Chapter 52

A meal dragged on for two or three hours, and for most of that time Yu Min was talking with Xiao Zhou. The two of them got along wonderfully. Whether it was schoolwork or hobbies, they were so in tune that they almost seemed cut from the same mold.

The world really was too small. Xiao Zhou’s maternal grandmother’s hometown was actually in Siping County, and the family home there was very close to Yu Min’s house—on the same street, just two minutes away on foot.

Xiao Zhou kept pets too, though not cats; she had rabbits. Two incredibly cute lop-eared rabbits, one gray and one yellow. Xiao Zhou pulled out her phone, showed Yu Min the photos, and took the opportunity to add her as a contact.

“If you ever get the chance, you can come see my rabbits. They’re pretty affectionate, and they’re very gentle.”

Lin Qi heard that and found the little exchange between the two girls especially amusing. She cut in with a laugh. “What rabbit isn’t gentle? Aren’t rabbits all obedient and mild?”

Xiao Zhou explained that rabbits weren’t gentle at all; in fact, they were quite temperamental. At heart, they were more like the kind of character you saw in cartoons like Bugs Bunny, always sulking in silence—a stubborn hothead who could flare up over the smallest spark.

When she heard Bugs Bunny, Yu Min became interested. She didn’t know much about any of this at all; in truth, she’d never really had much contact with rabbits in any proper sense. Xiao Zhou invited her again and immediately set a time. “Then how about you come over this weekend? Are you free?”

Yu Min answered honestly, “Yes, I’m free this weekend.”

“Then come. I’ll pick you up.” Xiao Zhou made the decision on the spot, then asked for her address. The two of them agreed on the exact time, and just like that, it was settled in a few short words.

Xiao Zhou also didn’t live in the dorms. Like Yu Min, she wasn’t used to communal living, but unlike Yu Min, who was staying with Lin Baixin, Xiao Zhou lived in a place she’d bought near the school. When she heard that Yu Min was living with Lin Baixin, Xiao Zhou was rather surprised. After all, Yu Min and Lin Baixin weren’t blood relatives, and Yu Min wasn’t short on money; she could have rented a place on her own.

Xiao Zhou was a smart person. Some things didn’t need to be asked aloud; one look was enough to tell there must be hidden circumstances. She was also a genuinely kind person—loyal, straightforward, and easy to get close to. To ease the atmosphere, she said cheerfully, “If you ever want to change places, you can come to mine. I’m planning to rent my place out and find a roommate.”

Lin Qi teased her. “What, you’re short on money? That little bit of rent isn’t even enough for you to buy a bag.”

“I am. How could I not be?” Xiao Zhou smiled and winked at Yu Min. “Who ever thinks they have too much money, right?”

A rich young lady trying to act stingy was far too unconvincing. It was pretty funny to watch. Lin Qi laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. Xiao Zhou had a good temper and didn’t mind at all, letting Lin Qi laugh as much as she wanted.

After a while, once they’d laughed enough, Lin Qi stepped in to smooth things over. “Then it’s settled. If our Minmin ever needs to rent a place, she’ll definitely come to you. You’re not allowed to go back on your word.”

Xiao Zhou promised, “I won’t. Absolutely not. How could I go back on it?”

Maybe infected by their mood, Yu Min chuckled along from the side. No one would really take those words seriously; it was all just polite social ritual, but hearing them still felt warm, and it made the distance between them easy to close.

With Lin Qi acting as the buffer, Yu Min and Xiao Zhou quickly became familiar with each other. They even arranged to eat lunch together at the cafeteria on Monday. Xiao Zhou was very down-to-earth; she often ate at the cafeteria, just at a different one from the one Yu Min usually went to.

While they were chatting, Lin Baixin, sitting beside them, had already finished her glass of juice. She didn’t say a word the entire time and couldn’t join their conversation, nor did she have much to say.

By the end, Yu Min still hadn’t noticed the drink had been switched. Her attention had been almost entirely on Xiao Zhou, and she never realized anything was off.

When the meal ended, Xiao Zhou shook her phone at Yu Min and said softly, “Bye, junior. We’ll chat after we get back. If anything comes up, you can look for me anytime; we can keep in touch online.”

Yu Min agreed, then sent Xiao Zhou to the car with Lin Qi. When they came back, Lin Baixin was still waiting in place. The designated driver still hadn’t arrived. Lin Baixin glanced at her phone without lifting her head and said, “Wait a little longer. Just a few minutes; they’re almost here.”

Lin Qi rode back with them. She had just gotten back together with the bar owner and had deliberately not driven today, originally planning to shamelessly stay over at her girlfriend’s place for the night. But her girlfriend refused, so Lin Qi had no choice but to squeeze into the car with them.

On the way, Lin Qi still chatted with Yu Min about Xiao Zhou, tossing out random comments and steering the topic far from its original track.

Xiao Zhou’s family had produced quite a few famous doctors; you could call it a medical family. Lin Qi mentioned it casually, subtly putting Yu Min on guard. Whether Yu Min understood or not, it was at least a roundabout reminder.

Whether Yu Min intended to befriend her or simply treat her as a schoolmate, if she might enter that field in the future, getting along well with Xiao Zhou would definitely be a good thing.

Yu Min understood. She didn’t have any intention of currying favor or clinging to a connection, but since Lin Qi had said it kindly, she didn’t contradict her. She nodded and said, “Got it, thank you, Sister Lin Qi.”

Lin Baixin, sitting off to the side, still didn’t make a sound. She didn’t get involved and offered no opinion on any of this social maneuvering.

Lin Qi, annoying as ever, deliberately jabbed Lin Baixin twice with her elbow. “Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not even breathing. We’re talking about our little sister’s future plans, and you can’t even offer an opinion? What’s the point of being such a quiet little gourd? Honestly, why are you so indifferent?”

Leaning back in her seat, Lin Baixin gave her a sidelong look. “What opinion could I give? You already said everything.”

“That sharp little tone—did you swallow gunpowder?” Lin Qi said bluntly. “What’s with that attitude? Did I offend you?”

“No,” Lin Baixin said.

“Then there you go. Talk properly. Don’t talk like that; I don’t like it.”

“Mm.”

Lin Baixin’s expression hadn’t been great all night. Though she hadn’t shown it at the table, Lin Qi knew her too well and had long since noticed something was off. Yet no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn’t figure out what had happened. Lin Baixin had been perfectly fine before leaving home, then suddenly changed after one meal. Once they got out of the car, while Yu Min went in first, Lin Qi stopped Lin Baixin and planned to have it out with her.

Lin Baixin didn’t want to talk, and there was nothing she could say anyway.

“I’m worried about you. Otherwise I couldn’t be bothered,” Lin Qi said. “I wanted to ask you earlier, but it wasn’t really appropriate to say it out there. What relationship do we have that you still can’t tell me? What are you hiding from me? Don’t tell me something big happened.”

“Can you not let your imagination run that wild?” Lin Baixin replied. “Must I have something wrong with me for it to count?”

“Look, there you go again. Don’t believe me? Look at yourself in the mirror and see what you look like right now.” Lin Qi saw through her immediately and didn’t budge, studying her from head to toe; she was practically one step away from pulling out a magnifying glass. “There’s a problem. A serious problem. You definitely have something going on.”

“You’re very boring.” Lin Baixin wouldn’t let her keep staring. She shifted sideways and went inside. “I’m going back. Stop pestering me.”

With that, she shut the door behind her, locking Lin Qi outside and cutting off her curiosity. She had no intention of wasting words on her.

Lin Qi was caught off guard and nearly bumped into the door. She raised her hand as if to knock, then didn’t dare. It was late; she didn’t want to disturb the neighbors. Standing outside, she opened and closed her mouth several times before finally shouting through the door, “We’ll talk at the shop tomorrow. I’m telling you, don’t think you can keep hiding this from me. No way.”

Unfortunately, the next day brought no answers out of Lin Baixin either. Lin Baixin refused to talk about it. There really wasn’t anything wrong, but Lin Qi made it sound as if there absolutely was.

“You’re too annoying,” Lin Baixin said flatly.

Lin Qi shot back, “You’re guilty.”

“What am I guilty of?”

“How should I know? You know yourself.”

“I don’t know.”

“Then talk to me. I’ll help you figure it out.”

“No need.”

Lin Qi was shameless. “It’s free. I won’t charge you a consultation fee.”

Lin Baixin was merciless. “No.”

No matter what, she couldn’t get an answer. Lin Baixin kept her lips sealed, and Lin Qi couldn’t pry anything out of her. Frustrated enough to scratch her ears and cheeks, Lin Qi got so exasperated she started to wonder if maybe she really had been wrong. Lin Baixin was too calm about it—so calm that even Lin Qi began to suspect she had imagined the whole thing.

On the weekend, Yu Min really did go to Xiao Zhou’s place to see the rabbits, and Lin Qi went with her the whole way, taking the chance to stop by Xiao Zhou’s house and pick up some bags.

The young lady changed bags more often than she changed clothes. She’d just bought a new one a few days ago, and now she didn’t like it anymore. She was planning to sell them all to Lin Qi and let Lin Qi name the price.

Lin Qi loved customers like Xiao Zhou the most. The price she offered was quite fair, and in return, Lin Qi showed good sense and said she’d be throwing a party next week, inviting both Xiao Zhou and Yu Min to come.

Xiao Zhou agreed, and Yu Min did too.

“Good. Then just come when the time comes. Don’t worry about anything else; leave it to me,” Lin Qi promised.

Yu Min didn’t think much of it. She figured it was probably something like the previous meal gathering, so after going home, she mentioned it to Lin Baixin.

But after hearing it, Lin Baixin frowned. Yu Min thought she already knew; clearly, Lin Baixin still hadn’t heard about it, and Lin Qi hadn’t told her.

“Who’s going?” Lin Baixin asked first. “Just the few of you?”

Yu Min couldn’t answer. She hadn’t asked Lin Qi about that. She’d assumed everyone would be going. Her lips moved; seeing that Lin Baixin didn’t seem very willing, she said stiffly, “It still hasn’t been decided. It depends on who Sister Lin Qi plans to invite.”

Lin Baixin wasn’t on the invitation list. Lin Qi had excluded her, knowing Lin Baixin didn’t like this kind of messy, superficial occasion. She assumed Lin Baixin would refuse, so she skipped the step of asking for her opinion and didn’t invite her at all. In any case, every time she was invited, Lin Baixin never went.

Since she’d already agreed to go, even without Lin Baixin, Yu Min still decided she would. A promise was a promise; she couldn’t go back on her word. That wouldn’t be right.

After Yu Min explained it clearly, Lin Baixin fortunately didn’t react much and agreed to let her go.

Suddenly, the phone screen lit up, and a message popped up.

It was from Xiao Zhou, along with a photo of those two chubby rabbits.

Lin Baixin caught sight of it by accident and could tell who had sent the message.

Yu Min had been chatting with Xiao Zhou online a lot these past few days; sometimes they talked about school, and other times it was just trivial things.

People of the same age had common topics. They’d even arranged to go to the library together later to study; of course, it wouldn’t just be the two of them, but some other classmates too.

Xiao Zhou had high emotional intelligence and knew how to handle people. Whatever she did, she was never too deliberate; she would never make it obvious that she was doing something specially for Yu Min, because she knew that would put Yu Min in a difficult position. So every time, she would always somehow “happen to” include Yu Min.

Yu Min didn’t have many friends. The class monitor had recently gone through a breakup and was busy healing her heart, so she had no time to look after Yu Min. As things went on, Yu Min gradually became the companion she spent the most time with. They ate together, studied together; except for classes, when they couldn’t be in the same room, they were almost becoming a pair of shadows, going everywhere together every day.

Yu Min even brought Xiao Zhou to Lin Baixin’s house. Lin Baixin had taught her that she could bring friends home; now she really had, bringing someone back openly, right in front of Lin Baixin.