Chapter 49: Confessions and Rings

Kissing Su Yubai.
Her lips so soft.

Realizing this, Jiang Yule’s heart raced unprecedentedly.

Su Yubai, seemingly inexperienced, rubbed gently against her lips.

Jiang Yule thought to push her away, hands on her shoulders, but Su Yubai’s arm tightened around her waist.

Trapped, surprised, giving Su Yubai an opening.

Her tongue slipped in, tentative.

Heart trembling, feeling her tongue explore, hooking hers lightly.

Breaths heated, swallowing and wet sounds drowning out the fireworks.

Cheeks burning, tongue tingling.

Despite Su Yubai’s gentle kiss, Jiang Yule’s legs weakened, body yearning closer.

Unfamiliar sensation.
Her tongue faintly sweet.

Gasping for air, Su Yubai released her.

Clinging to her shoulders, panting, feeling her near again.

Not her lips this time—her cheek, tracing tears upward, kissing her eyes, lashes trembling.

“Don’t cry.”

Her words stirred memories—interrupted by the kiss.

“Su Yubai, you!” Trying to sound fierce, voice hoarse.

Pulling back, amusement in her eyes, wiping Jiang Yule’s lip corner.

“Jiang Yule, be my girlfriend?” Staring into her eyes.

“No.” Turning to the lingering fireworks.

Her wiping hand paused, then cupped her face, turning her back, leaning close.

Breath uneven, dodging again, “You did it on purpose.” Feeling wronged.

“You did first,” softly.

Countered, lips pouting, “What’d I do?”

Calmly, “Avoided me, dined with others, pretended not to see me…”

She noticed, remembered.
Guilty, covering her lips—too soft.

Recalling their kiss.

Eyes curving, Su Yubai looked, humming, “Hm?”

Snapping back, eyes dodging, “I-I thought you saw me as a sister, but…”

Her palm turned warm, wet; startled, pulling back, caught. A kiss on her hand’s back.

Releasing her, pulling her close, “My ‘goodnight, sister’ was answering your ‘Sister’ call.”

Cheeks warm, “I-I figured it out later.”

Misunderstood then.

By her ear, “So you liked me but thought I saw you as a sister, felt ashamed, avoided me?”

How does she know everything?
Muffled, “Yup.”

About to argue, her stomach growled, cheeks hotter.

Mind dizzy, like a fever, but not.

Amused, releasing her, kissing her forehead.

“Sister, hungry?”

Cheeks burning, turning away, “Yup.”

“But don’t call me sister, it’s weird.”

Unfazed, “Okay, let’s eat.”

Glancing at fireworks, brushing past, heading to the table.

Following, catching up, clasping her hand, fingers interlocking.

Lashes trembling, not pulling away.

Seating her, pressing the service bell, left hand still holding hers.

Waiter entered, seeing their hands, “Wishing you two forever~”

The theme—Su Yubai changed it?

Food’s aroma mixed with tea scent; turning, a large cart arrived.

Steaming dishes, flowers, cake.

Waiter arranged them, cake and flowers aside, a small brocade box.

Glancing, focusing on the cake—today’s for Su Yubai’s birthday.

Standing to handle it, gently pressed back.

“It’s your birthday, I’ll open it.”

Shaking her head, “Later.”

Sitting obediently, watching her take the flowers and box.

Handing her the flowers, then—kneeling on one knee.

Stunned, “S-Sister, what…”

Opening the box, “Jiang Yule, will you be my girlfriend?”

Lips curling, holding back, “Yes, but I’m still mad.”

Not too mad, but her teasing about blind dates…

“Okay, I’ll work to make it up,” lips curving.

Not asking how.

“That’s more like it!” Offering her right hand, letting her slide on the ring.

Smiling, helping her up, taking the other ring, slipping it on her middle finger.

Raising her hand, seeing “s” and “l” with “962464.”

Instantly, “Su Yubai, what’s this number?”

Kissing her forehead, “I love you.”

Blinking, realizing she meant the numbers, “How’s it ‘I love you’?”

“Ever used a 9-key?” Smiling deeper.

Nodding, “Rarely.”

“These numbers spell ‘I love you’ on a 9-key.”

Heart trembling, recalling seeing it before Hong Kong.
Didn’t know then.

Realizing, “You liked me back in Hangsu?”

“Yup,” lips curving.

Thinking she was straight, “Your overseas boyfriend?”

“Coping with family,” flatly.

Lowly, “Someone like me, few would like.”

Her tone wistful, heart aching, hugging her, “Lots like you, I know plenty.”

Stroking her hair, “I only know you do.”

Cheeks warm, muffled, “Others too.”

Like Huang Yuxin.

“I don’t want others, just you.”

Ears hot, pulling back, “I-I’m hungry.”

Scanning her red ears, pinching them.

Stiffening, relieved when released—felt like a kid scolded by Mom.

Sudden whisper, “Cute.”

Ears hotter, “Eat, no, cake.”

“Okay.”

Opening the cake box—her custom design, “Happy birthday, Sister!”

Q-version figurines circled it.

Noticing, “You drew these?”

“Yup, how are they?” Eyes sparkling.

Staring, “Pretty, but… I’m not that cute.”

“You are in my heart,” earnestly.

Ruffling her hair, “Few call me cute.”

Leaning close, “They call me demon, nun, bad woman…”

She tracked her reputation.
Laughing, “You know your student rep…”

Coughing, stifling laughter, “Know you’re the ‘faculty goddess’?”

“Yup, a teacher told me.”

Looking at the cake, grabbing the knife, “Let’s cut.”

Blocking it, “No, wish first!”

“Okay.” Setting down the knife.

Inserting 15 candles, “For our 15 years of knowing each other?”

“Yup,” smiling, “You remember.”

“Yup.” Taking the lighter, snatched by Jiang Yule.

“How can the birthday girl light her own candles?”

Staring as she lit them—like she lit her dark world.

Candles lit, turning off the room’s lights, following the glow, “Make a wish!”

Singing the birthday song, approaching.

Eyes closed, hands clasped, Su Yubai’s wishes since meeting her always involved her.

Opening eyes, seeing her beloved beside her, smiling.

Her eyes brighter than the candles.

“Done? Blow them out!”

Waiting, about to turn on the light, pulled into her arms.

Silent, actions speaking.

Closing eyes, hugging her waist, nuzzling her neck, “I like you, Sister.”

“You must like me too, right?”

Softly.
Her heart melted.

Solemnly, “Yup.”

Stomach growling again.

Hearing, releasing her, “I’ll get the light, stay.”

“Okay.”

Following her silhouette, lights on, eyes meeting.

Cutting the cake, avoiding the figurines, making odd shapes.

Laughing, “Good thing it’s just us.”

“Yup.”

Eating a slice each, packing the rest.

Finally eating dinner quietly.

Soon, Su Yubai handed her a duck wrap.

Recalling the graduation banquet, starving, Su Yubai giving her a wrap.

“That night, did you like me then?”

Despite vagueness, she knew the moment, nodding, “Yup.”

So early.
Unaware then.

No long unrequited love, but empathizing now.

Feeling guilty for missing her feelings.

Tearing up, “Sorry, I-I didn’t…”

“No need.”

Leaning over, “My liking you, before you liked me, wasn’t your burden.”

“No apologies needed.”

Her generosity hurt more.

As tears fell, her hand appeared, “Don’t cry.”

Lashes trembling, breathing deeply, holding back, “Okay.”

Dropping her hand, grabbing a wet wipe, squatting, wiping her eyes and tears.

Embarrassed, reaching, “I’ll do it.”

“Let me.”

Not insisting, staring into her eyes.

Fireworks stopped unnoticed; suddenly, “What’d you do today?”

“Made the ring.”

“Huh?” Examining it, “It looks professional, thought you ordered it.”

Glancing at her guitar, “Like you practiced secretly, I learned ring-making.”

Laughing, “You’re quick.”

“Not hard, but I wanted it perfect, took time.”

Staring, loving it more.

“Love it!”

“Me too,” gazing gently.

Walking to the parking lot.

Recalling her suitcase, “Going back to Hangsu?”

Puzzled, “No plans yet.”

Blinking, realizing, “But your lease is ending.”

Feigning surprise, “Homeless, Sister?”

Staring, “Depends on you.”

Huffing, “You didn’t tell me, no room at my place.”

Walking ahead.

Amused, catching up, holding her hand.

“I’ll take the sofa.”