Chapter 106

Li Yunli helped her pull up her pants properly. “Alright, I don’t want to talk about unhappy things. Don’t move around. I’ll go downstairs to buy some dinner. You must be hungry too.”

Ji Zhenshi gazed at Li Yunli eagerly, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

Why…

Was she a little reluctant to let her go?

They had just had a big fight, but now the thorn piercing her heart seemed gone, and all she wanted was to stick to Li Yunli?

Could a person’s emotions change so drastically in such a short time?

As if seeing through Ji Zhenshi’s little emotions, Li Yunli leaned down, hesitated for a moment, and instinctively glanced at Ji Zhenshi’s reaction after being rejected so many times before.

Only after seeing no sign of disgust on her face did she gently press a kiss to her lips. “I’ll be quick, Xiao Zhen. Don’t worry.”

“I’m not in a hurry,” Ji Zhenshi said stubbornly.

But after Li Yunli left the ward, Ji Zhenshi seriously clutched her chest with a solemn expression. That was a real heartbeat, and the pink tattoo was real too.

Once the thorn was pulled out, the barrier was gone. Love took over, drawing her closer and closer until their two hearts beat in sync.

Heart fluttering, falling in love all over again.

How could two people who were willing to bow their heads to each other ever drift apart?

Li Yunli returned quickly, soon bringing back all of Ji Zhenshi’s favorite dishes.

Ji Zhenshi lay on the bed watching. “That was fast.”

“Yeah, I was afraid you’d starve.” Li Yunli sat on the edge of the bed. Instead of handing the food to Ji Zhenshi, she scooped up a spoonful and held it to her mouth. “Open up.”

“I’ll do it myself.” Ji Zhenshi, with all her limbs intact, felt embarrassed letting Li Yunli feed her and reached for the bowl.

“Open up. You’ll just spill it on the bed if you eat yourself.” Li Yunli insisted.

Ji Zhenshi couldn’t win against her, so with flushed cheeks, she opened her mouth and ate the food Li Yunli fed her.

She was twenty-three, yet needing to be fed during dinner—how embarrassing.

Ji Zhenshi buried her face in the pillow. Li Yunli fed her a spoonful, and she ate it, feeling both happy and shy.

Xiao Zhen, how can you obediently lie there letting big sister feed you?

Li Yunli took out her phone and opened the cat cam feed. “Look at Hihi. She’s so good today. Xiao Ning will take her home to care for her. I didn’t want to miss the chance for you two to meet, but there’s no way to bring her on the plane.”

Ji Zhenshi nodded while lying down. At that moment, Hihi was rubbing back and forth in front of the cat bed.

Giggling foolishly, Ji Zhenshi zoomed in on the screen. “It’s fine. This time when I go back, I’ll take her to my place for a few days. Look how cute she is.”

Like looking at her own child—adorable no matter what.

Li Yunli leaned over and nodded. The two huddled in front of the screen watching Hihi.

As if sensing them telepathically, Hihi circled in front of the camera, batting at a little ball, occasionally letting out milky mews toward the lens.

Ji Zhenshi adored her, excitedly patting Li Yunli’s thigh. “Does she miss me? She knows I’m watching, so she’s meowing at the camera?”

Li Yunli smiled helplessly and fed her a spoonful of rice. “If she’s missing anyone, it should be me, right? I usually take care of her. She hasn’t seen me all day.”

Little animals are very perceptive; she remembers who treats her well.

Ji Zhenshi knew she was in the wrong and pouted. “When I go back, I’ll take care of her all the time. Then she’ll be closest to me. Hihi is my first cat. I have to treat her the best and give her everything good.”

Before, if it weren’t for her awkwardness with Li Yunli, she would’ve taken Hihi with her many times—she always craved hugging her and stroking that fluffy head.

Ji Zhenshi boasted shamelessly. A unique glint flickered in Li Yunli’s gentle gaze.

She really has a strong sense of responsibility; she kept worrying about Hihi just from naming her.

So Ji Zhenshi’s heart was so easy to grasp.

Li Yunli secretly had other ideas but didn’t voice them, simply replying, “You can’t take her away.”

“Why?” Ji Zhenshi asked puzzledly.

Their standoff felt oddly like fighting over custody of a child.

Why couldn’t she take Hihi home? Hadn’t she agreed before?

Li Yunli lowered her eyes, set down the bowl, and was silent for a moment before saying, “Because I’m planning to move out. The new store is renovated and will open for business next month. I’ve rented a place in between the two shops, and I’m moving into the new house.”

After a pause, Li Yunli added, “The new place is two bedrooms and a living room—very spacious, nice environment. It has a great kitchen, perfect for me.”

She emphasized the last two sentences pointedly.

Ji Zhenshi was baffled but sensed Li Yunli’s expression wasn’t so simple. Her mind raced: What did this have to do with not letting her take the cat?

Besides, she had her own place. Whether Li Yunli moved or not was irrelevant to her, right?

After two seconds of thought, Ji Zhenshi pointed at herself. “Are you hinting at something?”

Li Yunli carefully wiped a grain of rice from the corner of her mouth, slowly opened another meal box, and deliberately said nothing, just smiling at her.

Ji Zhenshi grew inexplicably nervous under her gaze and raised a brow. “You are hinting at me, right? I didn’t misread it.”

Li Yunli nodded. “Of course. If one day in the future Xiao Zhen is willing, you’re welcome to move in anytime—whether it’s a month, half a year, no problem. Loving breakfasts, hearty dinners, the light always left on for late returns, and a spacious, soft double bed. Most importantly, big sister will be there. All this is yours indefinitely, as long as you come.”

Who could refuse such tempting reasons?

Li Yunli pitied her good child living in that environment and wanted to compensate her within her means, giving her the best.

But she wouldn’t force it—just leave the choice to her.

Xiao Zhen, will you come?

The picture she painted was too beautiful and happy. Ji Zhenshi thought about it, nearly drooling.

Living together with her, Li Yunli, and the cat—unimaginably blissful.

That home would no longer be just a pit stop like a hotel for Ji Zhenshi, but a warm haven that drew her in.

“Wipe your drool.” Li Yunli pulled out a tissue, amused.

Just imagining it made her drool?

Ji Zhenshi snapped back, shyly wiping her mouth, and changed the subject. “Then what about your current store? The second floor will be empty?”

If Li Yunli moved out and had to run between two places, could her body handle it?

“Xiao Ning’s gotten very skilled with the business now; I trust her with it. Plus, I hired two more staff—three people are enough. As for the second floor, I used to store goods up there when I lived there. Now that I’ve fully cleared it out, it’s even better.”

“Then why two bedrooms and a living room? If I move in, it won’t be like roommates splitting rent, right?”

Ji Zhenshi got it all except the “two-bedroom” part.

Was she supposed to move in and share rent with Li Yunli?

Li Yunli looked at her deeply for a long while. “Of course not roommates. Actually, after getting Hihi, I suddenly felt like I might have a talent for motherhood. So I thought maybe raising a child wouldn’t be bad. I enjoy watching her grow. Besides, I’ve already accomplished my major life goals young. In my thirties with free time, having a child to keep me company sounds nice.”

“What!?” Ji Zhenshi’s pupils shook at the words.

Did she hear that right? Li Yunli wanted to have a baby?

They’d just reconciled—was this timing right?

Seeing her shock, Li Yunli chuckled lightly. “Don’t get so worked up. It’s just a plan. IVF isn’t as simple as you think; lots of prep work. So I rented a two-bedroom for now, just preparing ahead. At least two or three years before seriously considering it. By then I’ll be thirty-three, you’ll be twenty-six or seven, everything stabilized. We can discuss then?”

Ji Zhenshi’s expression was complicated. “Do you really want a child that much?”

Li Yunli’s tone was casual. “Not really. It’s just a plan; we’ll talk in a few years.”

Seeing Ji Zhenshi’s alarmed face, Li Yunli added, “Of course, I’d respect your thoughts. Besides, it’s all just ideas. We’ll discuss when our relationship stabilizes. I was just sharing casually since you asked.”

Li Yunli always had her life planned out; she knew what she wanted. She simply wanted to be a mother, so she planned for a child.

Of course, she’d only confirm it after reconciling with Ji Zhenshi, since a key factor in this life plan was bearing a child with blood ties to her beloved, connecting three bloodlines with the umbilical cord.

It was all just ideas—plans can’t keep up with changes.

“A few years is fine then. You scared me. I like kids too, but I don’t want to be tied down by one right now.” Ji Zhenshi patted her chest in relief.

She’d thought Li Yunli was that bold—fighting moments ago, now planning a baby.

Terrifying; scared again.

Seeing her so frightened, Li Yunli smiled and pinched her cheek. “I know. I want a few sweet years of just us first before considering. We’ll solve issues and stabilize first. You know me—I like planning ahead. We’ll discuss then. By then you’ll be twenty-seven or eight, with a different mindset than now.”

“Scared you, huh? Your face went pale.” Li Yunli teased.

Ji Zhenshi buried herself in the pillow again. “I wasn’t. I like kids too, okay.”

After a pause, realization dawned, and she suddenly lifted her head. “Wait—if we hadn’t reconciled, were you just going to do IVF anyway? I’m optional? Reconciliation or not wouldn’t affect you, right?”

It just hit her: Even before reconciling, Li Yunli had rented the two-bedroom. If they hadn’t made up, in three or four years, she might end up as the kid’s godmother?

Would she have to give gifts then?

Ji Zhenshi had seen bloggers online about same-sex couples doing IVF, so she knew her role and what skipping it meant.

Li Yunli smiled without answering and got up to rinse briefly in the bathroom.

She had no change of clothes, so she’d make do for the night.

“Sister A-Yun, is that it?” Ji Zhenshi raised her voice to ask.

“Maybe. I can’t force you, but I won’t force myself either.” Li Yunli half-seriously replied.

How could it be? Her idea of having a child came from raising Hihi together with Ji Zhenshi. Without her, could she give a child a happy upbringing?

Everything hinged on Ji Zhenshi; the plan only proceeded if she was willing.

If they diverged in a few years, Li Yunli thought she’d compromise—her love for Ji Zhenshi far outweighed that hypothetical child in the plan. It stemmed from her love for Xiao Zhen anyway.

She wouldn’t let priorities get inverted.

After a quick rinse, she emerged from the bathroom. Ji Zhenshi immediately grabbed her hand, declaring firmly, “No, I don’t want to be your child’s godmother.”

Li Yunli unfolded the accompanying bed, planning to make do there for the night.

Hearing that, she was surprised. “Who said you’d be the godmother? If you’re willing then, you just need to cooperate with a minor procedure for the doctor. Leave the rest to me.”

Ji Zhenshi clung tightly to her hand, even crawling onto her lap. “That’s more like it. Anyway, no godmother for me, no gifts. I’m broke; I can’t bear to part with that red envelope.”

“…”

Speechless, Li Yunli couldn’t pull away and relented helplessly. “Fine, fine, no godmother—you’ll be the real mom. Now go to sleep. I regret sharing this pie-in-the-sky idea on a whim. Who knows what’ll happen in a few years. Don’t overthink. I’m exhausted today.”

“Then sleep up here with me. The accompanying bed isn’t comfy.” Ji Zhenshi quickly scooted over, making space.

Everyone knew Ji Zhenshi’s selfish motives.

Li Yunli was pinned down and couldn’t refuse—truth be told, she didn’t want to. Finally able to hold her, she welcomed it.

She lifted the covers and lay down. Since Ji Zhenshi could only lie prone, she rested on Li Yunli’s chest, saying nothing, just gazing at her.

Neither spoke, but their hearts drew inexorably closer, inseparable.

See? Love can’t be hidden; a single glance conveys it.

Li Yunli gazed repeatedly at Ji Zhenshi’s sleeping face in her arms. She was exhausted—rushed here, emotions all over, physically and mentally drained.

But seeing Ji Zhenshi nestled there banished her sleepiness. She stared unwaveringly at her lost-and-found treasure.

It had been hard—so hard. Many insurmountable obstacles, mistakes from inexperience. But in the end, she could hold Ji Zhenshi’s hand again.

Her goddess, her treasure, her everything.

“Good night, my good child.” Li Yunli kissed her forehead lightly.

So much had happened today, but what Li Yunli remembered most was the fulfillment when she hugged Ji Zhenshi from behind—that instant, she held her whole world.

Li Yunli’s fingertips traced Ji Zhenshi’s facial contours, her voice soft, as if to herself. “Xiao Zhen, let me love you properly. I won’t let go of your hand again.”

Even if Yang Ying threatened suicide, she’d selfishly hold on.

Her Xiao Zhen was strong—she could withstand pressure, shine in her passions. They were each other’s lifelong tether, inseparable, never wanting to part.

Tonight there was a moon, bright and round—like mended mirrors made whole.