Chapter 30

In a daze, I seemed to have flown away from Jingyan’s bedroom to some unknown place. Around me were some five or six-year-old children playing. Some were digging holes in the sand, while others were leisurely lying in huge tires hanging from chains. I looked around and saw narrow staircases, identical apartment buildings, and gray walls. Wasn’t this the staff apartment building where I lived with my parents when I was a child?

I looked down at myself, at my dusty vest and my dirty little hands.

Have I… traveled through time?

“Brother Xuanyu! Brother Xuanyu!” A sweet voice, deeply hidden in my memories, reached my ears from behind. I turned my head and saw a little girl with four small braids and a green dress, dressed in a way that seemed out of place among the other children, running towards me and calling my name happily.

It’s Jingyan! It’s Jingyan as a child!

I was so excited that I wanted to open my arms and hug her, but I found that my legs were actually running away from Jingyan.

“Come and chase me, Jingyan! If you can’t catch me, you’re a big idiot!” My childish voice echoed in my skull, both strange and familiar.

“Brother Xuanyu… wait for me!” I turned around and ran, and Jingyan’s happy smile instantly turned down.

“Waaah—you’re bullying me—” Jingyan ran a couple of steps and then stopped chasing, squatting on the ground and crying loudly with her face in her hands.

“Idiot, you can’t catch up!” I turned around and stuck my tongue out at the crying Jingyan.

Was I really that stupid as a child? You idiot! Hurry up and go comfort her!

I was just about to walk towards Jingyan when I suddenly felt my body sink and I crashed heavily to the ground.

When I opened my eyes again, the environment had changed.

I sat at a light green desk, with a rotating fan overhead. Around me were a group of children in school uniforms. I looked around and then turned to look behind me. On the left side of the blackboard behind me, it said, “We’re in fourth grade now!” On the right side, it said, “Class officer election, class monitor: Qin Jingyan.”

“You stinky Xuanyu—stay away from me, you’ve crossed the line!” Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my arm. I quickly pulled my arm back and looked in the direction of the pain—Jingyan, who was wearing the same school uniform as me, had matured a bit since her youthful face. She was tossing her shoulder-length black hair and holding a triangle ruler in her right hand—that’s what pricked me.

“Look! You’ve crossed the 38th parallel! The teacher said boys should keep their distance!” Jingyan pointed to a white line drawn with chalk on the table with a triangle ruler and said emphatically.

“Your lines aren’t fair! Look at how you drew them! You have so many lines over there, but I only have so little. If you don’t believe me, let’s measure them with a ruler!” I was still in a daze when Qingzhi’s voice rang out, arguing with Jingyan.

Then I remembered that this was in elementary school, when Jingyan and I were deskmates. Back then, boys would hang out together and girls would hang out together and not like each other. Jingyan was the same. She kept her distance from me, and sometimes when I went to her house, she wouldn’t talk to me. She only liked to bring Xuanman, who had just started elementary school.

Haha, the more I look back, the sillier I seem. Why didn’t I know how to get along with her properly?

Just as I was about to apologize to her, a little boy carrying a basketball, sweating profusely, suddenly burst in through the door. As I was wondering who he was, he suddenly threw the basketball at me.

“Lin Xuanyu! Time to play ball!”

“Bang!” The ball hit me squarely on the forehead, making everything go black.

When I opened my eyes again, the scene before me had changed once more.

I was walking in one direction, and at the end of my line of sight was a corner of the playground. Several boys carrying school uniforms were surrounding two girls wearing blue and white school uniforms. One of the girls was Qin Jingyan, who had braids and a tall figure.

I remember now, this was back in junior high! Before I even got there, I heard one of the boys talking to Jingyan.

“Hey Qin Jingyan, my dad told me he wants to be friends with you. I thought about it, and nothing is more suitable than a boyfriend and girlfriend. We’ve known each other for two years now, so how about we start dating? You can leave everything to me from now on!” One of the boys, who had his school uniform shirt tied around his waist, said this in a nonchalant manner, while shuffling his feet along the steps next to him.

“Wang Ming, are you sick in the head? You’re surrounding me like this, trying to make me your boyfriend? How childish are you? Even kindergarteners aren’t as childish as you! Get lost!” Qin Jingyan yelled at him. I remembered, this guy named Wang Ming had been harassing Jingyan since junior high.

“Hey! What are you guys doing?” I pulled aside one of the boys who had his school uniform hanging on his shoulder, clenched my fists, and scanned the surroundings.

“Hey! Isn’t this Lin Xuanyu, the top student in Class One? You think you and Qin Jingyan have known each other since childhood? What? Want to be her protector? Hahaha!”

“Hahaha! Hahaha!” Wang Ming said, and he and the group of boys next to him burst into laughter.

“Xuanyu! It’s alright! Let them surround us here, let’s see how long they can keep it up.” Qin Jingyan crossed her arms over her already well-developed breasts, looking completely unconcerned.

“Hey, you pretty boy, you’re just asking for a beating. This is an internal matter for our Class Two, what does it have to do with your Class One?” A dark-skinned, muscular boy next to Wang Ming teased me.

“What does it matter? Of course, he wants to sleep with Qin Jingyan. Qin Jingyan has a big butt, big breasts, and long legs. She’s one of the best in the whole grade. Even our top student likes her! Haha!” A skinny guy with a pointed mouth and monkey-like face chimed in from the other side of Wang Ming.

“Fuck your mother!” I was furious when I heard these people insulting Qin Jingyan, and I raised my clenched fist to strike Wang Ming’s head.

“Fuck! Get him!”

“Damn it! Beat him up!”

“What kind of academic genius are you! I’ll beat you to death!”

“Xuan-Yu-”

My vision went black, and I lost consciousness again.

When I woke up again, the scene had changed.

“Here we’ll find the derivative. What’s the derivative of Sin? Cos, right? And then…”

I was still sitting at my desk, but the books on it formed a small wall, and the blackboard in front of me was covered with math formulas and test questions, while the teacher was lecturing on and on.

This is… a high school?

“Ring ring—” The bell rang, signaling the end of get out of class.

“Okay, get out of class dismissed.” The teacher left, and the dull classroom became lively again.

“Xuanyu…did you understand what the teacher said?” A familiar voice came from beside me. I turned my head and saw Jingyan.

Yes, this is high school, and Jingyan and I are in the same class again.

“I understood, it’s not difficult,” I said to Jingyan, who had her hair in a ponytail, with a relaxed tone.

“Ugh! Why did I choose science in the first place…” Jingyan slumped onto the table, tucking her hands into the sleeves of her school uniform, and complained helplessly.

“I wish I had gone to the international class back then, Xuanyu. My dad wants me to study abroad, but my mom won’t let me. Why is that? My mom came back from abroad. Is it because abroad is bad?” Jingyan put her arm, which was tucked into her sleeve, under the desk and quietly reached out to grab my right hand.

I hooked my finger around hers; that familiar warmth brought me peace, yet also sadness…

“I don’t know about that. Aunt Ouyang should have made arrangements.” I also leaned on the table.

“Are you going to the robotics club this afternoon?” Jingyan asked.

“Yeah, do you want to come?”

“I have to go to the dance club this afternoon…”

“Seriously, someone’s sending me love letters again…”

“Is Aunt Liu going to resign? Why?” Jingyan asked me softly.

We both leaned on the table, gazing intently at each other, our hands tucked into our sleeves, intertwined, connecting our loving hearts.

At this point… we were already together.

“It seems like nobody’s paying attention to us…” Jingyan whispered, a blush creeping onto her face.

“Yes…” I said excitedly.

“Then… just for a moment?” Jingyan bit her lip lightly.

“One!” I nodded in agreement.

The two of them hid behind the mountain of books, quietly approaching each other until I could smell the fragrance of her breath, and then I closed my eyes.

But instead of the expected warmth, it felt hard to the touch.

When I opened my eyes, there was a red book-like thing in front of me.

“Why are you kissing my admission notice?! Give it back!” The red book gradually shrank, freeing my vision, and I found that the scene had changed again.

Standing in front of me was Jingyan, with long hair cascading down her shoulders, wearing a light green dress, holding a bright red marriage certificate in her hands, looking at me with a shy expression.

The red booklet had several large, gold-embossed characters that read “N University Admission Notice.” I raised my hand and found I had an identical one in my own.

“Xuanyu, I’m so happy! Now we don’t have to be in a long-distance relationship anymore!” Jingyan’s delicate body rushed towards me. I opened my arms to hug her, but just as I was about to hug her, a sense of loss instantly overwhelmed me.

I grabbed nothing, and my body lurched forward uncontrollably!

Just when I thought I was going to fall again—bang!

I fell into something soft, and when I opened my eyes, the view almost made my nose bleed.

I knelt on the large bed in Jingyan’s familiar bedroom. Beneath me was Jingyan, completely naked, hugging her large breasts, her face flushed with embarrassment, her legs wide open.

Before I could react, I felt a thrust in my hips, followed by a slightly painful cry from the woman beneath me.

“Ah—Xuanyu…” Tears instantly welled up in Jingyan’s eyes.

When I looked down, I found my lower abdomen pressed firmly against Jingyan’s genitals, and my penis had disappeared into thin air.

“Xuanyu…” Jingyan wrapped her arms around my neck, letting me lie on top of her. “Xuanyu… I belong to you alone… You must love me well… Love me forever…” Jingyan’s words were tinged with pain, but mostly filled with happiness.

I remember now, this moment… is the night Jingyan and I first became intimate.

What are they doing?

Is this a dream?

Or is it a revolving lantern?

It is said that people only have a flashback before they die, allowing them to quickly review their lives. But in my opinion, before any separation, the brain recalls all the little things that happened before.

Death is simply the most complete farewell…

So what does this mean?

Is this a way for me to reminisce about all the little things I shared with Jingyan?

Jingyan and I have been childhood sweethearts. Besides our families, we are best friends, the partners who know each other best… We are each other’s most beloved people…

Is this… telling me that Jingyan and I are going to have to part ways?

“Xuanyu…why are you…not moving?” Jingyan asked in my ear from my arms.

“Too…too tight—hiss!” I squeezed out a few words through my clenched teeth.

I discovered that I could control my body, control my hips to thrust, to pump, and to completely possess Jingyan.

But suddenly… I didn’t want to anymore.

I don’t want to move; I just want to use this deepest contact to be tightly bound together with Jingyan.

Our bodies are united, our two pure hearts are united, and everything about us is united…

I… don’t want to break up with Jingyan.

My body was trembling. Was I trying to suppress the pleasure from Jingyan’s virginity? Or was I afraid, afraid of the loneliness of losing Jingyan?

Only then did I understand why I trembled so much the first time I made love with Jingyan.

Is this my future self warning me?

I have no idea……

“Xuanyu, if you’re not going to move, I’m leaving…” Jingyan suddenly said.

Wait a minute? This isn’t what Jingyan said back then!

What happened?

Before I could recover from my confusion, Jingyan in my arms suddenly vanished like a bubble.

“Jingyan! Jingyan!” I shouted loudly, turned over, and sat up straight instantly.

“Jingyan—”

When I opened my eyes, everything was pitch black except for the faint glow of a small nightlight in the familiar corner, which told me that I was in Jingyan’s bedroom.

There was no one beside me.

“Huff—huff—huff—huff—” I breathed heavily, touching my head, which was covered in sweat.

It was a dream… thankfully it was just a dream.

Sweaty hands rested on the bed beside him, damp, cold, and icy.

“Hehe…” I laughed self-deprecatingly. What difference does it make whether it’s a dream or not?

Last night, after reading Zhao Chenyu’s post, I impulsively went to find Aunt Ouyang, intending to confess to her. But just as I was penetrating Aunt Ouyang, Jingyan pushed the door open and entered.

By the time I got dressed again, Jingyan had already left home and gotten into her car. When I chased after her, all I saw was a cloud of dust.

Fortunately, Mu Qianning was with her and messaged me saying that everything was fine and they were at Mu Lingze’s house.

I had insomnia all night. Today I planned to go to Mu Lingze’s house to look for her. Aunt Ouyang told me that Qian Ning had sent her a message and that she would probably be home this afternoon.

Mu Qianning also sent me a message on her phone saying that I should just wait at home.

Another day passed, and by evening, my eyes were blurry from staring at the road outside the door. Finally, a roaring sound rang out.

Jingyan is back, but this time she has lost her former radiance. She is disheveled, pale, and her once bright eyes have lost their light, with redness around them from crying.

I walked over to hug her, but she twisted her body to avoid me. I froze on the spot, and Mu Qianning behind Jingyan also shook her head at me.

Not only did Mu Qianning come, but Mu Lingze also came. She walked over to me and pulled me aside—it seemed that Mu Lingze knew about it too.

Aunt Ouyang came over and took Jingyan’s hand. Jingyan tried to dodge but Aunt Ouyang grabbed her arm. Then the two of them went into Aunt Ouyang’s bedroom.

I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t sleep well and my eyes are uncomfortable, but I always felt that their walking was a bit strange.

And now…

I picked up my phone and glanced at the time; it was 2 a.m.

Jingyan and Aunt Ouyang have been locked in their bedroom for seven or eight hours now, and I don’t know what they’ve been talking about.

I carried the blanket to the balcony, and a gust of cold wind blew by, which made me feel a little more awake. There was a blanket that Jingyan had spread out on the bench, and I remembered that the two of us had originally planned to sunbathe here.

I lay on the soft, cold blanket, which made me shiver.

Shivering is good… at least it proves I’m still conscious…

Looking up at the moon in the sky, half of it was bright and half was dark, like a cracked mooncake, with the other half nowhere to be found.

Is this a hint that I’m about to lose Jingyan? Perhaps…

Although it was cold, the weather was lovely, and there were many stars. I searched for those three stars aligned in a straight line. Was that Orion? Or something else?

As I watched, it seemed as if the moon had moved. Yes, the moon will eventually set, and when it disappears completely, that will be the time for me to face judgment.

Do Jingyan and I… still have a future?

I wrapped myself in the blanket and stood on the balcony, gazing at the starry sky in a daze, thinking about all sorts of things. Things I was just thinking about suddenly vanished from my mind.

Am I going to go crazy?

In a daze, a glimmer of dawn appeared in the east.

It’s dawn. I had another sleepless night. But it’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed the morning sunlight. It’s so beautiful. It’s a pity I can’t be with Jingyan to enjoy it anymore—why am I like this?

Why should I wait for trial?

I can’t do this!

As I watched the morning light turn from white to yellow, a sudden force within me awakened me.

Even if there’s no future with Jingyan, I will face it all with dignity.

“Hiss—ah!” I rubbed my left arm, which was already stiff and numb, and dragged my half-numb left body that had been pressed down for a long time, and got up to go to the kitchen.

I’m going to make them a simple breakfast.

My girlfriend, Qin Jingyan, I can no longer be with you.

My dear Aunt Ouyang, you may not be my mother-in-law, but you will always be my most beloved elder.

And Mu Qianning and Mu Lingze, these twin sisters, Jingyan and Aunt Ouyang, still need your company.

As I cooked porridge and fried eggs, the steam from the porridge slowly rose, lingering around my eyes, turning into droplets that slid down my face.

I don’t know why I’m so energetic after not sleeping for two nights in a row. I even thought about having class today and doing an experiment with Chu Yun this afternoon.

Perhaps this day was destined when I had a relationship with Aunt Ouyang, but what if I hadn’t had a relationship with Aunt Ouyang?

This is a dead end.

Alright, let’s make a proper breakfast, recall the excitement I felt when I was with Jingyan, and the attentiveness I showed when I went on a date with Aunt Ouyang last year. Let’s love them one last time.

As I thought this, steaming red bean porridge, scallion egg rolls, shrimp custard, small cakes, and small fruits were placed on the table one by one, and I was happy to do so, as if filling the table was filling my empty heart.

That’s what I was thinking.

“Thump thump thump…” Suddenly, footsteps came from the stairs.

“So lavish? Xuanyu, did you make this? — Oh dear! Your eyes are so red…” One of the twins came downstairs. A bright orange nightgown hugged her supermodel-like figure. Her face was bare, her eyebrows long and slender, giving her a cold and unapproachable air. Yet, her slightly exposed wrists and beautiful legs were undeniably alluring. However, I wasn’t in the mood to appreciate it. I only recognized her as Mu Qianning when I saw the slight curl at the ends of her hair; perhaps I was seeing things.

“It’s nothing… I just didn’t sleep well!” I said with a smile, but the smile was bitter.

“Let me help you. I’ll make something I like to eat too.” Mu Qianning rolled up her sleeves and walked over to my side.

“Lingze is still sleeping. Aunt Ouyang probably can’t go to work, but Lingze still has to go.”

“When I go back to our place on weekends, I cook for her. Don’t let her glasses and serious appearance fool you; she’s actually a lazybones. As soon as she gets home, she’s glued to her computer playing games!”

“Every time I say something to her, she says, ‘My work is so hard, unlike your easy school life. What’s wrong with me playing games?’”

“What could I do? I cooked for her and washed fruit. I peeled apples for her, cut watermelons for her, and even peeled grapes for her and fed them to her.”

“Sigh, the two of us, she envies me, and I envy her. It’s like we’re living the lives that should belong to each other. It would be fine if we didn’t interact, but we’re sisters, haha, sometimes it feels more absurd than a novel.”

Mu Qianning kept talking while tidying up the kitchen, not caring whether I responded or not.

This is so unlike her, but I know she’s trying to make me happy, but I really can’t laugh.

Suddenly, she stopped talking. I turned my head and saw her behind me, arms outstretched, as if she wanted to hug me.

“You…” I took a slight step back.

She lowered her arms and said, “Sigh, I wanted to give you a comforting hug, but thinking about what you did, I realized that hugging you now is not only unacceptable to me, but also unacceptable to you.”

Just as I was about to say something, “thump thump…” This time, the footsteps were a bit noisy.

When I peeked out, I saw Aunt Ouyang leading Jingyan downstairs.

This caught me completely off guard; I was planning to serve it to them or call them over.

Aunt Ouyang and Jingyan were wearing red and light green pajamas respectively, which made them seem quite distinct and gave me a jolt.

Once they were inside, I was able to observe them more closely. Aunt Ouyang still looked calm and collected, while Jingyan still had a bitter expression on her face. Although the two stunningly beautiful mother and daughter had washed up, their eyes were still slightly red and swollen, and the traces of crying were still very obvious.

Aunt Ouyang also looked at me, a smile appearing on her lips, but her eyes were filled with heartache; she must have seen the bloodshot in my eyes too.

Jingyan? Jingyan didn’t even look at me.

“Wow, this is such a feast! Xuanyu is unusually hardworking.” Aunt Ouyang pulled Jingyan to sit on the other side. Jingyan kept her head down the whole time, her dark hair covering her face, so I couldn’t see her expression.

“Good morning, Auntie. Good morning, Jingyan. Um… Mu Lingze hasn’t gotten up yet. I’ll go wake her!” Upon seeing this, Mu Qianning hurried upstairs, using this as an excuse to leave.

“Auntie, this is for you, and this is for Jingyan too~” I personally brought the porridge to them. Aunt Ouyang kept saying “Thank you, baby~”, but Jingyan ignored me, which made my heart ache. I sat down opposite Jingyan and started eating with my head down.

I wanted to speak, but I didn’t know how to start. Suddenly, I felt a soft sensation on my calf. I looked down at the table and saw Aunt Ouyang’s black-stockinged feet rubbing against my calf.

I immediately looked up at Aunt Ouyang. Her stunningly beautiful face had a slightly swollen, bright left eye that blinked at me, and a smile that she couldn’t hide played on her lips.

What does this mean? Is everything alright? Or is it just a way of comforting me? My heart feels like it’s being suspended in mid-air by a rope, unable to go up or down.

“Hmm~ Breakfast was good today. I’m full. I have to go to work with Lingze later. You guys eat first.” Aunt Ouyang’s mouth was full as she got up to leave.

Seeing this, Jingyan put down her chopsticks and was about to get up and leave with her mother, but Aunt Ouyang pressed her shoulder and pushed her back into the chair.

“You’re still not full? Eat more, eat more!” Aunt Ouyang said this before leaving with brisk steps.

If this hadn’t happened, I would have laughed out loud when I saw what just happened.

On the spacious dining table, there was a dazzling array of breakfast options. On either side of the table, only Jingyan and I remained.

My earlier urge to laugh instantly turned into inexplicable embarrassment.

Neither of us spoke. I picked up my chopsticks and placed a shrimp in her bowl, but she immediately threw the spoon into the bowl and protected it with both hands.

With a loud “clang,” the spoon struck the porcelain bowl, a jarring sound that was almost unbearable…

I could only pick the shrimp off my chopsticks and put them into my own bowl, chewing them with a resentful urge, as if I were biting into bones.

But all I can do is hate myself…

I suddenly realized that my current situation with Jingyan is very similar to how we used to hide on the sidelines and watch Uncle Qin and Aunt Ouyang eat after they had argued.

Neither of them said anything. When Uncle Qin picked up some food for Aunt Ouyang, she refused to accept it, but Aunt Ouyang would just yell “Get lost!”

Although Jingyan didn’t scold me, but… will we end up like them? My parents argue sometimes, but no matter what, my mom always does her own thing and communicates with my dad. While I’m overthinking…

“Clang!” I looked up and saw Jingyan throw the spoon into the bowl, get up and leave. I immediately put down my chopsticks and followed her.

Jingyan walked quickly without paying attention to me, but she didn’t stop me either, until she opened the door to her bedroom.

I stood in front of the door, thinking I’d be locked out, but Jingyan turned around, gripping the doorknob, and said coldly, “Do I have to invite you in? Come in!”

“Ah—oh!” I paused for a moment, then decisively walked in. As I stepped inside, I felt a sense of familiarity mixed with strangeness.

“Bang!” The door slammed shut, leaving only the two of us facing each other in the large bedroom. We looked into each other’s eyes, and I gazed at her with a mixture of apology and heartache, while she looked at me with the same tenderness in her eyes.

“You…didn’t you sleep last night? Your eyes are so red…” Jingyan spoke first.

“Um… Jingyan, I—”

“—Don’t speak!” Jingyan suddenly interrupted the apology I had been thinking about for the past two days.

“Take a nap, we can talk about it when you’re awake.” Jingyan turned and walked to the bedside, lifted the covers and lay down, and I followed her down next to her.

Jingyan had her back to me, and I looked her up and down, admiring her alluring and sexy curves. I couldn’t resist reaching out to touch her arm, but she forcefully shook me off.

My hand hovered in mid-air, hesitated for a moment, then reached out again. This time, she didn’t pull away, and I quickly pressed my body against hers, holding her tightly.

Jingyan’s soft, delicate body trembled in my embrace, and I realized that she was sobbing.

“Jingyan…” I called softly, just about to say something.

“Go to sleep!” Jingyan interrupted me again, her voice trembling with tears.

All I could do was hold her and feel her trembling. Every time her body trembled, my heart would clench tightly.

Sleepiness gradually crept in, and my weak body could no longer resist it. Regardless of whether it was early morning or not, I slowly drifted off to sleep…

But the nightmare didn’t stop. When I was awakened again, the sun had already set.

The delicate body in my arms disappeared again. I hurriedly got up, afraid that Jingyan would leave me. But when I glanced around, I found Jingyan sitting in front of the dressing table not far away, tidying her black hair in front of the mirror.

I dragged myself up behind her, took the comb from her hand, and gently combed her hair, but for some reason I felt weak.

As I combed my hair, I looked up and gazed at her serene and charming reflection in the mirror. I felt even more apologetic and couldn’t help but lean down, resting my chin on her shoulder and grasping her wrists with both hands.

“Jingyan…I’m sorry…” My thoughts swelled in my mind, and I felt like my head was about to explode. I could only manage to squeeze out these few words with difficulty.

“Mom… has already told me everything… Let’s leave it at that for now, you don’t need to say anything more… I won’t interfere in your and Mom’s affairs anymore.” Jingyan’s words were not cold, but full of gentleness.

“Huh?” I was utterly shocked.

“Didn’t you hear me? If you didn’t hear me, fine, I don’t want to repeat myself.” Jingyan pouted, looking smug.

“Ah…this…” I tried my best to recall what Jingyan had just said.

“Um… Jingyan…” I asked again.

“What’s wrong?” Jingyan instinctively turned her head, her breath brushing against my face, which felt very comfortable.

“What did you and Aunt Ouyang talk about last night?” I asked tentatively.

“I told Mom what it was about. I’m already like this, so don’t ask questions you shouldn’t ask!” Jingyan turned her face away, and I suddenly felt my hands tremble. I looked down and saw that Jingyan’s hands were clenched tightly.

She seemed to have something to say, but she didn’t say it.

“All right……”

Unexpectedly, it just passed by like that… My heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly settled down, and a sense of powerlessness instantly filled me.

“Hey Xuanyu, stop pressing on me! Get up—ah! Xuanyu! Why is your face so hot!” Jingyan exclaimed in my ear, but I didn’t react. My eyelids felt like they were weighed down by two big stones, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t open them.

“Bang!” Did I fall to the ground?

“Xuanyu…” The voice in my ear grew fainter and fainter, until it was no longer audible.

…

“Oh dear… how did you get a fever? I just got back… this… Wanyi and Bowen don’t know yet? Don’t tell them yet, otherwise, with Wanyi’s personality, she definitely won’t be in the mood to go see a doctor.”

“Alright, alright, you guys go ahead, Xuanyu and I will stay home.”

“No, honey… I don’t want to invite anyone else, I just want to invite you…”

“Oh! That’s so cheesy! Don’t touch me!”

I was in a daze again, this time with a burning sensation and a feeling of weakness. I could hear the voices of a man and a woman talking. The man’s voice was rough, and the woman’s voice was cold and disdainful.

I strained my eyes to open them, but instead of lights or a ceiling, I saw a square face staring at me with a strange smile.

“hey-hey!”

“Ah—” A sudden fear made me jump backward and hit the headboard. The pain brought me back to my senses, and I could see clearly that the person in front of me was Uncle Qin.

“Xuanyu, why do you have a fever?” Uncle Qin sat by the bed, with Aunt Ouyang behind him, arms crossed. Jingyan was nowhere to be seen.

“Qin! Uncle Qin!” I chuckled sheepishly, then asked, “What time is it?”

“It’s 5:30 now,” Aunt Ouyang said.

“Huh? I remember I woke up at five o’clock. How come I only slept for half an hour?” I scratched my head.

“Are you delirious, Xuanyu? You’ve been sleeping all day!” Uncle Qin reached out his big hand and pinched my face, twisting it left and right.

“Huh?” I exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh dear, Xuanyu, it seems you’re still not better.” Uncle Qin, whose hand had been loosened by Aunt Ouyang, said, “I was originally planning to take you to see a performance, with Guo Dexiu and the Mongolian Navy Commander, Mr. Yu, but you… are you alright? Why don’t we go together, and Jingyan can go too.”

“Alright! You and Jingyan can go. I already told you not to let Xuanyu go, but you’re still teasing him!” Aunt Ouyang tugged at Uncle Qin’s ear.

“Ouch, ouch, the child is here, give me some face,” Uncle Qin said, wincing in pain.

“I’ll give you face outside, why do you need face at home!” Aunt Ouyang let go of her hand.

I stared at the playful couple in front of me. Uncle Qin rubbed his ears with a happy expression, while Aunt Ouyang’s face showed no sign of strangeness. Even though she had already called Zhao Chenyu “husband” and “master” in bed, it seemed that nothing had changed her life.

“Alright, alright! Xuanyu, you stay home and keep your aunt company. Jingyan, your parents, Xuanman, and I have gone to see the performance. Your parents have already arrived.” Uncle Qin got up and left.

Jingyan didn’t come into the room after I woke up, but when Uncle Qin went out, I saw her arm linked with his.

I thought about it again carefully and confirmed that it was indeed Jingyan’s arm. So she had been waiting outside the door for Uncle Qin? Or… did she not want to come in?

I have no idea.

They all left, and Aunt Ouyang sat down next to me.

“Why aren’t you going?” I asked.

“It’s pointless, I don’t want to go.” Aunt Ouyang touched my forehead.

“Auntie…” I hesitated.

“I know what you want to ask. What I said to Jingyan is a secret between my daughter and me.”

Well, before I could even ask, Aunt Ouyang had already learned to answer first. Since I couldn’t get any answers, I had to give up.

“Hmm, not bad, your temperature is still a little high, but it’s about right.” Aunt Ouyang took my temperature with a thermometer. Then she continued.

“Get up and eat something, I’ll run you some water, you can take a bath later.”

…

Aunt Ouyang values ​​taking baths, which is one of the reasons why her skin is still as soft and tender as Jingyan’s even in middle age. So, there is a large bathtub in the inner room of Aunt Ouyang’s bedroom specifically for her to take baths, and I am in it right now.

Under the soft, warm light, the bathroom, made entirely of gray-white marble, seemed to be draped in a gentle veil, with a faint lavender scent permeating the air, lingering in every inch of the space.

I sank into the bathtub, where the warm water rippled with an alluring pink hue. A few fresh rose petals floated on the surface, some swirling gently, others drifting leisurely, adorning the tub with a romantic yet elegant ambiance. As my body slowly sank into this warm embrace, all my weariness and worries seemed to gently ripple away with the water, and I found a rare sense of peace and tranquility.

But none of these things made me feel so good. What captivated me was Aunt Ouyang’s naked, soft, and fragrant body, which was leaning against me.

“Phew—” I let out a long sigh, looking down at the two jade-like legs in the water deliberately rubbing against my legs. The warm water was like the best lubricant, smoothing my body and Aunt Ouyang’s together. The soft, fragrant touch made me really not want to get up.

“How is it? Does a bath make you feel better? You just caught a chill, sweating it out will help.” Aunt Ouyang’s hands slipped under my armpits and gently stroked my body from the front.

“Auntie, when are they coming back?” I asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be leaving around midnight,” Aunt Ouyang said, rubbing my nipples with both hands. “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of Jingyan, and Uncle Qin is fine too.”

“Jingyan…” I murmured.

“Xuanyu, do you know why your Uncle Qin and I have been arguing?” Aunt Ouyang asked me after a moment of silence.

“Besides what my mother said, are there any other reasons?” I asked rhetorically, which was also my answer.

“Of course…” Aunt Ouyang stroked my back with both hands and said slowly, “We have different ideas. Your Uncle Qin always feels that he should take advantage of some opportunities to expand his ‘business empire’ a bit more, but I always feel that if we expand any further, it will get out of control. Look, your Uncle Qin doesn’t even want his family anymore, that’s a sign. What I think is to shrink back and just stay rooted in T City. The blessings of a virtuous man will decline after three generations. This is not just a saying. From my previous generation to now to Jingyan, I feel that it’s about time, so let’s lie low for now.” Aunt Ouyang spoke with great seriousness.

“Is something wrong at the company?” I asked.

“Company? How could a company be? I could easily divest myself of it now, and besides, I own more than one company.” Aunt Ouyang’s tone regained its confidence.

“What I want to say is that your Uncle Qin always thinks the tree canopy is not big enough, but I think the roots need to be deeper.”

“Jingyan is just like your mother in temperament, gentle and beautiful, but she can’t be a strong woman. As for you, you’ve followed in your father’s footsteps, but this path…” Aunt Ouyang hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, wanting to turn around and chat with Aunt Ouyang, but Aunt Ouyang held my head and leaned against her chest.

“Do you know Wanyou Shopping Mall?” Aunt Ouyang suddenly changed the subject.

“I know, it’s the biggest in T City.” I blurted out. Wanyou Supermarket is a big player in the local market.

“Every year, Wanyou Shopping Mall gives a small sum of money, not much, about a thousand, which goes to a card that Aunt Ouyang controls, but never passes through my hands,” Aunt Ouyang said.

“Why?” I asked, naturally understanding that the “thousands” Aunt Ouyang was referring to was actually tens of thousands.

“Then, this money will be injected into one of your father’s projects as his research funding. Of course, there are other channels as well…” Aunt Ouyang seemed not to hear my question and muttered to herself.

“And that newly established youth foundation, it’s for you…”

“There are also student aid subsidies from N University, and not only N University, but other universities in T City also offer them…”

“Your father has made many achievements in his research. On the one hand, he is a talented scholar named Jiang Jie, but don’t forget that even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice.”

“Although he doesn’t lack funds even without you, Uncle Qin, and me, the more funds the better.”

“Auntie will streamline her current business. From now on, the company will be handed over to Jingyan. The streamlined business will allow her to delve deeper into T City, which should be enough. If that’s not enough, there are still the twins.”

“These two girls are also interested in you. Auntie hasn’t treated them badly. Although they’ve done some silly things, I still trust them.”

“I’m telling you all this because the waters of ‘politics and business’ are too deep. Neither you nor Jingyan are that type of person. I’m also looking for someone, and I might push Qianning into a political career in the future. But ‘science and business’ is different. We both have a foundation in it, and when ‘science’ reaches a certain level, it’s not easy to mess with.”

“The path your father arranged for you is very good. The only drawback is that he didn’t let you study abroad. In the past, some selections required studying abroad as a hard requirement, but your generation should be more lenient.”

“After all, those who studied abroad before almost took things from the outside world as gospel.”

Aunt Ouyang stroked my body and spoke softly behind me. Although I was soaking in the warm pool, my body tensed up again.

“What’s there to be nervous about! Just do your best. Chu Yun is a good guy. Keep an eye on people like him. Also, pay attention to your college roommates. Use people you know well if you can. You should learn from Zhao Chenyu in this regard. Give him a ladder and he’ll climb it; give him a pole and he’ll slip away; if you don’t give him anything, he’ll find his own way. Don’t worry about whether there are knives or traps ahead. Being a little slippery isn’t a bad thing. That’s what I’m most worried about you.”

Aunt Ouyang went on and on. Although I quite liked her gentle approach to education, hearing that name I disliked again still made me feel a little uncomfortable.

I don’t know if Aunt Ouyang, who’s standing behind me now, is still in contact with that guy…

“Hiss—” Just as I was thinking wildly, I suddenly felt something strange in my crotch. I looked down and saw a soft hand holding my penis under the water’s surface, hidden by flower petals, gently stroking it.

“Aunt……”

“You brat, I’ve said so much and you haven’t said a word. Let’s see how I deal with you!”

“Auntie, I’m still sick!”

“Hmph! You bad husband!” Aunt Ouyang not only didn’t let go, but instead stroked him even more vigorously.

I screamed, but then I realized that this was just the beginning of my happy yet troubled life.

…