Miao Zhu took it. Emma knelt down and offered her hand. Grace tilted its head left and right, eyeing Miao Zhu, then Emma, but couldn’t resist the jerky. It leaned in and chomped.
“What a nose,” Sheng Xingran marveled.
“Good girl, good girl. Grace, right? My dog’s called Angel. We should all play together sometime.” Emma made a one-sided pact with Grace.
Miao Zhu poured the remaining half into her palm to feed Grace, petting it as she did. Grace flashed another mega-grin.
Tang Yuwen, having witnessed the scene, came over. “You okay? No harm done?”
“Wen Jie, I’m fine.” Miao Zhu straightened up, paused, and called to Mu Shanyi, who lagged a few steps behind. “Sister A-Heng.”
Just then, Grace snatched up the branch again and trotted proudly to Mu Shanyi, head held high for praise.
“You’re too naughty. You scared the sister.” Mu Shanyi said softly.
Miao Zhu took it literally and introduced Emma to the group. “This is my good friend, Emma.”
“Emma.” Tang Yuwen echoed with interest.
“You can also call me by my Chinese name, Zhuang Xinmi. Wen Jie, so nice to meet you.” Emma was thrilled—Tang Yuwen had done her a huge favor. She gave her an enthusiastic hug.
What arrived first before the physical contact was the ethereal, cool woody scent from Emma—like a vibrant forest island in an icy world.
It was just a polite thank-you hug. Emma stepped back, and the fragrance faded.
After hugging Tang Yuwen, Emma beamed at Mu Shanyi. “Hi, sister. First time meeting, but I knew back in school that Sheng Xingran had a sister.”
“Hello.” Mu Shanyi’s gaze lingered a moment on Emma’s metal lip ring.
“It’s getting late. Let’s head to the dining area!” Li Zi suggested.
No one objected. Sheng Xingran took the ingredients from Miao Zhu’s hand, not forgetting to remind Mu Shanyi, “Sis, ask Si Miao when she’s arriving.”
Miao Zhu’s steps faltered. …Mu Shanyi had invited Zheng Simiao camping here too?
“Already checked. Soon.” Tang Yuwen replied, then remembered something else. “Miao Zhu, last time I asked A-Heng to give you back your necklace. She’s been busy—if you didn’t get it, remind her.”
“What necklace?” Sheng Xingran asked curiously.
Tang Yuwen explained, “Last time you all stayed at my mountain homestay, Miao Zhu’s necklace fell under the bed. I happened to meet your sister that day and passed it to her.”
“You never mentioned it,” Sheng Xingran said helplessly to Miao Zhu. “Didn’t even know you lost it?”
Miao Zhu forced her lips into a smile. “Sister A-Heng already gave me the necklace.”
Mu Shanyi, holding Grace’s leash, trailed behind the group without a word.
The dining area faced the lake. Long tables stood under the canopy, strung with soft lights that made everything sparkle.
A bonfire roared. Four or five chefs in crisp white hats and uniforms bustled methodically. With the lake nearby, tonight’s specialty was freshwater fish dishes.
Li Zi had prepped extra barbecue ingredients for everyone to grill freely.
The porridge stove and grill were some distance apart, so the group split up. Miao Zhu helped Emma.
The pearl rice for the seafood porridge had been pre-soaked, shrimp oil rendered, and mother crabs prepped. They just needed to light the fire.
Once the water in the clay pot boiled, Emma added the rice. Under her direction, Miao Zhu stirred in a spoonful of peanut paste.
Sheng Xingran grilled a few beef skewers first and brought them over to feed Miao Zhu. “Blow on it. Kinda hot.”
Miao Zhu turned toward her, catching sight of Mu Shanyi taking a call and walking away.
Sheng Xingran followed her gaze. “Going to pick up Zheng Simiao.”
Miao Zhu didn’t want to pry or ask why Mu Shanyi hadn’t considered her feelings at all by inviting Zheng Simiao here.
She didn’t care who Mu Shanyi was with—it didn’t affect her plans.
But she heard herself ask disingenuously, “They getting along okay?”
“Probably?” Sheng Xingran shrugged. “Yesterday my parents played golf with two elders from the Zheng family. They hit it off. Looks like they want to invite their family to our engagement, mainly to give my sister and Zheng Simiao more chances to bond. Haven’t discussed it with her yet, though.”
Miao Zhu hadn’t told Emma about this, so Emma grew confused. “Who are you all talking about…?”
“My sister’s blind date—”
“Hiss!” Miao Zhu accidentally brushed the clay pot and yanked her hand back from the scald.
“What happened?” Sheng Xingran grabbed her hand to check.
Emma quickly set down her stirring spoon. “Burned?”
“It’s fine, doesn’t hurt much.” But tender skin scorched by the boiling pot hurt like hell. Tears welled up fast, wetting her lashes.
Sheng Xingran dragged Miao Zhu’s hand under cold water. Emma followed, urging, “Rinse longer. Blisters would suck.”
The commotion drew Tang Yuwen and Li Zi over.
“Burned?”
“Bad? There’s a doctor on site.”
“No need, not serious. Just rinse.” Miao Zhu wiped the tears from her eyes and tried to look, but Sheng Xingran pressed her hand back under the faucet.
“Not done yet. Rinse more.”
Li Zi said, “I’ll grab some burn ointment from the doctor. Site should have it.”
By the time Mu Shanyi returned with Zheng Simiao, aside from the chefs, only Lu Zheng and Grace remained in the dining area— one grilling, the other causing chaos. Tang Yuwen and Emma chatted by the clay pot, while Miao Zhu sat at the table, hand held by Sheng Xingran.
“Xingran, your sister and Si Miao look so good together.” Li Zi squeezed in, voice low but laced with envy.
Miao Zhu had just applied the burn ointment; the spot throbbed. Her lashes fluttered as she stiffly raised her eyes.
Lantern shadows swayed in the evening breeze, the sky in its final shades of blue. The two walked side by side, whether by chance or design in matching windbreakers. Zheng Simiao said something, and Mu Shanyi turned with a smile.
They really did match perfectly.
