The morning Metro Line 11 was simply a pleasure.
Lin Yi was wearing the casual clothes she bought with Yan Jianxing that day.
After the typhoon, the temperature across Suzhou had dropped quite a bit, though she heard it would gradually climb back up during Golden Autumn Week.
On days like this, which were neither fully autumn nor fully summer, wearing such casual clothes was most fitting.
Below the milk-coffee-colored octagonal pumpkin hat was Lin Yi’s naturally beautiful, Charm Rank A face.
To prevent her charm from radiating out, Lin Yi had specifically worn a black mask and black-framed glasses to cover up her looks.
Inside the navy-style double-breasted coat was a white shirt with a butterfly ribbon bow, and below that was a coffee-colored pleated skirt.
Her round-toed leather shoes moved restlessly. Lin Yi was a bit nervous.
After all, in two lifetimes, she had never been to a female classmate’s home, let alone been actively invited by one.
Fortunately, this didn’t count as a date, otherwise Lin Yi felt her pressure would be even greater.
The famous Tap Water Domain master, Mr. Warm Water, once said, isn’t going to a drink shop with a girl during summer vacation just a date?
Even though the time, place, and person were all wrong, as long as the “object being a girl” part remained unchanged, the core was still a date.
How could Lin Yi completely avoid it? That would be… the Kamen Rider belt.
It was already lying in her shoulder bag. When she got to Su Kui’s home later, she would perform for Su Ji to see.
There was also a Nintendo Switch, which Yan Jianxing bought when she was bored and conveniently lent to Lin Yi to play. Lin Yi brought it along this time too, so everyone could happily play together.
As long as you bring family along, then it doesn’t count as being alone together. It’s like a stalker on a two-person date or a third wheel shipping a couple. As long as there’s an external force joining in, there’s absolutely no chance of raising a flag.
Thank you, belt!
Thank you, Nintendo!
Arriving at the subway station, Lin Yi walked out and quickly spotted Su Kui.
The supermarket by the street was still quiet, but as long as Su Kui stood there, exclamations and praises naturally flowed endlessly.
Despite only being a first-year high school student, she possessed a calmness and gentleness beyond her peers. Her brows and eyes were clear and picturesque like a painting, her skin porcelain-white under the morning light.
It was a face that could make one settle down and appreciate quietly, carrying three parts softness even without smiling.
It seemed that as long as she stood there, the surrounding fluster would slowly subside.
Today she wore a beige, loose-knit cardigan, with light gray straight-leg casual pants below. The pant legs were slightly tapered, revealing slender ankles, and she wore a pair of clean white canvas shoes.
No extra decorations, yet the more you looked, the more comfortable it felt. Within the simple outfit hid just the right amount of youthful feeling and gentle aura.
The girl’s hands held a bulging knitted cloth bag, with a few emerald-green vegetable leaves peeking out from the top.
Lin Yi walked towards Su Kui. Midway, Su Kui had already noticed Lin Yi and waved back.
“You’re really early.”
“It’s exactly seven now.” Su Kui lifted the bag in her hand. “Look, today’s special lunch menu.”
“Then I won’t peek for now! Keeping surprises is part of life too!”
Su Kui smiled. She looked Lin Yi up and down. “This is the first time I’ve seen you, Lin Yi, wearing casual clothes out.”
“Hehe, not bad, right?” Lin Yi pinched her skirt with both hands and gave it a little shake. “I think it looks very nice too.”
“Mhm, then if Su Xun needs to pick out clothes later, I’ll have you give advice too. Can’t waste your good taste.”
“Leave it to me.”
Lin Yi glanced at the bag Su Kui was holding and reached out. “Let me take it.”
“Huh? It’s fine, it’s just a few steps.”
“Don’t be polite.”
“Lin Yi, you’re a guest today, how could…”
Lin Yi raised an index finger, shushing her. “Still calling me ‘Lin Yi classmate’?”
“Huh?”
“Drop the ‘classmate,’ Su Kui.”
Su Kui blinked, a faint layer of pink spreading across her face.
“Okay…”
While Su Kui was distracted, Lin Yi quickly grabbed the bag.
Su Kui had no choice but to let Lin Yi carry it, though her steps became noticeably lighter. Her cleanly washed canvas shoes stepped with a girlish gait as they walked along the street full of birdsong and floral fragrance.
However, after entering the archway of the urban village, the situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
The noise gradually condensed into oppressive echoes. Dense “handshake buildings” stood one pressed against another. Clothes on laundry lines collided wretchedly in the wind.
The daylight seemed to filter through like dappled tree shadows, illuminating the path underfoot in a grid-like pattern. Only the dense tangle of electrical wires and rust-covered railings marked the way.
The two carefully stepped over scattered puddles of dirty water, finally stopping before the old residential unit door at the end of a narrow alley.
Lin Yi was genuinely worried about Su Kui’s safety. After all, along the way she had already seen many recklessly darting food delivery e-bikes and courier vans.
There were even quite a few idle people poking their heads around.
Su Kui saw the expression on Lin Yi’s face and tugged on her sleeve. “Come inside first.”
“Mhm.”
They walked up the stairwell sprayed with paint and plastered with small ads. There were no motion-sensor lights. Su Kui turned on her phone’s flashlight to light the way up for both of them.
They didn’t stop until the sixth floor. Su Kui took out a key and turned the lock.
The moment the door was pushed open, the dampness, dimness, and clamor of the urban village were harshly shut out by a thin door.
The room wasn’t large, but it was tidied to a sparkling clean shine, revealing the occupant’s care.
The walls were covered with gentle milk-apricot colored wallpaper, glowing with a delicate, soft luster under the warm light of a small desk lamp, without a single trace of mold.
The small desk by the window was neatly arranged. Books were stacked by size, pens were inserted into a ceramic pen holder, and the desktop was spotless.
On the living room coffee table, refrigerator, and sofa, fabric flowers and handicrafts could be seen everywhere, exuding a sense of comfortable living.
A faint scent of green apple drifted in the air. Lin Yi almost didn’t dare to enter, afraid she might dirty the floor.
Su Kui crouched down to untie her canvas shoe laces. Her small feet in white socks stepped into slippers. She turned and asked, “What’s wrong, Lin Yi? Come in.”
“Oh, oh, excuse the intrusion…”
Lin Yi collected her shock, quietly closed the door, then took a deep breath.
This place was practically a different world from outside.
She put on the slippers Su Kui handed her, carefully entered the living room, and sat on the sofa, holding her skirt.
The refrigerator beside her hummed softly, but it wasn’t noisy. Many sticky notes were pasted on the fridge, in three different handwritings.
Most of Su Kui’s notes were about what ingredients in the fridge should be eaten by when, and who they were for.
Most of Su Xun’s notes were about when to replenish ingredients and what to buy.
As for Su Ji, most of his notes were about which ones were tasty. He never wrote about anything not being tasty.
Lin Yi watched as Su Kui poured a cup of tea and placed it on the coffee table. She asked, “How many people live in this apartment?”
Su Kui set down the teacup, pressed the air conditioner remote, and answered, “Four. Me, Su Xun, Xiao Ji, and Mom.”
“Ah? Then won’t I be very rude? Your mom might still be home…”
“It’s fine. Mom went to work a long time ago.” Su Kui smiled slightly. “Besides, Mom already knew you were coming. I showed her your photo last night. She said you’re very cute.”
Hehe, being called cute again.
Lin Yi held the teacup. A faint aroma of pu’er tea wafted over. A sip warmed her stomach and soothed her heart.
“As promised, I’ll treat you to breakfast.” Su Kui brought over a plate of osmanthus cakes. “I made them when I got up this morning. Try them.”
“Thank you, Su Kui!” Lin Yi picked up a fragrant osmanthus cake. “What about the other two?”
“They went out to buy things. At the supermarket on the side street, the one we didn’t pass on our way here.”
Lin Yi made an understanding sound. She looked towards the balcony. Although blocked by dark green floor-length curtains, she could still see sunlight leaking in from the sliding glass doors of the balcony.
Su Kui followed Lin Yi’s gaze and explained, “The sixth floor of this building happens to be taller than the buildings next to it. Plus, it faces south. So it gets sun for most of the day.”
“I heard sunlight in Suzhou comes with a fee.” Lin Yi asked, “Is the rent more expensive?”
“It is. But having sun and not having sun really is different. So Mom said this extra cost definitely has to be added.”
Looking at the aura Su Kui exuded, Lin Yi wholeheartedly agreed with that statement.
Even when people are at a low point, they need to have an upward light ahead of them.
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