An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The night, after the lights were turned off, was as thick as unmixed ink.

It was pitch black; you couldn’t see your own hand in front of your face. The room was completely submerged in darkness.

Only the tiny gap at the very top of the curtains stubbornly let in a faint, yellowish glow from the streetlights, casting a weak line of light on the pitch-black ceiling.

The moment the light went out, they both lay down peacefully.

Even though they knew it was late and they should be sleeping, their eyes were wide open in the dark.

Their bodies were as still as if they had been pinned down, not daring to move an inch.

Their thoughts were surprisingly in sync: The other person is probably about to fall asleep, and if I move, I might wake them up.

Tonight, Huang Xiaozhi was more excited than any other night. Her body was crying out with exhaustion, and her eyelids felt heavy, but her mind refused to give in.

She cherished this moment with an almost greedy desperation, afraid that if she closed her eyes, when she opened them again, it would be morning, and this precious time together would be over.

She prayed in her heart for time to flow slower, and even slower still.

Yet, physical fatigue eventually won.

Her eyelids were like lead weights, blinking heavily, one after another, until finally, she couldn’t fight it anymore and reluctantly closed them.

After all, she usually went to bed around midnight. It was well past two in the morning.

Lying beside her, Yu Wen was wide awake. She was a little confused. Was it because she was in a new bed? Or was it the secret crush and the accompanying excitement at work?

She was too silly to know the difference. Her left ear clearly picked up Huang Xiaozhi’s gradually steady and deep breathing.

Huang Xiaozhi turned over, lying on her side, her face pointed toward Yu Wen.

Yu Wen remained flat on her back, only slightly turning her head.

Once her eyes had adjusted to the darkness, she could barely make out the other person’s blurred outline. But in Yu Wen’s eyes, that hazy face was abnormally clear.

Huang Xiaozhi was clearly in a deep slumber. Yu Wen, however, was tormented by insomnia and felt no sleepiness at all.

She carefully took one hand out of the warm blanket and, with the pad of her thumb, very gently brushed against Huang Xiaozhi’s cheek.

All her tenderness and overflowing joy were poured into this careful touch.

She wore no expression on her face, but her heart was already dancing with happiness.

To be able to touch her like this felt like enough for Yu Wen. She didn’t dare to ask for more.

She gently turned her body, ending up face-to-face with Huang Xiaozhi. If only I could fall asleep like this every night.

Fantasies are always beautiful, but they’re often impractical. No matter how lovely the fantasy, the only thing that’s truly real is the present moment. In this impractical fantasy, her consciousness also gradually blurred.

Their breaths mingled a few inches from each other, their warm air brushing against each other’s faces in the silent night, making it impossible to tell where each breath came from.

Perhaps the clearest sound at this moment was their interwoven, steady breathing.

Even Yu Wen herself was a little surprised. She usually had a hard time sleeping in new beds, yet tonight, she had fallen into a deep sleep so quickly.

The peaceful night hid the unique affection in their hearts, keeping it safe in the deepest part of them. But one day, this feeling would have nowhere to hide.

…

In the morning, Huang Xiaozhi was the first to wake up. She hadn’t slept deeply, as the lingering excitement kept her sleep light.

Since she was awake, she had no intention of going back to sleep.

She turned her head and, using the faint light filtering through the curtain gap, saw Yu Wen lying flat on her back, fast asleep.

Not wanting to disturb her, she quietly got up, washed up, and then returned to the bed and sat down.

She sat with her back to the bed, quietly scrolling on her phone. In the class group chat, Mr. He Wei had posted notices for the English and Math competitions, inviting interested students to sign up.

Just then, a hoarse voice, thick with sleep, came from behind her. “Are you awake? What time is it?” This sudden question made Huang Xiaozhi pause. Had their roles been reversed?

“Nine-thirty,” she turned around to face the person on the bed. “You can sleep some more. I already told Mom.”

Yu Wen clearly had no intention of going back to sleep. She rubbed her drowsy eyes and stretched with a big yawn, her voice a little nasally. “I’m not sleeping anymore. Time to get up.” With that, she sat up.

With a head full of messy hair, a few strands stubbornly sticking up, paired with her sleepy, slightly red-rimmed eyes, she looked both a little comical and with a rare, sweet kind of cuteness. She even looked… a little easy to bully.

When Huang Xiaozhi saw Yu Wen was awake, she got up, went to the desk, poured a cup of warm water, and handed it to her. “Drink some water to soothe your throat.” The first cup of warm water in the morning was always essential.

Yu Wen looked at Huang Xiaozhi, smiled, and took the cup with the perfect temperature. She tilted her head back and drank it all in one go.

“Thank you.” She handed back the empty cup, and Huang Xiaozhi’s hand naturally reached out and took it.

Yu Wen still seemed a bit groggy, her whole body soft, as if she could fall back into bed and go back to sleep at any moment.

Before she woke up, Huang Xiaozhi had already changed her clothes: a pair of wide, dark jeans paired with a loose gray hoodie. Her hair was casually tied into a low side ponytail, making her look both casual and neat.

She took the cup back to the desk, then walked to the bed, put one leg on the bed frame, and stood with the other, leaning over to look at Yu Wen. “Are you really getting up? Or… do you want to doze a little longer?” Her tone carried a hint of apology for how late they had stayed up last night.

Yu Wen shook her head with force, as if to shake off her sleepiness. She ran both hands through her hair haphazardly, pulled back the covers, and left the warm bed. “No, if I sleep any more, I’ll go into hibernation.” She answered with a slightly nasal tone.

This answer successfully made Huang Xiaozhi laugh. She walked over and, with a whoosh, pulled open the heavy curtains. The bright morning light instantly poured into the room, dispelling the gloom.

The room was immediately filled with easy laughter. As they were chatting and laughing, there was a knock on the door. Huang Xiaozhi went to open it.

“Who is it?” she asked loudly.

Wei Qingwen’s full-bodied voice came from outside. “It’s me! Your mom! Who else!” The moment the door opened, Wei Qingwen’s gaze didn’t linger on her daughter at all. She craned her neck to look inside the room. “Yu Wen? Come down and eat.”

Huang Xiaozhi looked at her own mother, speechless.

Is this appropriate? I’m pretty sure this woman is my biological mother, right? Did I become invisible in her eyes?

She tentatively stretched out both hands and waved them in front of Wei Qingwen’s eyes, then looked at her with an expectant expression.

To her surprise, Wei Qingwen simply swatted away her waving hands and gave her an annoyed glare. “Are you a child? Seriously! Go and get ready, then come down with Yu Wen to eat. I don’t want you two to get hungry!” With that, she turned and walked downstairs with a brisk pace.

Leaving Huang Xiaozhi standing alone in the doorway, feeling completely flustered.

As luck would have it, when Wei Qingwen leaned in to look for Yu Wen, Yu Wen was in the walk-in closet changing clothes, so she had no idea what was happening outside.

Huang Xiaozhi covered her heart with her hand, a look of hurt on her face. It hurts so much! My own mother! How could she treat me like this! I’m really… so hurt!

Her inner “drama queen” resurfaced. She started to act on her own, with such exaggerated movements and expressions that anyone who didn’t know would think she had been terribly wronged.

Even more coincidentally, Yu Wen, having changed her clothes, came out of the walk-in closet and saw Huang Xiaozhi’s “performance” at the door.

Yu Wen was stunned at first. She stood there, watching Huang Xiaozhi’s devoted “acting” with great interest. If her phone had been in her hand, she would have loved to record it.

At this moment, Huang Xiaozhi was still immersed in her own superb performance, feeling as though she was unmatched!

Yu Wen crossed her arms, a look of both admiration and amusement on her face, watching Huang Xiaozhi’s back.

She was very curious what Huang Xiaozhi’s reaction would be if she knew she had been seen like this.

“Huang—Xiao—zhi—” The last word was drawn out, with a clear note of teasing.

The figure who was in the midst of their passionate performance in the doorway instantly froze as if a pause button had been pressed.

Yu Wen couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh and walked over.

For Huang Xiaozhi, it was a bolt from the blue! Oh no! Yu Wen saw my most “crazy” side! And I don’t even know how long she was watching!

Could I just disappear on the spot or fly out the window?

Yu Wen took a few steps and stood beside Huang Xiaozhi, one hand casually resting on the door frame. A doting, mischievous smile was on her face as she deliberately asked, “What were you doing just now? Acting so devotedly all by yourself? Or… do you want me to act in a TV show with you?” That knowing smile made Huang Xiaozhi want to find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

How could Huang Xiaozhi possibly turn around? Wouldn’t that be a confession?! She was filled with regret that she had acted out on a whim. She was kicking herself!

Yu Wen watched the awkward, half-squatting posture Huang Xiaozhi was holding, one foot in front of the other, one hand propped against the door frame. It looked exhausting.

Is this person silly? Does she plan to stay frozen like this just because she’s embarrassed?

Seeing such a cute Huang Xiaozhi, Yu Wen couldn’t help but laugh as she reached out and helped her stand up.

After being helped up, Huang Xiaozhi’s forehead was pressed against the cold door frame, looking like she couldn’t face anyone.

Yu Wen leaned against the door frame beside her, not saying a word, just watching her with a smile.

Huang Xiaozhi closed her eyes, chanting to herself: This is a dream, this must be a dream! The awkwardness of the situation made her want to vanish on the spot.

“What are you doing? Hmm?” Yu Wen’s voice was filled with laughter.

Huang Xiaozhi felt that staying like this was not an option. If I can’t solve the problem, then I’ll solve the person who caused the problem!

She turned her head abruptly, her eyes wide, her mouth pursed, and she made a wronged, pathetic expression—huh? Why does it look like she’s about to cry from being bullied? This isn’t how the story is supposed to go!

Yu Wen, who was being stared at, neither spoke nor dodged. Instead, she stared back intently, with a hint of… affection? What was going on now?

“Throwing a childish tantrum, are we?” Yu Wen said, and then she couldn’t help but laugh herself.

Huang Xiaozhi, who was just called “childish,” immediately dropped her wronged expression, straightened her body, and puffed out her chest, trying to project a (what she thought was) perfect chin at Yu Wen, doing her best to build up her confidence.

“You… you have to say you didn’t see what just happened!” She wasn’t really angry, just incredibly embarrassed.

Yu Wen thought Huang Xiaozhi was about to pull some kind of “weapon” from behind her back to get revenge. It was just a request to pretend she didn’t see anything? That was easy. No problem.

“Didn’t see a thing,” Yu Wen said, looking innocent and bewildered. “What happened just now? To be honest, I think I was logged out of my body for a second there. I have no idea what went on.” She knew Huang Xiaozhi wasn’t angry, just shy, so she quickly gave her an out. If she teased her too much, she might not be able to soothe her.

Hearing this, Huang Xiaozhi was satisfied. She crossed her arms and turned to walk back into the room without looking back. “Get ready quickly, and let’s go down to eat.” There was a hint of a hasty retreat in her step.

Yu Wen, left standing in the doorway, shook her head with a helpless smile, then gently closed the door and followed her inside.

This childlike nature that Huang Xiaozhi revealed was, in Yu Wen’s eyes, especially cute.

The weather today was not as bright as yesterday. The sky was a hazy gray, but under the heavy clouds, the air was exceptionally crisp, with a comfortable coolness.

Outside, the wind began to pick up, roaring softly as it passed through the treetops and eaves, like a trapped beast howling with a pain that no one could understand.

At the dining table, the three of them ate breakfast quietly. The two elderly grandparents had gone out for a stroll early in the morning, so it was just the three of them at home.

Wei Qingwen peeled an egg and looked at Yu Wen, asking with concern, “Yu Wen, how did you sleep last night? Did she steal your blanket?” She knew her daughter was not a calm sleeper.

Yu Wen had actually slept very deeply last night and hadn’t felt a thing, so she replied politely, “I slept well, Auntie. She didn’t.”

As she spoke, Huang Xiaozhi forgot to drink the milk in her hand and just stared at her, watching her reaction.

This childish behavior made even her want to laugh. Maybe she was just a little too “neurotic” sometimes. She didn’t know if it was genetic or a mutation.

Of course, this behavior earned her a big, unceremonious eye-roll from Wei Qingwen. Huang Xiaozhi was long used to it. She was probably… just too “troublesome.”

“Yu Wen, you should come and play with her often,” Wei Qingwen said earnestly, her tone sincere. “It would be great for you to hang out together and relax.” She felt there was nothing wrong with two girls being close, and getting out would be good for their spirits. Besides, it was rare for her to see her daughter get so flustered like she had in the hallway. It was too rare.

Yu Wen finished her food, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and smiled at Wei Qingwen. “Okay, Auntie. We’ll make time to go out and have fun.” She gently pushed her chair back with her foot.

At that moment, Huang Xiaozhi only had half a glass of milk left.

She suddenly felt that her mother was the ultimate wingman! This was directly creating more opportunities for her and Yu Wen to spend time together, and they could even go out and have fun. It was perfect! If they ever ended up together in the future… her mom had to sit at the head table! Definitely! Huang Xiaozhi was ecstatic. Her mom really understood her best.

Yu Wen sat in her chair, waiting for Huang Xiaozhi to finish eating.

Huang Xiaozhi quickly finished her milk, wiped her mouth, and suddenly ran over to give Wei Qingwen a big hug.

“Mom, I love you! We’re going out to have fun in a bit!” With that, she didn’t wait for Wei Qingwen to react. She grabbed Yu Wen’s hand and pulled her up the stairs with a whirlwind of energy.

Wei Qingwen, who was still eating her food unhurriedly at the table, was bewildered by the sudden hug.

She didn’t know what her little scamp was up to, but when she voluntarily came over to hug her, it was never for a “proper” reason.

However, as long as it wasn’t murder or arson, she, as a mother, would do her best to support her and help her achieve her goals. She didn’t want to be a boring parent; she was different from other people!

The two girls’ plans were to go to the international mall. They were idle anyway, and they could also visit some popular spots nearby to take pictures. How could they miss such a great opportunity?

They had to go! Visit, take photos, and eat! They couldn’t skip a single thing!

…

After a meal, the most pleasant time was to lie on the bed.

As soon as Huang Xiaozhi entered the room, she made a beeline for her big bed. She took a flying leap and flopped down hard onto the soft bedding.

My own bed is the most comfortable! Nothing can compare! She even thought that marrying her bed for a lifetime would be a pretty good life, living in sweet bliss forever.

Yu Wen followed her calmly. She had just reached the doorway when Huang Xiaozhi slammed the door shut, almost closing it on her, having clearly forgotten someone was behind her.

Upon entering, she saw Huang Xiaozhi lying motionless on the bed, her eyes closed, as if she had fallen asleep again.

She was indeed still tired, having gone to bed so late and woken up so early.

Yu Wen found it both amusing and endearing. She tiptoed over.

She walked with a casual, lazy grace, but unfortunately, Huang Xiaozhi had her back to her and couldn’t see it.

Yu Wen sat down on the edge of the bed, looked at the figure lying there, and asked with a deliberate, teasing tone, “Still going out? Or are you going to sleep?” Her casual, carefree attitude was unmatched.

Huang Xiaozhi, who was resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them wide and stared at Yu Wen. What kind of crazy words is this person saying in broad daylight?!

“N-no! We’re going out! Going out!” She quickly clarified, then added, “We just finished eating. We can rest for a bit.” This was her way of resting—sprawled out on the bed.

She flipped over, from lying on her stomach to lying on her side, facing Yu Wen, who was sitting at the foot of the bed.

This posture revealed her body’s curves—her right hand propping up her head, her waist slender, her hips smooth. It had a lazy, sensual charm to it that she was completely unaware of.

Yu Wen felt a little uncomfortable being looked at like that. “What are you doing? Staring at me like that.” Being stared at so intently by those eyes, she felt that Huang Xiaozhi definitely wasn’t thinking anything “good.”

Lying on her side, Huang Xiaozhi held the pose, her lips curving into a mischievous arc, her gaze locking onto her like a hook.

Although this behavior was a little strange, for the reason that the other person was beautiful, a few extra looks seemed perfectly reasonable, didn’t they?

“Because you’re pretty,” Huang Xiaozhi said as a matter of fact, even giving her a playful wink. “Can’t I look at you a little longer?” Her entire demeanor instantly became a mix of sweet and alluring.

Yu Wen, sitting at the foot of the bed, probably never expected that answer.

She chuckled softly and turned her head slightly. When she looked back at Huang Xiaozhi, she also raised an eyebrow, mimicking her.

It was undeniable that Huang Xiaozhi had a kind of magnetic charm, a beauty that was both vibrant and a coolness that was effortless, making it impossible to look away.

“Then look all you want,” Yu Wen’s voice held a trace of imperceptible affection. “Until you’ve had enough.”

As she spoke, Yu Wen leaned forward, actively moving closer to Huang Xiaozhi.

Since she wanted to look, then she should get a good look. A distant view wasn’t clear enough. A close-up would be.

Huang Xiaozhi seemed to have been put under a spell. Only her eyes moved, following Yu Wen’s approach. “Okay~” she drew out the sound, with a hint of small-scale triumph. “Then I’ll… get my fill.” She might have been shy at first, but after knowing each other for so long, it was silly to be coy now.

If she was going to look, she would look openly! Even though she had done it sneakily before, she wouldn’t now. Her gaze was now unashamedly glued to Yu Wen.

Their plans for the day changed slightly.

They decided to head back to the apartment in the city this afternoon instead of staying at the old house. Her grandparents had gone out early again, so she could only ask her mom to pass on their goodbyes.

The things at the international mall were expensive, and some of the food was horribly bad. Of course, there were also some delicious things worth trying.

As they ate, the sky outside was still a hazy, leaden gray. The heavy clouds hung low, as if they could wring out a downpour at any moment.

But even a hailstorm couldn’t stop them from going out.

Speaking of which, fate can be a strange and wonderful thing.

However, for sworn enemies meeting, this “coincidence” was never a good thing.

When fate brings two enemies together, it often means the last encounter’s grievances are unsettled, and this time, the reckoning has come.

The international mall—Zeng Ling.

This name, like a dark cloud, quietly hung over their happy day.