The weather grew colder by the day. Toward evening, a heavy rain began to fall without warning. It was peak rush hour when Xia Yinuo hurried downstairs, intending to head home for dinner, only to find Liang Jueyun standing at the entrance of the faculty hall.
"Senior!" Xia Yinuo walked over and greeted her.
Liang Jueyun was wearing a grey V-neck sweater with a coat draped over her forearm. Her black leggings and simple black leather shoes accentuated her long, slender legs. Her long, straight coffee-colored hair and light touch of makeup gave her a simple yet fashionable look, radiating an air of intellectual elegance.
"Xiao Xia, what a coincidence!" Liang Jueyun was only carrying a handbag, evidently caught without an umbrella.
Xia Yinuo stood side-by-side with her. As a gust of wind blew past, the shawl-style cardigan Yinuo wore over her blue polka-dot shirt fluttered in the breeze—casual, stylish, and heart-stirring.
"Are you stuck here without an umbrella?" Yinuo asked, though the answer was obvious.
Liang Jueyun frowned slightly and nodded. "Yes, I didn't expect it to rain so suddenly. I’m waiting for it to let up a bit."
"I have an umbrella. Since we’re heading the same way, why don't we go together?" Xia Yinuo gave the umbrella in her hand a little shake.
Liang Jueyun looked up at the heavy downpour, then at Xia Yinuo’s clean, white casual trousers. "The rain is so heavy; with only one umbrella, we’ll both likely get soaked. You go ahead. I’ll wait a little longer for it to stop."
Xia Yinuo blinked, thought for a moment, and said, "Who said there’s only one umbrella? Wait here, I’ll be right back." Before Liang Jueyun could respond, she turned and hurried toward the stairs leading to the underground garage.
In less than ten minutes, a silver-grey Q5 glided to a stop beside Liang Jueyun. Rain pelted the windows, and the darkening sky made it hard to see who was inside. Xia Yinuo leaned over to open the passenger door and called out, "Senior! Get in."
Liang Jueyun was stunned for a few seconds. Only after realizing it was Xia Yinuo did she quickly hop into the car. She buckled her seatbelt, let out a sigh of relief, and turned to Yinuo. "So you went to get your car. I thought you’d run off somewhere. It’s so dark out with the rain, and you put on glasses so suddenly that I didn't recognize you at first."
Xia Yinuo pushed up the black frames of her glasses with a finger. "I have a bit of astigmatism. I don't usually wear them, but I have to be careful when driving. I should have been clearer just now; I’m sorry for making you wait."
"It’s fine, I couldn't have gone anywhere anyway. I didn't know you drove?"
"The lab is very close, so I usually walk or bike. I only drive when I go home on weekends. My apartment is in an old complex without an underground garage, so parking is a hassle. Sometimes I just leave it in the faculty garage."
The car had been a gift from her father, Xia Yan, two years ago. Li Qinglan hadn't said much about it, but as a student, Xia Yinuo rarely had a use for it, so it mostly sat neglected. Today’s rain had finally given it a purpose.
The drive from the medical school to the faculty housing area took only seven or eight minutes. As the wipers swished back and forth, Xia Yinuo drove carefully, secretly wishing the rain would fall harder and the road would stretch longer.
"Have you eaten yet?" Liang Jueyun had already mastered the classic, foolproof Chinese small talk opener and used it quite naturally.
"Not yet. How about you?"
"I was just about to head back for dinner too."
"Then why don't you join us?" Ten small fireworks went off in Xia Yinuo’s heart. "It’s on the way anyway. Two of my friends are coming over for dinner tonight, and I’ve brought my grandmother over as well. Her cooking is delicious."
"But to show up without notice or a gift... it’s a bit impolite..." Showing up uninvited and empty-handed wasn't Liang Jueyun’s style.
"It’s fine! It’s just a home-cooked meal. Besides, my grandmother loves having a full, lively house. It’s settled then." Xia Yinuo turned and grinned. It was then that Liang Jueyun noticed a shallow dimple on Yinuo’s right cheek.
It was hard to refuse such hospitality, and even harder to refuse that smile. Their relationship had seemingly crossed into friendship long ago, and there was nothing wrong with friends sharing a meal. Liang Jueyun readily agreed.
In less than ten minutes, the car rolled into the faculty housing area. After parking, Xia Yinuo took off her glasses, carefully tucked them into their case, and placed the case in the center console. Signaling for Liang Jueyun to wait, she got out first, opened the umbrella, and walked around to the passenger side. She held the umbrella over Liang Jueyun as she stepped out. The rain showed no signs of letting up. Huddled together under the single umbrella, they hurried to the shelter of the building's eaves. Xia Yinuo closed the umbrella, stepped back to shake off the water, and made a "please" gesture toward Liang Jueyun.
They went upstairs together.
Zhang Jikang opened the door. Seeing Liang Jueyun, he greeted her warmly, and she returned the gesture with a smile. Xia Yinuo found a pair of slippers for Liang Jueyun and set them on the floor. As Liang Jueyun leaned down to change her shoes, she looked up to see a girl walking out of the kitchen.
The girl had long, wavy hair and a tall, striking figure that radiated energy. When she saw Liang Jueyun, her eyes widened, and she shot a questioning look at Xia Yinuo.
"Senior, this is my friend Mai Shining, the one I mentioned before. Mai Mai, this is Professor Liang Jueyun. You can just call her Senior." Xia Yinuo gave a brief introduction while changing her shoes, then called out toward the kitchen, "Grandma, I’m back!"
Mai Shining’s eyes darted back and forth before she stepped forward with a bright smile, taking Liang Jueyun’s bag. "Xiaobao’s Senior is my Senior! This is the first time Xiaobao has ever invited someone home for dinner alone!"
Liang Jueyun smiled and thanked her.
Grandmother emerged from the kitchen, and Xia Yinuo immediately introduced her. "Grandma, this is Professor Liang Jueyun. She lives in the next unit. We ran into each other and I invited her for dinner. Senior, this is my grandmother. Mai Mai just got back to the country a few days ago, so we’re having dinner to welcome her home. Please, make yourself at home."
"Oh, how wonderful! Please, Professor Liang, have a seat." Grandmother greeted her warmly. Hearing she was a professor, her tone became quite respectful.
"Grandmother, please don't be so formal. You can just call me by my name."
"Alright, alright! Sit for a moment, dinner will be ready soon."
"I’m sorry for dropping in unannounced without letting you know," Liang Jueyun said.
"Don't say that. That child Xiaobao is really something—if she’d told me sooner, I would have bought more groceries! It’s pouring out there, did you get wet?"
Liang Jueyun shook her head.
Grandmother looked at Xia Yinuo’s outfit and frowned reproachfully. "Why are you wearing so little?"
Xia Yinuo explained, "I had a jacket, but I forgot to grab it in my rush to get back. The lab is climate-controlled and warm, so I won't catch a cold."
"You really are dressed too lightly," Liang Jueyun said, looking at her.
Xia Yinuo nodded obediently. "Yes, I’ll be more careful next time. My pants got a bit dirty, I’m going to my room to change."
Mai Shining and Zhang Jikang brought the dishes out from the kitchen and called everyone to the table. Xia Yinuo emerged from her bedroom wearing loungewear—a solid pink top and grey bottoms. She looked tall, slender, and refreshed.
Looking at the four dishes and one soup on the table, Liang Jueyun felt a sudden wave of warmth. It had been a long time since she’d had a home-cooked meal like this. When she was alone, she mostly ate at the university cafeteria or made something simple. This spread felt like a true luxury.
They washed their hands and sat down. Xia Yinuo introduced each dish to Liang Jueyun in detail, while Mai Shining bragged from the side, "I chopped that one! I made the starch slurry for this one!" Xia Yinuo played along. "Yes, yes, you’re the best, Sis." Zhang Jikang reminded her softly, "Eat slowly, don't just talk. Watch out for fish bones."
Liang Jueyun praised the fish, saying it was delicious. Grandmother happily explained the recipe step-by-step, and Liang Jueyun listened intently, nodding frequently.
Zhang Jikang raised his glass to Liang Jueyun. "I’ve seen Professor Liang a few times but never had a chance to talk properly. I must offer you a toast."
Xia Yinuo quickly intercepted. "Senior can't drink, and aren't you driving later?!"
"I’ll drive," Mai Mai said nonchalantly while busy picking up food.
"Then don't drink, Senior. I’ll finish this one myself." Zhang Jikang drained his glass.
Then Mai Shining politely complimented Liang Jueyun on becoming a professor at such a young age. Liang Jueyun briefly explained that she hadn't been back in the country for long and told them not to worry about the teacher-student gap. Liang Jueyun noticed that Mai Shining was exceptionally clever; as for exactly how clever, she would only truly realize in the days to come.
Grandmother sighed with emotion. "In the blink of an eye, you kids have all grown up."
Mai Shining asked with a grin, "Grandma, I heard this is Xiaobao’s zodiac year. Is she supposed to have good luck in love? Is that right?"
Grandmother said happily, "Yes, that’s what the fortune teller said. Xiaobao was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so it’s best if the other person was born in '84, the Year of the Rat. Once Mai Mai and Jikang get married, it’ll be Xiaobao’s turn!"
"Grandma!" Mai Shining and Xia Yinuo cried out in unison—one out of bashfulness, the other out of helplessness.
Zhang Jikang laughed heartily, and Xia Yinuo gave him a thumbs-up in mock praise.
Mai Shining, turning her embarrassment into feigned indignation, said, "Actually, Xiaobao’s luck with women has always been quite strong, it’s just that they’re all the wrong kind. Hey, Senior Liang, do you know about the weird people who’ve chased after Xiaobao?"
Liang Jueyun said with interest, "I’m all ears."
"Back when we were undergrads, Xiaobao and I were walking on campus when some random guy came up and asked her what department she was in. Xiaobao said Clinical Medicine. Man, you won't believe what he said. He said, 'No wonder, I feel like you’re my healing type!'" Mai Shining described the scene animatedly, then turned to explain to Grandmother, "Grandma, 'healing type' means someone who is very warm and makes people want to be near them."
Everyone laughed.
"Well, I thought he was asking for directions," Xia Yinuo said helplessly.
"Don't you think modern TV dramas are weak compared to that? That guy chased Xiaobao for half a year after that. He was quite the character. Too bad the King of Xiang was smitten, but the Goddess was indifferent; a moth to a flame, a meat bun thrown at a dog."
"Hey, who are you calling a dog?"
"Whoever fits the description!"
The meal was full of laughter for both the young and the old. If the highest honor for a fish is to be steamed, then the highest honor for a table of food is to have every plate licked clean. After dinner, Xia Yinuo started clearing the table. Liang Jueyun tried to help, but Grandmother pulled her back. "It’s fine, let Xiaobao do it." Mai Shining went to cut fruit, and Zhang Jikang slipped into the kitchen to help as well. For a moment, only Grandmother and Liang Jueyun were left in the living room.
The apartment had an old-fashioned three-bedroom layout, though it seemed to have been renovated recently. Liang Jueyun noticed a photo wall in the living room covered in pictures. Speaking of these photos, Grandmother’s eyes filled with a soft light as she touched a frame and began to reminisce. "This was Xiaobao’s fifth birthday. It happened to snow that day, and she insisted on bringing a snowman home. It was both frustrating and hilarious. She’s been a little 'living treasure' since she was small."
Liang Jueyun leaned in for a closer look. In the photo, a little girl stood next to a snowman of roughly the same size. She was bundled in a thick cotton coat, her eyes crinkled into slits as she smiled, revealing a row of neat, cute teeth. Her face was lively and delicate, utterly endearing. The girl’s hat and scarf had been sacrificed to the snowman, and she was holding a plastic basin high above her head.
There were other photos nearby—solo shots and group portraits. Liang Jueyun saw one of Xia Yinuo’s undergraduate graduation ceremony. She was in her cap and gown, posing with Li Qinglan and Xia Yan. It was immediately obvious these were her parents; Xia Yinuo’s refined features were a mirror image of the woman in the photo, while her gentle temperament likely came from her father.
Following Liang Jueyun’s gaze, Grandmother started talking again. "That was when Xiaobao graduated from university. Her father and mother both went to the ceremony. You know, Xiaobao might seem like she doesn't care about anything, always laughing and joking, but she understands things better than anyone. She just keeps it all inside because she doesn't want us elders to worry."
Liang Jueyun nodded slightly. Behind Xia Yinuo’s seemingly cheerful personality was a humble and reserved soul.
"After her parents divorced, she insisted on living with me. Her parents took turns picking her up on weekends. She didn't seem affected, always saying everything was fine, but she was only seven years old then. I saw her staring blankly at photos of her parents several times. She’s always joking around to make me happy, so I can only pretend to believe she has nothing on her mind. Sometimes I really wish she’d tell me even a tiny bit of her troubles, but I’m just an old woman; I don't understand school matters, and I can't help her."
Liang Jueyun placed her hand on the back of Grandmother’s and patted it gently in comfort. "Grandmother, don't worry. Xiao Xia will be fine. I’ll help you look after her at school from now on."
Grandmother took Liang Jueyun’s hand and nodded. "Good! Good! Xiaobao has grown up, and I’m getting old! It’s all thanks to friends like you!"
Just then, Xia Yinuo came out of the kitchen with her sleeves rolled high. Her hands were wet, and as she dried them with a towel, she leaned in and said, "So, Grandma, you aren't saying bad things about me, are you?"
"Yes, I was telling her how naughty you were as a child."
"No way, Grandma, don't do this to me!"
"If you’d just behave, I wouldn't nag you. Your brother even asked this morning when you were going to meet Qi Qian."
Stop, stop. This topic was too dangerous to continue. The best of the thirty-six stratagems was to change the subject. "Uh, Mai Mai is calling for you."
Qi Qian? Who was that?
"I knew it, you’re trying to brush me off again. Qi Qian is your brother’s good friend, a rising star at the hospital..."
Xia Yinuo quickly shot a look at Mai Shining. Mai Mai caught the hint and stepped forward to take Grandmother’s arm. "Grandma, uh, come look at this cantaloupe. Is it spoiled? It smells a bit funny!"
Around nine o'clock, Grandmother said it was late and time to head back. Zhang Jikang was going back to Sanhe Villa with her, and since Mai Shining lived in the Yayuan complex nearby, the three of them were going the same way. Grandmother told Liang Jueyun to stay a while longer and have some more fruit, and Liang Jueyun agreed. Xia Yinuo told Mai Shining to drive carefully, and Mai Shining told her not to worry.
Before leaving, Grandmother didn't forget to remind Xia Yinuo about meeting Qi Qian. Seeing this, Mai Shining quickly ushered Grandmother out the door, shouting that Xiaobao didn't need to see them out, and shut the door herself. The departure was quite chaotic.
Xia Yinuo turned and spread her hands toward Liang Jueyun, looking a bit embarrassed. "I was afraid Grandma would spend two hours lecturing me on why I should go on a blind date with that guy named Qi Qian."
"Oh, I see." Yes, you probably don't know how terrifying Chinese-style matchmaking can be.
Suddenly, the house that had been so lively moments ago was left with only the two of them.
***
