Chapter 23: Self-Consistency Part 3

The breeze through the sycamores carried away the day’s heat. They walked shoulder to shoulder, streetlight filtering through the leaves, dappling their faces and bodies.

Miao Zhu’s nose filled with summer scents and Mu Shanyi’s unique, familiar fragrance.

The words were on the tip of her tongue when Mu Shanyi suddenly said: “He… sorry, I forgot her name.”

“He Zizhou?” Miao Zhu was puzzled why Mu Shanyi brought her up now.

“Right, He Zizhou. Do you two keep in touch?”

“No, we just ran into each other by chance.”

“You and Xingran had a falling out over her before.”

Miao Zhu couldn’t deny it—Mu Shanyi had witnessed the whole unpleasant scene. …But since Mu Shanyi brought up Sheng Xingran first, Miao Zhu seized the opening: “Sister A-Heng, I…”

“Mm?” Mu Shanyi’s gaze was gentle, like clear moonlight.

Miao Zhu: “…want a cigarette.”

The He Zizhou topic seemed like a whim from Mu Shanyi, and it ended there.

They continued along the road, leaving the sycamore avenue, passing through the park, and stopped at the outdoor smoking area of a coffee shop. Mu Shanyi took out a cigarette, and Miao Zhu held it between her lips to light it.

Cicadas chirped in waves. Miao Zhu stood against the white wall, red lips and white teeth, blue smoke blurring her brows and eyes.

“How long have you been smoking?” Mu Shanyi asked.

“Don’t remember. Three or four years? Or four or five.” As the cigarette reached her lips again, Miao Zhu leaned in, but Mu Shanyi raised her hand.

Her thumb rested on Miao Zhu’s lips, the other fingers brushing her cheek softly.

The light in the coffee shop wasn’t bright enough to illuminate this area, leaving it shrouded in shadows, yet it did nothing to diminish the deep, jade-like elegance of Mu Shanyi’s eyes and features.

Miao Zhu turned her face sideways, her soft lips brushing against Mu Shanyi’s fingertip.

Mu Shanyi took the cigarette from Miao Zhu’s hand.

“What about you?” Miao Zhu asked in turn.

“I don’t remember. Longer ago, probably.”

A child skipped by hand-in-hand with their parent. Mu Shanyi leaned against the wall, cupping the cigarette in her palm until the child was out of sight before bringing it back out.

Her slender fingers held the cigarette, her beautiful hair cascading like clouds or flowing algae. “No real addiction. I just smoke for fun.” Mu Shanyi lifted her head and exhaled a plume of smoke into the air.

It was Miao Zhu’s turn to take the cigarette back. Their overlapping lip prints marked the filter. She lowered her eyes, took one last drag, and stubbed it out.

She had delayed long enough. Now was the time.

“Sister A-Heng, I’ll be in Southern France for a few weeks this month.”

“Sure.” Mu Shanyi responded naturally.

“With Xingran. We leave tomorrow.”

The cicadas’ chorus exploded in her ears. Miao Zhu shivered and glanced at Mu Shanyi’s reaction, but Mu Shanyi merely smiled as if it were nothing.

“Let’s go.” Mu Shanyi took her hand. “Is that what you wanted to tell me last time we met?”

“…” Miao Zhu acquiesced silently.

“Hesitating like that, so conflicted—are you afraid of upsetting me? I’ve told you, you don’t need to worry about my feelings. I have no demands on you.” Mu Shanyi’s words came slowly. “Do whatever you want. No pressure. Just be happy.”

Could it really be that simple? No matter what she did?

Miao Zhu felt like she had stepped into a dream. She could handle Miao Ling’s various criticisms, but she didn’t know how to deal with Mu Shanyi’s indulgence.

After all that anxiety, Mu Shanyi brushed it off so lightly?

It was… over?

She couldn’t tell what emotion stirred in her heart—relief that it was great, yet a sense of unease, leaving her adrift in confusion.

Miao Zhu kept her head down and said nothing. They crossed a pedestrian bridge, and Mu Shanyi glanced at the roadside. “Hot? Want to get some ice cream with me?”

The ice cream shop was just a few steps away. Mu Shanyi led Miao Zhu inside. She pushed open the door and stood before the display case, facing the array of flavors without a clue, and asked Miao Zhu, “How should we pair them?”

Miao Zhu wasn’t in high spirits, but she had little resistance to sweets, especially since it was for Mu Shanyi. “…Vanilla and rose, with hazelnuts on top.”

Mu Shanyi smiled and told the shop assistant, “Two of those, please. Thank you.”

After paying, they sat by the glass window inside the shop.

People passed by outside nonstop. Mu Shanyi’s movements as she scooped ice cream with her spoon were refined and elegant. Miao Zhu gazed at Mu Shanyi’s clear, noble silhouette reflected on the glass.

—Mu Shanyi wasn’t angry. That was undoubtedly a good thing.

—But why wasn’t Mu Shanyi angry? Did she not care anymore?

The sweet ice cream tantalized her taste buds and soothed her nerves. Miao Zhu tried to compose herself. Mu Shanyi took only two bites before stopping. Miao Zhu asked, “Don’t like it?”

Mu Shanyi replied, “Just thirsty. Want some water?”

Miao Zhu shook her head. “I’m not thirsty.”

Mu Shanyi went out to buy water and returned. Miao Zhu was still eating her ice cream slowly, lost in a daze.

She stood behind Miao Zhu, and their eyes met in the glass reflection.

They gazed at each other in silence. Miao Zhu tilted her head back. Spotlights shone from above. The moment Miao Zhu closed her eyes, Mu Shanyi leaned down and kissed her.

The kiss was light. After a moment, Mu Shanyi wiped the smudged lipstick from Miao Zhu’s lips.

The half-hour walk, with its stops and starts, took them nearly an hour to reach Lu Zheng.

They were close to Moon Reflection Villa now. Mu Shanyi dropped Miao Zhu off outside the neighborhood.

Mu Shanyi didn’t get out of the car, only lowering the window. Miao Zhu stood by the door to say goodbye.