Before heading back, Xia Yinuo sent a text to Liang Juejun: "I’ll be back in C City around ten tonight."
Liang Juejun called her back and asked if she needed a pickup from the airport. Xia Yinuo whispered that it wasn't necessary, as she didn't want Liang Juejun to tire herself out with the back-and-forth. She mentioned she would return to the university with her junior and told Liang Juejun, "If you miss me, wait for me at home."
As it turned out, the flight was delayed, and she didn't arrive in C City until eleven. Once back at the university, Xia Yinuo made sure Liu Yan got to her dormitory safely before heading straight for the Liang residence.
It was past midnight when Xia Yinuo stood at Liang Juejun’s door, pulling her suitcase behind her. Liang Juejun, dressed in a bathrobe, opened the door and gave her a long, deep embrace.
They stepped inside and closed the door. Xia Yinuo took Liang Juejun’s hand. "A single day apart feels like three years. Did you miss me?"
The light in the entryway was dim, but Xia Yinuo’s eyes were bright with anticipation.
Liang Juejun countered with a question of her own: "What do you think?"
Xia Yinuo narrowed her eyes, playing the part of a pitiable traveler. "I’ve rushed back all travel-worn and weary; aren't you going to give me a reward?"
Liang Juejun laughed. For some reason, she suddenly thought of Garfield the cat.
"A reward? Let me think." Liang Juejun blinked, then leaned in with swift precision and gave Xia Yinuo a quick kiss.
Xia Yinuo leaned against the door, giggling softly.
Liang Juejun’s eyes were shimmering, and her sharp features seemed incredibly soft in the low light. Her faint smile carried a hint of indulgence, peacefully enveloping Xia Yinuo.
Noticing Liang Juejun’s thin bathrobe, Xia Yinuo said with concern, "It’s so late. If I’d known, I wouldn't have let you wait up for me."
"It’s fine."
"Go back to your room and sleep. I’m going to go wash up too; I’m covered in dust."
"Alright." Professor Liang was being uncharacteristically obedient.
Xia Yinuo left the Liang residence reluctantly. For a fleeting moment, Liang Juejun had wanted to reach out and pull her back, to ask her to stay.
***
The next morning, Li Qinglan called early, telling Xia Yinuo to come home for dinner that evening. Xia Yinuo stuck her tongue out in a silent grimace as her mother mentioned that her grandmother hadn't seen her in weeks. Xia Yinuo called Liang Juejun to report her plans. Liang Juejun asked if she was driving, but Xia Yinuo said the traffic was too heavy, so she’d leave the car.
Earlier that day, Xia Yinuo had met with her mentor. She shook her head, reiterating that she wouldn't consider going abroad—not after her undergraduate degree, and not now.
Tang Shuliang couldn't help but sigh. "Sigh, sometimes I don't know what to say about you. You’re smart and hardworking; any mentor would love a student like you and hope you’d make a name for yourself in this field. You know how many people in this school break their necks competing for government-sponsored study abroad slots or faculty positions after graduation. But you? You don't strive for anything, as if none of it concerns you. Perhaps you think my views are old-fashioned, but I always feel a sense of regret for you. If you intended to dedicate your whole life to research, this indifferent nature of yours would actually be quite suitable."
Xia Yinuo spoke sincerely, "Professor Tang, I know you have my best interests at heart. I understand. I’m not as noble as you think; it’s just that I don't really like being bound by the 'system,' whether it’s a hospital or a university."
"There’s still a year left. You can think it over carefully."
"I will."
"Discuss it with your parents too," Tang Shuliang adjusted his glasses. "I haven't run into your mother in a long time. Give her my regards."
"I will."
***
That evening, the moment Xia Yinuo stepped through her front door, she saw Qi Qian sitting on the sofa, chatting happily with her grandmother.
Li Xiuheng came forward to take the things from Xia Yinuo’s hands. Li Du poked his head out from the kitchen and said cheerfully, "Little Treasure is back! Wash your hands and we can eat. Your mother and I are in the kitchen!" With that, he ducked back inside.
Xia Yinuo shot Li Xiuheng a glare. He just grinned and asked what was wrong. Xia Yinuo remarked that it was rare for both of them to be off duty on the same day. Li Xiuheng explained that Qi Qian had swapped shifts to come over for a casual meal.
During dinner, her grandmother kept praising Qi Qian. The old lady’s joyful demeanor made her intentions obvious to everyone. Li Qinglan, on the other hand, didn't show much; she treated it as if her son’s friend had simply dropped by for dinner. With four doctors at the table, the conversation naturally revolved around hospital matters, while Xia Yinuo kept her head down and focused on eating.
Inevitably, the topic turned to whether Qi Qian had a girlfriend. Qi Qian explained that he had been too busy with his studies in previous years, and since starting work, he hadn't had time to consider it. Li Du nodded. "Xiuheng and Little Treasure are the same. It’s time they started considering it."
Li Xiuheng immediately stated his position: "I’m working on it!"
Xia Yinuo dodged the topic with a playful smile. "Yes, brother first."
After dinner, Xia Yinuo tried to sneak into the kitchen to help with the dishes, but Li Qinglan shooed her out. She ended up sitting on the sofa with her grandmother to watch TV. Li Du, his son, and Qi Qian sat on the other side, discussing "men’s topics." In between, Xia Yinuo played the dutiful daughter, pouring tea and water. Her grandmother held Xia Yinuo’s hand, watching her favorite program through her reading glasses, but Xia Yinuo’s mind was elsewhere.
Is it true that once you reach a certain age, someone will always tell you that you should consider your career, or that you should find someone to date? Perhaps in a few years, they’ll say you should get married and have a child. Maybe many people have no choice but to surrender themselves to the mundane world, using the established rules of others and society to bind themselves or urge themselves forward.
Yet we, the young, write stories of love and waiting, of vows and time, amidst the vastness of the city. No matter how many twists the process takes or what opportunities arise, life will eventually reveal its truth—and how wonderful that is.
Li Qinglan asked Xia Yinuo to stay the night, but Xia Yinuo said she had things to do back at her place, so her mother didn't force her.
At eight o'clock, Qi Qian rose to take his leave. The family members said in unison, as if by unspoken agreement, "Then why don't you drop Little Treasure off on your way?"
Xia Yinuo remained expressionless, while Qi Qian said gently, "Please don't worry, I’ll make sure she gets home safely."
Once in the car, Xia Yinuo claimed she was exhausted and wanted to sleep for a bit, then leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. It began to rain outside. For a while, the cabin was so quiet that the only sounds were the pitter-patter of raindrops hitting the windows and the rhythmic squeak of the windshield wipers.
When they reached the faculty housing area of C University, Xia Yinuo opened her eyes the moment the car stopped.
Qi Qian turned his head and asked with a smile, "Little Treasure, why are you so resistant to me?"
"I’m not," Xia Yinuo shook her head. In truth, Qi Qian lived up to his name—he was gentle and modest; there was really no reason to dislike him.
Qi Qian continued, "You say you aren't, yet you’re so defensive. We haven't had many chances to interact one-on-one. It’s not like I’m going to do anything to you."
"Heh. Thanks for the ride. Goodbye." Xia Yinuo unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.
"Hey, wait, it’s raining!" Qi Qian leaned over to stop her, but he was too late.
Xia Yinuo already had one foot out the door. "It’s fine, just a few steps." She hopped out and ran toward the shelter of the building’s eaves.
Qi Qian shook his head with a helpless smile. Only after he saw Xia Yinuo disappear into the stairwell did he start the car and turn around to leave.
***
Liang Juejun hadn't returned home until after seven due to overtime. After showering, she sat in front of her computer with a cup of coffee, a document open on the screen. Outside, the rain tapped against the glass. The cactus and the "bear’s paw" succulent sat on the windowsill, and Liang Juejun felt a strange, inexplicable restlessness.
The doorbell rang. Liang Juejun got up to answer it.
"Whew, I’m finally back!" Xia Yinuo’s hair was slightly damp, though the rain on her face had clearly been wiped away. Giving Liang Juejun a wide grin, she slipped inside. While changing her shoes, she handed over a plastic bag beaded with water droplets. "I went home for dinner today, but who would have thought it was a blind date in disguise? Luckily, I made a quick getaway."
"How did you get wet? Didn't you bring an umbrella?"
"It wasn't raining when I left, so I forgot. I only got a little wet walking from the car to the building."
After changing her shoes, Xia Yinuo took the bag back from Liang Juejun. "This is braised beef my grandmother made. I wasn't going to take it, but every time I go back, she insists on giving me food for fear I’ll starve. I specifically brought it back for you to try; it should be delicious." Xia Yinuo walked into the kitchen as if she owned the place. Without turning on the light, she navigated the familiar space to the fridge, pulled out two containers from the bag, tucked them inside, and tossed the plastic bag into the trash.
Turning around, she realized Liang Juejun had followed her into the kitchen. Liang Juejun didn't say a word; she simply handed Xia Yinuo a dry towel. Xia Yinuo didn't stop to dry herself, asking instead, "Why aren't you talking? Are you angry? I wanted to come back earlier too. It wasn't really a blind date, it was just that Qi Qian—you know him—he just showed up at the house for dinner out of nowhere..."
Before Xia Yinuo could finish, Liang Juejun grabbed her by the waist, pressed her against the refrigerator, and sealed her words with a kiss.
Xia Yinuo didn't react for a second. Her body was pinned against the fridge, and she didn't dare move, her hands gripping the appliance behind her as her eyes widened at Liang Juejun. When Liang Juejun pulled away from her lips, her hands remained firmly on Xia Yinuo’s waist. "What kind of reaction is that?" she asked, dissatisfied.
Xia Yinuo raised her hands in surrender. "I just got in from outside and my clothes are damp. I was afraid of getting you messy."
"Oh," Liang Juejun blinked. "Then never mind." She made a move to let go and leave.
"Wait!" Xia Yinuo grabbed her, a mischievous glint in her eyes and a sly dimple appearing. "I’m not *that* oblivious to the mood..." She pulled Liang Juejun into her arms, and Liang Juejun tumbled into her embrace.
"I missed you so much. Did you miss me?" Xia Yinuo murmured into Liang Juejun’s ear.
That single sentence made the tips of Liang Juejun’s ears flush hot, and the irritable mood that had plagued her all evening vanished instantly.
The kitchen light remained off. At this moment, the light spilling in from the living room was fractured by the darkness, painting the scene with an air of intimacy. Liang Juejun pulled back slightly from the embrace, and as their eyes met, sparks flew. Xia Yinuo saw her own reflection in Liang Juejun’s eyes, and her heart gave a violent thud.
With their foreheads pressed together, Xia Yinuo saw the corners of Liang Juejun’s mouth curve into a beautiful arc. She leaned in and captured Liang Juejun’s lips. Liang Juejun cupped Xia Yinuo’s face with both hands, responding with tenderness.
Xia Yinuo closed her eyes, and the words Mai Shining had once said flashed through her mind—*the Eiffel Tower flip!*
Xia Yinuo let out a soft gasp of surprise, and Liang Juejun’s smooth tongue slipped into her mouth, sending a jolt through the sensitive nerve endings of her own. *Mm, she tastes like coffee.* The kiss was tender and lingering, a slow friction of lips and a deep intertwining of breath that flooded her senses.
The temperature in the kitchen rose sharply. Xia Yinuo could even hear the thumping of her own heart as she held the woman in her arms tightly.
What should she do next?
Before Xia Yinuo’s clouded mind could clear, the phone in her pocket rang at the most inopportune moment. Neither of them paid it any mind at first, continuing the kiss, but the caller was persistent, ringing for a long time without any sign of stopping. Liang Juejun called a halt, gesturing with her eyes for Xia Yinuo to answer it, before stepping out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Leaning against the fridge, Xia Yinuo watched Liang Juejun’s retreating figure, unable to stop herself from grinning ear to ear. She took a deep breath and answered the phone as she walked toward the living room. "Mom? Yeah, I’m home. Yes, he’s already left. Okay, I got it. Mm, okay, you should get to sleep early too. Bye-bye."
Liang Juejun was sitting on the sofa, idly turning on the television.
Xia Yinuo sidled up to her. "Senior, you haven't answered my question yet!"
Liang Juejun used the remote to flip through channels aimlessly. "What question?"
Xia Yinuo licked her lips, savoring the lingering taste. "Actually, I think you already answered it."
The channels kept changing rapidly, with no sign of stopping. Xia Yinuo couldn't help but worry for the remote control’s longevity.
Liang Juejun asked nonchalantly, "Qi Qian drove you back tonight?"
Xia Yinuo leaned her head on Liang Juejun’s shoulder and nuzzled her. "Yeah, so I pretended to be asleep the whole way."
"You..." Liang Juejun couldn't help but poke Xia Yinuo’s forehead with her finger.
Xia Yinuo sat up straight, looking righteous. "It’s all my fault. Blame me for being too clever. Sigh, there’s just no helping it. Why am I so brilliant?"
"You can dodge it today, but there will be a next time. It’s better to be clear with him sooner rather than later."
"I want to, but he hasn't actually said anything yet. When it comes to these things, I’ve always preferred to cut the Gordian knot."
"Mm."
"What do you mean, 'mm'?"
"I just thought of something. A colleague in our lab, Professor Qi Milan, told me a few days ago that she wanted to introduce her cousin to me. she said her cousin works at the Affiliated Hospital, is twenty-eight, graduated from UCLA, and his name is Qi Qian."
Xia Yinuo: "What?!"
Liang Juejun shrugged helplessly.
Xia Yinuo bolted upright. "That’s abominable!"
***
