Chapter 7

When she woke again, it was seven in the morning.

Yu Nianyi turned off her alarm, frowned at her bleary eyes, and got out of bed in a foul mood.

Today was Monday, and she had an early class.

She washed up quickly, then glanced out the window. It hadn’t snowed at all yesterday, and the temperature in Jiayang had risen a little. The sun was already high overhead, and every so often, voices and laughter drifted in from the street below.

She put on light makeup, chose a pair of burgundy cargo pants, and pulled on a black leather jacket lined with cashmere before slinging her bag over her shoulder and heading downstairs.

After leaving the road by Xiangyang Community and turning onto the intersection, she could see a dense crowd to the left. From far off came the smell of steamed buns, porridge, and breakfast dishes.

Yu Nianyi checked the time. Seven forty. She still had nineteen minutes, more than enough time to eat.

She pushed through the noisy crowd and walked up to the stall, scanning the array of food on display before calling to the owner, who was frying youtiao. “Boss, I’ll have a bun and a bowl of porridge.”

“Sure thing! Beauty, there aren’t any seats inside, but there are still some outside. I’ll bring it out to you when it’s ready!”

Yu Nianyi answered and turned back out. The space outside was fairly roomy, with three or five small tables set opposite each other; several students had already taken up two of them.

She walked to the two-seater at the edge and sat down, then took out her phone.

Students occasionally stopped nearby, letting their gaze linger on Yu Nianyi for a moment before moving on into the shop.

“...There’s breakfast here; eat something...”

“I want the plain noodles from the cafeteria. Next time...”

Within just a few minutes, the breakfast shop was packed. Even the tables by the entrance, which were fairly noticeable, were full.

“Your food—careful, it’s hot!” The server set the food down in front of her carefully.

“Thanks.”

Yu Nianyi wiped the wooden spoon on the table, then carefully scooped up a mouthful and blew on it lightly.

The steam rising in the air drifted to the right with her breath. Yu Nianyi felt warmth settle over her hand, and the slight chill from earlier eased a little.

She swallowed the porridge she’d cooled with her blowing, then took a hard bite of the soft bun.

People came and went along the street; more and more students appeared, and their pace was obviously faster.

It was still ten minutes to eight. They were clearly all timing themselves to slip into class at the last minute.

“...Yu Nianyi?” someone called from the crowd, their voice bright.

Yu Nianyi looked up and saw a somewhat familiar face. “Hm? Good morning.”

Song An Ning walked up to the table, glanced at the food on it, and laughed. “Class starts in ten minutes, and you’re this calm?”

Yu Nianyi pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth, then stood up smoothly and moved to Song An Ning’s left. “No, I still have about nine minutes. Just right.”

The two girls beside Song An Ning leaned in to study Yu Nianyi, and after their eyes met hers, they politely greeted her.

“Isn’t Teacher Zhang from the oil painting department pretty strict? And you still dare to come in right at the last minute?” Song An Ning asked as they walked, keeping her eyes on Yu Nianyi.

Yu Nianyi gave an ah and nodded. “I know, but lately we’ve been doing life drawing, and she comes with the model teacher, so she won’t be there early.”

Song An Ning chuckled softly, looking as if she understood. Then she took a beautifully wrapped blue box from her bag. “I saw this on the way here. The pastries from that trendy shop are pretty good; I figured you’d like them, so I bought them for you.”

The friend beside her looked suddenly enlightened and stared at Yu Nianyi even more directly.

Yu Nianyi’s hand, still in her pocket, didn’t move. She just looked at the box held out in front of her.

Yu Nianyi and Song An Ning had met during military training in their freshman year. More often than not, people of the same kind were quicker to recognize each other; though they weren’t in the same major, that hadn’t stopped the two of them from flirting for a while. But when they went out sketching in their first year and spent less time talking, by the time they came back, both of them already had other flirtations.

It was even less likely for anything deeper to happen.

“Thanks. I’ve heard of this one; it’s supposed to be really good.” Yu Nianyi gave her signature smile and took it naturally. “I’ll treat you to a meal next time.”

The smile in Song An Ning’s eyes deepened. After saying goodbye to her two friends, she headed to another building.

Yu Nianyi turned and ran up the stairs two at a time, pushed open the classroom door, and found that all the students had already arrived. Yang Shuyu was sitting in the corner, adjusting her easel.

“What a coincidence. Good morning?” Teacher Zhang’s voice came from behind her.

Yu Nianyi quickly turned to respond to the two people coming in.

The day passed quickly. By the time Teacher Zhang and the model teacher left, Yu Nianyi had just finished putting away her art supplies.

Yang Shuyu noticed the person beside her and slowly moved closer, stopping in front of Yu Nianyi. In a gentle voice, she said, “Nianyi.”

Yu Nianyi rested one hand on the seat and looked at the long-haired girl in front of her, with her gentle features and mild expression.

Yang Shuyu was the quiet type, relatively reserved and not very talkative in class. The first sentence the two of them had ever exchanged was when they were out sketching in their freshman year, and Yu Nianyi had taken the initiative to ask Yang Shuyu to lend her some paint.

Only then had Yu Nianyi learned that there was such a gentle, serious girl in the class; she was just a little slow to warm up and didn’t speak much.

“I recently rented another place through an agency,” Yang Shuyu said, her long hair falling over her shoulders, her hand unconsciously resting on the strap of the bag in front of her chest. “I’m used to living outside now; actually, it doesn’t feel right going back to the school dorms.”

Yu Nianyi answered casually, “It is a bit more comfortable outside than in the dorms. We can visit each other when we have time.”

Yang Shuyu nodded and smiled. “Yes. The place I rented is right across from Xiangyang Community, so we can see each other often when we have time.”

Yu Nianyi raised a brow. That close?

“Oh, right. I still need to buy some daily necessities. Do you have anything to do later? Could you go with me to buy some things and then come back with me?” Yang Shuyu gripped her bag strap tightly and looked at Yu Nianyi softly. “I bought quite a lot; I might not be able to carry it all back by myself...”

Yu Nianyi glanced at her phone. Six thirty. No messages at all.

“Alright, let’s go together.”

The two of them went to the school supermarket and bought some daily necessities. Yang Shuyu even bought a four-piece bedding set. They wandered around for a full forty minutes before they had basically bought everything.

Yu Nianyi followed Yang Shuyu across the street, through the crowded vendors, and into a narrow alley.

Once across the road, they had reached the place Yang Shuyu had rented.

They got into the elevator, and Yang Shuyu pressed ten. The doors closed, cutting off the sounds of the vendors and students outside.

Yu Nianyi and Yang Shuyu stood not too near and not too far apart. She was here in body, but her mind had already drifted away.

Next time she met Xi Yu, she’d have to find a restaurant with light dishes. There should be a pretty good Chinese place on Chunhua Road; if it was Western food, there were plenty on Victory Road, and Japanese food would also suit her fairly well. She just didn’t know what Xi Yu liked to eat.

Ding——

The elevator reached the tenth floor, and the doors slowly opened.

Yu Nianyi pressed the open-door button with her finger and gestured to Yang Shuyu.

Yang Shuyu tightened her grip on the plastic bags and hurried out with quick steps.

Once outside, Yang Shuyu set down the things in her hands, took out her phone, turned on Bluetooth, and unlocked it. With a beep, the anti-theft door slowly opened.

Only after going in did Yu Nianyi realize the entire four-room, two-living-room apartment had been divided into two rooms. Yang Shuyu led her to the right, stood in front of the door, and entered the password lock.

By the time everything had been put away, it was already seven thirty, and the sky outside was completely dark.

Yu Nianyi knew very well that she had just broken up and was still in the awkward stage. Although she claimed it was an amicable breakup and they could still be friends, whether they actually became friends depended on both people’s wishes; if she got too close, that would actually be a little abnormal.

“Since everything’s done, I’ll head off first.”

“Don’t, don’t be in such a hurry,” Yang Shuyu hurried after her and said hesitantly, “You helped me, so I should treat you to a meal.”

Yu Nianyi looked at the faintly anxious expression on Yang Shuyu’s face, saw her cheeks slowly reddening, even her smooth hair loosening from her movements. “It’s fine, thank you.”

“I don’t mean anything else. I just don’t want to owe you a favor.” Yang Shuyu’s eyes flickered as she looked at Yu Nianyi by the doorway. “We should make things clear between us.”

The two of them had broken up through a cold war. Yu Nianyi had thought the silence might warm the relationship back up, but in the end, it had only made them more certain about separating.

Yu Nianyi turned back. “Alright.”

-

Yang Shuyu chose a very famous Chinese restaurant, seven kilometers from Jiangbei Academy.

The restaurant had a lot of style; through the automatic sensor door, they entered a fairly spacious hall. Someone was waiting at the entrance and asked whether they wanted a private room or seating in the main area.

Yu Nianyi glanced around. With its Chinese-style decor and traditional, steady atmosphere, it was suitable for talking about something more formal.

“Are we going into a private room?” Yang Shuyu asked beside her.

“No need. Let’s just sit outside; it won’t take long.”

The waiter led them inside. Yu Nianyi walked at the back and noticed that even though the cold wind was blowing outside, there were still many staff members discussing business, their voices low and firm, kept at a volume that wouldn’t disturb others.

Yu Nianyi’s gaze suddenly fell on a man and woman talking softly ahead. The man was dressed in a sharp suit; the woman was cool and proud.

If they hadn’t happened to pass by, Yu Nianyi really would have thought they were discussing business.

“Uncle Xi and Aunt Zhao told me a lot about you. I heard you’re currently working at the branch company in Jiayang. We can meet often in the future; whether it’s business or personal, I’d be very happy to.” The man’s voice carried a hint of flirtation. The woman didn’t speak, and her expression remained calm and untroubled.

Yu Nianyi deliberately slowed her steps and, as if by accident, glanced at the woman’s face.

Her brows curved slightly, and a trace of a smile rose in her eyes.

There is always some fate between people; a sudden meeting can always make one’s heart lift.

This was their third meeting, Xi Yu.