Wen Xi sighed silently. “I was busy and didn’t notice the WeChat messages.”
“Busy?” Shen Yu clearly didn’t buy it. “You haven’t replied in days. Have you been busy for that many days?”
She took a few steps forward, closing the distance. Wen Xi could smell the faint fragrance clinging to her.
Inevitably, Wen Xi retreated a few steps until she was backed up against the coffee table by Shen Yu’s persistence.
“Why are you backing away? I’m not going to eat you.” Shen Yu looked down at her with amused eyes, a faint scent of alcohol lingering at the tip of her nose. “Have you been drinking?”
“Yes.” Wen Xi felt a bit of a breakdown coming on. She was trapped in front of Shen Yu; due to the height difference, she couldn’t look up comfortably, nor could she look down. If she turned her head… Shen Yu’s breath brushed against her sensitive neck like a feather. “You… don’t stand so close to me.”
“Is this close? It’s fine. I’m not even touching you,” Shen Yu said in a low voice. “Shouldn’t this count as a normal social distance between friends?”
Shen Yu’s gaze dropped, landing on Wen Xi’s flushing neck.
It was far too obvious; after all, Wen Xi was naturally fair-skinned.
Who is friends with you? Wen Xi thought indignantly.
Seeing the faint blush rising on Wen Xi’s face, Shen Yu let out a delighted laugh.
She didn’t push too hard. After admiring the view for a moment, she stepped back a few paces.
“Do you know how long it’s been since you replied to my messages?”
Only after Shen Yu moved away did Wen Xi feel like she could breathe again. She hurriedly pulled her phone from her trouser pocket. “It hasn’t been that long…”
Wen Xi unlocked the screen. Shen Yu leaned down, watching with her own eyes as Wen Xi tapped into the “Dual App” version of WeChat.
Consequently, both of them saw the monologue Shen Yu had been performing on the screen:
S: Good morning. Is your flight tonight?
S: Still busy? Get some rest.
S: What time is your flight? Can we run into each other?
S: Where are you now?
S: You arrived ages ago. Why aren’t you replying?
S: When are you coming back?
“Uh…” Wen Xi glanced at Shen Yu guiltily. “I really was busy today.”
“What about yesterday? The day before? The day before that?” Shen Yu’s hands felt strangely restless. She reached out and hooked her finger into the hem of Wen Xi’s top.
Shen Yu’s hands were beautiful, well-defined, slender, and pale.
Wen Xi’s shirt was dark, and as it tangled with Shen Yu’s fingers, it made Shen Yu’s skin look luminously white. It was… a bit overstimulating for Wen Xi’s nerves.
“I’ve been busy all these days. I haven’t had time to check my phone. I’m very slow at replying…” Wen Xi struggled to pull her gaze away from Shen Yu’s hand. “What are you doing with your hand? Let go.”
“So fierce,” Shen Yu ignored her, self-indulgently playing with the hem of Wen Xi’s shirt as if trying to fold it into a flower. “Do you still remember that you were supposed to pay me back for breakfast?”
Wen Xi reached her limit. Unwilling to touch Shen Yu’s hand, she simply yanked her shirt back. “I don’t remember. Is a big star like Shen Yu really short on that little bit of money?”
“Of course I’m not short on money,” Shen Yu looked at her empty hand with a touch of regret. “I’m just short on… other things.”
After saying this, Shen Yu met Wen Xi’s eyes.
In that daze, Wen Xi understood Shen Yu’s gaze. Even after ten years, the tacit understanding they had built through daily life still existed.
Shen Yu and Wen Xi were each other’s first loves. Neither had liked anyone before. When they first started dating, they didn’t know how to act, and too afraid to ask anyone, they quietly observed those around them.
After a few days of observation, Shen Yu decided the first step of every day should be bringing breakfast.
The breakfast at Shen Yu’s house was made by their domestic helper and tasted quite good.
Once decided, Shen Yu stopped letting the driver drop her off. Since the house wasn’t far from school anyway, she packed two portions of breakfast every day and walked to the intersection to wait for Wen Xi.
Shen Yu wasn’t afraid of her father questioning the change; she could calmly say that the pressure of studying made her gain weight, and walking every morning was good exercise.
Her younger brother was curious but didn’t ask; a total “sister-con,” he supported her unconditionally.
During that time, Shen Yu waited for Wen Xi every day. They had about ten minutes together each morning before separating just before reaching the school gate.
At that time, drawing was the only thing Wen Xi excelled at. On the first day she received breakfast from Shen Yu, she started conceptualizing a painting.
Shen Yu’s phone wallpaper was a small manor. Shen Yu had mentioned it was where her mother used to live. Back then, Wen Xi didn’t know the specifics of Shen Yu’s family situation, but she stumbled into painting a piece about her mother.
Wen Xi drew a little bit whenever she had time. Because she had only glimpsed the wallpaper briefly, the details weren’t clear, so she drew a simplified “chibi” version. In front of the manor, she drew an adult holding a child’s hand as they walked inside, warm and harmonious.
Having studied art for many years, Wen Xi was skilled. Drawing “chibi” style was easy for her, but between other assignments and commissions, she worked on it intermittently, taking two weeks before she could send it to Shen Yu.
At that time, they had made plans to meet up.
Classes at the art institute were mostly on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Since they weren’t in the same location for classes then, they couldn’t see each other, so they met in the morning.
Wen Xi had pre-exported the image from her tablet to her phone. Seeing Shen Yu waiting for her at the rendezvous point from a distance, she snuck up behind her. As she walked, she hit “send.”
Standing behind Shen Yu, Wen Xi saw her freeze the moment she took out her phone.
Wen Xi crept up and suddenly leaned against her back. “A gift for you! Do you like it?”
Wen Xi felt Shen Yu’s body vibrate with a light chuckle. Shen Yu took hold of Wen Xi’s hands which were wrapped around her neck, turning her head to look at Wen Xi with eyes full of laughter. “Of course I like it. After all, someone prepared a surprise for me in secret.”
Fearing Wen Xi might be uncomfortable, Shen Yu didn’t hold on for long before letting go and turning to face her. “Why did you suddenly think of drawing this for me?”
Wen Xi’s hands were nervously clasped together, her head tilted. “You set that manor as your lock screen. I guessed you must really like it, right?”
Shen Yu’s hand lightly brushed Wen Xi’s hair as she nodded. “Yes, I like it very much.”
Wen Xi smiled. “The only thing I can really offer is my art. You’ve given me breakfast for so many days and you won’t take money, so I had to use a drawing to pay you back. I’m glad you like it.”
Shen Yu’s throat tightened. Suppressing that sour, aching feeling, she repeated, “I like it very much.”
They were in a park full of shade. A light breeze blew, and the sunlight shifted with the wind, falling irregularly across them.
Wen Xi possessed a rare vitality then, her eyes sparkling with a beautiful light that was utterly captivating.
Shen Yu thought then: How can someone be this good? How can someone know exactly how to pull at my heartstrings?
Wen Xi blinked slowly, and Shen Yu’s thoughts snapped back from the past.
With that one look, both knew exactly what the other was remembering.
Wen Xi let out a breath and used her work account to push Shen Yu’s WeChat contact over to her private account.
Wen Xi tapped the screen forcefully. Infuriating! She hated it when people played the emotional card!
Shen Yu couldn’t help but curl her lips into a smile. She accepted Wen Xi’s friend request immediately and moved with lightning speed to check her Moments, predictably, it was set to “Only visible for the last three days.”
Shen Yu gave a soft “tsk.” Though she had expected it, she was still a bit disappointed.
“Alright, is Teacher Shen satisfied now?” Wen Xi asked coldly.
“Naturally, I’m satisfied. I assume that on Teacher Twilight’s private account, she will actually reply to my messages?” Shen Yu’s tone was the polar opposite of Wen Xi’s, utterly delighted.
Shen Yu turned her back to Wen Xi and waved her hand. “Then, goodbye for tonight. I look forward to our collaboration tomorrow.”
Wen Xi watched Shen Yu leave as mysteriously as she had arrived, unable to figure out what she was up to. However, after Shen Yu’s antics, her mood had actually lightened quite a bit.
Shen Yu didn’t really have a hidden motive; she just hadn’t seen Wen Xi in too long and missed her. Oh, and adding Wen Xi’s private account was just a bonus.
Once Shen Yu was gone, Wen Xi busied herself with packing. Shen Yu had already showered and finished, while Wen Xi hadn’t even started.
The more Wen Xi packed, the more frustrated she felt. She wasn’t like she was when she first reunited with Shen Yu; now, she was only thinking about how to win the next round when they met again.
Before she could think of a way to get even, there was another knock at the door.
Wen Xi took a deep breath and walked over, saying, “Teacher Shen Yu, what is it now?”
When she opened the door, there was no one there. She looked around in confusion, only to realize a small box of pastries was hanging from the doorknob with a small card attached.
Wen Xi took the bag and looked at the card.
I saw these while passing by. They looked like you, so I bought them. , Shen Yu
After ten years apart, Shen Yu’s handwriting had become much sharper, but it was as beautiful as ever.
Wen Xi gave a soft huff and opened WeChat to send Shen Yu her “first” message.
T.T: Thanks.
Returning to her room, Wen Xi opened the pastry box as she walked, curious as to what had made Shen Yu think of her.
When she opened it, she froze for a moment.
It was actually a little pink bunny.
The next day, due to hair and makeup requirements, Shen Yu’s start time was an hour earlier than Wen Xi’s.
By the time Wen Xi’s team arrived, Reflection had already begun setting up the scene.
Qin Lu was already waiting in the studio. Seeing Wen Xi and her entourage, she hurried over to greet them. “Twilight, hello. I’m Qin Lu, the Editor-in-Chief of Reflection. I’ve heard so much about you. We’re finally collaborating.”
Wen Xi reached out to shake Qin Lu’s hand. “The honor is mine. I’ve been looking forward to working with Reflection, it’s a shame there wasn’t an opportunity before.”
Wen Xi had said these kinds of polite formalities many times; she could say them now without batting an eye.
Qin Lu smiled. “The opportunity is here now. Don’t be nervous. Usually, I shouldn’t be at the shoot, but because Teacher Shen Yu is here… honestly, she has such a huge ego.”
The latter part was clearly a joke. Wen Xi knew Shen Yu had collaborated with Reflection several times, and since Qin Lu wasn’t that old, it wasn’t surprising they were on good terms.
“Oh, speaking of Shen Yu, she’s finished with hair and makeup.” Qin Lu noticed someone approaching out of the corner of her eye and spoke to Wen Xi.
Wen Xi heard the soft gasps and murmurs of admiration from those around her. It felt like she had returned to the moment of her first reunion with Shen Yu; the reaction of the crowd was exactly the same.
Wen Xi turned her head. Across the gap of a few people, she met Shen Yu’s eyes once again.