Mute Beauty

Chapter 8: Black Tea

The journey was short, and they soon arrived downstairs.

It seemed that Ran Ling wanted to personally escort Yu Ting to her door, so she entered the elevator with her.

Inside the elevator, it was just the two of them. Yu Ting lazily leaned against the wall, closing her eyes to rest quietly. Ran Ling stood beside her, watching the floor numbers rise, then glanced at Yu Ting. Just as their eyes met, Yu Ting opened hers.

Their gazes locked.

For a moment, Ran Ling was taken aback, while Yu Ting remained calm and slightly scrutinizing. In the narrow space, Ran Ling felt as if Yu Ting could see right through her; even a sober person like her was blushing. She averted her gaze, looking down at the floor instead.

Her reaction drew a light laugh from Yu Ting. The sound floated softly into Ran Ling's ears, adding fuel to her embarrassment. Fortunately, the elevator doors opened the next second, providing a temporary escape.

The apartments had one unit per floor, and exiting the elevator brought them to Yu Ting's front door, marking the end of Ran Ling's escorting duty. However, a kind-hearted gentleness seemed to have integrated into Ran Ling's very being. The quiet woman stood at the door, diligently typing into her phone's notes. She looked up with an exceptionally clear gaze, asking Yu Ting if she could use her kitchen to prepare some hangover lemon water. At that moment, the redness on her face hadn't fully faded.

A strange feeling arose within Yu Ting, who replied, "Sure, I appreciate it, Sister Ling."

Yu Ting lived alone for many years, and her home had a simple, gray decor. It gave off a sense of organized chaos, with books, magazines, skirts, and high heels casually strewn about—messy items that oddly enhanced the aesthetics. The floors and kitchen were spotless, so Ran Ling could use the kitchen right away.

Opening the fridge, Ran Ling retrieved some lemons that Yu Ting had stockpiled. Yu Ting didn't lie down to rest; she leaned against the side, watching her as if waiting. Occasionally, Ran Ling would cast a glance her way, assuring her that it would be ready soon.

It was quite strange; Ran Ling moved with such familiarity, and their connection felt intimate—like they were not meeting for the first time at all. There was no awkwardness between them, which was surprising.

It wasn't their first meeting, actually; a more fitting word would be "reunion."

In no time at all, within three minutes, a warm cup of lemon water was delivered to Yu Ting. She took a sip, frowned, and complained, "It's so sour."

Ran Ling paused for a moment, then rushed to add some sugar, reaching for the cup, but Yu Ting didn't let go.

Ran Ling looked at her in confusion.

Yu Ting smiled slightly and remarked, "How thoughtful of you!"

Suddenly, Yu Ting lowered her head, leaving only a fist's distance between their noses. Ran Ling's eyes were magnetically drawn to Yu Ting, who held her gaze intently. "Sister Ling..."

Ran Ling felt the heat rising, her body tensing up.

"When we were little, didn't we have a really good relationship?"

At such close quarters, the words were laden with meaning, as if seeking to unearth some hidden secrets. The atmosphere grew tense as Ran Ling looked at her, her eyes filled with warmth and anxiety. After a moment, she almost imperceptibly nodded.

"Is that so..."

So they had a good relationship when they were young. Yu Ting realized she had long forgotten about it.