Chapter 11

Yu Mian read the line on the Door Plaque over and over several times before returning to the living room. “Auntie Pei, can you tell me our address?”

Pei Songxi startled, remembering how the officer had asked for her home number and address and she’d known nothing. Her fine brows knitted slightly. “268 Anxi Road, Mingchuan City. Can you remember that?”

Yu Mian was overjoyed. “268 Anxi Road, Mingchuan City — remembered!”

She lowered her head, murmuring it to herself, the clear, childish sound in her ears.

Pei Songxi let out a soft breath, allowing herself a moment’s relaxation, and looked through the mail.

This property was under her name, never lived in, only simply renovated before. The style was very plain, spare Western European — two linen cushions lay on the beige sofa, and two round wool rugs printed with cats covered the light coffee-colored floor.

A quiet, tranquil autumn day.

Sunlight streamed through the windowsill. Yu Mian hopped barefoot on the floor a couple of times, then suddenly stopped mid-hop. “Auntie Pei, where’s my orange?”

Pei Songxi had just hung up the phone. She picked up the pale-blue schoolbag. “Here.”

Yu Mian took out the orange and cradled it, eyes bright. “I want to hide it away forever.”

Pei Songxi tapped the tip of her nose. “Shall we cut it open and eat it, one half each?”

“…But its peel is all wrinkled. Can we still eat it?”

“Let’s try.”

Pei Songxi cut the orange in half with a fruit knife, sniffed it, then cut it into eight small wedges. “It’s fine to eat.”

Yu Mian’s eyes curved into crescents. She picked up a wedge and bit in, saying crisply, “So sweet!”

“Mm. It is sweet.”

“You have to eat lots too!”

Pei Songxi took a tissue and wiped the juice splashed on her face. “Do you like oranges that much?”

Yu Mian nodded. “Mm! Very much. Auntie Pei, don’t we have to go back? Will Grandpa Pei be mad at you? Will he scold you, hit you?”

“We’re not going back. He won’t be mad. I was always planning to move out.”

“Oh… so it’ll just be the two of us living here.”

Pei Songxi gave an “mm,” thought for a moment, then said, in a tone closer to negotiation, “I have work. I won’t be able to keep you company every day, and I may travel often for business. I’m not used to having people in the house, so I’ll hire a housekeeper to come clean and cook, and a driver to take you to school. Sometimes the house will be empty, and you—”

Yu Mian hugged her arm, beaming. “I’ll be very good!”

Her unfinished words were cut off by that single “I’ll be very good.”

Their life together hadn’t even begun, and problems might well arise down the road — but surely none of that would matter.

As long as she smiled the way she was smiling now.

And yet… at the thought of what she’d witnessed that morning, Pei Songxi’s smile dimmed a little. Even though she’d already checked the girl over and found no injuries, she still couldn’t quite rest. “Mianmian… was Ding Xiaodong bullying you all along?”

Yu Mian blinked, her voice childish. “He wasn’t here the first few days. He only came back yesterday. He pushed me this morning, but it didn’t hurt.”

“Does anything else hurt? If it hurts, you must tell me, understand?”

“It really doesn’t hurt!”

Yu Mian shook her head, smiling, eyes sparkling. Beyond her initial caution and reserve, she was a warm, bright child, like a little sun that could burn away the gloom of unhappiness.

Pei Songxi nodded. “Want to go see the rooms?”

Yu Mian leapt up. “Yay! Yes!”

She wouldn’t even let Pei Songxi hold her hand, dashing straight upstairs, steps fast and eager, nearly tripping several times.

Pei Songxi called her back and held out a finger. “Slow down.”

Yu Mian ran back down the two steps she’d climbed, clutched her finger tight, then tugged her upward. “Come on! Auntie Pei, hurry!”

Her childish voice echoed through the empty house. She pulled her to the master bedroom door and tilted her head up. “Is this your room?”

Pei Songxi looked at her, a little apologetic. “I’m sorry — I haven’t had time to prepare a room for you yet. Could you sleep here for the next few days?”

Yu Mian let out a delighted “ah.” “Of course!”

The curtains in the room were half drawn, the quilt folded into a neat tofu block, giving off a warm, sweet scent.

Yu Mian stood at the doorway looking for a while, then suddenly turned and tugged Pei Songxi’s hand.

“Mm? What is it?”

Pei Songxi bent and lifted her up. “Don’t you like this room?”

Yu Mian shook her head, smiled at her, wrapped her arms around her neck, and planted a firm kiss, declaring solemnly, “Auntie Pei! I want to stay by your side. Forever!”

Her eyes were black and bright, and she looked a little nervous — after all, it was her first time… kissing her. Auntie Pei wouldn’t be mad, would she?

Pei Songxi laughed despite herself, remembering how the girl had kissed that big orange — the image was uncannily identical. The association diluted her usual discomfort with close contact; she only found it a little awkward, not angry at all.

Carrying her out, she stroked her hair. “Children say the silliest things. Come on, let’s go down — it’s almost lunchtime.”

Yu Mian leaned on her shoulder and gave an obedient “mm.”

Pei Songxi took it as childish innocence and said nothing more.

“What do you want for lunch?”

“Anything’s fine!”

Pei Songxi gave an “mm.” She had been thinking about lunch, but her thoughts slowly drifted further.

Mianmian had clearly been the apple of her parents’ eye — at such a young age she already knew plenty of characters, kind and perceptive, yet never spoiled or willful. She wondered… whether she still had family alive somewhere.

Held in her arms, Yu Mian’s little eyes roamed restlessly. “Auntie Pei, what’s that?”

Pei Songxi came back to herself and carried her over. “This… this seems to be a Photo Wall. A design the renovation team suggested. They said some families hang family portraits here.”

Yu Mian half understood. “Only for families?”

“Hm?”

“I mean — could we take one photo every year from now on and put it here? Can we?”

Pei Songxi nodded. “We can.”

So that was what she wanted — proof that she and Pei Songxi would be family forever.

Yu Mian’s eyes curved with joy, like a soft, adorable little fox, lying against her shoulder, trembling with quiet laughter.

Pei Songxi didn’t know what had made her so happy, but she seemed infected by that smile; she stroked her ear, and her own lips curved faintly.

The little girl buried her cheek in her shoulder, sinking into that soft, warm embrace. From now on, they would be family.