Afternoon. Monday.
Lin Yuan was riding leisurely through the streets on his bicycle. It's been a while since he could properly ride back home. Today, the weather had been good, the air was still warm and there was only a slight wind. The sun was setting over the horizon and the entire world was coloured in an orange hue.
The streets were busy, and occasionally he would catch a glimpse of a familiar uniform.
He was stopped at a red light when he heard someone calling his name.
When he turned to the sidewalk Lin Yuan was surprised to see Zhang Yin walking towards him. He glanced back to the road and then rode his bicycle onto the footpath.
"What's wrong? Jing Yao?" Lin Yuan was facing Zhang Yin so he just realised that someone else was also there.
"You got my name right." Jing Yao was standing beside Zhang Yin with a smile on her face.
"Oh, sorry." Lin Yuan apologised seriously.
"…"
"No, no, it's fine." Jing Yao shook her hands.
This guy, why is he so serious? I was just joking. She felt awkward.
Thankfully, Zhang Yin was there, she ignored the awkward silence and asked "We're going to Zhang Li's restaurant, do you want to join us?"
Lin Yuan was surprised that she would invite him, he didn't think they were very close, but he still declined, "Sorry…I have tutoring."
"You're getting tutoring Lin Yuan?"
This time Zhang Yin was the one who was taken aback. She didn't think it was for maths, he was already the best in the grade.
"...For English."
"Oh, that makes sense. Your English really is pretty bad." Zhang Yin nodded in understanding. "But it's good you're trying to improve. Do you want my notes from last year? You can't understand third year English that well yet right? It's better to build up your foundation!"
"...Yeah, thanks."
Looking at Lin Yuan's somewhat ugly smile, Jing Yao at the side couldn't help but chuckle.
Zhang Yin didn't seem to notice, however, "Okay, I'll give it to you tomorrow."
She waved, "Well, we won't keep you. See you tomorrow!"
"Bye." Lin Yuan nodded at both girls and then left on his bicycle. He seemed to be in a hurry.
Zhang Yin watched him go for a moment and said worriedly, "Maybe we made him late."
Jing Yao's eyes twitched. She wanted to say something but finally decided not to refute her. They kept walking for a while when Jing Yao spoke again.
"But Zhang Yin, I was really surprised when you called out to him before, I didn't realise you two were so close."
"We're not." Zhang Yin glanced at the tall girl beside her, "You seemed pretty interested in him at lunch so I thought I'd ask."
"..."
"What are you talking about?! I'm not interested in him! I was just asking about a fellow classmate…" Jing Yao didn't expect Zhang Yin to pay attention to that kind of stuff.
"Oh, sorry." Zhang Yin mimicked insincerely.
"You! I'm not interested in him!"
…
…
…
When Lin Yuan opened the door to his house he was immediately bulldozed by a white blur. He stumbled back as he held the fat cat in his arms.
Listening to Baozi purr incessantly against his chest, Lin Yuan was surprised. He didn't expect him to be so attached.
"Hey Baobao, did you miss me?"
"Meow!"
"What? My sister hasn't been taking care of you?"
"Hey don't say that!" Lin Yuerong came out of the living room. She was still wearing her pajamas and her hair was messy.
Lin Yuan put down the fat cat and removed his shoes, "Were you sleeping?"
"No, me and Baozi were watching tv. I've decided I'm going to catch up on all the new shows that I've missed!"
Lin Yuan walked towards the stairs as Baozi followed closely by his feet.
"Are you sure you can take so much time off? What about your company?"
"I'm a high level executive so I have certain privileges." Lin Yuerong said proudly.
"Aren't there only 10 people at your company?"
"The head of a pig is still better than the tail of a dragon, Lin Yuan!"
That doesn't sound right…Lin Yuan was about to go upstairs to put away his bag when the doorbell suddenly rang.
Lin Yuan glanced at his sister who had retreated back to the living room and was now poking her head out of the door.
If you're so embarrassed to be seen, at least change your clothes, he thought.
He thought she had ordered something but when he opened the door he was caught off guard to see Ning Qing there.
"Hello, Lin Yuan."
"You're early."
"Yeah I told her to come early today! Come in, come in!" Seeing that it was just Ning Qing, Lin Yuerong quickly shuffled through the hallway and welcomed her in.
"Sorry if she made you rush."
"No, it's fine I didn't have school today." Ning Qing smiled as she put on the guest slippers.
Lin Yuerong took Ning Qing's hand and led her to the living and began talking to her animatedly, so Lin Yuan just went upstairs to put his stuff away.
When he came back down a little later, the two women were still talking in the living room. There were tea cups and a small plate of snacks laid out on the coffee table. There was even an extra cup.
"For you." Ning Qing gestured.
Lin Yuan sat down next to his sister on the sofa, holding the fat cat in his arms. He stopped the Baozi from eating the snacks before taking the cup of light brown tea.
"It's sweet."
"Is that all you have to say?! You should be grateful, Lin Yuan, my Qingqing made it especially for you!" Lin Yuerong placed her hand on Ning Qing's shoulder magnanimously.
"Thank you."
Ning Qing just smiled.
The conversation soon turned elsewhere. The women seemed to forget that Lin Yuan was in the room and was now just talking amongst themselves.
Lin Yuan held Baozi up to his chest and played with his paws while listening in.
"Oh yeah, did Zhou Ye say anything about yesterday, he must be so embarrassed! Hehe."
"I got a message from Senior Zhou apologising."
"Huh? How come I didn't get anything?! That brat is playing favourites again!"
Hearing the familiar name, Lin Yuan thought back to his text with Ning Qing yesterday. He didn't expect her to be so serious about taking care of his sister, but he was grateful either way.
Actually, he knew Zhou Ye, though they had only met a few times and that was many years ago. He was very kind and he had long black hair, Lin Yuan remembered his sister being jealous of it.
It's been a long time since then…
Ling Yuan couldn't help but feel nostalgic.