Chapter 52

Last weekend, Ming Tai hid a bunch of health supplements, nutritional products, and a thick red envelope from Chen Rui before delivering them to his ex-mother-in-law.

The old lady sat in a recliner covered with a blanket, her silver hair neatly combed. She looked spirited enough, but she didn’t react at all to his greetings.

Yang Guishu said she was hard of hearing, that her hearing had declined with age, and her eyesight wasn’t great either.

When he arrived, there were only three women at home. One of them was the nanny, who was making dinner in the kitchen.

He dawdled, chatting about this and that to stay longer, hoping luck would be on his side and his daughter might come home, letting him mooch a meal before leaving. But before Yang Guishu could chase him off, Chen Rui’s tracking call came in.

She unleashed a torrent of scolding over the phone, berating him for sneaking around to do things for his ex-wife, for failing to prioritize properly now that he had a wife and son, and asking if he wanted to abandon his current family to rekindle old flames with his ex.

The Chen Rui he had first met wasn’t this unreasonable.

Perhaps his face looked too grim after hanging up, or maybe her voice had been too loud on the call—either way, Yang Guishu coldly issued an eviction order.

—My daughter only comes home a few times a year. It’s useless for you to hang around waiting. Go back and keep your wife and son company. Don’t let your second marriage fall apart too, or your parents will blame it on me and my daughter.

Ming Tai silently cursed himself for being spineless.

Before Ming Zihuan was born, his guilt toward Ming You hadn’t weighed on him so heavily. He figured paying enough child support was sufficient.

But in the past two years, under Chen Rui’s complaints about their widowed-style marriage and her constant nagging lectures, he had spent more time with his son. His guilt toward Ming You had only grown stronger as a result. He had failed as both a husband and a father, ending up despised by both sides.

By the time Yang Guishu arrived at the Little Tavern, Ming Tai was truly drunk.

The table was littered with empty beer bottles, baijiu bottles, and fruit wine bottles. Even Ming You felt dizzy and heavy-headed from the alcohol.

“Are you crazy? Why’d you drink so much?” Yang Guishu naturally fussed over her daughter first, touching her forehead. “Yu Yu, come home with Mom.”

Ming You had mentioned in her message that she was there too.

She brushed off Yang Guishu’s hand and pointed at the man slumped over the table. “He said Maternal Grandma has dementia and doesn’t recognize him anymore, right?”

“What dementia? Don’t listen to his nonsense. Maternal Grandma’s doing great. She waits for you to come home every day. Next month is her birthday—we all agreed you’d come back that weekend to celebrate together.”

“Oh.” Next month’s problems could wait until next month.

Ming You drank half a cup of cold buckwheat tea, propped herself up on the table with both hands, stood steady, and collected herself. “He drove here. You take him away. I don’t want to deal with it—let his wife come pick him up. I’m not going home with you. Sister Yan is still waiting for me.”

She glanced at the time—it was already nine-thirty.

“Can you even walk like this?”

Yang Guishu grabbed her daughter’s arm, thinking to herself that daughters grow up and marry out. She came home but wouldn’t stay, always running off to someone else’s place. “Where does your Sister Yan live? I’ll drop you off. If you go, I can’t manage your dad on my own.”

A cab was a car, and driving was a car. Ming You went along with Ms. Yang’s plan.

After settling the bill, Yang Guishu and Ming You supported Ming Tai—one on each side—as they went downstairs to find the car. This street wasn’t a main road; it was mostly lined with all-night eateries, and plenty of cars were parked along both sides.

She pressed the car key fob—bam, the black Mercedes was right there on the first floor to the right. They got him settled in the back seat, one at each end. Then Ming You asked Yang Guishu, “Did you take a cab?”

“I drove. I was afraid he’d puke. If he does, let him puke in his own car.” As she was about to close the back door, Yang Guishu’s hand was grabbed by Ming Tai.

“Yu Yu, Yu Yu, don’t worry. Ming Zihuan is my son, and you’re my daughter. I won’t play favorites. Whatever I give him in the future, I’ll give you the same. I swore it to your mom. Today, you swear too… In a couple days, a couple days, I’ll go make a will. See who dares stop me…”

Yang Guishu gave Ming You an awkward smile. “That wasn’t me forcing him to swear or anything. He did it himself. Whatever he gives you, take it. Your household registration is still with the Ming Family. Don’t let those two get the benefit.”

She pried Ming Tai’s hand off, then ruffled his hair. “Look what you’ve done to your dad—his scalp’s all patchy with white hair.”

After the hair, she inspected his face from both sides. “No one punched you in the face? Weren’t you gonna fight? Look at this old mug, all those wrinkles. It’s a far cry from his younger days. All things considered, me and my daughter got the best of it.”

Ming You: “…”

A man in his forties is like a flower in bloom. At Ming Tai’s age, with success in both career and family, he should have been a total winner in life. But as Ming You looked at his weathered face and the big belly straining against his unbuttoned shirt, he seemed at least ten years older than the father in her memories.

They had lived apart for only seven years.

Yang Guishu drove Ming You to the gates of Xuelin Elegance Garden. Before getting out, Ming You said, “Mom, I’m sorry. I owe you, Maternal Grandma, and Uncle Gao that much.”

She was apologizing for storming out that day.

Ming Tai had rambled incoherently until his mouth went dry, but it hadn’t been for nothing. Ming You took it to heart, and it hit her deeply.

The trip had been worth it.

Yang Guishu was stunned for a moment before saying, “It’s not your fault. Mom doesn’t blame you. Neither do Maternal Grandma and the others.”

“I’ll come home for Maternal Grandma’s birthday and have dinner. I’ll order the cake.”

…

At the apartment, Ming You didn’t knock. Instead, she stood at the door and messaged Yan Ningxi: 【Sister Yan, I’m back.】

Less than a minute later, the door opened from inside. As Ming You changed her shoes, Yan Ningxi smelled the alcohol on her, but drinking didn’t necessarily mean she’d eaten: “Did you have dinner?”

“No. I want to eat what you made.” Yan Ningxi must have saved some food for her—she’d eat even if she had no appetite.

“Go wash up. I’ll heat it for you.”

Yan Ningxi wore pajamas, clearly already freshened up. Ming You could smell shampoo up close. Not wanting to pass on the booze smell, she resisted the urge to hug her.

The microwave heated up three dishes and a soup, which she plated one by one. “Eat just a little.”

As soon as Ming You sat down, Yan Ningxi turned and went into the bedroom. Every dish looked fresh off the stove, but Yan Ningxi hadn’t eaten a bite herself?

She set down the chopsticks she’d just picked up. Yan Ningxi hadn’t kept her company because she hadn’t kept Yan Ningxi company. A sudden wave of sadness crashed over her.

She picked up the chopsticks again, took a few bites of everything, then cleaned the table spotless.

Her pajamas were already laid out on the bed by Yan Ningxi.

After showering and blow-drying her hair, Ming You tiptoed into the bedroom. Yan Ningxi was half-reclining, eyes lightly closed, blanket covering her waist, with an open book on top—Far Far Away.

She leaned in for a closer look. A strand of playful bangs hung over her smooth forehead, tangled with her long lashes.

She leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead.

The moment her lips parted, Yan Ningxi opened her eyes.

“All done?”

Composed as ever, as if accustomed to the girl’s affection, she closed the book and set it on the nightstand. “Sleep.”

“Sister Yan.” Ming You knelt on the bed with one knee, brushing aside the long hair covering her ear with her left hand. Her warm fingers gently touched the small, soft earlobe.

Neither of them had pierced ears.

Yan Ningxi felt a jolt of electricity from her ear racing through her body. She tilted her head slightly, trying to evade that electrified hand.

The next second, a shadow descended swiftly, claiming her rosy lips.

Ming You braced her right hand to Yan Ningxi’s left, her left hand lightly kneading Yan Ningxi’s right ear, unable to get enough.

Yan Ningxi’s eyes flew wide, forgetting to breathe.

Ming You’s breaths came slow too, afraid to startle her beauty. She gently rubbed those soft thin lips, waiting for her breathing to steady before extending the tip of her tongue to slowly trace the outline.

The wet sensation on her lips disordered Yan Ningxi’s breathing again. She closed her eyes.

No rejection. No resistance.

The thrilled girl put the kissing details she’d read in novels to practical use. Her tongue tip pressed harder, brushing over her upper and lower teeth, prying open a gap, probing and exploring forward.

Their sweet saliva mingled, both mouths carrying the same lingering orchid scent.

Unprecedented pleasure in body and soul.

This was a real “first kiss,” wasn’t it? Utterly wondrous.

Like spring rain, like a babbling brook, like rain on banana leaves, like wind over wheat waves— no beautiful phrase in the world could overstate it.

The “homework” she’d crammed in secret over the weekend paid off. Real action beat theory, making her blush and heart race. The dating guide said kissing reveals desire, like, and love more than sex ever could.

She desired Yan Ningxi, liked holding her hand, hugging her, kissing her. It wasn’t impulsive—it was long premeditated.

She had wanted to kiss her ever since that train ride.

When their tongue tips met, even the girl grew shy. She withdrew, sucking on the lip petals before playfully nipping her lower lip.

Yan Ningxi opened her eyes at the sting.

She saw the happy, joyful girl she’d hoped for.

Ming You cupped Yan Ningxi’s face, her left thumb rubbing her chin. What followed was another long, tender, intoxicating deep kiss.

Yan Ningxi’s tongue tip went numb from the kissing, her throat issuing protesting whimpers as her hands pushed at Ming You’s waist.

That enchanting first kiss—stopping was so hard. Ming You’s tongue was finally nipped, forcing a pause.

Snapping out of the dream, she panicked. “Sorry!” Covering her mouth, she tumbled off the bed like a rolling crab to pour a cup of water and bring it back. “Want some water?”

Yan Ningxi shot her a reproachful glare, two red blushes on her cheeks. She propped herself up to sip half the cup, then immediately lay back and burrowed into the covers like an ostrich. “Turn off the light.”

In college, Qi Xuexin always used her “first kiss” with her second girlfriend as a teaching moment. No matter how vividly she described it, Yan Ningxi felt nothing. Tongues entwining, saliva exchanging—it was repulsive just to imagine.

She had never fantasized about one day embracing someone in a dreamy, illusory French kiss.

But today, she finally understood the praise for first kisses—and lost herself in it.

Ming You finished the rest of the water, turned off the light, circled to the other side, set the cup on the windowsill, and got into bed.

Happily hugging Yan Ningxi over the blanket, a charming smile played on her lips. “Sister Yan, thank you.” Thank you for letting me know I’m not imagining things.

And thank you for proving that online advice right: “To like a butterfly, don’t chase it, don’t catch it—plant flowers, plant grass.”

Darkness was the best camouflage. Yan Ningxi’s hand under the blanket pushed at the girl. “Cover up. Don’t catch a cold.”

“No blanket. I feel so hot.”

“…” As if she wasn’t burning up all over.

Ming You was wildly excited, nuzzling into Yan Ningxi’s neck. It left Yan Ningxi hot and restless all over. She threw back the blanket to wrap the girl up— if it was hot, they’d be hot together.

This move was like walking into a trap, a lamb into a tiger’s mouth.

Youth burned with vigor, pressing the advantage, growing bolder. Arms encircled her waist, teeth nipped her earlobe, and a whispered “Sister Yan, you taste so sweet” sent Yan Ningxi sinking again.

Just kissing sent both their temperatures skyrocketing.

Kissing Ming You felt like floating in the clouds—body light, limbs weak, brain oxygen-starved, mind blank. And Ming You’s slow seduction mixed with clumsy, unstructured technique made it clear: this was her first kiss too.

After the kiss, Ming You kicked off the blanket to cool down and lay flat beside Yan Ningxi, holding her right hand with her left. “Tell you about my family?”