Chapter 29: Then Let Me Congratulate You in Advance. Part 2

“You found it.” Mu Shanyi lowered her head and kissed Miao Zhu’s hair.

“Are there big triAngels in other seasons?”

“Yeah, different seasons have different ones. The Autumn TriAngel in the south isn’t as bright, and winter has the big one plus a super triAngel.”

Miao Zhu gazed at the patch of starry sky overhead.

How many more triAngels would appear before her relationship with Mu Shanyi ended?

She was engulfed by low spirits again.

“Sister A-Heng.”

“Hm?”

“Xingran and I plan to get engaged first.”

Sheng Xingran hadn’t returned to the country yet, the parents hadn’t met, and engagement details weren’t discussed. Mu Shanyi might not know.

Mu Shanyi indeed didn’t know. She immediately looked at Miao Zhu but stayed silent for a long moment before speaking: “Is this what you want?”

Miao Zhu nodded lightly: “Yeah, it is.”

“Then let me congratulate you in advance.” Mu Shanyi turned her face away, her tone perfectly normal. “Grace is back.”

Lu Zheng was leading Grace over. Mu Shanyi stood up to give Grace some water.

That night at the wetland park couldn’t exactly be called unpleasant between them.

They watched the stars and walked Grace. Even when Grace and her new friend—a handsome Meteor Border Collie—rolled in a puddle and got filthy, Miao Zhu helped Mu Shanyi take her for a bath.

Mu Shanyi was gentle and patient with her the whole time. Yet the next weekend, when Mu Shanyi asked her out again, Miao Zhu refused, saying she had no time.

Emma had come to Cloud City for a music project on a domestic film or drama. Miao Zhu “happened” to schedule listening to a concert with her at that time.

“What did you think of tonight’s performance?” After the show, Emma hopped lightly down the theater steps.

“I fell asleep.” Miao Zhu said.

Emma swung in front of her and exaggeratedly waggled her eyebrows: “Such high praise!”

It had been over half a month since they last met. The bruise on Emma’s cheekbone had faded, but a new one appeared at the corner of her mouth. What shocked Miao Zhu even more was that Emma had shaved her beautiful blue-gray long hair into a short buzz cut.

When they first met, Miao Zhu had asked what happened. Emma smiled and countered: “What’s wrong? Doesn’t it look good?”

Of course it looked good—Emma had a full, rounded head shape, and the style highlighted her features strikingly. But looks weren’t the point. What about her injuries? And why shave off hair she’d kept for so many years?

Miao Zhu no longer believed any mirror-bumping excuses this time.

Emma saw Miao Zhu’s concern but brushed it off: “Mia, as long as it looks good~”

Then she changed the subject: “This project will need cello. Want to help me out?”

“Sure.” Emma didn’t want to talk, so Miao Zhu didn’t press.

Emma had temporarily rented a two-bedroom in Cloud City, and Miao Zhu drove her home.

“I simmered seafood congee before heading out. Want to try some? Perfect for a night snack.” Emma invited Miao Zhu inside.

It was a walk-up building, a bit old, with thin floors and walls. Before they even reached the door, Miao Zhu heard an incessant, piercing “werwer” sound. Once Emma unlocked it, the barking became deafening.

Emma quickly shut the door and expertly clamped the mouth of the big-eared dog charging at her: “Angel! Shh—”

Miao Zhu: “…”

So Emma owned a beagle. Miao Zhu recalled some infamous beagle stories online and Emma’s praises of Angel—not picky with food, lively, great at wake-up calls… It was hard not to form some stereotypes.

Ms. Zhuang emerged from the bathroom, putting on earrings: “Today, who knows how many neighbors complained. Mimi, if she keeps this up, the landlord will evict us.”

Her gaze shifted to Miao Zhu, and in that same soft voice, she smiled in greeting: “Mia’s here.”

“Hi, Aunt Zhuang.” Miao Zhu noticed bruises on Ms. Zhuang’s arm, just like Emma’s.

“Angel’s just not adjusted yet. She’s a good girl, and I’ll enroll her in dog school.” Emma had calmed Angel down. “You heading out again?”

“Yeah, friends heard I was back and want to grab late tea.”

Ms. Zhuang fluffed her curls, sauntered to the door, grabbed her bag from the rack: “Have fun, girls. Mimi, no need to leave the door unlocked tonight.”

Ms. Zhuang left behind a cloud of perfume. Emma pursed her lips, her expression darkening.

“Emma.” Miao Zhu called to her.

Emma nodded and turned to the kitchen. The clay pot held her slow-simmered seafood congee; she ladled out two bowls.

They sat at the small round table in the dining area under a yellowish ceiling light. Angel lay at Emma’s feet, gnawing a slipper.

The AC didn’t cool well, so Emma turned on a fan. The breeze brushed Miao Zhu’s worried face: “Emma, if you need help, you have to tell me.”

“Of course, I will. Don’t worry, I’m doing great now.” Emma had already composed herself in the kitchen. “What about you? Later on—your early return, your mom, Sheng Xingran. Did they give you trouble?”

Miao Zhu took a few sips of congee and looked up: “I asked Xingran if she’d get engaged to me. She agreed.”

“…” Emma hadn’t expected such a bombshell after just half a month. “Does she know about the engagement?”

“She does,” Miao Zhu knew who Emma meant. Her tone faltered, then she smiled: “I told her.”

“What was her reaction?”

“She just blessed me.”

“We were only lovers anyway. I don’t interfere with her, she doesn’t with me.”

“No matter if I’m dating Xingran, engaged, or even married, she doesn’t care.”

“She doesn’t care… What about you? What do you think?” Emma pressed.

“I’m not thinking anything.”

“…For a moment, I wondered what I’d do if she said something like ‘Don’t be with Xingran.'”

“That would be trouble for me.”

“But luckily, she blessed me, so I breathed a sigh of relief.”

“…Emma? What’s wrong?” Miao Zhu said, noticing Emma’s eyes reddening across from her.

“Mia, your expression says you’re about to cry.” Miao Zhu hadn’t cried yet, but tears welled in Emma’s eyes first. “You care about her so much—do you even realize it?”