An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the cool moonlight fell on the restaurant’s entrance. Fu Wutai and Lu Zexu said “Happy Mid-Autumn Festival” and left first.

Seven people remained.

Wei Shun looked up at the dark blue sky and said, “It’s already dark. Pei Dan and I are leaving too. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!” His voice was particularly clear in the quiet night.

Wang Yuhuan stepped forward and gently patted Pei Dan’s shoulder, her gaze gentle but with a hint of gravity. “Pei Dan, you and Wei Shun can go back.”

She paused, her voice softening with a mother’s tenderness. “He’s… a little childish and a bit mischievous, but deep down, he’s very sensitive. I hope you’ll take good care of him. After all, he’s my son, a piece of flesh that fell off my body.” This sudden, serious entrustment made the usually composed Pei Dan feel a little stunned and unsure what to do.

Beside them, Wei Shun seemed to have been poked in a sensitive spot. He looked around uncomfortably, his toes unconsciously scuffing the ground like a hyperactive child.

Everyone present understood that a mother’s love for her child was deep and reserved. All her affection for Wei Shun had now turned into this earnest request for Pei Dan.

Pei Dan quickly composed himself, a gentle and sincere smile on his face. “I know, Auntie. Don’t worry, I will take good care of him.”

It was at this point that the “drama queen,” Huang Xiaozhi, made her appearance.

She exaggeratedly pulled a tissue from her mother Wei Qingwen’s purse, pretended to wipe the corners of her eyes, and said in a choked-up voice, “You… you… it’s so touching. I… I’m shedding… tears…” Her acting was so over the top it was outrageous.

Wei Shun couldn’t take it anymore. He dashed forward from behind and clapped a hand over her mouth, stopping her from continuing her “performance.”

Standing to the side, Yu Wen quietly watched this scene, which was both heartwarming and chaotic. A faint smile played on her lips; she simply found this family warm and entertaining.

Wang Yuhuan gave the bickering siblings a helpless glance, then her gaze returned to Pei Dan, her voice now even more earnest. “If he doesn’t know how to love someone, you can blame him and teach him, but please don’t hurt him. This is the first time he’s so genuinely liked someone, so genuinely loved someone. In your presence, I feel like I’m seeing his clumsy but hardworking little boy self again… so, he truly loves you very, very much.”

She paused, then lowered her voice, adding with a knowing, experienced look, “And finally… don’t let him get worked to death in bed.” After saying this, she patted Pei Dan’s shoulder again, her eyes full of meaning.

She said no more, turning her gaze to Huang Xiaozhi and Wei Shun, who were still engaged in their “hand-over-the-mouth” farce. “Let’s go, let’s go. Wei Shun, you go with Pei Dan. We’re leaving first.”

The five people waved goodbye to each other, their figures gradually blending into the night.

Wei Shun looked at Pei Dan, leaning in closer, and curiously studied his expression.

“What secret did my mom just tell you?” he asked.

Pei Dan looked at the person in front of him, who was exactly as Wang Yuhuan had described—a little childlike, but with a soft heart. He understood then that a mother truly knew her child best.

“It’s nothing,” Pei Dan said softly. Then he leaned in even closer to Wei Shun and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Your mom told us to… practice some restraint. Do you understand?”

Hearing this, Wei Shun’s eyes widened instantly. His brows furrowed, and his face was filled with shock and disbelief!

Bickering playfully, the two of them also left.

Pei Dan would indulge Wei Shun’s childish tantrums and tolerate his immaturity. Most of the time, he was like a steady mountain, a reliable elder. He loved him, and that was enough.

And Wei Shun, in his unique way, was teaching Pei Dan how to express love and reveal his truest self.

Loving each other—nothing else mattered.

…

In the car, Wei Qingwen sat steadily in the driver’s seat, with their father, Wei Shuqun, in the passenger seat.

Wang Yuhuan laughed and said she wanted to sit next to the two “beauties,” so she chose the back seat.

The car started, driving smoothly on the way back to the old house.

Wei Qingwen looked at Yu Wen in the rearview mirror and went straight to the point. “Yu Wen, why don’t you stay at the old house tonight? You can come back to the city with us tomorrow.” Her tone was natural and caring.

Yu Wen didn’t immediately nod or shake her head. She didn’t say anything, seeming to hesitate.

After a moment, out of politeness and a little embarrassment, she replied, “You don’t have to trouble yourselves, Auntie. If it’s not too much of a hassle, could you please drop me off?”

The moment she finished, Huang Xiaozhi immediately stepped in forcefully.

“NONONO!” She waved her hands repeatedly, with an exaggerated expression. “It’s a huge hassle! Super annoying! So you just have to stay with us tonight! We’re not bad people!” She leaned closer to Yu Wen, blinking her big, serious eyes. “You can sleep in my room with me. My bed is huge!”

Wang Yuhuan also spoke up at the right time, her voice gentle but leaving no room for refusal. “Little Yu, stay the night. It’s really not safe for a girl to go back home at night.”

At this point, Wei Shuqun, who usually said little, added with an elder’s care, “It’s better to be safe than sorry, young lady.”

With everyone saying the same thing, Yu Wen couldn’t continue to refuse.

In truth, Wei Qingwen never intended to actually drop her off. The moment her daughter spoke up, the matter was settled.

Wang Yuhuan, sitting in the middle, kindly took Yu Wen’s hand and placed it on her lap, patting it gently.

Although the years had left wrinkles on her hands, her skin was still well-kept and felt warm to the touch.

The car was instantly filled with a light and happy atmosphere.

Yu Wen was immersed in this long-lost feeling of warmth, of being surrounded by family.

Her childhood memories were already blurred. The happiness she felt now was something she craved, and she almost wanted to drown in it, unwilling to pull away.

…

When they arrived at the old house, Huang Xiaozhi said hello to the adults and then, unable to wait any longer, pulled Yu Wen upstairs.

Although the house had extra guest rooms—two on the third floor—Huang Xiaozhi had an ulterior motive: she wanted to sleep with Yu Wen.

Once inside the room, Huang Xiaozhi went straight to the walk-in closet, rummaging through clothes to find a suitable pair of pajamas for Yu Wen.

Yu Wen stood in the center of the room, finally getting a chance to carefully look at this space full of love. She had only taken a quick nap here in the afternoon, but now she could see the full picture.

The room was cozy and comfortable, with family photos hanging on the walls and shelves full of books and cute little decorations. It showed how much care and love the owner had received.

This was clearly the room of a girl who had grown up surrounded by love.

She looked at the large bed with its soft bedding, feeling a little nervous. How am I going to sleep tonight? I’m afraid I’ll be too nervous to fall asleep with the person I have a crush on so close to me.

While she was lost in thought, Huang Xiaozhi came over with a set of pajamas. “Here, these are my pajamas. The others aren’t clean. This set… might it be a little too small?” She held a white silk short-sleeve shirt and shorts set that looked soft and comfortable.

Yu Wen took the pajamas, her fingers touching the smooth, cool silk fabric. It felt wonderful.

She recognized it as a classic FS brand design at first glance. “I think my body is pretty similar to yours,” she said, gesturing with a smile. “They should fit.”

Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes darted up and down, sizing up Yu Wen. She nodded. “Then why don’t you rest for a bit? I’ll go wash my hair and take a shower first. Or… do you want to go first?” As she spoke, she skillfully gathered her long, loose hair into a high ponytail with a hair tie, then wrapped the ponytail into a neat bun.

Her entire face was now visible, bare of any makeup. Her features were delicate and clean, with a natural, graceful spirit in her eyes. The bare face made her features look even more striking.

Yu Wen watched her swift movements and fresh, makeup-free face, raising her eyebrow slightly. She gently placed the pajamas on the bed. “You go first. I need to make a phone call; I have something to take care of.” She purposely shook her phone to signal.

The two of them just stood there, facing each other.

Huang Xiaozhi nodded, feeling a bit curious about who Yu Wen was calling, but she quickly thought that if the other person didn’t say, there must be a reason. Perhaps it was a private family matter.

She suppressed her curiosity and didn’t ask any more questions.

Huang Xiaozhi turned to search for her own pajamas in the closet—she preferred to wear a nightgown. She finally took out a pink cotton slip dress.

In truth, she had initially wanted to give Yu Wen a light-green silk slip dress with thin straps, but she quickly dismissed the idea.

She felt that her little crush would be too obvious, and it was better to hide it.

Thinking about sleeping in the same bed with the person she liked, Huang Xiaozhi went into the bathroom and closed the door. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling at her own reflection in the mirror.

Who is lucky enough to sleep with the person they like? It’s her, Huang Xiaozhi!

Outside, Yu Wen glanced at her phone and walked onto the balcony, gently closing the door. The night breeze carried a chill, and the bright, round moon hung overhead.

She had no interest in admiring the moon. She looked down, focused on her phone.

She first sent an encrypted file to Zhong Li, asking him to forward it to Lin Yuxu.

The Wei family’s surveillance had been tight recently, and Lin Yuxu had specifically told her not to contact him directly these days.

After sending it, she dialed Zhang Yunzhen’s number.

The phone rang for about thirty seconds before it was picked up.

A cold, slightly impatient female voice came from the other end. “Hello, what do you want?”

Yu Wen let out a soft sigh.

“Sister Yunzhen, is this you?” she needed to confirm.

“What do you think?” the other person retorted.

“Hmm… then it’s probably you,” Yu Wen confirmed her identity by the other person’s characteristic, slightly annoyed and cold tone.

“Spit it out.” The subtext was: Just say what you have to say.

“Nothing, just calling to chat,” Yu Wen said in a relaxed tone.

“Chat? Am I that free?” Zhang Yunzhen scoffed.

“Zhong Li reported to me that you were quite free,” Yu Wen said bluntly.

“…” The other side fell silent, clearly having been called out. After a moment, Zhang Yunzhen directly changed the subject. “Have you thought about leaving the country?”

The abrupt topic change made Yu Wen pause. “I thought about it a long time ago.”

“When did you decide to leave?”

“After my second year of high school. Have you found a school yet?”

“Found one. We’ve already made contact. My sister will handle the paperwork when the time comes. It’s not convenient for me.” Zhang Yunzhen was referring to her leg, which made movement difficult.

“Okay, whatever you decide is fine. I heard the Zhang Corporation is under a lot of scrutiny recently?”

“Yeah, be careful.”

“You too. I’m going to take a shower.”

“Rest early.”

“Okay, good night.”

Their relationship had softened a lot recently. At least they could talk to each other now without being at each other’s throats.

While a true sense of trust was still far away, it was a good start.

Yu Wen turned off her phone and let her gaze sweep over the tranquil courtyards and scattered small houses of the old residential area.

Most of the people living here were elderly people enjoying their golden years. It was rare to see young people.

She stood on the balcony for a while, letting the cool night wind disperse the thoughts in her mind, before returning to the warm indoor space.

Sitting by the bed, she casually picked up her phone, opened a novel app, and planned to read an article to pass the time while she waited for Huang Xiaozhi to come out.

…

The bathroom door opened, and a mist of steam billowed out.

Huang Xiaozhi came out with a towel wrapped around her wet hair, her phone in her hand, wearing the pink slip dress. She exuded the fresh scent of a post-shower glow, with a hint of homey laziness.

Yu Wen didn’t dare to look too long. She just felt her heart race.

She grabbed her set of pajamas from the bed and almost ran into the bathroom, like a panicked escapee. As she brushed past Huang Xiaozhi, she left a slightly hurried silhouette behind her.

Huang Xiaozhi watched the bathroom door close and tilted her head in confusion. What’s wrong? Why is she so eager to take a shower? Does she think I took too long?

As she wondered, she walked over to the drawer and took out the hairdryer.

Soon, the “whirring” sound filled the room, covering the faint sound of running water from the bathroom.

Her hair was quite long, and it took a lot of effort to blow-dry it.

Midway through, her arm, holding the hairdryer, began to ache.

Luckily, a “savior” soon appeared. Yu Wen’s shower was much faster than Huang Xiaozhi had expected.

Yu Wen came out of the bathroom with a clean face, folded her clothes, and placed them on a chair.

Seeing Huang Xiaozhi struggling to dry her hair, she placed her phone on the bedside table and walked straight over. “Let me help you. You look like you’re having a hard time.” Her voice was drowned out by the noise of the hairdryer.

Huang Xiaozhi felt someone approach, turned off the hairdryer, and looked back, her wet hair clinging to her cheeks. “Hmm? What did you say? I didn’t hear you.” She thought Yu Wen needed something.

Yu Wen didn’t say anything. She simply and naturally took the hairdryer from her hand and gestured for her to sit down.

“I’ll help you dry it.” She said, turning the hairdryer back on. The familiar whooshing sound started again.

Huang Xiaozhi obediently adjusted her sitting position. Yu Wen’s fingers, carrying the warm air, gently ran through her hair, her movements tender and meticulous. Every time her fingertips accidentally brushed against her scalp, Huang Xiaozhi felt a comfortable, tingling sensation. Her tense arm was finally free.

Perhaps in this moment, the long-hidden affection in Yu Wen’s heart had quietly flowed from her fingertips.

In the light, Huang Xiaozhi sat on the vanity stool with her back to Yu Wen. Yu Wen sat on a slightly taller stool, concentrating on drying her long hair.

A silent joy filled the warm air. Only the sound of the hairdryer quietly masked the thumping of a heart.

On this quiet night, the thoughts of the young girls were likely known only to the moon outside the window.

When the lights in most of the rooms in the old house had gone out, only this room still had the faint sound of happy whispers and laughter.

The two girls sat cross-legged on the soft bed, sharing funny stories from the past, talking about memories that were either beautiful or hilariously embarrassing.

Yu Wen’s past good times were few and far between, mostly concentrated before the car accident, but she was still able to pick out some warm moments to share.

As they got more excited, they even took out their phones for a selfie. Huang Xiaozhi held up the phone to find the right angle, while Yu Wen lay comfortably on the pillow, her head slightly tilted toward Huang Xiaozhi.

“Make sure I look good,” Yu Wen reminded her quietly, her lips moving slightly. Every girl wants to capture her most beautiful moment.

Huang Xiaozhi couldn’t be bothered to adjust for too long. She just pressed the shutter. “You just have to trust me! Any random picture I take of you will turn out great!”

Her tone was full of confidence. Then she seemed to remember something, and her voice dropped. “I also took pictures when you were hosting the arts festival… but the photos are with my mom… over there.” The pause at the end was because the day of the arts festival was also the day Su Li left A City without saying goodbye.

To this day, Su Li had not sent any messages. A sense of unspoken loss lingered deep in Huang Xiaozhi’s heart.

At that moment, a voice came from above her head, with a smile. “I believe in your skills. I really do.” Yu Wen smiled as she looked at her.

From such a close distance, Huang Xiaozhi could clearly see her own reflection in Yu Wen’s eyes, and the slight upturn of her lips.

If not for a sense of reason, she would have almost leaned in to kiss her.

Looking at Yu Wen’s gentle smiling face, Huang Xiaozhi still couldn’t help but ask the question that had been weighing on her heart. “Su Li… did she ever text you afterward?”

When Su Li was mentioned, Yu Wen’s eyes flickered imperceptibly. She instinctively avoided Huang Xiaozhi’s searching gaze. A person who wasn’t very good at lying could either hope to meet a “blind” person who couldn’t tell, or they had to power through with sheer willpower.

“No,” Yu Wen’s voice was very soft, with a deliberate air of indifference. “She probably has her own life now. She told me to… forget her. She’s doing well, and she told us not to contact her.” As she said this, she never dared to look Huang Xiaozhi in the eye.

Lying next to her, Huang Xiaozhi sighed heavily, her disappointment clear.

Her old friend was now asking to cut all ties without even giving a reason. How could she possibly accept that so calmly?

“Okay, I understand,” her voice was muffled. “I won’t bother her anymore.” Her mood was clearly low.

Her feelings for Su Li were purely platonic, a deep sisterhood.

The other’s sudden departure remained a knot in her heart to this day.

Yu Wen turned her head, her gaze following every subtle change in expression on Huang Xiaozhi’s face. An alarm bell went off in her mind.

One lie required countless more lies to maintain, and she felt an invisible pressure.

“Xiaozhi,” Yu Wen suddenly called out softly, breaking the somber atmosphere.

When her name was called, Huang Xiaozhi instinctively turned her head—and in doing so, her lips almost brushed against Yu Wen’s cheek! Yu Wen reacted quickly, tilting her head back to avoid a real “kiss.”

Huang Xiaozhi instantly recoiled a little, her face turning red. She apologized repeatedly. “Ah, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were tilting your head to look at me, and when I turned… that happened! Did I hit you? Does it hurt?” After all, face-on-face contact had some force behind it.

Yu Wen shook her head, her cheeks also a little flushed. But seeing Huang Xiaozhi’s flustered state, she found it funny instead. “No, it’s fine. It doesn’t hurt.”

Huang Xiaozhi was still muttering, “That’s good, that’s good,” patting her chest to calm herself down, looking shaken.

Yu Wen quickly seized the opportunity to change the subject from Su Li.

She had to shift Huang Xiaozhi’s attention elsewhere. This topic was too dangerous; it could expose her lies at any moment.

She kept a gentle smile on her face, but her heart was pounding with tension from the lie she had just told.

“Xiaozhi,” she said, her voice softening. “Can you share some of your photos with me?” She didn’t know where the idea came from, but she knew she had to change the subject.

At the mention of this, Huang Xiaozhi immediately perked up! She sat up from her lying position, grabbed her phone from beside the pillow, her eyes shining.

“Lying down to look at your phone is bad for your eyes. Let’s sit up and look at the treasures in my photo album!” She unlocked her phone excitedly. Then, thinking of something, she turned to Yu Wen, her eyes bright. “Will you show me your photo album later? Please?” She was genuinely curious. What would a top student’s photo album contain? Would it all be study materials and screenshots of notes? As soon as she thought this, she felt she was being too stereotypical.

Yu Wen unhurriedly sat up as well, smiling and nodding. “Sure. But…” She paused, with a hint of candid cunning. “Some things in there are ‘confidential,’ so I might not be able to show you.” She was referring to the photos and documents she had taken as evidence that she couldn’t show.

Huang Xiaozhi immediately nodded obediently, showing she understood. “Of course, of course! I get it! Everyone has their little secrets!” She had things she didn’t want others to see, too, and she would definitely respect the other person’s wishes.

Huang Xiaozhi’s photo album was neatly categorized: one for scenery, one for her own childhood memories, and one for various stage performances.

Flipping through her album was like looking at a scrapbook of her colorful life.

She opened the album marked “Growth Milestones,” placed the phone between them, and leaned in toward Yu Wen. “This album is all my past embarrassments and my growth history, from when I was a kid to my middle school graduation! I looked a lot different back then.” She said, smiling a little shyly.

The first picture she opened made Yu Wen laugh.

The little girl in the photo was about four or five years old, with two pigtails sticking up, her cheeks chubby and puffed out. Her little hands were tightly clutching a cotton candy bigger than her face, with a colorful amusement park in the background.

The photo had a clear sense of being from a different era.

“You were so cute when you were little! Did your mom take this?” Yu Wen couldn’t help but exclaim.

“Yes, she did!” Huang Xiaozhi said proudly. “My mom’s photography skills are certified by me! I trust her completely!” As she said this, a look of genuine happiness blossomed on her face.

This album was astonishingly large, with over a thousand photos.

The two of them, to their surprise, looked through them one by one with great interest, with Huang Xiaozhi providing a lively commentary.

As they neared the end, photos from Huang Xiaozhi’s middle school years appeared.

She wore a baggy school uniform with a simple high ponytail, standing quietly at the classroom door.

There was no posing. She simply stood there, and the pureness of her youth and her delicate features were apparent.

“The you from middle school and the you now,” Yu Wen said, looking from the photo to the more mature and gentler Huang Xiaozhi beside her. “Your aura is a little different.” It sounded a bit roundabout, but it was her honest, immediate feeling.

Huang Xiaozhi’s brain short-circuited for a moment. She thought about it, trying to process the meaning of the words, then gave up. “Huh? How is it different?”

Just as she asked, Yu Wen’s finger slid to the very last photo.

The picture showed a young woman and a handsome man. The woman had a bright smile, and the man’s eyes were gentle.

Yu Wen recognized immediately that it wasn’t Huang Xiaozhi. The eyebrows and features looked more like a younger Wei Qingwen.

She looked up, meeting Huang Xiaozhi’s questioning gaze, and answered based on their previous conversation. “Because the middle school you had a hint of childish stubbornness on your face. The you now… hmm, is gentler and more vibrant.” She paused, then added, “And you really were beautiful from childhood to now.” Her tone was sincere and full of genuine admiration.

Hearing Yu Wen’s praise, Huang Xiaozhi covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes curving into crescents. Her heart was blooming with joy, but she was still modest. “Oh, it’s just good genes!” The moment she said this, her gaze also fell on the last photo on the phone.

Yu Wen pointed at the photo. “Are these your parents? They look so good together. Your mom was so beautiful when she was young.”

The man’s nose in the photo was very similar to Huang Xiaozhi’s. Wei Qingwen’s youthful spirit and eyebrows had also been passed down to her daughter, but her eyes didn’t seem to resemble either of her parents.

Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did you know?” She had never told Yu Wen anything in detail about her parents.

Yu Wen explained, “Because you look so much like them. Your nose and face shape are very similar to your dad’s, and your mom’s brow bone and aura when she was young were passed down to you. I was only guessing; I wasn’t completely sure before.”

In her heart, she was a little confused. Didn’t she hear that Huang Xiaozhi’s father… was an irresponsible person? So how could there be such a loving photo? But it was the other person’s family matter, and it wasn’t appropriate for her to ask.

Huang Xiaozhi gave Yu Wen two enthusiastic thumbs-up. “You really are Yuzhong’s top student! Your observation and deduction skills are amazing! I will follow you forever!” She said this with genuine sincerity, and she was so happy that she opened her arms and hugged Yu Wen.

Yu Wen was amused and hugged her back, smiling as she agreed. “Okay, then follow me for a lifetime.”

The two of them burst into laughter.

They looked at the time on the phone. It was almost two in the morning!

“We have to go to sleep!” Huang Xiaozhi exclaimed. But she hadn’t seen Yu Wen’s photo album yet, which was a shame. She offered a compromise. “Let’s go to bed! We can look at it tomorrow! I bet you’re a little curious about my dad? I’ll tell you about it tomorrow.”

Yu Wen nodded, also looking at the time. It was indeed too late. “Okay, good night.”

They both lay down and got under the covers. Huang Xiaozhi got up to turn off the light. As her hand was on the switch, she looked back at the hazy figure on the bed. “Good night, Yu Wen.”

Yu Wen, who had already closed her eyes, opened them again. In the darkness, she clearly made out Huang Xiaozhi’s outline, and a small smile appeared on her lips. She responded softly, “Good night, Xiaoxiao.”

Click.

The light went out, and the room was completely immersed in a warm darkness.

The two of them lay there without speaking, both staring at the invisible ceiling.

Neither of them was sleepy. In fact, they were both a little excited from the intimate night they had spent together and their late-night talk.

But it was truly too late, and they might have to get up early for a planned activity tomorrow.

So… good night.

Good night.