Back to Auntie’s School Days - Chapter 29

Zhu Xinsui was leaving the country in early October. Before she left, she invited the three of them out for a meal.

Jian Hao remembered the restaurant; her mother used to bring her here often when she was little. She loved their sweet and sour pork—crispy and sugary. Later, the owner quit, and the restaurant turned into a lottery shop. Jian You didn’t bring Jian Hao back there much after that, though Jian You herself often went to buy lottery tickets. Although she never won once, Jian Hao sometimes wondered if Jian You was obsessed with winning or something else entirely.

It was the National Day holiday, but since there weren’t many tourist spots near the restaurant, the place was empty. Even though there were only four of them, when Zhu Xinsui asked for a private room, the owner readily agreed.

The four of them ordered several dishes and some beer. When she saw the waiter bring half a dozen beers to the table, Jian Hao was surprised. “Who ordered the alcohol?”

“I did.”

Jian Hao looked at the speaker, her mouth dropping open slightly in shock. It was actually… Zhu Xinsui.

Did she have a stereotype of Xinsui? She never imagined Xinsui would be the type to proactively suggest drinking. Wearing a blue denim jacket, Xinsui gave a shy smile. “Thinking about how I don’t know when we’ll meet again… I’m sad enough to want a drink.”

Jian Hao: “Can… can you drink?” She looked at Jian You, who hadn’t said much since they entered the shop. “Jian You, wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t drink?”

She wanted Jian You to stop Xinsui. After all, she’d heard Xinsui’s family was very strict; wouldn’t she get scolded if she went home smelling of alcohol?

“Drink,” Jian You said. “Why not?” She looked at Xinsui. “Isn’t there a poem that says, ‘I urge you to drink one more cup of wine, for as you go west past Yangguan Pass, there will be no old friends’?”

Jian Hao could only turn to Tan Yanqing. Tan Yanqing was pouring tea into the tableware, swirling it around to rinse them with the hot water, appearing to have no intention of intervening.

Jian Hao turned back to the table. “Fine… but I can’t drink. One sip and I’m dizzy. I’ll stick to Orange Minute Maid.”

Jian You had already popped the caps with her teeth and was distributing the bottles. “If you don’t want to drink, just say so. You, a person who can’t even remember who her own mom is, still remembers that she gets dizzy after one sip?”

Jian Hao stammered, “I just don’t want to.”

“I’m not drinking either,” Tan Yanqing said as Jian You tried to hand her a bottle.

“Oh! You’re still a minor.” Jian You looked at Xinsui. “Looks like it’s just the two of us.” She placed the orange juice between Tan Yanqing and Jian Hao. “Pour your own.”

“Mhm.”

Jian Hao twisted the cap and instinctively reached for Tan Yanqing’s cup to pour for her first. But she saw Tan Yanqing unwrapping a new set of bowls. Looking over, she saw Tan Yanqing place the bowls she had just rinsed in front of her.

She smiled and said, “Thank you.”

Tan Yanqing lifted her eyes to glance at her. “Mhm.”

Jian Hao shifted her stool, taking the chance to lean into Tan Yanqing’s ear and whisper: “You’re so good.”

As she sat back, Jian Hao clearly saw Tan Yanqing’s ears turn red. Just like after they kissed the other day.

Having traveled back to 2008 and meeting the young Tan Yanqing, Jian Hao found that “Xiao Tan” and “Adult Tan” had many differences. Although they both spoke little, were concise, and carried a faint sense of detachment, their reactions were very different. Like just now—Tan Yanqing lowered her eyes silently, but her ears turned red. Auntie Tan would have just looked at her with a simple smile and pinched her cheek.

But whatever the reaction, as long as it was Tan Yanqing, Jian Hao was more than willing to capture it.

She snatched the teapot, mimicking Tan Yanqing’s movements to rinse the girl’s tableware. Although she enjoyed the feeling of being cared for by Tan Yanqing, Jian Hao knew that even if someone treats you well unconditionally, you shouldn’t willfully waste that kindness. Love is mutual.

So, after rinsing Tan Yanqing’s bowls, Jian Hao turned and did the same for Jian You, and reminded Xinsui to rinse hers with water as well.

The dishes were served one after another. Jian Hao looked at them; they were the same ones Jian You used to order when she brought her here as a child. Having not eaten them for so long, she took a few bites and found they were exactly the taste from her memory.

However, Jian Hao also noticed that except for her and Tan Yanqing, the other two were in an extreme emotional state. How to put it? They didn’t say a word; they just ate, drank, ate, and drank.

As the last dish was served, Jian Hao took a sip of her orange juice and gave a dry laugh. “Xinsui, what major are you planning to study later?”

“Translation or Bridge Engineering.”

When she met Auntie Zhu, she was a translator—the goal was the same.

Jian You kept her head down. “Is that what you want to study, or what your parents want you to?”

Zhu Xinsui: “Myself.”

Jian You: “Oh.”

“…”

The topic Jian Hao had just opened was closed again. She looked at Tan Yanqing, wanting her to say something to ease the atmosphere. Tan Yanqing caught her eye, paused for a moment, and looked at Xinsui.

“Stay in touch after you go abroad.”

“Of course.” Zhu Xinsui shifted her gaze from Jian You to the table and smiled. “When things happen to you all, you can email me and let me know. I’ll tell you my things, too.”

Under the table, Jian Hao secretly tugged at Jian You’s clothes. Jian You glanced at her and saw Jian Hao winking and making faces—the meaning was far too obvious.

Jian You exhaled and looked at Xinsui with a smile. “We will. Is your email just your QQ number?”

“Mhm. We’re friends on there, too. If you… if you miss me, just leave a message. I’ll reply to everything I see.”

“And what if I want to see you in person?”

“I’ll take photos and send them to you.”

Jian You gave a short laugh. “Can see, but can’t touch…” Realizing what she’d said, she pursed her lips and drank some beer, falling silent.

After a few seconds of silence, Xinsui turned to start a conversation with Tan Yanqing.

“…”

Although the atmosphere at the table was still a bit strange, it was lively enough to feel like a meal between friends. Despite it being a farewell dinner, no one mentioned the departure again while eating. Instead, they discussed interesting things from school and class.

Who was dating whom, who was bickering with whom, who made what joke during class…

It wasn’t until four of the six beers were finished by Jian You and Xinsui’s parents called to urge her home that the meal came to an end.

Xinsui hung up the phone and looked at them. After hesitating for a few seconds, her eyes reddened. ” I can’t bear to leave you all. I don’t want to go…”

She stood up. “I don’t know when I’ll be back. When I do come back and look for you, don’t pretend you don’t know me. Even if you just treat me to a meal or tea, you have to reminisce about the past with me, because… in my whole life, I’ve been closest to you three. You’re my best friends. I don’t want you to forget me…”

All four of them had red-rimmed eyes. Tan Yanqing and Jian Hao both hugged Xinsui, making promises not to forget. Once they were finished, Xinsui looked at Jian You. Jian You stood to the side, watching them as if it were a shadow play, like an audience member. Seeing the “lead actress” look at her, she didn’t have the courage to step forward for a hug. She just said, “I’ll see you out.”

A look of disappointment flickered in Xinsui’s eyes, but she nodded. “Mhm.”

The two left the room one after another. Tan Yanqing and Jian Hao were perceptive enough not to follow, instead sitting back in their seats to wait for Jian You to return.

The bottle of orange juice wasn’t finished. After pouring herself a cup, Jian Hao asked Tan Yanqing if she wanted some. Tan Yanqing shook her head.

Jian Hao looked at Tan Yanqing’s reddened eyes. She set down her cup, propped her right arm on the table, and leaned her body toward Tan Yanqing on her left. Faced with her proximity, Tan Yanqing turned her head to the left, as if not wanting Jian Hao to see her like this.

But Jian Hao forced herself closer. Seeing she couldn’t avoid it, Tan Yanqing turned back and glanced at her. In that eye contact, she saw tenderness in Jian Hao’s eyes.

Jian Hao said softly, “She will come back. You will meet again.”

Tan Yanqing pursed her lips, her throat feeling dry. “Maybe.” She said, “Some departures are permanent.”

Jian Hao’s left hand rested on Tan Yanqing’s leg. “Missing your mom?” she asked, her hand pressing down slightly. The warmth of her palm and the pressure of her hand told Tan Yanqing she was still there.

Tan Yanqing lowered her eyes in silence.

Looking at her red-rimmed eyes, Jian Hao smiled slightly. “Do you want to cry? You can lean on my shoulder.”

Tan Yanqing lifted her eyelids and looked at her. “No need.” She said, “I’m out of tears.”

“Ah? Why like that? I wanted to hold you like in an idol drama and wipe your tears, telling you that you still have me.”

Tan Yanqing let out a helpless laugh. Seeing her smile, Jian Hao smiled too.

Her hand somehow found its way to Tan Yanqing’s ear, gently pinching the soft earlobe. “I don’t know what to say to comfort you, but just like a newborn leaving their mother’s womb, life begins with parting. Besides accepting it, we must also believe that our mothers are always by our sides.”

Jian Hao’s hand fell to Tan Yanqing’s shoulder in a soothing gesture. “She’s watching you from the sky.”

“Watching you work hard and study seriously every day according to the plan she made for you, watching you eat well, watching you make new friends…” Jian Hao gripped Tan Yanqing’s hand. “Because she wants to watch you every second, she made an exchange with God to let her be a star in the sky. Whenever you look up, you can see her.”

She finished and squeezed Tan Yanqing’s hand tight. “Did you know? You can actually see stars during the day, too.”

“I know.”

“Right, she knows you’ve researched this.” Jian Hao laughed. “So, Mom is always with you. Don’t be sad anymore.”

Tan Yanqing’s heart felt swollen with emotion. Since her parents’ passing, no one had said these things to her; people either pitied her, praised her for being strong, or looked at her with mournful eyes. She should have said something to Jian Lai, but only a single “Mhm” came out. It made her sound cold and unfeeling.

Jian Hao didn’t mind. That was just Tan Yanqing’s personality; if she wanted to be warm, she wouldn’t know how to start. If she suddenly became passionate, it would be a bit weird. She didn’t expect Tan Yanqing to say much.

But… she did miss Tan Yanqing’s passion. Like the kiss that day.

Although Jian Hao was a bit impulsive and fiery, she also had her own inner shyness and cowardice. She wasn’t sure what Tan Yanqing was thinking, so she mirrored whatever attitude Tan Yanqing had. Regarding the kiss that day, they had reached a silent agreement to never mention it.

Now, seeing Tan Yanqing’s eyes red over Xinsui’s departure, Jian Hao smiled. “Tan Yanqing, you look so much like you want to be bullied right now.”

Jian Hao leaned in, resting her chin lazily on Tan Yanqing’s shoulder. Tan Yanqing was wearing a light gray hoodie today; the fabric was soft, like leaning against a cloud. The scent of fresh laundry detergent drifted into her nose, and Jian Hao lifted her gaze.

Looking at Tan Yanqing like this, she could see the fine, wheat-like hair near her temples, and she could see her eyes more directly without the barrier of lenses, even from the side. Thick, long, curled lashes… Wait? Is the blinking frequency a bit fast?

Jian Hao felt a sweetness in her heart. “Are you anticipating something?”

Neither of them had been drinking, but they were drunk on the scent of alcohol floating in the air.

Tan Yanqing turned her head to look at Jian Lai. She turned too fast and with the reflection of the lenses, her eyes lost focus for a moment. She pushed her glasses up, and her gaze slowly settled on Jian Lai’s face. Jian Lai’s cheeks were pink, and her usually smiling eyes were also red.

Jian Lai had cried, too. But the first thing she did was comfort her.

Tan Yanqing’s heart was like a peach pastry—fragile and easy to crumble. If it were left alone, it would be fine, but the most dangerous thing was for someone to pick it up and take a bite. She would crumble at a single hand-lift or turn from that person.

The waves in Tan Yanqing’s heart were calmly suppressed by the time they reached her eyes. she just stared quietly at Jian Lai.

“How would you bully me?”

Jian Hao’s heart hammered. “How do you want me to bully you?”

A smile appeared in Tan Yanqing’s eyes. “I have to think of it even when I’m the one being bullied?”

“Haha…” Jian Hao tilted her head. “Can’t I?”

Tan Yanqing: “Tell me, and I’ll see if you can.”

“Well…”

Their joined hands were already covered in a thin layer of sweat. Jian Hao’s fingers slowly threaded through Tan Yanqing’s, turning the hand-holding into an interlocking grip. She said hoarsely, “I want to give it another try.”

“Then let’s try.”

Tan Yanqing’s voice—without a hint of hesitation—vibrated against the base of Jian Hao’s ear, like a spark erupting into a flame. Jian Hao’s heart accelerated, and her whole body felt hot.

They leaned toward each other, their breaths entangling in an instant.

Creak—

The time bomb that was the door made a sound.

A second before the door fully opened, the two who were about to touch pulled back as if struck by lightning, putting a meter of distance between them. But under the table, their hands were still joined.

Jian Hao rubbed her red, hot face. Her body felt filled with the white-noise static of an old TV with no signal. She picked up the orange juice and took two gulps; the cool liquid hit her stomach, providing relief to the prickling heat.

It was the waiter coming in to ask if they needed to pack up any leftovers. They said no. Once the waiter left, Jian Hao and Tan Yanqing locked eyes.

Jian Hao burst out laughing, letting go of Tan Yanqing’s hand and sitting properly in her seat. “Good thing it wasn’t Jian You,” she said.

Compared to Jian Hao’s panic, Tan Yanqing had appeared calm throughout. Hearing Jian Hao’s words, she also picked up her juice, took a sip to moisten her dry mouth, and asked: “Are you afraid of her seeing?”

Jian Hao: “Aren’t you?”

“Why should I be?”

“Aren’t you afraid she’ll tell? Then… what would the person you like think if they found out?”

Tan Yanqing’s gaze paused as she looked at Jian Hao. There was a hint of surprise in her eyes. Surprised at what?

Jian Hao lowered her eyes, avoiding Tan Yanqing’s gaze. She stared at the clothes she was wearing—dark blue jeans, a black jacket, and black canvas shoes… these were all provided by Tan Yanqing. From childhood to now, her world had been inseparable from Tan Yanqing. Even now in a different time, it was the same.

Jian Hao didn’t think this was bad; on the contrary, she thought it was wonderful. She wanted to be entangled with Tan Yanqing!

Even if Tan Yanqing liked someone else, she would stay by her side as a friend or classmate. Even if Auntie Tan had someone she liked in the future, she would stay by her side as a goddaughter. She would always create some bond between herself and Tan Yanqing. She’d make her unable to forget her—even if she hated her, she had to be in her heart.

She would occupy a corner of Tan Yanqing’s heart. Even if it was just a corner, even if the biggest part was reserved for that “White Moonlight,” she would still roam around in there.

But where was that White Moonlight? When would she appear?

After the last kiss, Jian Hao thought interacting with Tan Yanqing would be awkward and had prepared multiple responses, but when she woke up the next day, it turned out the panic was hers alone. Tan Yanqing was the same as usual, acting as if nothing had happened. It was as if that kiss really was just a “try” to satisfy curiosity.

Jian Hao: ?

She used to look at Tan Yanqing a lot during class, but it became even more frequent after that. Tan Yanqing had kissed her, but the premise was that she was “curious” and Tan Yanqing said she was too. But Tan Yanqing had understood her feelings before that kiss. So for Jian Hao, it wasn’t just curiosity. Did Tan Yanqing understand that?

If she did, her nonchalance was truly masterful. If she didn’t, should she talk to her about it? But did Tan Yanqing really not understand? They kissed! Under what circumstances do people kiss? Even with teenage curiosity, someone with Tan Yanqing’s character wouldn’t just “try” with anyone.

Did Tan Yanqing kissing her mean…

Jian Hao suddenly looked up. She stared at the orange juice on the table, then at the rinsed tableware Tan Yanqing had prepared for her, and then all the things Tan Yanqing had said and her various reactions flashed through her mind. Finally, there was that look of surprise Tan Yanqing just gave her.

Could Tan Yanqing have kissed her… because… she liked her?

Tan Yanqing liked her?!

What about the White Moonlight? Could Tan Yanqing have fallen for her instead because she appeared?

“The person I like… who are you referring to?”

Tan Yanqing’s voice reached her ears like a breeze, fanning the flames on Jian Hao’s burning ears even higher.

“Just… the person you like,” Jian Hao managed to find her voice after a moment. She didn’t dare look at Tan Yanqing as she spoke.

If it really was what she suspected, she had been too slow to realize it! Right, she should have thought of it sooner—someone as boring but devoted as Auntie Tan wouldn’t just kiss someone randomly.

“Who do I like?”

Jian Hao turned to look at Tan Yanqing, cleared her throat, and said: “I think you like me.”

“That’s not what you meant by your words just now.”

“…”

I only just figured it out! Who told me to assume you had some White Moonlight or Cinnabar Mole? Jian Hao stayed silent.

Seeing Tan Yanqing’s slightly furrowed brow, Jian Hao knew she was angry.

“So Jian Lai, what do you think our relationship is?”

Hearing the laugh in Tan Yanqing’s voice as she spoke, Jian Hao blinked.

Relationship? What was their relationship? Classmates and friends, or lovers? Presumably the latter. But didn’t the internet say dating required a confession and a bouquet of flowers? Even without flowers, there hadn’t even been a confession…

Tan Yanqing hadn’t confessed!

So… Tan Yanqing looked like nothing happened on the surface, but in reality, she already considered them to be dating?

Huh?

Then which day of their relationship is this?