Fall - Chapter 20

Hearing Bo Wanzhao’s soft, gentle words, Yue Can was both quiet and astonished. Even asking for more was acceptable? This was almost too good to be true. She gazed at Bo Wanzhao, her beautiful features radiating warmth as always. Suddenly, she understood Zhong Ran’s oft-repeated phrase: “Who could ever refuse a gentle older sister?”

 

“What else would you like to eat?” Bo Wanzhao asked.

 

“I want…” Yue Can’s mind went blank for a moment. “Anything is fine.”

 

In the end, Yue Can accompanied Bo Wanzhao to the supermarket.

 

Since Yue Can had said anything was fine, Bo Wanzhao took the initiative to choose the groceries herself. Even without Yue Can’s input, she knew her dietary preferences well: no fish or eggs, a dislike for cilantro and celery, tolerance for green onions and ginger, but aversion to garlic…

 

The two walked straight past the seafood section without stopping. As they passed the beverage aisle, Bo Wanzhao picked up a can of peach-flavored soda. “Want this?”

 

“Mm, I love that too!” Yue Can exclaimed, slightly surprised. “Our tastes are quite similar.”

 

Bo Wanzhao simply glanced at Yue Can in silence. After sharing so many meals together, these details would naturally become apparent with a little observation. This keen observation skill had been honed since childhood; without it, life would have been far more difficult.

 

Yue Can had never paid attention to details. Having been pampered since childhood, she was always carefully protected and never needed to think too much.

 

By the time they returned from shopping, night had fallen, and the city lights were beginning to twinkle.

 

Bo Wanzhao was in the kitchen preparing ingredients when Yue Can followed her in, eager to help in any way she could. “I’ll wash the vegetables,” she offered.

 

“Mm-hmm,” Bo Wanzhao replied, this time not asking her to leave.

 

In the cramped kitchen, the two worked together in quiet harmony.

 

Yue Can found it comfortable being around Bo Wanzhao. Perhaps it was because Bo Wanzhao never engaged in unnecessary formalities or lectured her. Strangely, even when Bo Wanzhao didn’t speak, Yue Can never felt bored; she felt she could stay there forever.

 

As they prepared sweet and sour pork ribs, Bo Wanzhao warned Yue Can, “You should step back. The oil will splatter.”

 

“Then I’ll just watch from a distance,” Yue Can insisted.

 

Bo Wanzhao turned to look at her, a helpless smile playing on her lips. “What’s so interesting about watching this?”

 

“It’s… pretty,” Yue Can stubbornly replied.

 

Bo Wanzhao didn’t argue further and let her stay.

 

As soon as the ribs hit the hot oil, they began to sizzle and pop, sending splatters flying. The noise was startling, and Yue Can instinctively flinched backward, while Bo Wanzhao remained as composed as ever.

 

After stir-frying for a while, Bo Wanzhao lowered the heat and walked to the sink, turning on the cold water to run over the back of her hand.

 

“Did you burn yourself?” Yue Can moved closer to Bo Wanzhao, noticing a red mark on the back of her hand where oil had splattered. “Are you okay?”

 

Bo Wanzhao replied casually, “It’s nothing.”

 

Yue Can, who was afraid of pain, winced at the sight. Yet Bo Wanzhao acted as if nothing had happened. It was the first time she’d ever seen someone so calm about a burn. “Do you have any burn ointment?”

 

“Just rinse it with cold water,” Bo Wanzhao said.

 

“Then I’ll go buy some,” Yue Can said, turning to leave.

 

“Yue Can…” Bo Wanzhao tried to stop her, wanting to say it wasn’t necessary.

 

“I’ll be right back,” Yue Can called out, hurrying out the door.

 

There was a pharmacy nearby, only a few hundred meters away. Yue Can rushed there and returned quickly. She felt slightly warm; though it was October, Naxia was still clinging to summer, with temperatures remaining high.

 

The sweet and sour pork ribs had already been plated.

 

Yue Can approached Bo Wanzhao, lowered her head, and twisted open the small jar of ointment. “Let’s put some of this on first.”

 

Bo Wanzhao noticed Yue Can’s slightly flushed cheeks from her hurried return.

 

Yue Can carefully dabbed a fingertip into the ointment and looked up. “Your hand.”

 

“I can do it myself,” Bo Wanzhao said.

 

Yue Can stared at her ointment-covered fingertip, then at Bo Wanzhao.

 

Bo Wanzhao: “……”

 

She reluctantly raised her hand and offered it to Yue Can.

 

Yue Can hesitated, double-checking, “Just wipe it on directly?” The moment she asked, she felt foolish. Of course, directly! What else would I do, eat it? The truth was, she had no experience caring for others and felt awkward.

 

Bo Wanzhao wanted to laugh but patiently replied, “Just wipe it on directly.”

 

Yue Can gently spread the ointment over the reddened area on the back of Bo Wanzhao’s hand, her fingertips moving with meticulous care.

 

The scalded skin burned with a sharp, stinging pain. As the cool ointment touched it, the pain gradually subsided under Yue Can’s fingertips, softening into a gentle warmth that brought considerable relief.

 

This level of pain was nothing to Bo Wanzhao. Several scars on her forearm were from cigarette burns. The thought made her hand tremble involuntarily.

 

“Did I hurt you?” Yue Can reacted even more strongly than Bo Wanzhao, her fingertips freezing mid-motion, afraid to touch her further.

 

“No,” Bo Wanzhao said, taking a deep breath.

 

Yue Can resumed applying the ointment, now even more cautious and gentle.

 

Bo Wanzhao gazed at Yue Can’s focused, bowed head, momentarily lost in thought. Even when she had suffered far worse injuries, no one had ever applied medicine with such tender care.

 

Sensing Bo Wanzhao’s distraction, Yue Can finished applying the ointment, glanced at her, and teased, “Touched?”

 

Bo Wanzhao remained silent, lowering her hand.

 

Yue Can, thick-skinned as ever, grinned at Bo Wanzhao, eager to tease the serious woman. “It’s only natural to be touched by my thoughtfulness. Why be embarrassed to admit it?”

 

Bo Wanzhao’s expression remained unchanged as she calmly watched Yue Can’s nonsense.

 

When a joke falls flat, the embarrassment falls on the joker. Yue Can, feeling awkward, called out softly, “Bo Wanzhao.”

 

“Hmm?” Bo Wanzhao replied.

 

Slightly exasperated, Yue Can retorted, “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

 

Bo Wanzhao chuckled softly. “How childish,” she murmured.

 

Yue Can fell silent. To be fair, Bo Wanzhao’s smile was undeniably captivating…

 

That evening, they enjoyed a meal of three dishes, complemented by the dessert Yue Can had brought. It was a lavish spread for just the two of them.

 

Yue Can ate slowly, so Bo Wanzhao unconsciously slowed her own pace whenever they dined together. Perhaps it was this rhythm that made time seem to slow down when Yue Can was around, creating a relaxed and mellow atmosphere.

 

Her leisurely pace didn’t diminish Yue Can’s enjoyment of the meal. She devoured several pieces of ribs, leaving Bo Wanzhao wondering, Are they really that delicious?

 

After dinner, Yue Can finished off with a small piece of mousse cake, completely stuffing herself.

 

Bo Wanzhao had a habit of cleaning up the dishes immediately after meals. She gathered the plates and utensils to take them to the kitchen.

 

“I’ll do it,” Yue Can said, stepping in front of her. “You still have medicine on your hands. You shouldn’t get them wet.”

 

“It’s fine, it’s not serious,” Bo Wanzhao replied.

 

“You cook, I’ll wash the dishes,” Yue Can insisted. “That’s a fair division of labor.”

 

“No need,” Bo Wanzhao said.

 

Yue Can argued logically, “You’ve taken such good care of me. What’s wrong with me returning the favor a little?”

 

Hearing this familiar line again, Bo Wanzhao said, “There’s no need to repay me. Taking care of you is my duty.”

 

She’s being kind to me because it’s her duty, Yue Can thought. Because Tan Ming owes her a debt, she’ll fulfill my requests as much as possible. Yue Can had suspected this was the case, but hearing Bo Wanzhao say it aloud still left her feeling a pang of disappointment.

 

Even if it’s her duty, does she have to go this far? Yue Can wondered. She even indulges my unreasonable demands. Even my own sister wouldn’t be this good to me.

 

Yue Can still wouldn’t let Bo Wanzhao touch the water, stubbornly washing the dishes herself. She wasn’t very good at it, taking ages to wash just a few bowls.

 

By the time she finished, it was past eight o’clock. Yue Can received a call from Tan Ming, asking when she’d be home. She vaguely replied that she’d be back soon.

 

After Yue Can hung up, Bo Wanzhao said, “I’ll take you home.”

 

Yue Can gripped her phone. She used to be able to stay here under the guise of studying, but now it felt like she was just getting in the way. “It’s okay, I’ll have Sister Tang pick me up.”

 

Bo Wanzhao: “Alright.”

 

Yue Can added, “You go ahead and work. Don’t worry about me.”

 

Bo Wanzhao pulled out her laptop and resumed writing her graduation thesis. Yue Can sat on the other side, scrolling through her phone. She glanced up occasionally to ask, “Are you busy even during the holidays?”

 

Bo Wanzhao: “Yeah.”

 

Yue Can had forgotten that Bo Wanzhao never really had holidays, juggling multiple part-time jobs.

 

Bo Wanzhao noticed Yue Can’s restlessness but her reluctance to leave. If she hadn’t fallen out with her family, why else would she be here? Was she just trying to experience a different kind of life…?

 

Yue Can didn’t idle away her Golden Week holiday. She met up with Zhong Ran, Luo Yang, and a bunch of old friends and classmates. Between catching up and having fun, the holiday drew to a close.

 

During her break, she wandered around and even revisited Wutong Lane, this time without telling Bo Wanzhao in advance. She knocked on Bo Wanzhao’s door, but as expected, there was no chance encounter. Bo Wanzhao wasn’t home, likely out working to earn money.

 

Back in West City, Yue Can and Bo Wanzhao’s communication increased, probably because Bo Wanzhao had given her the privilege to push her luck.

 

Still, their contact wasn’t frequent, averaging about two or three times a week.

 

Bo Wanzhao’s private account had few contacts, making Yue Can undoubtedly the person who messaged her the most:

 

Yue Can: Craving a Dirty Bun.

 

Yue Can: Just took a photo of the huge moon! [Image]

 

Yue Can: Does Naxia have these?

 

Yue Can: Hey, could you film a video of me eating a Dirty Bun next time?

 

Yue Can: This dry pot is so delicious! [Image]

 

Yue Can: What are you having for dinner?

 

 

 

Because of Yue Can, Bo Wanzhao checked her phone slightly more often. Besides asking about the cat, Yue Can would also chat about everyday things.

 

The weather in West City had been pleasant since autumn arrived, with comfortable temperatures.

 

Yue Can’s academic workload wasn’t heavy, leaving her plenty of free time. Never one to stay idle, she joined several clubs, made many new friends, and filled her days with extracurricular activities. She was like a bird released from its cage, her current life a world apart from the hellish days of high school.

 

The university’s tennis club held a friendly match on Saturday afternoon, and Yue Can signed up. Her roommate, Ba Hua, who also enjoyed sports, joined her.

 

Many people registered, but none were professionals; it was more about casual fun and joining the excitement.

 

Yue Can’s athletic abilities far surpassed her academic ones. Moreover, Tan Ming, who loved tennis, had taken her to play many times. This meant that among the non-professional players, her skills were relatively advanced.

 

A crowd gathered around the tennis court, buzzing with chatter.

 

Under the bright sun, Yue Can played several consecutive matches, her body warming up and beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

 

Having joined just for fun, she never expected to make it all the way to the finals.

 

With her high ponytail, white sports T-shirt, and short skirt, her agile movements and youthful energy under the sunlight easily drew attention.

 

“Go, Can Can!”

 

“So cool!”

 

“Yue Can, you’re my goddess!”

 

The crowd of onlookers grew larger, but Yue Can simply smiled, showing no signs of pressure as all eyes focused on her. She had no obsession with winning or losing; either outcome was fine with her. This carefree attitude was innate, a part of her personality since childhood.

 

In the finals, Yue Can faced another girl of equal skill, leading to a fiercely contested match.

 

Ba Hua, caught up in the excitement, kept filming with her phone, capturing every moment.

 

In the end, Yue Can’s superior stamina gave her the edge. Seizing the perfect opportunity, she ended the grueling rally with a decisive smash.

 

After playing for so long, Yue Can was completely exhausted. She accepted the bottled water Ba Hua offered. “Thanks.”

 

“Want to head back to the dorm first?” Ba Hua asked.

 

“Yeah, I want to shower first.” Yue Can took another sip of water.

 

“Then should we eat out tonight or order takeout?” Ba Hua asked.

 

Yue Can chose the latter. She was an extreme person, bursting with energy when active, but when lazy, she could be as lethargic as a salted fish. Having exhausted her energy for the afternoon, she decided to return to her dorm and embrace her salted fish persona.

 

The other two girls in the dorm had gone out, leaving only Ba Hua when Yue Can emerged from the shower. Ba Hua enthusiastically said, “I took so many videos of you this afternoon! I’ve sent them to you on WeChat.”

 

“Okay,” Yue Can replied, settling into a chair and checking her phone. She watched the videos with amusement, smiling and saying, “They turned out great.”

 

“Of course! It’s mostly because you’re so photogenic,” Ba Hua teased. “What are we going to do? You’re going to have even more people confessing to you now.”

 

Yue Can laughed it off, unconcerned by such matters.

 

Exhausted from exercising, the night owl Yue Can climbed into bed before ten o’clock that evening. After her usual habit of scrolling through her phone, she paused and sent a WeChat message to Bo Wanzhao: Haven’t seen any Dirty Buns lately?

 

It was raining again in Naxia.

 

The room was silent, save for the rhythmic drumming of rain against the window. Bo Wanzhao, hunched over her laptop, was revising her thesis, her mood restless and irritable, her concentration wavering, and her productivity suffering. She kept glancing at her phone, a nagging feeling that a WeChat notification would pop up tonight.

 

About ten minutes later, a notification chimed.

 

Yue Can: Haven’t seen any Dirty Buns lately?

 

Dirty Buns again, Bo Wanzhao thought, her mood suddenly lightening as she stared at the screen.

 

bwz: No, I haven’t. I’ll take a picture if I do.

 

Yue Can was startled by Bo Wanzhao’s instant reply. Responding this quickly? Has a stone tree finally bloomed? She typed a message, then deleted it, wondering if she should send the video of her playing tennis earlier. Would that seem too deliberate, too showy? Besides, Bo Wanzhao might not even be interested…

 

Torn between these thoughts, Yue Can didn’t reply.

 

Bo Wanzhao, who had been watching her phone intently, saw the “Typing…” indicator appear, then vanish without a follow-up. After a moment’s pause, she took the initiative and sent a message: Anything else you wanted to say?

 

Yue Can: …

 

She saw through me.

 

bwz: If you want to chat, just say so. You don’t need to bring up Dirty Buns every time.

 

Yue Can: ???

 

Wide awake now.

 

Is my ulterior motive really that obvious?