Chapter 42: Avoidance

Qi Yu parted lips—blank a long while—still no sound.
Jiang Ya before her—stranger she almost dared not recognize.
Glasses off—plain cool face—now flushed seductive—even bare-faced alluring. Especially those eyes—usually distant—now as if restraint shed—faint smile—staring straight—eyes like water—bewitching.
First time seeing Jiang Ya drunk this flirtatious. Like another person entirely.
How much did she drink…
Qi Yu shocked inside.
Stood at door a long while—looked away—soft voice. “Come in.”
“No extra slippers—you don’t need to change.”
Jiang Ya answered light. Passing her—a trace of smoke in air—Qi Yu smelled—frowned glance as they brushed past.
Smoking and drinking. What happened to indulge this much.
Closed door—sat on sofa together—deliberately one body-width apart.
Jiang Ya took beer from bag—lined cans on coffee table neat—Qi Yu watched every move—unblinking.
Finally asked. “How much did you drink tonight?”
Jiang Ya set last can—six total. Turned—dazed—thought. “Not much… two cans only.”
“Two?” Qi Yu frowned—sat up from leaning back—picked a can.
Bought a while—condensation on can. Turned—3.6% on label.
Low proof—but for poor tolerance two cans enough to get drunk.
And Jiang Ya’s tolerance—Qi Yu knew it.
“Yeah just two… I checked—very low.” Saw Qi Yu’s action—explained—picked one up. “Still these… split half half—okay?”
“You…” Complex gaze—*you’re crazy* swallowed.
Sighed—wanted to stop—could only watch Jiang Ya open and drink—defeated.
“Can you really drink that much? Too much—body can’t take it.”
“But I’m unhappy… only drinking… what else? Go wild on the street?” Light laugh—sudden look at her—brow knit tight—eyes deep unreadable.
Qi Yu heard the venting.
After eye contact Jiang Ya lowered eyes—tired blink. “And… only you can drink with me…”
“I could only come to you.”
Qi Yu looked a while—said nothing—pulled her own can tab—drank with her.
Qi Yu ate little dinner—few sips—squinted uncomfortable. Recovered—looked at Jiang Ya drinking alone silent.
Chose words. “Fight with family?”
Jiang Ya paused—shook head.
“Work pressure too much?”
Shook again. Still holding can—gaze long—nowhere ahead. “Neither… hard to describe.”
“If I must… maybe…” glance at Qi Yu. “My personal… feelings.”
“Personal feelings?” Qi Yu blank—those four words from Jiang Ya’s mouth—so foreign.
“Mm.” Jiang Ya knew she was drunk. Even drunk could only say this much. How to say Zhou Lin questioned her orientation tonight—unbearable annoyance?
Fragment memories—mind messy—stole glance at Qi Yu—afraid deep questions—shifted conflict.
“Don’t overthink… family heard rumors—talked tonight—I clarified.”
“What rumors?”
“…They heard I have a boyfriend.” Jiang Ya looked down—tucked stray hair back.
Qi Yu turned—silence—sudden. “The man who hit on you at the cinema?”
“How do you know?” Jiang Ya surprised.
Qi Yu avoided direct look—guilty.
Qi Xuan mentioned casually—Jiang Ya might be dating—Qi Yu pressed for details—Xuan showed chat photo.
Qi Yu looked a long time on Xuan’s phone.
Sneak shot—blurry—but man and woman at school gate—Jiang Ya and the man from that day.
“Qi Xuan told me.” Quick glance at Jiang Ya—away again. “Said a man waits after work often—flowers, dinner… said you two chatted happily.”
Jiang Ya silent a moment. “How do you know that man is the one from the cinema?”
Caught off guard—heart skipped—face calm. “Random guess—didn’t expect right.”
“So… hearing her—you thought he was my boyfriend?”
“………”
Qi Yu had thought that once.
Later calmed—Jiang Ya was low-key—real relationship would not parade—would not let him wait visibly at the gate.
“I didn’t think that. I thought… he’s pursuing you—getting to know each other stage.”
“I don’t.” Jiang Ya held her gaze—serious. “No interest in knowing him—not at all—no relation.”
“One-sided—wouldn’t leave—I tried talking face to face—useless. Spread in office—to my family… clarified now thankfully.”
Qi Yu heard heavy sigh—saw her toss empty can—open new one.
Did not stop—watched her drink to lips. Flash—eyes flickered—looked down immediately.
“So tonight’s mood is because of this?”
“…Yes.” Pressed lips—stared at row of cans on table—eyes dim.
“But you clarified?”
“Yes.”
“Then good—don’t think more.”
Without this one—next would come. Jiang Ya would meet new people—would date eventually.
Qi Yu remembered Tang’s words. Humans have instincts—orientation too. Even if Jiang Ya unwilling now—end would come—rule-follower—successful career—complete family.
Better sooner—less pointless thinking.
Hearing Qi Yu’s light sentence Jiang Ya glanced at her.
Qi Yu felt the gaze—only raised one brow—swayed her can—no more words.
Jiang Ya’s eyes stayed on her face—did not leave. Dark current in them.
The more Qi Yu acted indifferent—the more that feeling surged—unbearable as if something would burst from chest—nameless illegitimate—only pressed down—bone-deep sourness flowing through.
Wanted to speak. Speak what?
Say you truly don’t care? Say you don’t care about me? But Qi Yu not caring—no fault.
Only friends—why should Qi Yu care about irrelevant things?
Jiang Ya—you’re really drunk—thoroughly drunk.
How did you become this sentimental self? Really… ugly.
Stared at Qi Yu long—finally dropped stubborn eyes—cold face—finished last sips—grabbed new can.
This half hour—two more—four total with before.
Qi Yu’s brow knit tight—watching Jiang Ya trying to drown herself—grip on can tightened.
Did not understand—resolved—who was she angry at—why punish her body—on purpose? On purpose drunk like this before her?
Nameless anger built—until Jiang Ya gagged—nausea—dropped can—hand over mouth about to vomit—Qi Yu exploded.
Snatched can from Jiang Ya—beer splashed her face—surprised blank.
“No more—you’ll kill yourself.” Suppressing inner waves.
Jiang Ya did not listen—stubbornly grabbed new can. Fake retch made eyes wet—flatly. “Not that bad—just a few beers.”
“You can’t drink that much—listen to me? Forgot cramps sent you to hospital—doctor said no cold drinks—you’re due next week—still drinking.”
Finished in one breath—deep look—while she dazed—took all beer—empties and partials into plastic bag.
Jiang Ya face flushed drunk—red to neck—unsteady—beer taken—slumped on sofa—strap slipped—cleavage faint—did not care.
This disheveled casual sultry woman—no trace of Jiang Ya left.
Watched Qi Yu tidy table—lazy voice. “How… you remember even this?”
Saw Qi Yu pause—flat tone. “Just happened to remember—so don’t drink.”
Just happened to remember.
Just happened—that’s all.
Looked away—light breath—heart stabbing in waves.
Sat up—to Qi Yu. “Don’t put away—I want to drink.”
“Last can—then stop.”
Ignored—tied bag tight. “Enough—next time.”
About to throw in trash—behind her Jiang Ya. “Stop managing me—okay?”
“I just want to drink—why do you care?”
“Why manage me?”
Hand stopped midair—two seconds—no move.
Slowly brought back—bag on table—did not look at Jiang Ya—expressionless stood—walked around her to leave.
Leaving—wrist caught.
Stopped—waited for words. None—only suppressed sob.
Then waist slowly encircled—warm body pressed her back.
Qi Yu rigid—shocked—did not turn—let Jiang Ya hold her.
Jiang Ya’s head on her lower back—deep breath—voice very light. “Don’t go…”
“Not what I meant… don’t abandon me… okay…”
Heart trembled with her voice—stood blank—eyes suddenly wet.
A while—said. “I’m not abandoning you.”
“Just don’t want you drinking so much—hurts your body—I’ll get a cup—water.”
“No… don’t go…”
“I want to ask you…”
“Ask what?”
Turned back—as Jiang Ya let go—faced her.
Jiang Ya tried to stand—body soft—held Qi Yu’s hand.
Fluster—Qi Yu’s hand on her lower back—Jiang Ya’s hands on Qi Yu’s shoulders.
Four eyes—skin touching—ambiguity burning in air—heat both hearts.
Looked into Qi Yu’s eyes—bit lip—brow knit. “I don’t want to marry… I think… I may never marry—do you know why?”
“Why?” Qi Yu breath uneven—eyes between hers and lips.
“You know…”
“I don’t.”
“You do.”
Jiang Ya could not help tightening arms around Qi Yu’s neck.
In this world maybe besides Qi Yu—no one she wanted to depend on. None left.
Eyes slowly closed—heat rising—followed instinct toward Qi Yu.
Qi Yu watched—lost in a daze she did not know herself. Hand on Jiang Ya’s back tightened—finally held her.
Breaths tangled—lingering intimate.
One inch short—they would have kissed.
At that last inch—Jiang Ya suddenly turned away—pushed her off.