Tang Yan had no idea when she drifted off the night before. When she opened her eyes, dawn had already broken. Panic shot through her when she realized she was alone in bed. The shabby little guesthouse room had only a palm‑sized window, and the light that seeped through it was dim. She listened. Water was splashing in the bathroom, and Aunt Ji’s handbag still sat on the stool. She hadn’t left. Tang Yan exhaled in quiet relief.
Ji Yuqing came out, patting her face dry and straightening her clothes. “You’re awake.”
Tang Yan nodded from the bed.
“Did you sleep well? Were you cold?”
She shook her head with a smile. “I was fine—not cold at all.”
“Good. Wash up quickly—let’s grab breakfast. You head back to campus, and I need to be in the office.”
“Okay!” Tang Yan flung aside the quilt, hopped down, and pulled on her coat. Shivering, she slipped into the tiny bathroom with peeling walls and green‑rusted pipes.
When she emerged, Aunt Ji’s make‑up was already perfect. They checked out. The landlady, as tough and brusque as ever, returned their deposit without a word.
Outside, the sky was brighter but the air still bitingly cold. Ji Yuqing unwound her own scarf and looped it around Tang Yan’s neck. “Wear this so you don’t catch cold.”
“What about you, Aunt Ji?”
“Don’t worry, I have plenty.” She smiled.
Lagging a step behind, Tang Yan tightened the scarf, half‑hiding her face. The faint fragrance left on the wool calmed her mood and cleared her mind.
“Yanyan?”
“Ah!” She dropped her hands at once, afraid she’d been caught savoring the scent.
“What do you want for breakfast?”
Her brain barely turned before her mouth replied, “Noodles. A hot bowl of noodles sounds perfect in this weather.”
“All right.” Ji Yuqing faced forward again, hands in her pockets, heels tapping crisply on the pavement. Tang Yan exhaled.
They chose a beef‑noodle shop opposite the school gate. Each ordered a bowl. While they waited, Tang Yan checked her phone—several missed calls from her roommate Xia Zihan. She remembered switching the phone to silent sometime during the night.
There were messages as well:
Xia Zihan: Tang Yan, where are you? Why aren’t you back?
Xia Zihan: The dorm gate’s about to close—where are you?
Xia Zihan: You won’t pick up. Are you okay? We’re all worried sick.
Guiltily, Tang Yan typed a reply:
Tang Yan: Something came up, so I spent the night off‑campus. I’ll be back right after breakfast. Sorry for making you worry.
“Two bowls of beef noodles!” the proprietor called. Tang Yan started to fetch them, but Ji Yuqing’s phone rang. Unable to go herself, Tang Yan carried both bowls over. Aunt Ji’s face looked troubled.
As Tang Yan sat down, Ji Yuqing tried to end the call. “We’ll discuss the rest when I get in. Yes, that’s all.” She hung up in haste.
Tang Yan bit her lip. “Aunt Ji, is work giving you trouble?” The question tiptoed out.
Ji Yuqing mustered a smile. “It’s fine. Don’t worry—I’ll handle it.”
Tang Yan nodded and bowed over her noodles, suddenly finding no taste in them.
Noticing, Ji Yuqing changed the subject. “Do you still have enough living money?”
“I’m fine—really.”
“If you run short, tell me. Promise?”
“I promise.” Tang Yan smiled with narrowed eyes.
After breakfast they parted. Ji Yuqing walked her to the crossing opposite the campus gate. One turned inside, the other headed for a side street where Aunt Ji had parked.
Tang Yan had taken only a few steps onto campus when her phone buzzed repeatedly. Expecting Xia Zihan, she saw instead a string of transfers from Aunt Ji—five in all, each for one thousand yuan.
Scratching her head, she wondered why Aunt Ji had sent so much money with winter break just ahead.
Back in the dorm, one roommate was putting on make‑up, another climbing out of bed, a third gnawing bread.
“I’m back,” Tang Yan announced softly.
“Tang Yan, you little scoundrel! Confess—where did you vanish to last night?” Xia Zihan bounded over, clutching Tang Yan’s arm.
“I… well, after we split up I ran into Aunt Ji. We had dinner, missed curfew, and I spent the night outside,” Tang Yan answered honestly.
“Really?” Xia Zihan’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not secretly dating someone, are you? Dinner, hotel, the whole deal?”
Tang Yan flushed and jerked her arm free. “Of course not! I’m telling the truth.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
Tang Yan touched her cheeks, baffled. “Am I?”
“Very.”
“Maybe the dorm’s too warm. I need to study.” She ducked into her chair and hastily opened a book.
Ji Yuqing sped back to the office, already late for the morning meeting. Pei Wen had been covering for her and looked uneasy when she arrived, as though bracing for trouble.
The company president showed no mercy, dressing her down in front of executives and juniors alike. Ji Yuqing offered no defense, taking all the blame.
“You’ve disappointed me. Xiao Li, you’ll take over negotiations with President Wang. Keep the client happy—right now they’re furious with us.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do everything possible to salvage this,” Xiao Li said, shooting Ji Yuqing a triumphant glance.
“As for you, Ji—you’ve caused serious losses. You’re suspended. Go home, reflect, and submit a written review in a few days.”
Ji Yuqing nodded, accepting it without complaint.
Outside the conference room, Pei Wen fumed. “Li Wenping has been waiting for this day. She’s schemed against us for years—infuriating!”
“Pei Wen.”
“Mm?”
“Don’t let Yanyan hear about this.” With that, Ji Yuqing strode down the corridor.
Pei Wen stopped, staring after her in a daze.