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The door swung open easily. Ace headed in and over to Shou Yuing, who had just brought in the donation bins. “Is Mel in?” she asked, hanging up her coat by Shou Yuing’s, and joining her on the floor, where she’d pulled in the bins for sorting.
“Was a few minutes ago. Just left. Did you want to see her?”
“No,” said Ace. “Quite the opposite, actually.” She kissed Shou Yuing’s temple, nuzzling into her hair as she wrapped her arms around her neck. “It’s nice to get some time alone with you. I missed you.”
“Mm. I know.” Shou Yuing turned her head to get at Ace’s lips for a moment.
“How was the festival?”
“Great. I forgot how good my gran’s mooncakes are.” She kissed her once more, then pulled away, rising on her knees to pull over the bin and spill its contents out. Ace sat back, crossing her legs, watching as Shou Yuing took a large set of yellow trousers, turning them over with a hum. “Flares,” she noted. “Obviously someone clinging onto the 70s for just a few too many years.” She passed them to Ace, who put them into the second basket to her side. “How’s school been?”
Ace grimaced. “Oh, shit as normal. Keeping my head down. I know I’m lucky that I wasn’t kicked out, but the moment I leave, I’m going right to you and Wei Yang’s.”
Shou Yuing bumped her hip against Ace’s. “Cheer up,” she said. “One of these unis has got to accept you. Maybe you’ll even be with me. A year behind me, but still.”
“Maybe.” Ace smiled, and took out a huge, flowery scarf, turning it over in her hands. “Lights or colours, do you think?”
“I’d toss it in with the colours. Even if it bleeds a bit, only a hippy would wear that, and tie-dying is all the rage nowadays. Or was back in the 60s. Maybe they’ll think it’s vintage.”
“I thought hippies were extinct,” said Ace, but nodded, and tossed it in. She reached over for a jumper, turning it over in her hands, then tossed it behind her. She squinted at a jacket’s labels, then sighed and let it join the jumper. “We’ll need to get out the wash buckets,” she said.
“Oh, damn.”
“Do you think we could iron these if we get in early tomorrow?”
“Better not to risk it. You know how Gwen’s like.”
“Neurotic. And creepy.”
“And pretty, as you -”
“Shut up.” Ace elbowed her, blushing. “I only thought that before I got to know her, and got with you.”
“As you say.” Shou Yuing paused. “Though you didn’t just think it, as I -”
Ace dropped a jumper on her head, and Shou Yuing scrabbled to get it off, then sniffed deliberately slowly. “If you’re being like that.” But she was giggling as she put it away.
They finished the sorting in record time, and loaded all the respective baskets into the relevant washing machines. They sat together for a few minutes, watching them spin.
“We’ll have to start hand-washing eventually,” said Shou Yuing. Ace sighed, but went with her back to the pile of clothing they’d deemed they shouldn’t wash in one of the machines. They sorted by what should be taken to the dry cleaner’s, used a bit of stain remover, then rolled up their sleeves, got out the basins, and started washing.
“So,” Ace said. “You asked about school, but how’s uni been being for you?”
“You know.” Shou Yuing pulled back for a moment to breathe, then returned to the water. “Good. They left that bit where they just go over everything and make sure they didn’t accidentally include anyone who flunked their chemistry exams while I was away, so it’s we’re onto the interesting stuff now. You’d love it.”
“Anything explosive?”
“I’ve heard rumours.” Shou Yuing’s lips twitched. “Wei Yang does think he might’ve been better going for something more specialised, though. But his degree’s not that long, and he could probably graduate early if he tried, so he’s not about to drop out.”
“Doesn’t he have that… internship?”
“No, that fell through. But he says he has enough experience from back at Carbury. Kept the tractors running. If he says so, I believe him, but he’s thinking of doing something else as well during the summer. Not sure what, though. I told him to just sit back and enjoy uni for a bit.”
“Good advice.”
“As ever.”
“Of course.”
Shou Yuing flicked water at her. Ace laughed and pulled out the jumper she was washing, wringing it out then going over to lie it out to dry. Returning to Shou Yuing, she brushed a hand over the back of her neck. She hadn’t realised how much the simple knowledge of Shou Yuing’s presence comforted her until she’d been away. Though she wouldn’t say it, she felt sometimes that their very souls belonged together.
“Let’s get coffee,” she said. “Or cake. Or something. Just once this is all over.”
“I have something even better,” said Shou Yuing. “I took home some extra mooncakes. They’re back at the flat.”
Ace smiled. “Once we get this done, then.”
“Once we get this done.”
They both returned to washing.