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

“This time I’m here,” Shen Jie said with a smile, “good lamb, roasted a little tender, will taste even better.”

"Hehe, it's my first time, I have no experience." Xiao Yao scratched her head: "How come you know everything? You're really not like a young lady."

"What era are we living in? I don't live in the Forbidden City." Shen Jie placed several grilled meat skewers on Xiao Yao's plate. "Sometimes we have barbecues in our backyard to entertain guests."

The back garden? Isn't it really the imperial garden?

“Speaking of which…” Xiao Yao’s gaze fell on Shen Jie’s ankles—because she was squatting, her socks were showing through her trouser legs and sneakers, and the originally white socks had almost turned gray: “Why are there so many muds on your socks… Oh dear, and on your trouser legs too!”

"Huh? Really?" Shen Jie turned to look down. "Yeah, how could this be?"

"Could it be because... when you were riding the bicycle," Xiao Yao thought, "this bike doesn't have mudguards, and you were sitting on the back?"

Shen Jie nodded: "I think so."

"It was my mistake," Xiao Yao said apologetically. "I should have let you sit in the front."

“It’s okay, it’s nothing,” Shen Jie stood up, clapped her hands, and sat down opposite Xiao Yao. “You’re quite caring.”

Xiao Yao thought for a moment whether this was a righteous statement or an ironic statement.

"Would you like some pepper?" Shen Jie picked up a small jar from the side of her hand.

"Alright, alright, I can do it myself," Xiao Yao poured a glass of beer into a disposable plastic cup for Shen Jie, the foam almost overflowing. "Let me toast you first."

--split line--

In a classroom at St. Francis's Amateur School—actually, just a regular classroom—the last math class had ended. The classroom was noisy, and students were busy packing their bags.

"Yingying, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" her deskmate asked with concern.

"It's nothing... just a little dizzy." Yu Luying's face was flushed, and she swayed slightly when she stood up. There was a faint, lingering smell of mutton in her mouth, which was quite unpleasant.

"Are you anemic?...Hey, slow down, slow down." Her deskmate reached out to support her.

These strange symptoms have become increasingly noticeable lately, and Yu Luying thought to herself: I can't ignore them any longer.

--split line--

"Southern Forestry University, Northern Shenyang University, Eastern Yan University, Western... I can't remember anymore, and Central Ouyang University, right?"

“Xi Zhao, this kind of gossip spreads really fast.” Shen Jie smiled. “Actually, it’s just some bored boys from other schools posting on forums…”

"It seems the legend is true."

“Well, Nanlin is Lin Wanxiang, Yan is Yan Xiaoxuan, then Zhao Jiayi, and Ouyang Youyou.” Shen Jie, after drinking some beer, was also slightly excited: “Actually, I think Ouyang Youyou… is just average. The reason I put her in the middle is simply because…”

"Because it's two characters, corresponding to the Central Divine Power." Xiao Yao understood immediately: "But I've been thinking about this for the past two days, who is Bei Shen?"

"Ugh, aren't you annoying?" Shen Jie took out a tissue and handed one to Xiao Yao as well. "It's all just idle rumors spread by bored people. Actually, there are plenty of pretty girls in our school. The reason for this 'east, west, south, north, and center' thing is just because of their family backgrounds."

"The five great families?" Xiao Yao rubbed his face.

"Let's change the subject."

"Well... you must be quite popular, right? Did you used to hang out with guys?" Xiao Yao regretted asking the question as soon as it left his mouth.

Fortunately, Shen Jie wasn't offended: "Often... I don't think so. Actually, I'm usually quite busy with various things, but I did go out with classmates back in junior high... You mean alone?"

Xiao Yao nodded.

"Yes...yes, I think so. Why are you asking?"

"……fine."

“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” Shen Jie said bluntly. “Is that what you wanted to ask?”

"Why?"

“There’s no reason,” Shen Jie said matter-of-factly. “There are so many things in the world that are more important and interesting than dating, and besides… I’ll probably listen to my family’s arrangements and marry someone in an arranged marriage in the future.”

"A marriage alliance?!" Xiao Yao almost spat out his Sprite. "You still say you don't live in the Forbidden City? I always thought that was something that only existed in ancient times or in novels. I didn't know it still exists in the 21st century?"

"Why not?" Shen Jie explained, "But generally there isn't that kind of forced engagement, or getting engaged without even meeting... It's just that your parents will set a range for you, and then it's like a blind date."

"Then someone like me, an ordinary citizen, is definitely not within the selection range, right?" Xiao Yao said, pretending to be casual.

“There are such things as marrying into the family, but in our family…” Shen Jie rested her chin on her hand, “But who can say for sure what the future holds?”

Xiao Yao seemed to be deep in thought.

“I didn’t take everything the child said seriously,” Shen Jie added. “Although I did see things through the mirror and that science can’t explain, and she does know a lot about me, it would still be safer to get a blood test done when we have some free time.”

"Let's test it."

"Don't just talk about me, talk about yourself too." Shen Jie winked playfully.

"What did you say about me?"

Do you have any close female classmates?

"I guess so... I have a god-sister at school, and I've gone ice skating with her and stuff, but she has plenty of boyfriends, and my relationship with her is very innocent."

"You and that girl... Yu, who had dinner with you at your grandma's the other day, haven't you been here before?"

"I've never been here before, but I have been to Peace Park..." Xiao Yao admitted, "Last semester we used to hang out together quite often."

Shen Jie nodded: "I can tell you like her, and she likes you too. So, you don't need to worry about what that child said—"

“No, wait a minute,” Xiao Yao interrupted her, “She doesn’t like me at all.”

"So you knew that too?"

“We used to have a very good relationship.” Xiao Yao recalled, “Later, I confessed to her, and she said that I was a foreign teacher and rejected me. After that, she distanced herself from me. Later, our relationship became very strained, and it has only recently gotten a little better.”

“Oh, right, I saw her praying before cooking the other day,” Shen Jie said, slightly taken aback. “Then she might not like you anymore. These are usually just excuses. Some of my classmates come from religious families, and they usually get baptized before marriage… that’s it. Very few people in our generation really take this seriously…”

"Hmm...is that so?" Xiao Yao nodded: "What you said makes sense. Later I told her that I could also join the church, but she didn't agree."

"That's it..."

--split line--

Meanwhile, Yu Luying dragged her tired feet home.

"Have you been drinking?" Yu Luying's mother was a thin, short-haired woman with a stern look in her eyes.

“How…how is that possible?” Yu Luying stammered, “I…was at school…attending classes all morning.”

"Why didn't you answer the phone?" Yu's mother asked, displeased.

"I was riding... my bike... I didn't hear you." Yu Luying kicked off her shoes in frustration and went inside wearing only socks.

"Put on your slippers!" Yu's mother chased after him into the room with a shovel.

Yu Luying threw her schoolbag on the sofa, put on her slippers, walked heavily to the bedside, and collapsed onto it.

Chapter 16 The Forest (Part 2)

2023-07-31

Yu Luying's home is a typical old Shikumen house. Four or five families live in the narrow front door, sharing a "soap room" (kitchen) and a washing room.

It's supposed to be a washroom, but there's no toilet or shower available. Aside from wiping your body with a towel soaked in hot water, you can only use a plastic bathtub.

The room that truly belonged to the Yu mother and daughter was a large single room, about seventeen or eighteen square meters. Upon entering, one was immediately faced with an image of the "Sorrowful Virgin Mary" on the wall: in this image, Mary's brows were slightly furrowed, and she pointed to her heart with her finger—where seven swords had pierced her.

There was a sofa on the side closest to the door, and in front of the sofa was a small coffee table that had been put together. Underneath the coffee table lay a double bass, directly opposite the square dining table.

The square table was by the window, and a large bed was right next to the innermost corner, with a small prayer altar at the head of the bed.

This small Baroque altar, though small, is fully equipped and is the most ornate and dazzling part of this simple room: a pure gold cross sits in the center, and to the left are Latin scriptures from abroad—with only a black and white photograph of a man placed there, which seems somewhat out of place.

Yu Luying sat up in bed, stared blankly at her father's photo, and then lowered her eyelids.

After a good night's sleep, she felt much better, so she got out of bed and groped for her slippers on the floor with her toes.

The bed next to her was empty; it was her mother's bed. As far as Yu Luying knew, there were almost no people who, even in their first year of high school, still slept in the same big bed as their mothers, except for herself.

The room was quiet, and there was no sound outside the door, which meant that Mother had probably gone out.

Whenever Yu Luying realized this, she would feel a sense of relief.

Because of the distance between buildings and the orientation of the room, it was dark inside even during the day—the bright sunlight outside didn't share much with her, but it didn't affect the girl's mood at all.

Rather, she had grown accustomed to this dim tranquility, like a young deer lurking in the forest.

The silence was broken by the vibration of a cell phone.

In the silence, the sound seemed particularly loud, startling her.

It was indeed Xiao Yao calling, and she instinctively hung up.

There were 4 unread messages. Yu Luying did not open them to read, but instead closed the flip phone directly.

Immediately afterward, the cheerful ringtone of receiving a new text message came through my phone.

Yu Luying continued searching for her slippers with her toes, but still couldn't find them.

She lifted her right foot and placed it on her left knee, gently stroking her palm.

What is he going to do with his own pants?

...She shook her head vigorously, dispelling her imagination, and patted her slightly flushed cheeks.

In short, it's disgusting!