At that moment, Xu Qinghe was sitting on the bay window. From that angle, she couldn't see the living room, and naturally, Jiang Yang couldn't see her either.
The soft window cushion was much more comfortable than the chairs outside.
The bedroom wasn't large. Against the wall were several suitcases, likely for the move.
A linen gray quilt was spread flat on the bed, with hardly any wrinkles.
She thought about her own bed.
Actually, she also liked things neat and clean.
But because she always got up reluctantly, never getting up until the last minute, she never had time to make the bed in the morning.
Her gaze left the bed and landed on the bay window.
She sat on the west side. On the east side of the bay window were two piles of clothes: one pile of summer T-shirts, and the other pile of autumn/winter sweaters, ranging from thin to thick. Among over a dozen pieces, black and gray were the dominant colors.
They had probably been sorted out last night and hadn't been packed into suitcases yet.
She leaned forward, reached out, and took the top black sweater.
Unlike the one she had touched last night, this one was knit, slightly thicker, and more structured.
She checked the size and put it back where it was.
In the living room, Jiang Yang and Shi Wenli were chatting idly, talking about mutual acquaintances that Xu Qinghe either didn't know well or hadn't even heard of.
She grabbed a throw pillow, stuffed it behind her, put on her earphones, and played music to pass the time, hoping Jiang Yang would leave soon.
As she listened, the room was too warm, and she dozed off leaning against the bay window without realizing it.
She wasn't sleeping deeply.
When she groggily woke up, she thought Jiang Yang had already left.
She took off her earphones. From the living room, she not only heard talking but also the sound of slurping soup.
Had the tomato wontons been cooked and was he eating them directly?
Suddenly, footsteps approached the bedroom door.
Xu Qinghe's heart tightened.
But then she thought, Jiang Yang was eating; he wouldn't casually enter someone else's bedroom.
She turned her head and saw Shi Wenli coming in, holding some kumquats.
Afraid she was bored, he had brought her a snack.
Xu Qinghe pointed outside and mouthed, "Is he eating?"
Shi Wenli nodded.
He typed on his phone: [I made extra soup and saved half. I'll make you tomato noodle soup tonight.]
She had said she craved his cooking, and he always remembered.
Xu Qinghe smiled contentedly.
"Brother Shi," Jiang Yang called out while eating, the small apartment making it easy to hear conversations across the room, "Do you know Elder Sister Qinghe's requirements for a boyfriend's educational background?"
Shi Wenli: "..."
Xu Qinghe: "..."
"Why do you ask?" Shi Wenli was still in the bedroom.
Jiang Yang spoke toward the bedroom: "Just curious."
After all, Xu Qinghe herself had a doctorate.
Some people had high standards for their partner's education.
Shi Wenli said, "I don't know. I'll ask for you."
Xu Qinghe typed on Shi Wenli's phone: [Doctorate degree, postdoctoral experience, height no less than 185 cm. I like someone who is strong but gentle, kind, calm, empathetic, charismatic, and can cook.]
Shi Wenli smiled silently.
This was a roundabout way of praising him.
Worried that Jiang Yang would soon lean against the bedroom door frame to chat, he didn't linger in the bedroom and went outside.
Xu Qinghe ate the crispy, sweet kumquats while listening to Jiang Yang trashing his dad in all kinds of ways.
This Saturday afternoon was extraordinarily colorful.
It wasn't until evening that Jiang Yang left.
Xu Qinghe came out of the bedroom. Shi Wenli plugged in her laptop.
"Can I ask about the wish you made at Yonghe Temple? I want to see if I can fulfill it."
Xu Qinghe looked at him and said, "It's already been fulfilled. I'll tell you later, okay?"
Shi Wenli smiled. "Why wouldn't that be okay?"
"I won't come over tomorrow morning, but I'll come in the afternoon," she changed the subject.