Xia Yinuo, realizing she had been impolite, offered a pure and innocent smile. "I'm sorry," she said apologetically. "I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation."
Lin Zhengyang stepped down from the wooden steps with an air of nonchalance, her bright, shrewd eyes scanning Xia Yinuo from head to toe. The girl in the floral skirt stood to the side, also staring intently at her. Being the subject of such blatant scrutiny made Xia Yinuo feel a bit uneasy; unable to guess what they were thinking, she simply stood her ground without moving. For a long moment, none of the three spoke.
The wall fan continued its creaky rotation. Time here seemed to possess the illusion of standing still.
The person before her was not tall and looked to be a few years younger than Xia Yinuo herself. Judging by her cool tone from earlier and her current, slightly guarded gaze, Xia Yinuo was certain that this was the owner she had heard so much about but never met: Lin Zhengyang.
Just as Xia Yinuo was lost in her internal monologue, Lin Zhengyang suddenly broke into a relaxed smile. "The title page of *Legends* has two lines," she said. "'The book is titled *Legends*; its purpose is to seek the ordinary within the legendary, and the legendary within the ordinary.'"
"Oh, so that's it!" the girl in the floral skirt replied. Noticing the tray in Xia Yinuo’s hands filled with coffee and desserts, she turned and asked nonsensically, "Senior Lin, we didn't order delivery, did we?"
Xia Yinuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She lifted the tray slightly and explained, "I'm from 'A Slice of Coffee' across the street. I scratched Boss Lin's car a while back, and since I had some free time today, I came over to say I'm sorry."
Lin Zhengyang kept her hands at her sides, making no move to take the items, but her eyes lit up. "Oh, it's you?"
Xia Yinuo smiled. "It's me. You're Boss Lin, right?"
"I'll take it, I'll take it! I'll put these on the table over there!" Seeing the situation, the girl in the floral skirt hurried forward to take the tray from Xia Yinuo. "Sorry about that! I thought you were a delivery girl just now. I was thinking, since when did delivery girls become so young and pretty?"
Xia Yinuo shook her head to show she didn't mind and handed the items over with a smile. "Thank you."
Lin Zhengyang, however, curled her lips into an ambiguous smile. "I heard Shaofan mention you. Miss Xia?"
"Yes, I'm Xia Yinuo."
Lin Zhengyang extended her hand with a radiant smile. "Lin Zhengyang."
Xia Yinuo instinctively reached out with her right hand, but realizing the other woman had offered her left, she quickly switched. She leaned in slightly, shaking the hand with polite brevity. "Well, thank you for your understanding, Boss Lin."
Lin Zhengyang’s tone was light. "You can just call me by my name."
"Oh, alright."
"Don't worry about the car. It's nothing."
"Okay."
Lin Zhengyang had a peculiar aura that made Xia Yinuo—who had originally only intended to drop off a thank-you gift—feel an urgent need to finish her task and leave. Unexpectedly, the other woman took the initiative to ask, "So, you are Editor Li Qingfeng's... niece?"
"Oh!" Xia Yinuo was startled. "Yes, he's my uncle."
"I see." Lin Zhengyang’s lips curved upward.
"My uncle, he..."
"I ran into Editor Li a few days ago, and he mentioned 'A Slice of Coffee' to me."
Since Lin Zhengyang didn't elaborate, Xia Yinuo didn't press further. Instead, she said, "I heard my uncle mention the owner of North Street Bookstore before. A friend of mine even called you to ask about a dispute with the landlord; it was quite presumptuous of us. Later, I learned from Mr. Yu that this bookstore was also yours. I really didn't expect it."
Lin Zhengyang smiled. "I didn't expect it either—that Editor Li's niece, the owner of 'A Slice of Coffee,' the Miss Xia who scratched my car, and you... were all the same person."
The cryptic remark left Xia Yinuo somewhat puzzled.
At that moment, the girl in the floral skirt returned and said to Lin Zhengyang, "Senior, why don't you come eat something first? We can look for the reading notes later."
Only then did Xia Yinuo notice that the bookshelf they had been searching earlier was clearly marked: *Private Collection, Not Open to the Public.* Sensing it was time to leave, Xia Yinuo took the opportunity to say, "It's getting late. I'll leave you two to your work. I'm heading back."
Lin Zhengyang didn't try to keep her, offering a simple, "Alright."
"Goodbye," Xia Yinuo said.
"Goodbye," Lin Zhengyang replied.
***
The summer break ended, and the campus was bustling once again. Following freshman registration came the intense heat of military training. Walking through the campus and seeing the faces of the freshmen—each one brimming with anticipation and eagerness for the future—one couldn't help but feel that time was a cunning thief.
On Saturday at 3:30 PM, Xia Xiaobao carried some coffee and made her way to the Medical School, a route she knew by heart. The door to Liang Juejun's office was slightly ajar. Xia Yinuo knocked three times, and a familiar voice came from within: "Come in."
Xia Yinuo entered and closed the door behind her. She saw Liang Juejun resting her chin on her left hand while her right hand held the mouse. Her expression was serene as she focused on the computer screen. She looked like a delicate ink wash painting rendered with graceful brushstrokes, or perhaps a gentle breeze that could blow away the irritability and haste of a scorching summer.
Liang Juejun didn't look up, so Xia Yinuo quietly walked to the desk, set down the coffee, and leaned her hands on the table. She called out softly, "Professor Liang, your coffee."
Liang Juejun gave an instinctive "Mm," before snapping back to reality. She looked up to see a smiling face and the coffee on her desk, breaking into a knowing smile. "Boss Xia is in such high spirits, personally delivering orders now?"
"Indeed!" Xia Yinuo fanned herself with her hand, her fair face flushed pink from the sun. "Whew, it's so hot outside. The air conditioning feels wonderful."
Liang Juejun’s gaze swept over the collar of Xia Yinuo’s T-shirt, where a pair of sunglasses was casually hooked. The fabric of the T-shirt was soft, and it had dipped dangerously low. She stood up, took her cup to the water dispenser, and reminded her, "Your sunglasses."
Xia Yinuo was completely oblivious. "Sunglasses? Oh, I took them off. Do I need to wear them indoors to look cool?"
Liang Juejun felt a touch of exasperation. She turned around, pressed the filled cup into Xia Yinuo’s hands, and said with a hint of a scold, "Don't you think the neckline of your shirt is a bit low today?"
Xia Yinuo glanced down and burst into laughter. She leaned in and hooked her arm around Liang Juejun’s. "Aha! Someone's jealous!"
"I am not!"
"Still saying you're not? Hmm?" Xia Yinuo pressed her advantage, wrapping her arms around Liang Juejun’s waist and acting spoiled with a guileless expression.
Liang Juejun’s stern facade finally crumbled. She cleared her throat. "This is an office."
"Hahaha!" Xia Xiaobao gloated. "Alright, if you say you aren't, then you aren't. You get back to work; I won't disturb you. Are you meeting May tonight?"
"Yes. You go home safely."
"Okay."
"And also, don't just hang your sunglasses on your collar like that."
"Hahaha!"
***
That day happened to be her grandmother's scheduled physical exam, so Xia Yinuo went to the affiliated hospital to pick her up. That evening, the whole family had dinner at Sanhe Manor. After dinner, the siblings headed out together; Li Xiuheng went to drop off his girlfriend at the hospital for her night shift, while Xia Yinuo returned to "A Slice of Coffee." She sat on the sofa by the window, helping Fan Mi confirm the seasonal procurement list. Ke Dinghao sat nearby, chatting idly about interesting happenings at the company.
She hadn't expected an uninvited guest tonight—Jiang Yang.
The moment Jiang Yang entered, his eyes locked onto Xia Yinuo. She was surprised, but then she realized that many of her former classmates knew she had opened a coffee shop on North Street, so it was normal for him to show up.
Jiang Yang walked straight to the table where Xia Yinuo and Ke Dinghao were sitting. Without a word, he sat down opposite her, surveyed the surroundings, and turned his gaze back to her. "Not a bad place you have here."
Xia Yinuo put away her papers and said politely, "Thank you."
Ke Dinghao was full of confusion and sat up straight, feeling tense.
Jiang Yang leaned back comfortably against the chair. "Aren't you going to buy me a drink?"
Xia Yinuo smiled. "What would you like?"
Jiang Yang shrugged. "Whatever."
Xia Yinuo beckoned a server over and whispered something. The server nodded and walked away.
Jiang Yang’s expression turned sly. He glanced at Ke Dinghao, who hadn't spoken, and asked with a half-smile, "Boyfriend?"
Xia Yinuo shook her head. "No."
Jiang Yang grinned. "Right, I almost forgot. You like women."
"What?!" Ke Dinghao nearly jumped out of his chair.
Xia Yinuo’s heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, she remained calm. "Jiang Yang, if you have something to say, say it directly."
Jiang Yang crossed his legs, smiling with undeniable smugness. "Classmate Xia, I didn't realize you had such guts!"
Ke Dinghao’s temper flared instantly. "Who do you think you are? Stop talking nonsense!"
"Oho! What, do you like her?" Jiang Yang pointed at Xia Yinuo and gave Ke Dinghao a malicious smile. Then, he pulled an envelope from his coat pocket and tossed it onto the table. "Young man, don't be in such a hurry. There are some photos here. I suggest you step away for a moment."
Ke Dinghao quickly looked at Xia Yinuo.
The visitor clearly had ill intentions.
Xia Yinuo signaled for Ke Dinghao to stay calm. She reached out, took the envelope, pulled out a few photos for a quick glance, and silently tucked them back in.
She remembered Li Qinglan mentioning once that a pharmaceutical representative had claimed to be her university classmate and had brazenly tried to hand her a red envelope in her hospital office, which Li Qinglan had sternly refused.
So, was this why?
She recalled her mother warning her not to have any further contact with this person. Indeed, the older generation knew best. Unfortunately, even if you didn't go looking for trouble, trouble had a way of finding you.
Xia Yinuo steadied herself. Though her heart was racing, her voice didn't waver in the slightest. "I heard you went to see my mother?"
"Smart as always. You guessed it immediately," Jiang Yang laughed, casting another wary glance at the hot-blooded Ke Dinghao beside her.
Jiang Yang was exactly the kind of person who was bold enough to commit a deed but too cowardly to face the consequences.
Xia Yinuo said coldly, "This is a public place, and Xiao Ke isn't an outsider. Speak your mind."
"Since you don't mind, then I'll say it." Jiang Yang narrowed his eyes, his tone dripping with mockery. "I did go to see Li Qinglan. But that mother of yours didn't just refuse to give me face; she humiliated me! Right in front of her students, she went on about how being a good doctor isn't just about saving lives, but about... 'Benevolence and Healing Arts'? Lecturing me on medical ethics!"
Xia Yinuo frowned in displeasure. "Is she wrong? You graduated from medical school yourself."
"Oh, why so serious!" Jiang Yang patted his chest theatrically. "Luckily, when I was interning at the hospital, I didn't choose Dr. Li as my mentor, or I probably wouldn't have graduated. That said, we were classmates once; Dr. Li really has no sense of sentimentality!"
Xia Yinuo pointed at the stack of photos and sneered. "Heh, and this is how you treat an old classmate?"
Fan Mi, sensing the atmosphere was off, personally brought the coffee over, interrupting their conversation. Jiang Yang wasn't annoyed; he crossed his arms and tilted his head with a smile.
Fan Mi set down the coffee and told Jiang Yang, "Enjoy," before giving Xia Yinuo a deep look. Though she said nothing, Xia Yinuo understood her gaze perfectly. It was saying: *If anything happens, remember I've got your back!*
Once Fan Mi had walked away, looking back every few steps, Jiang Yang picked up a spoon and stirred his coffee. He said lazily, "Don't say I don't value our old friendship. I originally wanted to start with Dr. Li, but I accidentally discovered your little secret. Since that's the case, why not make good use of it?"
Xia Yinuo’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Jiang Yang, what do you want?"
"What do I want? You're a smart person; you surely don't want this to blow up. What I want is simple: you handle your mother and get this deal done for me, and I'll give you the negatives for these photos. Otherwise," Jiang Yang’s face darkened as he leaned toward her with a sinister smile, "the next person to see these photos will likely be Dr. Li."
Ke Dinghao couldn't hold back any longer. He stood up abruptly, blocking Jiang Yang, and growled, "Are you insane?!"
Xia Yinuo pulled Ke Dinghao back, patting his shoulder to calm him down. She turned to Jiang Yang and said, "I have a business trip next week. Give me some time."
In all her years, this was the first time she had been threatened like this. How had the once-aloof and proud top student of their class turned into the pathetic buffoon before her? And that stack of surreptitious photos—the photography was truly terrible. When Mai Shining and Fan Mi saw them later, they would surely tear the quality to shreds. Thinking of this, Xia Yinuo actually let out a small laugh. She added, "Ten days. How about it?"
Ke Dinghao’s palms were sweating as he clenched his fists. "Senior!"
Jiang Yang was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Fine. I'll give you ten days!" With that, he took a large gulp of the coffee, stood up, wiped his mouth, and swaggered out.
Only after Jiang Yang had walked out the door did Xia Yinuo lower her head to rub her temples, letting out a soft sigh. "How ridiculous."
"Senior?" Ke Dinghao asked cautiously.
Xia Yinuo felt a wave of exhaustion. "That man was Jiang Yang, a classmate from university. He's a medical rep now, trying to push his company's drugs into the affiliated hospital."
"But what does that have to do with you?"
"I mean, through unofficial channels... specifically, through my mother's connections..."
"I see. Then..."
"My mother refused him, naturally. So, he took these photos."
Xia Yinuo pointed at the envelope on the table. Ke Dinghao, half-doubting, picked it up and began flipping through the photos one by one.
They were all recent candid shots. Xia Yinuo and Liang Juejun—going to work, leaving work, going out, coming home. The most intimate one was merely the two of them walking arm-in-arm under a single umbrella on a rainy day. Even so, one could sense the deep connection between them. Such frequent, close proximity, every look and shared gaze... to say they were just best friends would be a stretch.
Ke Dinghao held the photos, his face a mask of disbelief. "My dear sister, you and Professor Liang... are you two..."
Xia Yinuo felt a twinge of guilt. "Everything he said is true. I didn't tell you before, partly because we hadn't graduated yet and you have a big mouth, and partly because Diandian is her student. I wanted to wait until Diandian finished her Master's to come clean, but then she started her PhD, and I didn't know how to bring it up. I'm sorry for keeping it from you."
Ke Dinghao’s eyes went wide, his mouth hanging open enough to fit an egg, his mind racing through a thousand thoughts. After a long while, he finally spoke. "Then what do you plan to do about today? He's actually using this to blackmail you!"
Xia Yinuo’s expression was calm. "Let me think about it."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
林筝扬 | Lin Zhengyang | Owner of North Street Bookstore
姜洋 | Jiang Yang | Xia Yinuo's former classmate, now a pharmaceutical representative
李青岚 | Li Qinglan | Xia Yinuo's mother, a doctor
仁心仁术 | Benevolence and Healing Arts | A traditional Chinese medical ethics phrase
医药代表 | Pharmaceutical Representative | Often abbreviated as "medical rep"
三河山庄 | Sanhe Manor | A restaurant or residential area
《传奇》 | *Legends* | A famous collection of short stories by Eileen Chang (Zhang Ailing)
夏小宝 | Xia Xiaobao | An affectionate nickname for Xia Yinuo
