Chapter 76: (Extra): Kiss Me.

It was peach season again.

Sang Ning received two full crates of peaches from Sang Mingjuan, just like in previous years. She called her back. “Mom, you sent too many this time.”

“Didn’t Wanwan like them?” Sang Mingjuan said softly. “If you can’t finish them, give some to friends or make jam.”

Shen Tingwan was holding Sang Ning close enough to hear clearly. She leaned toward the phone and said with a smile, “Thank you, Auntie.”

Sang Mingjuan replied, “No need to thank me.”

After hanging up, Sang Ning turned around and hugged Shen Tingwan, saying happily, “My mom is pretty reserved, but she really likes you.”

Shen Tingwan could feel it. She smiled and pinched Sang Ning’s cheek. “You take after her in personality.”

Sang Ning wanted to retort. She used to be reserved, but Shen Tingwan had taught her otherwise.

With so many peaches, they couldn’t possibly eat them all. On a free weekend evening, the two of them made jam together in the kitchen. The sweet, fragrant aroma filled the room.

Sang Ning scooped a small spoonful and, once it had cooled, brought it to Shen Tingwan’s lips. “The first taste is yours.”

Shen Tingwan took a bite.

Sang Ning looked at her expectantly. “Is the sweetness okay?”

Shen Tingwan leaned in to let her taste it herself.

Sang Ning understood and obediently licked the jam from her lips and the tip of her tongue, then tasted it while kissing her. From being clumsy and innocent to understanding all sorts of intimacies, she had only lacked a Shen Tingwan.

Shen Tingwan gently rubbed her flushed lips. “Sweet enough?”

Sang Ning’s eyes curved into smiles. Eating it like this was too sweet.

They jarred several containers this time. Knowing Jiang Yunchun couldn’t eat too much sugar, Sang Ning prepared small jars especially for her and brought some for her grandmother to try.

While jarring the jam, Sang Ning thought of something and lowered her head with a grin.

Shen Tingwan asked what she was grinning about.

Sang Ning answered honestly, “I was thinking about how you said I was biased before…”

Shen Tingwan tilted her head. “Aren’t you?”

Sang Ning thought about it and agreed. Her heart was all hers anyway. “I’ll make it for you every year from now on.”

Shen Tingwan kissed her again. The word “from now on” always felt reassuring and happy.

After jarring the jam, the doorbell suddenly rang. Shen Tingwan went to the entryway, checked the video intercom, and opened the door.

“Mom, why are you here so suddenly?”

“I had a gathering nearby tonight and stopped by to see you.”

Sang Ning walked to the living room and glanced toward the entryway. She saw an elegantly poised woman enter the room, who also looked her way.

Shen Tingwan introduced her. “This is my mom.”

Caught off guard by meeting the parent, Sang Ning stepped forward at once. “Hello, Auntie.”

Shen Tingwan briefly introduced her to Shen Yushu. “My girlfriend, Sang Ning. I’ve mentioned her on the phone.”

Shen Yushu’s expression was calm as she nodded politely.

It was Sang Ning’s first time meeting Shen Tingwan’s mother. Shen Tingwan had mentioned her a few times—Shen Yushu was a university professor, usually aloof and authoritative. Her students were intimidated by her and never dared skip her classes.

Shen Tingwan fetched disposable slippers. “Come in first.”

Shen Yushu changed her shoes and walked unhurriedly into the room, sitting on the sofa.

They poured her a glass of water and sat with her on the sofa.

Shen Yushu surveyed the surroundings, her gaze finally settling on the two of them.

The air in the room grew inexplicably tense.

Meeting her in person, Sang Ning truly felt the power of Shen Yushu’s presence. Her features were gentle and beautiful, but her demeanor was cold, keeping people at a distance.

Shen Tingwan quietly squeezed her hand to reassure her a bit.

Shen Yushu took a slow sip of water, set the glass on the coffee table, and asked casually, “Are you living together now?”

Shen Tingwan replied, “Yeah.”

Shen Yushu turned to Sang Ning. “Wanwan said you’re a photographer?”

Sang Ning smiled faintly. “Yes, I run a studio with some friends.”

Shen Yushu’s gaze casually swept over the hearing aid on her ear. Shen Tingwan had told her some things about Sang Ning, and she was quite surprised that her daughter had suddenly gotten a girlfriend—and a girl at that.

Sang Ning felt nervous. Shen Yushu’s expression was neutral, giving no hint of her thoughts.

Shen Yushu asked softly, “What do your parents do?”

Shen Tingwan felt her mother was making the atmosphere too serious. “Mom…”

Shen Yushu smiled faintly. “I should get to know her, shouldn’t I?”

Sang Ning explained her family situation openly. Her parents had divorced early, and she lived with her mother and little aunt. Her family ran a noodle shop. “…Auntie, I’ve already come out to my family, and they all support us.”

Shen Yushu stared at her quietly without speaking.

Sang Ning still couldn’t read her thoughts, but she figured being open and natural was best. She suddenly understood why students were intimidated by Shen Yushu.

Shen Yushu raised an eyebrow and said in a thoroughly rational tone, “To be honest, I’m not optimistic about you two.”

“Mom,” Shen Tingwan frowned. “We’re serious about this. We’ve thought it through a lot before getting together.”

Shen Yushu said lightly, “Is that so?”

“Auntie, we both feel we’re a good match and are very happy together. Time will tell,” Sang Ning replied steadily and sincerely. She wasn’t great with words, but she expressed herself earnestly when it mattered.

Shen Yushu fell silent and said no more.

She didn’t stay long. Checking the time, Shen Yushu stood to leave.

Shen Tingwan asked, “Did you drive? I can take you.”

Shen Yushu said, “No need.”

“Auntie,” Sang Ning called out again and offered her a handheld bag with a smile. “We made this jam ourselves. Try some.”

Shen Yushu saw her eyes sparkling with sincerity and took it. “Thank you.”

Sang Ning smiled.

Shen Tingwan was surprised. She thought Shen Yushu would politely decline—she didn’t like sweets.

Shen Yushu gave nothing away. She had come suddenly on purpose tonight, and this girl was a bit different from what she’d imagined—more confident and stubborn.

The two walked Shen Yushu downstairs.

After Professor Shen left, Shen Tingwan took Sang Ning’s hand. “Were you scared? My mom is pretty serious.”

Sang Ning said, “It’s okay.”

Shen Tingwan hugged her and stroked her hair. “Don’t worry. She’s not opposed to us. She just wanted to check things out. Professor Shen is all about reason.”

“Yeah.” Sang Ning relaxed into a smile. The hug chased away the last bit of her unease.

*

Sang Ning saw Shen Yushu again one weekend when she went with Shen Tingwan to her grandmother’s for dinner. Shen Yushu was there for once.

Shen Yushu sat on the sofa flipping through a book, her hair neatly pinned up, exuding her usual aloof vibe that kept people at bay.

Shen Tingwan resembled her, but her temperament was much gentler.

This time, Sang Ning greeted her more relaxedly. “Hello, Auntie.”

Shen Yushu looked up as the two approached hand in hand, carrying quite a few things.

In contrast, Jiang Yunchun was warm and enthusiastic. She reached out to pull Sang Ning over. “Teacher Xiao Sang is here! Come, come—Grandma missed you so much.”

“Isn’t my granddaughter pretty?” Jiang Yunchun asked Shen Yushu delightedly, pulling Sang Ning along.

Shen Yushu smiled faintly.

“Yushu, I’m telling you, can’t you be a bit more enthusiastic?” Jiang Yunchun wasn’t satisfied with her daughter’s reaction. “Don’t scare the kid.”

Shen Yushu: “…”

Afraid Sang Ning would feel slighted, Jiang Yunchun patted the back of her hand. “Don’t mind her. That’s just her personality. She’s used to being stern with her students.”

Professor Shen: “…………”

Where was she stern?

Shen Tingwan laughed from the side. Teacher Jiang had a way with everyone.

Jiang Yunchun adopted her teacherly authority and continued, “Wanwan likes Xiao Ning, and so do I. Don’t you have any objections.”

Shen Yushu smiled helplessly at the old lady. “When did I say I had any?”

Jiang Yunchun: “That’s more like it.”

Sang Ning was touched and squeezed Jiang Yunchun’s hand.

Jiang Yunchun knew some of Sang Ning’s story and felt sorry for the girl. She smiled kindly. “Grandma dotes on you the most.”

Sang Ning nodded repeatedly. “Yeah.”

Shen Tingwan childishly chimed in, “What about me?”

Jiang Yunchun’s smile deepened. “I dote on you too. You’re both Grandma’s treasures.”

Shen Yushu kept her head down flipping through her book, frowning slightly at how sappy their chat was. After a bit, she called out, “Sang Ning.”

Like being suddenly called on in class, Sang Ning looked at Shen Yushu. “Auntie.”

Shen Yushu picked up a gift box from under the coffee table and handed it to her. “For you.”

Sang Ning felt a bit at a loss.

Shen Yushu was meticulous. Naturally, a parent should give a meeting gift.

Sang Ning reacted. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Shen Yushu said nothing more.

After dinner, Sang Ning and Shen Tingwan took Pi Pi out for a walk to pass the time leisurely.

They chatted idly as they strolled.

Shen Tingwan talked about Shen Yushu. “My mom was a top student from a young age. She was the provincial college entrance exam top scorer back in the day.”

Sang Ning: “That impressive?”

“Yeah.” Shen Tingwan walked slowly as she spoke leisurely. “The teachers’ circle is really competitive about their kids’ achievements. Grandma never pressured her strictly, but she was super driven herself and strived to be the best at everything.”

Sang Ning listened quietly. After a moment, she asked Shen Tingwan, “Are you like that too?”

“Pretty much. She’s strict with me.” The competitive atmosphere in Shen Yushu’s circle was even worse. Shen Tingwan had grown up in it, and in a way, her path mirrored her mother’s. Later, when she went abroad to work and live, it was partly to escape that environment.

Excellence brought fulfillment but also a lot of pressure.

“So when I felt stressed, I’d come to Grandma. I’ve done that since I was little. She knows it too—always saying she both wants me to come and doesn’t.” Shen Tingwan shared a lot while walking.

Sang Ning stopped and hugged her.

Shen Tingwan savored the embrace. She whispered in her ear, “Am I not as carefree as you thought?”

Sang Ning held her tighter and said gently, “Everyone has emotions.”

Shen Tingwan’s heart warmed. “Baby.”

Sang Ning smiled. “Hm?”

Shen Tingwan lingered in the familiar hug. “You bring me so much happiness too.”

Sang Ning looked into her eyes and smiled sweetly and deeply in the evening breeze.

Shen Tingwan stared at her curved lips and suddenly whispered a command, “Kiss me.”

No one was around. Sang Ning obediently said okay and pecked the corner of her mouth.

Shen Tingwan kissed her lip corner too.

Their lips brushed softly. Every kiss made her heart flutter like the first time. Sang Ning greedily kissed her once more.

They went back and forth like that, laughing as they exchanged several light kisses, turning the night air romantic—until Pi Pi walked backward and tugged at them.

At the same time, Shen Yushu’s cool voice came from behind. “Pi Pi.”

Pi Pi bounced lively and responded to Shen Yushu.

The two released their embrace and saw Shen Yushu approaching. Shen Tingwan greeted her. “Leaving already?”

Shen Yushu glanced at them. “Yeah.”

Sang Ning smiled, a bit embarrassed, unsure if Shen Yushu had seen just now.

Shen Yushu looked at Sang Ning a couple more times, understanding why her daughter liked this girl.

After a brief encounter, Shen Yushu slipped her hands into her pants pockets and walked away with brisk, poised strides—cool and dashing.

Only after turning did Shen Yushu show a clear smile. It was good. Her daughter was happier than she was.