WRR – Chapter 19

The feeling hit her belatedly. It wasn’t until she was in the car that Xu Shi felt moved.

Deeply moved, the kind that made her want to cry.

She really wanted to say something to Yu Lingshan, and she had already figured out what to say, but the moment she turned her head, she heard Yu Lingshan burp.

After burping, Yu Lingshan quickly covered her mouth and turned to look at Xu Shi. Seeing that Xu Shi was also looking at her, she paused and said, “You didn’t hear that.”

Xu Shi instantly wanted to laugh, but she held it in. “I didn’t hear anything.”

Yu Lingshan: “And you didn’t see anything.”

Xu Shi nodded. “Didn’t see anything.”

Yu Lingshan: “Alright, turn your head back.”

Xu Shi pressed her lips together and turned back around.

Yu Lingshan: “No laughing.”

Xu Shi let out the laugh she was holding back, clearing her throat. “I’m not laughing.”

Yu Lingshan must have eaten and drunk too much. The food at the dinner party tonight was indeed delicious. Xu Shi had been a bit too shy to eat much, but Yu Lingshan was different. Every time Xu Shi turned her head, Yu Lingshan was eating.

So thin, yet she could eat so much.

Yu Lingshan’s little interruption pulled Xu Shi back from her emotional state. Xu Shi wasn’t a very eloquent person to begin with, especially not with Yu Lingshan. So the words of gratitude she had spent so long brewing in her mind were abruptly cut short.

She watched the trees fly past the window, preparing herself to try again.

“Yu Lingshan.”

“Hic.”

Their eyes met once more in the car.

This time, Xu Shi finally couldn’t hold back her laughter. She swallowed the words she had been about to say and told Yu Lingshan, “Even beautiful women can burp.”

Yu Lingshan: “Shut up.”

Xu Shi smiled. “Okay.”

Yu Lingshan then asked, “What did you want to say to me?”

Xu Shi: “Didn’t you just tell me to shut up?”

Yu Lingshan sat up a little straighter, then leaned back again. “Well, well. Look at you, talking back to me now.”

Xu Shi suppressed a smile. “I’m not.”

Yu Lingshan: “Go on, say it.”

Xu Shi clasped her hands in her lap. “I wanted to say, thank you for taking me to see Teacher Wu.”

Yu Lingshan hummed in acknowledgment, unconcerned. “You’re welcome.”

Xu Shi thought for a moment, then added, “It might have just been a casual thing for you to bring me along, but this is really important to me.”

Yu Lingshan had been leaning back leisurely, playing with her phone with one hand and twirling a strand of her hair with the other. Hearing Xu Shi’s words, she locked her phone with a click.

Then she turned sideways to face Xu Shi. “And?”

“I’m just really, really grateful to you. I don’t know how much you know about my past, about what happened with Ying Jie, and about me back then… I… for you to still help me like this after knowing.” Xu Shi felt her emotions welling up, and her nose began to sting.

Xu Shi paused, wanting to compose herself before continuing.

But Yu Lingshan interrupted her. “Are you going to cry?”

Xu Shi: “No.”

Yu Lingshan looked disappointed. “Well, that’s not very sincere, is it?”

Xu Shi’s emotions were once again pushed back down. “No, I’m being very sincere.”

Yu Lingshan smiled and patted Xu Shi’s head. “We’re still in the car. You can cry for me when we get back.”

Xu Shi: “I’m not crying.”

Yu Lingshan chuckled. “A few more words and you would be.”

Xu Shi couldn’t argue with that. You’re amazing, Yu Lingshan.

Since Yu Lingshan told her to wait until they got back, Xu Shi obediently held back the rest of her words.

Then Xu Shi thought back on their conversation. What on earth had they been talking about? Yu Lingshan was truly the master of ruining the mood.

The teahouse was some distance from the hotel. By now, the city’s nightlife was just beginning, and the roads were a bit congested. Their car crawled along before a red light like a turtle.

Yu Lingshan looked a little tired. Tired and full. Her head was tilted, resting in the gap between the window and the headrest, and she patted her stomach rhythmically.

“I can go buy you some digestive aids later,” Xu Shi offered.

Yu Lingshan: “Don’t want them.”

Xu Shi: “Alright.”

Yu Lingshan added, “I want a drink.”

Xu Shi swallowed, gathering her courage for a long moment before asking, “Do you need me to drink with you?”

Yu Lingshan slowly lifted her head. “You?”

Xu Shi knew Yu Lingshan was aware of her alcohol tolerance. She really had no right to offer to be a drinking partner, so she amended her statement. “I can pour for you.”

Yu Lingshan closed her eyes again. “Do I look like I’m short on people to pour me drinks?”

Xu Shi felt like she was asking for a snub. “No.”

Yu Lingshan said, “Call Tingting. Have her bring two bottles of wine to my room.”

Xu Shi immediately took out her phone. “Okay.”

Yu Lingshan added, “And if a certain little kid needs it, have Tingting buy a pack of AD Calcium Milk.”

Xu Shi: “…”

Xu Shi: “I don’t need it.”

Yu Lingshan chuckled. “Did I say it was you? Why are you taking it so personally?”

Xu Shi: “…”

What was that about?

Xu Shi took her phone out of her bag and called Tingting. The moment the phone started ringing, Tingting picked up, as if she were on standby waiting for Xu Shi’s command.

“Xu Shi?” Tingting asked. “Is there anything you need?”

Xu Shi paused. How did Tingting know she needed something?

“Yu Ling- uh, Teacher Yu would like two bottles of wine sent to her room.”

Tingting: “Okay. Anything else?”

Xu Shi: “No, that’s all.”

Tingting asked, “Do you need any Beilile?”

Xu Shi didn’t understand the word, but she relayed the message.

“Tingting is asking if you need Beilile,” Xu Shi said to Yu Lingshan.

Yu Lingshan: “…Tell her to get lost.”

Uh… this.

Xu Shi brought the phone closer to her mouth and said to Tingting, “Teacher Yu doesn’t need it.”

Tingting must have heard Yu Lingshan’s “get lost,” because a chuckle came through the receiver. “Alright, I’ll go prepare it. I wish you two a pleasant evening.”

Xu Shi: “Thank you. Sorry for the trouble.”

---

After getting out of the car and entering the hotel lobby, Xu Shi suddenly thought of Heard for some reason. She remembered what Heard had told her a few days ago about seizing the opportunity.

So she opened Heard’s chat window again.

Yan Wuwu: Miss, your predictions are so accurate

Yan Wuwu: On this trip, I met a teacher I really admire

Yan Wuwu: And so many other things happened

Yan Wuwu: I’m so happy

Yan Wuwu: Hehe

Once inside the elevator, Xu Shi felt that wasn’t enough and added a few more messages.

Yan Wuwu: If it’s possible, I’d really like to treat you to a meal. Coffee is fine too

Yan Wuwu: Thank you so much

Xu Shi had long since resigned herself to the idea that Heard probably wouldn’t log on again. Like many users who registered for a day or two and then disappeared, leaving no information behind, no trace of this person could be found.

Maybe she had forgotten about Ding Dong Dong, or forgotten about Xu Shi, or maybe she never cared in the first place. All were possibilities.

But she would still say what she wanted to say to Heard.

What if one day Heard remembered her?

After sending the messages, Xu Shi scrolled up, looking at her own rambling messages from the past few days, and couldn’t help but find it amusing.

She scrolled up a few pages before exiting and locking her phone. When she looked up, she saw Yu Lingshan putting her own phone away, and she even glanced at her.

Xu Shi smiled at Yu Lingshan.

Yu Lingshan smiled back. “Why are you always smiling?”

Xu Shi kept smiling. “I don’t know.”

Yu Lingshan reached out and pinched Xu Shi’s cheek.

Yu Lingshan: “So obedient. You didn’t even flinch.”

Tingting was highly efficient. When they arrived at Yu Lingshan’s room, Xu Shi found that the red wine and glasses were already set out, along with some fruit and snacks.

Yu Lingshan had been wearing high heels all day, so as soon as she reached the edge of the carpet, she kicked them off with a flick of her foot. Xu Shi, following behind her, helped nudge the shoes neatly to the side.

“It’s only nine.”

The curtains were drawn open, and Yu Lingshan commented on the time as she looked out at the city’s nightscape.

Xu Shi went to open the red wine, murmuring an “mhm” in response.

Yu Lingshan asked, “What are you usually doing at this time of night?”

Xu Shi thought for a moment. “Usually at home. Sometimes I work overtime.”

Yu Lingshan: “What about that time at the bar?”

Xu Shi stuck her tongue out slightly as she poured wine for Yu Lingshan. “That was my first time.”

Yu Lingshan made a sound of surprise. “So you have no nightlife?”

Xu Shi considered it. “Do company dinners count?”

Yu Lingshan clicked her tongue, took off her jacket, and tossed it aside, muttering, “What a treasure.”

Xu Shi didn’t hear that. She was bending down to pick up Yu Lingshan’s jacket from the floor.

After casually hanging it on a rack, Xu Shi poured a glass for herself as well.

“You’re doing this willingly today,” Yu Lingshan said, glancing at Xu Shi’s glass.

Xu Shi nodded. “I’m willing.”

Yu Lingshan looked up at Xu Shi. “Aren’t you afraid of drinking too much and blacking out?”

Xu Shi thought about it. “I am.”

Yu Lingshan laughed and took Xu Shi’s glass away. “Forget it. I’m very tired today. I don’t want to have to take you back to your room.”

Xu Shi paused. “Alright.”

Yu Lingshan drank ferociously. She could down one mouthful after another without saying a word.

When she finished her own glass, she drank Xu Shi’s. When that was gone, she stared expectantly at Xu Shi, wanting her to pour more.

So now Xu Shi had no wine and no AD Calcium Milk. And despite being told she wouldn’t be pouring the wine, here she was, pouring it.

Yu Lingshan took a few more sips. Xu Shi asked her, “You seem to be in a bad mood?”

Yu Lingshan denied it immediately. “I’m not.”

Xu Shi: “Oh.”

Yu Lingshan then said, “If I were in a bad mood, would you comfort me?”

Xu Shi thought for a moment. “I’m not very good at comforting people.”

Yu Lingshan smiled. “I can tell.”

Then she took another drink.

Xu Shi: “Don’t drink too much.”

Yu Lingshan turned her head. “Are you telling me what to do?”

Xu Shi shook her head. “No.”

Surprisingly, Yu Lingshan actually listened and put her glass down. She popped a cherry into her mouth and asked Xu Shi, “You must have cried a lot because of Ying Jie, right?”

The topic came so suddenly that Xu Shi was stunned for several seconds before answering, “Mhm.”

Yu Lingshan asked, “How long ago was that?”

Xu Shi: “It was during my third year of university. Over two years ago, I think.”

Yu Lingshan nodded. “I’ll tell Teacher Wu tomorrow that you’re willing to participate in the competition.”

Xu Shi subconsciously pressed her lips together, finally saying, “Thank you.”

Yu Lingshan: “Don’t think about anything else. Just prepare for the competition.”

Xu Shi: “Okay.”

Yu Lingshan turned around and picked up a cherry from the fruit platter. “Open your mouth.”

Xu Shi opened her mouth, and Yu Lingshan placed it inside.

Xu Shi chewed mechanically. Yu Lingshan looked into her eyes and said, as if to herself, “The light is gone.”

Xu Shi: “What?”

Yu Lingshan shook her head and asked, “Is it sweet?”

Xu Shi nodded. “It’s sweet.”

Yu Lingshan hadn’t really said much, but Xu Shi’s sadness was stirred up again. Every time Ying Jie was mentioned, Xu Shi was flooded with emotions—unwillingness, regret, helplessness, all incredibly negative.

So after swallowing the cherry, Xu Shi asked, “Can I have a drink?” She held up one finger. “Just one sip.”

Hearing this, Yu Lingshan offered her own wine glass. But just as Xu Shi was about to take it, Yu Lingshan tilted the glass away, just enough so Xu Shi couldn’t touch it.

Yu Lingshan’s fox-like eyes were bright, and a smile played on her lips, as if what Xu Shi wanted to do wasn’t just drink, but something else entirely.

She swirled the wine in the glass and asked Xu Shi, “Are you sure?”

Xu Shi: “Mhm.”

Yu Lingshan pushed the glass over with her index finger pressed against its base. “You’re the one who asked for this.”