You're my wife, don't doubt it!

She had an inexplicable feeling, as if the child was her own granddaughter.

This feeling of intimacy...it makes no sense at all, it's really strange. Miao Jinfang shook her head, as if trying to shake something off.

The woman next to her, Shen Jie, is well-educated and reasonable, and most of the time she has a maturity and composure beyond her years, showing the demeanor of a well-bred lady.

As for Yingying... she seemed to quickly withdraw from the discussion, sitting there fiddling with her long hair, looking preoccupied.

Finally, Miao Jinfang turned her gaze to her grandson. He glanced at Shen Jie for a moment, then at Yu Luying, his eyes burning with youthful passion.

An inexplicable worry gradually replaced her joy—really, she finally had so many friends around her, she didn't want to scare them all away.

The grandfather clock rang out, and Miao Jinfang yawned softly.

"Grandma is sleepy, let her rest." Shen Jie keenly caught this signal: "Grandma, don't move, we'll clean up the dishes. Xiao Yao, you take your classmate home."

“I can go back by myself,” Yu Luying suggested.

“Yes, Mom… uh, Shen Jie, let her go back on her own.” Shen Tianyun readily agreed, pretending not to see Yu Luying glare at her.

"I have something to say to you privately." Shen Jie patted Shen Tianyun's arm.

“But…” Shen Tianyun said defiantly.

Yu Luying had already silently walked to the door of the photo room and opened it: "Grandma, I'll be leaving now."

"Ah, okay." Miao Jinfang glanced at Xiao Yao, who had already picked up a light coat and hurriedly chased after her.

Chapter 11 Moonlight

"Aren't you going to the library for extra lessons anymore?"

"What time is it?"

The bright moonlight shone softly and warmly through the willow branches along the Suzhou River, as if gilding the path with a layer of silver.

Two distinct figures, bathed in moonlight, walked hurriedly, one in front of the other.

"Yu Luying, why are you walking so fast?"

"Don't bother seeing me off, you should go back now." The girl spoke as quickly as she walked.

"That won't do. Grandma asked me to take you home." Xiao Yao hurried a few steps to catch up.

Yu Luying hesitated, but ultimately remained silent.

After walking along the path, Xiao Yao followed Yu Luying onto a small bridge.

"The moonlight is beautiful." Suddenly, Xiao Yao heard Yu Luying say this.

The sound was so soft that Xiao Yao thought he shouldn't have been able to hear it at this distance and in this environment.

"Yes, the moonlight is beautiful tonight," Xiao Yao replied, his eyes fixed on the beautiful figure before him.

Japanese writer Natsume Soseki advocated translating "I love you" as "The moon is beautiful tonight (今夜は月が绮丽ですね)," meaning that the moon is beautiful because you are with someone you love.

Yu Luying has always been a reserved person, and Xiao Yao has always known this.

Yu Luying, the literary-minded young woman, certainly knew this, and therefore she was somewhat nervous—

Just now, she sighed in her heart, "The moonlight is so beautiful"—how come the person next to her seemed to be able to hear her?

Yu Luying suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Yao almost stepped on her heel.

“You should go back now, we’re almost there. If my mom sees us, she’ll…” Yu Luying said curtly.

"Okay, don't be angry," Xiao Yao said, "My relationship with those two girls isn't what you think..."

“I didn’t think about anything,” Yu Luying said coldly. “What you do with other people is none of my business.”

“I like you.” Xiao Yao blurted out.

Yu Luying's shoulders visibly trembled, and she turned to leave. After taking two or three steps, she stopped and turned back.

“You remember,” she said, enunciating each word clearly, “the condition I agreed to remain friends with you was…”

“Let’s pretend that confession never happened,” Xiao Yao continued, “but you didn’t do that. You said we’d be friends, but we’ve drifted apart ever since… Even if you don’t want to be in a relationship, at least we could be like before…”

"...I'm sorry, I can't do it." Yu Luying bit her lower lip. "And..."

"Ok?"

“I said I would help you with your studies, please don’t misunderstand,” Yu Luying said, looking down at the tips of her shoes. “I’m really afraid you’ll repeat a grade. If you do, Grandma will be very disappointed, won’t she? ...She’s had a tough time too.”

Xiao Yao raised his eyebrows.

“I’m sorry, I’m not trying to lecture you…” The girl twisted her fingers together: “So please stop following me, or rather, stop liking me… it will bother me.”

Yu Luying bowed deeply at a 90-degree angle, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall.

"I understand, sorry," Xiao Yao replied in a deliberately casual tone, then left without looking back.

Saying "without looking back" is actually an exaggeration, because Xiao Yao did turn back in the end.

By the moonlight, he saw the girl's profile leaning against the railing, standing on the bridge.

--split line--

Meanwhile, in Shen Tianyun's room.

Shen Jie held onto the window frame with both hands, looking thoughtfully at the lightning and thunder outside.

In fact, she could only "hear," because for her, the view outside the window was also shrouded in mist.

"After telling me so much about yourself, you should believe me now, right?" Shen Tianyun stood behind her, her right hand on her waist.

"The future, is it really that...?" Shen Jie seemed not to hear her question, and just muttered to herself.

"Didn't you see it with your own eyes?" Shen Tianyun shrugged. "Didn't you tell me that you walked through a mirror in your own home at midnight last night?"

Just as Shen Jie was about to speak, the wardrobe door was gently pushed open, and then Xiao Yao's head popped out, startling her.

"You two are here? No wonder Grandma said you were all gone..."

"Why! Didn't! Knock! On! The! Door!" Shen Tianyun put her hands on her hips and grinned at Xiao Yao.

"It's getting late, I should go back now, please excuse me." Shen Jie nodded gently to Xiao Yao, who subconsciously stepped out of the wardrobe, making way for her.

"See my mom off, then ask her out, ask her out." Shen Tianyun lowered her voice and scratched Xiao Yao's forearm.

"Understood," Xiao Yao said.

……

The bright moonlight shone softly and warmly through the willow branches along the Suzhou River, as if gilding the path with a layer of silver.

Two distinct figures, bathed in moonlight, walked side by side, about half a person's distance apart, looking happy and peaceful.

This scene seems familiar, Xiao Yao thought.

But they are not quite the same.

"The moon is so beautiful tonight," Xiao Yao said again, almost as if possessed.

"Yes, it's beautiful," Shen Jie calmly affirmed.

"So... how did you find my house? Someone has been following me on my way home from school, was it you?" Xiao Yao decided to confirm.

"It's me," Shen Jie readily admitted.

This self-righteous attitude left Xiao Yao speechless for a moment.

"Why did you suddenly come to find me?" Xiao Yao scratched his head.

“I’m not here to see you, I’m here to see…that child.” Shen Jie raised her head slightly.

"So, what did you two talk about?"

"This is... a secret between women." Shen Jie's tone was tinged with a playful tone.

"...We can't have a conversation like this anymore," Xiao Yao protested, half-jokingly.

"I'm sorry... there are still some parts of my thinking that need to be organized." Shen Jie switched back to her tone, which was neither warm nor cold.

"Alright," Xiao Yao clenched his fist, "Are you free this weekend?"

It's just asking a girl out; I can handle that.

"...No." Shen Jie's crisp and decisive answer chilled him to the bone.

Fortunately, she immediately added, "However, I'll try my best to arrange it."

"Thanks." Xiao Yao put his hands in his pockets and deliberately turned his face away so that Shen Jie wouldn't see him looking relieved.

As I turned onto the main road, a Santana taxi with a "Vacant" sign was coming towards me.

Shen Jie waved gracefully, and the Santana slowly pulled over to the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing.

"Well then, see you next time." The girl put her hands behind her back and turned slightly to the side. "Thank you for seeing me off."

"Oh...you're welcome."

Xiao Yao watched as Shen Jie got into the back seat of the taxi.