Yè Yī's Apartment — Evening
The plate was empty.
Violet leaned back in her chair, looking quite satisfied with herself. Yè Yī sat across from her, drinking his tea.
After a moment, Violet looked up.
"You've eaten?"
Yè Yī stared at her.
"You're asking now?"
She looked down at the empty plate.
"I was eating."
"I noticed."
She nodded.
"Good."
Yè Yī almost laughed.
"You ate most of it."
"I was hungry."
"You could've left more."
"I didn't want to."
He put his cup down.
"You're very honest."
"I don't see the point of lying about food."
That answer was so straightforward that he didn't know what to say to it.
Violet picked up her cup.
"You panicked earlier."
Yè Yī's hand stopped.
He looked at her.
"I did not."
"You did."
"I was surprised."
"You thought I was dead."
He said nothing.
Violet took a sip of tea.
"You moved before you checked."
Yè Yī leaned back.
"I thought something had happened to you."
"I know."
"Then why are we talking about it?"
"Because you don't usually do that."
He frowned.
"Do what?"
"React first."
She set the cup down.
"You normally think about something before you act. Earlier, you didn't."
Yè Yī looked at her for a while.
"You've known me for about two weeks."
"Two weeks is enough to notice some things."
"Some things?"
"You don't like wasting time. You don't like being surprised. You check things twice when you're not sure."
He stared at her.
"And you got all that in about two weeks?"
Violet shrugged.
"You aren't difficult to read."
That one bothered him.
"You're making me sound simple."
"I'm not."
"Then what am I?"
She thought for a moment.
"Careful."
He waited.
"Until you're not."
Yè Yī's expression changed slightly.
Violet continued eating the last few grains of rice left in the bowl as if she hadn't said anything unusual.
He watched her.
"You keep doing that."
"Doing what?"
"Answering things I haven't asked yet."
She looked up.
"Oh."
"That's all you have to say?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"I don't know. Maybe explain it."
Violet rested her chin lightly against her hand.
"I already know where your thoughts are going."
Yè Yī frowned.
"How?"
She looked at him.
"It's not always words."
A faint shimmer passed over her fingers.
Yè Yī's eyes narrowed.
Violet continued, "Sometimes I can tell what someone is about to say from what they're already thinking about."
"So you read minds?"
"No."
"Then how?"
"I don't know how to explain it."
She glanced at his cup.
"You were about to tell me you'd eaten."
Yè Yī looked at the cup.
Then back at her.
"I was."
"You were also going to say you weren't hungry."
He paused. She was right.
Violet's fingers stopped moving, and the faint shimmer disappeared.
"See?"
Yè Yī stared at her.
"That's unsettling."
"Why?"
"Because you're doing it without even trying."
Violet considered that.
"Maybe."
She picked up her cup again.
"Anyway, go get Qiū Huà Bǐ."
Yè Yī blinked.
"What?"
"Bring him here."
"Why?"
"He's probably trying to break into more layers of ET."
Yè Yī sighed.
"You know that?"
"Yes."
"You haven't even spoken to him since class."
"I don't need to."
He looked at her.
"You really are something."
Violet shrugged.
"He's wasting time and time is precious."
"Let him."
"No."
Yè Yī frowned.
"Why do you care?"
"Because he's going to keep staring at that computer until his eyes hurt."
Yè Yī shook his head.
"Fine. Call him."
"I don't have his number."
He stared at her.
"You don't have his number?"
"No."
"Then how am I supposed to get him?"
She looked toward the door.
"Go knock."
Yè Yī was quiet for a moment.
"You're serious."
"Yes."
"That's your plan?"
"Do you have a better one?"
"I could call him."
"Do you have his number?"
"...No."
Violet nodded.
"Then go knock."
Yè Yī leaned back in his chair.
"I don't remember this being part of the oath."
"You agreed to be my sworn brother."
"That doesn't mean I'm your messenger."
"It means you help when needed."
"That's convenient?"
"For me, yes."
He looked at her. She looked completely serious.
Then he sighed and stood.
"I really let myself get talked into this."
Violet gave him another thumbs-up.
"Chop chop."
Yè Yī stopped at the door and looked back.
"You're not coming?"
"No."
"Why?"
She looked down at the empty plate.
"Do I need to?"
He stared at her. She had no intention of moving.
"...You're shameless."
"Maybe."
Yè Yī left.
The door closed behind him.
Violet picked up her tea again. For a while, she simply sat there. Then she looked toward the window.
"Don't rush it."
Her voice was quiet.
"Let them move first."
She took another sip.
Hallway
Yè Yī stopped outside Qiū Huà Bǐ's door. He stared at it for a few seconds.
"This is ridiculous."
He knocked.
There was a short pause, then came a click.
Qiū Huà Bǐ's voice came from inside.
"Door's open."
Yè Yī pushed it open.
Qiū Huà Bǐ was sitting in front of three screens. Lines of code moved across two of them while the third displayed a mess of windows he clearly had no intention of explaining.
He didn't turn around.
"Let me guess."
Yè Yī leaned against the doorframe.
"She sent me."
Qiū Huà Bǐ finally looked over.
"Yeah."
"How did you know?"
"Who else would send you?"
Yè Yī had no answer.
Qiū Huà Bǐ saved whatever he was working on and stood.
"Let's go."
Yè Yī frowned.
"You're not going to ask why?"
Qiū Huà Bǐ grabbed his jacket.
"Do I need to?"
Yè Yī looked at him.
"...Apparently not."
Qiū Huà Bǐ slipped the jacket on.
"Come on."
As they stepped into the hallway, he glanced sideways at Yè Yī.
"How did you know?"
"You smell like oil..."
He paused.
"..And vegetables."
Yè Yī looked away.
"Don't ask."
Qiū Huà Bǐ grinned.
"She made you cook."
Yè Yī gave him a sideways glance, but says nothing.
"She has that look."
"What look?"
"The one that says she's already decided what you're doing."
Yè Yī sighs.
"You're getting used to her too."
Qiū Huà Bǐ laughed.
"Unfortunately."
When they returned to the apartment, Violet didn't turn around immediately.
"Sit."
Qiū Huà Bǐ walked in and dropped into the chair.
"You're welcome."
Yè Yī closed the door behind him.
"For what?"
"For coming."
Violet finally looked at him.
"I didn't thank you."
Qiū Huà Bǐ paused.
"...Right."
Yè Yī sat down.
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked between them.
"So what's this about?"
Violet looked at the two of them. For once, she didn't answer immediately.
Then she said, "We're going to talk."
Qiū Huà Bǐ leaned back.
"That sounds ominous."
"It isn't."
"That's what people say right before something becomes ominous."
Yè Yī looked at him.
"Just sit down."
"I'm sitting."
"Then stop talking."
Qiū Huà Bǐ looked offended.
"You're already acting like an older brother."
Yè Yī sighed.
Violet picked up her tea.
"Good."
Both men looked at her.
She took a sip.
"Now we're getting somewhere."