Chapter 48: Misunderstandings and a Birthday Kiss

Jiang Yule opened her mouth silently, unsure what to say. Ask why Huang Yuxin was here? In pajamas? Or something else?

Su Yubai opened the door wider, passing Huang Yuxin, “She fought with Professor Chen, came to crash here.”

Glancing at Huang Yuxin, “Came in pajamas? Must’ve been urgent.”

“Don’t misunderstand, it’s a bit… special,” Huang Yuxin said.

Blinking, “Misunderstand what?”

Looking at Su Yubai, “Fighting with Mom and crashing at a friend’s is normal.”

Yawning, “I’m sleepy, gonna crash.”

Not looking at either, pushing her door open.

As one foot crossed the threshold, Su Yubai grabbed her left hand.

Heart and wrist tightening, “Let her stay at your place for a bit, okay?”

Turning slowly, “Huh?”

“I’ll change and take her to a hotel.”

“Oh.”

Huang Yuxin, surprised, seemed about to speak, but Jiang Yule’s gaze locked on her, “Senior, come sit at mine?”

Su Yubai glanced at Huang Yuxin.

Forcing words, “…Sure, thanks, Junior.”

“No trouble. Sister didn’t mind either.” Shaking off Su Yubai’s hand, entering without looking back.

Su Yubai’s hand emptied, pausing at her back, stepping aside, “Three minutes.”

Grabbing a face mask from the fridge, “Senior Yuxin, sit anywhere, I’m masking.”

Calm tone, no emotional ripples.

Huang Yuxin stared, incredulous. If she likes Su Yubai, how’s she calmly masking?

Washing her face again, applying the mask, two knocks sounded.

Su Yubai, here for Huang Yuxin.

Staying in the bathroom, ignoring their movements.

Footsteps neared.

Finishing, opening the frosted glass door, Su Yubai stood outside, Huang Yuxin behind.

Surprised, “Something else, Sister?”

“Nothing,” softly, “Just saying, I’m taking her to the hotel now.”

“Oh, safe trip.”

Huang Yuxin, thinking they were done, headed out, but no footsteps followed.

Inside, Jiang Yule looked puzzled.

Staring for seconds, “You came to me for…”

Noticing her fading dark circles, smiling lightly, “Nothing, just wondering if you had snacks.”

“Want something? I’ll make it.”

Waving, “No need, not hungry anymore.”

Glancing at Huang Yuxin, “Take Senior first.”

Su Yubai opened her mouth, but another yawn—truly exhausted.

“Rest early.”

“Okay.”

Turning, Jiang Yule didn’t watch them leave, heading to the living room.

A click—the door shut.

Tearing off the mask, tossing it, wiping her hands messily.

Noticing rain outside.

Autumn in Hong Kong brought rain.

Turning off all lights, standing in darkness, adjusting to the dim phone light, moving to the balcony.

Screen off, standing still.

A car left the parking lot; she forced her gaze forward, avoiding it.

Deep breaths, but thoughts lingered—Huang Yuxin and Su Yubai in pajamas.

Why was Huang Yuxin there, and Su Yubai showering?

Either Su Yubai liked her, or… she’s straight, unbothered by details.

Neither seemed true.

Su Yubai’s ambiguous words—if she doesn’t like me, is she a player?

But she’s so good to me. How could she be?

A tear slid down, wiped away in panic.

Thinking, every rainy day, would she always think of Su Yubai?

The fridge, untouched snacks in the cabinet.

Lin Sijiong was right—she chose Hong Kong.

Freedom, snacks, Coke—once craved, now owned, felt hollow.

Long family restrictions made avoiding snacks and soda a habit. She bought more but never opened them.

Even freedom, once desired, was now tethered to Su Yubai—her heart and emotions unknowingly hers.

Worst, Su Yubai might not like her.

Closing the window, entering the bedroom by phone light, removing slippers, lying flat.

Turning off the alarm, messaging: [Sister, I’m tired, skipping our run tomorrow.]

Flight mode on, eyes closed.

Mind blank, sinking into sleep.

Waking at 5 a.m., turning off the phone, closing eyes again.

Sleep elusive now.

Rain continued, pre-sleep thoughts resurfacing.

Today was Su Yubai’s birthday, Mid-Autumn Festival.

A month ago, she booked a private room at a Victoria Harbour restaurant, prepared a Wu embroidery gift, and a surprise…

Now, no mood for it.

Worried—today and beyond, how to face herself and Su Yubai?

Certainty turned uncertain.

Time passed; sunlight slipped through curtains, hitting her eyes.

Forced awake, silence suffocating.

Grabbing her phone, turning on the network, notifications flooded.

Hands trembling, opening WeChat, Su Yubai’s messages:

[Okay, rest well, goodnight.]
[Picture]—hotel exterior, Huang Yuxin’s back.
[I’m back.]
[Going to bed, goodnight.]
[Heading for a morning run.]
[Picture]—sea sunrise.
[Awake?]
[Brought shrimp dumplings, on your doorknob.]
[Still asleep, or ignoring me?]
[It’s my birthday, said we’d spend it together.]
[Voice call]

Smiling faintly, replying: [Just woke.]

Slipping on shoes, doorbell ringing.

Opening the door, Su Yubai held shrimp dumplings.

“Happy birthday,” smiling lightly, reaching, “Thanks, Sister.”

Dodging, “They’re cold.”

“I’ll eat downstairs later.”

“No, I’ll heat them. Come eat.”

“Okay, I’ll wash up.”

Her back vanished; Su Yubai returned home.

Washing up, noticing faint dark circles, covering them with foundation.

Easily hidden.

Entering Su Yubai’s, swapping to bear slippers, spotting her suitcase by the sofa.

Packed, ready for Hangsu.

Looking away, Su Yubai emerged from the kitchen with a plate, “Breakfast.”

“Okay.”

Sitting, eating dumplings.

Brewing tea, “Tea or water?”

“Tea.”

Glancing, “Last night.”

Not looking up, “Huang Yuxin arrived while I was showering. Heard the bell after, thought it was you, opened the door.”

“It was her, explained her home issues, let her sit, then took her to the hotel.”

Relieved, “Why the fight?”

“Professor Chen found out about Qiao and Sijiong?”

“Yup, she’s mad. Yuxin got caught in it.”

“Oh.”

“Unhappy?”

“It’s fine, you don’t like her.”

“You know I don’t.”

Eyes meeting, hers candid, heart easing.

No more overthinking, eating.

Finishing, sipping tea, “Sister, booked a private room at that restaurant. I’ll send details.”

“Okay, see you tonight.”

Taking the plate, “I’ll wash.”

“No, I will.”

Watching her back, a flicker in her eyes.

By subway to school—Su Yubai wasn’t going, no ride.

Only Ji Zizhen in the office, surprised, “Why’re you here? It’s a holiday!”

Qiao, from the mainland, encouraged holiday breaks.

“Bored, looking for work.”

“Here’s data, see if there’s a topic.”

“Okay.”

Working on data till 5 p.m.

Dinner booked for 6:30, home to grab the Wu embroidery, still time.

Su Yubai’s door closed.

Fetching the embroidery, then to a music store, then the restaurant.

Raining, traffic delayed, arriving just on time.

Finding the room, the waiter smiled, “Miss Jiang?”

In Mandarin, pausing, “Yes.”

“Is my cake here?”

“Yes, in the fridge, don’t worry.”

Nodding, “It’s raining, fireworks still on?”

“Depends, no official word yet.”

Official reply. Smiling, “Thanks.”

The waiter opened the door, “Enjoy.”

Smiling, entering, seeing flowers and a small stage.

Stage planned, but flowers… Turning, “Is the theme wrong? I booked a birthday one.”

“We followed the customer’s request, checked thoroughly, no mistakes.”

Nodding, “Thanks.”

Entering, placing the wrapped embroidery on the table, hiding the guitar behind flowers.

Checking her watch—two minutes to 6:30, no Su Yubai.

About to text, noise behind, turning—

Su Yubai in a teal qipao, pearl earrings, light makeup.

First time seeing her like this.

Red lips, fair skin, exquisite features, eyes softer, carrying affection.

Stunned, forgetting to speak or breathe.

“Yule.” Standing before her.

Snapping back, breathing, standing, handing the gift, “Happy birthday, Sister.”

Taking it, “What is it?”

“Open it.”

Unwrapping beside her, oolong tea scent drifting.

Swaying, hearing, “Teacher Su’s work?”

“Yup, saw it at an exhibition with Senior, bought it.”

Looking, surprised, “From whom?”

“Ji Zizhen’s sister, her collection.”

“That dinner was for this.”

Blinking, realizing which dinner, nodding, “Yup.”

Silent, suddenly hugged, her chin on Jiang Yule’s shoulder.

“Thanks, I love it.”

Sincere.

Heart trembling, hugging back, “Glad you like it. Maybe Aunt Su’s wishing you a happy birthday somewhere.”

“Yup.”

“Also, a surprise.”

“What?”

Cheeks warm, “You wanted me to sing that song.”

“So your evenings out were for practicing?”

“Yup.”

Releasing her, holding her left hand, touching calluses.

Fingers itching, pulling back, held firm.

Meeting her gaze, full of care, “Tired from practicing?”

Lashes fluttering, “Not bad, I knew the song.”

“I’ll sing now.”

Slipping her hand free, grabbing the guitar, “Dunno why, I booked a birthday theme, not this setup.”

“I changed it,” low voice.

A thought flickered, uncaught, smiling, “Listen to my song.”

On the small stage, sitting, strumming:

“I don’t want you alone, adrift in the crowd…”
“I don’t want you to face stormy times alone…”
“I don’t want you to bear this cruel world alone…”

Su Yubai’s gaze, gentle, calm, lips faintly smiling.

Before finishing, fireworks boomed outside.

Looking up, lights scattered across the sky.

Stopping, excited, “Sister, fireworks!”

Lips curving, “Come.”

Setting down the guitar, approaching, seeing her reflection in Su Yubai’s eyes.

Opening the window, light rain drifted in.

Fireworks dazzling, but Su Yubai’s gaze burned hotter.

Heart racing, palms sweaty.

Her cool voice, “Classmate Jiang, why avoid my eyes?”

Breath hitching, feeling her near, body stiffening.

“Or was your ‘I like you’ a lie?”

Memories crashed—“I don’t want you alone,” “Don’t look at me like that, I might not resist.”

Then—her blind dates, “sister” label, lease ending, suitcase ready.

Watching fireworks, “I like you.”

Turning, seeing her tenderness, tears falling, “But it’s not my feelings that matter, it’s yours.”

Panicked, wiping her tears, “Isn’t my liking you obvious?”

Tears flowed harder, venting, “How could you like me? Aren’t you straight? Don’t you see me as a sister?”

Words cut off—Su Yubai’s lips met hers.