Go.
Courage can sometimes surge in an instant.
But it fades just as quickly, and once words are spoken, they can never be taken back.
The night at the bar finally ended at dawn.
Cheng Li and Kk, both drunk, didn’t plan to go back to Xu Baiyan’s place to get the car; they chose to take a taxi home directly.
They had wanted to bring Xia Yu along to see her home, but when they turned around, they found Xu Baiyan had already called a car and shoved her inside.
“You two are this drunk, better get some rest early. I’ll take her.”
Cheng Li and Kk exchanged a glance, sensing something, but said nothing.
They waved him off with trust.
“Then you better make sure to see her all the way to the door.”
Xu Baiyan: “Mm, got it.”
This wasn’t his first time doing this.
After saying goodbye to everyone, Xu Baiyan lowered himself into the back seat of the taxi.
The first person sitting in the back glanced at him sideways, but quickly looked away when he got in.
“What are you looking at?”
Xia Yu stared at the front seat backrest.
“Not looking at you…”
“Oh.”
Xu Baiyan didn’t call her out and told the driver the address.
The vehicle started moving.
The streetlights’ shifting glow flowed over the windows, faintly outlining the silhouettes of the two in the back seat.
In the quiet, Xia Yu adjusted her breathing a few times.
Because of the alcohol, she couldn’t stay calm; it felt like something was constantly clamoring in her temples, in direct contrast with the stillness of the car.
“Dizzy?”
Xu Baiyan asked.
Xia Yu couldn’t help but glance at him again.
Once the strong streetlight passed, it was darker outside, and his face was shrouded in shadow—only his eyes shone brightly.
“A little.”
“That special cocktail was pretty strong, yet you insisted on drinking the whole thing.”
His voice was low and lazy, without blame—more gentle instead.
Xia Yu pursed her lips but said nothing.
She felt a bit at a loss, not knowing what else to say, so she leaned back, pretending to rest.
Thus, the ride was silent.
About twenty minutes later, the car stopped at the gate of a small guesthouse courtyard.
Xu Baiyan got out, opened the door, and waited for her to come down.
It was late at night; the guesthouse lights were set to a soft mode, a hazy white glow, like moonlight spilling down.
Xia Yu walked to the door, then turned to look at Xu Baiyan.
“Aren’t you going back in the car?”
Xu Baiyan raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I thought you wouldn’t say another word tonight.”
“Why, regret it now that you’re sober?”
Xia Yu paused, fingers curling slightly.
“When I said that just now, I wasn’t drunk, so it’s not like I’m sober now. I just… it felt a bit like a dream.”
Xu Baiyan smiled faintly, bending down to look into her eyes.
“Isn’t that still drunk?”
Xia Yu: “Really not… it just doesn’t feel real.”
Because this was the first time in her life she said something so daring, did something so against the norm.
Her heart was pounding at what she’d done, but her mind thought it was so ridiculous it might as well be a dream—completely unreal.
“Do you want to see if it’s real or not?”
Xu Baiyan suddenly asked.
Xia Yu stared blankly.
“How?”
Xu Baiyan straightened up.
“I can hold you.”
Xia Yu’s eyes widened, the small calm she’d built up on the way suddenly shattered.
Her first reaction was to shrink back, but inside, a voice started shouting.
Try it.
You can try it.
Anyway, you’re already crazy.
Why not be a little crazier?
What’s wrong with breaking the dream?
“How… do I hold you?” she asked quietly but boldly.
Xu Baiyan said nothing, spreading his arms open.
Xia Yu swallowed lightly.
Before her mind fully processed it, her body took a step forward.
She quickly smelled the familiar scent on him—the closer she got, the more it wrapped around her.
She inhaled softly and slowly reached out, touching his waist.
The warm sensation seeped through the fabric, smoothing over her palm and forearm… her blood rising to her head.
“Can I hold you?”
Xu Baiyan’s hands were still open, not touching her.
“Of course, you can say no.”
Xia Yu adjusted her breathing slowly, hesitating for two seconds before saying:
“…Okay.”
The moment she finished speaking, two hands gently landed on her back, then locked her to his chest like a loaded spring.
It wasn’t actually forceful, but since she’d just wrapped her arms around his waist with some distance, now she was fully embraced—no gaps, full and warm.
Thump, thump—
Xia Yu’s cheek rested against his chest, and she clearly heard his heartbeat, steady but no calmer than hers.
Thud.
Suddenly awake from a dream, Xia Yu immediately jumped out of his arms.
A moment later, someone inside the guesthouse left a room, and the sound of a door unlocking came from afar.
Xu Baiyan let go of her hands. “Go back to sleep.”
Xia Yu nodded, not daring to look back, and hurried inside.
Her steps were still steady as Xu Baiyan stood in place watching, quietly exhaling.
Though it wasn’t a hot night, sweat formed on his palms.
Ding.
The elevator reached the floor.
After Xia Yu quickly returned to her room, she pulled aside the balcony curtains and peeked out through the gap.
Seeing her room light on, Xu Baiyan finally turned and left. His tall, straight silhouette stretched long under the streetlight.
The night breeze blew, causing his T-shirt to flutter slightly, outlining his waistline.
That was the man she had just hugged.
In one swift motion, Xia Yu closed the curtain slit.
She hurried back to her bed and collapsed onto it.
Her cheek sank fully into the soft quilt.
She felt that if she didn’t hold back now, she would scream.
She had hugged Xu Baiyan…
No, no—they had hugged each other!
Xia Yu turned over, enduring the surging, tumultuous heartbeat.
She knew something had gone off track tonight.
She was scared but couldn’t help feeling excited—
So this is what a real embrace feels like.
***
The next morning, 8:30 a.m.
There was a shift today.
After getting up, Xia Yu prepared to head to Summer.
But before leaving, she stopped in front of the mirror on the cabinet, then sat back down at the vanity.
She hesitated for a moment but picked up foundation and lightly applied a layer over her sunscreen.
Then she put on some lipstick—the color not too strong, a milk tea shade she liked.
After finishing, she stood before the mirror again and found herself looking much fresher.
Yet at the same time, she suddenly felt embarrassed about what she had done.
Was it because she expected to meet someone today and couldn’t be too casual?
Xia Yu shook her head lightly, deciding not to dwell on it anymore.
She quickly grabbed her bag and left.
By the time she arrived at Summer, it was just after nine.
Xia Yu tidied up briefly; then Guoguo Dian Laoban and Uncle Songnai arrived one after another.
She signed in, took her things to the back kitchen, and began preparing for official opening.
At ten o’clock, Kk came into the shop.
“Everything’s ready? What time did you get here?”
Kk asked, surprised.
Xia Yu: “After nine.”
“Everyone got home so late last night, they said you could come in later today.”
“No problem. I didn’t sleep that late yesterday, woke up naturally.”
That half was a lie.
She did wake up naturally, but after lying in bed tossing and turning until two or three a.m., she couldn’t sleep because of the embrace from last night.
“Young people have energy, huh.”
Kk went to help her out.
After a while, she suddenly said, “I remember Xu Baiyan took you home last night.”
Xia Yu almost dropped the fruit in her hands.
“Ah? Ah, right.”
“So, you guys—”
“He just dropped me at the door and left.”
She answered too quickly, making it sound strange.
Kk smiled knowingly.
“Oh~ is that so.”
Xia Yu: “Mm.”
Luckily, Kk didn’t press further.
She patted Xia Yu’s shoulder.
“I’ll handle the desserts first; you rest a bit and wait for customers.”
“Okay.”
***
After a busy day, at five p.m., Kk ordered dinner for the shop and told Xia Yu to eat first.
Xia Yu took her meal to a corner in the room and was about to start eating when she saw a familiar figure pass by the window.
Her heart skipped a beat. Her body tensed, and her chopstick movements faltered.
“Have you eaten?”
Cheng Li’s voice came from outside.
“No.”
That familiar voice.
“Oh, want some then?”
“Mm. It’s hot outside; let’s eat inside.”
“Okay, bring it in.”
Xia Yu’s body tightened further.
She swallowed a mouthful and then saw Xu Baiyan walk in.
She quickly lowered her head when he glanced at her sideways, forcing herself to stay calm and continue eating.
But he didn’t seem willing to ignore her; his footsteps came closer until he set his own food down on her table.
Xia Yu:
“One person can be this happy eating?”
His voice came from above her head.
Xia Yu slowly looked up, her mind momentarily blank.
“Mm… because it’s good.”
“Really? This is just the usual restaurant you go to.”
Xu Baiyan sat opposite her, took out his chopsticks.
Xia Yu watched his movements, memories from last night flashing through her mind, making her nervous. Luckily, Cheng Li soon sat at the table, breaking the tense atmosphere.
“K, no customers yet, come eat first.”
Cheng Li invited.
Kk: “Coming.”