Chapter 16: Subtle

When tutoring ended and students filed out it was past twelve thirty.
Chen Xiaojuan and another girl left last. Chen and Qi Xuan were close—seeing Qi Xuan still on the stool, asked a couple questions.
Qi Xuan wanted to tell truth—but cousin said stay quiet—and she knew Chen’s mouth—tell her anything, whole class knows tomorrow. Did not want to be seen as connected—less trouble.
Door shut—others finally gone—Qi Xuan dropped the act, pen down, ran to kitchen for Jiang Ya.
Hands on doorframe, flattering smile at low ponytail, sleeves rolled, washing vegetables. “Teacher Jiang! What’re you making? Want me to help?”
“What help? Not like this at home.” Qi Yu appeared behind, grabbed collar, yanked her from the doorway.
“I heard your test isn’t done—you have time to help? Go finish. I’ll check later.”
Dragged out—Qi Xuan unwilling. “Only a few left… later… not due anyway… what’s the rush.”
“Not due means you drag?” Jiang Ya turned off tap, shook basket dry, looked at her. “Slowest of everyone. Go finish. I’ll check after.”
“Ah—” Qi Xuan groaned. Came to play—not after-class tutoring…
Unwilling but no argument—dragged back like a ghost, sat properly.
Qi Yu withdrew gaze from her, looked at Jiang Ya chopping, teased. “She listens to you. Argues with me.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Ya laughed. “Students probably fear teachers a little.”
“But your sister’s personality is completely different from yours before.”
“Hm?” Qi Yu curious—eyes from diced carrot on board to her profile, interested. “What was I like before?”
Jiang Ya stopped, looked up thinking, smiled at her, playful tone. “You really want me to say?”
Qi Yu arched brow. “Say it. What can’t I hear?”
“You…” Jiang Ya bent head, kept working, lips already warm. “Like a bookworm. Hardly two sentences. Didn’t chat with classmates. Lone wolf.”
“For a while I thought you were hard to get along with—didn’t dare talk to you.”
“Me?” Qi Yu eyes wide—incredible. She was the one afraid to approach someone surrounded by crowd—how became Jiang Ya afraid of her.
“I did talk—we used to…” Pause—face stiff then recovered, tugged smile. “We talked a lot, right? Not that extreme.”
Jiang Ya sniffed. “After we knew each other. First week as desk mates—you ignored me a week. I thought maybe you hated me.”
“How could…” Qi Yu laughed helpless. Did not expect Jiang Ya remembered such small things—and she had not hated—clearly…
Thoughts surged—flash of images—back—Jiang Ya had diced carrots on a plate.
Carrots, potatoes, cilantro sections, marinated beef—not finished dish but prep and knife work showed she cooked often.
Right—lived alone—cooked herself. Qi Yu at twenty-six last time could not light the stove—when she did, burned scrambled eggs…
Thought of that—“pfft”—head down light laugh—Jiang Ya puzzled look.
Brow up, eyes full question and innocence—even knife stopped—looked oddly pure cute.
“Laughing at what?”
Qi Yu heart skipped—stopped laughing, looked away. “Nothing… your knife skills—I can’t even fry an egg—funny.”
“Oh… want me to wash anything else?” Leaning on doorframe—standing only felt wrong.
“No. Prepped most this morning. One tomato left then stir-fry.”
“Hey.” Jiang Ya saw apron still on wall behind. “Done—forgot apron… hands dirty now… inconvenient…”
“I’ll help?” Qi Yu asked.
“Can you?”
“Of course.”
Qi Yu went over—fast—with apron behind Jiang Ya—stalled—did not know how.
Noticing silence Jiang Ya looked back—turned to face her—apron to front first. “Lift it over my shoulders. Tie the back.”
“Mm.” Arms still stiff.
Only seconds—but Qi Yu held shoulder straps, careful slow motion helping Jiang Ya through.
Midway Jiang Ya looked up to cooperate—center of gravity back—landed in Qi Yu’s chest—like an embrace.
Both froze.
Chest pressed soft solid—not other—Jiang Ya’s body. Too close—unique clean scent faint, creeping into nose.
One instant Qi Yu seemed not to control her hands—still raised.
Only an instant.
Then Jiang Ya straightened forward—hands dropped—apron on, head down silently tying the thin cord at her lower back.
Neither spoke—silence turned subtle.
While mind wandered Jiang Ya suddenly: “Right—you said you usually don’t cook?”
Qi Yu’s fingers paused.
Sudden—but in the breathless subtle air it was a lifeline. At once: “Yeah. Not much. Company cafeteria or delivery. Home—Aunt and Mom cook.”
Jiang Ya: “That’s nice. Saves time.”
Tie done—leaned on doorframe again—watched her crack eggs skilled, smiled. “I envy people who cook well. Want to learn—no time.”
“Fine—when free, come here more. I’ll teach you.” Jiang Ya turned smile—natural—as if nothing had changed—close as ever.
Invitation not a joke—Qi Yu only looked deep a moment, curved lips, did not answer.
.
Dishes on table—near two in the afternoon—lunch hour long past.
Table rich—cola chicken wings, minced pork eggplant, beef potato carrot stir-fry, garlic steamed fish, greens, corn rib soup. Five dishes one soup—home style, all rice-friendly.
Qi Xuan starved—wolfed meat the moment seated—Qi Yu reminded.
Qi Xuan mumbled: “Too good, can’t stop.” Kept filling her belly.
Qi Yu and Jiang Ya could not help smiling.
Qi Yu had guessed skill—did not expect this good—rivaled Qi Wenping’s years of cooking.
Jiang Ya used to praise—but hearing Qi Yu—smile unstoppable. “Not that much. Only after work I learned—clueless before.”
“Sometimes free—I study recipes. Clumsy at first—later okay.”
“All home cooking—not restaurant chef. Glad you like it.”
“Too modest.” Qi Yu added—saw only half bowl rice. “Eat more—so much food.”
Jiang Ya smiled. “You two eat. Made for you.”
“I… this much is enough. Dinner at parents’ tonight.”
Qi Yu nodded silently.
Speaking of which—phone rang—Zhou Lin.
Jiang Ya looked at screen—excused. “You eat. I’ll take this.”
Qi Xuan mm’d, kept eating. Qi Yu followed Jiang Ya’s back—bedroom door.
Small apartment—door ajar—faint sound reached sofa.
—“Mom, I’ll come later… friend at home… yes that one, mm…”
—“Mom I told you—not suited.”
—“No why… don’t agree… can’t communicate… busy lately… let’s not set up…”
After that door shut tight—could not hear.
Minutes later Jiang Ya out—back at table—not much expression.
Qi Yu half full—studied her face—searched words. “Family?”
Jiang Ya nodded. “Mom.”
“…Talk about… yesterday?” Hesitant.
Jiang Ya surprised brow. “You heard?”
“Not much… a little… fight?”
Jiang Ya picked up bowl—thin smile, forced. “No—just… disagree. Talked.”
“Right.” Serious. “Meant to stay with you—but I may leave early. Mom wants me home—around three.”
Both looked at clock—two forty-something—less than twenty minutes to three.
“Lots of food—if you can’t finish and don’t mind, pack home. Containers in kitchen. Or leave—I’ll clean when back.”
Jiang Ya stuffed a mouthful rice silently. Qi Yu watched—said nothing. Qi Xuan sensed the silence too—did not speak.
After a while Qi Yu suddenly: “Can’t you stay later? You barely ate.”
“Won’t eat more.” Already put bowl down—warm smile at her. “Every week about this time home—set rule. Late—parents worry.”
“Oh……”
Qi Yu looked down—kept eating.
But eating—eyes kept drifting to Jiang Ya—frown at phone replying—words stuck.
Jiang Ya felt it—turned. “What?”
Still smiling—gentle—Qi Yu tried to read something in those eyes—found nothing.
Qi Yu shook head with faint smile—no more words.
Near time—Jiang Ya up to bedroom—Qi Yu’s gaze followed until door cut the view—slowly back to full table—thoughtful.
A thought formed.
From knowing Jiang Ya—nearly ten years—even minus seven apart—they had once been closest to each other.
But she found… she had never understood this person.
Never known what Jiang Ya really was.