“Alright, go back and get some rest early today; there’s no need to worry too much about tomorrow’s exam,” Ling Yun said, placing the printed study materials into Yu Yixian’s hands. “I’ve summarized some key points and printed a copy for you and your roommates.”
“Senior, you’re the best!” Yu Yixian, who had been lying limply on the desk, jumped up excitedly upon hearing Ling Yun’s words and instinctively hugged her.
The embrace lacked any trace of ambiguity, but it was filled with genuine affection for the other person.
Ling Yun reached out and wrapped her arms around Yu Yixian’s waist, smiling as she cheered her on: “Good luck with the exam.”
Yu Yixian’s eyes brightened; she could feel Ling Yun becoming increasingly relaxed around her, which filled her heart with joy.
If the love at first sight in the beginning was born out of an attraction to appearance, then the current affection stemmed from a love for Ling Yun’s soul. The more they spent time together, the deeper that love grew.
The next day.
The four of them finished breakfast at the cafeteria and sat outside the General Building waiting for the exam time.
There were many others doing the same, standing or sitting in small groups. Yu Yixian leaned against Wang Xiaoyue, the two of them looking at the same study material, while Ye Qian and Tang Jia sat nearby, using their phones to watch study videos.
“Your senior is quite impressive. I’ve finished reading through these in the last two days, and now I’m extremely confident,” Wang Xiaoyue praised.
Yu Yixian tapped Wang Xiaoyue lightly, “Stop teasing me.”
“Hehe, isn’t this me complimenting your good taste? If you ask me, the senior is truly wonderful; you absolutely must not miss out on her!” Wang Xiaoyue genuinely felt that Ling Yun and Yu Yixian were a perfect match.
“Alright, alright, stop worrying about me. Since you’re so invested, why don’t you find a partner yourself?” Yu Yixian joked.
“Forget it, let’s just read, let’s read.”
Shortly after, the exam time arrived. They went into the General Building together to find their respective exam rooms.
When Yu Yixian received the test paper, she was pleasantly surprised. Her senior was so amazing; she had taught her many similar problems!
In less than an hour, Yu Yixian finished all the questions. She handed in her paper early and left the exam room, calling her driver to pick her up.
Before the exam, she had told Wang Xiaoyue and the others not to wait for her when leaving, as she had things to do in the afternoon.
Elsewhere, at the hospital.
Yang Yuan sat quietly on the bed, occasionally glancing at the refined woman sitting by the window. This woman was her second elder sister, Yang Wenxin.
“Did Yixian say when she’s coming today?” The woman closed the file in her hands and cast a cold, indifferent glance at her foolish younger sister, speaking elegantly.
Yang Yuan felt a jolt of alarm and said cautiously, “The ‘Big Sister’ (Miss) said it seems to be in the afternoon…”
“In the afternoon?” Yang Wenxin glanced at her watch and placed the file on the table next to her. “What does Yixian like to eat?”
“Huh?” Yang Yuan was taken aback by the sudden shift in topic.
“It’s almost lunch time. What if Yixian gets hungry when she arrives?” Watching Yang Yuan’s dull, clumsy expression, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes in disdain, though she still patiently explained herself.
Yang Yuan was dumbfounded, feeling a sense of sorrow arise, “And what about me!”
“You? Do you not know how to order takeout when you’re hungry?” Yang Wenxin lowered her head to message her secretary, not even looking up.
Yang Yuan retorted angrily, “Am I even your biological sister!”
Yang Wenxin made a tsk sound, causing Yang Yuan to instinctively shrink her shoulders, “Big Sister likes sweets, loves sweet and sour pork ribs, tomato scrambled eggs, braised pork rib and lotus root soup, and fermented rice with mini rice balls…”
Yang Wenxin nodded slightly, sending all the dishes Yang Yuan just mentioned to her secretary.
Secretary Xu: ?
Yang: If you type another question mark, I’m deducting your salary.
Secretary Xu: Understood, President Yang. I am preparing it right now /smile_emoji
Yang Wenxin put her phone away, ignoring Yang Yuan’s glare, and went back to reading the files.
Watching her second sister show such blatant favoritism, Yang Yuan angrily opened her phone to report to Yu Yixian. However, it was as if Yang Wenxin had eyes on the top of her head, and she said unhurriedly, “If you dare to tell on me, I will send you to the mountains for a period of meditation.”
Yang Yuan faked a flattering smile, “How could I? I was just wondering when Big Sister would arrive.”
“Are you talking about me? Oh, Second Sister is here too.” Yu Yixian walked in carrying a food box from Yolezhai. Seeing Yang Wenxin, she paused in her tracks and secretly signaled to Yang Yuan.
Why didn’t you tell me your second sister was here!
Didn’t I tell you?
Yang Yuan’s eyes went blank. Hadn’t she told Yu Yixian? That wasn’t right; she remembered knowing her second sister was coming last night and intended to tell Big Sister, and then… she had opened the game next to her WeChat!
She had forgotten!
Yu Yixian glared lightly at Yang Yuan, then had no choice but to take out the lunch she had prepared for Ling Yun’s mother.
She had originally told the driver to order three meals from Yolezhai—one for her senior to take to her mother, and two for herself and Yang Yuan to eat. She hadn’t known Yang Wenxin would be there, and she couldn’t just let Yang Wenxin watch them eat; she couldn’t bring herself to do that.
But meals from Yolezhai had to be ordered half a day in advance, so ordering more now was impossible.
Although Yu Yixian was conflicted, she didn’t show it on her face. She smiled at Yang Wenxin, “Second Sister arrived just at the right time. I brought food from Yolezhai for Yuan-yuan. I remember that Second Sister loves their crab meat buns, and it just so happens I ordered some this time.”
“Yixian still remembers what I like to eat?” Hearing Yu Yixian’s words, Yang Wenxin felt a surge of joyful surprise. She set down her file and came to Yu Yixian’s side.
The last time she saw Yixian was during the New Year; nearly two months had passed since then. Yang Wenxin gazed greedily at the girl’s face, unable to get enough of looking at her.
“Of course I remember.” Yu Yixian didn’t notice Yang Wenxin’s gaze; she raised her chin to signal Yang Yuan to help out, and set the table herself.
Yang Yuan had been hungry for a long time. Seeing the food in Yu Yixian’s hands, she forgot everything else, reached out to grab a shrimp dumpling, and shoved it into her mouth, chewing mouthful after mouthful while shouting that it was hot.
Yang Wenxin stood behind Yu Yixian, her gaze following the girl’s shoulder to see the porridge she was taking out of the food box.
“Why have you started drinking porridge?” If she remembered correctly, while Yixian didn’t have any foods she hated, porridge was definitely not on her regular menu.
Yu Yixian’s hand paused, but her expression remained calm as she said, “I just got curious.”
This Cordyceps flower and shredded chicken porridge was ordered for her senior’s mother. Her senior had mentioned earlier that her mother had been craving porridge, but the shops nearby didn’t quite suit her mother’s taste. Yu Yixian had remembered that Yolezhai’s porridge was excellent, thinking her mother might like it, which was why she had ordered it.
Yang Wenxin didn’t press further, assuming the girl just wanted to change up her taste.
Having emptied the food box, the three of them squeezed together to eat lunch.
Yang Wenxin moved with elegance, while Yang Yuan ate with gusto—two sisters, yet they displayed two completely different styles.
Retracting her gaze, Yu Yixian took a sip of the porridge; her eyes lit up, and she took another bite.
It was actually quite delicious.
Salty, fresh, fragrant, smooth, and tender.
For a porridge to have such a rich texture was truly a testament to Yolezhai.
Everyone ate in quiet harmony. Yu Yixian silently lowered her head to drink her porridge. Yang Yuan had been eating happily at first, but after she was half-full, she began to get restless, poking Yu Yixian under the table with her other healthy leg.
Yu Yixian patted Yang Yuan’s leg, signaling for her to stay quiet.
Yang Wenxin knew the current quiet atmosphere was only because she was present. However, her chances to see Yu Yixian were rare, and having finally managed to meet, she couldn’t bring herself to leave, so she had to pretend she noticed nothing.
Yu Yixian felt full after finishing the porridge—much less than her usual intake—but she really couldn’t eat anymore.
“I’m full, so I’m going out to buy some water. Second Sister, Yuan-yuan, take your time eating.” Yu Yixian stood up and left.
Yang Wenxin watched Yu Yixian’s retreating figure, then silently set down her chopsticks.