Fu Junxue stood up from the suitcase and struck a pose with her hands on her hips. Her waist was remarkably slender, and her hip bones were prominent; the mere casualness of her posture created a lazy, sensual visual impact.
Wen Wanbing immediately covered her eyes with both hands, turning on her heel to give Fu Junxue her back.
“Stop right there. I don’t want to see. I don’t have that kind of… hobby. Be serious!” Wen Wanbing picked up the kettle from the table and poured a glass of water. As she raised it to drink, her eyes nonetheless drifted back toward Fu Junxue’s direction instinctively.
Fu Junxue caught her red-handed. “You don’t? Then why are you peeping at me?”
Wen Wanbing’s face turned scarlet, and she nearly spat out her water. Afraid that Fu Junxue would use this as further ammunition to tease her, she pretended to be choked. She let out a couple of performative coughs, her hand gripping the cup handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. Trying to maintain a dignified air of righteousness, she said, “I was looking at Xingxing. I’m afraid you’ll be a bad influence on the child.”
Fu Junxue glanced back. Wen Xing was still deep in her ritualistic behavior, spinning the thermos continuously. She didn’t even react to Wen Wanbing mentioning her name.
“Oh really?” Fu Junxue dragged out the word with a tone that clearly said I don’t believe you. She knelt back down to continue checking the luggage, saying leisurely, “Then I’ll let you look when Xingxing isn’t around. Given our current relationship, we really should understand each other’s… preferences.”
She paused for a beat.
Wen Wanbing’s brow twitched. She realized that both times they were in front of Wen Xing, Fu Junxue had avoided explicitly stating they were “lovers.”
Discovering this subtle touch of consideration hidden in the details was like a gentle breeze brushing across a lake, stirring up ripples. Wen Wanbing set down her cup and looked at Fu Junxue.
The setting sun filtered in from the balcony, cutting the living room into two sides with an orange band of light. Fu Junxue was crouching right at the boundary. Shrouded in shadow, her expression was unreadable. From Wen Wanbing’s angle, she could see a corner of the rose petals on the balcony.
People online said that Black Baccara roses turn almost black in cold environments or acidic soil.
“At the very least, I should know your preferred colors and sizes. Otherwise, I’d be quite an incompetent partner,” Fu Junxue said, snapping back to the present.
Wen Wanbing rubbed the rim of her cup. “Is it necessary to be that competent? To know that much?”
“Theoretically, yes.” Fu Junxue let out a self-deprecating laugh, then paused as something occurred to her. A brilliant smile bloomed on her lips. “Do you smell that?”
“What?” Wen Wanbing asked.
Fu Junxue replied, “The smell of something sour.”
Wen Wanbing took a sip of water, her face expressionless and her tone deadpan. “The lemonade I made today is very weak. The scent shouldn’t carry that far. Are you a bloodhound?”
A fox, a member of the canine family.
“With you around, this summer isn’t hot at all,” Fu Junxue teased, both amused and exasperated. She then switched back to the previous topic. “If your partner weren’t me, would you still keep such a meticulous memo?”
Wen Wanbing fell silent.
First, because she had never considered such a scenario. Second, because she suddenly realized her interactions with Fu Junxue had shifted into a different mode. It was like those “Truth or Dare” games in TV shows or novels: the bottle spins, someone answers, and the two people caught in a web of ambiguity give vague answers before tossing the question back.
“Would you?” Fu Junxue pressed.
Wen Wanbing set her cup down. The ceramic clinked against the glass tabletop with a soft but sharp sound. “No.”
If it weren’t Fu Junxue, she likely wouldn’t have done something so “out of character.” Meeting Fu Junxue was the beginning of her breaking her own rules.
The fading light of the sunset fell on Fu Junxue’s hand. She looked down at the orange glow in her palm, feeling a spark of warmth spread from her hand to her chest.
“Competence in a relationship needs to be mutual,” Fu Junxue said, opening the bag wider to peek inside, skillfully ending the topic. “Besides you, no one has ever kept a memo for me. Though…”
She tilted her head with a skeptical look. “Tsk. I really couldn’t tell.”
Wen Wanbing was too thin, and her clothes were so loose—she hid it well.
Who are you looking down on? Wen Wanbing bit her lip. “Stop looking. It’s not as obvious as yours.”
She stepped forward and zipped the bag shut, tucking it back into the suitcase.
Fu Junxue tucked a stray hair behind her ear. She hugged her knees and rocked back and forth on her heels, a playful light dancing in her dark eyes. As she rocked closer to Wen Wanbing, she stayed balanced on her toes and froze.
Her voice was soft and gentle, like the late summer evening breeze, melting the lingering heat as it drifted past Wen Wanbing’s ear.
“And how would you know that? Were you peeping?”
Wen Wanbing’s lashes fluttered. Fighting her accelerating heartbeat and rising body temperature, she looked away, feigning indifference. “No. Anyone with eyes can see it.”
“Is that a compliment on my figure?”
Wen Wanbing refused to look at her, but she couldn’t erase the image from her mind: the beautiful, swaying silhouette of the woman like a rose against the background of the crimson sunset.
Near 7:00 PM, members of the camping group began sending “Departed” messages. Fu Junxue held Wen Xing’s hand while Wen Wanbing carried the suitcase, and the three of them set out.
Having ridden in Fu Junxue’s car once before, Wen Xing remained stable throughout the drive. However, when they arrived at the seaside village near the small island to gather with the others, the sudden increase in people and the unfamiliar environment made her uneasy.
After getting out of the car, she buried her face in Wen Wanbing’s arms. Her headphones pressed against Wen Wanbing’s collarbone, and her hands gripped Wen Wanbing’s neck. With every step Wen Wanbing took, the grip grew tighter.
It was painful. Wen Wanbing paused.
“What’s wrong?” Fu Junxue looked over and realized that the back of Wen Wanbing’s neck was covered in tiny nail marks and scratches left by Wen Xing.
New marks on top of old ones; there was hardly a patch of clear skin left. The little girl’s nails were clearly trimmed short, but she was using incredible force. The day before, Wen Wanbing had her hair down and was wearing a collared pajama set, so Fu Junxue hadn’t noticed.
A few people Fu Junxue’s friends were standing scattered nearby. Wen Wanbing stroked the back of Wen Xing’s head, her comfort a bit distracted. She was terrified that at any moment, Wen Xing would let out a scream and ruin everyone’s mood. She began to doubt whether coming here was the right choice.
“Wen Xing, she’s not doing well,” Wen Wanbing said, her voice strained.
“Wait for me here,” Fu Junxue said, stepping toward the group.
Wen Wanbing continued to stroke Wen Xing’s head, whispering to her about what they would experience. She had told her every day for the past week, but hearing it was one thing; experiencing it was another. Fortunately, it had some effect; at least Wen Xing didn’t lose control like she had the day she went to Fu Junxue’s house.
“Auntie,” Wen Xing called softly in her ear.
“Auntie’s here.” Wen Wanbing saw Fu Junxue approaching, carrying a large, fat cat. Beside her was a dark-skinned woman with curly hair leading a German Shepherd. Wen Wanbing continued, “We’re going to make new friends on this trip. Doesn’t Xingxing want to make friends?”
“…Yes,” Wen Xing replied. “Kele.”
Kele was Wen Xing’s class monitor at school and took good care of her.
“And Xiao Man. Does Xingxing remember Xiao Man?” Wen Wanbing reminded her. “Auntie Junjun’s black cat.”
“Meow-meow.” Wen Xing’s grip loosened significantly.
“That’s right, meow-meow. And this time there are new meow-meow friends.” Wen Wanbing crouched down while holding Wen Xing, just as Fu Junxue reached them and crouched down with her cat.
Their movements were perfectly in sync. They shared a brief look before Fu Junxue smiled. “And a woof-woof too.”
Beside them, Qi Yue patted the German Shepherd’s head. “Chief, sit!” The dog sat obediently.
Wen Wanbing turned slightly so Wen Xing could face the cat and dog. “Why doesn’t Xingxing look at our new friends?”
Hearing the others’ voices, Wen Xing kept her face buried in Wen Wanbing’s shoulder, clinging tightly. Only after Wen Wanbing coaxed her several more times did she finally lift her head slightly to peek.
She saw the orange cat in Fu Junxue’s arms. It was huge—wider than Fu Junxue herself.
Wen Xing blinked. “Big yellow pig.”
“Pffft! Hahaha!” Qi Yue burst into laughter. “I told you he was a pig! I’m going to tell Pepper that even a child thinks he’s a pig. I’ll leave Chief with you guys; he’s very well-behaved.”
The orange cat flicked its tail lazily, glancing at Wen Xing as if dissatisfied with its new classification. The German Shepherd looked at Wen Xing with watery eyes. Having never seen such a dog, Wen Xing let out a curious “Ah!”
The dog responded with a soft, low “Woo.”
The child and the dog exchanged these sounds for a while. Under the impatient yawn of the orange cat, Wen Xing finally let go of Wen Wanbing.
During dinner and bedtime at the guesthouse, Wen Xing spent almost the entire time leaning against the dog and the “pig.”
The accommodations weren’t great. Since campers here were more concerned with bathing facilities, the shop had converted most rooms into bathrooms, and sleeping was done in a communal area on the second floor.
Since everyone had to board the boats before dawn, few wanted to sleep upstairs; most preferred to nap in their cars or stay downstairs chatting and playing cards. Only Wen Wanbing remained in the women’s dormitory to coax Wen Xing to sleep. Fu Junxue had been there too, but she had been pulled away by the girl named Meng Xuran.
Wen Xing was fast asleep, spread-eagled with her head on the dog’s belly and her hand on the cat’s backside. Wen Wanbing adjusted her blanket and went out to the balcony for some air.
She could hear voices from the stairwell.
“I started this company and I want to hire good designers. I remembered your roommate studied fashion design. If she comes back to China, give her a recommendation.”
“I get it! Now go, go, go! Stop hugging me, take your stuff and leave. Meng Xuran! You’re pulling my hair!”
“Tsk, how cold-hearted. Here you go. Using people and tossing them aside like this.”
The wind carried the damp, salty smell of the sea. It was a bit stifling. Wen Wanbing’s hands curled on the railing. She took a deep breath, preparing to go back inside. But as the footsteps grew closer, she felt rooted to the spot.
“Is Xingxing asleep?”
Fu Junxue stood beside her. Her long hair fluttered in the wind, brushing against Wen Wanbing’s face, and a faint, delicate scent of roses melted into the air.
“Yes.” Wen Wanbing’s lips moved. She wanted to ask what she had been talking about with Meng Xuran, but she felt that eavesdropping was bad enough without overstepping her bounds.
A slight coolness touched the back of her neck.
Wen Wanbing froze and looked at Fu Junxue. Fu Junxue was wiping the skin with a wet wipe, then a dry tissue, and finally a cotton swab soaked in iodine. She pulled Wen Wanbing’s hair aside and leaned in close, so close it felt as if she were about to kiss the back of her neck.
Between the coolness of the iodine and the warmth of Fu Junxue’s breath, Wen Wanbing blinked slowly. Finally, she couldn’t help but speak.
“I… I overheard your conversation with Meng Xuran just now.”
“Mm,” Fu Junxue grumbled playfully. “She’s annoying to death.”
It was a very intimate complaint.
Wen Wanbing swallowed hard. After a long silence, she asked, “What exactly is… your relationship?”
Fu Junxue paused. She pressed against Wen Wanbing from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder. Tilting her head slightly, she asked with a smile, “There’s no lemonade here, so where is this ‘sour’ smell coming from?”
Wen Wanbing lowered her head. In her most composed tone, she spoke words that were anything but calm.
“Oh, it might be the smell of vinegar.”