Crossing the Clouds and Sky to Fall in Love with You - Chapter 28

I ignored Yi-ting, and Tao Yian was still wiping his sweat—no exaggeration! His sweat was literally spraying, and he had only eaten one slice!

“Are you okay?” The tissue box was fixed to the wall, and I pulled out two more tissues for him.

“I didn’t expect you two to eat food this spicy!” He stuck out his tongue and quickly scooped up some clear broth. The spicy side of the hot pot usually boiled faster, so drinking the clear broth was at least less scalding.

“I also started eating spicy fermented tofu often after meeting Yi-ting. I trained myself over time… but she can genuinely handle extreme spice; I’m completely unmatched compared to her.”

“What about this?” He pointed to the half of the pot that was bright red.

I scooped up a small handful of soybean sprouts from the pot, put them in my mouth, and the distinct aroma and stimulating heat of the spicy broth rushed straight to my head. I took a deep breath, showing a look of nostalgia and satisfaction. “Mmm! It’s still…”

His face turned ashen. “You don’t need to say it. I already know the answer.”

I burst out laughing! “Why do you look like you’re about to cry? There’s nothing to be frustrated about!”

“No, it’s just that you remind me of my sister.” Hmm? Sister Tao? He sighed while I was still in surprise. “Girls really can handle spice better. At least she and you both are like that.”

I was stunned and thought back for a moment. During the time I’ve spent with Sister Tao, I hadn’t seen her eat anything particularly spicy. However, her fan page gave no indication of her eating habits, as she rarely posted pictures of food.

“Oh? I didn’t know that…” I almost let a secret slip! I almost said, “I couldn’t tell when we usually eat together.” I lowered my head and picked up another piece of frozen tofu from the spicy pot.

“You didn’t know, right? But I find eating spicy food excruciating. I don’t understand why people are willing to spend money to torture their taste buds like this…”

I widened my eyes. “Then why did you dare to come with us?” What boldness! So, it was probably out of pride. Yi-ting must have gauged his limits and deliberately provoked him, but he chose to charge into a dead end!

Should I be thankful that I ordered the Mandarin Duck half-and-half pot?

“It’s a rare chance to have a meal with you. Do you think I’d let this opportunity slip away?”

That’s not the point, is it? I didn’t reply, wondering why Yi-ting was taking so long. When I looked up, she had not only brought Tao Yian’s coffee but also several plates of dessert, which she placed in front of him, claiming they were to alleviate the heat! Clearly, you’re the one who wants to eat them!

We busied ourselves with the first round of food until we ordered ingredients for the second time, finally allowing us some time to chat.

Yi-ting wiped her mouth. “Xiaoning! Tao Yian! We need to prepare for course selection next Monday. Do you two have any thoughts?”

“As a transfer student, I have several courses from the first two years added to my schedule next semester. My free slots are pitifully few.” Does that mean our chances of taking classes together will decrease next semester?

“Have you set your sights on any course?” The way she asked indicated she definitely had a target.

“I’m considering a photography class! It’s during the same slot we originally had for the elective law course… Xiaoning, you know I’ve been thinking about buying a decent camera, so why not take this opportunity to learn! Tao Yian, do you want to join me?”

The word “photography” made me unconsciously recall Sister Tao, who always had a camera hanging around her neck, and the sight of her intently photographing a swallow’s nest under the eaves of our neighbor’s house…

I knew she loved photography, but I had never delved into her area of expertise. Aside from admiring the beautiful scenery she captured in her photos; I had never seriously considered exploring the profound principles of photography as a subject.

She was willing to let me use her computer, but her camera remained a forbidden zone that I still couldn’t touch.

Photography class? Perhaps this was a chance to bring us even closer.

“…I don’t have much of an opinion. Although I’m not opposed to photography, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about it either.”

“Oh, right! You’re already busy with your drawing…” Yi-ting turned and grabbed me, while also snatching a fish ball. “What about you, Xiaoning? You must be interested, right? After all, you’re always looking at Chu’s fan page, so you should have some aspirations for photography!” Her eyes sparkled, looking like she expected me to agree instantly!

“Hmm…” Mentioning Chu made me look at Tao Yian instinctively. “Okay, okay, if I can secure a spot.”

“Yes! That’s great! At least my sister-friends are willing to support me!” Yi-ting clenched her fist and whispered, as if she had gained some precious reinforcement. This reaction is intriguing… “I’m going to get another drink. You two stay and chat, stay and chat!”

“Why is she drinking so much today?” He smiled oddly and then challenged a fish ball from the spicy pot again. He was already sweating profusely before he even ate it!

“I don’t know either… Don’t put vegetables in the spicy pot! They absorb too much heat.” I casually pulled out a few tissues and directly wiped his face. He was startled at first, then said “thanks,” and gently held my hand when taking the tissues from me.

I smiled and sat back down, but my phone suddenly rang. I picked it up and couldn’t help but gasp when I saw the caller ID!

It was Sister Tao!

“Is that your call?” He quickly finished the fish ball and seemed to have suddenly become much better at handling the spice. I nodded. Yi-ting quickly returned and blocked my path. I let the two of them chat and turned towards the window, pressing the answer button.

“Hello!” Logically, I should have either not answered or gone outside to take the call!

‘Are your exams over?’ Her tone was smiling, suggesting she was in a good mood.

“Of course they are. The last one was at five!” Her voice was as pleasant as ever, but my heart was pounding with nervousness! “What’s up?”

‘I was on a whim, so I wandered over to your school to take some pictures. It was already dark, and I even saw a couple taking wedding photos!’ It’s so cold! Just thinking about the fabric of a formal gown or a white wedding dress made me shiver. ‘Where are you eating?’

“I’m having hot pot, with classmates…” Tao Yian was talking! The phone’s mic was excellent, and I was afraid she would hear him, so I tucked myself into the corner, adopting a very strange posture.

‘Spicy hot pot? I think I can smell the fragrance.’

I frowned, feeling she was deliberately teasing me even more. “It really is spicy hot pot; stop joking! How could you smell it?”

‘Who said I was joking? Are you at…’ When she said the name of the restaurant I was in with a smile, I was so shocked I jumped up from my chair! ‘I saw you stand up. Ah! I want to eat too. Is there an empty seat at your table?’

Where is she! I widened my eyes and looked out, but the steam from the pot had unfortunately fogged up the glass, making it hard to see! “No, there isn’t…” I motioned to Yi-ting that I needed to go out. Although she was confused, she quickly moved aside for me. “Where are you?”

‘I’m at the entrance! Are you coming out to greet me?’

No way! Don’t come in! I screamed internally. Ignoring the bewildered looks from Tao Yian and Yi-ting, I rushed toward the door.

She was indeed standing at the restaurant entrance, wearing a white high-neck sweater! She was still in jeans, hands in her pockets, with her camera hanging around her neck, looking completely relaxed! But she had scared me into a cold sweat!

“How did you find me?”

“By accident. Didn’t I say I just went for a spin around your school?” She lightly bit her lip, scrutinizing me with a hint of confusion. “Your face is very red. What’s wrong? Did you eat too happily?”

“No, no, it’s just that you scared me!” The temperature difference between indoors and outdoors was significant, and I exhaled a heavy plume of white smoke. “Haven’t you eaten yet?”

“Of course not!” She probed with a cheerful tone—”Can I join you and your classmates?”

“Are you kidding me! You don’t know them at all!” I was so startled that the hair on my arms stood up. I couldn’t imagine what would happen if she walked in now and ran into Tao Yian, and how much energy I would have to spend later explaining things to those two!

“But I really feel like eating… How about you eat with me instead?” Her smiling eyes told me she was serious.

“Fine, I’ll eat with you! Don’t go inside, let me quickly tell my classmates!”

Luckily, she was always straightforward! “Mhm, I’ll wait for you.”

I could only go back and tell Yi-ting that someone had come to find me. I gave her the money, leaving her and Tao Yian to continue eating.

“Is everything alright?” Tao Yian seemed a little worried, as abandoning them mid-meal was indeed unusual. “If possible, please ask your friend to come in. We still have a seat.”

Absolutely not! “She, she doesn’t like hot pot! I’ll go entertain her. Don’t worry about it… Well, I’m going to eat with her. We’ll talk about course selection later!”

“Hey! Why like this…” Ignoring Yi-ting’s strange cry, I grabbed my bag and left. To be honest, being pulled away suddenly halfway through the meal didn’t make me happy either, but there was no way I could let Sister Tao come in and eat with them. The best solution I could think of was to take myself along with her.

Honestly… this was the “flaw” I talked about: she could be incredibly self-willed sometimes, though I, too, could be like that occasionally.

“I guess I interrupted you, didn’t I?” She smiled and said to me, still seemingly in a great mood.

“You think?” I pouted, subtly venting my inner dissatisfaction toward her. She reached out to hold my hand, but I deliberately shrugged her off.

After a few attempts, she finally adopted a humble posture. “I’m sorry, okay? I put you in a tough spot.”

I gave her a look. “Isn’t it a bit too late to say that now?”

She bit her lip, scratched her head, and finally sighed as if giving up. “Alright, I’ll tell you why I suddenly called you… It’s because I saw a boy sitting across from you while you were eating, and you were talking and smiling with him, so I suddenly called you out.”

I widened my eyes. She saw it! “A boy…” Did you recognize him?

“Mhm. To put it more plainly, I was afraid you’d be swept away by someone else. Is that okay?” She reached for my hand again.

“Xiaoning, can I tell you what’s truly in my heart?”

“Wha-what is it?” Crap! Why am I suddenly stuttering a little…

“I’m terrified that you’ll get back together with another boy.” She stopped walking. In a nearly deserted alley, her affectionate eyes were almost irresistible. “I’m worried that once you’re in the arms of another man, we’ll only be able to be best friends… I can’t imagine you being with another man, so I used a little trick.”

She pulled us closer. “I’m sorry; but if you tell me right now that the person you like is him, then I will bless you both and promise never to appear in front of you again, hiding far, far away.”

Her lips were tightly pressed and pale, tense as if awaiting a sentence. I finally understood: she had been on the verge of rushing in without calling and dragging me away… It was because Yi-ting wasn’t in her seat, and she thought I was dining alone with Tao Yian, and that I was lying about him being just a “classmate” when he was actually a “boyfriend.”

She was afraid that my “heart was already taken,” and that the person wasn’t her.

When she mentioned “hiding far, far away,” my heart felt a painful wrench, tightening until I could barely breathe.

“No, that’s not it… You misunderstood. We were eating with three people.” I gently punched her arm. “And the person sitting across from me wasn’t mine… We’re just friends, classmates. We’re not dating!”

“Three people? But I…”

“The other chubby female classmate went to get a drink!” It seemed she hadn’t gotten a good look at Tao Yian. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “If I were really dating someone else but still kept up this ambiguity with you, then what, what would be the difference between me and Lu Hanjun?”

“Wait a moment… so you’re seriously considering the possibility between us?” Her expression brightened once more.

Was this the time to express my feelings? I leaned closer to her, drawing in her scent. “Things have progressed this far… and I haven’t rejected you. Besides, we’re together every day. If I disliked it, I would have returned to my own room a long time ago, right?”

“Then can I take what you just said as agreeing to date?”

“Not yet!” I puffed up my cheeks, deliberately holding her off at the final hurdle.

“I’ll be honest with you…” After experiencing her sudden unpredictability, I felt it was time for me to be candid with her, too.

“I honestly don’t doubt that I might really fall for you… But you know that I’ve liked boys since I was little. Suddenly feeling a flutter for a person of the same sex makes me doubt myself… I worry that perhaps you’ve just been too good to me, and I’ve mistaken my dependence on you for love. Moreover… same-sex relationships still face external pressure. I, I’m still adjusting my mindset!”

“There will be some pressure, but we won’t hinder others, and we’ll have our own social circle.” She wrapped her arms around my waist. Our actions right now looked exactly like a couple. “I see… I understand now. Thank you for being so honest; I will wait patiently… until you tell me you love me with your own lips. Perhaps during the trip we’re about to embark on?”

“Now you sound so confident again!” I pushed her away. “Okay, let’s not hug like this in public…”

She finally broke into a smile. She took my hand again, and I let her lead me into the bustling night market on the other side.

“What do you want to eat?” She turned back and asked.

“Whatever you want to eat. I’m fine with anything.”

“Then how about spicy duck blood?” It seemed Tao Yian was right—she really had a special preference for spicy food! Why hadn’t I noticed that before?

We walked into one of the shops, picked an empty spot, and ordered. While looking at the photos she had just taken at the school, I suddenly heard her say, “I wonder if I’m overthinking this… Have I ever told you I have a younger brother?”

“Your, your brother?” Did I relax too soon? Is she still suspicious? “No, no, you haven’t mentioned him!”

“Mhm, I have a younger brother, six years my junior. He studied law and also got into a good school. The boy sitting across from you just now looks a bit like him.” She mused, and my breathing instantly stopped. However, she quickly offered an explanation. “But it definitely wouldn’t be him! He goes to a different school than you, and considering the time, he should be graduating soon. He’s probably just someone who looks very similar, right?”

“Uh… I guess so? Taiwan has so many people; there are bound to be a few people who look particularly alike!” I let out a few dry chuckles in agreement. She looked up, gazing at me with intense and gentle focus. “Hmm! Did I say something wrong?”

She slid her index finger across my cheek. A shiver ran through my heart. After a moment, she gave a gentle and beautiful smile, shaking her head. “No, you are perfectly right.”

She shifted her gaze to the camera, and with a reminiscent tone, she repeated, “Perfectly right…”