After doing another round of mental preparation in the bathroom, Ming You felt full of energy. She came to the living room and stood obediently by the sofa.
“Uncle, I went out of town for an event a couple of days ago. Today, on my way back, I passed through here. I thought since Sister Yan’s home is right nearby, tomorrow I could travel back to Huai’an with her. I hope my uninvited visit isn’t bothering you.”
A Go board sat on the coffee table with black and white pieces arranged on it. Yan Qixiang held a white stone in his hand.
He placed it down gently.
Then he picked up a black stone, looked up slightly at Ming You, and asked, “How old are you?”
“In my early twenties.” This was the answer she had prepared in advance, making the age gap with Yan Ningxi seem not so big. She was already over twenty, and by virtual age, that was early twenties.
“Mm, you don’t look like her classmate or colleague. You’re still in university, right? What major?” The black stone fell, and he saw right through her in one sentence.
“Broadcasting hosting major.”
“An arts major? Do you attend an arts college or a comprehensive university?” Yan Qixiang was a high school physics teacher who had only retired recently. In recent years, the number of art exam candidates had mushroomed like after-spring-rain bamboo shoots, so he naturally knew a thing or two from his time at school.
“Hengyuan Media University. Have you heard of it? Among arts colleges, it’s pretty high in the comprehensive rankings.”
“I’ve heard of it a little. No need to be so formal. Friends brought home by Ningxi must be close to her. Before today, she never brought any friends home. I’m old, and there’s probably a generation gap with you young people. I don’t talk much, so make yourselves at home.”
Yan Ningxi had heated up the dishes. “Ming You, come eat. Dad, have a bit more?”
Ming You: “Oh.”
Yan Qixiang: “I’ve eaten. You two go ahead.”
Yan Ningxi hadn’t taken Ming You out to eat, nor had she told her the truth about her father being over sixty. She just wanted Ming You to get a direct feel for it.
Their family wasn’t some traditional scholarly household in the classic sense. They were just ordinary folk, one of countless small, modest families. They lived in an old neighborhood complex that had been built at least fifteen years ago.
The few years’ age difference between her and Ming You wasn’t just a simple number.
During the meal, both of them were quiet.
Yan Qixiang went to the balcony to check the weather. “No rain now. I’ll go out for a walk and buy some vegetables while I’m at it.”
“Dad, don’t buy too much. She and I don’t eat a lot.”
She only came home once every few months. There was no reason to eat just two meals at home and then go out with a friend. Yan Ningxi planned to have Ming You eat all her meals at home.
After the meal, Yan Ningxi didn’t let Ming You wash the dishes. “You rushed here by car first thing in the morning. Go rest in my room. Be good.”
“Oh.”
“Did you bring your medicine?”
“No, it’s in my suitcase. I took it all day yesterday, so I don’t need it today. Other than a poor appetite, I have no other symptoms. Look, I just ate so much—you even cured my poor appetite.”
“Quit fooling around.”
After cleaning up the kitchen, Yan Ningxi still worried about Ming You’s health. “Let’s still go to the hotel. You must take the medicine.”
“Sister Yan, can I ask something about your mother?”
“Ask away.”
“Why is there not a single photo of Auntie in the house?”
“My dad put them all away.”
In fact, all the family photos had been burned for her mother by her father. Yan Ningxi hadn’t secretly kept any but had taken photos of them and saved them on her computer.
Ming You put the book she had flipped through back on the shelf and took Yan Ningxi’s hand. “Thinking of Auntie now still makes you sad, right?”
“Mm.” Yan Ningxi didn’t deny it.
“Auntie would definitely be very gratified. Her daughter turned out just like her, becoming an outstanding people’s teacher.” The more she learned about Yan Ningxi, the more Ming You liked her and felt sorry for her. She wanted to give her all the good things in the world.
…
At the hotel, Ming You obediently took her medicine and popped a mint candy in her mouth. The room only had her and Yan Ningxi in it, with no time pressure, so she let loose without restraint.
It was a nationwide chain budget hotel, not on a main road. Though the floor wasn’t high, with the window open, the noise was still relatively low.
Yan Ningxi stood by the window, checking the window’s condition and the street layout outside. With a sweet, cloying “Sister Yan,” she was hugged from behind at the waist by Ming You. Hot breath soon followed on her right neck, and after her earlobe was licked once, it was drawn into Ming You’s mouth.
“Mm, Ming You…” Yan Ningxi’s body went from tense to soft in just a few seconds.
It was a double-seater sofa. Ming You held her and shifted step by step, easily pressing her into the sofa while sitting on Yan Ningxi’s lap herself.
As she sat, the kiss arrived right after.
Her arms wrapped around Yan Ningxi’s neck, their lips and tongues entwining. Yan Ningxi responded passionately, her hands pulling at her waist and back.
The long-craved deep kiss, in their mutual embrace and drawing from each other, finally satisfied them both.
After the kiss, someone pouted and complained, “I didn’t shower properly the last two nights. Smell me—do I stink?”
They had kissed several times now. She was still shy, but no longer had that ostrich mentality of being too embarrassed to face each other afterward. Yan Ningxi blushed and pushed her. “If you want to shower, go shower. You can take a nap after.”
Ming You rested her chin on Yan Ningxi’s shoulder. “I’ll go shower, but you can’t leave, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“Am I heavy?”
“No.”
“Then in the future, we can hold each other like this too…” She kissed the last three words so only Yan Ningxi’s left ear heard.
She turned her head away, moving her burning ear from Ming You. “Go shower quick.”
The girl let out bell-like laughter and pecked the exposed skin on Yan Ningxi. “I’m going to shower.”
Twenty-odd minutes later, the girl, who had washed from head to toe until she smelled fresh, threw on her pajamas and pounced onto the bed, utterly refreshed. Propping her head with both hands, she looked at Yan Ningxi on the sofa. “Sister Yan, come sleep with me.”
“No pajamas, not convenient.” She had only worn thick cropped pants when she went out.
Ming You rolled over on the bed, sprawling on her legs like a puppy and looking up at her pleadingly. “Just take off your outer clothes. You can swap into my pajama pants. My pajama top is big and long enough to be a nightgown.”
Yan Ningxi stroked the girl’s hair and gave in.
They both lay down on the bed one after another. Ming You was as happy as a puppy that had gotten a bone, rubbing her still-damp hair tirelessly against Yan Ningxi’s chin and neck.
“Not sleepy?” Yan Ningxi raised a hand to hold still Ming You’s restless head.
“Why did Uncle and Auntie have you so late?” After kissing Yan Ningxi’s chin, Ming You voiced the question puzzling her.
Judging by Yan Qixiang’s age and roughly estimating the age gap with Yan Ningxi, they must have been at least thirty-five or older when they had her. Couples having children late usually had reasons.
A trace of barely perceptible sorrow flashed in Yan Ningxi’s eyes. “If they’d had me earlier, I wouldn’t just be seven years older than you.”
True. If Yan Ningxi had been born a few years earlier, their age gap would be even bigger. No, it wasn’t even about the age difference. They might never have met at all.
“Us like this is just right.” Ming You held Yan Ningxi’s hand and lay down properly. “Sister Yan, you’ll have me from now on.”
“You’re getting ahead of yourself.” The ever-sober Yan Ningxi in the human world.
Dating could be just between two people, regardless of age or gender. But whether two women, two men, or one of each, forming a new family always involved both sides’ original families.
She needed to make Ming You see it clearly sooner, and make herself see it clearly sooner.
They had met on New Year’s Day first day, both hiding their own secrets. From the moment Ming You stepped through the door, she started overthinking, hesitant and fearful.
Her only “family” was her elderly father.
With her father’s personality, alone as he was, he wouldn’t find another partner. In a few more years, when his hands and feet weren’t as nimble and his health wasn’t as robust, she would have to shoulder the duty and responsibility of caring for him as his child.
Her father and Ming You were over forty years apart. She and Ming You’s parents were only about a dozen years apart.
Ming You was still so young, in her prime, with boundless prospects ahead—just the age to enjoy her youth to the fullest.
With her own circumstances and conditions, how could she climb over the towering perilous peaks to reach the same world as Ming You and move forward at the same pace?
She liked Ming You and wanted to walk forward with her wholeheartedly, but reality didn’t allow it.
Unable to give promises and unwilling to ruthlessly push her away, she could only endure the torment herself, making the most of every extra day. She hoped that since fate had already given her enough trials in her background, it might show mercy in her love life.
Ming You’s phone rang with a voice call. “It’s Gu Xirui.”
She had messaged Gu Xirui after arriving. They should be on the road back to school by now.
“Hello, Xirui?”
“Ming You, you’ve arrived, right? Are you with your sister?”
“???” She had mentioned last night to Gu Xirui that she was going to find Yan Ningxi. “Yeah, we’re together.”
“Oh, good. We’re on the highway too. The trip back feels faster than coming. Are you… free for me to say a word to your sister?”
“???” Ming You looked at Yan Ningxi for approval. “Xirui has something to say to you.”
Yan Ningxi nodded.
Ming You turned on speakerphone. Yan Ningxi spoke. “Xirui, Happy New Year.”
“Sister, hi. Happy New Year to you too.”
“What do you want to say?”
“It’s just… about Ming You’s gastroenteritis. Sister, please make sure she takes her medicine.”
“Okay, I watched her take it at noon.”
“As long as she doesn’t forget, that’s fine. Won’t disturb you anymore. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Gu Xirui hung up. While the two of them exchanged looks, a message came: 【The teacher made me call. She was right next to me.】
Ming You showed the message to Yan Ningxi, then quickly shoved her head under the covers, afraid of a lecture.
“I considered safety on the way here. I kept in touch with Xirui the whole time.”
Yan Ningxi patted her through the blanket, her tone seeming to carry a hint of teasing. “Safety first. Your teacher is quite responsible too. She won’t write you up, right?”
“She won’t.” Not getting scolded, Ming You pulled down the covers to breathe. “The one leading the trip isn’t from our department.”
…
Outside the window, it was overcast. A winter rain stopped and started, started and stopped.
The bed was very warm—so warm that Yan Ningxi grew drowsy too. She held Ming You in her arms like a child. Only in moments like this did she not have to think about what lay beyond the room door, or fear how muddy and difficult tomorrow’s road would be.
She and her, in a utopian dream.
One of Ming You’s legs pressed on Yan Ningxi’s, her right hand resting on Yan Ningxi’s waist. This nap was the most comfortable sleep she had had in days.
Yan Ningxi hadn’t fully lain down; her pillow was propped high, while Ming You used her arm as one.
The beige base layer shirt against her skin felt extremely nice to the touch. Ming You’s hand at Yan Ningxi’s waist slid back and forth intentionally or not, slipping under the hem along the edge.
Being taken small advantage of wasn’t once or twice.
Yan Ningxi didn’t feel uncomfortable, but she grew a bit more awake. She gently pinched Ming You’s ear, only for her to take the chance to rub against her chest.
“Sister Yan, don’t be mad at me.” Half-asleep, half-awake, like dream talk or murmuring.
“I’m not mad.” Yan Ningxi cracked her eyes open slightly and kissed Ming You’s forehead. Over twenty years, she had never been addicted to anything—but she was addicted to Ming You.
They got up at four in the afternoon. As soon as Ming You dressed, she started her self-criticism. “Sister Yan, was it rude of me to come empty-handed today? Will Uncle think I’m ill-mannered? When you came to pick me up, I wanted to buy something, but there was no big supermarket near the station—just local specialty shops everywhere. I… didn’t know what to buy.”
“My dad doesn’t accept gifts.”
Yan Ningxi straightened her shirt collar for her and buttoned the top one too. “I’m not much better than you at social etiquette.”
“I’m worried Uncle has a bad impression of me.”
The shirt was one Yan Ningxi had dug out from her suitcase and insisted she wear; she didn’t dare refuse. “As for my parents, I’d made arrangements with them ever since their divorce. They won’t interfere in my life. You heard my mom’s attitude that day. They’re busy enough juggling their careers and families—they don’t have the spare time to manage me. My relationships? I can handle them completely on my own. The person I like… also…”
“Ming You.” Yan Ningxi suddenly hugged her tightly. A thousand words swirled in her heart, but what finally made it to her lips was, “Want to go out for a walk? I’ll show you the city where I grew up.”
“Sure. And take me to try some street food you ate as a kid—I want to eat every single one.” Ming You turned her head and stole a kiss.
Yan Ningxi pulled back, embarrassed. “I’m not a big eater, and I rarely had street food as a child.”
“It’s never too late to start. And more importantly, isn’t it about who you eat with, rather than what you eat?”
