Li Xinyue's condo was quiet except for the faint sound of rain against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
She sat cross-legged on the couch, laptop open in front of her, half-reading through documents she hadn't fully focused on for the past twenty minutes.
Her phone vibrated beside her. She glanced at the screen.
Li Ruoruo Calling.
Xinyue stared at it for a second before answering.
"…Hello?"
"Jie-jie?"
Ruoruo's voice came soft immediately.
Xinyue already knew something was coming.
"What is it?"
"I'm downstairs."
A pause.
Xinyue blinked once. "Downstairs where?"
"At your condo."
Another pause.
Then Xinyue finally sat up properly. "Why?"
Ruoruo sighed dramatically on the other end.
"I wanted to see you."
That answer came so naturally it almost sounded innocent.
Xinyue rubbed lightly at her temple. "Ruoruo."
"I'm serious," Ruoruo said quickly. "But your security guard won't let me in."
Xinyue glanced toward the window instinctively, like she could somehow see downstairs from here.
"He said residents need to approve guests personally," Ruoruo continued, voice becoming softer with every sentence. "I already told him I'm your sister but he still won't believe me."
Xinyue could practically imagine her expression right now.
hurt, embarrassed.
Probably standing there looking pitiful enough to make the security staff uncomfortable.
"He's doing his job," Xinyue said calmly.
"But it's embarrassing," Ruoruo complained quietly.
There it was, The exact tone she used whenever she wanted sympathy without directly asking for it.
"The people walking by keep looking at me like I'm lying."
Xinyue closed her laptop slowly.
"And?"
Ruoruo went quiet for a second.
Then softly. "…You're really not going to come get me?"
That sounded sad.
Xinyue leaned back against the couch, expression unreadable.
"You came here without telling me first."
"I thought if I asked beforehand, you'd say no."
Lies.
Xinyue exhaled once through her nose.
Downstairs, Ruoruo lowered her voice again immediately after sensing the silence.
"I even brought dessert," she murmured. "The one you liked."
Xinyue's eyes narrowed slightly
The rain tapped softly against the windows again.
Then Ruoruo added carefully.
"Jie-jie… are you still angry at me?"
There it was.
Finally.
Xinyue stared at the dark screen of her laptop for a few seconds before answering.
"…Wait there."
Ruoruo's voice brightened instantly.
"So you're letting me in?"
"I said wait there"
pause.
Then Ruoruo laughed softly, sounding relieved.
"Okay."
The call ended.
Xinyue lowered the phone slowly onto the couch beside her.
Then after a few seconds— she stood up anyway.
The elevator ride down was quiet.
Li Xinyue stood with one hand in her coat pocket, expression calm, though her mind was already preparing for whatever performance Ruoruo planned to give her downstairs.
Because Ruoruo never appeared unexpectedly without a reason.
The lobby doors opened, and there she was.
Standing near the reception desk with a small white box in her hands.
The moment Ruoruo saw her, her face brightened immediately. "Jie-jie!"
Like she had genuinely been waiting forever.
The security guard beside her looked visibly relieved the second Xinyue approached.
"Miss Li," he greeted respectfully. "I apologize, but she insisted she knew you personally and—"
"It's fine," Xinyue interrupted calmly.
Ruoruo immediately looked guilty after hearing that.
"I told him not to worry," she said softly. "But he still looked nervous."
The security guard awkwardly excused himself after that, clearly wanting no part in whatever this family dynamic was.
The moment he left— silence.
Ruoruo held the dessert box tighter for a second before smiling again.
"I really did bring something," she said, lifting it slightly like proof.
Xinyue glanced at it once. "You came all the way here to deliver dessert?"
Ruoruo blinked innocently. "Can't I?"
"You usually want something."
That made Ruoruo laugh softly.
"…You still know me best."
Xinyue looked at her quietly for a moment.
Ruoruo looked different. Carefully dressed, soft makeup, eyes slightly swollen.
Like she had either cried recently— or wanted people to think she has
Ruoruo noticed Xinyue observing her and immediately looked away first.
"I really wanted to see you," she said more quietly this time.
Xinyue pressed the elevator button again. "Come up before you block the lobby."
Ruoruo followed instantly, expression brightening again.
Inside the elevator, the atmosphere became smaller.
Ruoruo stood beside her quietly for a few seconds before speaking again.
"Mom liked the banquet proposal."
Xinyue didn't look at her. "Mm."
"She agreed to help organize it."
That made Xinyue glance sideways briefly.
Ruoruo immediately added softly:
"I know you probably don't want another banquet…"
The elevator doors reflected both of them back perfectly.
"But I just kept thinking about that night," Ruoruo continued gently. "If I didn't suggest the game…".
"There's no point bringing that up anymore," Xinyue cut in flatly.
Ruoruo went quiet instantly, then lowered her eyes.
"…Okay."
The elevator dinged.
They stepped out into the private hallway.
Xinyue unlocked the condo door and walked in first.
Ruoruo followed behind carefully, looking around the condo with open curiosity.
"It's pretty," she said quietly.
Xinyue placed her keys down. "Sit."
Ruoruo sat immediately on the couch, placing the dessert box carefully on the table like she was trying not to disturb anything.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Ruoruo suddenly laughed softly to herself.
Xinyue looked up. "What?"
Ruoruo shook her head quickly. "Nothing."
"It just feels strange."
"What does?"
Ruoruo looked at her.
Actually looked at her this time.
"You moved out," she said softly. "And now I have to call security before I can see you."
Xinyue leaned against the counter silently.
Ruoruo smiled faintly afterward like she regretted saying it.
"Sorry," she murmured. "That sounded guilt-trippy."
"You said it, not me."
Ruoruo laughed again at that, but weaker this time.
"…Do you hate me now?"
The condo fell quiet after the question.
Rain tapped gently against the windows again.
Ruoruo sat there waiting, fingers curled softly together on her lap, eyes looking almost nervous now.
Like she was genuinely afraid of the answer.
Even if part of it was performance—
not all of it was fake anymore.