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

Page 594

During this week of rest, Xiao Yao and Shen Jie talked a lot, including but not limited to metaphysical topics such as "what it feels like to be many versions of yourself at the same time".

However, there are two topics that they have always tacitly avoided discussing, and neither of them has touched upon them.

The first topic is about Yu Luying and the two little ones having "different dreams while sleeping in the same bed".

Xiao Yao and Shen Jie both remembered how "Yu Luying" betrayed them in this dream.

Although it wasn't a complete betrayal.

Since Yu Luying declared that she knew nothing about the matter, Xiao and Shen accepted her statement and neither of them raised any questions in person.

After all, it's good to play dumb sometimes, right?

But deep in my heart.

Xiao Yao knew he didn't believe him.

Xiao Yao also knew that Shen Jie didn't believe it either.

Xiao Yao knew that Shen Jie also knew that he didn't believe her.

Xiao Yao knew that Shen Jie also knew that he knew she didn't believe him.

Okay, that's enough tongue twisters.

The two children kept quiet about the matter for two reasons: firstly, it was out of a tacit understanding of "it's good to be ignorant," and secondly, it was because Yu Luying was usually within five meters of them.

But ultimately, it still comes down to "firstly".

However, once suspicion takes root deep in one's heart, it doesn't prevent the formation of estrangement, regardless of whether it's spoken aloud.

The above statement may also apply to the following matter.

Another topic that Shen Jie and Xiao Yao tacitly agreed on and avoided discussing was the so-called son that Butcher Zhang Zhengkai claimed to have.

Shen Jie overheard the butcher making those empty promises outside the room.

Xiao Yao knew in his heart that this was nothing but nonsense.

He also knew that if he brought up the matter with Shen Jie rashly, it could lead to an argument between them if not handled properly.

It's not worth it.

In any case, the most precious thing is always the present, isn't it?

As long as in this world, in this timeline, in this reality that is most real and the only real reality for me, I am her first and last man, and we live together forever, that is enough, isn't it?

Of course!

Of course, of course...

Sunday, October 10, 2004.

After the morning mass, Shen Jie did not go home with Xiao Yao, but said that she had some things to take care of.

Xiao Yao took Yu Luying back to his grandmother's house, then went straight into Shen Tianyun's room, asked his daughter for her phone, and called Shen Jie in 2034.

It was already late at night in the US, but fortunately Shen Jie was still awake.

When she heard that Xiao Yao had taken the initiative to call her, she was not only not angry at him for not checking the time and being impolite, but was actually very happy.

If there is anything to blame, it is that he doesn't make enough phone calls.

Xiao Yao repeatedly promised that he would call her more often in the future. The two chatted about all sorts of things, their recent situations, and their little moments of sweet intimacy.

Feeling embarrassed, the boy kicked his daughter out of the house while making a phone call.

After chatting for twenty or thirty minutes, Xiao Yao changed the subject and hesitantly and indirectly asked about the matter he was concerned about.

Fortunately, Shen Jie didn't get angry; she just laughed heartily and forgivingly.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Yao was slightly taken aback.

“A couple of days ago, your Shen Jie also secretly called me to verify this matter.” Shen Jie sounded particularly smug: “I even made a bet with her at the time, betting on when you would secretly call me.”

"Speechless," Xiao Yao said, "So, which of you two won the bet?"

“Of course it’s me, your older sister!” Shen Jie laughed loudly. “If you call me tomorrow, then she wins.”

“Okay then,” Xiao Yao said, “Damn it, that’s not the point at all. What exactly is going on?”

“Xiao Xiaoyao, listen to me carefully. I said the same thing to her, and I said the same thing to you. I’ll only say it once more,” Shen Jie’s playful tone instantly turned into one of utmost solemnity.

“Hey, hey, please speak.” Xiao Yao unconsciously used honorifics.

“I, Shen Jie, have only ever had one man in my life, from beginning to end. His surname is Xiao,” Shen Jie said. “At least so far, at least in the timeline of my life, that’s how it is. Do you understand?”

"Yes, yes, I understand." Xiao Yao nodded vigorously.

“I don’t know where you two heard these rumors from,” Shen Jie continued, “but I hope you—I implore you two—can have at least some trust in me, and not be easily influenced by others’ slander, and not believe everything you hear.”

"Hey hey hey, waga lima xida."

That day, Shen Jie (the one from 2004) arrived home around two or three in the afternoon, her eyes red. As soon as she entered the door, she collapsed onto Xiao Yao's bed, not saying a word or anything. Xiao Yao pried at her and asked her for a long time, but she couldn't give a clear answer. It wasn't until dinner time that she returned to normal on her own.

Speaking of "returning to normal", Xiao Yao felt that Shen Jie had been acting strangely ever since she woke up from this nightmare, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

If he had to say something, Xiao Yao felt that she had suddenly become very "clingy".

Of course, Xiao Yao herself is also clingy, so she doesn't find her clinginess offensive. On the contrary, she is quite happy—very happy. But in the end, something is abnormal.

For example, since being discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Shen Jie has defied all opposition and sent her daughter back to 2034 to sleep with Yu Luying, while she herself sleeps in Xiao Yao's room.

This was actually very inappropriate. Whether from the grandmother's perspective, Yu Luying's perspective, or Shen Tianyun's perspective, it was something that was easy to say but hard to hear, and easy to hear but hard to see. Yu Luying and Shen Tianyun even had some conflicts—but she still did it.

Moreover, Xiao Yao had been in a coma for more than half a month, and Shen Tianyun missed him very much, worried about him, and wanted to get closer to her stepfather and stepmother, but she didn't get the chance.

For example, she always hoped that Xiao Yao could hold her like a six-year-old girl.

No matter how short or petite Shen Jie was, she was still a young girl, not a little girl. Even if she was light, she was still in the 100-pound range. Xiao Yao was forced to hold Shen Jie on his arm as if she were a little girl.

His palm covered her soft back, and he could feel the warmth of her body temperature and her slight trembling.

No, it's me who's trembling, it's my arm.

Fortunately, Yu Luying passively contributed a little bit of strength, otherwise Xiao Yao would have squatted down and put her heavily on the ground.

Shen Jie sat on Xiao Yao's arm, giggling. The girl felt a slight support, her delicate body being held securely, but she could also sense Xiao Yao's effort. She floated on his shoulder, resting her head on his broad shoulder. Her hair gently brushed against Xiao Yao's face, bringing a faint fragrance.

"Stop going up!" Yu Luying said loudly, sitting cross-legged on the stool.

Too late, Shen Jie's head slammed against the ceiling with a "thud".

The ceiling height of these old apartments is inherently low—of course, in China, even newer residences 20 years later have similar ceiling heights—with Xiao Yao supporting Shen Jie on his arm, the two of them formed a massive structure of two or three meters, so bumping their heads was not uncommon.

Fortunately, the ceiling was covered with old calendars by Grandma, so although Shen Jie said "it hurts so much," it didn't actually hurt that much.

Xiao Yao lifted her high up, while she hunched her neck. The two of them walked around the small bedroom three times to the left and three times to the right: "Is that enough, little darling?"

"This is nothing, and you can't handle it?" Shen Jie teased him.

Yu Luying rolled her eyes so hard they almost reached the sky, whiter than her socks: "Sis, that's enough, my arms are killing me."

"Okay, then put me down." Shen Jie said somewhat reluctantly, "Am I that heavy? Is that even scientifically possible?"

Later, Shen Jie went further and tentatively suggested riding on Xiao Yao's shoulders, which was met with strong opposition from both Xiao Yao and Yu Luying.

"Why do I feel like you've been acting a bit strange lately, like you're not quite right?" When they spent the night together, Xiao Yao finally couldn't help but ask Shen Jie this question in a half-joking tone.

"What do you mean?" Shen Jie looked at him.

……

"Isn't it because I like you too much and depend on you too much? You big idiot, do you even need to ask that?" Shen Jie sighed softly and said, "In that dream, I spent a long time without you. Although I felt that everything was fine and nothing was missing, there was a huge emptiness in my heart."

"Me too." Xiao Yao hugged her tightly, somewhat excitedly.

“After I regained my memory, I finally realized,” Shen Jie continued, “I took it all for granted that I was with you every day, and I didn’t feel anything special—I had to lose you like this to see how important you really are to me.”

Xiao Yao pretended to have tears in his eyes: "I understand."

"Sigh," Shen Jie waved her hand and turned off the fluorescent light: "Last time, we couldn't do things perfectly. Let's try again today?"

"Huh? Now?"

"Why not?"

"Meow~~~~"

"Damn, why didn't they catch the cat?"

"Go and catch it."

"Your cat, go ahead."

"I don't want~"

"Listen, that BYD is chewing on the sofa again."

"Go ahead and eat it~ It's your sofa anyway."

"Grass."