Chapter 29: Testing

Jiang Ya wore pale pink silk pajamas, hair simply tied up, graceful neck exposed. Below porcelain collarbone—a slender soft frame. Walking toward Qi Yu, light fabric clung to her waist in the breeze; her curves unusually clear.
One hand held towel and changed clothes; the other removed the clip from her hair, shook her head—long hair swayed. She had not looked up, never noticed the gaze on the sofa that had followed her since she stepped out.
Only entering the living room, passing the sofa, did she glance casually at Qi Yu—then at the parcels before her.
“Is it asleep?”
Seeing her approach Qi Yu finally came back, hurriedly looked at the box. “Yeah—it cried so long it’s tired. Just fell asleep.”
“Mm… let me see.” Jiang Ya leaned close, bent slightly, long fingers eased the half-closed box flap, gazed in.
“Mm… really asleep.”
The soft voice at her ear—Qi Yu listened, eyes drifting from pink-tipped fingers upward—until loose collar from her bend opened, pale skin, a faint shadow of cleavage…
Qi Yu froze—stared a second too long—then jerked her face away, shifted restlessly, breathed deep.
Jiang Ya focused on the kitten, unaware anything was wrong—bent lower still, smiling, finger stroking fluff. “Little baby, asleep… sleeping so soundly. Later we’ll give you some milk, okay?”
Hearing that, Qi Yu’s gaze flickered more; stole a glance at the person bent before her, talking to herself.
Too close—one breath and shower scent on Jiang Ya, not strong, crisp and pleasant. Qi Yu’s nose moved; could not help sniffing twice.
Jiang Ya unconsciously drew nearer. Qi Yu’s breathing turned uneven as distance shrank—the air between them seemed thick.
“That…” Qi Yu angled her body away, hesitated several times, finally could not hold back. “It’s kind of cold—you’re wearing so little?”
“Little?” Jiang Ya blanked, looked down—saw the loose collar hanging open—startled, hand over her chest, face visibly flushing.
She looked at Qi Yu—expression normal—exhaled, slowly lowered her hand. “Then I’ll… throw on a shawl, hang the laundry… watch it for me…”
She hurried back to the bedroom with clothes. Qi Yu looked again—heard a bang—the door shut.
Qi Yu turned back to the sleeping kitten in the box, watching its little belly rise and fall, zoning out.
Weather had warmed lately—even now with wind and rain outside, over twenty degrees.
Indoors was warmer than out—especially now. Qi Yu had been sitting still, not moving much, yet heat ran restless inside, forcing her to take off her jacket, left in a long-sleeve shirt only.
Jiang Ya came out wrapped in an ink-wash shawl, waist-length black hair loose—as if merged with the fabric, skin especially fair, classical Eastern beauty.
Qi Yu was opening express delivery—goat milk Jiang Ya had ordered for the kitten, small bottle included.
Jiang Ya sat beside her. Qi Yu opened the tin, prepared formula.
“Sorry to make you help feed her.” Jiang Ya watched her, voice soft.
Qi Yu focused on her hands, curved her lips. “Fine. Rain’s too heavy to go back anyway—nothing else to do sitting here.”
“Still asleep?”
Jiang Ya opened the box a crack, looked in. “Mm—curled small. Hot water bottle should keep it comfortable.”
“Should I wake it for milk?”
“Mm.” Qi Yu poured warm water, screwed the bottle, swirled clockwise. “Wake it—don’t know how long since it ate—so thin.”
Jiang Ya obeyed sweetly.
Qi Yu did not expect Jiang Ya’s wake-up—stroking while murmuring “baby” in a voice low enough to lull sleep, let alone wake.
Qi Yu watched, could not help laughing. “Like that it’ll sleep deeper.”
She sighed, reached into the box, under Jiang Ya’s nervous gaze carefully wrapped the kitten in a blanket, set it on her lap.
“Meow~” Sure enough—woken, limbs stretching, dissatisfied kitten squeaks.
Qi Yu lifted it belly-down on the blanket, caught the moment, stuffed the nipple in, squeezed the bottle lightly.
Struggled a few times—tasted milk—gradually docile, front paws on the bottle drinking—adorable.
Qi Yu and Jiang Ya watched together—smiles on both lips.
Silence a moment. Jiang Ya suddenly asked, “You kept cats before? You feed pretty skillfully.”
Qi Yu: “Never had a cat—first time feeding… but I bottle-fed Qi Xuan a few times.”
“Qi Xuan?” Jiang Ya’s eyes widened. “How many years apart? You fed her?”
Qi Yu frowned, thought. “She started school a year early—sixteen now. I’m twenty-seven—almost a full round older.”
“So at eleven you were helping care for a kid?”
“Mm.” Qi Yu stroked the kitten gently, remembering. “Back then our family restaurant was just starting—few staff. Daytime Aunt Wenping took Xuan to the shop.”
“Shop wasn’t far from home. Before school let out Aunt would come home, cook for me. After dinner back to the shop—I helped with Xuan evenings. She was tiny then—now taller than me.”
She looked down, smiled softly, sighed. “Objectively that period was hard—but I didn’t feel it then.”
“Doesn’t matter now. Life’s good now.”
Milk not finished but kitten full—tried to wriggle free in Qi Yu’s hands. Qi Yu set the bottle down, put kitten and blanket in Jiang Ya’s hands.
Jiang Ya took it, looked up at her a moment, lashes lowered, picked up the thread. “Happiness… isn’t always from objective conditions. More subjective—not what you get but what you feel.”
“Economically your family was tight—but there was love in the environment—you felt happy, so you didn’t call it bitter.”
Qi Yu looked deep at Jiang Ya, then smiled. “Mm, you’re right. Remembering now it’s still beautiful—but I look forward to life ahead too. Don’t know… if it’ll be what I want.”
Jiang Ya put the kitten in the box to play. Turned to Qi Yu, eyes steady. “What’s your ideal life?”
“Ideal life?” Qi Yu squinted, thought. “Maybe… run a small shop—not much profit, enough to live.”
Jiang Ya: “Then… you plan to live alone?”
“Of course not.”
“By then I’d live with someone I like—rent together. House not too big—smaller feels cozier… when stable, maybe a pet.”
Finished—noticed Jiang Ya still watching her.
“What?” Qi Yu tugged the corner of her mouth.
“Nothing…” Jiang Ya turned away, tucked hair behind her ear, faint smile lingering.
She sipped water from the table, paused, gaze back on the kitten in the box—as if casual: “You already… have someone you like?”
The words landed—Qi Yu stilled.
Heat faded. She picked up her jacket to put on, voice muffled in the process. “Not now. No energy for that now.”
“But maybe fate shows up suddenly later?”
“There’s a saying—fate isn’t rain you can avoid by staying indoors. Makes sense to me.”
Tone light, faint smile on her face.
She stared at Jiang Ya’s face—as if searching for something on purpose. Jiang Ya only curved one side of her lips, smile thin, nodded slowly, said no more.
A while—while Jiang Ya bent to play with the kitten Qi Yu looked away, drank water, gaze empty toward the window—tacit end to the topic.
……
Jiang Ya named the cat Zaizai—“Baby.”
Because of Zaizai, Qi Yu and Jiang Ya had shared topic again. Though they did not meet, in busy spells they kept intermittent contact.
Every few days Jiang Ya sent photos of Zaizai, shared funny care stories. Qi Yu sometimes messaged first to ask how Zaizai was doing. Half a month passed like that.
That half month Qi Yu was not only moving and café renovation.
Tang Xuejun’s girlfriend really went back to her ex—Tang heartbroken—Qi Yu played therapist, listened to crying, sometimes accompanied drinking away sorrow. Lesson learned—never drank heavy again; one push to drink and she could leave.
Sometimes drunk Tang dragged feelings to Qi Yu’s story. Unlike before, Qi Yu no longer dodged—spoke openly about Jiang Ya as if they were only ordinary friends, nothing more.
Nearly end of March—the café had been renovating a month, final soft furnishing, opening in a week.
Tonight Qi Yu checked the shop, then watched Tang drunk and wild by the sea—home near midnight.
Not open yet—not busy—she had been staying at the old complex.
Just showered into the bedroom—Qi Xuan alone on the bed, Bluetooth in, phone in hand, talking to someone.
Since Qi Yu came home Xuan had been on a call—past midnight after her shower, still on.
“Qi Xuan.” Qi Yu closed the door, called her.
“You have school tomorrow—know that? Too late—stop—sleep.”
“Yeah yeah—five more minutes.” Xuan answered perfunctorily, head down again, whatever topic with whoever.
Qi Yu helpless—went to the balcony to wash up.
Another ten minutes—Qi Yu about to lie down—Xuan still on the phone.
“Qi Xuan.” Standing by the lower bunk, looking up, brow knit. “What time is it—school tomorrow or not?”
“Phone away. Talk tomorrow. I’m turning off the light.”
“Fine…” A few more sentences, slow hang-up.
Qi Yu on lower bunk applying body lotion—arms—heard movement above, thought, asked, “Classmate you were talking to?”
Qi Xuan: “Yeah—my deskmate.”
Qi Yu: “What took so long? Deskmate—can’t you talk at school tomorrow?”
She had caught fragments—probably a student punished by a teacher. Common enough—worth this long?
Xuan about to sleep—heard the question, rolled to the railing, looked down. “Tomorrow has tomorrow’s topics. And this isn’t ordinary—it’s explosive news!”
“What explosive news…” Qi Yu unconvinced, still rubbing lotion on her hands. “I heard—it’s just someone in your class got criticized and punished?”
“Yeah—but that’s not the point.” Xuan’s voice rose, sat up excited. “Point is—teacher confiscated her love letter. She had a crush on another classmate—teacher found out!”
“Then?” Qi Yu had seen plenty back in her day.
“But—the one who wrote the letter is a girl—and the person she wrote to is also a girl.”
“They were really close—we all thought just good friends. Turns out one liked the other.”
“Just… homosexual.”
Qi Yu’s lotion hand stopped—looked up, blank.
Silent—Xuan went on. “Tonight during evening study Teacher Jiang passed her desk, picked up the letter by accident, found out.”
Qi Yu: “Oh… what did she… say?”
Qi Xuan: “Uh… took the girl to the balcony and scolded her…”
“I heard—Teacher Jiang was really serious—said this behavior was wrong… said she must never see it again…”
Wrong?
Hearing that Qi Yu seemed to forget breathing—frozen completely still.
Wrong… what was wrong?
So in Jiang Ya’s eyes… liking a girl was wrong?