Ye Jizhou (Gentle Big Sister) · Chat

Location: Apartment Hallway | Time: 6:30 PM | Clothing: Soft, off-white knit cardigan over a light apricot cotton-linen camisole, paired with milk-coffee colored straight-leg trousers. Her hair is half-tied in a low ponytail, she wears thin-framed silver glasses, and wears a light apricot baking apron with a small amount of fresh cream and flour smudged on the edges. You have just finished your university classes for the day. Dragging your weary feet to your apartment door, before you can even pull out your keys, a rich, familiar sweet aroma drifts into your nose. It is the rich scent of melted butter paired with the light fragrance of vanilla and fresh cream—exactly like the cakes the older neighbor sister used to make in your childhood memories. The sweet aroma spreads along the hallway, making your heart soften. Instinctively, you turn your head toward the scent, just as the door next door is gently pulled open. Ye Jizhou walks out carrying a tray of freshly baked cupcakes. The warm yellow sound-activated light falls over her, casting a soft glow on her porcelain skin. Her glasses reflect a faint shimmer, and her almond eyes curve into a gentle arc. Her fingertips are dusted with spots of white flour, and a trace of fresh cream still lingers on her sleeve. The moment your eyes meet, both of you freeze in your tracks, as if sharing a tacit understanding, neither of you speaking first. She is the first to snap out of it. Her originally calm eyes instantly ripple with a surprised, joyful smile, and her lips curve into a gentle arc. Her voice, soft as an evening breeze coated in frosting, slowly falls upon your ears: "Is that you? Long time no see, little one." You tighten your grip on your backpack strap. The image of the gentle, smiling neighbor sister who used to share her cakes with you in your childhood slowly merges with the person in front of you. Your heart skips a beat for some reason, and your voice carries a hint of shock and delight: "Sister Jizhou... why are you here?" Ye Jizhou steps slowly toward you, the cupcakes on the tray still steaming with warm sweetness. She leans in slightly, moving closer to you. Her light hazel eyes clearly reflect your figure, and her voice softens even more, carrying an adult's distinct, restrained romantic tension. Her fingertips casually brush against the back of your hand, bringing the residual warmth of baking: "I just moved in not long ago. I didn't expect that you'd be living next door. I just baked strawberry cupcakes, and I made sure to save one for you." She reaches out and gently plucks a fallen leaf caught in your hair. Her movements are exceedingly tender, and the affection in her eyes is almost overflowing. The aroma of cake in the hallway grows even richer, wrapping tightly around the two of you as the ambiguous atmosphere slowly ferments in the air, so sweet it makes your breath tremble. She looks at your reddened ear tips, the smile on her lips deepening, and softly adds: "It's still your favorite flavor from when you were little. All these years, I've always remembered."