IRLY - Chapter 02

 Shen Wan was wrong about one thing: Xu Nian and Gu Rong weren't actually close. Though they often crossed paths, they rarely exchanged more than a few words. The reason lay in Gu Rong's aloof and indifferent nature, her detachment bordering on coldness.

"You'll get used to her temperament," everyone said. "She's just reserved, not cold-hearted. She's just quiet and doesn't like to make a fuss." As a runway model, Gu Rong had been walking shows since she was eighteen. After establishing herself domestically, she went international at twenty, discovered by a major brand. While not at the absolute pinnacle of the modeling world, she still far surpassed most of her peers in China.

Runways and fashion shows were words that seemed utterly out of place in the old district. Day after day of grueling work, meager wages, and the burden of supporting their families—these were the realities of their lives. As for the luxury goods in shop windows, they only ever appeared on television or phone screens.

Xu Nian knew why Gu Rong had come here: Shen Wan was subtly helping her out. Their revolutionary friendship ran deep, especially before assignments and midterms or finals. Xu Nian's precise tutoring had ensured Shen Wan never failed a single exam.

Xu Nian was deeply grateful to her.

Riding her bicycle down the middle of Yanfeng Avenue, Xu Nian skirted the dilapidated communal housing block. Behind it lay the old city's largest and most affordable fresh market. She rushed inside and bought a couple of bunches of seasonal greens, pork, and dumpling wrappers. A shortcut behind the market led straight to Kuanbei Lane, where she lived. By the time she got home, it was just past eleven.

March in G City was notoriously fickle. The afternoon had been warm and sunny, but by evening, the sky had turned heavy and overcast. The bougainvillea vines in the courtyard swayed wildly in the wind, signaling an impending shower.

Xu Nian glanced up at the darkening sky and swiftly brought in the laundry she'd been drying outside.

The verification message she'd sent remained unanswered. Instinctively, she checked her phone, but there were no WeChat notifications.

Gu Rong must be busy or had something come up, she reasoned.

The wind howled louder, abruptly slamming an unlatched window against the wall with a resounding bang. Xu Nian set her phone on the table, went to close the window, and then headed downstairs to secure the remaining ones.

Leaves from the courtyard's banyan tree swirled through the air, quickly carpeting the ground. Xu Nian shut the gate as well. The gale lasted only a few minutes before abruptly ceasing. Though dark clouds still loomed overhead, the rain held off. She opened the gate, paused to observe the sky, and, convinced it wouldn't rain after all, went into the kitchen to make dumplings.

The filling had been prepared earlier in the afternoon, so wrapping the dumplings didn't take long. As spring days darken quickly, she finished just as dusk settled.

Xu Nian went upstairs to check her phone again, but there were still no messages.

She probably won't be coming today.

She headed downstairs, hesitating about whether to start cooking. Just as she reached the living room, her phone screen lit up. Seeing the caller ID, she paused for a moment before swiping to answer.

"Hello," a cool, calm voice said from the other end.

Xu Nian instinctively glanced toward the front door and replied slowly, "Hello..."

"Xu Nian?"

She hummed in acknowledgment, opened her mouth, and reluctantly called out, "Auntie."

Xu Nian and Shen Wan were of the same generation, while Gu Rong was Shen Wan's senior. Xu Nian had to address her formally, like Shen Wan did. Calling her by her first name would be disrespectful, and using a nickname was out of the question. "Auntie" was the logical choice, but Xu Nian disliked it. The generational difference created a sense of distance, even though Gu Rong was only seven years older than her, at 27.

"I'm at the alley entrance. My car can't fit through."

Gu Rong had never been to Kuanbei Lane before and was unfamiliar with its layout. The lane narrowed at the southern end and widened at the northern end, so cars had to enter from the north. Gu Rong had likely driven to the southern entrance. Xu Nian grabbed the keys hanging on the wall, locked the door, and said as she walked, "I'll come get you."

It was rush hour, and old neighbors bustled through the lane, greeting each other warmly. Streetlights stood at intervals along the lane, their rusty poles bearing witness to time, yet their illumination remained strong. The soft, amber light cast a gentle glow across the ground, illuminating the entire lane.

Xu Nian, with her long legs, walked quickly and urgently. As she approached the corner, she deliberately slowed down, composed herself, and strolled out at a leisurely pace. The streetlights at the south entrance of the lane were more densely clustered, and the brightness instantly intensified.

A white Mercedes-Benz was parked beneath a thick, leafy locust tree. Gu Rong usually favored her Bentley, but tonight she was traveling discreetly. The spring night was chilly, and she was lightly dressed in a loose-fitting gray turtleneck sweater, a long black double-breasted trench coat, and leather high heels. In the month since they last met, she had changed her hairstyle, trading her waist-length curls for sleek, shoulder-length straight hair that gave her a sharp, polished look.

Leaning against the car, Gu Rong spotted Xu Nian from afar, straightened up, and took a step forward.

The south entrance of the lane was quiet, with few people around at this hour. As Xu Nian approached, her gaze brushed past Gu Rong's face as she said, "You'll need to use the north entrance from now on. This one's blocked."

Gu Rong opened the passenger door and explained, "Something came up at home this afternoon."

Xu Nian bent down to get in, and as she passed in front of Gu Rong, she caught a faint whiff of perfume. She couldn't identify the brand or floral scent, but she found it quite pleasant. Momentarily distracted, she replied, "Is it resolved?"

Gu Rong closed the car door and settled into the driver's seat. "Almost."

Gu Rong spoke little, showing no inclination for conversation. Xu Nian, sensing her mood, refrained from asking further questions and instead offered directions. The north and south entrances of the lane were close, only a two- or three-minute drive apart. In contrast to the deserted south entrance, the north entrance bustled with activity. A small park nearby drew residents who strolled and chatted after dinner.

Seeing the car approach, people readily moved aside.

The area consisted entirely of old-fashioned tube-shaped apartment buildings and red-brick houses, with no modern high-rises in sight. It was clear that this part of the city had been largely abandoned by the rapid development occurring in the other three districts. Xu Nian stole a glance at Gu Rong, curious about her reaction, but Gu Rong's expression remained unchanged, her focus entirely on driving. Not even the slightest shift in her gaze betrayed her thoughts.

Xu Nian's home was located about a third of the way down the lane, flanked by red-brick houses on both sides and across the street.

"I'll open the gate first," Xu Nian said as she got out of the car and retrieved her keys. With no threshold to cross, the car could be backed directly into the yard.

Just as she unlocked the gate, a rhythmic patter began. She instinctively glanced down.

Bean-sized raindrops were pelting the ground, growing larger and heavier with each passing moment. In an instant, the sky unleashed a torrential downpour. Xu Nian hurriedly pushed open the gate, waving urgently for Gu Rong to back the car in. The sudden deluge soaked them both to the bone, especially Xu Nian, whose back was drenched.

She grabbed two dry towels and handed one to Gu Rong. "Here, wipe yourself off."

Gu Rong reached out to take the handkerchief.

Xu Nian dabbed her face with the handkerchief, and her fingertip accidentally brushed against Gu Rong's icy-cold hand.

Gu Rong's skin was smooth, her fingers slender and well-defined. Perhaps unaccustomed to such contact, she flexed her knuckles slightly. Simultaneously, Xu Nian nonchalantly withdrew her hand.

She didn't think much of it, dismissing it as an accidental touch.

Inside Xu Nian, however, her heart was churning. Fortunately, the handkerchief concealed her face. Lowering it, she glanced out at the pouring rain and feigned nonchalance. "This rain doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon."

Gu Rong, drying her hair, noticed Xu Nian's soaked back and frowned slightly. "Your back is wet," she pointed out.

"I'll change right away." Xu Nian set down the handkerchief, then noticed Gu Rong's damp trench coat. "Do you want to change into something dry?"

"My clothes underneath are dry," Gu Rong politely declined.

"Then wait two minutes," Xu Nian said, heading upstairs to quickly change.

Gu Rong wandered around the ground floor. The house wasn't large, but though cluttered with belongings, it remained tidy, a testament to the owner's regular upkeep. The house and its furnishings were old-fashioned, filled with items one might only see from childhood, exuding a sense of nostalgia.

To the left of the living room, a well-ventilated spare room held clothes that had been taken in earlier that afternoon.

Out of politeness, Gu Rong glanced inside the room a couple of times but didn't enter. However, the room was small enough to take in at a glance. The clothes hanging there were only black, white, and gray, in simple styles. Next to them were underwear and socks, equally basic, utterly lacking the trendy flair that college students usually favor—or that one might expect from someone her age.

By a certain age, most girls are taught basic common sense by their parents, but it was clear that Xu Nian hadn't, and never would.

Gu Rong looked away, ceasing her casual observations.

She had already formed a basic understanding of Xu Nian's situation. This visit to inspect the apartment was merely a formality. Her only requirement for housing was cleanliness, and this place was undeniably clean. Barring unforeseen circumstances, she planned to move in within a few days.

Originally, she had intended to rent a villa in the suburbs, but Shen Wan, that persistent little girl, had wheedled and begged for days. The young girl, with her keen sensitivity, had gone to great lengths to help her friend in the most tactful way possible.

"Want to come upstairs and take a look?" Xu Nian asked, emerging from the room after changing.

Tall and well-proportioned, she looked striking whether in athletic wear or casual home clothes. A few damp strands of hair clung to her pale, slender neck, darkening the fabric over her collarbone.

Gu Rong lowered her gaze and silently followed her upstairs.

Upstairs, there was a living room flanked by two bedrooms. To the left of the living room were the shared bathroom, shower, and balcony; to the right were the bedrooms. Xu Nian opened the larger of the two rooms and flicked on the light.

"The bedding is all new, and I usually clean twice a week," Xu Nian said, knowing Gu Rong had a slight aversion to dirt. She paused, then added, "I'm staying at school now, but I come back on weekdays when I have fewer classes. The neighborhood is pretty safe. If you need anything, you can ask the neighbors..."

Her voice was soft, perhaps sensing a wall between them. She stopped mid-sentence, thinking: Could Gu Rong even adjust here? The infrastructure, security, transportation... none of this compares to the new district.

Gu Rong is really putting herself through this.

Xu Nian pursed her lips, carefully choosing her words.

Unaware of Xu Nian's inner turmoil, Gu Rong stepped inside. In the dim light, she saw the magnolia tree swaying in the wind outside the window, raindrops drumming against the glass.

Judging by the downpour, it likely wouldn't stop tonight.

Driving in such heavy rain was dangerous. She had chosen the worst possible time to come.

Turning back, she asked, "Is the contract ready?"

Xu Nian blinked in surprise. "You don't want to look around more?"

"It's fine as is."

Xu Nian stared at her, unable to decipher from her emotionless tone whether Gu Rong was satisfied or dissatisfied.

After a long hesitation, she brought the contract.

Gu Rong skimmed it, signed, and sealed the agreement. The rain intensified, drumming against the windows. She frowned involuntarily, and Xu Nian glanced uneasily at the downpour outside.

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