Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 24

Is this a dream?

Tears filled Song Wanyue’s eyes, but she dared not blink, fearing that if she did, everything before her would vanish like bubbles.

It was her Mingyu.

Qin Xiao hadn’t lied to her.

She finally saw the person who often appeared in her heart, someone she missed deeply.

Mingyu…

She never thought she would see her again in this lifetime.

There shouldn’t be any regrets, right?

Xu Ruying looked at the tears in Song Wanyue’s eyes in surprise and said nervously, “You don’t have to be like this. I haven’t even said anything about you.”

After seeing the oil painting Wanyue had made, Xu Ruying’s nose was almost crooked with anger.

She thought that although an hour wasn’t long, Wanyue’s eyes were like hooks, fixed on her. Surely she should have managed to paint a reasonably accurate likeness.

But what did she see?

What so-called elegant and pure art? It was nothing but a wild doodle comic.

She had been randomly sketched with a turtle-shell-like head, a few garlic-shoot-like strands of hair, fish-eye eyes, and a big mouth.

Heaven knows, she had been so eagerly anticipating this, but now she was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

••••

Is this making fun of her?

Xu Ruying initially wanted to scold Song Wanyue and throw a little tantrum, making her understand her personality and not make such jokes in the future.

But now, seeing her tears, all her words were stuck in her throat.

“What’s… going on with you?”

After a long time without a response from Wanyue, whose tears seemed to multiply like pearls, staring at her with an infatuated look as if in a dream, Xu Ruying was anxious and worried. Without any words from Song Wanyue, she approached her step by step.

Xu Ruying: “…”

What is she going to do?

Feeling a bit nervous, she curled her hands into fists. Song Wanyue looked at her, her gaze slow and serious, even more so than before.

Just as Xu Ruying was about to lose her composure, Song Wanyue suddenly reached out and pinched her face.

Xu Ruying, being pinched: …???

“Long time no see.”

Song Wanyue choked up. She wanted to smile, but her tears still fell with the sadness, wounding her already damp heart.

Long time no see???

Xu Ruying was puzzled; wasn’t it just a bath’s worth of time?

Xu Ruying was undoubtedly a beauty.

From the attitude of people around her, Song Wanyue knew she must be a person with a strong presence.

But no matter how outstanding, she couldn’t compare to Mingyu.

Mingyu’s brows and eyes remained the same; her lips were tender and alluring, her eyes filled with the gentle warmth she loved most, her nose, her eyelashes, her brows…

They were all hers.

Xu Ruying’s body stiffened. She grabbed Song Wanyue’s hand that was touching her face and said stiffly, “Miss Song, please have some self-respect.”

What was happening to her?

Running here in the rain, crying and saying strange things, and now touching her?

Wanyue… Wanyue couldn’t really have fallen in love with Xu Ruying, could she?

That couldn’t be.

Although Mingyu had thought that the road ahead was still long, and even if she left and knew nothing more, if she saw that Wanyue had someone truly worthy by her side, she shouldn’t obstruct it.

She couldn’t selfishly confine her to her side, nor could she watch Wanyue being bound in a cage of sorrow.

But what is Xu Ruying?

She was a messenger from the underworld, not even a human.

She wasn’t Wanyue’s beloved.

Absolutely not.

••••

On a rainy day.

Qin Xiao was also not sleeping soundly.

She was alone in a rented house where someone had previously committed suicide by hanging. Because it was a haunted house, no one dared to live there even after the price was reduced repeatedly. The landlord, with a head full of worries, had lost clumps of hair.

Later, when Qin Xiao found the landlord, the bald landlord was almost moved to tears. He felt this girl was a brave soul. In fact, the rent wasn’t a big deal to him anymore. Just having someone willing to live there and not leave it empty for a while was a stroke of luck. Moreover, Qin Xiao wasn’t overly demanding about the price.

With a start, Qin Xiao jumped out of bed and kicked over the little ghost floating opposite her, “Go away, go away. Didn’t I say? I’m in a bad mood today, and I can’t tell you a story.”

The ghost on the opposite side was unclear, only vaguely visible as a cloud of white, dough-like mist.

The mist cried, “Boss, you talked about Sun Wukong’s three battles with the White Bone Demon yesterday. Why not continue? I just want to hear the ending.”

Surrounded by more dough-like mists, everyone joined in the crying. Suddenly, Qin Xiao’s head felt like it was about to explode. Just as she was about to speak, a swirl of black mist rose, and the dough-like mists emitted a sharp scream, scattering like startled birds.

Qin Xiao also wanted to escape, but her neck was tightly grabbed, yanked up like a little chick.

“Ancestor, spare my life!”

At the critical moment, Qin Xiao showed no pride of a descendant and begged with her hands on her head.

In the black mist, a person sat cross-legged with a cold face, looking at Qin Xiao: “Little brat.”

Qin Xiao covered her head and cried like the dough mists.

“Look at yourself, you’ve embarrassed the family.”

The ancestor who arrived was Xu Ruying, sitting on the black mist with a calm demeanor. She didn’t even move her hands, but Qin Xiao felt like she was nailed in mid-air, unable to move.

“They are so pitiful, they…”

Qin Xiao was still struggling and begging for mercy, while Xu Ruying’s voice was as cold as from an icy hell: “They are pitiful? So you team up with outsiders to strip your ancestor’s clothes?”

Qin Xiao: …???

So explosive?

Xu Ruying looked at her with a cold smile. She raised her hand, which turned into a sharp wind like a long board, and struck Qin Xiao’s bottom hard.

“Do not interfere too much with other people’s karma. If you do it again, even I cannot protect you.”

After leaving this sentence, the fierce and brutal ancestor turned and sat on her black cloud, disappearing. Qin Xiao fell heavily onto the bed like a small dog thrown from a height.

She was a bit dazed from the fall. After calming down for a while, Qin Xiao touched her head and couldn’t help but laugh foolishly.

Was her sister so amazing?

She asked her to be careful and check more, and she even saw the ancestor’s naked body? Was she really so bold???

That’s too cool and amazing!

Love it, love it!

Ahhhhh!

She couldn’t help but think, sneaking a glance at the scene, that seeing the flustered look on the ancestor’s face meant that her sister had succeeded in seeing her lover through her blood.

What’s next… might something wonderful happen?

Awww.

How exciting.

••••

The thunder outside grew more intense, with bolts of lightning crashing to the ground, illuminating half the sky, resembling the night Mingyu passed away.

Xu Ruying was unsure whether she was angry with herself or with Wanyue. Pulled by unknown emotions, she lay in the guest room bed, unmoving and distressed.

Had Wanyue fallen for Xu Ruying?

Was it possible?

Even if it wasn’t love yet, it was already affection… right?

Had she shown some sign that revealed her feelings?

Impossible.

If she had really discovered something, with Wanyue’s personality, she wouldn’t be able to hold back. She would definitely have held her, pouting and expressing her grievances, and sharing the pain of this time.

Perhaps… it was because she was affected by the familiar aura around her?

Then what about when she leaves, and the real Xu Ruying returns to this body? What should be done?

Xiao Mingyu understood Song Wanyue.

Song Wanyue indeed couldn’t hold back.

She went to her room and cried her heart out until there were no tears left.

She couldn’t help herself, but Qin Xiao had said she couldn’t tell anyone, not even her.

What would be the consequences?

If the punishment were on Wanyue herself, she would not fear it; having lost her lover, she had long lost attachment to the human world.

But she feared that heaven would cruelly take away their remaining time.

She remembered when she was young, her relationship with her was discovered by their parents. Song’s parents, who had always treated Xiao Mingyu as a respectful teacher, were furious when they found photos of them kissing on Wanyue’s computer.

Song’s mother cried incessantly, and Song’s father slapped Wanyue, demanding they break up immediately.

Song Wanyue naturally disagreed. In his anger, Song’s father went straight to Mingyu, saying all sorts of harsh words, accusing her of betraying the elders’ trust, of seducing and deceiving their daughter.

They were forced to separate for half a month, without meeting each other. Wanyue was strictly watched by her family, with her phone confiscated and unable to send any messages.

That night, Xiao Mingyu was heartbroken, pacing up and down outside Wanyue’s apartment building.

Her situation was known to Huang Lan, who learned about it from Wanyue’s parents.

When Xiao Mingyu received her mother’s call, she despaired, expecting a scolding, but Huang Lan remained silent for a long time before softly saying, “You’re too young to understand the consequences of love. That child is the apple of her parents’ eye, and she can’t endure hardship.”

It wasn’t criticism, but it felt like a lock on Xiao Mingyu’s heart.

On the night before she was to leave.

She paced back and forth beneath Wanyue’s building.

She didn’t want to disturb her; she just wanted to see her, to see Wanyue.

Even if she couldn’t see her, just seeing the light in her room would be enough.

Some things are destined in the dark.

Just as dawn approached and Mingyu was about to leave, she heard suppressed crying behind her: “Sister?”

Xiao Mingyu was rigid with shock, afraid to move, but the person behind her ran quickly, hugging her tightly: “Sister, it’s really you. I knew you wouldn’t abandon me.”

— I knew you wouldn’t abandon me…

Youthful love can burn everything.

That soft whisper burned all the reason in Mingyu’s heart. She held Song Wanyue tightly, using all her strength, and then, lowering her head, they kissed each other passionately.

Love is magical.

It can make life, and it can make death.

Even on the train of separation, Mingyu still asked Song Wanyue, “Will you regret it?”

Song Wanyue shook her head and even pinched the ID in her hand: “I’m 18 now. Look.”

These days, she had been strictly watched by her parents, with her father pressuring her during the day and her mother attacking with tears at night.

They had a common demand: for their daughter to leave Mingyu.

Leaving Mingyu? How could she?

Wanyue wasn’t as tough as Mingyu.

She soothed her parents while secretly planning for their future.

She needed identification documents like ID cards and household registration books. That was the first step she had to take.

On the other hand, she had saved the extra money she earned from painting oil paintings over the years. Although it wasn’t much, it was enough for her college tuition and expenses.

She knew Mingyu’s character and didn’t want her to be busy and burdened for her sake.

She endured and prepared for a long time.

But as time passed, Wanyue grew anxious. She had prepared everything, even willing to sacrifice herself. Now, it seemed like a gamble.

All her chips were in; she just waited for Mingyu to see the result.

She gambled on whether her love was as steadfast as hers.

••••

Fortunately, she won the bet.

Song Wanyue believed that her parents would eventually understand them.

Someone once said that love not blessed by parents often doesn’t end well.

But Wanyue was stubborn. She stubbornly loved Mingyu, stubbornly made her love her too, and stubbornly eloped with her.

Her stubbornness blossomed and bore fruit under Mingyu’s silent affection and care.

She believed she was the happiest and luckiest person in the world.

But unexpectedly, Mingyu, who fulfilled every little stubbornness of hers, shattered her lifelong stubbornness.

She stubbornly believed they would be together forever.

But… she left her.

Xiao Mingyu felt deeply guilty towards Wanyue. For such a proud person, to come back in someone else’s skin, it was not only love but also profound guilt.

She desperately wanted to make amends, but she hadn’t considered that it might pull Wanyue into another abyss.

She wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt her Wanyue.

In the end, unexpectedly, the person who hurt her the most was herself.

At some point, Xu Ruying’s pillow had become wet, and with a creak, the door was pushed open, letting in a brief moment of brightness.

Xu Ruying quickly wiped away her tears and pretended to be asleep with her eyes closed.

She was currently distressed, unsure how to face Wanyue, and chose to avoid it instead.

Wanyue, moving quietly like a cat, slowly walked to the bedside and looked at Xu Ruying’s back, which was turned in a petulant manner. Unable to bear the sadness and pain in her heart, she lay down beside her.

Xu Ruying’s body stiffened. She initially wanted to ask her to move away, but when she smelled the familiar scent, all her words caught in her throat.

It was her fault; she wasn’t firm enough.

She should keep her distance in the future.

If she still couldn’t control herself… she should talk to Xu Ruying about possibly ending the year-long arrangement with Meng Po early.

The two of them lay quietly for a while.

Song Wanyue reached out, her slender arms wrapping around Xu Ruying’s waist. Xu Ruying took a deep breath and, unable to hold back, pushed her hand away and turned abruptly, “You want—”

Before she could finish, seeing Wanyue’s tear-streaked face, she bit her lip.

Song Wanyue looked at her with sorrowful eyes, gazing at the face that belonged to her Mingyu, her eyes red. “I’m sorry, I lost control today.”

She was sad, she was heartbroken.

But now, she had to deceive her.

She knew that Mingyu might have noticed something wrong due to her outburst. Based on Wanyue’s understanding of her, she might think that she had fallen in love with Xu Ruying’s body and would become anxious and fearful. Next, she might find various excuses to stay away from her, even possibly leaving early.

That was what she feared the most.

Xu Ruying was silent for a moment, looking at the tears on her face. “What’s wrong with you?”

Song Wanyue lowered her head, carefully wiping the tears from her eyes. She knew Mingyu was angry and was afraid of being driven away. “I… during the rainy days… when she left me, it was also like this.”

As if to confirm her words.

A lightning bolt struck outside the window, as if heaven was venting something, punishing those who went against the heavens, furiously venting its anger.

Unable to endure the sadness and heartache, Xu Ruying sighed deeply, turned slightly, and opened the blanket with one hand. “Come in.”

She knew Wanyue needed comfort.

Her heart must be aching.

During this time, Wanyue hadn’t cried for a long time.

On such a rainy night, with such weather, she must be missing her deeply.

Song Wanyue curled up like a kitten in her embrace, letting her feelings of longing flow freely, hugging Xu Ruying tightly.

If only.

If only time could flow backward.

She wouldn’t be so understanding; she would have used every means to keep Mingyu from being unhappy and wouldn’t have let her leave or go on any business trip.

Xu Ruying let her hold her, releasing the emotions she had bottled up, gently patting her back.

One pat after another.

With a gentle, soothing power.

After a long while.

Song Wanyue tilted her head, her voice thick with nasal tone. “I got your clothes dirty, I’m sorry.”

Xu Ruying looked at her. “This is your clothes. Why are you apologizing?”

Her voice was gentle. Wanyue looked at her face and started crying again, unable to control herself. She could be strong in front of anyone, but not with her lover.

Xu Ruying sighed, extending her arms to gently embrace her. “It’s okay, don’t hold it in. If you want to cry, then cry.”

Song Wanyue must have been suppressing her emotions for a long time.

Finally.

On the same rainy night.

In the embrace of her beloved, Wanyue cried loudly.

She really wanted to tell Mingyu.

She missed her so much.

Since she left, she hadn’t laughed heartily, even crying carefully.

She had to consider too many people’s feelings, and couldn’t let Huang Lan be sad.

Without Mingyu, she had no support, and couldn’t rely on her like a little princess anymore.

She missed her so much, missed her smile, her breath, her heartbeat, and her hoarse voice saying “I love you” in her ear.

Wanyue cried her heart out.

But the sadness didn’t last long. She said she needed to get up to wash her face, and Xu Ruying, concerned, followed her.

She was sad, but time was too short. Wanyue couldn’t afford to be sad for too long.

She splashed her face with cold water, and Xu Ruying watched her thin back with a hint of sadness. “You need to let go of your worries and slowly move on.”

How could she feel at ease with Wanyue like this?

She had originally thought that with time, Wanyue’s wounds would gradually heal.

Even if there might always be a scar, the pain wouldn’t be as intense.

But now, Xu Ruying knew she was wrong.

Wanyue had never been okay.

She had only deceived everyone, including herself, with her superb acting skills.

She had always been in pain.

Never stopped missing her.

Wanyue didn’t respond to Xu Ruying’s words. Today, she didn’t want to argue; she just wanted to spend time with her Mingyu.

After washing her face.

Song Wanyue glanced at Xu Ruying. “Wait for me, I’ll change my clothes.”

Xu Ruying nodded. Tonight was destined to be sleepless; if there was sadness, she was willing to accompany Wanyue.

The rain continued to fall outside the window.

Xu Ruying stared absently at the dim light.

Perhaps it was the night that made one prone to various thoughts.

She couldn’t help but think and reminisce about the past.

Back then, she was alive in this world, able to embrace Wanyue every day after work and gently kiss her soft profile.

She would also receive phone calls from Huang Lan every day, chatting about trivial family matters.

Occasionally, she would visit Huang Lan or Huang Lan would come to the city to stay with her and Wanyue for a while.

What was she doing then?

She was busy striving for her career, climbing higher.

Endless work, endless drinking.

What was all this for?

She always thought there would be tomorrow; she was still young. If not now, when?

No matter how hard or exhausting, if she persevered, the wealth and power she gained would allow Wanyue and her mother to live a good life.

She wanted those who once looked down on her and made things difficult for her and Wanyue to see that she, Xiao Mingyu, was capable of taking good care of Wanyue.

She placed too much emphasis on tomorrow and ignored the present.

She kept begging Wanyue to spend more time with her, always smiling and promising next time;

During her calls with Huang Lan, she was impatient and said she was busy, ending the call quickly.

If only she had known.

Back then, she would have kissed Wanyue every day, telling her she loved her.

She would have brought Huang Lan to stay with her, showing filial piety and making her happy.

People often live for tomorrow.

Little do they know that every day they live now is the tomorrow they once hoped for.

Day after day, year after year.

How much love, how much time, is wasted in these excuses.

What she wanted to do for them was not what they wanted from her.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Xu Ruying heard the sound of high heels striking the ground. She hesitated for a moment—at this hour, was Wanyue changing clothes and wearing high heels? When she turned to look, she immediately stood up from the sofa.

Song Wanyue was not only wearing high heels, but she had also changed into the pure white wedding dress she had seen in the wedding dress shop a million times. She wore red high heels, with delicate makeup, bright red lips, and eyes full of deep affection.

The light veil enveloped her; she was the most beautiful bride.

She was the bride who arrived late.

Xu Ruying was frozen in place, her eyes immediately filled with tears.

Song Wanyue smiled at her, her smile still gentle. “This wedding dress was originally meant for Mingyu, but I didn’t have the chance to wear it. It’s been sitting here for a long time. It’s going to be returned tomorrow, so I wanted to show it to you today. Is that okay?”

Is it okay…

Xu Ruying looked at the ring on Wanyue’s ring finger, a ring she had caressed countless times, a ring that had witnessed all their hardships. Her heart had already been soaked and shattered by tears.