A Friend I've Loved for a Long Time - Chapter 29

“You can sleep in this room. I just changed the sheets,” Yun Zhi said, turning to Yu Mingxia as she opened the guest bedroom door.

Yu Mingxia nodded and walked past her into the room. It was bright and clean—a modest bed with light-colored linens, and a small desk in the corner equipped with a lamp and a bookshelf. It felt very cozy.

“There are some books on the desk. If you can’t sleep, feel free to read,” Yun Zhi added, before muttering to herself a second later, “But it’s already midnight; you must be exhausted.”

Yu Mingxia chuckled softly. “Right, I’ve got it.”

“If you wake up hungry or thirsty, there’s food in the kitchen. Help yourself,” Yun Zhi added. “Or you can wake me up.”

“Okay.”

With the arrangements made, Yun Zhi said, “Goodnight, then.”

“Goodnight.”

The door clicked shut, and the sound of footsteps faded as Yun Zhi left. Yu Mingxia stood by the bed, surveyed the room, and finally stopped at the desk. The drowsiness she’d felt earlier had been swept away by the hum of the hairdryer; she was wide awake now.

Since she usually read to help her fall asleep, and Yun Zhi had mentioned the books, she decided to read for a bit. The small desk lamp was shaped like a paper umbrella—quite elegant—and set to eye-protection mode.

Yu Mingxia’s fingertips brushed over the spines on the shelf. Yun Zhi seemed to love geography and literature; most of the books were on those subjects, along with a few on fine arts. Unsurprisingly, the art books were likely related to Nan Qiao.

Yu Mingxia picked out two geography books and flipped through them, but her gaze kept drifting to a volume on Art History. Ultimately, she pulled that one out. As she leafed through the pages, it seemed like any other textbook, but halfway through, she froze.

Tucked inside was a photo of Yun Zhi and Nan Qiao in their high school uniforms. She remembered this photo—or one very like it—taken near the woods at school during graduation.

Yu Mingxia fell silent, intending to turn the page. Assuming Yun Zhi had simply left it there and forgotten, she was surprised to see a piece of paper tucked behind the photo: a sketch.

Whether it was because it had been drawn a long time ago or for some other reason, the lines became chaotic toward the end. The artist had clearly been in a bad mood, their focus drifting away from the work. It was a semi-finished sketch, yet it was clearly Yun Zhi—standing by a window, looking up at the sky, clean and beautiful.

It was the Yun Zhi through the artist’s eyes.

Yu Mingxia’s finger remained still on the page. An outsider might not understand, but she knew that those who hold a brush often use it to express their feelings; their unspoken words are channeled through the lead and ink. Perhaps there were things Nan Qiao wanted to say hidden in those lines.

Yu Mingxia didn’t want to dwell on it further and closed the book. Regardless of what Nan Qiao was thinking, the fact that she had hurt Yun Zhi was real. She would never give Nan Qiao another chance to cause her pain.

The next morning, Yun Zhi woke up to the bright sky outside her window. She rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up. After a moment, she checked her phone.

8:30 AM.

Yun Zhi yawned, then noticed several missed calls and messages.

Jiang Yan’an: Zhizhi, it’s Saturday, so you’re home, right? Mengmeng and I are coming over to make you breakfast!

Jiang Yan’an: Don’t tell me a little lazy bug is still in bed?

Jiang Yan’an: Get up, hurry!

The messages were from half an hour ago. If they were coming from their place, it took about forty minutes—meaning they were practically at the door.

Yun Zhi: Where are you?

Drowsiness vanished. Yun Zhi scrambled to find clothes in the wardrobe. Jiang Yan’an and Zhu Qingmeng often came over for breakfast, and their concern had intensified since hearing about the Nan Qiao incident. When An’an was discharged from the hospital a couple of days ago, they’d agreed to meet up soon; she just hadn’t expected it to be this morning.

Yun Zhi changed, washed up in the master suite’s bathroom, and stepped out. As soon as she opened her door, she saw the dining table was already covered with food.

She instinctively thought An’an and Qingmeng had arrived, but then remembered they didn’t have her passcode. Turning around, she saw Yu Mingxia emerging from the kitchen carrying a large bowl of porridge.

Then she remembered: Yu Mingxia had stayed over.

“You’re awake?” Yu Mingxia placed the porridge on the table and said warmly, “I borrowed your kitchen and ingredients. I hope you don’t mind.”

Yun Zhi snapped out of it. “No, no, of course not!” Waking up to a prepared breakfast was a dream; why would she mind?

“I’ve been a bit tired lately, so I slept in a bit,” Yun Zhi explained softly.

“It’s not late. It’s only 8:30; I just woke up early,” Yu Mingxia smiled, ladling a bowl of porridge for her. “Here.”

Yun Zhi looked at Yu Mingxia. Her eyes were cast down, her lashes thick and long. Her face was bare of makeup yet pale and clear, her features defined. Her long hair was tied back casually with a hair tie.

As if sensing the gaze, Mingxia looked up and asked with a smile, “Is that enough?”

Perhaps out of the guilt of being caught staring, Yun Zhi’s heart skipped a beat. She composed herself and took the bowl. “Thank you.”

Yu Mingxia simply smiled and lowered her head to quietly taste her own porridge. Yun Zhi stole a glance at her, then at the breakfast on the table. For some reason, the phrase “quiet and peaceful years” popped into her mind.

“Did you sleep well last night?” Yu Mingxia asked.

“Ah… fairly well.” Yun Zhi bit her lip awkwardly.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Yun Zhi remembered Jiang Yan’an and hurriedly said to Yu Mingxia, “My friends are here. Do you mind?”

After asking, Yun Zhi chided herself. What difference did it make if she minded? They were at the door; she couldn’t exactly chase them away or hide Yu Mingxia. Fortunately, Yu Mingxia wasn’t the type to care about such things.

“I don’t mind.”

As soon as Yun Zhi opened the door, Jiang Yan’an’s head peeked in. She held up a bag of breakfast. “Morning, Zhizhi! We were going to cook here, but the traffic was bad. Mengmeng said this place near your house is great, so we just bought some. Are you just waking up? I knew it.”

An’an prattled on, thrusting the bag into Yun Zhi’s hands before habitually pulling Zhu Qingmeng toward the foyer to change into slippers. Before Yun Zhi could get a word in, An’an swept past her—only to let out an “Ah!” a second later.

Yun Zhi hurried over to introduce them before An’an could say anything inappropriate, but she was too slow for An’an’s quick tongue.

“Are you two… cohabiting?!” An’an covered her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Yun Zhi: “…”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Last night…” Yun Zhi paused. “Don’t you two stay over all the time too?”

Why did she feel such a guilty need to explain? They were all friends; if An’an could stay over, why couldn’t Yu Mingxia?

“Is that the same? We’re your friends, but Yu Mingxia… mmm!” An’an was silenced by Zhu Qingmeng’s hand over her mouth.

“Are we interrupting?” Zhu Qingmeng snapped back from her surprise and looked at Yu Mingxia at the table.

“No,” Yu Mingxia replied.

Yun Zhi: “?” This is my house, isn’t it? Shouldn’t Qingmeng be talking to me? And why is everyone acting so weird, asking if they’re ‘interrupting’?

A few seconds later, Yun Zhi remembered Jiang Yan’an had mentioned that Qingmeng and Mingxia were seatmates in their senior year. “Oh, right! I forgot you two already know each other. I don’t need to introduce you, then?”

As soon as Yun Zhi spoke, An’an protested, “No! I don’t know her. Even if I know of her, she doesn’t know me!”

Yun Zhi was about to start the introduction when she heard Yu Mingxia’s gentle voice: “I know you, Jiang Yan’an.”

Now it was An’an’s turn to be dazed. She looked at Yun Zhi. “You told her?”

Yun Zhi thought back carefully.

“I knew about you in senior year,” Yu Mingxia looked at Zhu Qingmeng. “Zhu Qingmeng said she liked you.”

An’an’s mouth dropped open. She looked at Qingmeng. “Really?”

Zhu Qingmeng nodded and rubbed An’an’s head with a smile. “Now you know how much I like you.”

“Tsk.”

It felt like their first time “officially” meeting as a group, yet the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious. An’an didn’t like just anyone—she’d spent her school years clashing with Nan Qiao. Aside from Yun Zhi, the only people she’d been warm toward upon meeting were Qingmeng and Mingxia.

“Let’s eat together,” Yun Zhi said, opening the breakfast bags An’an had brought and plating the food.

“Yu Mingxia, Zhizhi isn’t being bullied at your company, is she? She looks like she’s lost weight lately,” An’an asked as soon as she sat down.

Yun Zhi instinctively pinched her own cheek. “Have I?”

Yu Mingxia watched the movement, her eyes downcast as she stifled a smile. Before she could answer, Yun Zhi cut in. “It’s just work. No one’s bullying anyone.”

An’an pouted, ignoring the explanation and keeping her eyes on Yu Mingxia.

“It’s my fault. I’ll pay more attention from now on and try to help Zhizhi gain that weight back,” Yu Mingxia replied.

An’an was very satisfied with this answer—and with Yu Mingxia in general. The real person was even more beautiful than the photos, gentle and polite. A perfect match for Zhizhi.

Zhu Qingmeng didn’t speak; she just kept her eyes on Yu Mingxia. She couldn’t tell what the situation was between the two yet and planned to find an opportunity to ask.

An’an chewed on her food, her eyes darting around. In the silence, she asked, “Zhizhi, how’s that woman who was pursuing you lately? Did you say yes?”

The question was for Yun Zhi, but her eyes were fixed on Yu Mingxia.

Yun Zhi froze, looking at An’an in confusion. She didn’t remember ever saying anyone was pursuing her.

“You know, the one in finance. Really good-looking, total Big Sister type. Didn’t you say you liked her a lot?” An’an blinked innocently.

The moment An’an mentioned this, Yu Mingxia’s movements slowed. When she heard “liked her a lot,” she stopped entirely and, like An’an, looked at Yun Zhi.

Seeing Yu Mingxia’s lips purse and her gentle demeanor vanish, Jiang Yan’an almost burst out laughing. This is exactly the same as when Qingmeng gets jealous! She didn’t believe for a second that Yu Mingxia didn’t have feelings for Yun Zhi.

Caught between the two gazes, Yun Zhi felt a strange sense of guilt, as if she really had said those things. Since she’d promised to help Yu Mingxia, she certainly wouldn’t be tangling with anyone else. Yu Mingxia’s look made her feel caught.

“I never said that!” Yun Zhi defended herself, then instinctively explained to Yu Mingxia, “I really didn’t.”

Seeing the reaction, the gloom in Yu Mingxia’s heart dissipated significantly. She asked casually, “What counts as a ‘Big Sister’ type?”

An’an couldn’t wait to jump in. “You do! Rounding it up, you’re exactly the type Zhizhi likes.”

Yu Mingxia looked at Yun Zhi. “Is that so?”

Yun Zhi: “…”

She had no choice but to look at the silent Zhu Qingmeng. “Can you handle An’an?”

Zhu Qingmeng shrugged. “I’d like to know too.”

Though she didn’t know the specifics of their current dynamic, she was definitely choosing to play matchmaker. Yun Zhi didn’t understand why a simple breakfast had turned into a discussion of her “type.” An’an she expected—before and after the Nan Qiao fallout, An’an was always trying to set her up. But Yu Mingxia and Zhu Qingmeng? Why were they joining in?

Seeing they had no intention of dropping it, Yun Zhi sighed. “I don’t really have a ‘type.’ I’ve only ever had a heartbeat for two people; I haven’t really researched—”

She was cut off by An’an slamming her hand on the table. “Two?! Who else? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yun Zhi blinked innocently. “I didn’t know you then.”

“Who? Who is it?” An’an forgot all about observing Yu Mingxia; she was consumed by curiosity. This was an opportunity! If she’d known Yun Zhi had another crush, she would have done whatever it took to bring that person to her.

“She transferred schools in the second semester of freshman year. You wouldn’t know her.”

“Does Nan Qiao know?” An’an pressed.

Yun Zhi was silent for a few seconds before nodding. “Yes.” She had known Nan Qiao longer than An’an; back in high school, she told Nan Qiao everything.

“That’s so unfair! Why does Nan Qiao get to know and I don’t!” An’an had always competed with Nan Qiao for Yun Zhi’s attention.

Yun Zhi looked to Zhu Qingmeng for help. Qingmeng just smiled, her face reading “I can’t help you here.” Meanwhile, Yu Mingxia was watching her in silence.

Yun Zhi had felt guilty since they sat down, especially under Mingxia’s silent gaze. It felt like she was betraying her. But we’re just friends, aren’t we?

“What’s her name? I’ll definitely know it,” An’an persisted. “Even if I don’t, I’ll find out.”

Yun Zhi had no choice. “Pei Wenna.”

“That was ten years ago, and you still remember her name?” An’an was shocked. She hadn’t expected Yun Zhi to actually provide a name.

Yun Zhi realized she’d been a bit foolish. She was about to explain that she’d only remembered because she saw a photo recently, when she heard Yu Mingxia’s voice.

“Pei Wenna.”

Hearing her repeat it, Yun Zhi guessed she remembered the name. Seeing An’an about to pounce with more questions, she hurried to ask, “You know her?”

Yu Mingxia wasn’t in the best mood and only gave an “Mm.” But as Yun Zhi kept looking at her, her heart softened. “She helped me with something in freshman year.”

Back then, during an art competition, Pei Wenna had lent Mingxia her drawing board.

Yun Zhi nodded like a chick pecking grain. “She really was a good person.”

Catching Yu Mingxia’s flat, unreadable gaze, Yun Zhi sensitively sensed something and added softly, “You’re a good person too! You’re also a good person.”

After breakfast, Yun Zhi realized she’d spent the whole meal being interrogated like a criminal. Most importantly, she had acted like she had a guilty conscience. It was bad that she hadn’t told An’an about that old crush, but… why did she feel the need to explain every single detail so honestly? And why did she keep over-explaining whenever Yu Mingxia looked at her?

Feeling a bit gloomy, Yun Zhi pushed the dirty dishes toward An’an. “Since you asked so many questions, you do the dishes.”

An’an huffed and showed off her manicured nails. “No way. I just got these done.”

“What, is Qingmeng not letting you do anything with your nails now?”

“Not that. I’m just afraid of hurting my Mengmeng… you wouldn’t understand this kind of ‘bed’—”

“I’ll do them.” Zhu Qingmeng interrupted with a helpless look, then glanced at Yu Mingxia.

Yu Mingxia understood. “I’ll help.”

The two of them prepared to take the dishes to the kitchen. Yun Zhi froze, then stood up to stop them, but An’an pulled her back. “What are you doing? This is fair. My family sends Mengmeng, your family sends Yu Mingxia. You can’t make my Mengmeng do them alone.”

What ‘your family’? Yu Mingxia is a guest! Yun Zhi was about to protest when she heard Yu Mingxia’s light laugh. “That makes sense. I’ll do it.”

Yun Zhi felt like they were in cahoots, but then thought maybe Yu Mingxia was just being her usual gentle self. In the end, Mingxia and Qingmeng entered the kitchen together.

“Still staring? They’re already in there.” An’an waved a hand in front of her face.

“Jiang Yan’an,” Yun Zhi bit her lip. “If you keep this up, I’m going to get angry.”

An’an sat up straight and acted spoiled. “Don’t be mad. I was just testing her.”

Yun Zhi stayed silent, just looking at her.

“Oh, really! Don’t you want to know the result?” An’an knew Yun Zhi would be curious. “She definitely has feelings for you. When I asked about that person pursuing you, her face turned so cold—exactly like when Mengmeng gets jealous.”

An’an had experience. If nothing else, that jealous expression was identical to Zhu Qingmeng’s.

Yun Zhi didn’t take it to heart. She only reminded her, “I can’t explain everything, but it’s definitely not what you think. So An’an, don’t do that again.” Yun Zhi spoke gently; she knew An’an meant well and just wanted her to move on.

An’an didn’t understand, but Yun Zhi did: Yu Mingxia had someone she liked, and they had a mutual-help agreement.

An’an seemed to partially understand, realizing she’d made Yun Zhi feel awkward. “Oh. Okay.” Yun Zhi thought she got it, until An’an added: “Next time I’ll be more subtle with the matchmaking. I’ll try not to make it so direct so you won’t be embarrassed.” She had a “look how much I care about you” expression.

“…” She understood, yet she didn’t understand at all.

In the kitchen, Yu Mingxia and Zhu Qingmeng stood side-by-side, methodically washing and rinsing. A job one person could easily do was split between the two.

“Planning to say something?” Qingmeng spoke first.

“I’m thinking about where to start,” Yu Mingxia replied.

“Need help?”

“No.”

“Not telling her?”

“No.”

“What’s your current relationship?”

“Best friends.”

The conversation was succinct. Zhu Qingmeng glanced at Yu Mingxia, who was rinsing a bowl. Water droplets fell onto her pale hand; she looked cold and quiet. She was a different person from the one she had been in front of Yun Zhi.

Remembering how Mingxia had at least “put on an act” for An’an, only to be undisguisedly cold in front of her, Qingmeng laughed. “Just a reminder: I’m also Yun Zhi’s friend.” You should at least try to act a bit in front of me.

“I was thinking about something,” Yu Mingxia looked at her and offered a polite social grace. “You wash dishes very cleanly.”

Zhu Qingmeng: “…You too.”

“What type does Yun Zhi like?” Yu Mingxia asked, remembering An’an’s words.

“To be honest, I’m not sure. But I think she’s a person who goes by feeling. Maybe she just has a heartbeat in a certain moment and that’s it.”

Yu Mingxia thought about this in silence.

“How about an agreement? If you agree, I’ll teach you how to pursue Yun Zhi,” Qingmeng said as she put the last bowl away.

“Go on.”

“For future four-person dinners, you do 70% of the dishes and I do 30%.” This was an early welcome into the group.

However… “You’re the one who does the dishes in your house?”

“Yun Zhi seems to hate doing dishes too. Don’t worry, once you’re together, you won’t want her to touch the water anyway.” Qingmeng saw nothing wrong with this.

Yu Mingxia, however, was thinking of something else. “Can I just buy a few more dishwashers?”

“…”

Zhu Qingmeng looked at her, waiting for a real answer. Remembering the Zhu Qingmeng from high school, Yu Mingxia smiled. “You love her just as much as you did back then.”

Qingmeng gave a soft “Mm.” “I promised her I would spoil her, and I won’t go back on that. I hope you’re the same.” Though she trusted Mingxia, Yun Zhi was An’an’s most important friend, so she would remain cautious.

“I know.”

Zhu Qingmeng took that as an agreement to the deal. “An’an thought of me as just a friend back then. Later, when the mood was right, I kissed her, and that’s when it finally clicked for her.”

“That was based on the fact that she already had a good impression of you.” Yu Mingxia knew that in her current situation, such a move would only push Yun Zhi away.

“Then just make sure she has a good impression of you, regardless of what kind of impression it is,” Qingmeng smiled. “From where I’m standing, you’re not far from that day.”

Yu Mingxia considered her words. While it wasn’t time yet, she added it to the plan. Whether she’d use it was a question for later.