Xu Shi had discovered that Yu Lingshan wore a different outfit for every occasion.
This crayfish spot, who knows where she found it, was particularly remote, tucked away in an alley, and full of the lively atmosphere of street food. And right now, Yu Lingshan was wearing a loose white T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops, looking completely casual. Her hair was haphazardly clipped up at the back of her head with a large claw clip.
Dressed like this, Xu Shi felt that if Yu Lingshan were to prop her leg up on a chair while eating skewers, it wouldn’t look out of place at all.
Of course, Yu Lingshan wouldn’t prop her leg up on a chair. She would only place it on Xu Shi’s lap.
The two had just sat down when Yu Lingshan beckoned Xu Shi over with a crooked finger, lifted her leg, and placed it on top, as if that was exactly how it was supposed to be.
Yu Lingshan probably came to this place often. The owner came over with a menu board, but Yu Lingshan didn’t even look at it, ordering a portion of crayfish, a few skewers, beer, and a soft drink.
After ordering, she asked Xu Shi, “What do you want to eat?”
Before Xu Shi could answer, she added, “You’ll have what I’m having.”
Xu Shi smiled. How could she dare say anything else? “Okay.”
Yu Lingshan tilted her chin up. “What? Think I’m too bossy?”
Xu Shi smiled again. “No.”
Yu Lingshan: “Even if you did, it wouldn’t matter. I’m just this bossy. Is that a problem?”
Xu Shi nodded again and again. “It’s fine. It’s more than fine.”
There were disposable utensils on the table. With nothing else to do, Xu Shi took them, setting out Yu Lingshan’s first before unwrapping her own.
As she did all this, Yu Lingshan didn’t help at all, simply propping her head on her hand and watching her.
Being stared at made Xu Shi a little self-conscious. She pursed her lips and asked, “How did you find this place?”
Yu Lingshan smiled. “So if I stare at you long enough, you’ll take the initiative to talk to me?”
Xu Shi: “No.”
…Right?
Yu Lingshan: “This place has been open for a long time. I came here often in high school.”
Xu Shi: “High school?”
Yu Lingshan: “I went to the affiliated high school. I didn’t live on campus back then; I rented a place in this alley with a classmate.” She gestured in a half-circle behind her. “We often passed by this shop and would occasionally come for skewers.”
Xu Shi let out a long “Oh.”
It felt as if she had suddenly stepped into Yu Lingshan’s high school years, and Xu Shi found it a bit magical.
Yu Lingshan reached out, tucked a stray strand of hair from Xu Shi’s forehead behind her ear. “What’s wrong? Do you find it strange that I’d come to a place like this?”
Xu Shi gave a little laugh. “A little strange.”
Yu Lingshan tilted her head. “Xiao Zhi, what kind of person am I in your eyes?”
Without even thinking, Xu Shi replied, “A fairy.”
“Hm?” Yu Lingshan smiled. “Impressive. You know how to say things like that now?”
Xu Shi smiled herself.
Just then, the owner’s wife brought their drinks to the table.
After setting the items down, she glanced at Yu Lingshan. “Oh, it’s you! It’s been a while.”
Yu Lingshan smiled at her. “I’ve been a bit busy lately. I came over as soon as I had some free time.”
The owner’s wife beamed. “Aiyo, that’s great, thanks for your business!” She also smiled at Xu Shi. “A new friend, huh?”
Yu Lingshan said, “Girlfriend.”
Xu Shi coughed on the spot.
The owner’s wife, for some reason, seemed pleased, murmuring “Good, good” twice. “Well, you two chat. I’ll get back to work. I’ll bring you a couple of extra meat skewers in a bit.”
Yu Lingshan: “Thank you, ma’am.”
The owner’s wife: “Don’t mention it.”
Yu Lingshan pulled her gaze back from the owner’s wife and turned to look at Xu Shi, noticing the change in her state.
Whenever Xu Shi got flustered, she had a habit of looking down and fiddling with things.
Her face was red all the way to her neck; no one could miss it.
Yu Lingshan smiled and asked Xu Shi, “Can it be girlfriend?”
Xu Shi gripped her chopsticks tightly, not looking at Yu Lingshan. “Huh? What?”
Yu Lingshan: “Girls like you, don’t you usually call your female friends your girlfriends?”
Xu Shi blinked slowly and let out a slow “Oh.” “S-sometimes, yes, but n-not always.”
Yu Lingshan nodded, looking as if she’d just had a revelation. “Th-th-then are you my girlfriend?”
Yu Lingshan’s teasing made Xu Shi laugh. She thought of what should be a safe reply: “Just friends is fine.”
Yu Lingshan raised an eyebrow. “Fine then.”
After that, Yu Lingshan asked again, “So? You still haven’t answered. What kind of person am I in your heart?”
Xu Shi lifted her head a little.
Yu Lingshan: “Thought we were past that topic?”
Xu Shi put down her chopsticks, placed her hands on her knees, and said earnestly, “When I said you were a fairy just now, it wasn’t an exaggeration. I really think you’re incredibly ethereal. You’re so talented. I’ve seen some of your past works, and they’re exceptional. You have so many awards, so many fans, but you yourself are greater than your works. You’re better than all of those things.” Xu Shi smiled at Yu Lingshan. “Sometimes I wonder how I even got to know you. It’s so magical. I even feel like you’ve descended from your pedestal to undergo a trial by my side. You’re a true goddess, in every sense of the word.”
Yu Lingshan’s jaw shifted slightly, and her playful expression vanished.
“Why are you like this?”
There was a hint of complaint in Yu Lingshan’s tone.
Xu Shi didn’t understand. “What did I do?”
“I thought you were going to say I…” Yu Lingshan let out a helpless laugh. “Am I really that good?”
Xu Shi nodded very seriously. “You’re exceptionally good.”
Yu Lingshan smiled again. “You used to praise me just like this back then, too.”
Xu Shi: “What?”
Yu Lingshan reached out and flicked Xu Shi’s forehead. “Why do you think I’m the one who’s descended from a pedestal to be by your side? Have you never considered that you might be a god yourself?”
Xu Shi laughed. “How is that possible?”
Yu Lingshan: “You’re the one undergoing the trial, not me, Xiao Zhi. One day, you will shine. You’ll stand on a podium in the spotlight, accepting everyone’s applause. You can do it.”
As she spoke, she even raised her hand, making a gesture to accompany her words: You can do it.
But she quickly brought her hand back down, covering her forehead in exasperation. “…So cringey. What was that?”
Xu Shi burst out laughing.
Yu Lingshan shot Xu Shi a sideways glance. “This is all your fault.”
Xu Shi nodded. “Yes, my fault.”
Yu Lingshan covered her forehead. “Still think I’m a goddess?”
Xu Shi’s eyes curved as she smiled. “Yes, you always are.” She thought for a moment and added, “A cringey goddess.”
Yu Lingshan shot her a look.
Xu Shi immediately said, “I’m wrong, I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”
Xu Shi didn’t know why she was having this kind of conversation with Yu Lingshan amidst such a noisy background. She could have easily brushed it off with a few words; it had started as a half-joking topic, after all.
But… Yu Lingshan was so cute.
Hahahaha.
The crayfish and skewers arrived at the table one after another. Yu Lingshan drank beer while Xu Shi had her soft drink.
As they ate, Xu Shi inexplicably recalled the scene of Yu Lingshan raising her hand and saying those words.
She couldn’t hold it in at all and burst out laughing on the spot.
Yu Lingshan was in the middle of picking up a crayfish. Seeing Xu Shi’s reaction, she tossed it back onto the plate.
“Xiao Zhi.”
“Ah, sorry, sorry.”
Xu Shi quickly put the crayfish back onto Yu Lingshan’s plate.
Yu Lingshan still didn’t move.
So Xu Shi took it, peeled the shell, dipped it in the sauce in the bowl, and placed it back on Yu Lingshan’s plate.
“Feed me.”
Xu Shi picked it up again and put it in Yu Lingshan’s mouth.
Yu Lingshan: “Still laughing?”
Xu Shi held it in. “Not laughing anymore.”
Yu Lingshan: “Who was I saying all that for?”
Xu Shi: “Me.”
Yu Lingshan: “Who ate your conscience?”
Xu Shi: “A dog ate it. I ate it. I’m a dog.”
Yu Lingshan let out a snort of laughter. She tilted her head to look at Xu Shi. “You’re getting pretty sharp now.”
Xu Shi: “Anything to make Teacher Yu happy.”
Teacher Yu couldn’t stay mad at all. She opened her mouth but then stopped, at a loss for words.
Xu Shi had actually noticed it herself—she seemed to have suddenly become better with words.
She didn’t know where this new skill came from, but it was nice. What she truly wanted was for Yu Lingshan to be happy.
After that, she took over the task of peeling the entire plate of crayfish, diligently serving Her Majesty the Queen.
This place probably did late-night business. As they ate, the crowd grew larger instead of smaller.
Xu Shi also discovered that Yu Lingshan could really eat. Many times, Xu Shi thought Yu Lingshan must be full, but she would just keep eating, one skewer after another, one piece after another.
The next day was still Sunday, so Xu Shi didn’t rush herself, feeling she could indulge a little.
Her mother, however, messaged her on WeChat several times, asking why she wasn’t home yet and who she was out with.
Xu Shi didn’t hide it, saying she was out having a late-night snack with the friend from the afternoon.
Her mom seemed very curious about Yu Lingshan, asking many questions about her. Then she explained herself, saying it was just because Xu Shi hadn’t made a new friend in a long time, so she was asking a bit much.
Xu Shi was puzzled at first, but after hearing her mom’s explanation, she let it go. Her mom then said she was going to bed and told her to come back early.
“Who are you chatting with?”
Yu Lingshan asked as Xu Shi put her phone away. “You’ve been at it for a while.”
Xu Shi: “My mom.”
Yu Lingshan said, “Oh.” “You’re that close with your mom.”
“Yes,” Xu Shi thought for a moment. Yu Lingshan probably meant more than just that. “It’s late, so she asked some questions. We don’t usually chat this much.”
Yu Lingshan raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me she was asking about me?”
Xu Shi was surprised that Yu Lingshan had guessed right again. “Mhm.”
Yu Lingshan smiled. “Praise me a lot.”
Xu Shi: “I did.”
It was almost midnight by the time they finished their late-night meal.
Having had a drink, Yu Lingshan couldn’t drive. She didn’t want to call for a designated driver either, and since the distance to Xu Shi’s place was perfect for a walk to aid digestion, the two decided to just walk and talk.
They mostly talked about Xu Shi—why she got into design, and her past with Ying Jie, how Ying Jie had deceived her by saying she’d help her register for the competition, and how she later stole all of her work.
While Xu Shi spoke of these things, Yu Lingshan just listened, offering no comment when the story was finished.
Afterward, she asked Xu Shi about her thoughts on the current competition and, having participated in it herself, shared some of her own experiences.
She didn’t say much, but it was all detailed and precise. Xu Shi took careful mental notes of it all.
Xu Shi loved nights like this. There were many cars on the road but few people, and a breeze that wasn’t cold.
She also realized that this was the first time she had talked about Ying Jie without intense emotion. It was as if she were telling someone else’s story. The only feeling she had was that the old Xu Shi had been done a great injustice.
“I’m here.”
All roads have an end. Finally, at the entrance to her residential complex, Xu Shi spoke to Yu Lingshan.
Yu Lingshan stopped as well and said to Xu Shi, “Get some sleep.”
“Okay.” She asked Yu Lingshan, “How are you getting back?”
Yu Lingshan: “I’ve already called a car.”
Xu Shi felt a little disappointed. “I’ll go in after you get in the car.”
Yu Lingshan didn’t refuse, and the two of them stood by the roadside waiting for the car.
She must have secretly called it on her phone much earlier, because Xu Shi felt like she had been standing there for less than a minute when Yu Lingshan’s car arrived.
Xu Shi walked over with her.
“When you get home… um.”
Before Xu Shi could finish, Yu Lingshan suddenly leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth.
Yu Lingshan finished her sentence for her: “I’ll message you when I get home.”
With that, she got in and closed the car door.
Xu Shi stood there dumbly, replying to the empty air, “Mhm.”
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