Chapter 18

Winter arrived quickly.

After the final exams, Teacher Qin announced that, per school requirements, there would first be a class meeting to announce grades and hand out awards, then the students would go outside to wait while the parents sat in their children’s seats for the parent-teacher meeting.

That night Yu Mian mentioned it to Pei Songxi. “Auntie Pei, if you’re too busy… you can just have Sister Wei Yi go.”

Pei Songxi was combing her hair. Half a year of sesame and black beans seemed to have had some effect — the child’s fine, soft hair had turned glossy black, with a bit more body. “Mm.”

Yu Mian wrinkled her nose. Ai, Auntie Pei really couldn’t go…

On the day itself, she finished breakfast in the living room and hopped down from the table, still trying to smile. “Auntie Pei, I’m off!”

Wei Yi was already waiting outside in the car, honking twice to remind her that time was up.

Pei Songxi gave a faint nod, set down her chopsticks, and picked up her beige coat — a white turtleneck sweater and a light coffee-colored skirt underneath. “Perfect timing. I’m going that way anyway.”

Yu Mian went “oh” and walked out obediently.

In the car, Wei Yi asked, “Mianmian did really well on her exams, right?”

At first Wei Yi had called her Miss Yu, but Yu Mian didn’t like the title, so she’d followed suit and called her Mianmian. The two got along wonderfully; Yu Mian adored her, and these past few days, worried Pei Songxi wouldn’t have time for the parent-teacher meeting, she’d even made arrangements with Wei Yi in advance.

Yu Mian nodded, beaming. “Pretty good!”

Their home wasn’t far from the school, and they arrived quickly.

Wei Yi got out first, came around to open the door, and helped Yu Mian down — then got right back in the car and waved. “See you next time, Mianmian!”

Yu Mian blinked. “Ah…”

Didn’t they agree Sister Wei Yi would come to her parent-teacher meeting?

“Not going in?”

“Are you coming in with me?”

Pei Songxi’s lips curved, a light smile in her lake-calm eyes as she lifted the girl up and walked into the school. “Don’t you want me at your parent-teacher meeting?”

She had clearly seen the girl write that line in her Chinese textbook, yet she’d never once heard her say it aloud.

Yu Mian lay against her shoulder. “I do! But you’ve been so busy lately… you sleep so late.”

Pei Songxi’s heart ached at her obedience and premature maturity, and she patted her shoulder. “Mm. Not busy today.”

Outside the classroom, Yu Mian hopped down from her arms and darted in with the bell. Her seat was by the window, the glass cracked open an inch, and she waved at her, her smile radiant.

The winter sun was mild and clean. Two rows of ginkgo trees lined the campus path, their golden leaves glittering in the sunlight. Pei Songxi tilted her head back slightly, watching the light filter through the leaves, shadows dancing gently.

Sunlight like scattered gold fell down, plating her with a warm, delicate halo. The soft, clean beige coat suited her well, her skirt hem stirred by the breeze. Her features were cool and aloof, yet carried a tenderness like still water running deep.

Yu Mian was always a good student, the best at minding her teachers — yet today she couldn’t stop glancing out the window.

Fortunately, the grades were announced soon enough.

Yu Mian dashed out and pulled Pei Songxi toward the classroom. “I sit here, Auntie Pei!”

Pei Songxi stroked her stray hairs. “I know. Go wait outside.”

Yu Mian nodded obediently and was led off by the hand by Xu Xiaoyan.

Xu Xiaoyan, lollipop stuffed in her mouth, mumbled indistinctly, “Wanna go out and play tomorrow, Mianmian?”

Yu Mian was distracted. She thought for a moment, then simply ran back to the windowsill outside the classroom — not tall enough, so she rose on tiptoe.

At some point the window had been closed. Through the glass she watched Pei Songxi’s head bowed slightly, reading her report card.

Pei Songxi sat in the classroom at the tiny desk, seeing column after column of perfect scores. Her lips curved up a little — and when she lifted her head, she saw reflected in the glass a pair of eyes like black grapes, bright and lively.

Yu Mian had pressed too close, breathing out a soft puff of air that fogged the glass white.

She wiped it away with the back of her hand, her eyes curved like the moon in the sky, smiling at her.

Pei Songxi couldn’t help smiling too, waving for her to go wait outside — just as the teacher began calling names. She didn’t hear, until Xu Xiaoyan’s mother, Zhao Ruo, tapped her desk. “The teacher’s calling you.”

Only then did Pei Songxi stand, her voice mellow and clean. “I am… Yu Mian’s family.”

The teacher startled too — she hadn’t expected Student Yu Mian’s family member to be a young, elegant beauty. “Oh… you’re Yu Mian’s mo… older sister, then?”

A parent at the front desk joked, “Since when can an older sister attend the parent-teacher meeting… Should’ve brought my daughter instead — wasted a day of my annual leave.”

Pei Songxi inclined her head faintly, letting the remark pass. As she listened to what the teacher said, she couldn’t help smiling — apparently Teacher Qin felt Yu Mian was too serious and hard on herself, and wanted the family to help the child relax.

Pei Songxi had never set any demands on Yu Mian’s studies. Being a happy person mattered more.

By the time the teacher had gone through every student, an hour had passed, and the meeting finally ended.

Walking out with the crowd of parents, Pei Songxi saw Yu Mian standing under the ginkgo trees, gathering leaves with Xu Xiaoyan. She walked over, smiling. “Mianmian.”

Yu Mian’s head snapped up and she ran over. “Auntie Pei!”

“All done. Want to go out for something delicious?”

“Home is fine! Oh — let’s take a photo!”

She dug the Camera out of her schoolbag — a small gift Pei Songxi had bought her not long ago, used today for the first time — ran over, and handed it to Zhao Ruo. “Auntie Zhao, could you take a photo of us?”

Zhao Ruo took it, but Xu Xiaoyan snatched it away, volunteering herself. “Me, me, me! Wait a sec! Mama, can you teach me how to use the camera?”

Pei Songxi nodded graciously, and the two of them stood under the ginkgo trees while Xu Xiaoyan fumbled with the buttons.

She lowered her head and stroked the crown of Yu Mian’s hair. “Want to go anywhere for winter break?”

Yu Mian tilted her head up, holding up a leaf for her, eyes brimming with smiles. “Home is best! This leaf is so pretty — it’s for you, okay?”

The warm, clear winter sun; the brilliant, beautiful ginkgo leaves.

A soft rustle of breeze; their shadows stretched long in the light.

She lowered her eyes, watching her with a smile. “All right.”

Click — the shutter pressed.

The moment froze in the frame.

Xu Xiaoyan captured the scene with the camera, but Zhao Ruo was dissatisfied. “Aiya! You didn’t even let them pose!”

“No need! It looks great — I take the best photos! Right, Mianmian?”

Yu Mian ran over to look at the camera, utterly satisfied. When the photos were printed later that evening, she loved them just as much.

In the living room, she lay across the coffee table, drawing on the back of the photo with watercolor pens — a tiny ginkgo leaf, and a cartoon smiley face.

“There! Auntie Pei! This is our first photo!”

Pei Songxi gave an “mm” and helped her stick the photo onto the Photo Wall. “Mm. One every year from now on.”

“Aiya, I forgot to write the date — we’ll forget when this was taken.”

Pei Songxi picked her up and took a sticky note. “Write it next to it.”

Yu Mian gripped the pen, her handwriting childish and adorable: First parent-teacher meeting.

This was their quiet, flowing time — a time that belonged to them alone.