Partiality
Yun Mi had come to Shanghai on impulse, without buying any toiletries. She had to make do with whatever she could grab at the convenience store.
Carrying large and small bags back to the hotel, she kicked off her shoes and flopped onto the sofa, complaining, "I'm exhausted."
Annoyed, she added, "Chen Yiyang, that jerk of a brother, didn't even help me carry my stuff."
She heard soft footsteps.
Looking up, she saw Chen Yiyang packing his things.
The boy lowered his eyes, raised an eyebrow, and gave a puzzled expression. "Didn't you just say you didn't want me to follow?"
"..."
The hotel had no vacant rooms today. Chen Yiyang said he'd give his room to Yun Mi and pack up to find Zhou Shihui.
Yun Mi needed to buy a bunch of feminine products and didn't want Chen Yiyang tagging along.
Realizing what she'd just said, Yun Mi struck first: "You're still here?"
Chen Yiyang smirked. "Yeah, otherwise how would I hear you call me 'brother'?"
He smoothly added, "Oh, and you cursed at me too."
Yun Mi suspected Chen Yiyang was hung up on the word "brother." He seemed determined to assert seniority over her.
She said, "You're not my brother."
Chen Yiyang let out a light laugh.
Hearing the laughter in his breath, Yun Mi felt embarrassed. She sat up and said, "Aunt Wen said it would have been nice if you had come today."
Mentioning Wen Liangyu, Chen Yiyang's smile faded a little.
He didn't hold Yun Mi's words against her. His phone buzzed with a new message. Zhou Shihui, knowing Yun Mi had come to Shanghai, simply replied with "Okay."
Chen Yiyang picked up his bag to leave the room. Yun Mi suddenly called out, "Chen Yiyang, did you quarrel with Zhou Shihui?"
He stopped and looked back. "How do you know? Worried about me?"
His light comment made Yun Mi's face flush. She explained righteously, "It's for Aunt Wen's sake. She said she'll be my new mom." The message Wen Liangyu had sent today had moved Yun Mi, and she used it as an excuse. "I'm concerned about 'brother's' mental health."
Chen Yiyang frowned. "Oh, so you're the sister. Anyone would think you wanted to be my mom."
Hearing this, Yun Mi flared up. "Chen Yiyang!!!"
By the doorway, the boy had already walked off with his bag.
...
Chen Yiyang shared a room with Zhou Shihui. The next morning, both looked grim.
After they finished, Yun Mi bought iced watermelons.
Seeing Zhou Shihui come out smiling, she ignored Chen Yiyang.
"Zhou Shihui, this is for you."
She had haggled for three melons with a vendor: a big one for herself, a medium one for Zhou Shihui, and a cracked, ugly one for Chen Yiyang.
Yun Mi walked beside Zhou Shihui and asked, "How many days is your exam?"
Zhou Shihui recalled the schedule. "Seven days."
Yun Mi nodded, thinking she wouldn't see Chen Yiyang for seven days.
But still, it was better than waiting in Shancheng.
Not far away, Chen Yiyang stared at his phone, doing something.
Yun Mi suddenly asked, "Zhou Shihui, don't you think Chen Yiyang has been acting strange these days?"
The probing question caught Zhou Shihui off guard, and he smiled unconsciously. "What about A Yang?"
Yun Mi said, "You two argued, didn't you?"
Her voice wasn't loud or soft, and Chen Yiyang heard it.
Under the tall camphor tree, students rode by on bicycles. Chen Yiyang looked back at Yun Mi, who was earnestly questioning.
Zhou Shihui hesitated to answer.
Chen Yiyang let out a wry laugh. "It's nothing."
Yun Mi hadn't expected Chen Yiyang to answer. She didn't believe him. "Really?"
It's just that he'd fallen for the same little idiot.
Chen Yiyang silently joked to himself.
Standing there, he saw the taxi had arrived. "Didn't you say you wanted to eat the bamboo shoot and fresh pork soup on Huaihai Road? Let's go?"
Yun Mi had only mentioned it once, and she didn't expect Chen Yiyang to remember. The prospect of good food instantly changed her expression. "Sure."
Back when she was on the fencing team, Yun Mi loved going to that Suzhou-style restaurant.
She preferred light flavors but also liked sweets.