Act with Impunity – Chapter 53

Tan Xingwei’s changeability was such that when she couldn’t bear something, she would think to herself that she would never make such a bet again. But once she recovered, she felt she could handle it again, and that she could play again next time, and have a good time.

The night passed quickly. Early the next morning, Su Xu and Tan Xingwei arrived at the dormitory.

Everyone was already awake and preparing to do their makeup. When they saw the two enter, they suddenly screamed, not for any other reason, but because of…

“Flowers!”

The nearest roommate stood up, holding a mirror. She looked at the two bouquets in each of Su Xu and Tan Xingwei’s hands. “Do we get some too?”

Tan Xingwei held up the flowers in her hands. “Of course,” she said. “Big Sister bought them.”

Everyone shouted happily, “Thank you, Big Sister! Thank you, Big Sister!”

Each bouquet was different, and each was beautiful. Everyone looked them over one by one and asked, “Which one is Xingxing’s?”

Tan Xingwei said, “Any of them are fine for me.”

A roommate also asked, “Why do they all look about the same? Xingxing’s should be a little more special.”

“She said she didn’t need it to be,” Su Xu said from the side. “She wanted to be the same as you all.”

The three roommates started crying together. “Thank you, Xingxing, the best Xingxing in the whole world!”

Tan Xingwei nodded. “Alright, alright.”

Since no one could make up their minds, Tan Xingwei took charge of distributing the flowers to everyone.

Su Xu had brought a lot of equipment this time—a gimbal, a camera, a Polaroid—so starting from the makeup session in the dorm, Su Xu became the assistant.

The atmosphere in Tan Xingwei’s dorm was great. It took one person ten minutes to do their makeup, but with four people, it stretched to a full hour.

Through Su Xu’s lens, Tan Xingwei was interviewed by Su Xu about her thoughts on graduating, Tan Xingwei used the camera lens as Su Xu’s eyes to ask if her eyeliner was drawn well, Tan Xingwei put on her graduation gown, Tan Xingwei struck various poses on the balcony, and Tan Xingwei laughed and joked around with her roommates.

Following the camera, everyone went to the library for a group photo, threw their graduation caps in the air, and then randomly picked one to wear on their heads.

“Are you hot?” After the photoshoot, Tan Xingwei ran to Su Xu’s side.

Su Xu aimed the small fan in her hand at Tan Xingwei. “You’re the one who’s hot.”

It was true that Tan Xingwei should be hotter, dressed in thick clothes and constantly under the sun.

But Tan Xingwei said, “It’s fine, it’s fine.” She hooked her arm around Su Xu’s wrist. “I want to take a picture with you. We haven’t taken one together today.”

Su Xu said, “Okay.”

Just then, a roommate came over, so Tan Xingwei handed the camera to her.

The first few pictures were proper, but in the later ones, Tan Xingwei leaned closer and closer, finally planting a kiss. Her roommates screamed “Ahhh” from behind the camera.

“You two are so beautiful,” the photographer was very satisfied and said, “What an unfamiliar Xingxing, you’re so clingy.”

Tan Xingwei didn’t say anything, only thinking to herself, This is nothing.

It was now free time, which meant photo time. Classmates and schoolmates who recognized each other would pull one another in for group photos. It happened to be when the second class of the morning ended, and many underclassmen came over one after another, some to join the fun, some for photos, and the crowd gradually grew.

A few people had also gathered around Tan Xingwei.

And they were all girls.

“Big Sister, let me tell you,” a roommate said to Su Xu under the shade of a tree, fanning herself, “Xingxing is very popular with the underclassmen at school.”

Su Xu looked at Xingxing, who was smiling for photos over there. “Is that so.”

Another roommate added, “Yes, see that girl in the blue shirt? She’s the underclassman we mentioned yesterday, the one Xingxing defended in the group chat.”

Looking over, that underclassman was waiting on the side for a photo.

The roommate added, “For them, knowing Senior Xingxing is something to be quite proud of.”

Su Xu’s eyes curved as she smiled at Tan Xingwei in the distance.

In the end, the underclassmen called all the seniors over, and everyone took a big group photo.

And who took the group photo? Of course, it was our Big Sister Ah Xu.

After the photo, this part of the day was over, and Tan Xingwei automatically walked to Su Xu’s side.

“Are you hot?” It was Su Xu’s turn to ask.

Tan Xingwei wasn’t like Su Xu. One second she was a cool senior, the next she was immediately acting spoiled. “I’m dying of heat.”

Su Xu turned up the speed on the small fan and also said, “Quite popular, aren’t you? So many underclassmen like you.”

Tan Xingwei subconsciously opened her mouth to say something, but she quickly thought of something else.

“They’re just fangirls,” Tan Xingwei looked at Su Xu, her eyes provocative. “I have a lot of fangirls.”

Su Xu lifted the small fan and lightly tapped Tan Xingwei’s forehead.

“Ouch.”

That day, Su Xu took many photos and recorded many videos of Tan Xingwei: on the campus roads, in front of the Confucius statue, on the lush green lawn, and by the sparkling lake. She also recorded Tan Xingwei’s tassel-turning ceremony, everyone’s big sing-along at night, the packing of the dormitory, and the farewells with her roommates the next day.

She recorded the moment of Tan Xingwei’s stunningly beautiful tears.

The two had an evening flight. They cleaned out the dormitory, packed everything up to be shipped, and arrived at the airport just in time.

“I’m so happy,” her roommate was right, Tan Xingwei was very clingy. “You graduated with me.”

The clinginess came from the fact that whenever she thought about how she had never expected Su Xu to be by her side, and now Su Xu was, she would feel exceptionally happy.

Su Xu playfully tickled Tan Xingwei’s chin. “I’ll edit a vlog for you when we get back.”

Tan Xingwei nodded repeatedly. “Okay, okay.”

But the happiness of graduation vanished in an instant. Tan Xingwei hadn’t had enough rest, and she hadn’t even transitioned out of her student mindset before she had to go to work the next day.

Life returned to its former routine: eat, work, go home, play games, make love, sleep, wake up.

Su Xu’s vlog was released a week after graduation. She was such a good editor, that big sister. With the added subtitles, it was like watching a slow-paced variety show, featuring Tan Xingwei’s laughter, her antics, and her tears.

Tan Xingwei was filled with emotion after watching it. She casually sent it to her roommates, to Xue Fu, and to some other friends.

That wasn’t enough, so she sent it to her family group chat as well.

And she attached a sentence: 「Big Sister Ah Xu filmed and edited it, you know」

The video was fifteen minutes long. Tan Yinqing replied before she even finished watching: 「Wow, that’s really great」

Her mother was more sincere, replying only after she had finished watching: 「Very nice【Thumbs up】【Thumbs up】」

Mom: 「Xingxing is so pretty, Ah Xu filmed it very well, you’re both great」

Mom: 「Why did Ah Xu go to A City too? Did she go to have fun with you?」

Tan Xingwei: 「She came specially to be with me, to participate in my graduation」

Mom: 「Ah Xu is so nice」

Mom: 「Don’t you delay her work」

Tan Xingwei: 「I definitely did」

Tan Xingwei: 「Can’t be helped, she loves me」

Mom: 「How dare you say that」

Tan Xingwei: 「I dare」

Tan Xingwei: 「I love her too」

The topic in the group chat ended there. Outside of it, a private message from Tan Yinqing popped up.

Tan Yinqing: 「You’re bold」

Tan Yinqing: 「I’m breaking out in a cold sweat」

Tan Xingwei: 「Haha, it’s fine」

Tan Xingwei: 「Mom clearly didn’t overthink it」

Tan Yinqing: 「I think you’re dying for Mom to overthink it」

Tan Xingwei: 「If she figures it out, I’ll set off fireworks」

Tan Yinqing: 「Let me know when you’re coming out, I’ll leave the group」

Tan Xingwei: 「Hahahaha why are you such a coward! Don’t you dare!」

Tan Xingwei: 「You have to support me firmly」

Tan Yinqing: 「Originally, they would only beat you up」

Tan Xingwei: 「What’s wrong with sharing weal and woe with your little sister!」

Tan Yinqing: 「You should be the one sharing my weal」

Tan Xingwei could be this brazen in her own home, but it was hard to say if she could be elsewhere.

As Su Xu’s mother’s birthday approached, Tan Xingwei gradually grew nervous.

Three days before the birthday, Tan Xingwei dragged Su Xu to the mall to buy gifts. After buying the gifts, she bought housewarming presents, then chose flowers, then a potted plant, keeping busy for quite a while.

Two days before the birthday, Tan Xingwei pestered Su Xu to tell her stories about her childhood, trying to deduce her parents’ personalities from their history.

The day before the birthday, Su Xu took Tan Xingwei back to T City.

Su Xu’s house was a multi-story building, with the ground floor rented out as a storefront. Tan Xingwei had seen photos before, so it was familiar.

As the car pulled up, Su Xu opened the door, and they heard an auntie from the shop call out, “Ah Xu is back.”

Ah Xu: “I’m back.”

The auntie walked out smiling. “Your mother just went out. She said you were bringing a friend home, so she went to the market to buy some fresh seafood.”

As the auntie spoke, she glanced towards the car, as if expecting something, but when she saw Tan Xingwei, she just fanned herself and sat back down.

The things Tan Xingwei bought were just enough for two people to carry; one more item and they would have been helpless.

Going in through the back gate and then into the house, Tan Xingwei’s mood could no longer be described as just nervous. She wasn’t sure if she was panicking or had already come to terms with her fate.

She thought of the message Su Xu had sent in their three-person family group chat yesterday: “I’m bringing my girlfriend home tomorrow.”

It was very direct, but no one had responded.

“Do you think they’ll be waiting with knives to chop me up?” Tan Xingwei asked on the stairs.

Su Xu said softly, “The living room is on the second floor, they can hear you.”

Great. Tan Xingwei’s legs almost gave out.

Seeing this, Su Xu laughed. “Just kidding, they can’t hear, the door is closed.”

Tan Xingwei couldn’t manage a laugh.

Su Xu added, “To chop you up, they’d have to step over my dead body.”

Tan Xingwei: “Haha.”

The auntie’s information was inaccurate. When Su Xu opened the living room door, her parents were sitting on the sofa inside.

Based on the childhood stories Su Xu had told her, Tan Xingwei could vaguely deduce that in Su Xu’s family, her mother was more of the decision-maker. She was the strict one, but also the soft-hearted one. The two sisters had more stories involving their mother from their childhood.

So when their eyes met, Tan Xingwei wasn’t fully prepared and instantly became nervous.

The two adults seemed to be watching TV, but the moment there was a sound at the door, their gazes shifted over.

“You’re back,” her mother said as she walked over. “Why did you buy so many things?”

Su Xu hummed in acknowledgment. “Xingxing bought them. Some for you, some for Dad, and some for the house.”

“You’re too kind,” her mother said with a helpless smile, glancing at Tan Xingwei. “It’s fine to just come, really, you’ve spent too much.”

Tan Xingwei put on her best smile of the moment. “Happy birthday, Auntie.”

Su Xu’s mother nodded. “Okay, okay, you be happy too.”

Perhaps all parents were the same. Not long after Tan Xingwei sat down, Su Xu’s mother started chatting with her, asking about her job, her university, where her family was from, and also her age.

Upon learning that Tan Xingwei was four years younger than Su Xu, the two adults seemed to be lost in thought for a moment, but they quickly composed themselves and continued to chat with Tan Xingwei.

After a few more sentences, Su Xu interrupted them.

“Mom, you’re asking too many questions,” Su Xu said. “Xingxing hasn’t even eaten the mango in her hand.”

Her mother glanced down and also laughed. “Sorry, go ahead and eat.”

Tan Xingwei finally put the mango in her mouth.

Her mother clearly had a tendency to start chatting again, so she was interrupted by Su Xu once more. “It’s not like this is the only time we’ll meet.”

Her mother looked at Su Xu. “I’m not allowed to ask?”

Su Xu: “You’re asking a lot.”

Regardless of what her mother said next, Su Xu stood up. “I’m taking her to see my room.”

Tan Xingwei of course stood up as well.

Her mother said, “It’s very hot upstairs.”

“We’ll turn on the AC,” Su Xu beckoned to Tan Xingwei. “Let’s go.”

And just like that, they left. Tan Xingwei smiled at the aunt and uncle and followed Su Xu.

After closing the living room door, Tan Xingwei’s constantly rigid body finally relaxed.

“Are you holding up okay?” Su Xu asked Tan Xingwei.

Wiping her sweat, Tan Xingwei said, “I’m okay.”

She could still act, which meant the problem wasn’t too big. Su Xu took Tan Xingwei’s hand and complained, “Don’t mind them. It’s so weird, they weren’t interested in you before, but now they have so much to say in person.”

Tan Xingwei smiled. “It’s because they love you.”

Su Xu smiled too, pinching Tan Xingwei’s cheek. “That’s true.”

Tan Xingwei added, “I see you’re quite bold at home too.” She looked at Su Xu. “And you lecture me.”

Su Xu laughed. “The bold child gets the candy.”

Tan Xingwei nodded. “Exactly, exactly.”

Soon they reached Su Xu’s room. The air conditioner hadn’t cooled the room down yet. Tan Xingwei sat down, too lazy to move. She looked out the window, at the bookshelf, swung her legs, glanced at Su Xu, and then quickly looked away.

“What’s wrong?” Su Xu quickly caught it. “What do you want to say?”

Tan Xingwei chuckled. “How did you know I had something to say?”

Su Xu said confidently, “I know all your little expressions like the back of my hand now.”

Hearing this, Tan Xingwei instantly frowned.

Su Xu: “You’re faking.”

Tan Xingwei then gritted her teeth.

Su Xu: “You’re acting.”

Tan Xingwei burst out laughing, then cleared her throat twice. “Just now, when I said I was four years younger than you, your parents’ expressions were a tiny, tiny bit off. Did you notice?”

Su Xu nodded. “I saw it.”

Tan Xingwei asked, “Were they thinking about your sister?”

Su Xu: “Probably.”

Tan Xingwei: “Oh.”

Su Xu: “What’s wrong?”

Tan Xingwei brewed her thoughts for a moment. “I have a small question.”

Su Xu: “Uh-huh.”

Tan Xingwei looked up at Su Xu. “Have you ever,” she thought for a moment and rephrased, “Did you ever, in the past, see me as a substitute for your sister?”

At her words, Su Xu let out a helpless laugh. “I thought you were going to say something serious.” She said with certainty, “Of course not.” She also asked, “Why would you have that idea?”

Knowing the answer was no, Tan Xingwei sat up straight. “I didn’t. It was Tan Yinqing, she’s the one who said that.”

Su Xu: “And you believed her.”

Tan Xingwei slumped down again. “Hehe.”

Su Xu pinched Tan Xingwei’s cheek. “Dummy.”

Speaking of Tan Yinqing, there was another matter.

“She also told me that she told you before that the reason I was so clingy back then,” Tan Xingwei said, growing more indignant as if she were tattling, “was because I saw you as a big sister.”

Tan Xingwei brought this up with the intention of explaining it properly.

But after Su Xu heard it, she made a sound of indifference. “She did say that,” she continued, “I didn’t believe it.”

Tan Xingwei’s thousand words turned into a single, “…Oh.”

Su Xu crossed her arms, looking at Tan Xingwei helplessly.

Tan Xingwei clasped her hands together and lowered her head. “Sorry, I’m an idiot.”