“Then we’re off.”
Lin Yiren put on her shoes at the doorway.
In the past, before heading to university, Lin Yiren would say goodbye just like this, back then steadying herself on the tall cupboard to lift her heels. Now, she could only lean on the low shoe rack.
Ye Qiao couldn’t help but step forward.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs.” Chen Zhaoyue left some space for the mother and daughter to say their farewells.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” Lin Yiren felt a gentle hand stroke the top of her head and looked up to meet her mother’s gaze.
Why does everyone love patting my head these days?
“You’ve grown to be almost as tall as I am.”
“Mom, do you have to tease me about shrinking right before I leave?”
“Hmph, you’re tall for a girl—Have you been able to adjust these months? Made any new friends?”
“…Yeah, even like this, I can still take care of myself.”
Lin Yiren saw the worry in Ye Qiao’s eyes, and her voice softened unconsciously.
Ye Qiao pulled the slender girl into her arms and said, “Come back and stay whenever you have time. I haven’t spent many days with my daughter yet.”
Lin Yiren hugged her mother back and nodded gently.
Downstairs, the moonlight was like ink.
A girl in a long dress leaned against the wall waiting for her, the glow of her Smartphone lighting up her fair face.
“Ready?” Chen Zhaoyue asked.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“Heading back—Will you feel lonely sleeping alone tonight?”
“How could I?”
The two walked side by side, their voices echoing in the quiet night.
The next morning, Lin Yiren woke up with bleary eyes to the vibration of her Alarm Clock.
“Mmm—”
She rolled over, one leg sprawled on the quilt.
It wasn’t until she couldn’t stand the noise any longer that she finally got up and reached out to turn it off.
Lin Yiren rubbed her eyes and glanced at her Smartphone: 7:35.
There was also a Message from Chen Zhaoyue: I’m heading out first, see you at the Dance Studio at 8:30.
Today was dance practice day.
Her side of the bed was a bit messy, while the other side remained perfectly tidy, leaving space for another person.
Sleeping with Xingyao had made even her sleeping posture more restrained.
Lin Yiren put the Book she’d been reading last night onto the desk and went into the bathroom.
In the mirror, the girl’s cheeks were rosy, with a faint red mark left by sleep, and a few strands of hair sticking up rebelliously.
After washing her face, Lin Yiren applied Sunscreen to her skin.
The sink was lined with all sorts of bottles and jars, all stuffed there by Chen Zhaoyue. After a long time, she’d gotten used to two or three of them.
Tying up her hair, she changed clothes and headed out.
Lin Yiren took a taxi to the Dance Studio. When she opened the door, it seemed no one else was there yet, only sunlight spilling across the wooden floor.
Two pots of Crabapple Flower stood quietly in place.
Let’s water them first. Lin Yiren fetched a Water Bottle and carefully moistened the soil around the flowers.
Maybe I should get a Spray Bottle next time, she thought, gently touching the pink petals, a faint smile curving her lips.
Just then, the sound of a door opening came from the inner room. Lin Yiren flinched and turned to look.
Chen Zhaoyue stood there in her dance outfit, surprise also flickering in her eyes.
So the young lady had arrived early, just changing in the back?
Lin Yiren moved her hand away from the petals, gripping the bottle and saying, “Good morning?”
Chen Zhaoyue walked over, her skirt swirling as she reached Lin Yiren.
She glanced at the bottle in Lin Yiren’s hand and said, “Watering the flowers?”
As if she didn’t already know. Lin Yiren replied, “We’re students at the Dance Studio now too, so it’s only right to help with the flowers.”
Warmth lingered in Chen Zhaoyue’s eyes. Smiling, she said, “Yiren, you’re even more attentive than the girls who used to come to the Dance Studio, for a ‘boy.'”
“It’s just watering the flowers. Crabapple Flowers are easy to take care of. Someone must have been caring for them before, too.” Lin Yiren fidgeted with the bottle, stepping back a half-step.
The young lady still watched her with a smiling face.
Under that gaze, Lin Yiren’s heart pounded. She quickly turned to fiddle with the flowerpots, moving them into the sunlight before fleeing into the Changing Room to get changed.
Chen Zhaoyue watched the girl run off in a panic and couldn’t help but cover her mouth with a light laugh, her fingers softly tracing the petals of the Crabapple Flower.
The blossoms were still damp from Lin Yiren’s watering, leaving a sheen of water on her hand.
By the time Sun Jiao arrived at the Dance Studio, the two had already been stretching for a while.
Sun Jiao directed them to run through the moves once.
“Yiren, let’s see the turn.”
Lin Yiren took Chen Zhaoyue’s hand, her arm tensing, skirt fluttering in waves. Her whole body spun in a graceful arc, then was drawn forward by Chen Zhaoyue to stand before her.
I think I managed to stay steady this time, Lin Yiren noted the feedback from her body.
“Not bad, much smoother this time.” Sun Jiao clapped for her. “Now let’s break it down again with the music.”
“Phew.” Lin Yiren let out a sigh of relief, the corners of her mouth lifting into a tiny arc.
Chen Zhaoyue lowered her gaze, feeling the happiness of the girl standing before her.
Yiren is so earnest about this dance, she thought, a sense of being cherished welling up in her heart.
Both girls gave it their all, and time slipped by like water.
The sun rose and fell again. Lin Yiren moved the Crabapple Flowers twice more, and the day’s training came to an end.
“Huff, huff.”
Lin Yiren sat on the floor with her legs outstretched, her chest and back damp with sweat, radiating heat like a little stove.
Sun Jiao handed her two bottles of cold water, motioning for her to give one to Chen Zhaoyue.
Lin Yiren turned to look at Chen Zhaoyue. She was sweating too, wiping the sweat from her fair nape with a Towel.
Feeling mischievous, Lin Yiren hid both hands behind her back and snuck up quietly. Suddenly, she pressed the cold water bottle to Chen Zhaoyue’s cheek.
“Ah!” A short, sharp squeal escaped the young lady’s lips.
Chen Zhaoyue recoiled from the cold, her beautiful eyes shooting a look at her attacker, only to see the culprit say solemnly, “Have some water, Zhaoyue.”
Chen Zhaoyue took it, while Lin Yiren grinned, showing off her slightly pointed canine tooth. “Zhaoyue, you were so cute just now.”
A shy pink spread across the young lady’s cheeks, making her already flushed face even more lovely.
Now that’s more like it. Lin Yiren clenched her small fist, waving an imaginary flag in excitement.
If she weren’t trying not to be too cheeky, there’s no way she’d act so submissive in front of Chen Zhaoyue.
Chen Zhaoyue, cheeks flushed, wanted to fight back, but that sweet smile dazzled her eyes.
Being able to joke like this was, in its own way, proof their relationship had grown.
“Hehe.” At this, Lin Yiren hummed twice, as if taunting before a retreat.
“Crack.” The sound of Chen Zhaoyue’s water bottle being gripped hard rang out.
Chen Zhaoyue watched as the girl tilted her head back to drink, her top clinging to her curves from sweat.
“Yiren, it’s showing through.” A faint voice sounded by Lin Yiren’s ear.
What? Lin Yiren put down the water bottle, looking at Chen Zhaoyue in confusion.
The young lady pointed to just below her collarbone.
Lin Yiren glanced down, suddenly flustered, but on closer look—was there really anything?
But Chen Zhaoyue didn’t give her a chance to argue, seizing her arm with slender fingers, pulling her up with irresistible strength.
“You can’t see it yourself, I’ll take you to get changed.”
“I’ll go myself!”
“I’ll help you.”
Chen Zhaoyue’s hands were long and strong, holding Lin Yiren firmly, half-carrying her toward the Changing Room.
Why is the young lady so strong?!
Lin Yiren struggled like a startled fawn, but could only watch as the door slowly closed.
The click of the lock sounded, and she was pressed against the wall.
The damp air from their dance lingered between them.
“Raise your arms.”
The young lady said.
Sun Jiao watched as the door opened again and the two came out.
Lin Yiren had changed into fresh, dry clothes.
But her face was covered in a lovely red, as if she was even hotter than before.
Ah, youth, Sun Jiao sighed.
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