Chapter 61: Romance

The sky had not yet fully darkened when Ming You and Yan Ningxi walked hand in hand back to the Little Flat Building, an umbrella tucked inside Ming You’s hat.

Aunt Mei’s dinner was ready on the rooftop. Seeing the two of them, she greeted them warmly. “You’re here? Sit down, sit down. On such a cold day, lamb soup hotpot will drive away the chill. Any dietary restrictions?”

She was mainly asking Yan Ningxi.

Yan Ningxi answered, “None.” She wanted to help but didn’t know where to start.

Seeing five sets of bowls and chopsticks on the table, Ming You pressed her down into her seat before her hand could even touch them. “Sit still and don’t move. I’ll help Aunt Mei.”

Sit still.

It was too embarrassing.

Aunt Mei caught it and turned it into teasing fodder. “The heater in the cabin is strong, huh? Your face is rosier than when you first arrived.”

“Um, the room is very warm.” Yan Ningxi was a Chinese teacher, after all. She might not have many compliments for people, but flowery words for praising objects came easily to her. “The wooden cabin is also quite unique—exquisitely designed, blending seamlessly with the forest, complementing each other perfectly.”

Aunt Mei praised her. “A teacher is a teacher—such eloquence, words flowing like poetry. Truly extraordinary.”

The flattery was blasting at full volume!

Ming You stepped between them to block their line of sight. “Aunt Mei, is the new rule that we have to do an idiom chain before we can eat?”

“Where’s any new rule? Besides, one of you teaches and the other studies broadcasting. If you two actually played a kids’ game like idiom chain, you’d team up and conquer the world without rivals.” Aunt Mei called it off. “The honor of throwing out a brick to get a jade gem? Let someone else do it. This middle-aged lady won’t show off her axe skills in front of you young folks like Lu Ban.”

As she spoke, two young people came up to the rooftop. The man held two small bottles of baijiu, while the woman carried two large platters of cut fruit.

Spotting Ming You, the man waved a bottle in front of her. “Little girl, it’s been so long. Tonight, you have to finish at least one whole bottle, no leaving until you’re fully drunk!”

“All you think about is drinking. Has the baby been born yet? Aren’t you afraid your wife will kick you out of bed tonight?” Yang Guishu had told her about it after staying for summer vacation—the young couple was trying for a baby. Looking at the woman’s belly, she didn’t seem pregnant yet.

“Come next winter, and I’ll give you a godson!” The man laughed, only to get kicked in the calf by his wife.

“What godson! How old is she? That’s not how you bump up generations! You’re always going on about sons and sons. You don’t want a daughter if she comes?” After scolding him, the woman gave Ming You an apologetic smile. “We just found out—barely two months along.”

“Congratulations, Sister Wei.”

After offering her congratulations, Ming You leaned close to the rising Yan Ningxi and whispered, “These two are Aunt Mei’s son and daughter-in-law. Son Yang Wei, daughter-in-law Yang Wei. Their names sound alike—one’s the ‘wei’ from maintain, the other’s the ‘wei’ from rose. Age-wise… whatever, they’ll both have to call you ‘sis’ anyway.”

“This must be Teacher Yan?” Yang Wei set the liquor on the table. “My mom said you brought a beauty. I asked how beautiful, and she said the kind all the wolves on the mountain would fight to snatch away. Now that I see you, Mom was right.”

“Sister Wei, should we gouge out his eyes or rip out his mouth?” Ming You was used to Yang Wei’s antics.

“Get him drunk and drag him out to dump him somewhere. Save the trouble.”

Hearing that, Yang Wei immediately surrendered and ran off to massage his wife’s shoulders. “Wifey, if you dump me, when our kid asks for Daddy later, what are you gonna say?”

“I’ll find him a stepdad.”

“Ah… Mom, they’re all bullying me! If you don’t back me up, there won’t be a son!”

Aunt Mei ignored her son’s plea for help and shouldered him aside. “What are you howling about? I’m about to have a grandson—what do I need another son for!”

“…” Yang Wei looked like he was about to cry without tears. He sighed. “Wifey, you have to give birth to a daughter. If it’s a son, he might grow up miserable like me—unloved by Dad, uncared for by Mom, and even his wife won’t love him.”

Yang Wei stuffed a jujube into his mouth. “There are guests here!”

Watching and listening to their playful banter and laughter, Yan Ningxi’s tension melted away amid the cheerful noise.

…

On such a cold day, dining “under the open sky” on a mountain near zero degrees was a real test of endurance. Fortunately, it was a shelter with a transparent windproof curtain, and there was a basin of charcoal fire under the table, so no one was shivering too badly to speak.

“Teacher Yan, don’t mind him. My husband’s just a big kid without a shred of propriety. He’s known Ming You since they were little and always ribs her like this when they meet, but they actually get along great.” Yang Wei sat to Yan Ningxi’s left. “Come sit. Let them handle things—I can chat with you. I’m Yang Wei. If you don’t mind, call me Weiwei.”

Yang Wei was twenty-five, with a goose-egg-shaped baby face.

She had flash-married Yang Wei at twenty-two and spent the three years since helping out at the guesthouse on the mountain. Having seen travelers from all over, she’d picked up a knack for reading people and talking accordingly.

“Nice to meet you, Weiwei.” Outside of teaching class, Yan Ningxi was always passive.

“You and Ming You… are you the teacher who taught her?”

“No.”

“Oh, I thought you were her teacher and got close through classes, inside and out.”

Yan Ningxi couldn’t easily explain how she and Ming You had met. Saying “at a bar” definitely wouldn’t do, and “at Teacher He’s wedding” was too vague in a few words.

As she pondered how to phrase it appropriately, Yang Wei continued. “In past summers or winters, when Ming You came to stay with her mom, it was three to five days short or ten days to half a month long. She never mentioned any classmates or friends. She doesn’t talk much either—it’s always Yang Wei provoking her before they bicker a bit.”

“Staying so many days, what did she do every day?” Yan Ningxi wanted to know. In the years before she knew the girl, in the past without her involvement, what sweet dreams had the girl dreamed on this mountain?

Not just this mountain—she wanted to know what footprints the girl had left across the world’s rivers and lakes, plains and mountains, ancient towns and cities. Not mere curiosity, but care.

Yang Wei knew Ming You’s mountain vacation routines like the back of her hand.

“She slept until she woke naturally every day, getting up around ten, no exceptions regardless of season. In summer, after breakfast, she’d hike in the mountains for an hour. Afternoons were for fishing, bamboo rafting, or cards—but never billiards.” She pointed to the shelter nearby, where two pool tables sat.

“The fish she caught, she’d usually keep just two big ones for grilled or pickled fish, releasing the rest. The bamboo rafts? Mostly just lying or sitting on them to meditate, occasionally swimming a few laps. Cards? She’s sharp, counts them—we’re no match.”

“At night… she has an astronomical telescope. Last summer, Yang Wei and I were worried about her alone, so we stayed up with her for the Perseid Meteor Shower. From eight at night until midnight, he fell asleep in the car. Red Bull got us through until two a.m. I’ve never seen so many shooting stars streak across the sky in my life—it was truly romantic.”

How romantic? More than the Milky Way in the little wooden cabin?

Yan Ningxi looked at the girl who was portioning out dishes. In that moment, she envied Yang Wei—for the romantic adventure she’d shared with the girl.

The round table was soon filled with a ring of boiled dishes—meats, veggies, hot dishes, and cold ones.

“She skis too. Tomorrow, you two could go to the Front Mountain Ski Resort. If you can get up, head to the summit early for the Sea of Clouds.”

“The Sea of Clouds only happens after snow on a clear day. Even if it snows tonight and clears tomorrow, it’s still luck-based.” Ming You sat to Yan Ningxi’s right, having just caught Yang Wei mentioning the Sea of Clouds. She was lazy and hadn’t bothered to see it despite countless visits.

Yang Wei counted on her fingers and laughed. “Looking at Teacher Yan’s face, your luck won’t be bad.”

Aunt Mei and Yang Wei also took their seats.

Yang Wei poured drinks starting from his mom on his left, going around.

When he reached Yan Ningxi’s cup, Ming You blocked the rim with her hand. “Sister Yan drinks soup with Sister Wei. Us three drink. If you get drunk, someone takes care of you. If I get drunk, someone has to take care of me too.”

“Deal! You said it—no getting drunk, no leaving.” Yang Wei pulled back and filled his own cup.

Yang Wei also opened a bottle of warmed peanut milk, filling cups for Yan Ningxi and herself. She whispered, “Ming You holds her liquor well—never seen her drunk.”

She meant to reassure Yan Ningxi, but it planted doubts about Ming You’s previous “drunk” episodes.

Had she started faking it from that first night at the bar?

“Come on, this toast welcomes Teacher Yan! And congratulates our little Ming girl—finally has a friend!”

Aunt Mei raised her cup, but Ming You wasn’t thrilled with the toast. “Aunt Mei, are you helping your son get revenge?”

Yang Wei fanned the flames. “She’s my real mom—of course she sides with me. Who told you not to recognize her as Mom? Let me tell you, she’s held that grudge all along!”

It was only in high school that he’d heard from his dad how his mom had fallen for the pink-and-jade-carved little Ming You at first sight and wanted to take her home to raise. Her parents wouldn’t have it, of course.

So, settle for a goddaughter? Rejected flat-out by the little girl. She flat-out refused, saying she didn’t want a brother—dry brother no good either.

She was one stubborn mule, never calling him “bro” to this day. Instead, she called him—Big Yang Wei!

“You’re the smallest-minded. Don’t try to drive a wedge—neither Aunt Mei nor I will fall for it.” Ming You raised her cup. “No long speeches. Here’s to no worries, meat and booze every day, sweet dreams every night, happiness every day.”

Yang Wei raised hers in agreement. “Sweet dreams every night, happiness every day!”

The five clinked glasses together. Before drinking, Ming You separately clinked with Yan Ningxi’s. Their eyes met, a faint smile exchanged—understanding without words.

…

During the meal, it was mostly Aunt Mei’s family of three keeping the conversation going, sharing colorful anecdotes and funny stories from various guests. They didn’t pry much into Ming You and Yan Ningxi.

When guest calls came or someone came up from downstairs with questions, Yang Wei handled it all solo, bustling up and down efficiently without a single complaint.

By the time they finished eating, night had fallen. Lights came on in all the cabins, a kaleidoscope of colors rivaling a city of ten thousand homes.

Aunt Mei and Yang Wei cleared the table while the three young women stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the edge, taking in the unique night view of the mountain guesthouse.

Yang Wei zipped her jacket all the way up. “Wind’s picking up.”

Standing in the middle, Ming You turned to take Yan Ningxi’s hand. Before she could ask if she was cold, a snowflake twirled down onto the back of her hand, sparkling and translucent.

“It’s snowing.”

She held Yan Ningxi’s hand palm-up, catching flake after flake. “This is the auspicious snow that brings sweet dreams.”

Cheers of “It’s snowing!” rose from downstairs and other cabins as guests poured out their doors—snapping photos, shooting videos, going live. What a lively scene.

Yang Wei and the others had seen it too many times to get excited. She turned concerned to the other two. “While the snow’s still light, you two play a bit then head back to the little wooden cabin to warm up. Need anything else?”

Ming You mentally inventoried their stuff. “Gloves. Sister Wei, got any? Lend me two pairs.” She smiled at Yan Ningxi. “If the snow gets heavy, we can build a snowman tomorrow morning.”

“What about the Sea of Clouds?” Snowmen could wait—she wanted to do all sorts of childish romantic things with Ming You.

Ming You: ???

The onlooker snickered and egged it on. “Got gloves. Sea of Clouds… believe it’ll happen too. Teacher Yan, if you can drag her out at six a.m., I’ll have Big Yang Wei drive you up for it.”

Ming You: !!!

“Come on, I’ll grab you those gloves.” Yang Wei took small steps away.

Yan Ningxi brushed the snowflakes from Ming You’s hair. “Check the weather forecast before bed and decide.”

“No deciding,” Ming You declared on the spot. “We’re going. Unless it’s knives or hail from the sky. Though… actually, I’ve never seen the Sea of Clouds either.”