Chapter 15: Bright Sun

Qi Xuan nodded half understanding. “Oh~ so you want a soulmate, right?”
Jiang Ya glanced at her—realized she had said too much—changed topic fast. “How old are you—you know what soulmate means?”
Qi Xuan hated being treated like a kid. “Why wouldn’t I? I’m sixteen—almost adult—not elementary school. I get this stuff.”
“Stop.”
Seeing her about to go on, Jiang Ya cut in. “You’re excited. You’re not this keen when I call on you in class.”
“Monday English—better bring this energy. No sleeping in class.”
Jiang Ya smiled at her—but to Qi Xuan that gentle smile felt oddly scary.
She behaved, said no more.
Inside she still felt a little wronged about the argument.
How did she not get it? Even if you haven’t eaten pork you’ve seen pigs run.
The more she thought—gentle, considerate, spiritual connection—what man like that existed? She had never seen one.
…Women, though.
Qi Xuan and Jiang Ya had walked ahead somehow. Qi Yu pushed the cart behind, silent, watching them chat, eyes dazed.
She thought differently from Qi Xuan.
Jiang Ya’s words already sketched a shadow in her mind—a man with glasses, shirt and slacks, refined.
Maybe also a teacher—or civil servant… must match Jiang Ya’s standing, career success, refined look—only then worthy standing beside her.
What would Jiang Ya’s wedding be like—would she still get an invitation… probably… they were friends now…
Qi Yu lowered eyes, dark and deep, lost in thought.
“Ow!”
Cart hit Qi Xuan from inattention—a yelp drew glances from passersby.
Under public eyes Qi Xuan’s hand to cover her butt went down fast—comic—she scooted beside Qi Yu.
Customers gone—Qi Xuan embarrassed, poked Qi Yu, whispered. “You didn’t see me! Why ram me…”
“…Didn’t notice you. Okay?” Qi Yu met Jiang Ya looking back ahead—eyes flickered away.
Qi Xuan: “Fine, just my butt… scared to walk in front of you now.”
“Okay then.”
Qi Yu pushed on. Peripheral vision—Jiang Ya seemed to want to speak—she walked past, steps a little faster.
Qi Xuan and Jiang Ya exchanged a look, said nothing, followed her back silently.
Three through instant food to snacks. Qi Xuan and Jiang Ya talked school behind. Qi Yu still silent up front—only looked back when Qi Xuan called stop.
Qi Xuan’s main mission—stockpile. Snacks and drinks—she took the cart, charged ahead, chips, loose tea eggs, chocolate balls… piled in.
Qi Yu free behind with Jiang Ya, arched brow. “Enough—Aunt comes back tomorrow she’ll scold you.”
Qi Xuan unmoved, kept shopping. “She won’t see. I’ll pack in my schoolbag.”
Qi Yu speechless—gave up.
Turned—Jiang Ya putting two bags cucumber chips and iced cola in the cart.
Qi Yu watched, surprise flash, blurted: “You…”
*You’re shopping like a kid too.*
Changed to: “You eat snacks now?”
She remembered—Jiang Ya did not like snacks?
High school noon she waited with Jiang Ya at the gate for parents. Greedy like Qi Xuan—bought from the shop opposite—always offered Jiang Ya—always smiled and refused.
“Mm, living alone now. Sometimes not hungry at night—just snack.” Jiang Ya said, picked up cucumber chips. “Want some? This flavor’s good.”
Qi Yu waved off—eyes on the cola bottles just added.
Walking parallel—glanced several times—when Jiang Ya looked back too, finally could not hold back: “You can drink ice now?”
Last week—hospital for period pain.
Jiang Ya stared—both remembered last week.
“Should… be okay… just finished two days ago…” Voice lower and lower, eyes dodging—less natural than before.
If she said fine—no need to fuss. Then Jiang Ya: “Right—how about I treat you both to a meal sometime?”
Qi Yu: “Why? Because of last week?”
Jiang Ya: “Mm. Forgot to say before—just remembered.”
Qi Yu: “It was just helping. We all know each other—no need specially…”
Before she finished Qi Xuan whipped around, delighted. “Really?!”
“Teacher you mean it?”
Jiang Ya laughed, pulled cart aside. “Mind people.”
“Of course. Anytime. Pick what you want to eat and…” looked at Qi Yu, smiling. “Have your cousin set a time—we’ll go together.”
“Wow! They’ll die of envy!” So excited she forgot strangers—wanted to blast the whole class now.
Some sense left—family knowing Teacher Jiang—promised not to blab—then could not hold joy, messaged deskmate at once.
Qi Yu and Jiang Ya both dumbfounded laugh.
“So—you pick the place, send me the address?” Jiang Ya asked walking.
Qi Yu glanced at grinning Qi Xuan—at this point—no reason to refuse.
With Qi Xuan there she talked most—probably not too awkward.
“Mm. I’ll contact you then.” Qi Yu curved lips.
Maybe getting along like this… not far from normal friends again?
Not like before—but okay.
That counted as enough, right?
.
That night Qi Xuan gleefully scrolled restaurant reviews on her phone, nagging Qi Yu to book fast—afraid they’d forget.
Qi Yu found her noisy—why rush one meal—but they could not agree.
Qi Xuan made a three-person group chat herself—settled tomorrow evening.
Sunday evening Jiang Ya had to go home—declined. Morning tutoring—and make up last week’s half hour—class would run late.
Then Jiang Ya offered—if they did not mind—she could cook at home. Fridge full—eat well.
Qi Yu thought too late, too much trouble—about to refuse—Qi Xuan spammed kneeling thank-you emojis in the group—blocked Qi Yu’s words.
No choice—time set.
But next day Qi Yu stood at Jiang Ya’s apartment door half an hour early.
Jiang Ya opening—surprised.
“Why so early? Class isn’t over.” She lowered voice so as not to disturb students.
Qi Yu peeked in, quiet too. “Afraid I’d be late—came early… bothering you?”
“Should I sit at the milk tea shop downstairs?”
“Fine. Come in.”
Still hesitating—Jiang Ya pulled her in.
Slender fingers loosely on Qi Yu’s wrist a moment—released—knelt to open shoe cabinet.
Top shelf—several pairs pure white cotton slippers, same style—prepared for tutoring students back then.
“All new. Pick any.”
“Sit on the sofa a bit. Almost done—about twenty minutes.”
Voice soft—then quick to the living room. Students pulled back curious eyes, bent to work.
Only Qi Xuan—excited—kept trying to catch Qi Yu’s eyes—almost shouting *that’s my cousin, we’re close, we’re eating here later!*
She dared not imagine telling classmates—the envy—Teacher Jiang most popular in the grade.
“Qi Xuan.” Jiang Ya cold—fantasy popped.
“Huh what…” Head up—eyes drifted to sofa—guilty pull back.
“You tell me. Others working—you spacing out? Finished already?”
Several classmates schadenfreude at Qi Xuan—face burning—wanted to bury in dirt.
Qi Yu on sofa not far—saw the whole arc, especially Qi Xuan’s face change.
Holding back laughter—her lips curved slowly.
Scene like years ago—today not then—she was not a teenager anymore. Time flew—youth gone.
Nearly ten years since graduation. People came and went—in the end only she and Jiang Ya still in contact.
“Class, let’s look at this question. Read the stem first. Find the skeleton. Subject, predicate…”
Jiang Ya’s voice filled the living room—brighter than usual when teaching—clear, standard, pleasant.
Qi Yu did not know when she put phone down—eyes on the white figure.
Today ivory V-neck knit. White suited her—loose sweater wrapped her warm soft, clean bright—like winter sunbeam just landed.
Always pure. Bright.
In everyone’s heart.
Qi Yu watched—ink-black hair swinging, gentle distant brows, serious focused face… every look, everything.
Eyes followed her up and down—ripples of something hard to name.
Qi Yu seemed to understand suddenly.
Why she had liked Jiang Ya before.
Even if back to seventeen, lived it all again—she would still like her.
No one does not lean toward light.
Even now—even this moment—heart still jumped once when the light fell, did it not?