Mute Beauty

Chapter 2: Ran Ling

A week later.

Ran Xue's flight landed at 5 p.m. As soon as she arrived, Yu Ting reached the exit by 5:10 p.m. and sent a message to Ran Xue: [Xiaoxue, I'm here. You'll see me as soon as you come out.]

Yu Ting stared at her phone for a while, but Ran Xue didn't reply. After about ten minutes, Ran Xue appeared in her view, dragging her suitcase behind her.

Ran Xue had dyed her long hair chestnut brown and was wearing a bucket hat and a face mask, with only her beautiful almond-shaped eyes visible. There were faint dark circles under them, suggesting she hadn't slept well recently.

Yu Ting strode forward to help with the luggage. "Let me take that."

Ran Xue let go of the suitcase, looking up at Yu Ting, who was half a head taller than her. They hadn't seen each other in months, and Ran Xue's eyes were filled with complex emotions, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. The moment Yu Ting looked at her, Ran Xue averted her gaze quickly, a guilty expression crossing her face.

Having an affair—a deed so condemned by society—had drained Ran Xue of the courage she once had, even in front of Yu Ting, where she used to be so willful and arrogant.

Yu Ting merely curled her lips into a slight smile, not bothering to question or condemn her. She simply took Ran Xue's hand, pulling her and the suitcase along. "The car's outside. I'll take you home."

Though they had clearly agreed to break up over WeChat, Ran Xue was confused as to why Yu Ting still held her hand. Her fingers twitched, but she didn't pull away. Feeling guilty, she dared not upset Yu Ting further and followed her stiffly, lips pressed together.

Outside the airport, the driver took the luggage, and Yu Ting casually remarked, "It's nice weather today."

Ran Xue continued staring at the ground, forcing out a response. "Mmm..."

When the car arrived, Yu Ting opened the door for Ran Xue to get in, then climbed in after her. She sat close, their arms touching, and through the fabric, the warmth felt almost scorching—Yu Ting was still offering the same intimacy she had always liked, as if nothing had happened.

Ran Xue kept her head down, the atmosphere unbearably awkward, so different from before.

Yu Ting broke the silence. "Your parents and grandpa are thrilled you're back. We're all having dinner together tonight. They've already started preparing, just waiting for me to bring you home." Yu Ting's phone buzzed with a message, and she smiled faintly. "Look, Grandpa's already asking if I've picked you up."

"Yu Ting..." Ran Xue finally couldn't hold back.

"Hmm?"

"I..."

"What is it?"

Ran Xue didn't notice the subtle shift in Yu Ting's tone and continued, "About us... breaking up..."

"Let's deal with Grandpa first," Yu Ting cut her off coldly.

The sharp change in Yu Ting's tone startled Ran Xue. She instinctively clenched her pants.

Yu Ting rarely got angry with her, almost never spoke harshly, and always indulged her, maintaining a calm demeanor. Ran Xue had gotten used to Yu Ting's gentle nature, but her firm tone just now was unfamiliar, bringing with it a sense of fear. It dawned on Ran Xue—Yu Ting had been angry all along.

After all, she was the one who had done something wrong. How could Yu Ting not be angry? Ran Xue lowered her head and quietly conceded, "Okay, let's deal with Grandpa first."