Chapter 40: Tangled Hands and Hidden Truths

“Really?”
Jiang Yule hadn’t expected such a quick agreement.

Su Yubai gently ruffled her hair.
“I don’t lie.”

Another sisterly head pat.
Jiang Yule pursed her lips.

“When are you meeting him for dinner?”

Tilting her head, Su Yubai said lightly, “Not set yet. You in a rush?”

Right, it’s not her date—why the hurry?

Blushing slightly, “Sister Yubai, you have to tell me when you’re meeting him!”

“Mm,” a soft reply, her gaze settling on Jiang Yule’s hand gripping the door handle.
“Not opening it yet?”

Shaking her head, “Your hand’s still on my head.”

“Oh, forgot.”
Su Yubai slowly withdrew.

Jiang Yule pulled the door open, fresh air rushing in.

“Sis, Yule, what took so long?” Su Yingying’s voice came from nearby.

Grabbing Su Yubai’s hand, Jiang Yule hurried out of the restroom.

Su Yubai’s gaze dipped briefly to their joined hands, a flicker of a smile in her eyes.

Running into Su Yingying, Jiang Yule explained, “We were just washing our hands.”

Su Yingying glanced at their hands, barely hiding a grin.
“Oh, let’s go.”

Catching her quivering lips, Jiang Yule realized she was still holding Su Yubai’s hand.

Releasing it like she’d been shocked, she rushed to catch up with Su Yingying.

“Why so fast? Sis is still back there.”

Cheeks pink, “Oh.”

Slowing, she waited for Su Yubai to catch up.

Avoiding her gaze, eyes on the floor’s guiding lights, “Sister Yubai, can you send me his info?”

“What for?” Su Yubai’s tone stayed light.

“To vet him, duh,” Jiang Yule said righteously.

“Fine.”

Relieved, she’d see who this guy was.

Know your enemy, win the battle.

They reached the parking lot, others waiting.

“Yubai, Yule, what kept you?” Lin Zhiying teased.

“Washing hands,” Su Yubai said, unfazed.

Jiang Yule just smiled.

They said goodbyes in the lot.

Following Jiang HuaZhen, Jiang Yule glanced at Su Yubai’s passenger seat.

Huang Yuxin would probably take it, a pang of loss hitting her.

Seated, buckling up, she heard knocks on the window as her mom turned the key.

Turning, she saw Su Yubai’s eyes magnified through the glass.

Lashes fluttering, she lowered the window.
“Sister Yubai.”

Glancing at her, then Jiang HuaZhen, “Aunt Jiang, could you drop Yuxin off? I’ve got something to do.”

Heart skipping, Jiang Yule felt a surge of joy.

“Of course,” Jiang HuaZhen agreed happily.

Standing, Su Yubai called to Huang Yuxin, “Ride with Aunt Jiang, I’ve got business.”

“Okay, bye, Senior.”

Louder, “See you, Sister Yubai!”

Turning, Su Yubai’s gaze swept her lips.
“Mm.”

Huang Yuxin slid into the back seat.

“Where’s your hotel, Yuxin?” Jiang HuaZhen asked.

She named it.

“Been to Beihu, Senior Yuxin?” Jiang Yule asked softly.

“Not yet,” a curt reply, mood low.

Feeling guilty, “Mom, let’s take the Beihu route.”

“Sure,” no objections.

Huang Yuxin glanced at Jiang Yule, confused by her intentions.

“Yuxin’s at HKU, right?”

“Mm.”

To avoid awkward matchmaking, Jiang Yule cut in, “Mom, Senior Yuxin’s amazing, and her sister, Huang Siheng, too.”

“Gotta meet her sometime,” Jiang HuaZhen smiled.

To spare Huang Yuxin, “Mom, I’m sleepy, gonna nap.”

“Okay.”

Jiang HuaZhen went quiet; Huang Yuxin closed her eyes.

At Beihu’s loop, “Yuxin, Yule, we’re here.”

Opening her eyes, Jiang Yule, away for months, missed Beihu’s night views.

Hong Kong’s seaside differed from Beihu’s cozy shop-lined vibe, less polished than Hong Kong’s gloss.

Twenty minutes later, they reached Huang Yuxin’s hotel.

Waving, “Rest well, Senior Yuxin~”

A faint smile, “Thanks.”

Blinking, “Leaving tomorrow?”

“Yeah.”

To Jiang HuaZhen, “Thanks, Aunt Jiang.”

“You’re welcome.”

Home, Jiang Yule got Su Yubai’s message with the blind date’s info.

Skimming, she scoffed—mediocre, no match for Su Yubai.

Showering, she even put on a face mask, then studied Zhuang Feng’s resume.

Zhuang Feng, 33, C University of Technology grad, C Uni special lecturer, associate professor, claiming top-tier journal publications.

A job-like dating resume, listing undergrad GPA?

Checking Web of Science, his highest impact factor was 5-ish—top-tier?

On CNKI, no A-list journal publications per C Uni’s standards.

A mental question mark.
This is “young and promising”?

On forums and Xiaohongshu, student reviews:

[Run! Stingy! Pays 800 monthly, takes back 750!!]

[Same here… Why make students clean his house? Only girls. Is this guy nuts?]

[Zhuang’s rep is awful, just run!]

[Not even enrolled, already switching advisors. Mediocre skills, demands we publish SCI Q1 when he can’t…]

Laughing, then sad—this guy for Su Yubai?
She’d published in A-list Chinese journals!

Fuming, she couldn’t sleep.

Next morning, about to ask for paper feedback, Su Yubai messaged: [Tonight, 6:30, Huihuayuan.]

Date set.

Better deal with this fast, she thought.

Typing: [Okay, I’ll be there.]

Pausing, adding: [Can you pick me up, Sister?~]

Instant reply: [Sure.]

Morning spent scheming, she met Su Yingying at their usual milk tea spot, ordering peach cheese tea.

Easing in, “My senior tried this drink on the mainland, made it herself back home. Tastes close!”

Uninterested, “Cut to it, sis.”

“Fine, don’t freak out.”

“Spill,” Su Yingying’s eyes lit up.

Leaning close, whispering, “I’m gonna pursue your sister.”

“Oh.”

“?”

“You’re not shocked?”

Mysterious smile, “I saw it coming.”

Pouting, “Step one: sabotage her blind date.”

“Then?” Su Yingying expected this.

“Then I’ll cling to her, seduce her,” voice fading, cheeks pink.

“What?”

“Seduce her,” blushing harder.

“Oh~~” Su Yingying grinned cheekily.

“Bad idea?”

“Nah, perfect.”

Cheeks redder, Jiang Yule sipped her tea.

Su Yingying’s eyes glinted, shaking her head subtly.

Someone’s fallen hard.

Lost in love, clear to others.

At 5:50, Su Yubai’s car pulled up.

Waiting, Jiang Yule bounced over, beaming, “Sister~”

A glint in Su Yubai’s eyes.
“Get in.”

Seated, she wondered why “sister” got no reaction.
Not sweet enough?
She’d practiced, face sore from smiling.

Fine, Su Yubai’s just clueless.

Letting it go, the car didn’t move.
Glancing, she heard—

“Seatbelt.”

“Oh.”

Before, Su Yubai helped with it; now, just cold orders.

Buckling up, the car sped off.

Miffed, “Sister, so eager to meet Zhuang Feng?”

“Aren’t you the eager one?”

“Me? No way!”

“You asked for his info, then when we’re eating. Seemed urgent.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“My mistake then.”

Today felt different, stole a glance at her—same neutral face, no change.

Silent, she played Best Times on the stereo.

At Huihuayuan, she spotted a man stand—Zhuang Feng, per the resume.

“He lied about his height,” she muttered.

“Hm?” Su Yubai didn’t look.

“Looks one-seventy, resume said one-seventy-eight.”

“Oh,” flat response.

No reaction.

Pouting, they approached.
Zhuang Feng’s eyes lit up at Su Yubai.
Taking deep breaths, Jiang Yule held her temper.

Grinning widely, “Yubai, I’m Zhuang Feng.”

A faint nod, she sat opposite.

Turning to Jiang Yule, “You must be Yubai’s sister, Yingying?”

Shaking her head, “No, her friend.”

Sister. Friend.

Confused, Zhuang Feng blinked.

“Sit,” Su Yubai said to Jiang Yule.

“Oh.”
She sat beside her.

Zhuang Feng repeated his resume.
Su Yubai stayed silent.

“Hi, Teacher Zhuang,” Jiang Yule cut in.

“No, no, call me Brother Zhuang.”

Ignoring that, smiling, “Which top journals did you publish in?”

He listed them.

“Highest impact factor’s just over 5? That’s top-tier?”

His face stiffened, then smiled, “Plus Chinese ones.”

“Sister’s English journals have way higher impact factors.”

“Can’t compare to Yubai,” he said shyly, glancing at her.

Looking at Su Yubai, “Sister, he said he can’t match you, not me.”

“Didn’t expect that, haha, you’re funny,” Zhuang Feng said.

Leaning into Su Yubai, arm around hers, “I’m her only sister.”

Sweet, cloying tone.

Her soft frame pressed close; Su Yubai stiffened, sipping water.

Zhuang Feng froze, sensing something off.

Noticing her drink, “Let’s order, my treat.”

Releasing Su Yubai, Jiang Yule scanned the menu.

Her warmth gone, Su Yubai glanced subtly.

Ordering wildly, “This, this, this looks good.”

Seven dishes, to Zhuang Feng, “Teacher Zhuang, I ordered what looked good. Too much?”

She’d read he was stingy.

Unfazed, “No problem. Yubai, anything else?”

She shook her head.
“Enough.”

“Sister, we’re doing all the talking. Anything you want to know?” Jiang Yule tilted her head.

Not looking, “Nothing. Zhuang, any questions?”

“Haha, love your directness,” he laughed.

He doesn’t get she’s not interested, Jiang Yule thought.

“What does Yubai like to eat?”

“Sister loves my cooking, right?” Beaming sweetly.

A glance.
“It’s okay.”

“Bad Sister, you said it was great before!” Clinging, pouting.

Zhuang Feng gaped, realizing—Su Yubai’s queer, with a girlfriend!

“You! Dating and still going on blind dates!” He stood, fuming.

“Sister, he’s scary,” Jiang Yule hid in her arms.

Softness in her embrace, Su Yubai’s eyes smiled.
“Zhuang, she’s just my sister. Watch your words.”

?

Furious, “You! Pay your own bill!”

Storming off, still worried about the tab.
Jiang Yule snorted inwardly.

Patting her head, “He’s gone.”

Her embrace warm, Jiang Yule clung, whining, “Sister~”

“Get up.”

Reluctantly rising, cheeks flushed.

Su Yubai caught her red ear, looking away.

Food arrived.

Staring, Jiang Yule didn’t eat.

“Ordered too much.”

“On purpose,” Su Yubai said flatly.

“No, they just looked good.”

Silence.

Thinking she was mad, Jiang Yule hugged her arm.
“Sister, I’m sorry.”

Cheeks pink.
Never had she clung like a kid.

“Eat,” Su Yubai said, not looking.

Releasing her, she started eating.

Nine-tenths full, the table barely touched.

“Sister, too full.”

A glance.
“Eat up, or they’ll blame me for not feeding you.”

Missing the subtext, blinking, “You talked a lot today.”

Turning away, ignoring her.

“Sister.”
Tugging her sleeve.

“Hm?”

“Full.”
Eyes wide, avoiding the untouched plates.

“Let’s go.”

No blame.
Grinning, “Sister’s the best.”

Su Yubai glanced at her curved eyes, looking away stiffly.

To the parking lot.

Not daring to hold hands, Jiang Yule linked arms.

Su Yubai stiffened, glancing at her hand.

Her warmth seeped through the thin summer shirt.

Su Yubai looked elsewhere.

“Yule.”

A familiar voice.
Turning, Jiang Yule saw Lin Siqiong.

Pulling Su Yubai, “Let’s go faster.”

Her right hand brushed Jiang Yule’s left.
“It’s fine.”

The touch fleeting, Jiang Yule’s eyes followed her hand.

Lin Siqiong caught up, demanding, “Are you two together?”

Su Yubai’s arm slipped free, stunning Jiang Yule.

Then her right hand was clasped, fingers interlocking.

Heart trembling, she looked at Su Yubai, whose gaze fixed on Lin Siqiong.

“I made myself clear last time.”

“Still hung up on sunk costs, Associate Professor Lin?”

Lin Siqiong’s eyes, on their joined hands, flashed with pain.

That text was from Su Yubai.

Jiang Yule froze.

“Wish you happiness,” Lin Siqiong said, smiling.

Stunned.

“She’s gone,” Su Yubai said, moving their linked fingers.

“Oh.”

“Still not letting go?”
Raising their hands.

Blinking, “What’s wrong with a sister holding her sister’s hand?”