The wide and comfortable catamaran sailed steadily across the sea surface. Sheng Xingran had hired a photographer to follow and film the entire trip, along with several playmate guides. The journey was lively and bustling as they kept the two mothers entertained, with laughter echoing nonstop from the cabin.
Miao Zhu applied sunscreen, wore sunglasses, and lay on a canvas hammock in the shaded area. The weather was fine that day—azure sea and sky, with a cool sea breeze. The boat moved slowly, and with her eyes closed, she drifted on the verge of sleep.
Sheng Xingran beside her slipped an earbud into her ear. The female singer’s husky voice was stunning, and the two leaned shoulder to shoulder, sharing the same album.
Mu Shanyi had said she wouldn’t come, and indeed, she didn’t.
The catamaran reached the sea fishing spot. Miao Zhu reapplied sunscreen, casually braided her long hair into a fishtail, donned a wide-brimmed white sun hat, picked up her fishing rod, and went to fish.
She wore a berry-colored backless dress, its hem billowing in the wind, making her look like a plump, vibrant berry—fresh, fragrant, and sweet.
Sheng Xingran gazed at her back, unconsciously walking over to stand behind her.
Miao Zhu sensed someone approaching and turned to see Sheng Xingran. She beamed brightly. “Wanna compete? See who catches more?”
They had gone sea fishing occasionally while studying abroad, and the two could drift on the ocean all day.
“. . . Sure~” Sheng Xingran blushed a little. She shifted a few steps to Miao Zhu’s side and cast her line into the sea.
The captain was experienced, and this spot teemed with fish. Both of them had a bountiful catch.
Miao Ling and Ni Xiaoying crowded over to watch, and the onboard chef came to select fish. Miao Ling directed which ones to make into sashimi, which to steam, and which to grill.
Miao Zhu snapped a photo. The signal on the boat was decent, so she opened WeChat. Before she could do anything, a new message from Mu Shanyi popped up.
It was also a photo.
The lighting in the photo was warm yellow, just like the bedside lamp from last night. A light-colored shirt lay casually at the foot of the bed, the focus on the collar—inside and out—smudged with red lipstick marks.
The waves surged, rocking the boat and making it hard to stand steady. Her brain received the hint, her body automatically slipping back into last night’s atmosphere, igniting an indescribable heat.
The lipstick marks were deliberately left by Miao Zhu, but she couldn’t explain why she’d done it. Was Mu Shanyi teasing her? She wouldn’t pursue it over a shirt, surely.
Miao Zhu turned off the screen and didn’t reply right away.
Ni Xiaoying changed into snorkeling gear. The catamaran continued sailing toward the nearby island for anchoring. Sheng Xingran went into the water with Ni Xiaoying, and Miao Ling seized the chance to chat with Miao Zhu alone at the boat’s railing.
“You still haven’t agreed to Xingran?” Her tone was leisurely, sounding in good spirits.
Miao Zhu: “Not yet.”
“It’s right not to give in too easily.” Crew members moved about nearby, so Miao Ling lowered her voice. “But know when to stop and take the win.”
“I know.” Miao Zhu’s gaze hid behind her sunglasses. “Xingran asked me to go to Southern France with her next month. I said yes.”
Miao Ling nodded approvingly and encouragingly patted Miao Zhu’s shoulder.
A fiery red sunset burned on the distant sea, golden-red waves spreading toward them. Miao Ling went off to try water sports too, the guides’ cheerful laughter drifting everywhere.
Miao Zhu stood in the breeze and relit her phone, sending Mu Shanyi the photo of their catch.
【Mia: Fish for you~】
Mu Shanyi’s reply came soon after.
She sent a photo of the helipad, with the business jet’s stairs lowered, ready for takeoff.
Neither mentioned the lipstick marks again.
Back at the villa after disembarking, Mu Shanyi had indeed left.
The new week brought Miao Zhu back to Cloud City, where Miao Ling dragged her to see a traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Pack after pack of bitter herbal decoctions were hard to swallow, but fortunately, the tour began, putting the ordeal on pause.
This leg took them to the Greater Bay Area—three cities, one performance per city.
After days of nonstop travel, the orchestra arrived at the final stop. They unpacked and immediately started rehearsal. After the evening show, Miao Zhu skipped the group’s late-night snack and hit it off with Jiang Jingjing. The two picked a spot on a review app and headed out for a massage.
“Can’t take it anymore?” In the taxi, Jiang Jingjing’s fingers flew as she texted Xie Dasu.
Miao Zhu leaned her head against the seat. “A bit.”
“I miss Xie Dasu so much. It’s been almost a week since we saw each other.” Jiang Jingjing finished her message, propped her cheek, and sighed.
Miao Zhu: “. . . Has it? You video call every day.”
“That’s not the same!” Jiang Jingjing’s eyes widened round. “Haven’t you ever felt that?”
Miao Zhu: “What feeling?”
“You know, wanting to stick to them every second, no matter how much you do it’s not enough. Only seeing them, touching them, makes your heart settle—that kind!”
That was the kind of thing only people in the heat of new love experienced, right? Miao Zhu smiled faintly.
She had changed out of her performance gown into a soft, skin-friendly top and short skirt. Her dark hair half-covered her face, a shallow curve at her lips. She lounged fully against the seat—seductive and relaxed, glowing beautifully in the night.
Jiang Jingjing couldn’t help stealing a few extra glances. She’d long wanted to ask a potentially offensive question and seized the chance to hint at it obliquely. “So? Has our Teacher Miao Zhu ever felt that?”
“No.” Miao Zhu brushed it off lightly, still smiling.
Jiang Jingjing mentally high-fived herself for her cleverness. Mia and that young lady weren’t dating, huh~~
So they were just really good friends. After all, whose feelings could survive that long in ambiguity without wearing thin?
The masseuse hit the acupoints precisely. After a thorough session, Miao Zhu’s back discomfort eased a lot. As she rested face-down on the therapy bed, she received a message from Mu Shanyi.
Mu Shanyi asked her to send her location.
Miao Zhu held her phone and shifted from prone to lying on her back. They didn’t usually contact each other like this. The message meant Mu Shanyi had time to meet—but regrettably, she wasn’t in Cloud City.
Regrettably?
Staring at Mu Shanyi’s profile pic and text, Miao Zhu realized she did feel regret at not being able to see her.
Thinking of what Jiang Jingjing said—almost a week without seeing Xie Dasu—she and Mu Shanyi had just hit a week apart too.
Miao Zhu sent her location, explaining she was on tour, getting a massage with a colleague.
Mu Shanyi replied with a navigation screenshot: from her position to Miao Zhu’s massage spot, a 25-minute drive.
! Miao Zhu sat straight up on the therapy bed.
Late July, past 10:30 PM, the weather humid and hot.
Miao Zhu stood on the street, listening to Jiang Jingjing on the phone with Xie Dasu. “Yeah, waiting for Mia’s sister to take us back to the hotel. . . What sister? I don’t know, she said she was just passing by.”
Jiang Jingjing turned to Miao Zhu. “What sister?”
“Want milk tea?” Miao Zhu changed the subject, pointing to the shop behind them. “What flavor?”
“Oh. . . Peony fresh milk tea.” Jiang Jingjing eyed the promo screen for signature iced drinks, told Miao Zhu her pick, then continued chatting with Xie Dasu. “I do, several actually—cousins, older cousins. Let me count. . .”
The city buzzed with nightlife. Miao Zhu ordered two milk teas. A crowd surged in, pushing her outside to wait.
Next door was a 24-hour convenience store. The door swung open from inside, wafting out cold air and oden scent.
Twenty minutes since Mu Shanyi’s navigation screenshot.
Jiang Jingjing was still on the phone with Xie Dasu. Miao Zhu slipped into the convenience store, head down, picked something from the rack by the register, paid, and returned as her order was ready.
Jiang Jingjing hung up. Miao Zhu handed her the milk tea. “Done with the call?”
“Video later. I’m with you now—rude to keep chatting on the phone.” Jiang Jingjing smiled, revealing neat teeth. She sipped the iced milk tea. “How long till your sister gets here?”
Miao Zhu poked in a straw, about to say soon, when she spotted a car slowing to a stop at the curb. She changed her words. “She’s here.”
Jiang Jingjing followed her gaze. She saw the car first and went silent for seconds. Then the rear window rolled down, revealing the person inside. Finally, a thousand words boiled down to one: “. . . I’m not living in some novel or drama, am I?”
