Imagine

"Feifei, I think we're looking in the wrong direction to get back. My instance and your instance are not connected; it's not like two people can go back just by expressing their feelings for each other."

Su Huan collapsed onto the table in despair, staring at her half-dead.

These past few days, Su Huan tried various methods but failed to return. The day after confessing her love on the cruise ship, she woke up to find herself still in this Mary Sue world. She then began to coax and persuade Xu Feifei to bring Lin Yuan along to confess their love at East Lake.

It didn't work. We tried several different scenarios, at different times, and in different weather conditions, but there was still no reaction.

They couldn't go back, and were forced to eat a mouthful of dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection), which became their best shield.

Compared to Su Huan's sighs and complaints, Xu Feifei was much more in good spirits. Just as she said at the beginning, she would enjoy herself for as long as she could and make the most of the moment.

Xu Feifei ruffled her hair, turning it into a mess, and said with a smile, "No rush, take your time. You've been here for so long, a few more days won't make a difference."

Su Huan slapped her hand away impatiently, grabbed her hair back, and said, "I'm just worried, aren't I? What if the next person from another world comes in and we all lose our memories? And what if she foolishly chooses to stay with us? Wouldn't we be unable to go back for the rest of our lives?"

Xu Feifei rolled her eyes and said disapprovingly, "I never intended to stay here indefinitely. Haven't I tried your method several times these past few days?"

Su Huan looked her up and down, then pursed her lips and said, "I think you'll be soon too. You're always sticking to Lin Yuan, inseparable. Ever since you started dating, you've been smiling like a fool every day."

"No, I just smiled a little more than before, just a little bit."

Xu Feifei gestured with her thumbs to indicate a little bit, refusing to admit that she was laughing like a fool. She firmly believed that she was not love-struck.

"Why don't you take a look at yourself in the mirror? I have a saying: 'Those involved are often blinded by their own perspective'..."

"Feifei, did Mommy tell you that we're going back home together this Friday to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?"

Lin Xier walked up to her without her noticing and asked her about it excitedly.

Xu Feifei turned to look at her, and said apologetically, "I did say that, but I probably can't go back with you that day. I have to help Su Huan with some things on Friday, so I'll probably be home late."

Su Huan was taken aback at first, but quickly realized what she meant and said, "Yes, I have something very important to do on Friday that I need Feifei to do with me. I'm really sorry."

Lin Xier lowered her head in disappointment upon hearing this, then asked with concern, "What's wrong? Do you need my help?"

Su Huan smiled at Xu Feifei, "Feifei, tell Xi'er what exactly happened."

Xu Feifei hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "No need for now, Su Huan and I are fine. I'll definitely be there on time tonight, I'll tell my mom after school today."

After Lin Xier walked away, Su Huan asked impatiently, "How come I didn't know I had to do something on Friday? What is it?"

Xu Feifei laughed shyly, "On Friday, Lin Yuan and I went to a private chef's to make mooncakes. I didn't want anyone to know about my relationship with Lin Yuan, so I used you as a shield, hehe!"

Su Huan was speechless; she simply couldn't bear to watch.

"Anyone with eyes can see the relationship between you and Lin Yuan. The way you two look at each other is so sticky."

Xu Feifei still firmly denied it, saying that the two only exchanged friendly glances like normal classmates.

Su Huan didn't bother to refute her stubbornness, because it would be pointless anyway.

"But I'm going on Friday too, so remember to take me with you when you go."

"No, you've been too bright these past few days. Next time, I'll definitely bring you next time."

"No, I..."

Xu Feifei glanced at the back door and saw Nangong Ye and Lin Xier standing in the corridor talking. As they were talking, Lin Xier looked in her direction and smiled at her. Then Nangong Ye also looked over, gave her a brief glance, and turned back.

For some reason, Lin Xier smiled, and Nangong Ye's lips curved into a smile as well.

Xu Feifei looked at the two people outside, and a sudden idea flashed into her mind.

"Su Huan, don't you think you've got the wrong person? Is there any possibility that only if the real male and female leads get together can we open the door back?"

"Yeah?"

"Right, I remember you said that when you transmigrated into a book before, you were the female lead and ended up with the male lead, right? But I transmigrated into a supporting female character, so my story and your story are not connected. Why don't you encourage them to get together sooner, maybe then we can go back."

Xu Feifei told her her guess. Originally, she planned to help the male and female leads get together, but after various things happened during the summer vacation, the plan was put on hold.

Su Huan turned around and looked at Nangong Ye and Lin Xier, who seemed to be seriously considering whether the matter could be accomplished.

While eating, Su Huan was still thinking about this matter, and she didn't even want to eat her favorite braised chicken.

Lin Yuan placed a piece of shrimp into Xu Feifei's bowl. "I made an appointment with Grandma Xu to go to her place to get mooncakes on Friday."

"Okay, I trust you to handle things. But..."

Xu Feifei paused for a moment, wondering how to bring up the fact that she had to go back to her family that day to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Lin Yuan asked, "What's wrong?"

Xu Feifei hesitated for a while before saying, "But I have to go home that day to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with them and have a reunion dinner. I don't think I can spend too much time making mooncakes."

Lin Yuan paused in his chopsticks, then placed some braised pork ribs in her bowl. "It's true that we should have a reunion dinner with our families during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I'll arrange a time then."

Xu Feifei was feeling down. She and Lin Yuan had agreed to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival together, but her mother insisted that she not come home for dinner on the day of the festival. Left with no other choice, she had to agree.

She stood him up, embarrassed, and finished the shrimp and braised pork ribs in her bowl. "Lin Yuan, why don't you come back with me that day?"

Lin Yuan was stunned for a moment. Su Huan, upon hearing this, snapped out of her daze and widened her eyes, saying, "Didn't you say this afternoon..."

Before Su Huan could finish speaking, Xu Feifei stuffed a chicken leg into her mouth, leaving her stammering and unable to say anything.

Lin Yuan glanced at her and said, "Okay."

Now it was Xu Feifei's turn to be stunned. They agreed so readily? How was she going to explain this to her parents? Oh well, she'd just have to take it one step at a time.

Seeing that Lin Yuan could go back, Su Huan quickly added, "Can I be included? I want to help the male and female leads."

Xu Feifei refused without hesitation, saying, "No, Lin Yuan and I made an appointment to make mooncakes together on Friday."

Su Huan said with a grin, "You guys can just come pick me up after you've made the mooncakes. I won't come with you. Just give me one of the mooncakes you've made. Besides, if you take me back, it won't be so conspicuous."

Xu Feifei nodded, "That works too."

It was already evening when they finished dinner. Lin Yuan took Xu Feifei's hand and walked towards East Lake, while Su Huan led the way.

East Lake is far from the teaching buildings, so fewer people come here in the evening. Most of the people here are young couples, but because the director randomly refreshes the list, fewer and fewer people come here.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here, and tonight the moon is bright and round, and the starry sky is exceptionally clear. The sky is full of stars, without a single cloud, not even a few wisps of cloud.

Xu Feifei looked up at the moon and said to Lin Yuan, "The moon is so round today!"

Lin Yuan looked up and said, "Yes, the Mid-Autumn Festival is almost here."

"On Friday, we'll go to Grandma Xu's to make mooncakes. We'll make a lot. Let me count, you and I each need at least two, plus two for my parents, Su Huan, Grandma Xu, Lin Xi'er..."

Xu Feifei counted out the number of people who needed to be delivered, and Lin Yuan watched her count heads with a smile.

When Su Huan heard that they were making mooncakes for her, she couldn't help but stop and ask, "What kind of filling are you making? I want taro paste with salted egg yolk filling, and I want two egg yolks inside."

Xu Feifei couldn't imagine what it would feel like to combine these two flavors. "Isn't taro paste supposed to be sweet? How can it taste good if it's both sweet and salty?"

"It should be similar to egg yolk pastry, a replica of egg yolk pastry."

Xu Feifei nodded and said, "That makes sense, but I'm making snow skin mooncakes, not baked mooncakes."

"Sure, I'll eat it whether it's snow skin or baked."

Xu Feifei turned her head and asked, "Lin Yuan, what kind of mooncake filling do you like?"

Lin Yuan smiled and said, "I'm fine with anything. I like whatever you like."

Xu Feifei frowned, looking a little troubled, and said, "I like a lot of things. I like sweet things, but I don't like salty things. I like taro paste, purple sweet potato, chestnuts, matcha..."

"If you like them all, get a little of each."

"Is everything done in such a hurry? Preparing the filling takes quite a bit of time, and we also need to rush home for dinner that day."

"Grandma Xu will take care of all of this for us."

Su Huan chimed in from the side, "You can do as many as you can, and I'll wait for you at school to come back and pick me up."

Xu Feifei thought about it and agreed, so she didn't dwell on it anymore. Then she thought of something else, "What do you think about having a barbecue after we finish eating? I used to have barbecues with my friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival. My chicken wings are pretty good."

"Barbecue?" Su Huan's eyes lit up immediately.

Lin Yuan has always been supportive of Xu Feifei's ideas. "It sounds good, I support it."

"Yes, we'll take the mooncakes to the little garden and have a barbecue while we admire the moon. I'll grill for you guys; I'm really good at grilling chicken wings, marshmallows, and bread—they're fragrant and crispy."

"A few more small beers, ice cold, please!"

Xu Feifei disagreed, saying, "No, alcoholic beverages are not allowed. My parents will definitely talk if they find out, and I always act crazy when I'm drunk."

At this point, Xu Feifei glanced at Lin Yuan and noticed that Lin Yuan was secretly smiling at her.

Since getting together with Lin Yuan, she discovered that Lin Yuan had a hidden stash of 1982 Lafite at home. She couldn't resist taking a sip, and was drunk before she could even taste much of the flavor. She chased after Lin Yuan, kissing him everywhere, laughing like a lovesick fool.

Getting drunk isn't shameful; what's shameful is having someone reminisce about you while you're drunk. Moreover, Lin Yuan filmed her, and she even discovered a video of her confessing her feelings to Lin Yuan while drunk at a food stall.

When she saw the video, her face turned bright red. She was too embarrassed to face Lin Yuan all day. Lin Yuan just kept smiling at her, which she found really annoying.

Su Huan said regretfully, "Alright."

Seeing that Lin Yuan was still laughing, Xu Feifei gave him an elbow strike, "Stop laughing, what do you want to eat? I'll grill one for you."

Lin Yuan's lips were still curved in a smile. "I like whatever you bake. I'm fine with anything."

If it were anyone else, Xu Feifei would definitely think that they were just being polite or perfunctory, but with Lin Yuan, it was exactly as he said.

He is not picky about food; he eats everything and doesn't have any particular favorite or disliked foods.

"Then I'll grill you a big chicken wing, a big chicken leg, and a big squid, as well as my best-kept tricks: grilled marshmallows and toasted bread slices, hahaha."

"Okay, I'll bake one for you too."

"You guys can grill some for me too. Grilling one person is grilling, grilling two people is grilling too."

......

Moonlight spilled onto East Lake, where the lotus flowers were almost fully bloomed, their pods already formed. From beneath the surface, the sounds of fish splashing against the water could be heard intermittently, and the croaking of frogs echoed from afar, creating a scene of tranquility and peace.

Xu Feifei couldn't help but exclaim, "The moonlight is so beautiful tonight."

Lin Yuan's body stiffened, and he didn't react for a while.

Xu Feifei held his hand, looking at him with bright eyes, and said, "The moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival will definitely be even more beautiful. I really want to make mooncakes and have barbecue on the Mid-Autumn Festival soon."

With Su Huan nearby, Lin Yuan kissed her forehead and said, "I definitely will."

This article was published on Jinjiang Novel Reading.