The Little Bookworm Marked Her Ex-aunt - Chapter 37: Heaven? Meng Zhiyu’s Aunt?!

Chapter 37: Heaven? Meng Zhiyu’s Aunt?!

On the first day of being twenty, Shu Yue’s routine still worked steadily.

She should have jumped out of bed firmly, but Shiyi, the whole cat, curled up on her body. The alarm didn’t wake Shiyi. Her head nestled in Shu Yue’s neck, her body slightly warm, like a little rice cooker lost in dreams, quietly giving off a faint rice scent after falling asleep.

This feeling surprised and delighted Shu Yue.

Honestly, the smell wasn’t pleasant. If someone made a perfume with this scent and sold it, the sales would surely be dismal. But once she thought the smell came from the little cat, things felt different.

After spending time with Shiyi, Shu Yue finally understood Chen Mi’s crazy cat-sniffing obsession.

Sometimes, catching a whiff of this smell truly soothed the soul, purified the spirit, and felt calming, like being dosed with a tranquilizer.

Shu Yue grabbed her phone, set a five-minute timer, closed her eyes, and continued enjoying the feeling of resting close to the little cat.

Five minutes later, the ding-ding-ding alarm sounded.

Shu Yue opened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and pushed Shiyi away.

Shiyi, sleeping soundly on her, got nudged off suddenly. Her body tipped to the side, four legs up in the air, her expression dazed, looking somewhat like “an evil ninja bullying my soft, helpless self.”

Shu Yue laughed at her little appearance, leaned in, and kissed the little cat’s head.

Shu Yue rarely took such initiative.

Shiyi, stunned by the kiss, only jumped off the bed and chased Shu Yue to the bathroom after Shu Yue had changed and was about to wash up.

“What’s up?” Shu Yue squatted down. “What’s wrong?”

Shiyi stood on her hind legs, stretched out her soft, pink paw pads, and held Shu Yue’s head—well, more like pressed it than held it.

Shu Yue, puzzled about what the cat was doing, saw the little cat’s head come closer, zooming in like a camera lens right before her eyes.

Shiyi’s wet nose touched her nose tip.

After the kiss, Shiyi turned and ran away.

Shu Yue stayed squatting, hugging her knees, burying her head, as if in a world of her own.

Oh no.

She might be catching some weird habit.

She didn’t know if sniffing cats felt good, but being sniffed by a cat was really thrilling…

With a floaty step, she drifted into the bathroom to wash up. After finishing, Shu Yue stared at the new glasses case she had carefully placed on the cabinet.

She opened it, took out the glasses, and tried them against the mirror. They fit perfectly, but she felt reluctant to wear them. She put them down and took out her old, limping glasses—disabled but still usable. But people seemed cheap sometimes; after using something good, it was hard to go back to something lesser.

After hesitating, she put on the new glasses.

“Let’s go.” After getting ready, she patted Shiyi’s head. “See you later.”

Shiyi let out a long meow. Shu Yue guessed it might mean goodbye or come back soon, almost like a child.

Lin Chu noticed the change in her right away.

“New glasses?” She looked at Shu Yue. “Got them in the county yesterday?”

Shu Yue shook her head. “No, a friend gave them to me.”

Lin Chu guessed, “The friend waiting for you yesterday afternoon?”

Shu Yue hummed uncomfortably and asked Lin Chu, “When did she come yesterday?”

“Pretty early, around two or three. I was dealing with Xiao Liu when I saw her arrive. I told her you were out with friends, and she said she knew. I saw she had a cat, so I let her wait in your room. I was going to tell you, but she said she’d talk to you.”

After Lin Chu rambled, she realized, “She didn’t tell you?”

“She did,” Shu Yue said. “I was just asking.”

Actually, she didn’t.

Shu Yue didn’t understand why Ji Shiyi didn’t tell her. When she got back, Ji Shiyi was asleep on the sofa, probably exhausted.

“By the way, bad news,” Lin Chu said heavily, patting her shoulder. “This afternoon, that film crew I mentioned is coming to shoot here.”

Shu Yue suddenly felt the bun in her mouth lose its flavor.

She chewed the dough twice, swallowed, and asked, “Why?”

“Director Zhou agreed. The crew wants to film Xiao Liu, probably tied to some tourism department deal since the crested ibis is a big selling point for Qingxi Source. Director Zhou thinks it’s a chance to help people learn more about the ibis. Anyway, they’re coming this afternoon.”

“Didn’t you notice? Your two senior brothers are dressed a bit over-the-top today.”

Shu Yue glanced at her two senior brothers.

Usually in shorts and slippers, today they looked polished and proper.

“Can I skip it?” Shu Yue felt reluctant. “You guys should be enough.”

“No way,” Lin Chu said. “Xiao Liu likes you the most. How can it work without you? Besides, you were there that day. You saved Xiao Liu. The crew said they want to interview you specifically about the experience.”

Four words floated through Shu Yue’s mind.

Spare her, please.

“I’m going to put on makeup after patrol. Want me to do yours?” Lin Chu said.

Shu Yue refused without hesitation. “No thanks, Sister. I’ll just wear a mask later.”

When the film crew arrived that afternoon, Lin Chu saw Shu Yue’s face was practically welded to a black mask. With her glasses, most of her face was hidden.

Zhou Miao led the introductions, and Shu Yue stayed by Lin Chu’s side.

Lin Chu was lively, always answering the guests’ questions.

Shu Yue stayed silent, focusing on just being present.

Meng Zhiyu was there too.

Shu Yue didn’t pay special attention, but the courtyard was small, and everyone’s words carried clearly. Even with her head down, Meng Zhiyu’s conversation with her girlfriend reached her ears.

Meng Zhiyu seemed happy in her relationship now.

This made Shu Yue even more confused about why Meng Zhiyu had come to see her last time.

Was she actually there to borrow money?

But Meng Zhiyu didn’t seem short on cash.

“Little Yue,” Zhou Miao called her.

Shu Yue looked up, stepped forward, and stood by Zhou Miao’s side.

The crew’s director approached, explaining they hoped to film a segment of her interacting with Xiao Liu and do a separate interview about her story with Xiao Liu.

Having prepared all morning after Lin Chu’s heads-up, Shu Yue nodded at the request.

“Um, can you take off your mask?” the director asked. “It’ll look better on camera. Don’t worry, we’ll add filters and beauty effects in post-production.”

Shu Yue didn’t care about looking ugly; she just didn’t want to be on camera. The thought of being filmed, broadcast, and seen by strangers made her feel unsafe.

“Can I keep it on?” she asked the director. “Isn’t the focus on the bird? Does the mask make a big difference?”

The director was stumped by her words.

She checked again. The person’s gaze was sincere, not sarcastic.

Meng Zhiyu’s voice spoke up.

“Director, it doesn’t have to be her doing the introduction, right? You could use a third-person perspective, just filming her interaction with the ibis. This classmate might not be great with interviews.”

The director looked at Shu Yue again and finally took Meng Zhiyu’s suggestion.

“Alright, Little Meng, you do it. You two talk it over, and we’ll start shooting soon.”

Hearing this, Shu Yue stayed silent.

She’d rather take off the mask.

The director went to film other shots, and Meng Zhiyu walked over, greeting her like a stranger and introducing herself.

“Hello, Meng Zhiyu.” She extended her hand.

Shu Yue didn’t want contact with Meng Zhiyu but also didn’t want to embarrass her in front of everyone. She said, “Hello, Miss Meng. My hands are dirty, so I won’t shake.”

Meng Zhiyu looked at her, bit her lip slightly, but kept a proper smile.

“Shall we talk over there?” Meng Zhiyu said.

Shu Yue replied, “Sure.”

She followed Meng Zhiyu a few steps and briefly recounted the day she saved Xiao Liu.

“You and your friend found it?” Meng Zhiyu raised an eyebrow. “Which friend? Chen Mi or Chu Yufei?”

Shu Yue didn’t want to answer. She said, “If you have no other work-related questions, I’ll go now.”

Meng Zhiyu grabbed her. “You really don’t want to see me? I just helped you out, Shu Yue. Do I not even deserve a thank you?”

Shu Yue was confused by Meng Zhiyu’s words again.

What was Meng Zhiyu trying to do? Why question her in this tone?

“Thank you,” she said softly, adjusting her glasses. “Now, Miss Meng, can you let go?”

Meng Zhiyu wanted to say more, but Lin Chu walked over, smiling. “How’s it going? Ready? The director says we can start shooting soon.”

Meng Zhiyu, out of options, smiled at Lin Chu, nodded, and walked back to the camera.

After finishing that segment, the crew filmed some additional shots and started packing up.

Shu Yue helped Lin Chu, neatly coiling and storing the long extension cord used for lighting.

“Boss Ji,” Shu Yue heard the director call out with a smile and deference. “What brings you here?”

Shu Yue turned, ready to wave at Ji Shiyi, but saw a familiar figure excitedly hurrying toward Ji Shiyi.

“Aunt!” Meng Zhiyu called out joyfully. “What are you doing here?”

Shu Yue’s raised hand froze.

Lin Chu’s neck practically stretched like a giraffe’s.

“Holy crap,” Lin Chu whispered, her eyes darting between Meng Zhiyu and Ji Shiyi. “Miss Ji is Meng Zhiyu’s aunt??”

“Little Yue, Little Yue, did you hear that? Did you know about this? Little Yue?!”

Shu Yue stood rooted in place.

She heard it, but her brain hadn’t processed it.

She hadn’t done anything wrong, but in that moment, she suddenly wanted to turn and run.

Heaven.

How could someone socially die like this?

Ji Shiyi was Meng Zhiyu’s aunt…

What did that make everything she’d done with Ji Shiyi? Was she the ridiculous one?

Her gaze slid over Ji Shiyi and Meng Zhiyu. Noticing Ji Shiyi’s look, Shu Yue instinctively lowered her head to avoid it.

Did Ji Shiyi…

Know about this?

Or rather, more precisely.

Did Ji Shiyi know about her and Meng Zhiyu?

Under the mask, Shu Yue pursed her dry lips. Chaotic emotions grew wilder than the roadside daisies and annual fleabanes.