Forbidden Deep Affection (GL) - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

“There’s a town up ahead. Want to grab some food and rest?” Ming Shuang asked, glancing at the GPS.

“Sure.”

The car left the highway and soon pulled into a small town. The place was quiet, with wide streets and few people, just some kids playing on the road.

“What do you want to eat?” Ming Shuang asked.

Ye Ting Shuang stopped in front of a blond, blue-eyed kid and asked, “Hey, know any good places to eat around here?”

The kid pointed down the road. “My grandma’s pizza is really good.”

“Can you take us there?” Ye Ting Shuang asked.

“Sure, follow me.”

The kids ran ahead, occasionally looking back to make sure they were keeping up.

Suddenly, Ming Shuang sped up, pretending to chase them. The kids burst into laughter, sprinting faster.

In a blink, Ye Ting Shuang was left far behind.

“Come on!” Ming Shuang turned, waving at her. “Last one there pays!”

Ye Ting Shuang paused, then ran to catch up.

“Hahaha!” The kid reached the place first, grinning at the two adults catching up. “I’ll tell Grandma to throw in an extra piece of cheese!”

“Thanks, little man. Go grab the menu—someone’s treating us big time,” Ming Shuang said, ruffling his hair with a smile.

Ye Ting Shuang leaned against the door, panting, unable to move for a bit.

“Look at you, all winded. When’s the last time you exercised?” Ming Shuang pulled her arm, leading her to a window seat.

Soon, the kid brought over a pizza, beaming at them.

“Wanna join us?” Ming Shuang asked.

The kid’s eyes lit up. “Can I?”

“Of course. Someone’s paying.” Ming Shuang patted the seat beside her.

The boy plopped down, curious, asking where they were from and pestering them about their hometowns’ food and fun spots.

Ming Shuang ate pizza and patiently answered until he suddenly asked their names. She looked at Ye Ting Shuang with a sly grin. “Boss, the little boss is asking. What’s your name?”

Ye Ting Shuang handed the kid another slice, pausing before saying, “Lily.”

Lily… Lily?

Ming Shuang mulled over the name in her head. The kid turned to her. “What about you?”

Ming Shuang glanced at Ye Ting Shuang, who was looking out the window, and said loudly, “Ming.”

After paying, the kid stood at the door, waving. “Bye! Lily, Ming, come back for more pizza!”

They both turned, waving back.

As they walked away, Ming Shuang asked, “Is Lily really your name?”

“What do you think?” Ye Ting Shuang kept walking.

“Doesn’t feel like it. Too quick, not your style. But I don’t get why you’d use a fake English name for him,” Ming Shuang said.

Ye Ting Shuang’s lips twitched. “A name’s just a symbol. I might never come back here for pizza. Even if I did, he probably wouldn’t remember me. So, Lily, Nana, Maria—what’s the difference?”

“You’ve got no sentimentality, huh? What if you come back next year for pizza?”

“Then he’ll meet Lily again. Here, I’m Lily,” Ye Ting Shuang said.

Ming Shuang was speechless, slowing her steps, watching Ye Ting Shuang’s shadow stretch long under the streetlights, hard to read.

She stepped on the shadow, catching up. “Is that why you won’t tell me your name?”

“One reason.”

“What’s the other?”

Ye Ting Shuang stopped, waiting for her to catch up before saying, “I don’t want people knowing about us. You probably don’t either, right?”

Ming Shuang grinned. “To be honest, I told my friend about you keeping me that first night.”

Ye Ting Shuang admired her boldness, then figured she was probably used to it.

Passing a convenience store, Ming Shuang went in, grabbed a few bottles of water, and shouted, “Nana, come pay!”

Ye Ting Shuang walked in, paying while asking, “What’d you call me?”

“Nana. Problem? A name’s just a symbol, right?” Ming Shuang smirked.

“…”

“I get it.” Ming Shuang patted her shoulder solemnly. “Out here, you make your own identity, right, Maria?”

“…”

Seeing her at a loss for words, Ming Shuang felt smug, humming as she carried the bag out. Then she heard Ye Ting Shuang call from behind, “Ming.”

She froze, turning to see the woman on the steps.

“Your name’s really Xiao Ming?” Ye Ting Shuang asked.

“You guess.” Ming Shuang smiled faintly and walked off.

Back in the car, Ming Shuang drove for a bit, checked the time, and asked, “We’re not driving all night, are we?”

“No need. We’re not in a rush. Find a motel to stay the night, and we’ll keep going tomorrow,” Ye Ting Shuang said.

“Cool.”

Her phone rang. Ye Ting Shuang glanced at Ming Shuang before answering quietly, “Hello.”

“Sis, summer break’s here! But I’ve got make-up classes, so I can’t come hang out,” a bright male voice said.

“No worries. You’re almost a senior—school comes first,” Ye Ting Shuang replied.

“But we haven’t seen each other in two or three years. You never come back. Don’t you miss us at all?” he complained.

“I do, but the studio’s swamped. Once things settle, I’ll definitely visit,” Ye Ting Shuang said.

“You better. At least come to my graduation.”

“Promise.”

“Ugh, you’re abroad, Second Sis moved out years ago, and I’m stuck at home alone, nagged by Mom all day. I’m going nuts.”

Ye Ting Shuang smiled silently. “Cherish it. A few years from now, you might leave home too.”

“Oh, can I invite Second Sis for dinner? It’s so boring alone, and you’re so far away… I need someone to sneak to parent-teacher meetings for me, haha!”

“Get it together. You’re almost a senior and still getting called out?” Ye Ting Shuang paused. “Invite her if you want, but she might not come.”

“I’ll keep asking then,” Ye Ting Yuan said. “Oh, gotta go—hanging with friends.”

Ye Ting Shuang heard a girl call his name in the background. Sounded like he was in a rush—probably a crush.

“Your brother?” Ming Shuang asked as she hung up.

Ye Ting Shuang pocketed her phone, looking at her quietly.

“Just asking. Not digging into your family tree. No need to be so guarded,” Ming Shuang said.

“Out here, it’s good to stay cautious,” Ye Ting Shuang said casually.

“You’re this guarded with everyone? Got any close friends?”

“Nope.”

Ming Shuang tsked. “Life must be dull.”

“Not at all. As long as I do what I love, it’s not dull. Friends only stick around for a stretch. You meet different people at every stage.”

Ming Shuang realized their core beliefs aligned.

Connections are fleeting.

But their approaches differed. Because ties were short, Ming Shuang focused on enjoying the moment, unbothered if relationships ended for other reasons.

Ye Ting Shuang, expecting those ties to fade, didn’t invest in current bonds.

“Ever regret it?” Ming Shuang asked.

“Regret what?”

“Maybe one day you’ll regret not being kinder to friends or loving someone fully back then?”

Ye Ting Shuang thought for a moment, shaking her head. “I don’t regret now. The future’s the future. Besides, every choice I make is mine. I bear the outcome, so I never regret.”

Ming Shuang’s lips curved, saying nothing.

Past ten, they stopped at a small motel. Ming Shuang went to book a room but found no singles left.

She turned, shouting to Ye Ting Shuang, “Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso, is a double room okay?”

Ye Ting Shuang froze. “What did you call me??”

“Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso.” Ming Shuang leaned on the counter, grinning smugly. “What, regretting your ‘names are just symbols’ line now?”

Ye Ting Shuang stepped forward, locked eyes with her for a moment, and gave a helpless smile. “Honestly? Yeah, a little.”