Chapter 52: Blossoming Bonds

Cheeks warming, Jiang Yule tugged her neckline discreetly.

Su Yubai stood abruptly.

Eyes following, seeing her head to the entrance, picking up the lilies from the shoe cabinet.

Turning back, approaching.

Staring, her expression calm, unaffected by the moment—only Jiang Yule felt embarrassed.

Thicker skin would help, she thought.

“Want to arrange the flowers?” Su Yubai’s voice cool, ethereal.

Standing, “Sure.”

Recalling a vase from moving in, she fetched it.

Su Yubai unwrapped the flowers, eyeing the vase’s height, “Scissors?”

Fetching them, handing over.

Taking them, she trimmed a stem diagonally.

Her slender fingers working, like art.

“Yule.”

Snapping back, taking the trimmed flower, placing it in the vase.

One trimmed, one arranged.

Lips curling unconsciously.

Finished, Su Yubai cleaned the wrappings.

Jiang Yule hadn’t studied flower arranging; Jiang Huazhen taught her color basics.

With one type, two colors, little room for creativity.

Glancing, it looked standard, turning, “Sister, adjust it?”

Shaking her head, “No need, your flowers.”

Her call.

Smiling, “Okay.”

Snapping a photo, realizing they hadn’t taken one together.

“Sister.”

Su Yubai, placing trash outside, returned.

“Hm?”

Looking at her ringed finger, “We didn’t take a photo today.”

Raising her hand, eyeing the ring, “Take it.”

Approaching, standing close.

Taking her hand, covering her left, rings gleaming.

Snapping a shot, “Posting it to my blog~”

Eyes deepening, “Good.”

Not pulling away, Jiang Yule edited a post, sent it, then messaged Su Yingying.

Checking the time, “Your bedtime, Sister?”

“Yup.”

Her hand still over hers, giggling, tickling her palm.

Barely moving, Su Yubai caught her fingers, interlocking.

Blinking, “Not sleeping?”

“Going.”

Leading her to the living room.

Heart racing inexplicably.

TV blaring variety show laughter, but only her calm breath and scent lingered.

Stopping at Jiang Yule’s bedroom door.

Slightly disappointed.

Still holding her hand, tilting head, “Sister?”

A kiss on her forehead, lashes trembling, “Goodnight, my little girlfriend.”

Pure love warrior, her first thought.

Hand empty as Su Yubai let go.

Heart sinking, stepping forward, grabbing her, “Sister.”

Turning, “Hm?”

Shyly, “Goodnight kiss should be like this.”

Tiptoeing, brushing her lips, then darting into her room, shutting the door.

Door slamming, Su Yubai touched her lips, slightly dazed.

Lips curving faintly.

Feeling conflicted—shy yet craving closeness with Su Yubai.

Crazy.

Leaning against the door, calming her heart, ears tuned to outside.

Only TV noise.

Soon, it stopped—Su Yubai turned it off.

Heart settling, regretting the brief kiss.

Why not longer?

“Knock knock.”

Startled, heart racing again.

Adjusting breath, opening the door—Su Yubai with her phone.

Taking it, fingers brushing, tingling.

Looking twice, “Goodnight.”

“Sister, goodnight!”

Watching her head to her room.

Cool, restrained.

Closing the door, turning on the light.

Phone buzzing—Su Yingying’s messages:

[OMG whose hand!? Your sister? You’re together!?]

[Reply!!]

[Lele!]

Last: [OMG am I interrupting your night? Keep going, ignore me!!]

Laughing, rolling on the bed.

Replying: [Yup, we’re together.]

Instant reply: [Whoa! But… why are you texting?]

Embarrassed, [What else should I be doing?]

[Fire and sparks… your nightlife?]

Cheeks red, [Too fast?]

[True, first day. So, how far?]

[Kissed, right?]

[Don’t say no /angry]

Laughing, [Kissed, three times!]

[How’s it feel?]

[Hard to describe.]

[Good good, happy for you two.]

Motherly vibe.

Sending an emoji, locking the phone, turning off the light.

Eyes closed, sleepless.

She’s Su Yubai’s girlfriend.

Wow.

Pinching herself, feeling pain—real.

Burrowing into blankets, wanting to scream.

Holding back, lips uncontrollably smiling.

Mind replaying the night, sinking deeper.

Or already sunk.

Morning, knocking woke her.

Startled, realizing they’re living together.

Wow!

Throwing off blankets, slipping on shoes, rushing to the door.

Hand on the knob, fixing her nightgown’s neckline.

Opening, seeing Su Yubai.

“Morning, run?”

Nodding, “Yup!”

Glancing at her neckline, amused, “I’ll wait.”

Nodding, changing into workout clothes, heading to wash up.

In the bathroom, seeing her pink toothbrush with toothpaste ready.

Eyes curving, brushing, smiling.

Spotting Su Yubai with her tablet, waiting.

“Sister,” muffled through foam.

“Hm?” Looking up.

“Nothing, just wanted to call you.”

Seeing foam at her lips, looking away, “Yup.”

Back to her tablet, reading.

Finishing, Su Yubai set it down.

Changing shoes at the entrance.

Pushing the door, waiting nearby.

Stepping out, she extended her hand.

Approaching, taking it.

Lips curving, locking the door.

Into the elevator.

“Running evenings too?” Low voice.

Pausing, “When you weren’t here, I did.”

Silent, then, “Was my pace too fast?”

Looking, “Bragging, Sister?”

Staring, “Okay, you waited for me, I didn’t want you to always wait.”

“Practiced a bit.” Showing a tiny gap between fingers.

Grabbing her hand, “Big progress.”

Tickling her palm, “Professor Su, like praising a student.”

Stepping out, “I rarely praise students.”

Known for distance, professional with students.

“Not even my 100?”

Pausing, “The final was easy.”

!? Pouting, pinching her hand, “Bad woman.”

Lips curving, “Yesterday you said I wasn’t.”

“Praise me now, then you’re not.”

Letting go, patting her head, “Classmate Jiang, you’re… great.”

Laughing, “Professor Su, so formal.”

Rubbing her hair, “My little girlfriend, you’re amazing.”

Ears hot, pulling her hand, “Professor, time to run.”

Starting side by side.

Cheeks still warm, “Su Yubai, can you drop the ‘little’?”

“Okay, girlfriend.”

Fine, the issue was the term itself.

Why so shy about “girlfriend”?

Maybe the shift—teacher, sister, now equal.

Lost in thought, wrist grabbed, nearly hitting a pole.

“Watch the road.”

“Okay.”

Running to the sea.

“No Yuxin today,” panting.

Glancing, “You care about her.”

“No, just used to seeing her running here.”

“Did she say anything?”

Recalling Huang Yuxin’s words, likely from liking Su Yubai, not wanting to snitch.

“Nothing special.”

No further questions.

Sea breeze blowing, sunrise rare in Hangsu.

Finishing, eating at a breakfast spot.

“School today?”

Thinking, “You going?”

“Got some things to do.”

“Then I’m going.”

Looking, smiling brightly, “I’m clingy, remember?”

Eyes amused, “Good.”

Home, showering, changing, heading out.

At the parking lot, heading to the passenger seat.

Glancing, “Want to drive?”

Hurrying in, “You drive.”

Hearing her door, looking over.

“Need help with the seatbelt?”

Memories flashing, fumbling, buckling wrong.

Panicking, trying again, hand stopped.

Looking up, eyes meeting.

Lashes trembling, “Sister?”

“I’ll do it.”

“Okay.” Pulling back, sitting straight.

Hearing the click, glancing, eyes meeting again.

Her face nearing, breath catching, focusing on her lips.

“Classmate Jiang, my morning kiss?”

Lips meeting hers.