translated_Chapter 15

15: Our Human Touch

The steaming aroma of the red broth left a lingering attachment on both of them.

Qiu Ci bought herself a loose-fitting short-sleeved shirt as pajamas, the neckline so wide it revealed half her shoulder. Her hair was also casually styled – perfectly fine for wearing at home.

What was there to fear with just two girls?

“Now that you’re not working, what are you planning to do next?” Qiu Ci asked Tsukimi Rin.

Tsukimi Rin stirred her dipping sauce, “I don’t know. My university course was also in finance. I don’t want to study that.”

“You’ve got to have some idea. How about after a few years, when it’s convenient for me, we go to England for a trip?” Qiu Ci suggested.

Tsukimi Rin sighed, raising her eyes to look at the relaxed woman, “Qiu Ci, what exactly does your family do? It feels like you have so much money.”

“It’s something in finance, but it’s so boring.” Qiu Ci shook her head at the mention of it.

“At least you’re a Rich second generation. Don’t you have a younger brother? Leave the family business to him, and you can live a carefree life.”

Qiu Ci: “Tsk, tsk, tsk, can’t count on him. He likes messing around with art and stuff, but who knows what he’ll actually do.”

“Last time you said your brother’s car accident was quite serious.”

“He’s recovering okay, it’s just that he can’t do hyperrealism anymore. He started an art training class in China for fun.”

“That’s pretty good too. Better than me. Forget it, I should just go back to school.”

“It’s alright, I said I’d take care of you and I will. Can’t have both of us unable to do what we like.” Qiu Ci took a sip of her drink, “How about you try law?”

“Then, I’ll give it a try?”

In the days that followed, Tsukimi Rin studied professional knowledge on her own, preparing for the college entrance exam next year.

She was already a year younger, so taking the exam again wasn’t too late.

Every night, Qiu Ci would yawn as she came home, seeing the small girl with metal-framed glasses.

Qiu Ci took out a character badge from her pocket, comparing it to Tsukimi Rin.

The pattern on the badge was of a girl wearing a sailor uniform and glasses, “Tsukimi Rin, you look so much like her!”

“Ah?” Tsukimi Rin frowned, taking it, “Really? Do I look that good?”

Qiu Ci scrutinized her roommate’s face seriously, “You’re even better looking than her.”

Tsukimi Rin gave a forced smile, “Who gave you this?”

“A little girl from my class, isn’t it cute?”

Tsukimi Rin awkwardly said, “It is cute, but this character is from a very famous GL manga. In the story, this little girl has a crush on a classmate, but she hesitates to confess, worried that her crush’s orientation is different from hers. She tries to test the waters for a long time. Because the manga is too classic, any merchandise related to her can be seen as a signal for girls to confess, so…”

Qiu Ci suddenly understood, “No wonder. I almost refused, worried that people would say I’m too popular when I bring it out, so it was… I’ll give it back to her tomorrow.” As she said that, she was about to take it from Tsukimi Rin’s hand.

Tsukimi Rin raised her hand to dodge, “No, you can’t give it back. Girls’ minds are so delicate and sensitive. Just accept it, don’t show too much reaction, and she’ll know you’re not a lesbian. It’s just for testing the waters.”

“I see.” Qiu Ci nodded in agreement, “Wait, Tsukimi Rin, how do you know so much about this?”

Tsukimi Rin suddenly felt guilty, “I, I just learned it when I was bored… Hahaha.”

Qiu Ci seriously considered for a moment, “Alright then.”

She put the delicate badge in her drawer, hoping the little girl would find someone she liked, and someone who liked her back.

That night, Qiu Ci stayed up late to finish watching the anime, yawning as she went to class.

Tsukimi Rin held a book, but she couldn’t memorize anything.

So she did a practice test.

She got nine out of ten multiple-choice questions wrong.

Under the influence of Japanese entertainment, sexual orientations are diverse.

bg, bl, gl, gb.

Tsukimi Rin didn’t learn about that yuri anime by accident. She really was a lesbian.

But Qiu Ci was from China. She wasn’t sure if Qiu Ci’s acceptance level was the same as hers. What if Qiu Ci got scared?

Actually, that wasn’t what she was worried about at all.

It’s so annoying, staying with someone who fits your orientation for too long makes you overthink.

Too troublesome.

But now, it’s even more impossible for her to drive Qiu Ci away.

Qiu Ci, Qiu Ci, Qiu Ci.

After a day of dithering, she absentmindedly made dinner.

What should she do?

“Knock, knock, knock—”

A polite knock interrupted her thoughts.

Who could it be?

Qiu Ci wouldn’t knock. She had a key.

Tsukimi Rin saw a young man through the peephole.

She almost immediately realized that this was Qiu Ci’s younger brother.

Because he looked exactly like Qiu Ci, except his eyes were light green, and his figure was a bit thin.

Tsukimi Rin opened the door, tentatively asking, “Qiu Ci?”

The young man was momentarily dazed, politely asking, “Hello, does Qiu Shi live here?” Also, how did she know his name?

“She does live here.”

“When will Qiu Shi be back?”

Tsukimi Rin found him some slippers, “Soon, did you just arrive in Japan?”

“Just got off the plane an hour ago.”

“Rest for a bit.” Tsukimi Rin prepared a cup of lemon tea for him.

Qiu Ci sat stiffly on the corner of the sofa. He was wearing a light-colored down jacket, which he took off and hung on the coat rack.

Under the white sweater, the bandage on his wrist was visible.

Sure enough, it was that brother who had been in a car accident.

Qiu Shi did return quickly.

Entering the house, she saw her brother, her eyes filled with surprise, “You actually found me.”

“Yes, I already told you on the phone.” Qiu Ci was still polite.

“Tsukimi Rin, my current roommate, Qiu Ci, my brother.” Qiu Shi introduced the two, “I’ll go book you a hotel outside later, rest for a while.”

Tsukimi Rin interjected, “It’s okay, actually, there’s another room over there, you can manage for a few days.”

Qiu Shi was a little embarrassed, “You don’t mind? Living with him.”

“Qiu Ci is quite well-behaved.”

Qiu Shi laughed, “Hahahaha, really, we’re the same age, but people always say he’s well-behaved, why doesn’t anyone say that about me?”

Tsukimi Rin explained, “People generally use names to make a preconceived feeling that Qiu Ci is younger.”

“Forget it, let’s make dinner. I want to show my little brother what I’ve learned lately.” Qiu Shi clung to Tsukimi Rin and went to the kitchen.

Tsukimi Rin finally pointed Qiu Ci to the room he would be staying in.

Qiu Ci politely said thank you.

Then he started packing his things.

Through the conversation, she knew that Qiu Shi had invited her brother, “Isn’t it almost Chinese New Year? I was worried my brother would be lonely alone, just like me.”

Tsukimi Rin understood the feeling, “It’s okay, I’ll keep you company.”

“Thank you.” Qiu Shi stirred the sauce, asking Tsukimi Rin, “Is my brother handsome?”

Tsukimi Rin gave an awkward smile, “Isn’t he exactly like you?”

“Then that’s kind of girly.” Looking like a girl.

“No way, your features are so perfect, you’re perfect as a man or a woman.”

“Then would you like him?” Qiu Shi suddenly asked a question.