Chapter 32: Ambiguity

Silence in the shop—time still—as if a film frame paused on their eyes meeting.
Jiang Ya appeared without warning—unexpected, at a loss. She had explained Jiang Ya away with so many reasonable reasons—accepted she would not come—thought it did not matter—yet now she dropped before her eyes.
Qi Yu’s heart clenched without permission.
Several meters apart—warm ceiling light on Jiang Ya—face half shadow half light, cool features, eyes soft as water.
A moment—Qi Yu came back from silent staring. Looked away, gripped the rag tight, eyes flickering over the table, pulled a smile at her lips.
“So late—and you still came.”
“Mm…” Jiang Ya’s long lashes lowered, laptop bag in both hands before her, expression unclear, voice slightly muffled. “Then… nearly closing?”
“Not yet—ten thirty, close around midnight.” Qi Yu bent to finish the table, back to the bar, washed hands, looked at Jiang Ya still standing, looking around.
“How is it? Want something? Menu here.”
Qi Yu in the prep area—Jiang Ya approaching—finger on the menu board. “Day coffee night bar—coffee mornings, cocktails and other drinks at night.”
“This one—Golden Dawn—kumquat lemon sparkling, a little sour—I liked it. Want a cup?”
Jiang Ya set the bag on a table behind, sat on a bar stool, studied the board, looked up, warm voice. “I’ll try that next time. Now… want a drink—anything else you recommend?”
“Alcohol?” Qi Yu looked at her, paused.
Before she spoke Jiang Ya added, “Low proof—or beer fine. Haven’t drunk in ages—just one or two tonight.”
“Or… we drink together? Also fine.” Jiang Ya looked straight at her—soft brows brighter in the light.
Qi Yu hesitated a moment—obliged. Turned to the fridge, two Coronas, two glasses from the prep area, set before Jiang Ya.
Done—Qi Yu took off work apron, sat opposite, opened bottles, poured while speaking. “Drink this—Corona smooth, not bitter, low proof.”
“You know your stuff—drink often?” Jiang Ya lifted a full glass, looked at clear liquid, sipped.
Qi Yu sat, drank too. “Not really—I don’t love alcohol—love coffee more. Started at work, got hooked.”
“So one day I thought—having my own café wouldn’t be bad.”
“All daydream then—never thought I’d really quit, never prepared much before opening.” She stared at the cold gleam in the glass, faint wistful smile.
Jiang Ya’s gaze stayed on Qi Yu’s face. Face to face—close look at fine brows, down nose and lips.
Pause—waited for Qi Yu to look up—then slightly unnatural glance elsewhere, picking up her thread. “That’s good too—every road different scenery… isn’t everything fate’s best arrangement? As long as what you choose now is from the heart—enough.”
“But a pity.”
“Pity what?” Jiang Ya’s sudden line puzzled Qi Yu.
“Pity…” Jiang Ya pressed lips, smile thin, eyes bright looking up. “Missed the time—couldn’t drink coffee you made yourself.”
Voice low—last syllables lifting—in Qi Yu’s ear always a trace of something undefined.
Qi Yu blanked a beat, one side of mouth up, eyes on swirling glass. “Come another day—shop’s here at least a year.”
Jiang Ya: “My fault for coming late.”
Qi Yu: “Not your fault… but so late—you just finished evening duty? Why not go straight home? Same next time.”
Shop near school but opposite direction from her apartment—extra detour—why bother.
“Not the same.” Jiang Ya held her eyes. “I promised you—opening day I’d come support… I can’t break my word.”
Just not breaking a promise…
Qi Yu said nothing—eyes down, faint smile. Saw Jiang Ya’s glass empty—picked up bottle, refilled.
Jiang Ya watched her action, continued. “Meant to come earlier—after school something to handle—done near seven—still evening duty—no time.”
“But luckily—before close—I made it.”
Qi Yu’s lips curved slightly—avoided Jiang Ya’s steady gaze—glasses clinked clear.
Did not follow Jiang Ya’s thread—asked something else. “Handle what? School just started—work that busy?”
“Handle…” Jiang Ya paused—words stuck.
Not work busy…
Never thought one accidentally found letter could ripple so much.
Not long ago talked with Lin Jun—after, Lin Jun truly improved—focus in class, not silent in breaks, sometimes laughing with classmates.
Thought it resolved—could relax. Then Lin Jun recovered—Chen Mo off.
At first she wanted simple handling—not let Chen Mo know letter content—both kids immature, easy to break friendship or extreme reactions from one letter.
That night someone eavesdropped her talk with Lin Jun—embellished—spread—reached Chen Mo.
Chen Mo two days sick leave—return day Jiang Ya talked briefly—matter closed, hoped Chen Mo would not look at Lin Jun strangely; would not limit normal contact—but hoped private boundaries.
Chen Mo was class study rep—quiet, steady. Jiang Ya believed she could adjust herself.
These two days observing—Lin Jun better, Chen Mo low—dazed daily—worried Jiang Ya sick.
Tonight she specially asked Chen Mo to talk—failed—no reason for her state, every question met silence.
One thing—mentioning Lin Jun—Chen Mo finally reacted.
Not joy—confirmed a guess she most feared. If true—headache for a long while.
Helpless—changed topic, only earnest advice—not let this affect her too much—three most important study years—did not want year one derailed.
“What? Hard to say?” Qi Yu saw her dazed, hesitant—asked.
Jiang Ya pulled from thoughts, sipped wine, slow. “Not really…”
Looked at Qi Yu—wanted to speak—did not know where to start.
Afraid unclear—afraid too clear…
Could foresee—once raised, sensitivity would climb another level—that invisible gulf between her and Qi Yu would show shape.
Under Qi Yu’s gaze Jiang Ya breathed in lightly, eyes on the bar top. “Some trivial things… not important.”
Corner of mouth lifted. “Forget that—how was today? Opening day… smooth? Ahem… ahem…”
Maybe choked on drink—light cough twice.
Qi Yu: “Okay—morning so-so—afternoon Li Tong filmed for the shop, brought lots of friends…”
Unfinished—Jiang Ya coughing again.
Qi Yu watched her—finger on smooth glass—hesitated, spoke. “You okay? Caught cold?”
“Ahem… ahem…” Hand over mouth, brow knit. “Ahem… fine—maybe a little—throat itchy.”
Qi Yu frowned at once, stared at her glass. “Cold—and drinking?”
“Should be fine… maybe not cold—season change, body sensitive. It’s okay—only a few tonight.”
About to lift glass—Qi Yu caught her hand midair.
Qi Yu took the glass from her fingers, eyes down. “If you’re sick—don’t drink. Drink when you’re well.”
Jiang Ya blank—fingers still in air curled, slowly withdrew, pressed lips, smiled. “Fine—not much—I wanted to tonight…”
“No.”
Firm tone—Jiang Ya stunned again—eyes slowly on Qi Yu’s face.
Nearly done drinking anyway—Qi Yu cleared table while speaking. “Sometimes you’re exactly like Qi Xuan—body says no—you insist anyway.”
“And that time cramps sent you to hospital—you didn’t watch your body… constitution not great—still toughing it out…”
Hands busy—words spilled without thinking.
Finished—sat back—looked up—Jiang Ya had been watching her the whole time.
The gaze very calm—so calm Qi Yu mute—mind blank—could only stare—suddenly lost ability to organize words.
Light in eyes—clarity fading.
Qi Yu could not read if the look meant something. Long seconds—eye contact ended—about to ask—Jiang Ya looked away as if nothing, elsewhere.
Qi Yu dazed at her profile’s soft outline—ripple of unclear feeling—then she turned away too—tacit lips pressed, silent.
……
Together till eleven thirty. Qi Yu locked up—walked back to the apartment with Jiang Ya.
Night wind quietly—cool slipped through clothes—scattered faint tipsiness.
Neither spoke—enjoying rare quiet night. Qi Yu glanced beside her a few times—Jiang Ya had removed her glasses somewhere. Wind lifted hair—clear profile.
Quiet a long while. Passing a familiar convenience store—Jiang Ya’s steps unsteady—Qi Yu could not help asking:
“You… okay?”
“Not drunk?” Last time Jiang Ya had not drunk much… should have stopped her from drinking at the start—why forgot then…
“Impossible—I’m not that weak.” Jiang Ya spoke at last—first words since leaving the shop.
But the moment she opened mouth Qi Yu caught something wrong in the subtle shift of tone.
“You sure?”
Jiang Ya: “Sure.”
Qi Yu: “This stretch is dark—put glasses on?”
Jiang Ya: “No need.”
Qi Yu: “……”
Looked at her—helpless. Jiang Ya’s tone suddenly cold—she was unused to it.
Slowly looked forward—thinking why the sudden change. Absorbed—eyes down—one brick missing in the pavement ahead, uneven.
“Careful—”
“Ah—”
Just said it—Jiang Ya stumbled sudden—balance lost.
About to fall—instinct grabbed Qi Yu’s clothes—Qi Yu quick caught her hand—
Hard pull—Jiang Ya crashed into her arms.