Mute Beauty

Chapter 41: Going Off Course

"Who are you trying to impress dressing like that?"

Ran Ling was caught off guard by Yu Ting's blunt comment. After the initial shock, a wave of grievance washed over her. Pressed against the bed by Yu Ting, she knew she was no match for her strength. With a resentful glance, she turned away and began to cry silently.

Yu Ting frowned.

At that moment, Ran Ling's phone, carelessly placed on the edge of the bed, slipped off the smooth bedding and fell with a thud onto the hard floor tiles.

Yu Ting turned her head to look. The phone lit up, revealing a lock screen wallpaper of a widely circulated, candid photo of them kissing at their wedding. Ironically, at such a sensitive moment, the corner of the screen was cracked, and the pristine wedding dress was marred by black lines.

This scene inexplicably tightened Yu Ting's heart, and without thinking, she bent down to pick up the phone.

The unlock screen required a password, a privacy issue Yu Ting had never asked Ran Ling about, mainly because she didn't care. But at this moment, an inexplicable thought crossed her mind—

She typed "0907" into the input box.

In the next second, the phone unlocked.

Surprisingly, but not unexpectedly, Ran Ling's lock screen password was her birthday.

The home screen wallpaper was a candid shot of Yu Ting on the beach, taken without her knowledge, her back turned to the camera as she enjoyed the sea breeze, exuding freedom and ease.

Yu Ting had never paid attention to such details before; she had no idea how much Ran Ling liked her. A small widget on the screen caught her eye: [TingTing also likes the SL band]

Clicking into it revealed more content—

[TingTing: September 7, 1997, Virgo, height 172 cm, shoe size 38, shoulder width 46, waist 60...]

[TingTing forgets important things when drunk]

[TingTing wakes up grumpy if she's disturbed]

[TingTing sleeps better on rainy days]

[TingTing dislikes garlic, onion, and various organ meats, as well as fish with a strong smell]

[TingTing has a habit of exercising early in the morning, likes to drink a glass of water on an empty stomach before working out for half an hour, and then has breakfast (her arm muscles are beautiful, but she hasn't been able to touch her abs yet)]

[TingTing dislikes overly bitter coffee]

[TingTing said she gets nauseous from drinking plain milk]

[TingTing seems to prefer black (but I haven't asked her directly)]

[Every time I drink, I must remember to bring TingTing candy; does she want me to treat her like a child?]

...

Ran Ling's notes were numerous; this was just one of the entries recording Yu Ting's preferences and personality. She even dated every conversation they had over the phone, filled with her ramblings.

Scrolling back, from their reunion in the backyard of Ran's house a few months ago, she lamented how much Yu Ting had changed, all the way to yesterday evening, where she mused: [Does TingTing find it boring to be with me?]

Yu Ting was taken aback.

— Is it interesting to visit an art exhibition with a mute?

It turned out Ran Ling had seen the message sent by Shi Yi...