Chapter 9 : Thinking about Lin Siqiong?

“Thinking about Lin Siqiong?”

Why would Su Yubai think that?

Jiang Yule denied it instinctively.
“No, no.”

Last night’s awkward three-way confrontation flashed in her mind.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, she couldn’t exactly say, ‘I was imagining you in a qipao.’
She scrambled for a proper excuse.
“Thinking about the conference.”

“Oh?”
Su Yubai’s tone rose slightly, inviting her to continue.

Jiang Yule’s mind raced.
“I heard so many economists speak today. It was really insightful.”

“Tell me.”

Luckily, Jiang Yule had paid attention.
She thought of Professor Chen Ying, editor-in-chief of History of Chinese Economics.
“Professor Chen shares your views. Her presentation was on Eastern economics, and I found it fascinating.”

After speaking, Jiang Yule felt a pang of regret.
She hadn’t cited specifics, missing the mark.

“Which of my views?”

Su Yubai’s focus was, as expected, unique.
Jiang Yule echoed what her mom had discussed at home.
“Your call for economists to build Chinese economics, given how Western economics dominates university curricula.”

She glanced up, catching a fleeting smile in Su Yubai’s eyes.

It vanished quickly, too brief to dwell on.

Then Su Yubai spoke again.
“Yes, I’ve invited Professor Chen to join my social sciences project. We’ll collaborate in the future.”

That word “also” could easily make someone think she’d invited Jiang Yule too.
Jiang Yule touched her nose.
A voice from the lounge door interrupted.
“Dean Su, boxed lunches are here.”

Jiang Yule was stunned for a moment.
Su Yubai was eating boxed lunches with the volunteers?

“Jiang, let’s eat.”

Jiang Yule looked up sharply.
Su Yubai was already heading to the lounge.

Over the two-day conference, that was their only private exchange.

Sunday evening, Jiang Yule saw Professor Qiao’s group off at the airport.

“You all go through security first,” Professor Qiao told the seniors, clearly wanting a private word with Jiang Yule.

“See you in Hong Kong, junior!”
“See you! Safe travels!”

Just Professor Qiao and Jiang Yule remained.

“Thanks for your hard work, Yule,” Professor Qiao said, patting her shoulder.

Jiang Yule smiled shyly.
“You’re too kind, Professor Qiao. I didn’t do much.”

Qiao Anqing got to the point.
“I’ve asked Si Qing to talk to Lin Siqiong. Follow your heart. If she keeps pestering you, and it’s hard to tell your family, go to Su Yubai.”

“She’d probably help you.”

Jiang Yule’s brow twitched.
She answered softly, “Okay. Thank you, Professor Qiao.”

“You’re welcome. See you in Hong Kong.”

As Qiao Anqing’s figure disappeared into the terminal, Jiang Yule glanced at the sunset.

Qiao Anqing’s words lingered.

Maybe because of childhood ties, Su Yubai had repeatedly bailed her out lately.

Even Professor Qiao thought Su Yubai would help her.

But Jiang Yule knew their bond was thin.
It couldn’t sustain so much one-sided help.

[“I so want to find you, gently hold your face…”]

Her phone rang.
Su Yingying, urging her to their usual bubble tea shop.

Time to plan their graduation trip.

Jiang Yule caught a ride quickly, but it was rush hour.
Even the overpass was jammed.

An hour later, she reached the bubble tea shop and headed to the second floor.

Her gaze landed on Su Yingying, lounging in a hanging egg chair on the terrace, looking down at the street.

The snack street buzzed, alive with energy.

On the table sat Jiang Yule’s pre-ordered drink: cheese grape.

“I’m here!”
“Finally! Look at this.”

Su Yingying opened her tablet, pulling up a post and handing it over.
“What do you think of this place?”

Jiang Yule took it, startled by the title: Wuzhou Ancient Town Two-Day Tour.

Wuzhou.
She’d heard it countless times—Su Yubai spent ten years there, at her father Su Kaihua’s hometown.

Her mom, Jiang Huazhen, had warned her never to mention that place.

But today, Su Yingying brought it up.

Jiang Yule sipped her cheese grape to steady herself, asking softly, “You want to visit Wuzhou?”

Su Yingying paused, then asked, “You know Wuzhou is my sister’s…”

She trailed off, unsure how to label the place.

Jiang Yule caught her struggle and jumped in.
“I know. So you want to see where Professor Su lived?”

Su Yingying hesitated, then spilled it all.
“It’s not me. My sister’s going to Wuzhou to honor her foster mother. My mom insists I go with her.”

Jiang Yule’s hand froze on her cup.
After a long pause, she asked, “Does your sister agree to you going?”

From what she knew, Su Yubai was taken in by the Su family because her foster mother was gravely ill.
Su Yubai and her foster mother were very close.

Jiang Yule thought, if it were her, she’d want to honor such a life-changing figure alone.

“That’s the thing. My mom said she’d talk to her.”

“Do you want to come to Wuzhou? We could make it our first stop.”

Accompany Su Yubai to honor her foster mother?
That was absurd.

Jiang Yule nearly choked on her tea, refusing instinctively.
“You go with your sister. I’ll stay home and write my paper.”

As expected, Su Yingying sighed.
“If only my sister would say no. I don’t want to go either. A memorial like that’s gotta be a hassle.”

Jiang Yule caught the key detail and did the math.
This year marked the fifteenth anniversary of that woman’s passing.

Per custom, such anniversaries were major events.
With no other children but Su Yubai, and the preparations complex, Aunt Song wanted Su Yingying to help.

Jiang Yule pieced it together and changed her mind.
“I’ll go.”

She wanted to help too.

“Huh?”
Su Yingying hadn’t expected the quick shift.

Jiang Yule set down her cup, looking at her seriously.
“If Professor Su agrees, I’ll go with you.”

She hadn’t thought it through, hadn’t figured out how to tell her mom.
This was a sensitive topic Jiang Huazhen had warned against.

At her doorstep, Jiang Yule braced herself before entering.

The moment she opened the door, Jiang Huazhen’s voice rang out.
“How’s the graduation trip planning with Yingying?”

Jiang Yule bent to change into slippers, glancing at the living room.
Her mom was watching a variety show, face mask on.

Since her mom brought it up, Jiang Yule tested the waters.
“She wants to go to Wuzhou with Professor Su.”
She watched her mom’s profile closely for a reaction.

Jiang Huazhen looked over.
“Your Aunt Song told me today.”

Jiang Yule’s heart tightened.
She swapped shoes, heading casually to the bathroom, waiting for her mom’s next words.

“Go with them. It’ll be fun.”

Jiang Yule stopped at the bathroom door.
“Huh? Didn’t you tell me not to mention Wuzhou?”

Jiang Huazhen walked over.
“Wash your hands first.”

Jiang Yule went in to wash.

When she finished, Jiang Huazhen stood at the door.

“It’s better not to bring it up, but this time your Aunt Song mentioned it to me.”

Jiang Yule looked puzzled.
Her mom continued, “Aunt Song wants to bridge the gap between her kids. She’s worried it’ll be awkward, so she asked if you could join them. You and Yingying can have fun.”

Jiang Yule went with it.
“Got it. Sure.”

Seeing her agree, Jiang Huazhen’s smile deepened.
“Then help Yubai with the work. Use this chance to get closer to her.”

“She’s got a bright future.”

That was a pragmatic angle.

Jiang Yule felt a slight unease, retorting instinctively.
“First, Mom, I’m not sure I can get close to Professor Su.”

Realizing her tone was sharp, she softened it.
“Second, even if I do, she might not help me.”

Jiang Huazhen shook her head at her naivety.
“First, you and Su Yubai got along great as kids. Getting close now should be easy, no?”

“Second, she’s already helped you.”

Her mom knew about the Lin Siqiong thing?
Jiang Yule’s heart skipped.

“What?”
“Qiao Anqing was her doing. Why else would a dean pick you out of so many talented candidates?”

Jiang Yule ignored the subtle jab, asking softly, “Wasn’t it Teacher Si’s connection?”
“Si Qing doesn’t have that kind of pull.”

Jiang Yule’s brow twitched.
No wonder Qiao Anqing thought she and Su Yubai were close.

Now she owed Su Yubai more than she could repay.