Chapter 22: The Black Hair Tie
Teng Yi noticed Ruan Yu's gaze and slid the black hair tie off his wrist.
"This is yours. I forgot to return it to you," he said, holding it out to her.
The black hair tie had been used by Ruan Yu for a long time. The elastic was worn thin and stretched, barely retaining any bounce. She hadn’t even noticed when she lost it, having already replaced it with a new one. She never expected him to have kept it for her.
Had he been wearing it on his wrist all this time?
"Thank you."
Ruan Yu took it and slipped it into her pocket, unable to resist another glance at his wrist. Both of his wrists were bare—no accessories, no watch.
For some reason, she thought of Fang Wan, the girl Jian Xiangxiang had mentioned, and the expensive watch Fang Wan had given him.
Why wasn’t he wearing it?
Lost in thought, her footsteps slowed until Teng Yi urged her forward, and she continued up the stairs.
When they reached Teng Hao’s door, Teng Yi knocked. Only after hearing a response did he push the door open.
Teng Hao was inside doing homework. His freshly trimmed hair and unremoved school uniform made him look every bit the student.
"Bro, weren’t you in a hurry to get to the practice room? Why’d you come back?" Teng Hao didn’t even look up.
Ruan Yu glanced at Teng Yi. So he really had been in a rush to leave.
Teng Yi didn’t answer, instead rapping his knuckles against the door again.
Teng Hao turned his head and, upon seeing Ruan Yu, subtly tightened his grip on his pen. His brows furrowed, relaxed, then furrowed again.
"Come here. Apologize," Teng Yi said.
Teng Hao was reluctant, but under his brother’s stare, he obediently stood and walked over, stopping in front of Ruan Yu. Though three years younger, he towered over her.
He looked down at her, his gaze just as it had been when they first met.
"I heard you caught a cold?"
"I’m better now," Ruan Yu replied, though her voice was still slightly hoarse despite her efforts to steady it.
"You’re so weak."
The words slipped out before Teng Hao could stop himself, earning him a sharp glare from Teng Yi.
"I told you to apologize, not run your mouth."
"Fine, I’ll apologize. But bro, don’t forget what you promised me, okay?" Teng Hao pouted, a hint of stubbornness in his tone.
Teng Yi said nothing, simply staring at him expressionlessly. After a moment, Teng Hao faltered under the gaze and turned back to Ruan Yu, suddenly bending into a perfect ninety-degree bow.
"Sorry," he said slowly, enunciating each word with exaggerated sincerity.
Had it not been for their earlier exchange, Ruan Yu might have believed he meant it.
But now, it was clear—Teng Yi had bargained something in exchange for this apology, and whatever it was, it probably wasn’t trivial.
"Hey. I apologized so seriously, shouldn’t you at least say something?" Teng Hao huffed when Ruan Yu remained silent.
"What else do I need to say?" Ruan Yu met his gaze. "The fact that I’m standing here means I’ve already let it go."
"Can’t you just say ‘it’s fine’?" Teng Hao pressed.
Ruan Yu deliberately refused to comply. "Do you want me to bow ninety degrees in return?"
"..."
Listening to their back-and-forth bickering, Teng Yi chuckled.
"Alright, I’m heading out," he said, turning to leave. As he did, he flicked the back of Teng Hao’s head. "Go finish your homework."Ruan Yu's gaze followed him. Noticing this, he turned back and gave her a nod before leaving.
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