Chapter 19
Lin Qianqian buttoned her pajama top, all the way to the top.
She lay back down, stiff and motionless, and managed to sleep through the night without incident.
She still found it odd that Lu Yin, whose work schedule started much earlier than hers, was always at the breakfast table when she woke up.
So, she continued to impose on Lu Yin for rides, regardless of Lu Yin’s plans.
“I’m off today,” Lu Yin said.
Lin Qianqian felt a pang of disappointment. “Your work schedule is so unpredictable.”
“Mm,” Lu Yin agreed. “It depends on the class schedule. Weekends are usually busier.”
“Are you going out later?” Lin Qianqian asked, noticing Lu Yin glance at her. “I…”
“I’m going to the supermarket.”
“Are you going near that big chain supermarket a few blocks from my company?” Lin Qianqian knew her question was clumsy, but her intentions were clear. “I heard they have a good selection.”
“We can go there.”
“Perfect!” Lin Qianqian glanced at the time and quickly finished her breakfast. “Can I get a ride?”
“Let’s go,” Lu Yin said, waiting for her to swallow her last bite before grabbing her car keys.
In the car, Lin Qianqian applied lipstick, admiring Lu Yin’s long trench coat. “Sister, you look beautiful today!”
Even more beautiful if you smiled. Lin Qianqian thought, but didn’t dare say it aloud.
Lu Yin, accustomed to Lin Qianqian’s flattery, simply drove her to work.
After waving goodbye and watching the car drive away, Lin Qianqian remembered to clock in.
Just in time. One minute to spare.
She killed time for two hours, then met Ming Yao for lunch in a private dining room at a nearby restaurant.
“Restaurants with private rooms near the office are usually terrible,” Lin Qianqian said, scanning the menu. “Expensive and terrible.”
“I’m short on time. I can’t take you anywhere else,” Ming Yao said, handing her a document. “Look at this.”
“A will?” It was filled with financial jargon and company shares. Lin Qianqian couldn’t make sense of it. “You get sixty percent, and your stepmother gets forty?”
“She gave me an extra ten percent,” Ming Yao seemed much happier than their last meeting. “I managed to convince her.”
“You contacted your stepmother? This will seems a bit…casual,” Lin Qianqian said, sensing that Ming Yao was being manipulated.
“She arrived this morning. I went to see her immediately.”
“Have you had a lawyer look at this?”
“Not yet. I just came from her place. She was busy with work.”
“What does she do?”
“She’s a psychiatrist. She owns a private clinic.”
Lin Qianqian scrutinized the document, then handed it back. “You should definitely consult a lawyer.”
“I will,” Ming Yao beamed. “If I can get another ten or twenty percent, that would be even better.”
Lin Qianqian hesitated, then asked, “I don’t know if I should ask this, but…she was only married to your father for a short time. Do you really trust her?”
“I hired a lot of people to deal with my half-siblings. She was the only one who succeeded,” Ming Yao said dismissively. “I just want the money. Otherwise, I’ll get even less. Whether they live or die is irrelevant to me.”
Lin Qianqian decided to support Ming Yao’s decision. She didn’t understand the intricacies of wealth and inheritance and didn’t want to offer unsolicited advice. Rich people’s squabbles were best avoided.
Although they were friends, she knew her place.
Ming Yao paid for lunch. Back at the office, Lin Qianqian quickly forgot about it.
The footage from the art institution had been sorted. Lin Qianqian logged into the company account and began selecting photos and writing captions.
Her colleague sent her a few similar articles as templates.
Seeing the photos she had taken, she thought of Lu Yin.
Even a few hours apart was enough to make her miss Lu Yin, but the memory of their encounter at the studio was tainted by Lu Yin’s cold politeness.
Lu Yin was a painter. Lu Sui had been a painter too.
Both were talented.
She had few memories of Lu Sui, only a vague impression of a gentle and kind woman. It explained Lu Yin’s former warmth and soft-spoken nature, her constant smile.
Lu Sui was mostly mentioned by Lin Yun, who often spoke ill of her, criticizing her short life and poor judgment. Lin Qianqian would always try to silence her, afraid Lu Yin would overhear.
She didn’t want Lu Yin to dislike her.
Lin Qianqian rested her chin on her hand, submitting the finished captions for review, feeling sleepy.
As a child, sharing a bed with Lu Yin, she would fall asleep in Lu Yin’s arms, lulled by a soft melody.
As an adult, sharing a bed with Lu Yin, she would often wet the sheets in her sleep, too tired to care, clinging to Lu Yin’s warmth.
They would leave the damp sheets until morning, cuddling in the dry part of the bed.
Last night, however, they had lain on opposite sides of the bed, barely speaking, Lu Yin’s coldness a stark contrast to the intimacy she craved.
She hadn’t done anything wrong. Even her attempt to wipe the sweat from Lu Yin’s forehead had been rejected. She didn’t know what Lu Yin had dreamt about, but it must have been disturbing.
Lin Qianqian touched her wrist, remembering Lu Yin’s unconscious grip.
She was curious about Lu Yin’s nightmares…
Work was monotonous. The news story continued for days, no arrest made. Her colleagues complained about the constant anxiety.
The woman who sat next to her had been on leave for several days. Lin Qianqian wondered if she was too scared to come to work.
She left the office alone, heading towards the subway station.
The station was a bit of a walk. Most people used shared bikes, but Lin Qianqian was too lazy, preferring to stroll.
The usual route was under construction, blocked off to pedestrians. Lin Qianqian took a detour.
She had walked this way once before with her colleague. She should be able to find her way.
The sound of barking dogs startled her. She looked up from her phone, searching for the source.
Several dog owners had gathered, their dogs barking ferociously at each other, despite their different sizes. A small dog was relentlessly harassing a Samoyed.
Lin Qianqian looked around. The street was unfamiliar.
She opened the map app, trying to orient herself.
She had left work late and had been dawdling. Now, it was dark, and the streets were empty. She felt uneasy.
The news story about the robbery added to her anxiety.
She glanced behind her. Nothing. But her heart was racing.
At a traffic light, she noticed a long shadow behind her. As she walked, it followed.
When the light turned green, she ran, sprinting towards the subway station, her heart pounding. Only when she was surrounded by people did she feel safe. She looked around nervously.
If only Lu Yin would pick her up like she had before…
She dreaded the crowded subway during rush hour.
Exiting the station, she saw a familiar figure at a fruit stand.
Lu Yin was holding half a watermelon, waiting for the vendor to weigh it.
Lin Qianqian had casually mentioned the previous day that they had every kind of fruit except watermelon.
It seemed Lu Yin had overheard her.
She hurried over, her anxiety easing.
“Want some oranges? The last ones were too sour. I’m bad at picking them,” Lin Qianqian pointed at a crate of oranges. “Sister, help me choose.”
“I already bought some,” Lu Yin gestured towards a bag beside her. They were both waiting to pay.
Lin Qianqian took the bag and they walked home together.
Several notifications popped up on her phone, tagging her in the work chat group. It was a company-wide announcement.
The robber had been caught. Everyone was celebrating, relieved they could finally commute without fear.
Lin Qianqian showed Lu Yin the message. “I took a different route home today, and I felt like someone was following me.”
Lu Yin paused, placing the fruit on the table.
“I ran all the way to the subway station,” Lin Qianqian said, clutching her chest. “I thought the robber was after me.”
“Don’t say such things,” Lu Yin admonished her.
“It’s good to be cautious, right?” Lin Qianqian peeled an orange, smiling as the sweet juice filled her mouth. “If I hadn’t run fast enough, then, then…”
Lu Yin didn’t seem interested in discussing it further. The robber had been caught. There was no need to dwell on it.
Lin Qianqian ordered takeout and browsed her phone. Lu Yin went to take a shower.
Then, Ming Yao messaged her.
[Ming Yao: Your sister is picking you up from work now? And you’re still pretending you haven’t made any progress in getting back together?]
[Lin Qianqian: When did she pick me up from work?]
Ming Yao sent a picture.
It was Lin Qianqian waiting at a traffic light, a figure walking behind her.
Lin Qianqian recognized Lu Yin instantly.
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