy rabbit head. There’s a place downstairs—want some?”

Suyue’s mouth twitched. “Don’t mention ‘spicy’ again!”

Her stomach still burned, despite all that ice water.

Shopping time flew by.

But that afternoon, Luoyao found no more chances to tease Suyue.

At dusk, Suyue suggested hitting a bar to chat.

Luoyao refused outright.

After a day together, she’d sized up Suyue’s private self.

Open, enthusiastic, quick to chase what she liked.

Her bar invite was obvious.

After drinks, what next?

With Suyue’s personality, she’d drag Luoyao to a hotel.

Luoyao wasn’t naive.

She wouldn’t walk into a trap.

“Take me home,” Luoyao said. “I’m exhausted.”

“Alright…”

Suyue couldn’t force her to go drinking.

This shy, reserved girl wouldn’t likely agree to anything intimate on a first date.

Slow and steady wins the race—Suyue knew that.

She drove Luoyao back to her complex.

Before parting, she said, “If you’re bored, call me anytime.”

“Got it,” Luoyao replied with a polite smile.

“See ya.”

“Bye.”

The car turned and left the complex.

Luoyao’s smile faded.

She trudged wearily into the stairwell.

Today, she’d gotten her revenge.

She’d embarrassed Suyue, left her flustered, and made her choke on absurdly spicy sauce.

Watching Suyue suffer in silence was deeply satisfying.

But… was it revenge or just a prank?

At her core, Luoyao was a powerless girl.

These childish antics were the best she could do to “avenge” Noah.

It was her limit.

Her legs felt heavy as she climbed the stairs.

Crimson sunset light streamed through the stairwell window, stretching her shadow long.

Dust motes danced like elves around her.

They only made her slender frame feel lonelier.

With each step, her thrill from outwitting Suyue faded.

She stopped at the second-floor landing.

Her footsteps halted.

The stairwell fell into dead silence.

In that oppressive quiet, Luoyao felt loneliness like never before.

The bustle of the day vanished the moment she entered the stairwell.

She was back to being the shut-in artist, sketching at home.

No one to keep her company.

No one to talk to.

A flood of words bottled up, with no one to share them with.

In ten minutes, she’d be back in her cold apartment.

She’d make a half-hearted dinner and sleep.

Luoyao stood still, eyes downcast, fists clenched.

Her shoulders trembled, her lips bitten white.

Something in her throat begged to break free.

She wanted to scream it out.

But she held back.

Other residents lived here.

Her stress and loneliness shouldn’t disturb them.

She took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and continued to her third-floor apartment.

A few steps up, she noticed something at her door.

She hurried closer.

It was a shopping bag and a Miffy rabbit plush.

Inside the bag was the white lace dress she’d tried on.

Next to it, a box of stomach medicine.

Luoyao recognized it from college.

She used it for acid reflux from late nights, soothing her stomach.

It also eased irritation from spicy food.

“What… is this?”

It couldn’t be Suyue.

They’d been together all day, and she just left—no time for this.

Then who…

Luoyao snapped her head up, scanning around.

“Noah, Noah, is that you? Are you… back for me?”

Only the faint echo of the stairwell answered.

No response.

Luoyao stood frozen for minutes, then bent to pick up the items and entered her apartment.

She placed the Miffy plush on her nightstand.

Eagerly, she slipped into the white lace dress.

She twirled before the mirror, admiring herself.

It was truly beautiful.

After a brief moment of vanity, she returned to her bedroom, still in the dress.

She flopped onto the bed, grabbing the rabbit plush and hugging it tightly.

Curling up, the dress’s hem fanned out on the bed.

She clutched the plush, resting her chin on its big head.

Hot tears streamed from her eyes, uncontrollable.

Yet her lips curved into a smile.

“Thank you, Noah.”