Chapter 4 : Rainy day

The Wind Outside Stopped

The breeze outside the window seemed to still.

Jiang Yule jumped, recognizing the figure.
She patted her chest twice.
“Professor Su.”

Before her words settled, the cool wind picked up again.
Jiang Yule hurriedly grabbed the straw, shivering slightly.

“Hm.”
Su Yubai’s expression remained faint.

This was their first time alone since Su Yubai returned to China three years ago.

Jiang Yule felt an inexplicable tension, stunned that after all these years, Su Yubai remembered she loved cola.
In her daze, a tea scent wafted closer, and a jacket landed in her arms.

It was Su Yubai’s dark gray suit jacket, still warm where it touched her skin.

“Put it on.”
Su Yubai’s voice was cool, distant, yet firm.

Before Jiang Yule could react, Su Yubai turned away.

Jiang Yule slipped on the jacket, glancing at her retreating figure and muttering a quick thanks.

Her silhouette was solitary, rain pattering in the background.

Jiang Yule hadn’t turned back when she saw Lin Siqiong hurrying toward her.

Lin Siqiong and Su Yubai crossed paths at the corner.

“Professor Su’s here too.”
Lin Siqiong flashed a bright smile, greeting her.

Su Yubai didn’t glance at her, let alone respond, and turned the corner.

Jiang Yule looked away, unsurprised by the rapid footsteps behind her.

“Why’d you come out here? I checked the restroom, couldn’t find you.”

Jiang Yule found it laughable.
Even Su Yubai, barely an acquaintance, knew “restroom” was an excuse.
Yet her ex of three years wondered why she was here.

“Lin Siqiong, need something?”
Jiang Yule didn’t turn, catching Lin Siqiong’s approach in her peripheral vision.
She stepped aside instinctively, hearing metal scrape, then a clatter as the cola can hit the floor.

The window was shut, the cola knocked down by Lin Siqiong.

“Yueyue, it’s so windy. Don’t catch a cold.”

Jiang Yule ignored her, a spark of anger flaring inexplicably.

The corridor’s carpet saved the can from breaking.
She bent to pick it up.

Lin Siqiong noticed the jacket.

“Whose coat is that? Su Yubai’s?”
Her voice spiked with emotion, reaching for Jiang Yule’s hand.

Jiang Yule dodged subtly, repeating, “Need something?”

Her tone carried impatience.
Lin Siqiong realized their roles had flipped—before, she’d been the impatient one.
Her right hand froze mid-air.
“You blocked me everywhere, didn’t you?”

Her voice softened.
“I was wrong before. I’m sorry. I messed up.”

Jiang Yule didn’t look at her, gazing out the window.
“You don’t need to say this. We’re already…”

Cutting her off to avoid “broken up,” Lin Siqiong raised her voice.
“I deleted all of Li Anqi’s contacts. I won’t see her again.”

Jiang Yule glanced at the cola in her hand, silent.

“If that’s not enough, I’ll give you all my social media passwords.”
Lin Siqiong sounded resolute.

Jiang Yule almost laughed, speaking softly.
“Lin Siqiong, our problem was never about someone else.”

“Was I not good enough to you? Public or not, it’s just a label, isn’t it?”

The cicadas outside fell silent.
The tea scent lingered, drowned by Lin Siqiong’s noisy voice mixed with rain.
Jiang Yule inexplicably recalled Su Yubai’s serene eyes when she handed her the jacket.

Her calm stung Lin Siqiong, who grew more agitated.
“Aren’t you the one scared to tell your parents you like women, like me?”

“What would their reaction be if you went public?”

Jiang Yule laughed, exasperated, turning to her.
“I could walk in right now and tell them we were together. Would you tell them you love me and ask for their support?”

Lin Siqiong went quiet.

Jiang Yule walked away, leaving softly, “I know you wouldn’t.”

Lin Siqiong wouldn’t, because going public meant cutting ties with her hard-earned network.
She couldn’t bear it.

She dated Jiang Yule for connections and hid their relationship for the same reason.

In Lin Siqiong’s eyes, their bond was pure calculation.

This rotten relationship was finally over.

Jiang Yule wrapped the cola in the jacket, heading back to the private room.
Pushing the door open, she overheard Professor Si trying to set Su Yubai up.

“You know Chu Yi from C University? Young, already earned the ‘Yangtze’ title.”

Su Yubai rarely engaged on this.
“Thanks, but someone that impressive might suit Associate Professor Lin better. I bet she’s her type.”

Jiang Huazhen spotted Jiang Yule entering.
“Yueyue, feeling better? Need a hospital visit?”

All eyes turned to her.
Jiang Yule touched her nose, walking to her seat.
“No need, Mom. I’m fine.”

The interruption didn’t quell Su Kaiwen’s anger.

“What’s with your attitude?”
Su Kaiwen erupted.
“They’re kindly setting you up, and you act like this? When will you ever settle down?”

As harsher words loomed, Song Zhiying cut in.
“Kaiwen!”

Su Yubai glanced at Jiang Yule, who’d just sat, then said coolly, “No need for your concern.”

This was Jiang Yule’s second time witnessing Su Yubai clash with Su Kaihua.

“Yubai!”
Song Zhiying’s eyes brimmed with disappointment.

Su Yubai calmly wrapped a Peking duck roll, as if the drama didn’t involve her.

The room fell silent, tension thick.

Jiang Yule, just seated, saw the duck platter moving away and quickly stopped the lazy Susan for Su Yubai.

She caught Su Yubai’s sidelong glance.
Soon, a duck roll appeared in her bowl.

Jiang Yule released the table, flustered.
“Thanks, thank you.”
Did Professor Su think she was eyeing her duck roll?

“Ha, people chasing Dean Su could line up past the Fourth Ring!”
Si Qing backtracked, regretting her role as Song Zhiying’s matchmaker.
Who knew the Su family was so tense?

“No worries, you meant well.”
Song Zhiying took the out.

Jiang Yule, who hadn’t eaten much, seized the calmer mood to bite into the duck roll.

Su Yingying spoke up.
“Our grad photos hit the school’s public account! Yueyue and my sis are on the cover!”

“Really? Let me see.”
“Wow, looks great!”

Jiang Yule nearly dropped her roll, glancing at Su Yubai, who ate calmly.

It was a topic needing no response—just to ease the mood.

Jiang Yule finished eating and checked Su Yingying’s phone.
It was a group photo—her in a blue master’s gown, beaming, next to Su Yubai in a red doctoral gown, cool and composed.

Taken yesterday at the graduation ceremony’s group shot with faculty and graduates, Su Yubai stood beside her.

It conveniently defused today’s tension.

Others buzzed about the post.
Su Yubai showed little reaction.

While attention was on phones, Jiang Yule slipped the cola into her bag and quietly returned the jacket.
“Thanks, Professor Su.”

Su Yubai took it, slipping it on.
“For what?”

Jiang Yule paused, then clarified, “For the cola and jacket.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.”

Lin Siqiong, at the door, caught them exchanging the jacket.

After the banquet, Jiang Yule received texts from unknown numbers.

A quick scan showed they were from Lin Siqiong.

She didn’t reply, blocking each one.

Though withdrawal pangs hit late at night, leaving her sleepless over old memories, Su Yingying and local PhD friends kept her busy with outings.
Her Hong Kong University advisor, Qiao Anqing, assigned research tasks, leaving little time to dwell.

Jiang Yule planned a graduation trip with Su Yingying to clear her mind.

But by late June, Professor Qiao emailed that she’d attend a conference at B University.
Su Yingying’s UK-based advisor was also a guest.

They postponed the trip to attend the conference and meet their advisors.

As part of the reception team, Su Yingying was roped in by Su Yubai—the conference was big, and student volunteers were short.

At a family dinner, Su Yingying nudged Jiang Yule.
“Sign up as a volunteer! You’re meeting your advisor anyway.”

“Maybe you go alone.”
Jiang Yule hesitated.

“Scared of my sis? She lent you her jacket…”

Jiang Yule shook her head.
“Why would I be scared of her?”

“Then come with!”

Jiang Yule looked reluctant.
“I don’t really want to.”

“Don’t be afraid of my sis. I feel like she…”

Back to this topic.
Jiang Yule gave her a look.

Mid-sentence, Su Yingying shot up.
“My god, my sis texted me!”

She looked nervous—Su Yubai rarely messaged her, and when she did, it was big.

Jiang Yule tensed too, hearing Su Yingying exhale heavily.

“Scared me! My sis asked if you’re free to volunteer.”
She showed Jiang Yule the message.

Su Yubai: [Short on people. Is Jiang Yule free?]

Her cold voice seemed to echo in the text.
Jiang Yule’s lashes fluttered, and she mumbled, “I’m free.”

Su Yingying tilted her head, teasing.
“Now you’re willing?”

Jiang Yule played innocent.
“I’m free that day.”
Plus, she owed Su Yubai a favor.

“Cool, I’ll tell her.”

Jiang Yule zoned out, then saw the chat again.

“My sis says to add her on WeChat.”
Su Yingying grinned, showing her phone.

Su Yubai: [Have her add me.]