When Qin Ran blurted out that the food was "delicious," Yu's mother couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, followed by a swell of pride as she turned to Yu Shuman. "See? I told you your mom can cook. Even Xiao Ran says it's good."
"Alright, alright, it is really good," Yu Shuman replied.
The meal wrapped up amidst their lively chatter. Yu's mother began clearing the table, and Qin Ran wanted to help, but Yu Shuman pulled her back to the sofa to watch TV. "You're a guest. We can't really let you wash the dishes. Just sit down and watch TV with me."
Yu Shuman was not a pampered princess who never lifted a finger. On the contrary, she was the type to help her mother clean up and wash dishes. But with Qin Ran there, she couldn't just leave her guest alone, so her mother had to manage the cleanup by herself.
Qin Ran understood this, which made her feel uneasy sitting there. She then remembered the gifts she had brought. Initially, she planned to buy milk and fruit after arriving, but when Yu Shuman heard about her plan, she pulled her along and said, "What's the point? You're coming to my house with gifts? We can't accept them!"
So, Qin Ran entered Yu Shuman's home empty-handed, but she had prepared gifts in advance, stowing them in her suitcase.
Taking advantage of the moment, Qin Ran went to the entrance, grabbed her suitcase, placed it on the floor, and unzipped it, retrieving two gift bags.
When these items were first handed to her, they were packed in very expensive-looking gift boxes, but Qin Ran thought they looked too lavish. She promptly discarded the boxes and went to a discount store, where she bought simpler ones and two bags to hold the gifts.
Yu Shuman, curious about what she was doing, followed her. When Qin Ran crouched down to rummage through her suitcase, Yu Shuman tilted her head and watched. The moment she saw Qin Ran pull out the bags, she immediately realized that these were the gifts Qin Ran had tried to sneak out to buy earlier. "Junior, did you bring these gifts for my mom..."
Before she could finish, Yu's mother walked out, carrying a plate of sliced fruit—orange, cantaloupe, and cherry tomatoes. Hearing Yu Shuman's voice, she wiped her hands on her apron and approached.
"What's going on? Xiao Ran, did you bring gifts? Why would you bring things when you come to visit Auntie's house?"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Qin Ran handed over the bags. "I didn't bring much, just a set of clothes and some jewelry. They're not expensive. Auntie, if the clothes don't fit, you can exchange them." It took a lot of courage for Qin Ran to finally offer the gifts.
Yu's mother still muttered, "Why bring clothes? You should take them back and return them; Auntie doesn't need them..."
Qin Ran froze, unsure how to respond. Seeing this, Yu Shuman, who had known her for a long time, quickly tugged on her mother's sleeve. "It's a kind gesture from my junior. Just try them on, and if they don't fit, we'll discuss it then."
Only after seeing Qin Ran's expression did Yu's mother realize the situation. She quickly said, "Thank you, Xiao Ran. I'll try them on first, and if they don't fit, you'll have to help me return them."
Yu's mother took the bags and walked to her room. Qin Ran waited anxiously for a while, and even Yu Shuman's comforting words didn't help. Eventually, Yu's mother returned from her room. The outfit Qin Ran had chosen was a two-piece set, not quite suitable for the current weather as the fabric was light and too cool for now, but it would be perfect for spring and summer.
Yu's mother, experienced as she was, could tell the quality of the fabric just by feeling it, estimating its cost at around two hundred yuan. While that wasn't a lot for most people, considering Qin Ran's financial situation, which she had heard about from Yu Shuman, it was more than enough to make Yu's mother hesitant to accept. But seeing Qin Ran's happy face, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"Oh, this outfit fits well... and it's comfortable, too."
Hearing this, Qin Ran visibly relaxed, smiling as she said, "Auntie, if it's comfortable, then don't return it. It's still early to wear it now, but it'll be perfect for summer." Yu's mother touched the fabric of the clothes again and smiled. "Alright, Auntie will keep it. But next time, don't bring any more gifts."
Qin Ran then handed over the other bag. Yu's mother peeked inside and found a brooch with a large ruby. Both she and Yu Shuman knew Qin Ran couldn't afford real gemstones, so they assumed it was just a costume piece from a discount store. Since she had already accepted the clothes, Yu's mother wouldn't refuse the brooch either.
"Alright, Auntie will accept this too. Thank you, Xiao Ran. The things you bought are perfect."
The brooch came with a certificate, but Qin Ran left it at home. She never intended to reveal its true value; it was just a piece of jewelry for fun, as long as it made Yu's mother happy. That afternoon, Yu Shuman yawned, and Yu's mother suggested they take a nap together.
Hearing this, Qin Ran tensed up again. When Yu Shuman had first invited her to spend the New Year at her home, Qin Ran had wondered where she would sleep. It dawned on her that she would likely be sharing a room with her senior. Yu Shuman's family, even before her mother's illness, wasn't wealthy. They couldn't afford a guest room, only a master bedroom and a smaller one—one for the mother, one for the daughter. Naturally, Qin Ran would be sharing a room and possibly a bed with Yu Shuman.
But now that the moment had arrived, Qin Ran found her mouth dry.
Yu's mother encouraged them to go for their nap, saying the bed was already made. Qin Ran had no choice but to follow stiffly into Yu Shuman's bedroom. Yu Shuman entered first, holding the door open for Qin Ran to follow.
Nodding, Qin Ran awkwardly stepped inside, her gaze flitting nervously around the room. The room was small, barely large enough to move around in, with belongings filling the space. As soon as the door opened, the first thing she saw was a bed, already made with soft blankets. At the far end was a bay window, and at the foot of the bed was a desk and chair by the wall, with a wardrobe on the same side as the door.
The narrow path between the bed and the wardrobe made the room feel even more cramped. Despite the limited space and abundance of items, the room didn't feel cluttered, and there wasn't a speck of dust, a sign that Yu's mother kept it well-organized even when Yu Shuman wasn't home.
Yu Shuman took Qin Ran's suitcase, placing it by the desk, before flopping onto the bed. She reached for the remote on the bedside table and turned on the air conditioner.
Once done, she patted the space beside her. "Junior, don't be so formal. Come and lie down. After sitting on the train for so long, my whole body aches. Plus, we woke up early to catch the train this morning, so it's the perfect time for a nap."
Qin Ran sat on the edge of the bed but hesitated to move closer until Yu Shuman reached over and pulled her down. The bed was soft, with a pleasant scent. Yu's mother had taken the blankets out to air them the day before, ensuring a good night's sleep for her daughter.
In her past life, Qin Ran's mother would never have done such things. She was a businesswoman, a wealthy heiress more concerned with her daughter's academic progress and mastery of her studies. The thought of her carefully manicured nails chipping from doing chores was unimaginable.
But this blanket... it was so warm. Qin Ran lay there, not wanting to get up. But as soon as Yu's mother knocked on the door, Qin Ran bolted upright.
After getting permission from Yu Shuman, Yu's mother entered with a smile, pulling out two sets of pajamas from the wardrobe. "Xiao Ran, these pajamas are new, washed and ready to wear. They're 100% cotton and very comfortable. You two should change into them for your nap, and I'll wash your clothes."
"No need, Auntie. I can't trouble you with my laundry..."
Before Qin Ran could finish, Yu Shuman interrupted, "You gave my mom gifts, so let her do something in return. Don't worry about it; just change and get some rest." To ease Qin Ran's discomfort, Yu Shuman grabbed her clothes and left the room. "I'll change in my mom's room. Don't worry, I won't peek at you."
It wasn't about whether Yu Shuman would peek; Qin Ran was more concerned that if Yu Shuman changed in front of her, she might get a nosebleed. Thankfully, Yu Shuman left first.
Alone in the room, Qin Ran hesitated for a while before changing into the pajamas. Not long after, Yu Shuman knocked, and Qin Ran quickly adjusted her clothes before saying, "Senior, I'm ready."
Yu Shuman reentered, picked up her clothes, and carried them out. When she returned, she said, "Let's get some sleep." She was wearing the same style of pajamas as Qin Ran, just in a different color. Both tops had a cute little bunny on the lower left hem, but Qin Ran's was brown while Yu Shuman's was beige.
While Qin Ran was still dazed, Yu Shuman climbed under the covers and patted the bed for Qin Ran to join her. Qin Ran had no choice but to slide under the blanket too. The bed was warm, the air conditioner set to a comfortable temperature, and the blanket soft, with the scent of sunlight from being aired out. She couldn't resist sniffing the air, catching the scent of sun-dried linen.
There was no scent of her senior—only the scent of dust mites that had been killed in the sun.
Qin Ran glanced at her senior beside her. The curtains were drawn, blocking out the light, leaving the room in semi-darkness. She could only faintly make out Yu Shuman's silhouette. She heard Yu Shuman say, "Go to sleep. I've set an alarm, so we'll get up in two hours."
Qin Ran responded with a soft "mm," but sleep eluded her. She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep with her heart pounding so loudly she feared Yu Shuman might hear it, thus discovering her feelings. These few moments had been so wonderful, but the more she cherished them, the more she feared her relationship with Yu Shuman might change because of her.
Her thoughts spun, tangling into a messy knot, but at some point, her eyelids grew heavy. Just before drifting off, Qin Ran thought: It's all because the environment is so cozy that I couldn't help but fall asleep.
Achievement unlocked: Sleeping together!