Chapter 31: Tangled Hearts and Drunken Confessions

“My sister might be late getting off work. Let’s head to a nearby café to wait for her and grab something to eat.”

Ji Zizhen, strolling leisurely through the exhibit with her, clearly wasn’t too into embroidery.

“Sounds good.”

Jiang Yule glanced at her phone, checking her bank balance in the app.

Then she snapped a quick photo and sent it to the family group chat.

Caption: [At an exhibit~]

Pocketing her phone, she walked slowly with Ji Zizhen.

Soon, her ringtone sounded.

Seeing it was her mom, her lips curved into a smile as she answered—

“Mom.”
“At the exhibit?”

“Yeah, had a long morning meeting. Senior said there’s an art exhibit, so we came.”

Jiang Huazhen focused on the first part, grumbling, “Told you not to go so early. Joining the group this fast is just asking for trouble. Should’ve stayed home for your birthday.”

Hitting the key point, Jiang Yule’s eyes crinkled.
“Mom, I’m already in Hong Kong.”

“Should your dad and I visit in two days?”

Ji Zizhen, ahead, noticed Jiang Yule lagging and turned back.

Staring at an exhibit, Jiang Yule didn’t see her, saying, “No need, it’s just a birthday.”

Ji Zizhen, hearing the call, walked away again.

“Fair, we might not have time anyway.”

Both in government jobs, visiting Hong Kong required applications and approvals—a hassle.

“Mom, can I buy myself a birthday gift?”
“What gift?”
“I saw an embroidery I really like.”

“The one in your photo?”
“Another one, but if—if—I don’t have enough money…”

Jiang Huazhen cut in, “That expensive?”
“Maybe. They might not even sell it.”

“When did you get into embroidery?”
“Last time you sent me to Wuzhou, I fell in love with it.”

Jiang Huazhen paused, then said, “Call me if you’re short.”

“No need, Mom, I’ll use my savings card.”

That card, opened by Jiang Huazhen when Jiang Yule was too young, used her mom’s ID and number.

“Fine, but if it’s still not enough, don’t buy it. Art like that doesn’t hold value—you’d lose out.”

Jiang Yule, goal achieved, went along.
“Okay, Mom, I’ve never tried this stuff before.”

“Do what you want, go home early.”
“Got it, bye!”

Hanging up, she saw Ji Zizhen approaching.

Smiling, Jiang Yule asked, “Senior, done looking?”

Ji Zizhen nodded.
“Nothing much left. Café to wait for my sister?”

“Sure.”

She was hungry—brainwork burned calories.

Luckily, a café was nearby. They walked over.

Leaving the hall, the sun hit hard. Jiang Yule opened her umbrella, walking beside Ji Zizhen.

The heat was relentless, sinking into her bones.

“So hot.”
“Is Hangzhou-Suzhou this hot?”

Jiang Yule nodded.
“Yup, hot too.”

They quickened their pace, pushing open the café door.

Cool air washed over them.

“So cool.”
“So cool.”

In unison, Jiang Yule pulled a wet wipe from her bag.
“Senior, here.”

“Thanks.”

She grabbed a menu.
“Senior, pick something. My treat.”

“No need.”

“You brought me to the exhibit and stored my luggage. I owe you.”

“Another day, I’ll treat you to dinner.”

At that, Ji Zizhen relented.
“Alright, this time.”

They ordered drinks and desserts.

Sitting down, Ji Zizhen asked, “Your birthday’s soon?”

Blinking, Jiang Yule said, “How’d you know?”

“Lost you at the exhibit, came back, and overheard your call.”

She smiled.
“Oh, like that.”

“When is it?”

A bit shy, she said, “Well…”

“Just curious, no pressure.” Ji Zizhen smiled casually.

“No, it’s fine. Day after tomorrow.”

They didn’t dwell.

Waiting took a while—Ji Zizhen got a call.

Jiang Yule instinctively saved her file, closed the software, and looked up as Ji Zizhen hung up.

“Let’s go, my sister’s off.”

Nodding, she shut her laptop.

Ji Zizhen drove to the restaurant Ji Shuying picked.

Jiang Yule hesitated, then said, “Senior, I really liked that Wuzhou embroidery. Want to buy it.”

“Which one?”
“The Wuzhou piece.”

Ji Zizhen nodded.
“It’s nice. I’ll ask my sister.”

“Feel bad, though—Sister Ji’s already treating us…”

Catching her drift, Ji Zizhen grinned.
“What’s to feel bad about? Buying it boosts her sales.”

Jiang Yule felt better.
“Thanks, Senior and Sister Ji~”

They arrived at the restaurant just after Ji Shuying.

Ji Shuying smiled at her.
“Ordered yet?”

“Not yet, waiting for you,” Ji Zizhen said.

“Let Little Jiang order,” Ji Shuying said.

As the guest, declining wasn’t right.
Jiang Yule picked safe dishes, then handed the tablet over.
“Senior, Sister Ji, your turn.”

After ordering, Ji Shuying said, “Didn’t expect Little Jiang to be an expert, spotting Wuzhou embroidery instantly.”

Jiang Yule dipped her head.
“Not really, the signature looked familiar.”

“You know the embroiderer?”

She shook her head.
“No, just saw her name and photo last time in Wuzhou.”

Ji Shuying nodded knowingly.

The topic flowed, and Jiang Yule asked, “Sister Ji, are today’s pieces for sale?”

“You like that Wuzhou embroidery?”

Surprised she guessed, Jiang Yule nodded.
“Yes, I’d love to buy it.”

Ji Shuying smiled apologetically.
“Sorry, the exhibit pieces are private collections.”

Not for sale.

“No worries.”
Jiang Yule kept smiling.
“Just a small hope.”

Guessing her next move, Ji Shuying grinned.
“I can connect you, but it’s not cheap~”

Unfazed, Jiang Yule smiled.
“No problem, name the price.”

Ji Shuying gestured a figure.
Not cheap—Jiang Yule mentally calculated.

She could afford it, but she’d be broke for a while.

Good thing scholarships were coming.

Eyes curving, she said, “I’ll take it. Thanks, Sister Ji.”

Ji Zizhen, seeing her agree, bargained, “Sis, she’s my Junior. Discount?”

Jiang Yule blinked—straight to haggling?

Ji Shuying laughed.
“Little Jiang’s fun.”

Realizing the “private” collection was Ji Shuying’s, Jiang Yule’s cheeks warmed.
“I should’ve asked who the ‘private’ owner was. Too shy.”

“Teasing you. It’s not pricey—I got it in Wuzhou too.”

“I’ll gift it to you.”
“No, no, let’s go by market price.”

“Alright, Zizhen will bring it tomorrow.”

Halfway through dinner, Jiang Yule excused herself to the restroom.

Ji Shuying glanced at Ji Zizhen.
“You like her?”

Ji Zizhen shot her a look.
“She’s my Junior.”

Ji Shuying chuckled.
“She’s great. You could like her.”

“Way better than your last one.”

Ji Zizhen’s heart ached.
“Sis!”

Ji Shuying raised a hand.
“Fine, no more.”

Changing topics, “I bet she’s paying the bill.”

Ji Zizhen stood to find her, but saw Jiang Yule hurrying back.

“Sorry, Senior, Sister Ji, something urgent. Gotta go.”

“Need a ride?” Ji Zizhen asked.

Grabbing her bag, Jiang Yule smiled.
“No, I’ve called a car.”

“Thanks, see you!”

Ji Zizhen and Ji Shuying watched her dash off.

“Pity, she seems to like someone,” Ji Shuying said in Cantonese, arms crossed, shaking her head.

Ji Zizhen glanced at her.
“How can you tell?”

Ji Shuying raised a brow, silent.

Ten minutes by car, Jiang Yule reached the bar Huang Siheng mentioned.

Dimly lit, it was a quiet bar, not too noisy.

Searching in the dark, she found Su Yubai in a corner.

Quietly slumped, she didn’t seem drunk—more asleep.

The place reeked of alcohol; Su Yubai had clearly drunk a lot.

Why was she drinking with Huang Yuxin?

Jiang Yule sat beside her, catching the mix of oolong tea scent and liquor.
Oddly pleasant.

Noticing Su Yubai’s bag—a laptop bag.
Who brings that to a bar?

Huang Yuxin, nearby, eyes hazy, slurred, “Jiang Yule, she’s mine.”

A strange emotion flickered in Jiang Yule’s chest.
Tilting her head, she said lightly, “Senior Huang, you’re drunk.”

“Not drunk.”

Speaking Mandarin while drunk—Jiang Yule found it amusing.

“When Senior Siheng picks you up, I’ll take Sister Yubai.”

Huang Yuxin pointed at her.
“You can’t take her.”

“Then who can?”
“She’s mine. I’ll take her.”

Jiang Yule’s face darkened slightly, smiling.
“You can’t take her like this.”

“Jiang Yule,” Huang Yuxin called again.

Looking up, she heard, “Did you upset her?”

Confusion flashed in Jiang Yule’s eyes.
She hadn’t done anything.

“Yule, sorry, I’m a bit late.”

Standing, Jiang Yule smiled at Huang Siheng.
“No worries.”

Bending, she helped Su Yubai up.

Su Yubai stirred, glancing at her face.

Softly, Jiang Yule said, “Sister Yubai, let’s go home.”

Silent, Su Yubai let her lift her right arm, draping it over her neck.

Jiang Yule slid her left arm under Su Yubai’s, holding her shoulder, grabbing the bag with her right, and guiding her out.

Su Yubai felt light—she didn’t need much strength to hold her.

Huang Siheng and Huang Yuxin followed.

Huang Yuxin mumbled something unclear.

At the parking lot, Huang Siheng took Huang Yuxin to their car.

Jiang Yule steadied Su Yubai, freeing her right hand to search the bag for keys.

Touching the zipper, Su Yubai’s legs buckled.
Jiang Yule caught her tightly.

Unexpectedly, Su Yubai’s arms wrapped around her waist, chin on her shoulder.

Their softness pressed close, Jiang Yule’s cheeks burned, mind racing for two seconds.
She reached for the zipper again, but Su Yubai spoke suddenly—

“Call me ‘sister.’”

Blinking, Jiang Yule recalled her earlier question about dropping her name.

She unzipped the bag, saying softly, “Sister Yubai.”

Finding the keys, about to pull away, Su Yubai swayed her gently, unsatisfied, repeating, “Call me ‘sister.’”

The lesbian alarm rang.
She meant just “sister”?
No “Yubai”?

Straight girls don’t know the weight of that in queer circles.

Stunned, Jiang Yule tried, “Sister.”

Seemingly pleased, Su Yubai nuzzled her neck.

So adorable.

Jiang Yule’s hovering hand settled, tempted to ruffle her hair.

Not so embarrassing—she was drunk, after all.

Feeling bold, Jiang Yule asked, “Sister Yubai, would you like women?”

No response—too drunk to talk?

She tried again.
“Sister, would you like women?”

“I don’t like others.”

Jiang Yule froze.