A Friend I've Loved for a Long Time - Chapter 23

It was nearly midnight by the time Yun Zhi and Jiang Yan’an finished their conversation.

Yun Zhi smiled as she looked at the last message on the screen: [Zhu Qingmeng is forcing me to go to sleep. Goodnight, Zhizhi.]

After replying with a “goodnight,” she placed her phone on the nightstand and switched off the lamp. In the darkness, she thought of Nan Qiao and closed her eyes, trying hard to push her out of her mind, only for Jiang Yan’an’s words to resurface.

—Maybe the person you’d like now would be Yu Mingxia.

—You’ll fall for her sooner or later.

As if there are so many “maybes” and “sooner or laters,” she thought. Yun Zhi let out a yawn, pulled her blanket close, and drifted off to sleep.

Perhaps because she had been overthinking before bed, she fell into a series of surreal, phantasmagoric dreams.

She dreamed she was back in her high school auditorium. The surroundings were dim, with only a faint light where she stood. A loud crash echoed, and she turned toward the sound to see Nan Qiao playing the drums.

Nan Qiao looked up and smiled at her: “Didn’t you say the girl playing the drums that day was cool? Want to try?”

In the dream, she took the drumsticks and sat where Nan Qiao had been, striking the drums over and over. Even though she hit them randomly, the sound reaching her ears was melodious. The auditorium held only the sound of the drums; no other noise existed.

“Qiaoqiao, how am I doing?”

There was no answer. She called out again, but still, there was no response. She fell silent, only to realize she was alone in the auditorium. When she turned back, even the faint light had vanished. Everything was pitch-black and silent; she could hear only her own breathing.

“Qiaoqiao?”

“Nan Qiao?”

…

One call after another, until she finally saw Nan Qiao again. Only this time, she was far, far away. Yun Zhi was on the stage, while Nan Qiao was in the very last row of the seats. The stage lights flared up, but the audience area remained shrouded in gloom.

She tried to call out to her, but Nan Qiao only gave her a cold, indifferent glance, as if looking at a total stranger. The distance between them was immense—no matter how long she ran, she couldn’t reach her. Every shout felt like a stone sinking into the ocean, vanishing without an echo.

Nan Qiao’s strange, cold gaze filled her with sorrow.

“Nan Qiao—!”

Yun Zhi woke with a start. Clutched her chest, she felt tears involuntarily falling. She couldn’t control her emotions; even though it was just a dream, she felt an overwhelming sadness, as if a heavy stone were pressing on her heart.

She remembered that incident. Nan Qiao didn’t actually know how to play the drums. Back in their senior year, wanting to cheer her up, Nan Qiao had specifically sought someone out to learn and then invited her to the auditorium just so she could listen and learn too.

“Nan Qiao…” she murmured.

“Did you have a nightmare?”

A bottle of milk was suddenly placed in front of her, and a gentle voice inquired by her ear. She looked up, slightly dazed, and saw Yu Mingxia.

Compared to the present, her face was more youthful and innocent. She was wearing the Yun High school uniform and had a soft, shy smile. She was Yu Mingxia, yet somehow she wasn’t.

“Drink some warm milk. It’ll make you feel better,” Yu Mingxia said gently.

But at that moment, she only wanted news of Nan Qiao. “Where is Nan Qiao?”

When she spoke, she saw Yu Mingxia freeze, her face full of confusion. “Who is that?” she heard Yu Mingxia ask.

“Yun Zhi! I saw you sleep through the entire class! Can’t you be like me and pay attention? Stop making Mingxia worry about you so much!”

It was Jiang Yan’an.

“An’an, where is Nan Qiao?” Yu Mingxia didn’t know her, but Jiang Yan’an surely did.

“Which Qiao? Why are you looking for a bridge?” Jiang Yan’an asked, confused.

“Nan Qiao,” she looked toward Zhu Qingmeng. “Zhu Qingmeng, where is Nan Qiao? Where is she?”

“Who is she?” Zhu Qingmeng and Yu Mingxia said the exact same thing.

No one knew Nan Qiao.

Wait. It was only then she noticed they were all wearing their high school uniforms. She looked around in a daze and saw the class sign hanging above the open door: Grade 12, Class 1.

That wasn’t right. She was in Class 7. Why did no one know Nan Qiao? And why was Yu Mingxia here?

Ring—!

A piercing sound suddenly erupted.

Yun Zhi snapped her eyes open and sat up in bed. Her messy hair was pulled back by her hands as she stared blankly at her surroundings. Only when she saw the familiar furniture in her room did her vacant gaze slowly find focus. She clutched her heart; it felt as though a piece of it was missing.

She realized she had just had a “dream within a dream.” In that dream world, Nan Qiao and she were strangers.

The piercing alarm in the room continued. Yun Zhi reached out to turn it off but remained sitting on the bed, still immersed in the dream. She kept recalling the details, trying to find some comfort. She simplified the dream and searched for dream interpretations on her browser.

Among the various answers, her heart sank.

—There will be a major disagreement or conflict between you recently. If not handled well, you may face a parting of ways.

Yun Zhi closed her eyes, letting the hollow feeling spread through her heart.

Vibrate—

The phone on the nightstand suddenly buzzed.

[Sorry, Zhizhi. I was wrong before. I shouldn’t keep standing you up. I was too harsh with you yesterday, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Please, Great Master Zhizhi, forgive Qiaoqiao.]

Looking at the message and thinking of the stranger Nan Qiao from her dream—the Nan Qiao no one remembered—her heart softened. She cared about her, after all.

Yun Zhi looked at the calendar on the wall and replied:

[The band Klloy is having a concert tomorrow night. Are you free?]

A moment later, she received a reply:

[Yes. Let’s go together.]

After receiving the reply, Yun Zhi bought two tickets on a booking app. Klloy was a band she and Nan Qiao had both liked since university, and their tour had just reached Yun City. With the plans made, the shadow of the dream gradually faded. She got up to wash and prepare for a visit to the hospital to see Jiang Yan’an.

Her schedule was flexible, but as a matter of professional courtesy, she sent a message to Yu Mingxia letting her know she wouldn’t be coming to the office today. Then, she hailed a taxi to the hospital.

Zhu Qingmeng’s primary job was as a dentist. Her schedule was usually tight, making it impossible for her to stay at the hospital all day. Consequently, Jiang Yan’an spent most of her daytime alone in the ward, playing with her electronic devices.

Annoyed that the drama she was watching was terrible, she tossed her tablet onto the nightstand. Yun Zhi walked in just as the tablet landed.

“Taking your anger out on the tablet now?”

“Zhizhi! You finally came to see me!”

Although Jiang Yan’an called out cheerfully, her eyes were fixed on the bag in Yun Zhi’s hand. Yun Zhi shook her head helplessly and handed over the bag filled with snacks and fruit.

“You’re still the best. Mengmeng won’t let me eat any of this,” Jiang Yan’an grumbled as she picked through the bag.

“Zhu Qingmeng was the one who told me to buy these for you,” Yun Zhi laughed.

Jiang Yan’an let out a huff, pulled out a biscuit, tore it open, and took a bite. Yun Zhi sat on the chair by the bed, watching her eat ravenously.

“By the way, I heard Nan Qiao has been quite close to a girl lately,” Jiang Yan’an said. “I was going to tell you yesterday, but I thought it was better to tell you in person.”

“A new friend?” Yun Zhi, lost in thought, took out a bottle of milk and handed it to her.

“Mm… doesn’t quite sound like a simple friend,” Jiang Yan’an paused her chewing and looked at her cautiously. “I heard she looks a bit like you.”

“Huh?” Yun Zhi was stunned.

Jiang Yan’an bit her lip. She didn’t know where Zhu Qingmeng had heard it, but she had been instructed to mention it to Yun Zhi. She felt it was cruel, but Qingmeng insisted it would help her.

“Anyway, it’s just…” Jiang Yan’an hesitated. “Don’t you think the girl Nan Qiao dated for a few days back then also looked a bit like you?”

Yun Zhi was speechless. After a long pause, she said, “That’s true. Two eyes, a nose, and a mouth—definitely similar.”

Now it was Jiang Yan’an’s turn to be speechless.

“Alright, let’s not talk about this,” Yun Zhi said, cutting off the topic. She didn’t really want to discuss such an absurd matter. She stayed until the afternoon before leaving the hospital, intending to head back to the office.

Yu Mingxia, spending the day alone in the office, didn’t feel as lonely as she had in previous days. Perhaps Yun Zhi’s behavior yesterday had given her a bit more confidence.

After processing a stack of documents, she felt a slight fatigue. She stopped and rubbed her temples. Documents were spread across the desk, and the pen she had just used for signing was in her right hand. During her break, she instinctively began to sketch Yun Zhi’s profile.

Yu Mingxia was deep in her drawing when Yu Chuxue entered the office. Mingxia didn’t notice at first; it wasn’t until her sister was almost at the desk that she reacted, hurriedly covering the paper with a file.

“Tsk, getting shy now?” Yu Chuxue laughed. She walked over to Yun Zhi’s seat, intending to sit down.

Yu Mingxia ignored the mockery but stopped her from sitting. “Sit over there.” She pointed to a seat by the wall.

She really minds me sitting in Yun Zhi’s spot, Chuxue thought with a chuckle. She stood in front of the desk and tapped the surface. “Let me see ‘your’ Yun Zhi.”

Hearing the words “your Yun Zhi,” Yu Mingxia’s heart softened. She almost fell for it and showed the paper, but she snapped back just in time. Yu Chuxue laughed at her reaction.

“I’ve noticed that every time I mention Yun Zhi, you become much easier to talk to, but also more prone to losing your head,” Yu Chuxue looked her up and down. “That won’t do, Yu Mingxia.”

Knowing her sister was just teasing, Yu Mingxia didn’t respond. She shifted her gaze to the documents and reminded her, “If you’re so free, you can take these files back and handle them yourself.”

Yu Chuxue looked at the stack of papers and shook her head. “I’m busy.”

Yu Mingxia shot her a look that clearly said, If you’re busy, then get lost. Stop being an eyesore.

“Does Yun Zhi know you’re this fierce? You’d better hide your tail well, or she’ll start to dislike you.” Yu Chuxue found Mingxia incredibly cute today. Especially when Yun Zhi was mentioned—the way her expression shifted, wanting to argue but not knowing how, eventually forced to ignore her. It was quite entertaining.

Yu Mingxia merely looked at her flatly and said, “She isn’t as shallow as you.”

“?” Yu Chuxue gasped. “I’m shallow?”

“Fine, I’m shallow,” Yu Chuxue leaned against the desk, tilting her head with an inquisitive look. “I wanted to ask the other day—did you say something to Yun Zhi? Otherwise, why is she so cold to me?”

Yu Mingxia’s finger paused on the file she was reading, then she continued as if nothing happened. “Maybe you didn’t hide your tail well and she found you repulsive.”

“…” Yu Chuxue was stunned. She’s actually using my own words against me. But from her response, Chuxue understood it indeed had something to do with her sister. Well, as long as it made her sister happy, she could handle a bit of sacrifice.

“By the way, it seems you and Yun Zhi are progressing quite well? She’s been very clingy lately, hasn’t she?” Yu Chuxue asked with a smile, curious about their status.

Yu Mingxia paused, thinking of yesterday—it was a mix of joy and sorrow. While the “clinging” was just to apologize for high school, at least she hadn’t remembered the love letter, and she had even missed her date with Nan Qiao for her sake. She felt they had made progress.

“Has Yun Zhi shown any signs of liking you?”

“Does she still like that ‘someone’?”

“Have you asked if she plans to stop liking them?”

Yu Chuxue didn’t know who Yun Zhi liked; she only knew from Mingxia that there was someone. “Do you know where she went today?”

…

Yu Mingxia realized Yu Chuxue was truly idle. She wondered how her sister managed to maintain her public image of being gentle and a woman of few words. The name “Yun Zhi” was being repeated over and over. While she loved hearing it, hearing it from Yu Chuxue so much was making her feel strange.

“Can you stop saying her name constantly?” Yu Mingxia asked helplessly.

“What? You haven’t even caught her yet and I’m not allowed to say her name?” Yu Chuxue raised an eyebrow, her tone provocative.

“…”

Yu Chuxue loved seeing this helpless side of her. Perhaps because she had hit so many walls with Mingxia in the past, seeing her like this was fascinating. She couldn’t resist saying it a few more times: “Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi?”

Yu Mingxia bit her lip. “Is this necessary?”

Yu Chuxue felt Mingxia was much cuter now. In the past, she just stayed in her office drawing designs; she could say ten sentences and Mingxia might not reply to one. Now, almost every sentence got a reaction. Her expression became awkward whenever Yun Zhi was mentioned. If she didn’t tease her, who else would she tease?

“Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi?”

The teasing voice echoed in her ears. Yu Mingxia looked up and said calmly with a smile, “Jiang Ling is having her wedding next month. Are you going?”

“Should I provide her wedding dress for free?”

“Oh, I forgot. Even if you were willing, Gu Qingyue wouldn’t agree.”

The smile on Yu Chuxue’s face froze. After a pause, she said, “I am your sister, after all.” I’ve never seen anyone stab their sister in the heart so precisely.

Yu Mingxia gave a polite smile.

The atmosphere was frozen for only a few seconds. Because—Yu Chuxue continued her rebellion: “Since you’ve already hurt me, can you tell me how things are going with you and Yun Zhi?”

“Does she plan to stop liking the other person?”

“Are you asking her out today?”

“Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi, Yun Zhi.”

She wouldn’t just mention her; she’d mention her repeatedly. Yu Chuxue realized that the reason Mingxia didn’t want her saying the name was simply because hearing it made her miss her. Tsk, tsk, such a romantic.

The two were at a standoff, one standing and one sitting, with Yu Chuxue’s face practically screaming “let’s hurt each other.” Just as Yu Mingxia was about to end this pointless battle—and perhaps ask her sister how old she was—she heard a sound.

A small voice came from the doorway—

“Are you calling me?”

Yun Zhi was leaning against the doorframe, her head peeking in, looking at them both in confusion. She didn’t know what was happening; as soon as she opened the door, she heard Yu Chuxue calling her name repeatedly.

Yun Zhi was puzzled, while the two in the office looked like they had been turned to stone.

Aside from the panic of Yun Zhi’s sudden appearance, a meme inexplicably popped into Yu Mingxia’s head: a cat peeking from behind a door with the caption ‘Your little cutie has suddenly appeared.’ Looking at Yun Zhi’s expression, she felt it was quite fitting.

But now wasn’t the time for that.

Yu Chuxue clearly hadn’t expected Yun Zhi either. Since Yun Zhi said she wouldn’t be in today, Chuxue had been talking without restraint. Now… she blinked at Mingxia and mouthed: Good luck. Then, ignoring Mingxia’s attempts to stop her with her gaze, she looked at Yun Zhi and said warmly, “What a coincidence. Mingxia was just thinking about you.”

“Huh?” Yun Zhi was dazed. Had she heard correctly? It was Yu Chuxue calling her name.

“I don’t know why she was calling you. You two talk; I’ll get back to my work.” Yu Chuxue nodded to them both before leaving. She successfully caught a very unfriendly look from Yu Mingxia.

Yun Zhi remained dazed, not understanding the situation. After Yu Chuxue left, she asked slowly, “You were calling me?”

Yu Mingxia bit her lip. Since it had been heard, there was no point in denying it. Saying it was Chuxue would be even weirder and might make Yun Zhi suspect they were gossiping behind her back. She could only own it. “Mm. I was just wondering when you’d be back.”

“You could have sent me a message. Just ask,” Yun Zhi said casually. “I thought you two were discussing my recent work.” After all, aside from work, she didn’t know why they would mention her.

“No.” Yu Mingxia bit her lip. Yun Zhi’s gaze was too clean; she couldn’t handle it and lowered her eyes.

“You were wondering when I’d be back. Now I’m back. And then?”

Since Yu Mingxia said “no,” Yun Zhi believed her. She didn’t trust Yu Chuxue, but she trusted Mingxia.

“And then… I wanted you to come back and work with me. It’s too boring being here alone.”

“Huh?” Yun Zhi was stunned. She almost said, “weren’t you always working alone before?”, but then she realized—Yu Mingxia was being shy.

Was she missing me?

Tsk, it seems my effort to be a good friend wasn’t in vain.

Yun Zhi suddenly let out a soft laugh. Yu Mingxia looked up to see her leaning over the desk, her gaze fixed on her face.

“Yu Mingxia, I’ve discovered something,” Yun Zhi said, her voice clear and a slight smile on her lips.

Yu Mingxia’s heart tightened. “What?”

“I’ve discovered,” Yun Zhi drew out the words as she leaned even lower, her gaze shifting from Mingxia’s eyes to her earlobe, “that your ears seem to turn red very easily.”

Staring into her eyes, Yu Mingxia let out a dazed “Ah.”

Yun Zhi had never seen her with such an expression—completely different from her usual calm, collected self. Caught in a playful mood, she mimicked the “Ah,” but with a teasing lilt.

Seeing Yun Zhi’s smiling eyes, Yu Mingxia swallowed. Under the scrutiny, her ears grew hotter. She knew she could casually explain it away, but she couldn’t find her voice. She was nervous, and she was trying to restrain herself.

Unaware of her inner turmoil, Yun Zhi laughed and leaned back. She reached into her handbag for her phone and pulled up the front-facing camera. Then, she reached out and gently tucked a strand of hair behind Mingxia’s ear before holding the camera in front of her face. “See? Look, it’s red.”

Yu Mingxia didn’t look at the phone. Her gaze fell on Yun Zhi’s slightly upturned lips. Today she wore a lip glaze; her lips were full and shimmering, incredibly tempting. Because of the proximity, Yu Mingxia’s senses were filled with the clean scent of lime and the faint warmth of her fingertips on her cheek. She felt like her breathing had stopped, and her heart was beating so fast it felt like it might burst.

The casual movement also made Yun Zhi pause. Meeting those eyes at such close range, she suddenly remembered last night’s dream. The Yu Mingxia who brought her warm milk when she woke up… the Yu Mingxia who looked at her with such shy, sincere eyes. She didn’t know why she had such a dream, but remembering it now made her feel a surge of panic, losing her earlier composure.

She hadn’t thought much of it before; she just remembered from their previous encounters—especially that time in the suburbs—that Mingxia’s ears were red. She thought it was the weather, but it seemed it wasn’t.

Her fingertips felt faintly hot. She realized the silence was making the atmosphere ambiguous, and her behavior might have bothered Yu Mingxia. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, her gaze darting away. The hair she had tucked back fell forward again. Just as she was about to apologize, she heard Yu Mingxia give a soft “Mm.”

Even though the voice was weak, Yun Zhi heard it. She composed herself and saw Yu Mingxia take the phone from her hand. Mingxia looked down, her fingertips lightly touching her earlobe, her lips pursed in confusion. It was as if she were discovering for the first time how easily her ears turned red.

Whether to break the awkwardness or out of pure sincerity, Yun Zhi suddenly said:

“You are so cute.”

“What?”

“I said, you are so cute.”

Yu Mingxia didn’t know how to respond. In all these years, she’d never heard anyone call her “cute.” But the person saying it was Yun Zhi.

And it felt quite good.