Chapter 36: Sisterly Shadows and Subtle Jealousies

Jiang Yule held her breath, heart pounding as if it might burst, racing faster.

A foreign warmth brushed her nose, hot and humid, her breathing deepening, eyelids fluttering uncontrollably.

Nothing touched her lips—only her forehead, a soft, dry sensation.

Gone in an instant, Su Yubai pulled away.

The feeling vanished.
Jiang Yule’s eyes snapped open, catching a faint curve on Su Yubai’s lips.
“Little sister, good night,” she said softly.

As the door closed, Jiang Yule stared, dazed.

After a while, she snapped out of it, glancing at the watch’s gift box, the brand vaguely familiar.

Without thinking, she searched it on her phone, hitting the official site.
It was labeled “sister’s style”—no “couple’s style” anywhere.

A pang of disappointment hit, tinged with bitterness and sadness.

Su Yubai saw her as a sister, forgiving her for not inviting her to the birthday, preparing a cake, longevity noodles, and a sisterly watch as a gift.

Like her mom kissing her forehead to coax her to sleep as a child—just short of a lullaby.

Back home, washing her face didn’t ease her emotions.
She headed to the treadmill.

Passing the sofa, she saw the unopened package.

Embarrassment flooded her again.

Running, she pieced together her feelings.

She’d misunderstood Su Yubai’s affection, letting herself develop feelings she shouldn’t have.

She had to admit, closing her eyes, she’d hoped for a kiss on the lips…

Showering, the hot water clarified her thoughts.

Su Yubai saw her as a sister because she’d helped her escape that Su family birthday.
Her kindness, surpassing even Su Yingying’s, likely stemmed from replacing Yingying as her “sister.”

So awkward.

Su Yubai saw her as a sister; she wanted her as a sister—the queer kind.

She messaged: [Sister Yubai, summer classes start tomorrow, so no morning runs. Good night!]

Su Yubai was likely asleep.
Jiang Yule turned off her phone, set a 7 a.m. alarm.

Trying to sleep, she tossed and turned.

Fragments echoed in her mind.

Aunt Lin saying Su Yubai had a boyfriend abroad, no need to worry .
Maybe they split, as Teacher Si offered to set her up .

Su Yubai helping her, apologizing for past events—guilt-driven.

Calling her “little sister” today.

Her “not entirely”  meant she already saw her as a sister.

The more she thought, the less she slept.

She didn’t know when—or if—she fell asleep.

Next morning, sporting dark circles, she saw her reflection and frantically applied foundation and concealer.

Ready, she opened her door and ran into Su Yubai.

Too coincidental.

“Morning, Sister Yubai.”
Her eyes dodged.

Su Yubai glanced away.
“Morning.”

Following her into the elevator, Su Yubai asked, “To school?”

“Yeah.”

“Ride?”

Unable to refuse, Jiang Yule smiled.
“Thanks, Sister Yubai.”

In the parking lot, eyeing the passenger seat, she recalled certain scenes.

“Sister Yubai, I’m sleepy, I’ll nap in the back.”

A glance.
“Mm.”

In the back, head against the window, she closed her eyes, hearing that cool voice—

“You can lie down.”

Eyelids trembling, “Okay.”

Sliding to the middle, she lay down, head facing the driver’s seat.

Su Yubai glanced at her legs in the rearview, then away.

At school, her driving slowed.

Jiang Yule sat up quietly, waiting for her to park.
“Thanks, Sister Yubai, see you!”

As Su Yubai pulled the key, Jiang Yule darted off without looking back.

A flicker of confusion crossed Su Yubai’s eyes.

First day of summer classes, Jiang Yule headed to the classroom, taking a front-row seat.

Soon, Ji Zizhen entered, sitting beside her.

“Senior, you’re taking this too?”

“Yeah, different guest speakers this year. Thought I’d check it out.”

Nodding, Jiang Yule set out her notebook and pen, mind wandering.

Ji Zizhen’s voice broke through, “Know today’s speaker?”

Shaking her head, “No clue, probably some big name.”

Ji Zizhen asked, “After classes, any plans?”

“No plans yet, probably writing papers.”

“So diligent,” Ji Zizhen teased.

She smiled shyly.

“I’m thinking mainland travel. Know any guides to recommend?”

“Sure…”
Mid-sentence, she spotted a familiar figure at the door.

Smiling faintly at Su Yubai, she continued to Ji Zizhen, “My friend’s in China then, not abroad yet. I can introduce you.”

Close to the podium, their voices carried.

Su Yubai glanced at them subtly.

“Where you thinking?” Jiang Yule asked.

“Anxi, Guangnan, anywhere fun?”

“Anxi’s hot now. Guangnan’s on a plateau, but I went with my friend last time. Try Daoqing—higher latitude, by the sea, cooler.”

Her peripheral caught Su Yubai engrossed in papers.

Ji Zizhen asked more; Jiang Yule shared a Xiaohongshu guide.

Ji Zizhen leaned close, too close.
As Jiang Yule moved to shift away, Su Yubai said, “Almost time, right?”

Glancing up, then at her phone—two minutes left.

But Su Yubai started, “Hello, I’m Su Yubai.”

Pocketing her phone, Jiang Yule looked at the whiteboard, her CV on display.

Murmurs from behind—

“Wow, so impressive!”
“Professor Su’s gorgeous.”

“My B Uni friend says she’s super popular there.”
“Department goddess, right? I heard that too.”

Su Yubai’s Mandarin drew Mandarin chatter, clear to Jiang Yule.

She’s popular everywhere, she thought.

“Professor Su’s amazing~” Ji Zizhen whispered.

“What?”

Ji Zizhen leaned closer, repeating.

Jiang Yule glanced at Su Yubai, but she wasn’t looking.

Her intro was brief, diving into the lecture.

Jiang Yule snapped PPT photos, scribbling notes diligently.

Near the end, Ji Zizhen passed a note.

Catching it in her peripheral, Jiang Yule glanced at her, about to open it quietly when a gaze hit her.

Instinctively looking up, Su Yubai stared, as if saying, Focus.

Freezing, she turned to the PPT.

The note stayed unopened.

“That’s all.”
Su Yubai’s cool voice ended the class.

The room came alive.
Ji Zizhen whispered, “The note was asking what you want for lunch.”

“Maybe…”
A voice cut in—

“Jiang Yule, come with me.”

Su Yubai looked from the podium.

Blinking, Jiang Yule told Ji Zizhen, “Senior, eat first.”

“I’ll wait.”

“No need to wait for me.”

“It’s fine.”

Packing her notebook, Jiang Yule saw Su Yubai at the door.

Hurrying out, eyes down, she followed, Ji Zizhen beside her.

At the faculty lounge, Su Yubai stopped.

Jiang Yule halted, nearly bumping her back, recalling crashing into her at a conference.

Su Yubai entered; Jiang Yule followed, leaving the door open.

Ji Zizhen waited outside, eyes on her phone.

“Yule.”
That cool voice called.

Looking up, Su Yubai sat by the sofa.

“Yubai…”
Realizing it was school, “Professor Su, what’s up?”

A flicker of meaning in her eyes, then she opened her laptop.
“Review the paper.”

Handing it over, “Check the notes for questions.”

Relieved, Jiang Yule smiled.
“No issues.”

Su Yubai nodded, taking the laptop, packing it.

Glancing at the door, then her, “Professor Su, want to eat with us?”

“Professor Su?”
A glance.

Lips pursed, slightly guilty, “It’s school.”

“Oh.”

“Sister Yubai, join us for lunch?”

Glancing at Ji Zizhen outside, “Sure.”

To Ji Zizhen, “Senior, Professor Su’s joining us.”

“Great, let’s hit that restaurant from last time.”

To Su Yubai, “Sister Yubai, okay?”

“Mm.”

Ji Zizhen led; Jiang Yule and Su Yubai trailed a step behind.

Silent, Jiang Yule felt awkward, asking softly, “Sister Yubai, what do you eat at school?”

“Cafeteria.”

Touching her nose, “Me too.”

“I know.”
Her tone was flat.

Blinking, “Huh?”

“Saw you eating with her.”

Heart skipping.

“But you didn’t see me.”

Guilty, “Haha, sorry, Sister Yubai.”

“No need to apologize.”

Her words echoed last night: Your choice who to invite.

Did she think who Jiang Yule ate with was her choice too?

A slight sting hit her heart.

At the restaurant, Ji Zizhen sat first, Su Yubai opposite.

Both looked at her.

Blinking, Jiang Yule realized they were waiting for her to choose a side.