Lin Yunsheng couldn't remember how many times she had been to the airport this month—was it the third or the fourth? She had lost count.
Sitting in the airport café, she picked up her cup and drained the last sip of coffee. She glanced at the time: 10:27 AM. It was almost time. She stood up, placed her tray at the return station, and walked toward the arrival gate.
Lately, Chen Jinyue had been traveling frequently for her projects. Lin Yunsheng had hoped she would take the weekends to rest or perhaps wander around the local area with her colleagues, but Jinyue had stubbornly refused. She insisted on these grueling, short-lived trips, flying back and forth constantly.
Lin Yunsheng stopped trying to persuade her and simply made sure to pick her up and drop her off whenever she was free.
She stood a short distance away from the crowd, a silent understanding they had reached recently. Before long, she spotted a figure in a white down jacket running toward her, the wheels of a suitcase rattling rhythmically against the floor.
"Why are you running?" Lin Yunsheng reached out to smooth her sister’s hair, which had been tossed into a mess by the wind.
"I missed you." Chen Jinyue’s smile was incredibly sweet, her teeth gleaming. "I have a gift for you."
She reached into the pocket of her down jacket and, with a flick of her wrist, revealed a blueberry jelly cup resting in her palm.
"What’s this?" Lin Yunsheng took it from her.
"A little dessert from the in-flight meal!" Jinyue chirped. "I had it on the flight out and thought it was delicious. When they served it again on the way back, I saved it for you."
Lin Yunsheng lowered her head and smiled, tucking the jelly into her own pocket. She then took her sister’s hand and led her toward the parking garage.
"When do you leave again?"
"The day after tomorrow, early morning. A nine o'clock flight."
"I won't be able to drop you off then. I have a very important morning meeting."
"It’s fine, I’ll just take a taxi." Jinyue leaned in slightly. "The project is almost over. I’ll have a short vacation then." It was a simple, tentative invitation.
"I’m not sure. The end of the year is always busy."
"Alright, then I’ll just take Mom out to play." As she spoke, Jinyue opened the trunk, stowed her luggage, and climbed into the passenger seat.
The weather in Haicheng wasn't great today. Dark clouds hung low, looking as though a heavy rain was imminent. Tucking herself into the car, Jinyue turned up the heat and took a moment to reply to a couple of work messages.
Lin Yunsheng drove toward the central shopping mall, deciding they should have a simple brunch before letting her sister go home to get some proper rest.
Chen Jinyue eventually locked her phone and put it in her bag. She turned her head to look at Lin Yunsheng—at the shawl draped gently over her shoulders, at the pedestrians and scenery receding in the cold wind outside the window. She watched her sister’s right hand steadily gripping the steering wheel, while her left arm rested on the window frame, propping up her head. She was driving carelessly again.
Jinyue’s gaze lingered on her sister’s face.
"How did you get a pimple?" Jinyue reached out, her finger tracing a small circle around the blemish on the side of Lin Yunsheng's face. "Is it your period?"
"Mm."
"Does your stomach hurt?"
"It’s okay this time." Lin Yunsheng’s attention was on the road; she couldn't spare a glance for her sister.
Chen Jinyue turned to open the center console, rummaging for the painkillers she had stashed there long ago. She checked the pack; a full blister strip remained. Then she checked the glove compartment to see how many loose crackers were left—painkillers shouldn't be taken on an empty stomach.
"Take the medicine if it hurts. Don't just endure it."
Lin Yunsheng pressed the brake, bringing the car to a stop at the red light. "I know," she replied.
Finally, she had a moment to turn and look at her sister.
The red light countdown: 52 seconds.
Chen Jinyue’s gaze dropped. She pressed the gear release and shifted the car into Park.
Then she saw her sister release the brake and lean over. Jinyue met her halfway, kissing her across the center console.
Red light countdown: 39 seconds.
The hand that had been gripping the steering wheel now gently pinched Chen Jinyue’s earlobe.
"...Were you very busy yesterday? You didn't say goodnight to me."
"Mm... it was very late by the time I got back to the hotel."
Their voices echoed within the breath of the kiss.
"I didn't sleep well last night," Lin Yunsheng said, lightly nipping her sister’s lip.
"My fault... No matter how busy I am, I'll say goodnight first from now on."
"Mm..."
Red light countdown: 8 seconds.
Chen Jinyue pulled away, reaching out to wipe the moisture from her sister’s lips before leaning back into her seat.
She wondered why she was so obsessed with flying back to Haicheng for any holiday longer than a day. It was likely for these few dozen seconds of kissing. For the countless moments made of those seconds, where Lin Yunsheng would act spoiled with her.
She had forcibly shifted the center of gravity at the airport from 'parting' to 'meeting,' and from 'missing you' to 'kissing you.'
She pursed her lips, swallowing the lingering warmth of the kiss into her heart.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the mall. The sky was still gloomy, but the rain had yet to fall.
After a quick meal, Lin Yunsheng mentioned she was almost out of perfume and wanted to stop by the first floor to buy more.
"Did you finish that custom-blended bottle so quickly?"
"There’s a little left. I’m saving it."
Lin Yunsheng found the woody fragrance she usually wore and picked up two bottles. After paying, she handed one to her sister. "Do you want one?"
"It doesn't really seem like my scent."
"Oh..." Hearing this, Lin Yunsheng started to withdraw her hand, a hint of disappointment slipping into her tone.
Chen Jinyue quickly caught her wrist, taking the perfume. "I can try it," she said, before leaning in to give her sister a quick peck on the corner of her mouth.
"Mm." This time, the tone was fuller, the disappointment transforming into a touch of smugness.
Later, they passed a newly opened pet store at a corner of the mall. Chen Jinyue stopped in front of the glass display window, watching a lazy kitten curled into a ball, sleeping. Its belly rose and fell with its breath.
"So cute," Chen Jinyue whispered, as if afraid of waking the kitten.
"Do you want to raise one?"
"No."
"I'm too busy. Just looking is enough."
The kitten opened its bleary eyes, its belly contracting sharply as if letting out a sigh. Then it stood up unsteadily, tail erect, and stretched its front legs forward in a long yawn.
Lin Yunsheng raised her index finger, slowly waving it in front of the glass. She didn't touch the pane, fearing she might startle the creature.
The light-orange tabby was drawn to the movement, its eyes following her finger.
"It really is cute," Lin Yunsheng said with a smile.
She continued to tease the cat, calling out, "Baby, baby," causing the kitten to pounce against the glass, trying to catch her hand.
Lin Yunsheng called out a few times; Chen Jinyue’s jealousy flared tenfold.
"Native cats are cuter anyway," Jinyue said, turning to leave.
"Hm?" Her sister followed, the conversation ending in a muddle.
Then, Jinyue began to bring up old scores out of nowhere. "Did you know that when Jiang Haitao first met me, he called me Xiao Jin?"
"...Mm. But he stopped later, didn't he? I spoke to him about it."
"What about Sister Xiao Man?" Chen Jinyue stopped and looked at her sister.
"...I thought you told her to call you that."
"You didn't tell her?"
"Of course not."
"Then call me that now."
Lin Yunsheng’s lips curled into a smile. "Chen Jinyue."
"Wrong."
"Xiao Jin."
"Mm." Only then was she somewhat satisfied.
The two managed to drive back to Chen Jinyue’s small rental apartment before the rain started. She hadn't been back for nearly a week, but the place looked clean. A bag of daily necessities sat by the entrance.
"Did you buy this?"
"No, Mom bought it for you."
"Oh... What time are we going back for dinner tonight?"
Lin Yunsheng checked her watch. "Six o'clock. You can rest for another four hours."
Hearing this, Chen Jinyue went to the small living room and pulled her laptop from her bag, intending to finish the last of her pending tasks.
"I have another debriefing next week. It’s so annoying," she complained while adjusting a PPT, reflexively removing a foolish fade-in animation effect. "Last time, they said my execution was too poor. I wonder what they'll say this time."
Lin Yunsheng sat on the sofa, removing her shawl and folding it neatly. "If they think you aren't good enough, it’s your superior's responsibility to help you, not to suppress you. Don't take it too much to heart."
"Mm..."
Lin Yunsheng placed the shawl to one side. The curtains were open, but the heavy clouds blocked the light, leaving the room dim and making the screen appear even brighter.
She reached out to turn on the living room light.
"Don't turn it on." Chen Jinyue didn't look back, but she seemed to have eyes in the back of her head, stopping her sharply. "I'm almost done."
"Alright."
Lin Yunsheng stood up, wanting to do something—perhaps tidy her sister’s messy kitchen or check if the clothes in the bedroom were folded.
"Lin Yunsheng."
"Yes?"
"Sit down. Don't move!" Jinyue sounded a bit anxious.
So, Lin Yunsheng had no choice but to sit back on the sofa, waiting idly for over ten minutes.
Finally, the light of the screen vanished as the laptop was closed.
The person sitting on the floor finally turned around. Her eyes were moist, as if a few drops of the unfallen rain were hidden within them.
Chen Jinyue stood up and sat on her sister’s right lap—only the right lap.
"Lin Yunsheng..."
"Mm..."
She leaned down to kiss her. Outside the window, the rain that had been gathering all day finally began to fall.
She pressed firmly against her sister’s leg, a hint of impatience in her movements.
"What is it?" Lin Yunsheng asked softly.
"..."
—*What do you think?*
She hooked her hand into Lin Yunsheng's. "I really missed you. Touch me."
Raindrops splattered against the ground, creating a pitter-patter sound. Eventually, it felt as though all the moisture was gathering in one specific place in her body.
She let out a small whimper, accommodating the sensation with a slight tension.
The rain outside grew heavier. Panting, she called out, "Sister... Sister."
"Mm..."
"Call me..."
"Xiao Jin."
*That’s not right.*
Enduring the sweet ache, she collapsed into Lin Yunsheng’s arms and whispered shyly into her ear, "Use the one you used for the kitty..."
She heard her sister let out a low, wicked chuckle. Then, understanding the assignment, Lin Yunsheng called her: "Baby..."
She used that same finger to tease her "kitten."
Ah—.
There had been far too much rain hidden in those dark clouds; at this moment, it all poured out.
The entire city, along with her body, seemed soaked in water.
The kitten in her arms extended its claws to scratch at the side of the other's neck, looking somewhat dissatisfied. She couldn't seem to catch the "cat teaser" that was provoking her, no matter how she tried.
The kitten chased and chased, spun around in circles by the teasing, yet still unable to grasp the point.
A sudden gust of wind blew outside, sending raindrops crashing against the glass balcony door. The sound was urgent and abrupt, causing the kitten to shrink back.
"Don't be afraid, it's just the rain..."
"Mm..."
She went back to chasing the teaser. The humid air felt as though it were laced with catnip, making her feel a sense of euphoria.
She continued to play with it.
Chasing, chasing—
Finally, she caught it. She bit down hard on the previously disobedient teaser, refusing to let it escape.
Finally caught.
She had arrived.
The kitten’s belly rose and fell in her sister’s arms, heaving in time with the rhythm of the falling rain.
Her consciousness was a blur. Her small heart held ten thousand thoughts in this moment: the 1,200-kilometer flight, that unexpectedly delicious blueberry jelly, the fact that she would soon share the same scent as her sister, and that light-orange kitten that was supposedly cuter than her when it stretched...
The raindrops blurred those ten thousand thoughts, yet her only wish remained clear—to love her like this forever.
In every kind of weather, in every single moment.
Even if she had to leave Haicheng again soon, when all the world's rainwater merged together, love would begin to flow, and the timeline of love would converge once more.
Her sister’s hand once again pinched her earlobe. In the middle of that rain-drenched afternoon, she called out tenderly—
"Baby."
"Good baby."
***
