Chapter 46

Xi Yu was not the least bit surprised by Yu Nianyi’s reaction. She lowered her head and returned the kiss, a little hurried and fierce.

She lifted a hand to take off her glasses and set them casually on the windowsill. Then she brushed her fingers through Yu Nianyi’s slightly tousled hair, smoothed it for her, and lowered her head to kiss her lips again, lightly.

The touch at her neck sent a prickling itch racing through her entire body in an instant; even her fingertips trembled with an inexplicable shiver.

Xi Yu’s kisses were really too proper, just a dry little peck at the lips, exactly like her first impression.

Even so, it still made Yu Nianyi’s heart race. She clung to her and nibbled for a long while before finally pulling back.

The studio was still a little cold. Thinking that, Yu Nianyi led Xi Yu back to the living room and turned on the air conditioner.

Then she went into the kitchen and made Xi Yu a cup of white tea, took grape juice for herself from the fridge, and sat down beside Xi Yu.

Once they were on the sofa, what happened with Yang Shuyu that night suddenly surfaced in Yu Nianyi’s mind again. She took a sip of juice and glanced sideways at Xi Yu.

Xi Yu had put her glasses back on. Her expression was still calm, but the pale pink of her lips had been deepened to a vivid red from before; taken as a whole, there was a brightness to her now that was different from usual.

Xi Yu didn’t ask about Yang Shuyu. After thinking it over, Yu Nianyi decided it would be better to explain things in advance anyway.

“Xi Yu-jie, do you remember that girl who happened to come over when you brought pastries to my place before?”

Xi Yu nodded and looked at Yu Nianyi. “I remember.”

Yu Nianyi smiled, staring at the steam rising continuously from the cup in front of the tea table. “She was my classmate. We got to know each other for a while, then we broke up. We don’t contact each other now, and there won’t be any more interaction.”

Xi Yu nodded. Her black-and-white eyes rested on Yu Nianyi’s somewhat awkward expression for a while before she quietly said, “All right, I understand.”

Yu Nianyi gave a soft mm. She felt that spelling it out didn’t really help much anyway; besides, there was nothing left between her and Yang Shuyu.

The living room fell quiet for a while, and a faint sweet fragrance drifted through the air. Xi Yu reached out and picked up her cup, taking a sip.

Yu Nianyi didn’t say anything else, only changed the subject. “Xi Yu-jie, do you have time tomorrow?”

Xi Yu said, “I’m free during the day. I have to go back to my family’s place at night.”

“Your mother’s side?”

“Mm.”

Yu Nianyi pressed her lips together. She subconsciously thought of Chen Shuo from before and suddenly asked, “Who’s going? Will Xi Yao be there?”

Xi Yu seemed to understand what Yu Nianyi meant. She looked at her quietly. “My parents will be there.”

“As for Xi Yao, I’m not sure. She’s always doing things on a whim.”

Yu Nianyi nodded and didn’t ask anything else.

After sitting a little longer, Xi Yu got up to leave.

Yu Nianyi didn’t try to keep her; she only saw her all the way downstairs.

Watching Xi Yu turn to leave, Yu Nianyi suddenly called out to her. Leaning against the doorway downstairs, she smiled and said, “Xi Yu-jie, from now on, shouldn’t we change our relationship?”

Xi Yu stood in the night and looked at her calmly. “Mm.”

Yu Nianyi laughed. “I’ll miss you, girlfriend.”

Xi Yu looked at her clear, smiling face. “Good night.”

-

After seeing Xi Yu off, Yu Nianyi walked back home with light steps. She moved very slowly, and her gaze occasionally landed on the wall covered with white-and-green advertisements; other times it fell on her own shadow on the stairs. Just now, her shadow and Xi Yu’s had been pressed together so closely. Yu Nianyi’s lips curved unconsciously; she didn’t laugh out loud, but the smile still slipped through her eyes.

Once home, she first took Baby out. Baby was full of energy then, its tiny black eyes fixed tightly on Yu Nianyi. Yu Nianyi lay back on the sofa with Baby in her arms and gently stroked it.

Her phone suddenly rang. Yu Nianyi sat up, took it from beside the dining table, and saw that it was Xi Yao calling.

As soon as she answered, Xi Yao’s voice came through. “I didn’t get a chance to ask just now; how’s the painting going?”

Yu Nianyi turned and sat in the chair. “I just finished it.”

“Did you eat the pastries my sister sent before? They were pretty good, right?”

“I did. Of course anything Xi Yu-jie sends is delicious.”

“And how are you going to thank me? I specially asked someone to go buy them, and I even had my sister deliver them.”

Yu Nianyi gave a soft laugh. “Then I really should thank you.”

“But that day was bad timing. Yang Shuyu came over too.”

“What?! A huge love-triangle scene?!” Xi Yao gasped, instantly getting excited at the thought.

“So how did you talk it out?”

“What else could we do?” Yu Nianyi put Baby back into its cage. “I made things clear with Yang Shuyu once and for all. Xi Yu-jie had already left very early, too.”

Xi Yao hummed on the other end. The sound of chewing still came through the receiver from time to time.

“It’s good to clear things up. As for my sister’s matter, take it slow,” Xi Yao said, clearing her throat before asking, “Do you want to go to the seaside with us during winter break? Luo Luo asked me to ask you.”

“Forget it; I’m in a hurry to go home.” Yu Nianyi returned to the home screen, opened Xi Yu’s profile picture, and glanced at the time. Only twenty minutes had passed; she didn’t know if Xi Yu had made it home yet.

Although she and Xi Yu were basically together now, whether to tell Xi Yao still had to be discussed with Xi Yu first.

“All right, all right.”

Xi Yao hung up quickly after that. Yu Nianyi went into the room to wash up, then soon crawled into bed.

She had been busy painting every day these past few days and hadn’t had much rest in a long time. Whether it was from overwork or something else, the moment she lay down, sleepiness hit her.

She checked the time; an hour had passed since Xi Yu left. Forcing herself to stay awake, she sent a message.

[Yu Nianyi: Sis, did you get home?]

Buzz.

[Xi Yu: I’m home.]

Yu Nianyi smiled and tapped the video button to start a call.

The phone rang for a long time before the other side finally answered.

The screen showed somewhat glaring lights, then a room carrying a hint of warmth, with the sound of running water splashing in the background. Xi Yu’s hand covered half the screen as she adjusted the angle slightly.

Then Xi Yu’s face came into view. Her hair was wet and all swept back behind her. Her features were pale and tranquil, and her shoulders were fully visible.

Yu Nianyi woke up at once, eyes fixed on Xi Yu’s body; unfortunately, the camera only captured down to her collarbones, and nothing below that could be seen.

It was obvious she was in the shower. The water wasn’t very loud, so their voices could be heard clearly.

Yu Nianyi pressed her lips together. “Taking a shower?”

Xi Yu gave a mm and took a step forward; her face came very close to the screen. “Getting ready to sleep?”

Yu Nianyi nodded, then smiled. “Xi Yu-jie is so good to me. You even answer my video while you’re showering.”

Xi Yu didn’t speak. Her finger pressed against the screen; her index finger bent slightly as she gently rubbed it a few times.

Yu Nianyi’s eyes widened a little. Because the phone was so close to her face, Xi Yu’s touch somehow gave her the illusion that she was the one being caressed.

She laughed, and then heard Xi Yu say, “There’s water on the screen; I can’t see your face clearly.”

Yu Nianyi’s heart jumped. Only then did she realize belatedly that her own face was hot too.

Then Xi Yu in the screen turned around, gathering her long hair from behind and bringing it forward with one hand. Yu Nianyi could clearly see her straight, pale back, and that shallow dip that cast such a beautiful shadow.

After that, Xi Yu wiped herself with a bath towel and put on her pajamas.

Yu Nianyi on this end felt as though her whole face had gone red; she was even a little dazed from the heat.

Xi Yu picked up her phone, looked down at her, then carried it into the living room.

“You’re going to bed pretty early today.”

Yu Nianyi let out a small ah and looked at the droplet of water slowly trailing down Xi Yu’s neck, then caught sight of the faint little mole there.

Xi Yu sat on the sofa, the phone facing her face directly, and looked at Yu Nianyi quietly.

Yu Nianyi pressed her lips into a smile and curled up under the blanket. “Yeah. I’ve finished all my schoolwork, and I just happened to be really sleepy today, so I wanted to go to bed early.”

“Did you not sleep well yesterday?”

“I don’t think so; I still went to bed pretty early. My head just feels a little foggy.”

Xi Yu studied her tired eyes, eyes that were clearly struggling to stay open yet still insisted on looking back at her. In a soft voice, she asked, “Is there anything else that feels off?”

Yu Nianyi checked carefully. Other than feeling warm with her body buried under the blanket, there was nothing else.

“No, I’m fine.” Yu Nianyi looked at Xi Yu on the screen; her hair was only half-dry, all of it hanging down her back.

“Why aren’t you blow-drying it? You’ll catch a cold like that.”

Yu Nianyi let out a breath; her eyelids were so heavy she could barely keep them open.

Xi Yu looked at her for a long time. Her voice was very soft, almost like a lullaby. “...In a bit.”

“Okay.” Yu Nianyi lifted her eyelids again to look at Xi Yu and smiled. “I was still hoping to talk a little more with Xi Yu-jie, but I’m just too sleepy..."

“Then go to sleep if you’re sleepy,” Xi Yu said. “We can meet tomorrow too.”

Yu Nianyi’s eyes lit up. “Tomorrow? What time tomorrow? Xi Yu-jie, are you asking me on a date? Then I’ll have to get up early tomorrow to see where would be suitable for us to go. There are also quite a few movies lately..."

“Speaking of which, the movie I recommended before; we can watch that too. I thought it was really good..."

Xi Yu watched her; perhaps afraid of disturbing her, her voice was especially light. “All right. But I remember you’ve already watched it.”

Yu Nianyi pushed all the hair that had been pressed beneath her head back behind her. The movement made her sweat quite a bit. She hummed and settled into a more comfortable position again. “I still want to watch it again with Xi Yu-jie.”

Xi Yu nodded. “All right.”

Xi Yu on the screen became even blurrier. Yu Nianyi squinted at her and said, “Good night, Xi Yu-jie.”

Xi Yu leaned closer to the screen and looked at Yu Nianyi’s instantly sleepy face. After watching her for a while, she finally spoke in a low voice.

“Good night.”

“Nian Nian.”