Yu Mingjiao loved to look at Cen Lingqiu’s face. When they were together, she would just stare at Cen Lingqiu, her gaze direct, without even blinking. Cen Lingqiu found it strange. She thought Yu Mingjiao didn’t like her real face, so she asked her.
“Why do you keep looking at my face?” Cen Lingqiu touched her own face. “Is it not good-looking?”
Her face was indeed not as delicate as Yu Mingjiao’s, nor did it have the clear charm of Lin Qiu’s. Her features leaned towards a kind of elegant plainness, as unadorned and indifferent as a light mist.
She had never paid much attention to her own face, but this was the first time she faced Yu Mingjiao with her real face, not to mention this face was already in its thirties, its features and contours more cool and mature.
Cen Lingqiu was afraid that Yu Mingjiao was used to Lin Qiu’s face from the past.
To her surprise, Yu Mingjiao said, “Because it’s beautiful.”
“Who?” Cen Lingqiu let out a laugh. “Me?”
Yu Mingjiao nodded. She lay on Cen Lingqiu’s shoulder, her slender, fair fingers delicately tracing Cen Lingqiu’s features.
“Sister Lingqiu, you are exceptionally beautiful,” Yu Mingjiao said in a calm tone, offering praise. “I like it very much.”
She thought for a moment, perhaps feeling that this statement wasn’t good enough, and added, “No matter what Sister Lingqiu becomes, I will still like it.”
Cen Lingqiu chuckled and kissed Yu Mingjiao’s forehead.
“How did you get so good with words? Who did you learn from?”
“It’s from the heart.”
“How heartfelt?”
Yu Mingjiao pulled her hand and pressed it against her own heart, her eyes crystal clear, her words all conveyed through her gaze.
Cen Lingqiu knew that Yu Mingjiao was declaring her sincerity. She was telling her that no matter what she became, she would always love Cen Lingqiu just the same.
So cute.
Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao adopted a cat. It was white, a tiny little ball with green eyes like jade. Both of them were terrible at naming things, and after pondering over the little cat for a whole day, they still couldn’t think of a name.
After thinking for too long, Yu Mingjiao got annoyed. Seeing its jade-like eyes, she simply decided to call it Xiao Cui. Cen Lingqiu couldn’t agree with the name, but since Yu Mingjiao wanted to call it that, then so be it.
And so, a little white cat got the name Xiao Cui.
Xiao Cui was very clingy, especially to Cen Lingqiu.
Basically, wherever Cen Lingqiu went, it followed.
Every time, Yu Mingjiao would have to pick her up to stop her from clinging to Cen Lingqiu. Xiao Cui would glare at her fiercely, grinding her little baby teeth on Yu Mingjiao’s fingers.
“If you bite me again, I’ll pluck all your fur out,” Yu Mingjiao said coolly.
Cen Lingqiu came out of the kitchen with a plate of fruit and couldn’t help but laugh when she heard this.
“Why are you bothering with it?”
“She likes to cling to you.”
“Really?” Cen Lingqiu fed her a strawberry and said casually, “There’s nothing wrong with being clingy.”
Yu Mingjiao was not happy.
“Then what about me?”
“What?”
Yu Mingjiao looked at Cen Lingqiu calmly, her tone light. “If she clings to you, then I won’t be able to get your attention.”
Ever since Cen Lingqiu and she had gotten together completely, Yu Mingjiao’s skill at acting spoiled had grown day by day. She wouldn’t do it openly, usually expressing her soft grievances in a twisted, unobvious way, secretly hoping Cen Lingqiu would notice and dote on her.
If Cen Lingqiu didn’t notice, she would sulk until she did.
Cen Lingqiu had long been well aware of Yu Mingjiao’s awkward personality; she knew it inside and out, as clear as day.
Yu Mingjiao’s grievance was so obvious, how could Cen Lingqiu not hear it?
She gently pinched Yu Mingjiao’s cheek. “Aiyo, why are you starting to compete with a little one? Even kids don’t do this.”
Yu Mingjiao didn’t speak, just stared at her silently.
Cen Lingqiu began to coax her, “I won’t ignore you. How could I possibly not care about you? You’re my ancestor, Jiao Jiao.”
Yu Mingjiao’s expression softened a little.
But in the end, she might have underestimated Yu Mingjiao’s childishness. Xiao Cui always liked to come up to their bed to sleep at night. Yu Mingjiao wasn’t happy about it, and one day, she cut up Xiao Cui’s toy.
Xiao Cui was angry too, circling her wheelchair non-stop, meowing and screeching wildly, making it impossible for Yu Mingjiao to work. So she just stopped working and stared coldly at Xiao Cui.
When Cen Lingqiu came home from work, she saw one person and one cat staring each other down, neither willing to back down.
She held her forehead.
Later, Cen Lingqiu promised to try a new tool with Yu Mingjiao. Yu Mingjiao’s mood improved greatly, and for once, she bought a pile of toys for Xiao Cui. Xiao Cui, being very perceptive, licked Yu Mingjiao’s fingers.
Sometimes Cen Lingqiu thought that she was actually raising two cats at home, both with bad tempers.
She watched the person and cat playing in the living room. Xiao Cui climbed onto Yu Mingjiao’s neck, nuzzling her until she was ticklish. Yu Mingjiao couldn’t help but laugh out loud, calling out to her.
“Sister Qiu, it tickles, get Xiao Cui off me.”
She smiled so brightly, her cheeks snow-white. Her whole being was no longer pale and thin, but like the most vibrant flower blooming in spring.
Cen Lingqiu’s lips curled up slightly.
So what if she had a bad temper?
No matter what she became, she was still her Jiao Jiao.
A person as precious as a cat.
Yu Mingjiao had taken a liking to cooking and always volunteered to cook for Cen Lingqiu.
Cen Lingqiu, to be polite, ate it a few times. Yu Mingjiao thought she liked it, felt a great sense of accomplishment, and got addicted.
Cen Lingqiu couldn’t help but hold her hand down and speak tactfully.
“Jiao Jiao, people aren’t good at everything.”
Yu Mingjiao said “oh” expressionlessly. “What I make is terrible.”
Cen Lingqiu didn’t know how to put it. She had strong self-esteem and couldn’t take harsh words.
“You’ve gone silent,” Yu Mingjiao concluded.
“I get it. I won’t cook anymore.”
Her tone was stiff. Cen Lingqiu thought she was angry and lowered herself to look at her face, asking softly, “Are you unhappy?”
Yu Mingjiao turned her face away. “No, I’m going to go wash up.”
When they were in bed, Yu Mingjiao, for a rare change, didn’t turn over to cling to her, keeping her back to her the whole time.
She must be hurt after all.
“Jiao Jiao, turn around.”
Yu Mingjiao was silent for a few seconds, then slowly turned over. Cen Lingqiu gently lifted her chin. “What, are you really angry?”
Yu Mingjiao said listlessly, “In your eyes, do I get angry easily?”
Cen Lingqiu was stuck for a few seconds.
Yu Mingjiao snorted coldly. Cen Lingqiu laughed and went to kiss her. “I didn’t say anything.”
After kissing for a while, Yu Mingjiao finally spoke, “I wasn’t angry about that.”
“I just feel like, why don’t you tell me anything?” Yu Mingjiao’s tone was slow. “We don’t need these polite things between us. I don’t like you forcing yourself, Sister Lingqiu. I don’t want you to suffer and then suppress yourself.”
Yu Mingjiao rarely spoke at length, and Cen Lingqiu was stunned for a moment.
She had been wrong.
In fact, over the years, Yu Mingjiao was no longer as selfish and cold as she used to be. Year after year, she had also begun to learn how to be considerate of her lover.
It was just that her care was like the silent waters of a lake, hard for people to notice.
She doted on Yu Mingjiao and wanted to respect her, but wasn’t Yu Mingjiao also caring for her? She was angry because Cen Lingqiu was suppressing her own discomfort to indulge her, but that wasn’t what Yu Mingjiao wanted.
Through the changing years, Yu Mingjiao had also slowly become a qualified lover.
Cen Lingqiu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Yu Mingjiao’s expression relaxed.
Before falling asleep, she spoke again, “Cooking is a no-go, but I want to try making drinks.”
“Well…”
“Cen Lingqiu!”
Cen Lingqiu just smiled and held her tighter.
Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao had been living together for a very, very long time. Having been together for so long, arguing was natural, and today they had a fight.
The reason was that Cen Lingqiu hadn’t replied to a message for over three hours.
Yu Mingjiao’s possessiveness and clinginess had been getting stronger over the years. After Cen Lingqiu returned to this world in her own body, there was a considerably long period, about half a year, where Yu Mingjiao was terrified, walking on eggshells every day, with no sense of security.
It wasn’t until a year, then two, then three years passed and she hadn’t left that Yu Mingjiao’s panic subsided, but her possessiveness hadn’t diminished one bit.
Messages couldn’t go unanswered for more than two hours, she had to be home before ten at night, one day of the weekend had to be spent with her, and so on.
The system had arranged a new identity and job for Cen Lingqiu. In this world, she was an orphan and a freelance translator, and her work was quite busy.
But that didn’t matter; Cen Lingqiu was willing to spoil her.
It was just that yesterday, when she went to do simultaneous interpretation at a conference, she forgot her phone in the car. It was too late to go back and get it. Cen Lingqiu figured it would be over in two hours, so she didn’t go back for it.
As a result, Yu Mingjiao sent a message, and no one answered. She called, and coincidentally, a male colleague in the car heard it. Since it kept ringing, the colleague helped her answer it.
And so, Yu Mingjiao went crazy.
Her neuroticism had never really gone away; it had just been hidden by Cen Lingqiu’s pampering over the years, rarely flaring up.
Today it was unleashed again. She questioned Cen Lingqiu, asking if she didn’t love her anymore, if she didn’t like women anymore, and so on. Cen Lingqiu found it impossible to communicate with her verbally. Yu Mingjiao was too emotional and could hardly hear anything.
Cen Lingqiu felt that now was not the time to talk. She had no intention of arguing with Yu Mingjiao, so she wanted to go out to let them both cool down. She opened the door and left.
In the living room, Yu Mingjiao sent her messages in a daze.
【Sister Lingqiu, are you angry?】
Cen Lingqiu didn’t reply.
Yu Mingjiao became pitiful again.
【Sister Lingqiu, don’t be angry with me, don’t hate me.】
【Just now… it was my fault.】
【I won’t be like this next time.】
【…I don’t want to be hated by you.】
“Sister Lingqiu.”
【Don’t abandon me.】
【Don’t despise me.】
【Don’t ignore me.】
【Sister Lingqiu, I’ll die.】
Yu Mingjiao’s eyes grew moist.
“Open the door.”
A message from Cen Lingqiu arrived.
Yu Mingjiao immediately opened the door, her eyes wet, her voice hoarse, “…Sister Lingqiu, you didn’t leave?”
Cen Lingqiu wiped her tears, her tone light, “You’re here, where could I go?”
“Jiao Jiao, I was standing outside the door the whole time, waiting to wipe your tears.”
Cen Lingqiu would occasionally take Yu Mingjiao to see Zhang Li. Zhang Li was old. Lin Dong had unfortunately fallen ill and died in prison, and her daughter had also passed away one after another. She had suffered too many great changes, and her memory had become particularly bad. She always thought her daughter was still alive, always mistaking Cen Lingqiu for her daughter.
So Cen Lingqiu would often visit her with Yu Mingjiao. Zhang Li was always happy to see the two of them.
Zhang Li was already very content. Her health had actually become very poor, and she lived day after day sustained by Cen Lingqiu’s and Yu Mingjiao’s visits, finally passing away peacefully one spring day.
Before she died, she held Cen Lingqiu’s and Yu Mingjiao’s hands, wanting to say something, but in the end, she said nothing at all.
She just smiled very, very lightly, patted their clasped hands, and then closed her eyes very quietly.
Cen Lingqiu handled her funeral arrangements.
It was a sunny, rainless day. Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao placed flowers in front of Zhang Li’s grave, then left holding hands.
They kept walking forward, without looking back.
Yu Sui’an always liked to follow Yu Mingjiao. It had been this way for several years. She only wanted to be by her sister’s side and hadn’t been in any relationships.
Yu Mingjiao knew that Yu Sui’an now truly saw her as a sister. Her years of persistence, taking care of her day after day during her mental breakdown—Yu Mingjiao could feel her sincerity and affection.
But some mistakes cannot be undone.
On Yu Mingjiao’s thirtieth birthday, Yu Sui’an gave her a peace tassel. In the past, Yu Mingjiao would not have accepted her gifts, but this year she did. Yu Sui’an was overjoyed, but then in the next second, she heard Yu Mingjiao speak.
“Next year, you don’t have to come give me a gift,” Yu Mingjiao’s expression was calm. “I already know your feelings, and I’m very grateful for you taking care of me these past few years.”
“But, not all mistakes can be compensated for, and not everything can be forgotten.”
Yu Sui’an’s face turned deathly pale.
“And you can’t always revolve your life around me.” Yu Mingjiao spoke with cruel directness. “I’ll come to your wedding. From now on, live your life well, Sui’an.”
This was the first time she had called Yu Sui’an by her name so intimately.
But it was to tell her not to come anymore.
Yu Sui’an couldn’t argue. She knew her childhood mistakes were unforgivable. If it weren’t for her, Yu Mingjiao’s legs might not have been disabled.
She wouldn’t throw a tantrum anymore.
People have to grow up.
“Okay.” Yu Sui’an’s face was streaked with tears, but she smiled.
“Then, sister, you and Sister Lingqiu be well together.”
She bowed to Yu Mingjiao.
“I’m sorry, sister. I won’t come again. Thank you for accepting my gift. You are my family.”
“Goodbye, sister.”
Yu Sui’an stepped back, step by step, then turned around.
Yu Mingjiao quietly watched Yu Sui’an’s retreating back.
“Are you sad?” Cen Lingqiu came over and stroked her face.
Yu Mingjiao pressed her face against her palm. She didn’t answer, only saying, “Sister Lingqiu, let’s go home. Back to our home.”
“Okay.”
The setting sun stretched the shadows of the departing figures very long, pulling them toward the distant horizon in opposite directions.
Time always passes so very slowly. Unconsciously, Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao had no idea how long they had been together.
Three years, five years, they’d forgotten. It had been so, so long, they couldn’t remember clearly.
On this day, Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao came to the tavern by the sea they had once visited. The proprietress in the red dress from before was gone, replaced by a young woman with short hair.
Cen Lingqiu and Yu Mingjiao sat in the same spot as before, watching the surging waves in the distance. The sun was setting. Cen Lingqiu felt like playing the guitar, so she volunteered and went to the stage.
There weren’t many people in the tavern. Cen Lingqiu sat on a high stool, her long legs casually resting on the floor. There were a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes. Her hair was curly and still very black; only deep within could a few white strands be seen.
The years had not left too deep a mark on her face. She was still elegantly plain, but her temperament was more introverted and mature.
She lowered her gaze, her voice husky, singing slowly.
She sang the song they had heard the first time she and Yu Mingjiao came to this tavern.
“Just grow old, loneliness, don’t you wake
The departure you desire is just a restless state
Just sing now, with your eyes squinted tight
And the collapse of hot tears is just an existence yet to arrive”
Yu Mingjiao looked at Cen Lingqiu on the stage, feeling as if in a daze.
This woman had really been with her for a long, long time.
She didn’t leave again.
And she would never leave again.
The summer sea breeze blew in. Yu Mingjiao’s eyes grew moist from the wind, and tears streamed down her face.
Yu Mingjiao knew they still had a long, long life ahead of them.
A life without loneliness or cold, filled with immense love.
