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

"Oh, is that so?" Shen Jie was taken aback. "Okay, I understand."

No sooner had Shen Jie put down the receiver than Xiao Yao, Yu Luying, and the others crowded around her, asking, "What happened? What's wrong?"

“My deskmate, Tao Tianyi, is in trouble,” Shen Jie swallowed hard. “He has narcolepsy.”

“Another one,” Xiao Yao said.

"What on earth are they doing?!" Yu Luying exclaimed.

Before leaving, Yu Lihua chatted with Yu Luying and her daughter for a while among the photos.

That night, as usual, Xiao Yao and Shen Tianyun slept in Xiao Yao's bedroom, while Yu Luying and Shen Jie slept in Shen Tianyun's bedroom in 2034.

Around two or three in the morning, the cat, who was fast asleep, suddenly woke up and started meowing loudly at the ceiling.

"What are you doing, dog?" Xiao Yao muttered, still half asleep, as he was woken up.

He heard Shen Tianyun's thunderous snoring and saw the giant tabby cat in the Chinese countryside under the moonlight, its neck craned back, staring intently at the ceiling, letting out a mournful cry.

He heard what sounded like the cooing of an owl, the hoarse cawing of a crow, and the malicious whispers of human voices.

The boy reached out and gently patted the girl lying next to him, a chill running down his spine.

Chapter 378 A Beautiful New World Without Shen Jie

2023-11-13

September 29, 2004, the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Xiao Yao woke up to bright sunshine in the early morning.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the window, casting a warm glow on Xiao Yao's face.

He slowly opened his eyes, listening to the clear chirping of birds outside the window and feeling the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the curtains onto his face.

I'm still very sleepy.

Xiao Yao closed his eyes again, turned over, and started to stay in bed.

The sounds of pots and pans clattering in the kitchen brought Xiao Yao a sense of peace and tranquility, making him unwilling to open his eyes.

A moment later, a fragrance wafted into the bedroom, and then the blanket was suddenly pulled off.

"What are you doing..." Xiao Yao muttered in protest.

"What time is it?" The woman, pulling back the covers, pointed to the clock on the wall and said in Shanghai dialect, "Aren't you going to school?"

"?" Xiao Yao said, "Isn't school on holiday this week...?"

"You're out of your mind! Haven't you had enough of summer vacation? Get up now!" the woman scolded, then threw Xiao Yao's clothes and pants into his arms one by one.

Hmm... this scene feels somewhat familiar. Once upon a time, a young girl also...

and many more.

"Mom?" Xiao Yao squinted and finally made out the woman's face in the bright morning light.

The woman was about forty or fifty years old, of medium build, neither fat nor thin, with an exaggeratedly large wavy perm. Although she was already an aunt, you could still tell that she must have been quite good-looking when she was young.

"What's with that expression?" the woman asked her son, looking at him strangely. "It's like you haven't seen me in years."

"No, it's nothing." Xiao Yao shook his head: "I was probably a little groggy last night... I felt like I had a very, very long dream."

"What time is it and you're still dreaming!" Xiao's mother scolded. "Instead of wasting time dreaming, you should be studying hard!"

"Why do you say that?" A thin man walked into Xiao Yao's bedroom from the photo room. "Our son's grades are already very good."

"It's not bad," said Mrs. Xiao, "but if we try a little harder..."

"Meow~" In the corner, a Chinese pastoral civet bared its teeth at the man and woman, showing a hostile attitude.

"Gray, gray," the man uttered, making a shooing sound as if to kick it.

"Dad," Xiao Yao called out in dissatisfaction, "Don't kick my cat."

“Isn’t it a dog? You call it a dog.” Mr. Xiao grinned, revealing his wrinkled face.

Xiao Yao quickly got out of bed, bent down and hugged the "dog" in his arms, stroking its fur as he did so.

The dog nuzzled Xiao Yao's neck affectionately, then turned to Xiao's father and mother with a sneer.

“This kitten is too fierce, it really can’t be kept,” Xiao’s mother said. “Your father and I both hate cats, but you quietly brought it home from school. We kept it to make you happy, but it still…”

"Cut breakfast, cut breakfast!" As she spoke, Grandma led a thin old man with black-rimmed square glasses and a serious expression into Xiao Yao's bedroom.

“Grandpa, Grandma (Shanghai dialect for grandfather and grandmother)” Xiao Yao called out respectfully.

"Hmm." Xiao Yao's grandfather held a water pipe in his hand, puffing out smoke as he nodded gently and slowly.

"Dad, why are you smoking so early in the morning?" Mr. Xiao complained.

"That's right, that old geezer!" Grandma scolded, reaching for Grandpa's water pipe.

"Cough cough cough, cough, just two bites, just two bites." Grandpa raised his hand to dodge while taking two big gulps.

Amidst the crowded and noisy atmosphere, Xiao Yao helped his mother carry the dining table to the center of the bedroom. The five of them sat down around the table, ready to eat breakfast.

Xiao Yao habitually made the sign of the cross on his chest, and only when his parents and grandparents looked at him strangely did he awkwardly stick out his tongue and reach for his chopsticks.

Why would someone have such a crazy idea and make that strange move?

Xiao Yao fell into deep thought.

Breakfast consisted of fried egg pancakes, steaming hot porridge, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Xiao Yao wolfed it down, picked up his schoolbag, said goodbye to his parents and grandparents, and left the bustling home and the morning.

Everything seems normal, but something just feels off.

What's wrong?

Xiao Yao, feeling a headache coming on, supported his forehead with the base of his palm and shook his head vigorously, as if trying to dispel some frivolous delusions.

It's possible that you haven't been sleeping well lately. You should eat less after school today, do some exercise before bed, and get some rest early.

What day of the week is it today?

Never mind, whatever.

Xiao Yao took out his key, unlocked the bicycle, got on the old bicycle his father had given him, and rode towards the school.

He didn't like the bicycle because it was old-fashioned, bulky, and rusty, and there was an inexplicable long, thick bar running from the triangular seat to the handlebars. To him, the bar seemed to be lifting him up, making him feel uncomfortable no matter what.

It looked like it had rained last night; the path was still wet after the rain. Xiao Yao deliberately didn't avoid the puddles of all sizes on the path, and his nose was filled with the pleasant fragrance of moistened soil.

Speaking of last night... wasn't I admiring the moon for the Mid-Autumn Festival? How come it's raining now? Did it start raining in the latter half of the night?

Xiao Yao's reverie was interrupted by a slap on his left arm—someone had given him a solid slap on the left arm.

"Ah!" Xiao Yao was startled.

"Xiao Yao!" the man shouted loudly as he rode his bicycle.

"Idiot," Xiao Yao replied enthusiastically.

The guy taking his picture was a chubby little guy with bronze skin, naturally curly hair, and a round face.

This person's name is "Xiong Ji", but most people call him Little Bear.

Xiao Yao and Xiao Xiong rode side by side, turning into a narrow riverside path—to the left was the Suzhou River with its unpleasant smell, and to the right was a row of low, dilapidated Shikumen houses, with the bluestone slab road bumping under their wheels.

The narrow wooden door creaked open, and then Yu Luying walked out.

The child was tall and thin, with bangs and long, straight hair as black and shiny as a pencil. She wore a simple headband and had delicate features on her small oval face: deep-set eyes, a high nose, a pointed but not protruding chin, and no smile on her lips. Her pale skin and downturned eyes gave her a melancholy air.

She wore a pale yellow short-sleeved shirt with pretty lace ruffles at the collar, cuffs, and around the buttons. A rectangular school badge with the words "St. Francis High School" was pinned to her left breast. She wore a three-quarter length plaid skirt, revealing her beautifully curved, fair legs that extended from the hem of the skirt into white ankle socks. On her feet were white Adidas sneakers.

Xiao Yao knew that this was one of the school's summer uniforms for girls, but Yu Luying had changed it to the same style with a long skirt.

Many girls change their clothes to be shorter, but she changes hers to be longer. She's such a weirdo.

what.

Xiao Yao suddenly remembered why he always made the sign of the cross before eating.

"Good morning, sister-in-law." Little Bear greeted Yu Luying warmly.

Yu Luying lowered her head, gave a shy smile, walked to the back of Xiao Yao's bicycle, and lightly jumped onto the back of Xiao Yao's bicycle.

Xiao Yao felt a sudden weight on the back seat of the car, and a pair of cool, soft hands had already expertly placed on his waist.

“Uh…” Xiao Yao said.

He subconsciously turned his head and saw Yu Luying sitting with her legs together, facing the same side. Her slender feet, encased in Adidas sneakers, were playfully kicking in the air, and her upper body was leaning back comfortably.

"What's wrong? What are you standing there for?" Yu Luying clenched her right hand into a small fist and punched Xiao Yao's waist.

"Yeah, let's hurry up," Little Bear urged. "If we're late, Old Yao will beat us up."

"Okay, let's go." Xiao Yao struggled to pedal, and the bike lurched forward, barely managing to maintain its balance after a long while.

I feel like it's been a long time since I've given someone a ride on my bike; I feel a bit out of sorts.

"Old Yao?" Xiao Yao asked Xiao Xiong with some doubt, "Is he our homeroom teacher?"

"Are you still half asleep?" Little Bear glared at him. "You don't even remember your homeroom teacher? Did you travel from another time?"

“No, I…” Xiao Yao said.