Chapter 29: Shared Interests and Subtle Revelations

“I don’t know if I’m interested yet.”

Before she finished, Su Yubai turned the laptop toward her.

Another topic in Jiang Yule’s research area, strikingly novel.

“This topic’s great!”
Jiang Yule’s eyes lit up, but she hesitated.
“But… I don’t know if I’ll get busy later.”

It was the conference’s second day.
Tomorrow, she might officially join Qiao’s group, per usual protocol.
If Qiao assigned her a topic, it could clash.

“No rush, just a reference,” Su Yubai said, turning the laptop back.

Then added, “You can discuss it with Professor Qiao.”

Meaning she wouldn’t pursue the topic herself—just offering it as an idea.

It was bold—if Jiang Yule took it, she could publish quickly, maybe in a top foreign journal.

Jiang Yule felt sheepish.
“Sister Yubai…”

Su Yubai looked up.
“Just a passing idea. No pressure.”

Practically charity.

Jiang Yule’s heart swelled.
“Thanks, Sister Yubai!”

Su Yubai’s gaze dropped, diving back into work.

Jiang Yule looked at her laptop, avoiding her.

But with the campus goddess across from her, too captivating, she couldn’t resist…

Stealing glances, she recalled Su Yubai’s words from her B University office.

Her heart trembled.

Finishing data sorting, she checked the time—nearly lunch.

“Hungry?”

Looking up, Jiang Yule saw Su Yubai still focused on her screen.

So absorbed, it seemed the question wasn’t hers, but no one else was there.

Staring, Jiang Yule said, “Hungry.”

Su Yubai lifted her gaze, standing.
“I’ll cook.”

Surprised by her decisiveness, Jiang Yule said, “You can finish your work first.”

Su Yubai glanced at her.
“That’d take till next year.”

Fair point—Professor Su was swamped.

Jiang Yule touched her nose.
“Haha, now it is then.”

Following her, Su Yubai said, “Rest, it’s fine.”

“I want to learn.”

Su Yubai didn’t argue, opening the study door.

The living room’s AC was off, a wave of heat hitting them.

Passing through, Jiang Yule saw clothes swaying on the balcony, the pink-purple shirt standing out among blacks, whites, and grays.

She recalled last night’s awe seeing Su Yubai in it.

Its vibrant contrast with her cool, serious face was striking.

The ultimate lesbian heartthrob.
Such a pity.

With a beep, the AC kicked on.

“I’ll close the windows,” Jiang Yule said, heading to the balcony.

Returning, she saw Su Yubai grabbing ingredients from the fridge.

Standing beside her, she said, “Sister Yubai, that shirt you wore last night looks amazing.”

Su Yubai closed the fridge.
“On sale, grabbed it casually.”

“Oh, you wear it so well!”
Forgot to mention yesterday.

Su Yubai turned away.
“You cook the rice.”

Topic dropped—was she shy?

“Coming.”
Jiang Yule grabbed rice, rinsing it, starting the cooker.

She focused on Su Yubai cooking.

Noticing her gaze, Su Yubai asked casually, “What’d you eat yesterday?”

Recalling, Jiang Yule said, “Classic Cantonese dishes. The steamed chicken feet with black bean sauce were amazing, melted in your mouth.”

“And dessert—the milk pudding was great.”

“Oh, and the sunset I sent you, wasn’t it beautiful?”

“Mm,” Su Yubai said softly.

Jiang Yule remembered mentioning it.
“Let’s eat there next time!”

“When?”

Guessing she was intrigued, Jiang Yule said, “Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s by Victoria Harbour, with a fireworks show.”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Perfect timing.”

“What’s perfect?”
“The timing.”

“Oh, right.”

Su Yubai cooked, Jiang Yule washed dishes—a natural routine.

Washing, she suddenly thought of something, drying her hands and heading to the living room.
Su Yubai was on the sofa, looking down at something.

Her profile was stunning.

“Mm?”
Su Yubai sensed her gaze, not looking up, just humming.

Snapping back, Jiang Yule said, “Sister Yubai, I’ll cook tonight.”

Su Yubai looked up.
“Tonight, we’re out.”

Her lashes fluttered.
“Okay.”

Su Yubai stared for two seconds, then beckoned.
“Come here.”

Puzzled, Jiang Yule approached, seeing her phone screen.

A message from “Professor Chen”: [Yubai, dinner at my place tonight. Free?]
[You brought a Jiang girl to HK, Chu’s daughter?]

Jiang Yule immediately thought, “Is Professor Chen Huang Yuxin’s mom?”

“Yes, former dean of HKU’s Economics School. She mentored Qiao Anqing and Li Zhiyi. Great reputation.”

Connecting the dots, Jiang Yule recalled Chu Guoan’s family group message: [Visit Professor Chen Jun for me.]

With an address.

“My dad knows her, I think.”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Want to go?”

“Yeah, good chance to visit.”

Su Yubai replied to the message.

Jiang Yule returned to dishwashing.

Done, Su Yubai was gone from the living room.

She turned off the AC, opened windows, then knocked on the study door.

“Come in.”

Su Yubai was deep in work.

Jiang Yule sat quietly, checking her phone.
Qiao Anqing had sent a message asking if she’d attend, with the address.

She replied, then asked the family group what gift to bring for Chen.

Soon, her phone rang—“Mom.”

Su Yubai didn’t look up.
Jiang Yule stepped to the balcony.

“Mom.”
“Lele, going tonight?”

“Yeah, Professor Chen messaged Sister Yubai.”

“Perfect. She loves wine—bring some, she’ll be pleased.”

“Mom, she’s older, is wine okay?”

“It’s fine.”

They chatted briefly, then hung up.

Jiang Yule returned to the study.

Hearing her, Su Yubai looked up.
“Rest a bit?”

“I’ll nap for half an hour.”
“Okay.”

Jiang Yule lay on the desk but couldn’t sleep, then mumbled, “Sister Yubai, what’s good to bring for Professor Chen?”

“She likes wine.”

Her lashes fluttered, looking up.
“You think wine’s good too?”

“Too?”
Su Yubai looked back.

“Yeah, my mom suggested it.”

Su Yubai nodded.
“Medicinal wine—she has rheumatism.”

“Great idea. Does Hong Kong have stores for that?”

“Yes. Sleep.”

Relieved, Jiang Yule said, “Okay!”

She fell asleep quickly.

Waking, she groggily opened her eyes, thinking Su Yubai was watching her.

Blinking, she realized Su Yubai was just looking at her screen.

Must’ve imagined it.

She stared because Su Yubai was gorgeous; Su Yubai staring at her… no reason.

She shook her head.

Su Yubai noticed.
“Awake?”

Jiang Yule nodded, standing.
A thin blanket slid off her back.

Catching it before it fell, she realized Su Yubai had covered her.

Folding it, she placed it on a chair.

Returning, she saw her cup refilled with water.

“Sister Yubai, you’re too kind,” she sighed.

“It’s only fair—you’re working hard.”
Su Yubai didn’t look up.

Sitting, Jiang Yule realized she’d slept an hour and a half, not thirty minutes.
Su Yubai hadn’t woken her.

She dove into empirical analysis.

An hour later, she finished.
“Sister Yubai, done! Results look great!”
She sent them over.

From baseline regressions to heterogeneity, mediation, and moderation tests—all solid.

Su Yubai glanced over.
“Good. Start on theory and hypotheses.”

“Okay.”
Jiang Yule agreed without hesitation, as if it were natural, no questions.

Su Yubai glanced subtly, sighing softly.

Writing theory and hypotheses was quick—her field.

“We should go,” Su Yubai said suddenly.

Jiang Yule looked up.
“Okay.”

Saving the document, she wrapped up.

“Sister Yubai, I’ll freshen up—five minutes.”

“Okay.”

She rushed home, changed shoes, and returned.

Su Yubai worked three more minutes, then stood, turning off the AC and leaving the study.

Opening her door, she found Jiang Yule waiting.

She’d only added lipstick for “freshening up.”

It brightened her, radiating youth and energy.

Su Yubai looked away quietly.
“Let’s go.”

In the elevator, Jiang Yule noticed she pressed “-1.”

“Basement?”
“Yes.”
“For what?”
“Car.”
“Oh.”

Outside, a car unlocked nearby.
Jiang Yule saw Su Yubai holding keys.

“Sister Yubai, you bought a car?”
Surprised.

“Yes.”

Realizing Su Yubai planned to stay long-term, Jiang Yule felt oddly happy.

In the passenger seat, she felt secure.

Su Yubai drove to a local shop for medicinal wine for rheumatism.

Back in the car, she headed to Chen’s.

Jiang Yule, a bit nervous, checked Chen Jun’s profile online.
Her photo looked familiar—likely met with her dad before.

But her impression was vague, unsure of Chen’s personality.

At a red light, Jiang Yule asked, “Sister Yubai, is Professor Chen strict?”

Su Yubai glanced over.
“Pretty gentle. Relax.”

“Okay.”

They arrived at Chen’s seaside villa.

Su Yubai led her inside.

Qiao Anqing and Li Zhiyi were in the living room, Huang Yuxin nearby.

The afternoon conference likely ended, and they came straight over.

“Professor Su’s here.”

Su Yubai nodded lightly.

Jiang Yule waved, smiling.
“Hi, Professor Qiao, Professor Li, Senior Yuxin.”

Qiao and Li smiled back.

Huang Yuxin approached Su Yubai.
“Last time didn’t work out, but try my kung pao chicken tonight, Senior.”

Soon, a woman in her sixties descended, followed by Huang Siheng.

“Yubai’s here. This is the Jiang girl?”

Likely Chen Jun, her Mandarin was impeccable.

Jiang Yule stepped forward.
“Professor Chen, I’m Jiang Yule. My parents insisted I visit you.”

“All grown up,” Chen said, smiling warmly.

Jiang Yule held up the wine.
“Hope you’ll use this.”

“Wine? You know I love a drink!”
Chen took it, passing it to the helper.

Jiang Yule smiled.

“Everyone’s here. Let’s eat.”

Huang Siheng’s gaze flicked over Qiao Anqing, not lingering.

Li Zhiyi stepped up, flanking Chen with Huang Siheng as they headed to the dining room.

The rest followed.

At the table, Jiang Yule saw dishes she loved, her eyes crinkling.

Chen sat first, Li Zhiyi at her left.

“Come, little one, sit by me,” Chen said, pointing to her right.

Puzzled, Jiang Yule felt hands on her back and Su Yubai’s cool voice.
“Go.”

Smiling, she sat.
“I’ll sit here then.”

Chen nodded, scanning the room.
“Everyone, sit.”

Li Zhiyi settled left.

Jiang Yule realized she’d taken Qiao Anqing’s usual spot.

Panicking, she saw Qiao gesture to Su Yubai, who walked over and sat beside her.

The faint oolong tea scent calmed her.

Qiao sat next to Su Yubai.

Only the Huang sisters remained standing.

Jiang Yule glanced at Huang Siheng, who sat beside Qiao without hesitation.

“Jiang Yule, you have a brother, right?”
A casual topic.

Looking at Chen, Jiang Yule smiled.
“Yes, he’s settled in Garvitt.”

“About Yuxin and Siheng’s age?”

Glancing at the twins, she said, “My brother’s 30. The sisters?”

Su Yubai’s gaze landed on her.

Chen laughed.
“They’re 28. Good age, but no boyfriends. Worrying.”

Jiang Yule sensed an undertone—was this matchmaking?

Li Zhiyi chimed in.
“Fate hasn’t arrived. They’re so accomplished, it’ll come soon.”

Chen patted Li’s hand.
“You’re settled. Introduce them to someone suitable.”

“Sure.”

“Yubai and Anqing too—keep an eye out.”

Following Chen’s gaze, Jiang Yule saw Su Yubai’s unchanged expression, not even nodding.

Looking at Qiao, her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
Huang Siheng’s head was down.

They’re the ones to watch, Jiang Yule thought.

Her elbow was nudged.
“Don’t stare,” Su Yubai whispered.

Jiang Yule refocused on the turning table, hungry.

Chen had the helper pour wine.

“Let’s eat, everyone.”

Dinner began.

A shrimp appeared in Jiang Yule’s bowl.
She smiled at Su Yubai.

Chen raised her glass, and everyone clinked.

“Yubai’s come far. It’s HKU’s honor. Anqing, Zhiyi, take care of her.”

The dinner’s purpose.

“Of course.”
“Don’t worry.”

Jiang Yule sipped lightly—she didn’t love drinking, using it only to vent occasionally.

Su Yubai didn’t drink, likely because she was driving.

With wine flowing, toasting began.

Su Yubai and Jiang Yule stayed still.

Chen sparked topics, keeping the mood lively.

But Qiao toasted everyone, even Jiang Yule.

Something felt off.

Recalling Su Yubai’s “Don’t stare,” she started to look away when she saw Huang Siheng stop Qiao’s hand reaching for the decanter.

“We’ve had enough. Please clear it,” Huang Siheng told the helper.

Qiao quietly withdrew her hand.

Chen watched coldly, saying nothing.

The mood chilled.

But nearing the end, Li Zhiyi warmed things up.

Quite a character.

After dinner, they moved to the living room to leave.
Qiao’s steps were unsteady—too much wine.

Chen spoke.
“Yubai, stay. I need to talk.”

Jiang Yule paused with her.

“Siheng, where to?”
Chen’s gaze cut to Huang Siheng, heading out.

Turning, Huang Siheng said, “Dropping off Senior Qiao.”

“Yuxin will do it,” Chen said, her tone sterner.

Huang Yuxin laughed.
“Mom, I’m driving Senior Su and Yule later.”

Chen glanced at her, then to Huang Siheng.
“Come back early.”

Su Yubai followed Chen upstairs.

Downstairs, just Huang Yuxin and Jiang Yule remained.

Sitting on the sofa, Huang Yuxin cut to the chase.
“You like my Senior?”

Jiang Yule froze.
“Huh?”

“You’re so young, she probably wouldn’t like you.”
“She prefers mature types. Men.”

Jiang Yule played dumb.
“Huh?”

Huang Yuxin dropped it, thinking her clueless.

Relieved, Jiang Yule texted the family group: [Dinner done, food was good.]

[Went well?]
[Yup.]

[Saw the Huang sisters?]
[Yeah, why?]

[One might be your sister-in-law.]

Glancing at Huang Yuxin, Jiang Yule replied: [No way.]

Su Yubai came downstairs.

“Let’s go.”

“Senior, I’ll drive you,” Huang Yuxin offered.

Su Yubai glanced, jingling her keys.
“No need. I didn’t drink, I can drive.”

“Alright, safe drive.”

“Thanks.”

Jiang Yule followed her out.

Two cars were parked outside—Su Yubai’s and another.

A hand covered her eyes.
“Don’t look.”

Su Yubai’s palm felt her lashes flutter, tickling.

A cool hand touched her wrist.
“Okay, Sister Yubai, I won’t look.”

Su Yubai let go, standing close.

Jiang Yule’s breath caught, seeing only her face.

Swallowing softly, she heard, “Don’t look that way. Get in.”

She nodded, avoiding the other car, and got in.

In the car, she glanced anyway.

She hadn’t misseen.

In the other car, one person pinned another against it, kissing passionately.

Blushing, Jiang Yule looked away.

“Seen enough?”
Su Yubai’s voice was low.

Her cheeks burned hotter.

At a red light, the car stopped steadily.

Jiang Yule spoke.
“Was that Professor Qiao and Senior Huang?”

“Yes.”

“Are they secretly together?”

Su Yubai caught her “secretly.”

“You figured it out.”

“Chen pushing Siheng and Yuxin to date men—is it because she knows they like women and disapproves?”

“Yes.”

Thinking of Huang Yuxin’s words, Jiang Yule asked, “Sister Yubai, what’s your view on homosexuality?”

“Girls liking girls.”

Su Yubai didn’t answer, turning to her.
“If your parents disapproved, would you still firmly like women?”