Chapter 87
Jiang Linyue froze in place, her fingertips still resting beside the ankle Song Yao had wrapped in an ice pack. After a long moment, she slowly straightened up.
The surprise in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a gentle but unmistakably serious look.
After only two seconds of silence, she spoke softly. Her voice was steady, without the slightest wavering, without even a hint of perfunctory vagueness. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
Song Yao blinked in surprise; her long lashes fluttered twice, then she curved her eyes and smiled.
The girl’s smile was faint, but there was a brightness in it that was impossible to hide, and even the tips of her ears quietly turned red.
She leaned forward slightly, her voice going softer as she tested the waters. “What a coincidence. Neither do I.”
The air in the emergency room suddenly went still.
The faint smell of disinfectant lingered at the tip of the nose; even the footsteps from the hallway outside seemed far away now, leaving only the two of them and their quiet breathing.
Jiang Linyue opened her mouth, but for once, the calm, unflustered woman who was always composed on the lecture podium and at academic conferences did not know what to say.
Even her usually steady thoughts were thrown off by those two simple lines.
But Song Yao seemed to take her silence as silent encouragement; her courage grew a little more.
She lifted her eyes slightly, the corners of them softly curved like a pool of tender spring water. The probing in her gaze was openly obvious, practically spilling over.
Her fingertips lightly hooked the edge of Jiang Linyue’s coat hanging by her side, carrying a trace of barely perceptible temptation. “Then, sis... do you like someone older, or someone younger?”
Song Yao leaned forward a little in her seat; her long hair fell over her shoulder, making the line of her side profile look soft and clean.
Her thoughts were direct and frank, like a kitten carefully extending its paw to test the other person.
Looking at her, Jiang Linyue’s heart stirred slightly.
She had to admit Song Yao was very pretty, with a soft personality; she was sensible and considerate, the kind of person who would make anyone feel comfortable at first glance and want to take care of her.
And yet, for some reason, facing this girl’s straightforward approach, Jiang Linyue felt no romantic flutter at all. Instead, she was inexplicably filled with a trace of guilt.
In her mind, another figure flashed by before she could stop it.
Wen Yan.
She did not have to do anything; she only had to stand there quietly, her brows and eyes cool and distant, and Jiang Linyue would want to get closer.
She would want to reach out and brush the lashes that had fallen low over her eyes; she would want to lower her head and kiss the corners of her tightly pressed lips.
This uncontrollable, heart-stirring feeling had been hidden for so many years that even she herself could no longer lie to herself.
Had she... still not forgotten, after all this time?
Jiang Linyue was dazed for a moment. When she looked up again, her gaze had already returned to complete clarity, and her resolve was set in that instant.
She looked at Song Yao and spoke gently, each word clear. “I like you very much.”
Song Yao’s eyes lit up for a brief moment.
“Your appearance, your personality; they’re all exactly the type I appreciate, and being with you is also very comfortable.”
Jiang Linyue paused. Her tone softened a little more, but there was no ambiguity left in it, not even the slightest room for misunderstanding. “But after thinking it over seriously... I still feel I think of you more like a younger sister.”
The smile on Song Yao’s face stiffened at once.
She blinked; a layer of mist quickly gathered on her lashes, but she held the tears back and did not let them fall.
After a long while, she forced herself to smile as if nothing were wrong, lifted a hand to rub the bridge of her nose lightly, and spoke in a soft voice laced with deliberate self-mockery. “...I see.”
“So I got the good-person card from sis.”
As she spoke, her fingertips lightly gripped the white bedsheet. She lowered her eyes and did not look at Jiang Linyue again, but the tips of her ears had turned red.
Looking at the way she kept her head down, shoulders slightly tense, Jiang Linyue’s guilt deepened.
She pulled two tissues from beside her and handed them over, still maintaining her composed gentleness. In a low voice, she said, “But during this time we’ve spent together, I’ve really been happy. That’s true.”
“I also hope you can feel happy when you’re with me.”
“However, after thinking about it seriously, until we’ve each settled ourselves, it’s better not to contact each other anymore.”
A decent, gentle refusal; not a single word that would embarrass her.
And yet it was like a thin needle, lightly pricking Song Yao’s heart. Her nose stung, and even her eyes grew hot.
Song Yao took the tissues with her head lowered and said nothing, only the bridge of her nose turning slightly red.
Just then, brisk footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
Zhang Qingchi came running back, clutching the payment slip and the packet of X-rays in her hand. As soon as she entered, she shouted brightly, “Yao Yao, Sister Jiang! I paid the fees! And I got the scans too. The doctor said nothing’s broken; it’s just a soft tissue injury. A few days of rest and she’ll be fine...”
Before she even finished speaking, she sensed that something in the room was off.
Jiang Linyue had already straightened up and was adjusting the cuffs of her coat, her expression free of any extra emotion.
And her Yao Yao was sitting on the hospital bed with her head down, not saying a word, even her shoulders seeming to carry a trace of grievance.
Jiang Linyue took the opportunity to stand, smoothed the hem of her coat, and nodded slightly to Zhang Qingchi. Her tone was natural. “It’s good Qingchi is here. I’m relieved the scans are fine.”
“Then I’ll head back first. If there’s anything you don’t understand later about changing the dressings or rehab, call me anytime.”
Only then did Song Yao lift her head. Her eyes were still red from before, but her voice remained gentle and obedient. “Okay, senior. Take care on your way. Thank you for today.”
Jiang Linyue nodded at the two of them once more, said nothing else, and turned to leave the ward.
The way she closed the door was light and unhurried; her back was neat and decisive, with not the slightest drag.
When the door shut softly, the room fell completely silent.
Song Yao sat on the hospital bed, staring at the closed door. The loneliness in her eyes could no longer be hidden; it surged up like a rising tide, flooding over everything.
That was when Zhang Qingchi panicked and hurried over. She crouched beside the bed, looked up at her, and grabbed her arm, shaking it gently. In a small voice, she asked, “Yao Yao... what exactly did you two talk about just now?”
“Why was the atmosphere so weird? Why did Sister Jiang leave so quickly? Did she say something that made you unhappy?”
Song Yao opened her mouth, trying to act like nothing was wrong, but it felt as if her throat were stuffed with waterlogged cotton; she could not get a complete sound out.
“Nothing...” she managed to force out two words, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s just... just...”
Before she could finish, her nose suddenly burned, and the tears she had been holding back all this time fell without warning.
She looked up at Zhang Qingchi, her voice breaking with sobs, full of hurt and confusion, like a kitten drenched by rain. “Qingchi, am I really... that unlikeable?”
“Why is it that neither Zijing jie nor Sister Jiang would like me...”
“I’ve obviously... worked so hard already. I’ve tried so hard to be sensible, to get close to them, so why...”
She could not finish before the rising sobs choked her off.
Zhang Qingchi panicked immediately and hurriedly climbed onto the bed, reaching out to hold her tightly.
She gently patted her childhood friend on the back, so anxious her own eyes had gone red. “No, no, our Yao Yao is the best. The cutest, the gentlest! It’s them who have no taste! It’s them who don’t know how to treasure you!”
“They’re the ones losing out by not wanting such a wonderful girl like you!”
She held Song Yao and coaxed her for a long time in a soft, soothing voice.
Watching Song Yao cry so hard her shoulders shook, her breathing catching in little sobs, Zhang Qingchi felt both annoyed with herself and guilty. She slapped her own thigh hard. “It’s all my fault! It’s all my stupid idea!”
“It was me who urged you to try moving on; it was me who told you Sister Jiang seemed like a nice, gentle, considerate person. Who knew she’d look so decent but turn out to be impossible to sway!”
“If I’d known, I never would’ve pushed you into it. I made you suffer like this!”
Zhang Qingchi scratched her hair, so anxious she paced in circles twice.
Then her eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had thought of some earth-shattering brilliant solution. She quickly crouched back down in front of Song Yao, her eyes shining. “How about... how about this? Didn’t you say you like gentle, considerate older sisters? I’ll introduce you to Sister Ziyu!”
“Jin Ziyu! You’ve met her!”
“She’s the best; she’s gentle, patient, and her temper is beyond good. She’d definitely be willing to date you! She’s absolutely more reliable than Sister Jiang!”
Song Yao was startled by this sudden idea. Tears were still hanging on her cheeks, but she could not help letting out a tearful laugh.
She reached out and gave Zhang Qingchi a light push, her voice still hoarse with crying. “What kind of terrible idea is that...”
“I know you mean well, but using someone as a substitute to fill the emptiness in your heart... I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“Besides, Sister Ziyu is Sister Zijing’s sister. How could I go trouble her? I don’t want to.”
She sniffled, wiped the tears from her face, and slowly calmed down.
There was a trace of relief in her eyes, along with a little determination. “Actually, I do have a bit of goodwill toward Sister Jiang, but once I really said it out loud, I started to regret it. I was afraid she’d agree.”
“It’s lucky she rejected me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even know whether I could keep dating at all.”
When Zhang Qingchi heard that, she patted her head but did not know what to say.
She wanted to say that most people in this world were like this.
Because they loved and could not have, because there was a hole in their heart, they would grab desperately at anything they could to fill it.
A substitute, a short-term fix; either way.
Human beings were too good at painkillers, just to avoid hurting anymore.
She had never dated anyone, but she would rather her friend be an octopus with eight arms than suffer the pain of love.
What did morality matter, anyway?
Sometimes being a little selfish meant living better.
But unfortunately, her friend was a person with a conscience, and her personality was so soft; the people she ran into all had the same problem...
Sigh...
How long would she have to keep suffering through this romantic misery?
Zhang Qingchi did not know how to put it into words, so she could only pat her on the head.
Song Yao sniffled, and her expression gradually firmed. “I’ve made up my mind... I’m not getting involved in this mess anymore.”
“I’m going to stay single. When I’ve completely let go of my obsession with Sister Zijing, then I’ll honestly and properly date someone else.”
“That’s the right thing to do.”
Seeing her stubborn and pitiful like that, Zhang Qingchi’s heart ached. She pulled her into another tight embrace.
Her head buried in Song Yao’s shoulder, she started fake-crying along with her. “Oh, my poor little cat... you’re too kind-hearted, that’s why you keep getting your heart broken...”
“Wuwuwuwuwu...”
The two girls who had grown up together cried their hearts out, holding each other in the quiet ward.
——————
Meanwhile, after Jiang Linyue left the hospital and got into her car, she did not start the engine right away.
Leaning back in the seat, she tapped the steering wheel absently with her fingertips and stared at the empty late-night street ahead, silent for a long time.
Her mind was a jumble; one moment it was Song Yao’s reddened eyes just now, the next it was Wen Yan’s focused side profile in the lab.
The two feelings intertwined, leaving her unusually restless.
She had to admit that Song Yao was very good.
Soft, sensitive, but with a stubborn resilience buried in her bones.
That part of her really was somewhat similar to Wen Yan.
During this time, she had taken the initiative to approach and look after Song Yao partly because she truly found the girl adorable and sensible, and partly because she wanted to use that care, and this girl who was somewhat similar to Wen Yan, to slowly forget the person she had hidden in her heart for so long.
But could she really do it?
She had given Song Yao vague tenderness; she had given her signals she could hope for, only to refuse her so decisively in the end.
From beginning to end, she had handled this wrongly.
In the future... she should not get too involved with the girl anymore. She should not delay her any further.
Besides, the project was about to move forward in full, and once things got busy she would barely have time to touch the ground. She really did not have the energy to spare for something as intangible as romance.
As she was thinking, the phone on the passenger seat suddenly lit up and buzzed, the sound especially clear in the quiet car.
Jiang Linyue picked it up at random and saw a message from Ye Jianlan; there was only a short line: “You’re not home yet?”
Her brows drew together slightly.
Ye Jianlan had always been talkative, and she liked to press forward step by step. Jiang Linyue had originally not wanted to reply.
But the next second, a photo popped up directly, filling the entire screen.
In the photo, Ye Jianlan was sitting properly on the sofa in her family’s living room, holding a cup of hot tea, smiling with calm propriety.
And her father Jiang Wentao, her mother Jun Zilan, and the pair of twins in the family were all sitting around her, chatting and laughing.
The atmosphere was so harmonious it seemed almost unreal; even the fruit platter on the coffee table was piled high.
Jiang Linyue’s pupils shrank; she stared in shock, nearly dropping her phone.
Wait...
Why was Ye Jianlan at her house? And drinking tea with her parents and sisters?
Before she could recover from the shock, a second message popped up right after.
Ye Jianlan’s tone carried a touch of casual certainty, as if she had already predicted Jiang Linyue’s reaction: “The housekeeper forgot to put the New Year’s gift Grandma prepared for you into the car. Grandma was worried, so she specifically asked me to make the trip and deliver it.”
“I’m having tea and chatting with Uncle and Auntie now. Don’t rush; take your time driving.”
Tea?
What tea?
Jiang Linyue could no longer sit still. She shifted into gear and stomped on the accelerator.
With a hum, the car shot out and sped all the way toward home.
Less than half an hour later, it stopped steadily below the residential building.
Jiang Linyue pushed the door open and stepped inside, and a room full of laughter and chatter rushed toward her at once, instantly dissipating the impatience she had carried all the way home.
Jiang Wentao and her mother Jun Zilan had both come from the compound; their temperaments were calm and gentle, and right now they were chatting enthusiastically with Ye Jianlan.
On the sofa beside them, her twin sisters were smiling with eyes curved.
The older twin, Jiang Lingkong, wore gold-rimmed glasses and had an air of bookish refinement; she was pursuing a medical doctorate and sat quietly listening to the adults talk, nodding along from time to time.
The younger twin, Jiang Linghai, had a bright, striking face and was a theater actress at the Central Academy of Drama. She had the liveliest personality of the three, and she was currently leaning close to Ye Jianlan, chatting animatedly.
“...I worked on a stage play with Song Yao before, and her lines were really amazing; she’s also incredibly gentle!” Jiang Linghai said with sparkling eyes. “Come to think of it, it was because of Yao Yao that I found out my sister knew her!”
It was precisely because Jiang Linghai had had a professional connection with Song Yao that Jiang Linyue had originally spoken with Song Yao a little more and gradually become familiar with her.
When Jiang Linyue entered, everyone’s gaze immediately turned to her.
Her father promptly waved her over, his tone carrying both amusement and mild reproach. “Linyue’s back? Come sit down. Your mother and I were just chatting with Xiaoye.”
“You two have known each other through the project for so long; why have you never mentioned it to the family?”
Jiang Linyue changed her shoes and walked over to sit down.
She glanced casually at Ye Jianlan, who sat beside her as if she were perfectly at home, and said lightly, “It’s just a regular lab collaboration project. We haven’t known each other that long, and there wasn’t anything worth specially mentioning.”
“I see.” Jiang’s mother smiled and nodded, looking at Ye Jianlan with obvious appreciation as she added half a cup of hot tea for her. “This child Xiao Ye is good with words, knows proper manners, and looks proper too. We liked her the moment we met her.”
“Your father just said you lived in the compound when you were little?”
Ye Jianlan smiled with perfect decorum, her tone modest, her sense of measure just right. “Yes, I lived in the compound with my grandmother for a few years when I was young. I vaguely remember seeing Uncle and Auntie a few times back then, though I suppose you don’t remember me.”
Her upbringing was clearly distinguished; her mother was a senior spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and her eldest sister was stationed at the United Nations. There was an easy poise in the way she spoke and carried herself.
When she talked with Jiang’s parents about old compound stories and international affairs, she answered everything fluently.
Even Jiang’s father, who was usually stern, nodded frequently, and the atmosphere remained warm and comfortable throughout.
Jiang Linyue sat to the side, listening quietly, her heart hanging the entire time, afraid Ye Jianlan might say something too far.
But even after the conversation dragged on until twelve-thirty at night, Ye Jianlan remained proper and measured, not crossing any line, not even uttering a single ambiguous word; only then did Jiang Linyue secretly relax.
Just after midnight, Ye Jianlan looked down at her Longines watch and stood up neatly. She bowed slightly to Jiang’s parents, her courtesy complete. “Uncle, Auntie, it’s late, so I won’t disturb your rest any longer. I’ll head back first.”
“Another day I’ll bring the pastries my mother made by hand to visit you.”
Jiang Linyue stood as well and picked up the coat draped over the chair. “I’ll see you downstairs.”
Ye Jianlan smiled and waved a hand. “No need. My driver’s waiting downstairs. It’s only a few steps.”
“I’ll see you downstairs.” Jiang Linyue’s tone was firm, leaving no room for discussion.
The two of them walked into the elevator together; in the narrow metal space, silence fell instantly.
Jiang Linyue stood in the corner, silently watching the numbers light up and change.
The air was filled with the faint cool scent of Ye Jianlan’s body; like freshly split bamboo strips, it was crisp, clean, and not at all sharp, but pleasantly good-smelling instead.
She thought to herself that when Ye Jianlan wasn’t speaking, she was actually fairly comfortable to be around.
But the next second, Ye Jianlan spoke softly.
Her voice was low, with a hint of teasing that sounded especially clear in the quiet elevator. “I’ve noticed that every time you’re with me, Sister Jiang, you’re especially silent. Am I really that unlikeable?”
She paused, then turned to look at her, a little amusement in her eyes, and added, “That’s not right; your father, mother, and your two sisters all really like me.”
Jiang Linyue sighed helplessly and said softly, “That’s not it; don’t overthink it.”
But in her heart she knew it was not dislike. It was that Ye Jianlan’s aggression was too strong.
That kind of aggression was different from Jin Zijing’s.
Jin Zijing was a leopard in the open, bold and blazing, all her sharpness displayed plainly.
But Ye Jianlan was a spider and a scorpion hidden in the dark, moving without a sound, planning step by step, even hiding calculations in her smile; it made people instinctively guarded.
Jiang Linyue had always preferred simple, clean relationships, and toward someone so slick and so difficult to read, her body reacted with a natural aversion.
Ye Jianlan looked at her and did not continue on that topic.
Instead, she changed the subject lightly, her tone flat. “You came back so late from the hospital because you sent Song Yao over to deal with her ankle injury?”
Jiang Linyue looked up sharply, surprise flashing in her eyes. “How do you know?”
“The housekeeper saw you using iced mineral water to apply to her ankle in the courtyard; she told me just now,” Ye Jianlan said evenly, clearly having already guessed the situation.
She looked at Jiang Linyue, a trace of emotion flickering in her eyes. “Thank you for being so considerate to a junior of my friend.”
“I just happened to see it; it was nothing.” Jiang Linyue answered lightly.
The elevator doors opened with a ding, and the two stepped out. The late-night wind carried the chill of early spring, bringing with it the faint fragrance of wintersweet.
The Ye family’s black sedan was parked not far away. The driver stood respectfully by the car; when he saw them come out, he immediately opened the rear door.
Ye Jianlan waved and smiled freely. “I’m off. Sister Jiang, go back inside; no need to see me out.”
Jiang Linyue nodded lightly. “Be careful on the road; drive slowly.”
Ye Jianlan turned and walked a couple of steps, then suddenly stopped.
She looked back at Jiang Linyue, who was standing by the building entrance. The warm light from the streetlamp fell over her, outlining her neat shoulders.
Her tone became a little more serious, and she said each word clearly. “Also, Song Yao isn’t suitable for you.”
Jiang Linyue paused slightly.
“People’s feelings can be deceiving. What you think you like may not be what’s truly suitable for you.” Ye Jianlan paused, a trace of deeper meaning flashing in her eyes. “You might as well... consider someone else.”
Jiang Linyue stood where she was and did not get a chance to answer.
Ye Jianlan had already waved at her, her voice bright. “Bye, Sister Jiang. Happy New Year.”
“Bye.” Jiang Linyue replied reflexively.
She watched as Ye Jianlan bent down to get into the car, and the vehicle slowly pulled away, disappearing into the compound’s night.
The air still held that faint bamboo scent. Jiang Linyue stood there, her brows knitting slightly, her heart inexplicably skipping out of rhythm.
——————
At the same time, in the mahjong room of the Jin family’s old residence, the lights were bright and the atmosphere warm.
The automatic mahjong table buzzed softly as Grandma Jin Shuangye sat at the head of the table in high spirits.
Jin Zijing, Wen Yan, and Chi Chunxin sat around her, the mahjong tiles clacking crisply. The whole room was thick with the warmth of gossip; even the distant noise of the banquet hall’s lively dance party could not drown it out.
Chi Chunxin had just played a two of bamboo when she eagerly leaned forward, lowering her voice and buzzing with excitement. “Did you notice at the court this afternoon? Lao Ye and Sister Jiang were fierce when they played.”
“It was like they were out for blood! The ball almost got slammed into someone’s face!”
“Tell me, do you think those two have a chance? I’ve been worrying myself half to death over them lately; I feel like my hair is turning white!”
Jin Zijing drew a tile, glanced at it, and casually played it out.
Then she raised her brows and smiled at Wen Yan beside her, lightly hooking her fingertip under Wen Yan’s palm beneath the table. “What do you think, Yan Yan? You’re the closest to Sister Jiang, so tell us.”
Wen Yan pinched a mahjong tile in her fingers, thinking it over before speaking. “Very fierce? That’s how Sister Jiang is when she plays with me too. She’s always serious and hates doing things halfheartedly.”
She lifted her eyes and looked at Chi Chunxin and Grandma Jin across from her; her gaze was clear, with no hint of joking. “I think... she really values Jianlan jie.”
“Today, when she played, she wasn’t being perfunctory at all. She was going all out the entire time. She might not be that serious with anyone else.”
Grandma Jin had sharp ears. The moment she heard that, she promptly pushed her tiles forward, laughing as if she understood everything. She said slowly,
“You’re talking about your orthopedic senior, the one with the little girl from the Ye family?”
“Yes, yes, Grandma.” Chi Chunxin immediately scooted her chair closer and looped an arm through hers, shaking it.
She told her everything about how Ye Jianlan secretly liked Jiang Linyue but always seemed to get nowhere, word for word. “Grandma, you’re the best at reading people. Help us analyze it. Do those two really have a chance? I’m practically dying of anxiety!”
Grandma Jin smiled knowingly and patted her hand, her tone certain and every word carrying the clear-eyed wisdom of someone who had lived a long life. “Isn’t that simple? What’s there to analyze?”
“I know that child Linyue. She’s smart, perceptive, and has her own ideas. She knows in her heart better than anyone what should be done and what shouldn’t.”
“That girl Jianlan doesn’t need to deliberately chase, curry favor, or use any tricks; she just has to steadily be herself. If the other person truly likes her, they’ll naturally come closer.”
“All that talk about chasing, coaxing, or clinging desperately—that’s men’s twisted logic, passed around and forced on people.”
“Women don’t buy that.”
“Women are never won by chasing. They’re won by attraction. If you have something she likes, she’ll naturally walk toward you.”
Chi Chunxin’s eyes lit up all at once. She slapped her thigh and nearly jumped out of her chair. “Right! Why didn’t I think of that?”
She pointed at Wen Yan and Jin Zijing, whose fingers were intertwined beneath the table, and got more and more excited. “Look at those two; isn’t it exactly the same?”
“They met through a blind date, after all. They saw each other, liked each other, and naturally ended up together.”
“Why force it? Why waste all that effort on roundabout schemes?”
Once that clicked for her, Chi Chunxin suddenly felt much better.
She leaned back in her chair, waved a hand carelessly, and pushed her tiles forward. “Forget worrying about it. Damn it, I’m done worrying!”
“They can do whatever they want! Let the two of them figure it out themselves!”
The whole room burst into laughter.
Under the table, Jin Zijing hooked Wen Yan’s finger and placed the red dragon tile she had just drawn in front of her, smiling gently. “Here. Hu.”
Chi Chunxin reacted instantly, pointing at them and shouting, “That’s not allowed!”
“That’s cheating!”