Chapter 37

Xi Yu said, “I know you’re busy.”

Sun Mengyao wore a bright smile. She turned slightly and gestured to the woman beside her. “This is the artist whose work is on display in this exhibition, Teacher An Ning. She’s an exceptionally talented creator.”

An Ning smiled politely and nodded to each of them in turn.

Xi Yu nodded back. “Teacher An, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Chen Shuo also made polite conversation, bringing up the landscape painting at a friend’s house and praising it at length.

An Ning only thought for a few seconds before smiling and naming the piece; she frankly admitted that it was one of her favorite works.

Yu Nianyi looked at An Ning’s calm, mature bearing. Perhaps because she had spent years immersed in traditional Chinese painting, she gave off a tranquil, easygoing air; she had a temperament similar to Xi Yu’s, yet not quite the same.

An Ning’s demeanor was gentle and serene, like a snowy mountain in winter, carrying both purity and weight.

Xi Yu was calm, but edged with sharpness, like a pitch-black deep sea hiding hidden depths and surging currents.

“...Teacher An, someone needs you over there.” While the few of them were talking, a young woman in glasses hurried over and said softly to An Ning.

An Ning nodded, swept a glance over the three people in front of her, then looked at Sun Mengyao beside her. Sun Mengyao brushed her wrist rather familiarly as she smiled and told her to go ahead first.

After the woman left, an unreadable smile appeared in her eyes. She glanced at Chen Shuo beside Xi Yu, then looked back at Xi Yu. “Xi Yu, why didn’t you introduce them to me?”

“I remember you’ve never brought anyone here before.”

Xi Yu pressed her lips together, her expression still flat. “Chen Shuo. Aunt Kang’s son.”

Sun Mengyao gave an “oh” and thought it over. “I remember now, Aunt Kang. So we must have met before.”

Chen Shuo also smiled politely. “Yes, you do look a little familiar to me too.”

Sun Mengyao said, “I’m especially fond of Aunt Kang. I’ll definitely drop by when I have time.”

Chen Shuo said, “You’re welcome anytime.”

Xi Yu seemed uninterested in their conversation. She lowered her eyes to check the time, then looked around. After Sun Mengyao exchanged a few more pleasantries with Chen Shuo, her gaze finally landed on Yu Nianyi.

“And this one is?”

Yu Nianyi met Sun Mengyao’s eyes and subconsciously started to speak, but Xi Yu’s voice followed at once: “Yu Nianyi, a student at Jiangbei Academy.”

Yu Nianyi cooperatively smiled and said hello.

Xi Yu turned to look at Yu Nianyi’s somewhat blank expression. In a soft voice, she said, “This is Sun Mengyao. She’s the owner of this gallery.”

Yu Nianyi blinked. Knowing Xi Yu was introducing her on purpose, her smile deepened. She obediently called out, “Sister Mengyao.”

Sun Mengyao curved her lips, her gaze lingering on Yu Nianyi’s face with obvious appraisal as she kept smiling. “So well-behaved. Then you’re also schoolmates with Teacher An; a senior and junior relationship.”

“Are you in the traditional Chinese painting department too?”

Yu Nianyi said, “No, oil painting.”

Sun Mengyao withdrew her gaze. “Not bad.” Then she looked back at Xi Yu. “We’re having lunch with Teacher An at noon. Are you coming too?”

Xi Yu said, “I have something to do at noon.”

Sun Mengyao pursed her lips, her gaze shifting between Xi Yu and Chen Shuo. She laughed. “I see. All right, then I won’t keep you. We’ll catch up later.”

With that, she turned and headed straight back toward An Ning.

Yu Nianyi was bothered by Xi Yu’s “I have something to do at noon” just now, and after thinking it over, she still couldn’t help asking, “Sister Xi Yu, what do you have planned at noon?”

Xi Yu’s eyes were calm as they swept over Yu Nianyi’s curious face. Then she said, “A family gathering.”

Yu Nianyi immediately drooped, looking deflated. She couldn’t help muttering, “Do you have to get together every week...?”

Chen Shuo beside her gave a hearty laugh, looking at Yu Nianyi as if she were a child. “If you have something to talk to Xi Yu about, go ahead and take care of it first. The family meal isn’t urgent; I can wait.”

His tone was quite confident, as if he and Xi Yu really shared some special connection; he sounded downright intimate.

Yu Nianyi’s face darkened further. She hid behind Xi Yu and didn’t want to look at Chen Shuo at all.

Xi Yu turned slightly and lowered her eyes, meeting Yu Nianyi’s. “What is it? What do you need?”

Yu Nianyi fiddled with her fingers, awkward and reluctant. She stared at Xi Yu for a long time with wide eyes before slowly taking Xi Yu’s arm and lifting her chin a little, as if she were about to whisper a secret.

Xi Yu’s dark eyes blinked once; a faint glimmer surfaced in them.

Her thick black hair slipped over the back of Yu Nianyi’s hand with the movement, brushing against her skin again and again in a faint, ticklish graze, carrying Xi Yu’s unique clean scent.

The closer Yu Nianyi leaned, the stronger the fragrance became.

She endured the faint prickling on her hand, eyes bright as she brought her lips close to Xi Yu’s earlobe, just like last Saturday, in a space where only the two of them existed.

Xi Yu’s thick black hair was like a curtain of ink. Yu Nianyi hid within it, deliberately lowering her voice until only Xi Yu could hear.

“You said before that you’d be my model. Do you have time tomorrow? I want to see you, Sister Xi Yu.”

Whether Xi Yu had heard clearly or not, she stood motionless for a few seconds before making a sound. “Mm.”

“I have time.”

Yu Nianyi’s eyes and brows curved completely. Smiling brightly, she said, “Then let’s go to that popular restaurant on Heping Road for lunch tomorrow. I’ll make the reservation.”

Xi Yu responded with a quiet, “Let me know then.”

This time Yu Nianyi was truly delighted. Even Chen Shuo, who had just been impossible to look at, suddenly didn’t seem quite so objectionable anymore; the somewhat noisy exhibition hall became pleasing to the eye, and even the air seemed to carry the scent of Xi Yu’s hair, especially pleasant.

Although Chen Shuo was a little suspicious, he didn’t care much about what the two of them had specifically talked about. He only waited until Yu Nianyi said goodbye to Xi Yu, then put all his attention into the arrangements afterward.

From quite a distance away, Yu Nianyi could hear Chen Shuo telling Xi Yu that their parents were already waiting at the restaurant, waiting only for them to arrive.

On Xi Yao’s side, she chatted with An Ning for quite a while. Yu Nianyi waited more than ten minutes before the two of them came over.

“Teacher An is amazing. Talking to her cleared up so many of my questions; so that’s how those visual effects were made. It’s really too interesting.” As she walked, Xi Yao chattered nonstop, looking as though she still wanted more.

Luo Yiran nodded along as well, then asked Yu Nianyi, “They left first?”

Yu Nianyi’s lips curved again. “Yeah, they did.”

Xi Yao let out an “oh,” laughing. “Looks like this trip wasn’t a waste after all. My sister really cheered you up, huh?”

Yu Nianyi raised an eyebrow, looking rather smug. “You saw that?”

Xi Yao said, “You were leaning in so close just now; you were practically about to kiss. How could I not see?”

Luo Yiran asked, “Why didn’t you make plans to eat together?”

Yu Nianyi waved a hand and sighed. “Sister Xi Yu said she had a family gathering, and it sounded like there were elders too.”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on Xi Yao. Xi Yao looked baffled and shrugged. “I really don’t know. Nobody told me about this; maybe it was arranged specifically for my sister and Chen Shuo.”

“Aunt Kang is very clever. Since Chen Shuo likes my sister, she’d definitely create opportunities for the two of them. Today’s whole thing was probably her idea.”

Yu Nianyi didn’t say anything else. After leaving the exhibition hall, she went straight to eat, and in the afternoon she stayed at Xu Ruoyan’s shop until evening.

-

She woke early on Sunday. Yu Nianyi rolled over and tapped open her phone; it was 7:30 in the morning.

There was a new message in the class group chat. Zhang Min had asked all the students to confirm their models by the end of the day, and once the class monitor had compiled the list and finalized it, they could start creating.

Over the next few weeks, the schedule would be relatively flexible; as long as they turned in their work by the end of the term, that would be enough.

There were also a few photos from Yang Shuyu. The subject in every picture was Yu Nianyi; in some, Yu Nianyi had known about them, while in others she hadn’t. They were probably candid shots of her profile or back, taken when she wasn’t paying attention.

[Yang Shuyu: These angles all look pretty good. What do you think? Which one do you like?]

Yu Nianyi opened them and looked through them, then chose a fairly standard angle and sent it back.

[Yu Nianyi: This one is fine.]

The other side replied quickly.

[Yang Shuyu: Okay, this one then.]

Yu Nianyi set her phone down and got up. After a quick wash-up and a hurried breakfast, she started looking for what she should wear today.

Jiayang’s temperature had risen today; the sun was bright overhead, bringing a long-lost warmth.

Yu Nianyi picked a more mature black tie-waist dress. The fabric was excellent, and once she put it on, it showed off her curves and accentuated her figure.

She stood in front of the mirror and looked herself over, her gaze falling on the slightly open line of her collarbone. Then she let down her tied-up hair and arranged it so it fell over her shoulders and neck.

Her phone chimed again; it was a message from Yang Shuyu.

[Yang Shuyu: How’s the baby lately? I haven’t seen it in ages.]

[Yu Nianyi: It’s been good. Sleeps during the day and runs on the wheel at night; it’s still in pretty good shape.]

[Yang Shuyu: Good. [happy]]

Yu Nianyi didn’t reply further. Instead, she opened Xi Yu’s profile and sent over the restaurant location, along with a sticker saying she was all ready.

The chat interface went quiet again. Yu Nianyi waited for a while but didn’t see a message from Xi Yu, so she had no choice but to put down her phone, walk into the living room, and look down at the baby in its cage.

It was sleeping soundly at the moment, its head buried underneath itself, curled up into a little ball. Its two gray ears were visible outside, motionless and very cute.

Yu Nianyi’s eyes curved. She stared at it for a while; not long after, her phone finally rang.

Yu Nianyi sprang to her feet, eyes shining as she unlocked the screen. Xi Yu’s message popped up.

[Xi Yu: Ready?]

Yu Nianyi’s smile was impossible to suppress, and her eyes were full of amusement. She glanced at the time; it was 10:50, so she replied.

[Yu Nianyi: Mm-hmm.]

[Yu Nianyi: When will Sister Xi Yu come over~]

Buzz.

[Xi Yu: Come downstairs.]

Yu Nianyi’s heart skipped. After staring at it for a second, she hurried to the window and looked down. At a glance, she spotted the very familiar black car parked by the roadside in a parking space.

She quickly went back, put on her black leather boots, slipped into a coat, then saw the black-and-white checkered scarf by the door. She picked it up, wrapped it around her neck, and hurried downstairs.

The old residential building didn’t have an elevator; those few flights of stairs left Yu Nianyi slightly out of breath. She quickly reached the first floor. Seeing the familiar vehicle outside, she slowed down, adjusted her hair, took a deep breath, and only then walked out slowly.

“Good morning, Sister Xi Yu.” Yu Nianyi’s eyes curved completely as she opened the front passenger door and got in.

Xi Yu gave a quiet “Mm” and returned the greeting. After exchanging a look with Yu Nianyi, who had just gotten in, she withdrew her gaze, started the car, and pulled away.

The heater in the car was strong. Xi Yu was dressed lightly; she wore a fitted black shirt and dark gray wide-leg suit pants, styled casually yet sharply.

Her usually immaculate tied-up hair had been let down. The straight hair from yesterday now formed a beautiful curve, its color deep and rich, like waves endlessly churning in a dark sea, layer upon layer, carrying breathtaking beauty.

Her hand rested on the steering wheel; the cuffs of her shirt were folded up twice, revealing a black watch. Her thick hair fluttered now and then from an unknown breeze, as if getting in the way of her vision. Her right hand lifted casually and tucked it behind her ear, revealing a bright, clear profile.

Yu Nianyi’s pupils widened slightly, and she stared without blinking for a long time. Xi Yu turned her head and swept a seemingly casual glance at her, then asked offhandedly, “What is it?”

Yu Nianyi looked away and at the road ahead. Cars were already lined up, and the light up front was red.

“Did Sister Xi Yu change her hairstyle? Was it specially done for seeing me?” Yu Nianyi said with a curved smile, her voice sweet and soft, her face wearing that familiar expression.

Xi Yu stepped on the brake; her fingers rested on the steering wheel, drumming lightly.

Then she turned her head, her gaze falling on Yu Nianyi’s exquisitely made-up face. Her red lips were bright and vivid, her eyes shining with a captivating light. Beneath her smooth golden hair, the black dress was elegant and graceful, outlining her slender figure.

She looked away carelessly. The light ahead turned green, and the car moved forward again.

“It’s manners.”

Yu Nianyi froze, looking at Xi Yu’s calm, composed profile.

She leaned a little closer to Xi Yu. Her lips were pressed together, but the smile spread from the corners of her mouth all the way into her eyes, growing stronger and stronger.

“Oh... so it’s manners.” After a long while, Yu Nianyi repeated it again without thinking, her tone like sugar slowly melting in the warm air inside the car, sweet to the point of softness.

Xi Yu’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, then loosened again. Her eyes paused as her gaze drifted, almost imperceptibly, over the smiling woman in the passenger seat.

The woman leaned back in her seat, one hand covering her mouth, her eyes curved with laughter, yet the smile at the corner of her lips still couldn’t be hidden. She looked out the window, then smoothed the hem of her black dress, and even touched her champagne-gold hair.

As if thinking of something, she twirled a lock of hair around her finger, playing with it before letting it fall loose again.

The ends of her hair formed a pretty curve, draping softly over her collarbone and shining gold under the noon sun.

“...Mm.”

After a while, she looked back over, her eyes bright, and said with a smile, “I’ve received Sister Xi Yu’s manners.”

Xi Yu quickly looked away and lowered her eyes to check the route on the control panel.

Beside her, a sweet voice full of laughter sounded. “I really like it.”