Chapter 23 p2
Lu Yin tidied up the living room, then went to her room.
She messaged the scheduling manager at the institution, saying she had something to do tomorrow and asking to reschedule her classes.
Having stayed up late, and with it being the weekend, Lin Qianqian didn’t wake up until noon. She went to the bathroom, then went back to sleep.
Her alarm woke her.
It was the reminder she had set for the apartment viewing.
Running late, she grabbed a t-shirt and pants and quickly got dressed.
After a hasty wash, she saw Lu Yin in the living room.
“Sister, let’s go! I overslept!”
Once in the car, Lin Qianqian contacted the agent, confirming the appointment, then told Lu Yin to start driving.
“The address,” Lu Yin said.
“…Oh, I forgot,” Lin Qianqian opened the navigation app, grumbling. “A perfectly good weekend, wasted on apartment hunting.”
Lu Yin glanced at her, her expression hesitant.
“What?” Lin Qianqian browsed restaurants near the apartment. “What are we eating later? I’m starving.”
“Is your shirt on inside out?”
“No, it’s the same front and back,” Lin Qianqian tugged at her collar, then saw the label and closed her mouth. “…Is it that obvious?”
“A little.” It wasn’t noticeable at all, but Lu Yin offered her jacket. “Here. Cover up.”
Lin Qianqian scoffed. “So I’m an embarrassment now…”
After putting on Lu Yin’s jacket, she picked a restaurant.
Everything was ready. Her mind drifted back to the previous night.
She cursed her ability to remember everything, even when drunk.
She was constantly making a fool of herself in front of Lu Yin.
Lu Yin was probably used to it by now.
But last night, she had kissed Lu Yin. Twice!
Even if the aftermath hadn’t been ideal, she had done what she wanted to do.
But Lu Yin hadn’t reacted, hadn’t even mentioned it.
Lin Qianqian was still anxious. She knew Lu Yin was good at hiding her emotions, her silence often masking deeper feelings.
She decided to ask.
“Sister, how much did we drink last night?”
“Half a bottle.”
“But you must have had a whole bottle, right? So you must have been drunk,” Lin Qianqian said, drawing her own conclusions. “I heard people who don’t drink often have a low tolerance. I’ve never seen you drink before.”
“I’ve had a few drinks in recent years,” Lu Yin said. “With friends.”
“You have a lot of friends,” Lin Qianqian said, surprised.
Friends, friends, always with the friends.
The woman last night had been a “friend” too.
Did Lu Yin even understand the concept of boundaries?
Bringing a friend home without even asking.
Even roommates gave each other a heads-up.
Lin Qianqian thought about her own wild nights out with friends abroad.
But she held herself to a different standard than she held Lu Yin.
How could Lu Yin drink with another woman, especially without telling her?
She couldn’t tolerate it. The thought alone made her angry.
“They’re from the institution. Colleagues can be considered friends, right?” Lu Yin said.
“Office romances are common these days,” Lin Qianqian said pointedly. “You said you’ve been drinking with them several times. What if feelings develop? You see each other at work, and then you go out drinking together…”
Lu Yin thought for a moment, correcting herself. “Not that many times. Besides the mandatory New Year’s gathering, only twice on weekends.”
“You celebrate New Year’s together?” Lin Qianqian felt another surge of anger.
“Who else would I celebrate with?”
Lin Qianqian’s mouth fell open, then she quickly changed the subject, sensing the conversation veering into dangerous territory.
“Am I considered your friend?”
Lu Yin glanced at her, sensing her intentions.
“If I invited you to celebrate New Year’s with me, would you?” Lin Qianqian pressed. “I don’t have any friends here.”
She was determined to cling to Lu Yin.
They had kissed, and Lu Yin hadn’t rejected her. A few suggestive words couldn’t hurt, right?
“And New Year’s is so boring here. Christmas is much more fun,” Lin Qianqian continued. “No couplets, no red envelopes, their dumplings are terrible, they buy frozen ones and then overcook them.”
“We’ll see about New Year’s,” Lu Yin said vaguely.
“That’s only…” Lin Qianqian opened the calendar app. “It’s November 2nd today. Only ninety-nine days, six hours, fifty-five minutes, forty seconds, thirty-nine, thirty-eight, thirty-seven…”
She suddenly realized something.
Next Sunday, November 10th, was her birthday.
She glanced at Lu Yin, wondering if she remembered.
“What do you want for your birthday next Sunday?” Lu Yin asked suddenly.
Lin Qianqian’s thoughts had been laid bare.
As someone constantly subjected to Lu Yin’s subtle mockery, she couldn’t resist a chance for revenge.
“We’ll see,” she replied haughtily, crossing her arms.
“Just so you know, I have classes all day next weekend,” Lu Yin said, delivering a cruel blow. “I won’t be able to come home. I’ll be sleeping at the institution.”
“Then why even ask? You won’t have time anyway,” Lin Qianqian said, feigning indifference. “I’ll just celebrate in my new apartment. Pretend it never happened.”
“You don’t want anything?”
Lin Qianqian glared at her. “Would you even give me what I want?”
“Tell me.”
“Forget it,” Lin Qianqian said, her resolve crumbling.
If she asked for a do-over of her eighteenth birthday, Lu Yin might throw her out of the car.
She remembered her disastrous attempt at an adult celebration.
It had been a Saturday. She was a freshman in college, in another province, and had taken a train home without telling anyone.
She had snuck into Lu Yin’s bed, drunk for courage.
Her wish hadn’t been granted. Instead, she had thrown up all over Lu Yin’s room.
They arrived at the apartment complex without reaching a birthday resolution.
It was a mixed-use building, with both residential apartments and hotel rooms. The area felt less safe, the residents more transient.
The agent was waiting downstairs. They went up together.
The studio apartment was small, the furnishings worn, but the price was a few hundred yuan cheaper than similar units in the city center.
Lin Qianqian, lacking experience in these matters, stood quietly while Lu Yin inspected the apartment and asked the agent questions.
She felt like a child, waiting for a parent to handle the adult business.
“Are you two living together? I have a two-bedroom unit available,” the agent said, sensing Lu Yin’s disapproval, quickly shifting to other options. “And some single rooms, very affordable.”
Lu Yin didn’t answer, looking at Lin Qianqian.
“Me?” Lin Qianqian shrugged. “Anything is fine.”
This was already at the top of her budget. She couldn’t afford anything more expensive.
Lu Yin walked over to her. “I asked all the necessary questions. Weren’t you listening?”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t afford anything more expensive.”
“I’ll think about it,” Lu Yin told the agent.
They left, waiting for the elevator.
The agent, busy with other clients, didn’t accompany them downstairs, heading towards another elevator.
“Is this place okay?” Lin Qianqian asked.
It seemed alright, but she had never lived alone before, and there was no helpful elderly woman here to guide her.
“You’re the one who’s going to live here. Why are you asking me?”
“Just give me your opinion.”
“The environment isn’t great. Too many units per floor, and with the hotel rooms, it doesn’t feel safe to live alone. And the electricity bill isn’t included in the rent.”
“But the agent said utilities were included!”
“I just looked at the contract. That’s only for water and gas,” Lu Yin said, brushing some white residue off Lin Qianqian’s back.
“The wall just flaked off when I leaned against it,” Lin Qianqian frowned. “Maybe I should look at single rooms instead. Then I could be closer to the office.”
Lu Yin didn’t reply.
Lin Qianqian glanced at her, then said sarcastically, “If someone hadn’t kicked me out, I wouldn’t have to live in such a dump. Moving means buying new furniture and everything. Food, clothes, rent, transportation…it all adds up. I might as well just sleep on a park bench. It’s not cold enough for me to catch a cold yet.”
“There’s a park near your office. You can sleep on a bench there and walk to work,” Lu Yin said.
The elevator arrived. Lin Qianqian stepped inside, fuming.
Why did I even come back? She could have stayed abroad, working on a project with her advisor.
A few smiles and some casual flirting were all it took to wrap her advisor around her little finger.
Why had she returned to face this constant rejection? A month of trying, and she hadn’t made any progress.
Did she owe Lu Yin something in a past life?
“Let’s go eat,” Lu Yin said, ignoring Lin Qianqian’s simmering rage, leading her towards a nearby restaurant, a popular spot serving local cuisine. The place was crowded.
Lin Qianqian was surprised to learn Lu Yin had made a reservation.
She ordered whatever she wanted: braised pork belly, kung pao chicken, all the expensive dishes.
“What do you want to drink?” Lu Yin asked, handing the menu to the waiter.
“Orange juice,” Lin Qianqian said. “Two glasses, please.”
“I thought you would order beer,” Lu Yin said, her tone neutral.
“Alcohol makes me emotional. I’d rather not,” Lin Qianqian said, resting her head on her hand, playing with Lu Yin’s car keys.
She didn’t hear a response and glanced at Lu Yin, their eyes meeting briefly before she looked away, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair.
Two women walked by, pausing at their table. “Teacher Lu?”
Lin Qianqian looked up.
“I heard from Teacher Yu that you took the day off,” one of the women said, glancing at Lin Qianqian, then a look of realization crossed her face. “Oh…”
“I took the day off, so you skipped class?” Lu Yin asked.
“No! I just prefer your classes,” the woman said quickly. “I took the day off too. Really!”
Her lie exposed, she quickly excused herself. “Enjoy your meal! I’ll go now!”
Lin Qianqian’s eyes narrowed, her gaze fixed on Lu Yin.
So Lu Yin had rescheduled her classes.
Lin Qianqian felt a surge of relief. Lu Yin cared enough to spend the day with her.
But she was still angry about the park bench comment, even though Lu Yin had taken the day off.
The food arrived, and as she ate, her anger dissipated.
Lu Yin ate slowly and gracefully.
She subtly pushed the dishes closer to Lin Qianqian, watching her devour the food with gusto.
Full and satisfied, Lin Qianqian finished half her orange juice in one gulp, then remembered the apartment viewing.
“I still have to look at that apartment. Such a hassle.”
“Mm,” Lu Yin agreed, saying nothing else.
“I said it’s a hassle,” Lin Qianqian repeated, louder this time, trying to get Lu Yin’s attention.
Lu Yin signaled for the check, finally looking at Lin Qianqian, who resembled a puffed-up pufferfish.
Lu Yin’s phone rang. She stood up. “I need to take this.”
Lin Qianqian clammed up, gathering her things and heading towards the exit, a dark cloud hanging over her.
Lu Yin followed, gesturing for her to come to the car.
Lin Qianqian stood her ground, refusing to move.
If Lu Yin apologized, even a single word, she would forgive her, forget the entire day’s frustrations.
Lu Yin stared at her for a moment, then got into the car.
The engine started. Lin Qianqian gritted her teeth and ran to the car, sliding into the passenger seat.
As she fastened her seatbelt, she noticed several deer antler hair clips attached to the strap, cute and whimsical.
“You actually buy these things?” she was about to tease Lu Yin for being childish when Lu Yin spoke.
“My students gave them to me.”
“And you actually wear them?” Lin Qianqian asked.
“Why not?”
“Whatever,” Lin Qianqian said, her tone sour, taking a few more clips from the dashboard. “Might as well wear them all.”
They hadn’t been there before. Had Lu Yin put them on while she was waiting outside?
Was this another attempt to annoy her?
As she clipped the hair clips onto the seatbelt, she noticed Lu Yin leaning closer.
She instinctively recoiled, looking up at Lu Yin, inhaling her scent.
“What…what are you doing?” she stammered, nervously fidgeting with her pants.
Lu Yin chuckled, her hand reaching out to touch the antler clips, her gaze fixed on Lin Qianqian’s face. “They’re quite cute.”
Lin Qianqian pushed her hand away. “You’re annoying.”
When they arrived at the parking garage, Lin Qianqian immediately got out of the car and hurried towards the elevator without looking back.
Lu Yin locked the car, watching Lin Qianqian’s retreating figure, her initial brisk pace slowing to a hesitant shuffle.
“Are you coming?” Lin Qianqian called out, turning around.
“Just taking a call,” Lu Yin said, gesturing towards her phone. The elevator area had poor reception.
Lin Qianqian waited, then took a few steps closer.
Lu Yin was still on the phone, leaning against the car, her posture relaxed.
Lin Qianqian took a few more steps.
She hated Lu Yin’s job. Why were there so many calls?
During lunch, before getting in the car, and now, even though she was clearly upset.
Were her students that important?
Lin Qianqian didn’t want to admit that she felt overshadowed by Lu Yin’s work, but she swallowed her pride and continued waiting.
Finally, she marched over, snatched the car keys from Lu Yin’s hand, opened the car door, and ripped the antler clips off the seatbelt.
Lu Yin finally joined her in the elevator.
As Lin Qianqian was about to retreat to her room, Lu Yin stopped her.
“Are you upset?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Lin Qianqian retorted.
“I really don’t have time for your birthday next week. I rescheduled my classes today. I can’t do it again next week,” Lu Yin explained calmly.
Lin Qianqian was speechless.
Fine, she didn’t have time. Did she have to rub it in?
Lu Yin looked at her, her expression serious. “So, what do you want for your birthday? Or do you have any other wishes? I can fulfill them in advance.”
Lin Qianqian looked at her suspiciously. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Anything?” Lin Qianqian’s face lit up, then she quickly suppressed her excitement, her expression a strange mix of suspicion and hope.
“Anything,” Lu Yin drew out the word, as if willing to agree to any request.
Lin Qianqian looked down, thinking.
Instead of questioning Lu Yin about their relationship and making things awkward, she would ask for something practical.
Finally, she spoke, her voice firm. “I want to continue living here.”
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