Chapter 34

The bustling city of T, though it was night, was still brightly lit, like a person who stays up all night, constantly draining their inner self. How long can they last?

I sat alone in the taxi, watching the lights flash by like shooting stars outside the window. The huge red sign of “Moubo Plaza” got closer and closer to me, and then farther and farther away…

My hand reached for the seat next to me, but instead of that familiar warmth, I touched a black plastic bag containing the trigger that had caused my argument with Jingyan.

My phone screen suddenly lit up; it was a message from WeChat. I opened it, and it was from Mu Qianning.

“What happened between you and Jingyan? Did you fight again?” she sent me this message.

Staring at those words, my fingers hovered over the keyboard, unsure of what to type for a long time. The word “again” seemed particularly jarring and sarcastic to me.

It was like an old widow at the village entrance, cracking sunflower seeds with her protruding front teeth. When she saw me, she glanced at me and let out a disdainful snort with her everted lips.

“Oh no—they’re arguing again.”

It’s disgusting, really disgusting.

I didn’t want to reply, but she said something else.

“Jingyan didn’t cry, but she just stayed in bed and didn’t say anything. I don’t know what happened between you two, and I don’t dare to comfort her. What’s wrong?”

What’s wrong?

What’s wrong?

As if I knew.

I was thinking that if Jingyan went home, I could go home with her. Even if we had a big fight, we would make up tonight. Some emotions, once left overnight, will immediately turn into gunpowder and settle in the heart, waiting for something to ignite them all at once.

Ke Jingyan went back to her dorm. I don’t know if she did it on purpose, but the fact is that she didn’t give me a chance, because I really can’t get into the girls’ dorm.

Perhaps she didn’t want Aunt Ouyang to know?

I hope so… because I don’t want Aunt Ouyang to know either, and I hope this is our unspoken understanding.

Aunt Ouyang’s house, the dormitory, my home—it seems like I have so many places to go, yet I can’t go anywhere.

Forget it, I’ll just go home.

Your own home is the best haven.

…

I pushed open the door to my home, and the door creaked open, which startled me. I thought to myself that we’ve lived here for more than ten years, and my dad is capable of moving to a different house, but he still insists that we live in this old neighborhood. I don’t know what he’s thinking.

After changing my shoes, I quietly passed through the entryway. The living room was quiet. The yoga mat was rolled up and placed to one side of the sofa, but I didn’t see my mother stretching or doing exercises on it.

Mom should be in the living room at this time, right? Where did she go? I didn’t dare call out to her, afraid that she would ask me about Jingyan and me.

I’d better sneak back into the house quietly.

I tiptoed carefully toward my bedroom.

But just as I reached the door, I suddenly noticed that the door to the study next door had opened, and a voluptuous figure came out carrying a stack of books, and we met eye to eye.

It’s Mom.

“Ah! Xuanyu? Why didn’t you make a sound? I was so scared I thought a thief had broken in.” My mother trembled when she saw me, and the neat stack of books she was holding scattered all over the floor.

I rushed over to help my mother tidy up, only to find a book wedged between her breasts. The hard spine of the book was embedded in her cleavage, pulling her light blue pajamas deep inside. This made the already tight fabric around her chest even more constricted, highlighting her enormous breasts, which looked even more “magnificent” than Jingyan’s.

“Oh dear, really…” Mom quickly “pulled” the book out of her cleavage, and she really did pull it out; the word was so vivid.

“Mom, let me help you.” My face flushed and my heart pounded as I quickly squatted down to help my mother tidy up the scattered books, but my eyes kept glancing at the neckline of her pajamas, where her two breasts were squeezed together, creating a deep cleavage.

“Why are you home? Didn’t you go out to play with Jingyan?” The mother and son quickly tidied up the books together. The mother piled the books on one side of the door, and I then realized that there was more than one pile at the door of the study. There were also some old newspapers and other things that had been there for a long time.

“Mom, are you tidying up the house? Why are you doing that so late at night?” I asked.

“You haven’t answered me yet~” Mom raised her arm, stretched out her fair finger and poked my forehead, with a playful reproach.

“Jingyan has some things to do and has to go back to her dorm first,” I quickly explained.

“Did they have a fight?” Mom walked into the study, and I followed behind. Although Mom’s buttocks trembled slightly with her steps, which was very tempting, my mind was not on her alluring figure.

“No way, how could that be?” I scratched my head and answered somewhat awkwardly.

“Hmph~” Mom chuckled softly, her voice like a nightingale’s whisper in the twilight. She didn’t speak, but it made me feel guilty and dare not look her in the eye.

“Mom, what are you doing? You’ve tidied up so much stuff.” I looked at the somewhat messy study.

“These are all your dad’s things, they’re no longer useful. I told him to throw them away, but he wouldn’t. So, while he’s sleeping like a log, I’ll just quickly gather them up and throw them away.” Although Mom complained, a smile remained on her lips.

“Could it really work?” I looked down and picked up a science magazine from ten years ago.

“Your dad has already packed up the useful things and locked them in the cupboard. Otherwise, why do you think he wouldn’t do it himself? It’s just his bad habit of hoarding junk.” The mother said this, but she couldn’t hide her doting on the father.

“Is this also Dad’s?” I threw away the magazine I had just picked up and took another one, Wang Xiaobo’s “The Golden Age”.

“This doesn’t belong to your dad. Some things are mine too.” Mom held out her hand, and I handed her the book.

Only then did I dare to look up at my mother. Her gentle face was slightly flushed, whether from exhaustion or something else, I couldn’t tell.

“Go back and rest. You have class tomorrow. I’m going back to sleep too.” Mom suddenly changed the subject. “Also, keep it down. Your sister is already asleep. She’s in a crucial period right now, so as her older brother, you should encourage her more.”

“Okay, I understand.”

“And another thing…” I had just turned my head when my mother called me back and scolded me, “Jingyan hasn’t come to see me in so long, and you don’t even know to bring her home to keep me company.”

“Ah… I understand, Mom.” My mother scolded me, but I understood what she meant.

I responded, turned and walked out, opened the study door, and held the handle without leaving. I glanced back at my mother and saw her pick up the book “The Golden Age” from earlier. She gently stroked the cover, the gold ring on her ring finger glittering under the light. She opened the book and glanced at it casually, a faint smile appearing on her slightly flushed cheeks. Then she closed the book, placed it on top of a stack of books, picked it up again, and inserted it into the middle of the stack.

After dealing with everything, Mom’s eyes never left the stack of books, her gaze fixed as if she were deep in thought. Then she pulled “The Golden Age” out of the pile and threw it into the trash can filled with shredded paper and old books without hesitation.

I shook my head, wondering what my mother was thinking.

What kind of book is this?

After quietly washing up, I lay in bed, but I couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was filled with Jingyan’s disappointed expression.

Why?

Why is this happening?

Jingyan accepted many of the previous sexy lingerie, so why not this one?

I turned my head and looked at the black plastic bag on the chair next to me. Inside was a gift box of sexy lingerie. I had Yue Feng specially order it for me.

Should I ask Yue Feng? I’ll wait until I’ve talked to Jingyan about this.

Why did Jingyan suddenly get angry? Was it because of Aunt Ouyang?

To be honest, Aunt Ouyang did wear a wedding dress and have some fun with me, but it wasn’t this one. Could it be that Jingyan is jealous? Does she think that only she and I can wear wedding dresses?

That should be the case.

That’s the only way I can understand it.

“If you want to play, let my mom play with you.”

The words kept replaying in my mind, making me feel uncomfortable all over, and I felt itchy all over even after turning over several times.

What should I do? Is it possible that my relationship with Aunt Ouyang and Jingyan cannot be maintained properly?

Is it really impossible to maintain this situation?

With this question in mind, I drifted off to sleep.

The next morning, I hurriedly ate a couple of bites of food and left home as fast as I could.

“My brother is really something, he doesn’t even say a word to me.” As I left home, I could faintly hear Xuanman’s mournful voice.

Sis~ It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but your brother and sister-in-law’s relationship is in crisis.

On my way to school, I bought Jingyan’s favorite cake. I didn’t have the first class this morning, and neither did Jingyan; she should be on duty in the student council office right now.

When I arrived at the school, I went straight to the administration building.

When I arrived at the student council office, the brown lacquered door slightly reflected my image. I first straightened my clothes to make myself look more composed, and then knocked on the door.

The sound of the door creaking made me extremely nervous, but the person peeking out made me breathe a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t Jingyan or Mu Qianning, but a sophomore girl, I think her name was Xiao Tiantian. She had curly hair, wore a JK uniform, and was considered a campus beauty in her sophomore year.

“Senior Xuanyu?” Xiao Tiantian’s face was pressed against the door, and her eyes lit up when she saw me.

“Yes, you must be Xiao Tiantian? Is your senior Qin here?” I asked her.

“I’m Xiao Tiantian~” Xiao Tiantian blushed slightly, then added, “Senior Sister Qin is here.” After saying that, she opened the door a little.

“Senior Qin is discussing something with Teacher Chen from the administration office. I’ll ask her for you later, senior.” Xiao Tiantian walked to the door of the inner room, knocked, and went inside.

I waited anxiously for a few minutes, stamping my feet. After a while, Ms. Chen from the administration office came out. I greeted her politely and quickly, then glanced inside the door.

Just then, Xiao Tiantian’s face popped out of the door, and I almost kissed her.

Xiao Tiantian blushed and said, “Senior, Senior Qin said she’s busy right now and it’s inconvenient for her to see you. She asked you to go back first.” As she spoke, Xiao Tiantian looked at me, her voice getting softer and softer, and she became more and more careful.

She must have noticed my increasingly surprised and sorrowful expression before she did this.

Did Jingyan really say that? She must be joking.

Just as I was debating whether to barge in, another person suddenly walked around the corner of the stairwell, and this person gave my already resentful mood a target.

It was none other than Zhao Chenyu.

“Senior Lin is here. Why are you at the door?” Zhao Chenyu acted as if he hadn’t done anything.

But I wish I could chop him up.

“Oh, it’s Senior Zhao! What’s this?” Xiao Tiantian obviously recognized Zhao Chenyu and pointed to the box he was holding.

“Oh, it’s nothing, just some printer paper and leftover materials from the last party.” Zhao Chenyu tightened his grip on the box in his arms and said, “Beautiful Xiao, could you do me the honor of talking to Senior Qin?”

“I…I…I’ll go ask…” Xiao Tiantian glanced at me, then stammered and ran away.

She must have sensed that something was wrong.

“What have you two been up to lately, Senior and Senior Chu? It’s been so long! Let’s grab a bite to eat sometime, it’s on me,” Zhao Chenyu said with a smile.

“No need for that. Just do your best.” I repeated it emphatically.

“All right.”

Before they could finish speaking, Xiao Tiantian ran out again and said, “Senior Zhao, Senior Qin said she doesn’t need the things anymore, you can take them yourself.”

“Huh? But these are leftovers from the last student council meeting. We can’t just take them back to the dorm, can we?” After Zhao Chenyu said this, I realized that he was here to pester Jingyan.

“Take your things and get out of here!” I said dismissively.

“Okay… I’ll leave it with our physical education department first. Just look for me if you need it.” Zhao Chenyu wasn’t annoyed at all and left with his things.

“Senior Xuanyu…” Xiao Tiantian gently hugged the door, clearly startled by my disdainful growl earlier.

“This is none of your business. You can go out first. I’ll go in and say a few words to Jingyan.” I didn’t wait for her to stop me and walked straight into the student council office. Jingyan was in the inner room. I didn’t even knock on the door and just opened it and went in.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop bothering me—you!” I had just opened the door when I heard Jingyan speaking impatiently to the doorway, but when she looked up and saw it was me, she stopped talking.

This completely stunned me. My initial anger vanished almost instantly.

What’s bothering me? What?

“Why are you here? Didn’t I say I didn’t want to see you?” Jingyan lowered her head and continued to flip through the stack of documents in her hand, looking just like Aunt Ouyang.

“Jingyan~” I closed the door to the inner room, quickly walked to Jingyan’s side, found a chair and sat down next to her, but she immediately moved the chair slightly, the wheels of which carried her away from me, keeping her distance.

I turned to look at her. A gray coat was draped over the back of the chair. She was wearing a black turtleneck sweater, black wide-leg pants, and white sneakers, which made her look both youthful and energetic, as well as exuding a cool and aloof aura.

She kept her head down, looking at the documents, without looking at me, and I felt as if snow was falling in my heart.

“Jingyan… I bought you your favorite strawberry tiramisu, would you like to try it?” I took out the box I was carrying, opened one portion, and held it to her lips.

“Oh, I’m busy.” Jingyan turned her head away, her tone tinged with resentment, while holding the documents in her hand far away, as if afraid of getting them dirty with the cake.

I put the cake away, a sense of sadness settling over me.

I’ve eaten in the office with Jingyan before, but she never cared about making a mess. It seems she’s really angry this time.

Or perhaps it was a burst of pent-up emotions.

“Jingyan…can we have a proper talk?” I said.

“Xuanyu…it’s not that I don’t want to talk to you properly,” Jingyan said.

She put down the documents in her hand, turned around and said to me formally, “I’m really busy right now. The plans for the May Day holiday gala are not yet finalized, and the programs have not been rehearsed. Teacher Chen from the administration office just came to ask me about the progress. I’m overwhelmed right now. Can we go home and talk about it?”

When she said that, I was overjoyed.

“Okay… then let’s wait until we get back to your place tonight. I’ll cook you a big dinner.” I got up and hurried away, reminding her to eat the cake as I did so.

Jingyan said “we” and “go home”.

After I left the inner room, Xiao Tiantian saw me come out happily and smiled, asking with concern, “Senior, did you and your senior have a fight? Are you all better now?”

“It’s okay, everything’s fine now. Your senior Qin and I have been together since we were little, it’s normal for us to have occasional disagreements,” I said casually.

“Hehe, yes, the senior is so nice and outstanding, and the senior is the most beautiful girl in the school. You two are a perfect match.” Xiao Tiantian said with her hands on her chin, looking envious.

“By the way, I have something to ask you.”

“My senior said…” Xiao Tiantian resumed her serious demeanor.

“Does Zhao Chenyu come to the student council often?” I asked.

“Well… I really didn’t know. I wasn’t the only one on duty. I’ve only met him once or twice, but he greeted each of us, so we got to know each other.” Xiao Tiantian’s innocent eyes didn’t seem to be lying, and there was no need for her to lie.

“That’s good. Just tell him not to come in next time he comes,” I reminded him.

“Okay.” Xiao Tiantian nodded, and I added her on WeChat as well.

A day you look forward to always passes quickly; before you know it, it’s evening.

I left the lab early, and Chu Yun also slipped away early. I wonder if he had a date with Mu Qianning. Sigh, he’s getting more and more popular, while Jingyan and I are getting more and more estranged. Is our crisis about to begin?

Or is it the so-called “seven-year itch”?

No matter what, Jingyan is the perfect partner in my heart, and I must be with her, no matter what the cost.

When we arrived at Aunt Ouyang’s house, Aunt Ouyang hadn’t returned yet. It was a good opportunity to cook something delicious. First, I cooked a pot of five-red porridge in the rice cooker to help Aunt Ouyang and Jingyan shake off their fatigue. Then I stir-fried some celery and beef, made a cold dish, and made some pumpkin pancakes. I have to say, Chinese food is really difficult. Western food claims to be so noble all the time, but it’s nothing more than plating a plate, spreading some sauce, sprinkling some crumbs and adding some herbs. The portions are small and not filling.

“Oh my, what day is it today? My husband is cooking again.” I was holding my hand over the pot, intently testing the oil temperature through the steam, when I suddenly felt a warm sensation behind me.

I turned my head and saw Aunt Ouyang.

“Oh my god, you scared me to death!” I quickly pulled my hand back, almost falling into the oil pan.

“Stop breathing, baby, it’s time to put in the meat.” Aunt Ouyang put her arm around my waist and directed me from behind.

As I stir-fried the meat slices, watching the bright red beef struggle in the oil and slowly turn into a dull brownish-red, a bulge appeared in my crotch.

It had nothing to do with cooking, because Aunt Ouyang’s hands were inside my pants, and she was stroking my penis.

It was related to cooking, but because my body needed to focus on this, I could only let Aunt Ouyang do as she pleased.

“Has the meat been marinated?” Aunt Ouyang asked while stroking my penis.

“Ahhh?!” I screamed in fright. What meat? What castration?

“I’m asking you, has the beef been marinated?” Aunt Ouyang said to me with a smile, enunciating each word clearly.

“It’s pickled… pickled!” I really didn’t want to say the word “pickled,” as it could easily cause misunderstandings.

“Alright, that’s about enough. Scoop it out and set it aside…” Aunt Ouyang’s hand reached out from my crotch, and she turned and left.

I didn’t go to see her; I stayed under that “big tent” and continued cooking.

“Stir-fry the celery briefly, then add the beef~” I muttered as I stir-fried, added some salt, and it was done!

“Is it ready?” I had just poured the vegetables from the pot into a plate when Aunt Ouyang appeared again. I turned my head and saw that Aunt Ouyang’s alluring S-curve was covered by a golden halter nightgown, her shoulders were bare, and her smooth skin shone with an alluring white light. The two peaks of her breasts had two pointed protrusions pressing against the nightgown, as if they would pop out at any moment.

Although I didn’t notice Aunt Ouyang’s outfit earlier, she was probably wearing a formal suit for after get off work. Now, she’s suddenly changed into such a sexy and alluring nightgown with no visible bra lines. Who could resist that?

“It’s done.” I nodded.

“Do you want anything else to cook?” Aunt Ouyang walked gracefully to my side, her bright red lips carrying a familiar fragrance, and gently kissed my lips.

“That’s all. We’ll have something simple for dinner tonight.” As I said this, I gently stroked Aunt Ouyang’s slender waist, and the flesh on her lower abdomen seemed to be embracing my hand.

“Haha, are you worried I’ll get fat?” Aunt Ouyang put her hands on my shoulders, slowly squatted down, slid her hands from my shoulders to my chest, then from my chest to my lower abdomen, and finally pulled down my pants.

“My dear husband, you’ve worked so hard. Take a rest.” Aunt Ouyang looked up at me when she saw the erect penis, said playfully, and then opened her red lips to swallow my penis.

“Mmm…” This muffled groan came from me. My penis was enveloped by Aunt Ouyang’s red lips. Although it wasn’t the first time, I enjoyed it every time, not only physically but also mentally, and with the pleasure of breaking taboos.

This is, after all, my future mother-in-law.

“Hmm… Hmph~” This sound came from Aunt Ouyang. Her red lips tightened, her head swayed, and as she moved back and forth, my penis went from brazenly provoking the air to completely sinking into a warm and moist space, enjoying the squeezing of soft flesh. The warm feeling made my whole body go limp, and I almost slid off the stove with my hands on my back.

“Hmm… Young people’s penises are so hard. Jingyan enjoyed it all night, and it’s still so hard today, mmm~ kiss!” Aunt Ouyang stuck out her tongue and teased my glans, but her words brought back some sad memories.

It’s not like Jingyan enjoyed the night at all; she didn’t enjoy it at all. But that puts my mind at ease, as Aunt Ouyang doesn’t know about the argument between Jingyan and me.

“Mmm~ So hard~ So hot~” Aunt Ouyang stroked my penis with one hand and gripped my scrotum with the other. Her seductive words and fragrant breath blew on my sensitive glans. If Aunt Ouyang hadn’t done this to me so many times, I would have definitely ejaculated already.

“Mmm~ Husband’s big cock, pfft!” Aunt Ouyang opened her red lips and swallowed my cock again. I looked down at Aunt Ouyang’s head shaking. Every time she swallowed, not only did my cock enjoy the tight embrace of her tender flesh, but two soft mounds of flesh on my knees also bumped against it. Every time she spat it out, below my cock, her full breasts squeezed out a deep cleavage in her sexy gold nightgown, and two small protruding nipples twisted in the thin nightgown, as if looking forward to meeting me.

“Hmph~ you bad husband~” Aunt Ouyang’s face was flushed with drunkenness. As if she knew what I was thinking, she twisted her shoulder, and one of the bra straps slipped off her shoulder and onto her arm, revealing one of her breasts. The pink nipple was already hard, as if telling me that the woman under you was already in heat.

“Husband, how about fucking me in a few days~” Aunt Ouyang held the penis in one hand, the glans in her mouth, and rubbed her exposed breasts with the other hand. Then her fingers slid down and reached between her legs.

In that instant, my memories became somewhat jumbled. For some reason, I suddenly recalled the scene of waking up that night and discovering Jingyan masturbating.

Why did I think of this? Why did I think of it at this time?

“What’s wrong, husband?” Aunt Ouyang went from squatting to kneeling, her two peach blossom eyes fixed on me, her red lips opening again to swallow and spit out my penis.

“Ah…” I let out a low growl as if to vent my emotions, pressing Aunt Ouyang’s head with both hands and making her give me a deep throat.

“So comfortable…so comfortable…” I closed my eyes tightly, enjoying the moment wholeheartedly, completely unaware of Aunt Ouyang gently patting my lower abdomen.

When I opened my eyes again, the scene before me terrified me so much that I broke out in a cold sweat.

Jingyan, wearing a gray trench coat and a black turtleneck sweater, was standing in front of the entrance hall, her hand on the wall, her eyes fixed on me, on my pants that I had taken off, on Aunt Ouyang kneeling beneath me, on Aunt Ouyang’s half-undressed pajamas, and on my penis disappearing into her mother’s mouth.

For a moment, I groped around haphazardly with both hands, not even knowing what I was touching.

“You bad husband, you don’t care about me at all!” Aunt Ouyang spat out the penis, looked up, and saw my terrified expression. She turned around and saw Jingyan.

“Jingyan’s back! Hurry up and change your clothes. Xuanyu has already prepared the meal, but the porridge will take a while.” Aunt Ouyang greeted me very generously, even while her hand was still stroking my penis.

Although the three of us are well aware of our relationship, it has always been just the two of us, like Aunt Ouyang and me, or Jingyan and me. This is the first time that Jingyan has seen us doing something naughty like today.

It was the first time after the three of them opened up about their relationship.

Jingyan didn’t say a word, didn’t take off her clothes or change her shoes, put her hands in her coat pockets, and hurriedly went up the stairs to the second floor.

“Oh no, it’s all over…” I muttered.

“What do you mean ‘it’s over’? She knows. She’ll find out sooner or later. Didn’t you go out all night last night?” Aunt Ouyang explained.

Well… how can I put it? I’m so confused right now. I was planning to apologize to Jingyan and make up with her, but now, seeing how she looks, my plans have been ruined again.

“Aunt Ouyang, please tidy up the table. I’ll go upstairs to call Jingyan.” I pulled up my pants and headed upstairs, my tent still erect.

“Oh, what are you afraid of? Okay, okay, I’ll take care of it, you little rascal!” Aunt Ouyang’s doting complaints came from behind her. She was still unaware of the seriousness of the matter.

When I got to the second floor and walked to Jingyan’s bedroom, I instinctively grabbed the handle, turned it down, and tried to push the door, but I found that I couldn’t push it open.

Is it locked from the inside?

“Jingyan? Jingyan?” I called out towards the bedroom while turning the doorknob, but the brown-red door was like an impenetrable wall, blocking my voice.

Yes, it’s completely sealed off; how could any sound possibly pass through?

“Jingyan! Jingyan!” I raised my voice, but I had to control the volume, afraid that Aunt Ouyang would hear me.

“Alright, stop shouting!” Jingyan’s voice came from inside: “I’m changing clothes, you go eat first, I’ll be down in a bit.”

“Then I’ll go downstairs first.” I let go of the doorknob, and the handle snapped back with a “click,” making my heart skip a beat.

Go back downstairs.

“Come and eat! The porridge will take a while, but you started cooking it as soon as you got back. It’ll be ready in a few more minutes.” Aunt Ouyang was already wearing her gold pajamas, but her two nipples were still swaying as she moved.

“Where’s Jingyan?” Aunt Ouyang asked, sitting across from me.

“She’s changing her clothes, she’ll be down in a bit,” I said, settling into my seat.

“Did you two have a fight yesterday?” I had just sat down when Aunt Ouyang’s question almost made me jump out of my chair.

“Ah…yes!” I nodded.

“Why?” Aunt Ouyang asked.

I was speechless because I really didn’t know what to say. This moment of silence made me realize that I might not be ready to face this taboo yet taboo-breaking, private yet no-privacy love triangle.

“Hmm… the beef stir-fry is quite good, very delicious.” Seeing that I didn’t speak, Aunt Ouyang quickly changed the subject and picked up a piece of beef to eat.

I lowered my head, picked up a piece, and chewed on the beef I had cooked. The beef, which was supposed to be chewy, felt like a piece of dry firewood soaked with rainwater in my mouth. I couldn’t chew it properly. Now I know what “tasteless” means.

Perhaps it’s true, as Aunt Ouyang said, that what I made tasted very good, but my mind wasn’t on tasting it at all.

“Tap tap tap…” Footsteps gradually sounded. I looked towards the stairwell and saw Jingyan had changed into a green nightgown. The nightgown was decorated with flower and cat and dog patterns. With each step she took, her full breasts trembled. My eyes were fixed on the peaks of her breasts.

There weren’t any raised dots, but I was still very happy because these pajamas were a couple’s set. When she put them on, I understood what she meant.

“Jingyan, come and try Xuanyu’s celery beef, it tastes really good!” Aunt Ouyang called Jingyan over.

Jingyan sat next to Aunt Ouyang, which was to my side. I don’t know if I was being too observant, but I noticed that after Jingyan sat down, she gently moved her chair away from Aunt Ouyang.

Was she doing it on purpose?

“What have you been busy with lately, my dear?” Aunt Ouyang asked.

“We’re going to hold a performance at Enxin Nursing Home for May Day,” Jingyan said, picking up a pumpkin pancake while eating some vegetables.

“How is it? Is it delicious?” Aunt Ouyang asked.

“Hmm, not bad.” Jingyan’s words eased my tense nerves a little.

“Do you need Mom’s help with the performance?” Aunt Ouyang asked.

“No need, the process is almost complete, it’s just the show. Actually, I really want to go up and play a piece,” Jingyan said cutely, with the end of a chopstick in her mouth and her eyes rolling upwards.

But I always felt there was something else behind her words. Didn’t she say she was incredibly busy during the day? How come the process is almost complete now? Or does she just not want Aunt Ouyang to worry about it?

“That’s good. This isn’t the first time you’ve done something like this,” Aunt Ouyang said. As she spoke, I felt something soft moving up and down on my calf; without a doubt, it was Aunt Ouyang.

“Hmm!” Jingyan didn’t say much, and I didn’t say anything either. The three of us ate our meal without exchanging a word. We were the three closest people to each other, and our relationship should have been even closer, but we were like three strangers in a restaurant, each eating our own food and ignoring each other.

As the food entered my mouth, a sense of desolation crept into my heart.

How should I deal with this situation?

“Where did you go with Xuanyu yesterday?” Aunt Ouyang asked.

“We just went to the mall for a bit; there’s not much to do in T City,” Jingyan said.

“How about the three of us go on a trip together sometime? What do you think?” Aunt Ouyang’s idea caught my eye; why didn’t I think of that?

“We’ll see, I’ve been really busy lately.” Was Jingyan using this as an excuse to refuse? Just as I was thinking this, I suddenly felt a kick to my leg.

“Yes, Jingyan, after this event, let’s go out and have some fun together, and relax a bit.” I quickly followed, and Aunt Ouyang gave me an approving look.

“No.” Hearing me speak, Jingyan refused very clearly this time, and her tone was very cold.

“I’ll go get the porridge.” Aunt Ouyang got up and left.

“Jingyan…please don’t be angry with me anymore, okay? I’ll listen to you from now on,” I pleaded in a low voice.

“No… I’m not blaming you…” Jingyan didn’t look at me, and kept chewing on her food.

“What happened to you? I was impolite last night, okay? I apologize, and I won’t do it again,” I explained.

“No…no…I really don’t blame you…” Jingyan raised her head, frowned as she looked at me, her eyes filled with sadness.

“That’s because of Mommy!” Aunt Ouyang said, carrying a tray with three steaming bowls of five-red porridge.

Aunt Ouyang’s words startled both Jingyan and me. She placed the three bowls of porridge down, sat in her chair, but didn’t pick up her chopsticks, instead resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Jingyan.

“Really? Honey?” Aunt Ouyang continued to ask.

It was warm inside, but I suddenly felt a cold wind blowing in.

“It’s not Mom…” Jingyan also put down her chopsticks. The mother and daughter looked at each other, their two similar yet very different faces showing the same look in their eyes. There was confusion, helplessness, and something else, I couldn’t tell.

“Uh… this…” I didn’t know what to say for a moment.

“So what exactly happened? You and Xuanyu had a fight yesterday, and today it’s just the three of us here. Explain yourself clearly.” Aunt Ouyang placed her hands under the table, presumably on her lap.

I was startled. Had this already come to a showdown? Was it really this sudden?

“I…” Jingyan put her hands under the table, lowered her head and didn’t speak.

“Baby, I am your mother, and Xuanyu is your future husband. We are both your closest relatives. You know about Xuanyu and me, and I have told you about it. Mom knows you…” Aunt Ouyang paused, glanced at me, and continued, “I know you are having a hard time accepting this, but Mom…” Aunt Ouyang moved closer to Jingyan, placed her hands on Jingyan’s hands, and continued.

“Everything Mom has belongs to you and Xuanyu.”

“Mom…I…you know what I saw as soon as I walked in the door…I…” Jingyan said, her head down, sobbing.

I lowered my head. Just now, I was indeed—thankfully it was Jingyan who came in. What if it had been my mother? What if it had been Uncle Qin?

“It was Mom’s fault in this matter, but you’ve always seemed so preoccupied. What’s wrong? Are you blaming Mom?” Aunt Ouyang continued to ask the question she wanted to know.

“It’s not Mom, I’m not blaming you… I…”

“So what happened?” Aunt Ouyang was still very patient, but there was a hint of resentment in her voice.

“I’m fine, Mom…” Jingyan sighed, her shoulders slumped, and she said helplessly.

“You don’t look okay at all, Mom is very worried about you.”

“I’m fine!” Jingyan suddenly interrupted Aunt Ouyang loudly, which I didn’t expect at all.

“So you still blame your mother, is that right?” Aunt Ouyang said sadly.

“I didn’t!” Jingyan denied it again.

“Aunt Ouyang!” I suddenly stood up, and the two beautiful women across the table turned to look at me at the same time. I walked around the table to the middle of them, took Aunt Ouyang’s hand, and then took Jingyan’s hand.

“Aunt Ouyang, Jingyan, I… I don’t know how to describe our relationship, but it’s already happened, so we have to walk together. I will do everything I can to protect you both. I… I really love you, so much.” Actually, I didn’t know how to say it. I didn’t have any words to make up; I just said whatever came to mind.

But I spoke very sincerely; my whole body was trembling.

I looked at Aunt Ouyang, who looked up at me with a face full of relief and her eyes shining with emotion; I turned to look at Jingyan, but Jingyan turned her head away and let go of my hand at the same time.

Aunt Ouyang and I were both taken aback.

“I’m full, you can continue eating.” Jingyan got up and left.

Aunt Ouyang and I exchanged a glance, our eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

Jingyan’s figure disappeared at the top of the stairs. I looked down at the porridge in my bowl, not touching it, it was still steaming.

But the porridge will get cold.

Just like the human heart…

…