As July approached, the weather became increasingly sultry, and the Silk Tree on the roadside bloomed with pink and white flowers.
Chen Zhaoyue also completely said goodbye to her University life.
Chen An originally thought she would ask for some projects to try out, but instead, he was notified by his daughter not to disturb her recently. She even attached a picture of her watering the garden. Chen Zhaoyue’s fair hand and white sneakers were in the shot; the sneakers were wet with water, creating a dark stain.
Chen An was in his office when he received the message. He lifted the cup next to him, his wrist moving in an arc. His daughter was like a little monkey when she was a child, lively and willful. After maturing, she rarely laughed so freely, but from this photo, he seemed to see the girl laughing in the sun.
Chen An stopped his wrist, took a sip of tea, put it down, and typed on his Smartphone: [Then have a good time.]
He put down his Smartphone and pondered his daughter’s recent changes, naturally thinking of Lin Yiren and Lin Xingyao. Since then, he and his wife had basically not met them. Chen Zhaoyue always said to wait a bit longer, as if she were hiding beauties in a golden house. When should I have Zhao Yue bring them over? Chen An thought.
***
Chen Zhaoyue had indeed been happy these past few days. Without school or Company matters to nag her, she and Lin Yiren snuggled in the Villa to take care of their daughter, occasionally stealing kisses and filling the atmosphere with pink bubbles.
But today—
[Chen Zhaoyue, you must come this time.]
[Yawn.jpg]
Chen Zhaoyue glanced at her Smartphone; Tang Chaoyun was frantically pestering her in the group chat. After the Graduation ceremony, several friends had made plans multiple times. She went the first time but then became a homebody, yet this time she was dragged out again.
“Xing Yao, I’m leaving. Come here and give me a hug.” She zipped up her leather boots and opened her arms toward her daughter in the living room.
Xing Yao walked over for a perfunctory hug and then crawled back onto the sofa, staring at the Smartphone screen.
“Jiang Xue’s messages won’t disappear just because you’re not staring at them.” Chen Zhaoyue laughed helplessly; her daughter really liked this friend. If anyone was in a hurry to go out and play today, besides Tang Chaoyun, it was the little bundle on the sofa wiggling her bottom while looking at the Smartphone. Since they stopped attending classes at Qinzi Hall, Xing Yao had been mentioning wanting to meet Jiang Xue from time to time, and today her wish was finally granted.
“Are you really not going together?” Lin Yiren walked down from upstairs, holding Xing Yao’s bag.
“If I don’t go, Tang Chaoyun will say I’m choosing beauty over… um, that I’m going to forget her.” Chen Zhaoyue’s tongue tripped, and she quickly changed the subject, “Do you want me to accompany you that much?”
Lin Yiren’s face turned red, and she spoke quickly, “What do you mean accompany me? It’s to accompany Xing Yao. I don’t care.” The cartoon sticker on the bag was rubbed back and forth by her fair fingers.
Chen Zhaoyue chuckled, picked up the Handbag on the cabinet, hung it over her shoulder, and put her hand on the doorknob. “I can’t tell that Xing Yao wants me to accompany her that much—Su Hui is still busy today, so Jiang Xiaoxiao is bringing Jiang Xue. You’ll be fine with her, right?”
“I’m not a social black hole.”
“Humph, then I’m off. Bye-bye.” Chen Zhaoyue’s clothes fluttered as she left, and the door was gently closed.
***
Lin Yiren lowered her hand and sat next to Xing Yao. Jiang Xiaoxiao, huh? She rested her chin on her hand and reminisced—she didn’t have a deep impression of Jiang Xiaoxiao, but the scene of her running in a short skirt and long socks during their first meeting was quite clearly etched in her mind. Lively and restless, like a golden retriever, especially when hovering around Su Hui. However, she was even shorter than herself and looked much younger than Su Hui.
Xing Yao interrupted her thoughts, crawling over with the Smartphone. “Mama, Xue-Xue.”
Lin Yiren took the Smartphone; a message had arrived. [We’ve set off.]
“Okay! Then let’s go too.” Lin Yiren picked up Xing Yao’s bag, which contained a Cup and tissues. There were also things Lin Yiren had put in because she was too lazy to carry another shoulder bag, such as hair ties and sanitary pads.
They arrived at the garage, their footsteps sounding loud and crisp in the empty basement level, all the way to a cold-looking Luxury Car. Lin Yiren rubbed the steering wheel, still remembering the way the Eldest Miss hooked the keys and handed them to her, as if saying, “The car is yours; if it’s not enough, there are more.” Shifting her bottom on the comfortable leather seat, Lin Yiren admitted that the Eldest Miss was incredibly domineering at that time.
“Are you ready?”
“Ready, Mama.”
“Let’s go—” A small hand waved, the car lights turned on, and the engine’s power was delivered to the four wheels. Lin Yiren stepped on the gas, and the Luxury Car burst into the sunlight.
Arriving at the Mall’s Parking Lot, Lin Yiren held the bag in one hand and her daughter’s hand in the other as they took the elevator upstairs. The Mall in the city center was crowded, but Lin Yiren still spotted the inflatable castle standing on the first floor at a glance. Many children were climbing around on it, and once they sat on the slide, they slid smoothly into the pile of Facial Sponge balls below.
Lin Yiren sent a message to Jiang Xiaoxiao: [We’re next to the inflatable castle.]
[Arriving soon,] the other side replied instantly.
Sure enough, after a while, Lin Yiren spotted a gray figure among the passing shadows. Jiang Xiaoxiao was wearing a gray top and a pleated skirt today, paired with over-the-knee socks, and there was a snow-white little person beside her.
The other party obviously saw her too and led the child over. Lin Xingyao let go of her hand and grabbed the snow-white little person. “Xue-Xue.”
Jiang Xue also held her hand back. Before the adults could speak, the little bundles had already stuck together. “We were in a traffic jam for a bit, so we’re a little late,” Jiang Xiaoxiao said, then lifted a cup of milk tea with her other hand. “This is for you.”
“Ah, thank you.” Lin Yiren took it, feeling a bit embarrassed; she hadn’t even thought to bring anything. She sized up the girl with loose hair across from her. Underneath her restless appearance, was she unexpectedly attentive?
“No need to thank me; Hui-Hui told me to bring it.” Jiang Xiaoxiao smoothed her hair and gestured toward the inflatable castle. “Let’s go then.”
“Um… okay.”
“Two children, right? You can enter after scanning the code to buy tickets.” The staff member smiled at them.
After paying, Lin Xingyao and Jiang Xue plunged into the Facial Sponge balls together and swam to the inflatable castle. Among the energetic children, Lin Xingyao was still very prominent; her body bounced up and down under the effect of elasticity. Lin Yiren could distinguish her daughter’s wind-chime-like voice among the bursts of giggles. Jiang Xue was more serene, but she also laughed brightly under Lin Xingyao’s influence.
Lin Yiren withdrew her gaze with relief. Standing here for two hours wouldn’t be very wise. Lin Yiren said tentatively, “Let’s find a chair and sit down.”
Jiang Xiaoxiao nodded, looked around, and pointed in one direction. “Over there, let’s go sit.” After saying that, she stepped out with her slender legs first.
Lin Yiren followed behind her. Jiang Xiaoxiao wasn’t tall, but her pace was fast. The long hair on her back swayed from side to side, and her pleated skirt rose and fell slightly. She really likes this style of dress, Lin Yiren thought. The first time they met, Jiang Xiaoxiao wore white long socks with a short skirt. This time, she wore a pair of gray long socks to match her top. This style should be called… JK Style?
Lin Yiren shifted her gaze to her swaying long hair again. She seemed to have never seen Jiang Xiaoxiao tie her hair; her hair was always loose but very shiny, having been well-cared for.