Drifting on a String - Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Tao Jin felt Chen Piaopiao poking at her heart, once, and then again, at the same frequency she used to smooth out her own fingers.
Then she leaned over, cupped Chen Piaopiao's face, and kissed her earnestly and reverently.
This time, it wasn't a deep kiss; she just pressed her lips against Chen Piaopiao's. Chen Piaopiao saw the dim specks in her eyes and, for some inexplicable reason, seemed to hear the sigh in the depths of her heart.
For dinner, they ordered takeout to eat in the dorm. It was liangpi from a place next to the shopping center that Tao Jin had recommended. Chen Piaopiao watched eagerly as Tao Jin helped her mix the sesame paste into the sauce, saying that in Xindu, things like cold noodles and liangfen were mixed with chili oil for a delicious, sour and spicy flavor.
Cupping her face again, she said she wanted to take Tao Jin to Xindu. Tao Jin asked her when, and Chen Piaopiao replied, "Haven't thought about it. We only just got together."
"But we've already met the parents."
"Amazing," she muttered three times in a row, her straight bangs bobbing between her eyebrows.
Tao Jin smiled and handed her the chopsticks, thoughtfully rubbing away the wooden splinters on the disposable chopsticks first.
After eating, they played on the computer in the bedroom for a while. Their roommates returned one after another and chatted with Chen Piaopiao. Xiao Ma pulled over a stool and showed Chen Piaopiao a flyer for a nail salon, then looked at her ear piercings and asked if she wanted to get another one. If she went, Xiao Ma would get another one too, since there was a group discount for two people.
At 9 o'clock, Chen Piaopiao and Tao Jin went to shower together, sharing a basket. This time, they were on the same floor.
Watching the graceful body of the person you like emerge from the mist and steam, every water droplet on her skin clearly visible, was still enough to make one's heart race, even if it wasn't an unfamiliar sight. With flushed cheeks, they dried themselves in front of the lockers, changed into their pajamas, and went to the small supermarket to buy a slice of cantaloupe. Chen Piaopiao held the small wooden stick and ate as she walked, while Tao Jin held her hand, carrying the dripping basket in the other.
The moon of youth has heard too many recitations of eternal vows, right here on this campus, a place of transition from student to adult.
At this moment, the An University campus was like a cradle. Rocked to the left, dreams grew taller; rocked to the right, love grew up.
The highly adaptable Chen Piaopiao also quickly adjusted to the rhythm of a campus romance. They wished each other good morning and good night every day. They went to class when they had it, and when they didn't, they would chat or go shopping. If they ate too much, they would go for a stroll on the athletic field at night, walking lap after lap, occasionally holding hands.
After showering, Chen Piaopiao would sometimes hang out in Tao Jin's dorm for a bit, doing face masks with Xiao Ma and the others. But they rarely played mahjong; after a full day of classes, everyone was too tired.
Finally, Friday arrived.
Returning to the rental apartment again, this time it felt a little like coming home. They stopped downstairs to buy vegetables and fruit on the way. Chen Piaopiao habitually turned on the TV first, then sat on a small stool in front of it to prepare the vegetables.
This was how it was when she was little. After school, she would help her Grandma prepare vegetables so she could sneak in some TV time.
Tao Jin would use this time to clean the apartment and put away the clothes they had brought. Seeing that the seasons were about to change, she packed up some of her summer clothes and moved them to the rental. Afterward, the two would wash their hands and cook together, following a recipe. They were tired of cafeteria food and takeout; even if their own cooking wasn't great, it always seemed more fragrant than food from outside.
Especially since they could chat while they cooked. Chen Piaopiao would intermittently drop a joke, and Tao Jin had a low threshold for laughter. But she was also skilled at deadpan humor; when she told a joke with a straight face, she wouldn't laugh herself.
Tao Jin observed that away from campus, or rather, away from crowds, Chen Piaopiao would relax a lot more. Upon discovering a rotten egg, she would blurt out, "Damn, a bad egg."
Tao Jin said she wanted to record it and send it to An Ran.
Chen Piaopiao shot her a harmless glance. "Ah, here's another bad egg."
The two little "bad eggs" were also very mindful of rules and order. First, they filled their stomachs, then they sated their desires.
At school, they enjoyed the nourishment of the sun. Back at home, they watched the moon together.
On the moon, there was a hazy whiteness, mottled shadows, and the whispered confidences and heartfelt feelings exchanged over millions of years.
Chen Piaopiao touched Tao Jin as well. Tao Jin's face was very red, but her reaction wasn't strong. She just turned her head to gaze hazily at the nightstand, occasionally letting out a soft, contented sigh.
She was so gentle that even when the climax washed over her, it sounded more like a sigh.
Chen Piaopiao soothed her and nibbled on her lightly, wanting to go a step further, but the phone rang.
She frowned. With her free hand, she grabbed the phone, glanced at the screen, and was suddenly wide awake. She sat up in the darkness, propping herself up on the edge of the bed with her wet fingers. "Grand-Grandma?"
Click. The light turned on. Tao Jin sat up, clutching the blanket, and watched her quietly.
Chen Piaopiao looked like she'd been caught cheating. Her face was bright red, and her expression made her seem ten years younger.
A faint voice came from the other end of the line. Tao Jin sniffled and smiled, pressing her lips together.
Chen Piaopiao raised a hand, signaling for Tao Jin to get her a tissue. Tao Jin leaned over to grab one, then held the wrist Chen Piaopiao offered and wiped her hand meticulously. Chen Piaopiao's tone of voice had already returned to normal, but her face was still as hot as if she were in front of a furnace.
"Oh, Grandma," her voice was soft, "you said you learned how to make video calls? Okay, we'll do a video call next time."
"Not this time, it's almost lights-out for us. Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"Oh, you just got back from Aunt's house. Oh…"
She glanced at Tao Jin and pulled back her clean hand.
"Over here, oh, uh, Senior Tao Jin came to talk to me about something. Mm, yeah, because it's almost lights-out. She's heading upstairs after we're done." Chen Piaopiao traced the pattern on the blanket, her replies very docile.
"What about? About…"
The little fox's composure was in utter chaos. Tao Jin watched with great interest; this was not the same composed fox who could lie and act cute with such ease before.
So, Tao Jin moved closer as if to rescue her, smiling gently as she greeted her, "Grandma."
"Piaopiao is being difficult."
Chen Piaopiao's eyes widened slightly as she heard Tao Jin moisten her lips and continue, "Because she's not listening to me."
"I was telling her she should buy a lunch box to get her meals. Some of the windows in our cafeteria use plastic bags for takeout, and I don't think that's very healthy. But she's too lazy to wash a lunch box, so she doesn't want to."
…
Tao Jin had mentioned this yesterday, and Chen Piaopiao had indeed been unwilling. She hadn't expected this senior to bring it up again at a time like this.
Clack. Checkmate.
She glanced at the pure and flawless Tao Jin, and her fox ears seemed to flicker in and out of existence again.
After hanging up, they didn't continue what they were doing before. Chen Piaopiao obediently picked out a lunch box online with Tao Jin. After buying it, they lay on their pillows and chatted, starting with the phone call from her Grandma, then talking about Xindu, about their hometowns.
Chen Piaopiao herself didn't realize that even though she desperately wanted to escape her previous life, in the dead of night, what she wanted to talk about with the person closest to her was still her hometown.
But she didn't talk about the bad parts—not the unfriendly classmates, not her indifferent parents, and not the younger sister who was showered with affection.
She was still too young at this point, still exploring her own identity. Her way of loving herself wasn't through complete acceptance, but by building a wall of self-protection with her pride.
Afraid of pitying herself.
Afraid of Tao Jin pitying her.
On Saturday, Tao Jin took Chen Piaopiao on a tour of Beicheng. The first stop was Nan Ershi Tiao Hutong. This old-fashioned street, now overrun by tourists, had lost much of its old-time flavor, but it had plenty of new things to see. There were interesting shops, artsy shops, and influencer-famous shops to check in at. It was a popular spot for young people.
Tao Jin told Chen Piaopiao about what old Beicheng was like as she led her by the hand on a leisurely stroll. They would occasionally stop to take a couple of photos, then she would lead her up a creaky old staircase, climbing a small path to a rooftop cafe. There, amidst black tiles that resembled thousands of crows spreading their wings, they drank coffee that reflected the white clouds and ancient trees.
Chen Piaopiao was willing to let Tao Jin treat her to a few cups of coffee, a few meals, a few movies… things of that sort, which she could afford herself. Because when she stood to the side while Tao Jin naturally paid, the curious, assessing gazes of onlookers felt like an affirmation of their secret relationship.
But she wouldn't go to shopping malls with Tao Jin, because on her living allowance alone, she couldn't really afford the clothes in Beicheng's malls. She would take Tao Jin to the "foreign trade clothing markets" that her classmates liked to frequent. You could bargain there, and for a few dozen yuan, you could buy so-called "original foreign trade orders." For things like clothes and bags, Chen Piaopiao insisted on paying herself. Once Tao Jin figured out her temperament, she would just patiently accompany her.
On Sunday night, before they returned to school, Chen Piaopiao once again took the initiative.
But she lacked experience, and Tao Jin's reaction wasn't quite right.
Chen Piaopiao turned on the light and saw that she was bleeding.
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