As the gentle piano piece came to an end, the man sitting in front of the grand piano turned a page of the score.
The piano keys were gently struck, and after a brief moment of silence, new music filled the restaurant once again.
Xu Shiyue's voice was as gentle and calm as the piano music, as if she were just telling Xiaoning something very ordinary.
But on the side that Xiaoning couldn't notice, Lu Shizhen's face, which was looking down at the menu, suddenly burned, making her feel hot and burning.
There were too many repetitive movements.
Xu Shiyue stayed with me all day yesterday, and the only thing she could repeat was...
The answer was obvious, and Lu Shizhen quickly pressed those words into her mind.
But the events of last night seemed to trigger a keyword, flashing through her mind like fragments, and Lu Shizhen instantly felt her face get even hotter than before.
Unable to resist, Lu Shizhen looked over at Xu Shiyue.
But the culprit stood upright, his arm holding the menu at a perfect angle, exuding elegance in every movement, completely unlike someone who could have uttered such lewd words.
How can this person say these things without batting an eye?
After being intimate and ambiguous for so long, Lu Shizhen had almost forgotten.
This person's attributes are like a dark moonlight, white with a hint of black...
“I have some plaster here. Teacher Sixteen used this when his wrist was uncomfortable.”
Just as Lu Shizhen was thinking this, Xiaoning's enthusiastic voice pulled her back to reality.
She couldn't understand the coded language between the two. As she spoke, she took out the ointment she always carried with her and, as if she were concerned about Lu Shizhen, instructed Xu Shiyue, "You still need to take good care of yourself, otherwise it won't be good if you end up in pain like Teacher Sixteen."
The ointment was almost completely used up; its outer shell was pitted and scarred, bearing the marks of time.
Although it indirectly proves that Lu Shizhen often uses this ointment, it looks out of place in this place.
Xiaoning realized this when she pushed the ointment to Xu Shiyue.
Having spent these past few days interacting with Xu Shiyue, she was aware of the inherent distance this person exuded, and she was somewhat nervous and worried that Xu Shiyue might look down on this cheap little gadget.
But Xiaoning's hesitation and worry were obviously unnecessary. Xu Shiyue then accepted the ointment that Xiaoning had pushed towards her under her gaze: "Xiaoning is so thoughtful. I'll take it. Thank you."
Xu Shiyue's voice was calm and composed, yet carried a hint of amusement that made her seem less distant.
The feeling is like a glacier melting in the middle of summer, where the cold air of winter turns into a gentle warmth that makes everything around you feel less distant, giving you an instant feeling of joy.
Xiao Ning was overjoyed to hear Xu Shiyue say this to her, and quickly waved her hand, saying, "Miss Xu, you're too kind. I'm very happy that you can use my help."
Perhaps because of the little incident involving the ointment, the atmosphere was very pleasant during the meal for the three of them.
Xiao Ning found the sight of Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue sitting together pleasing to the eye, and was also happy for their beloved Teacher Sixteen. She even became a fan of the two as a couple.
The thought of being able to ship the couple up close every day made Xiaoning leave with a sense of joy.
Xu Shiyue looked at Xiaoning's back, which was so transparent that she could see right through her, turned around, and walked towards the parking lot not far away. She said softly to Lu Shizhen beside her, "Your little assistant seems to be in a good mood."
"You seem to be in a bad mood too." Lu Shizhen took a bite of the ice cream she had taken from the restaurant, her lazy voice carrying a hint of grudge.
Xu Shiyue looked at Lu Shizhen's gaze, curled her lips, and said to her in an acknowledgment, "If Teacher Sixteen can help me apply the ointment when we get back, I will feel much better."
In the summer, cicadas chirped long, drawn-out calls in the trees, their sounds like an alarm ringing in Lu Shizhen's head.
Sunlight fell into Xu Shiyue's half-lowered eyes, revealing a cunning look that was exactly the same as last night.
If the darkness of night can accommodate much obscurity and ambiguity, then the brightness of daytime can evoke a sense of transgression.
Mentioning this, Lu Shizhen's face flushed again. Her tongue, coated with ice cream, licked her teeth. The cool temperature carried a fragrance that had been radiated by the sunlight, just like the fingers that had touched her lips last night.
Seeing that Lu Shizhen remained silent, Xu Shiyue turned her head to the side, speaking in a slightly coquettish tone, and said to her, "Okay, Teacher Sixteen?"
"OK."
The sturdy plane trees drooped their branches and leaves, their dense shadows obscuring Lu Shizhen's raised eyes.
A hint of a smile seemed to flicker in Xu Shiyue's eyes, but before she could confirm it, Lu Shizhen leaned forward and pressed her against the tree behind her.
A straight and slender arm crossed Xu Shiyue's line of sight, trapping her in front of the tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, outlining Lu Shizhen's shadow, making her appear both domineering and somewhat childish.
“However, shouldn’t you give me something in return for October? You almost betrayed me to get this ointment today,” Lu Shizhen said.
Xu Shiyue raised her head slightly and squinted in the sunlight: "Then what do you want?"
Lu Shizhen looked at Xu Shiyue and calmly uttered a single word: "You."
The words had barely left her lips when Lu Shizhen's kiss landed on her.
The scorching summer sun beat down on the earth, and at noon, there were hardly any pedestrians on the road.
The car sped past on the road, as if trying to escape the scorching heat of the sun, stirring up a gust of hot air.
The huge shade of the tree hid the people huddled together in the shadows of the corner, and no one had the leisure to appreciate the scenery.
Even so, Lu Shizhen's bold behavior still shocked Xu Shiyue, even though she was the one who started this whole thing.
Those soft lips enveloped her teeth, gently caressing them, as if pleading.
Just as Xu Shiyue was slowly relaxing, the covered canine teeth were revealed, and they bit her lip lightly, but not too lightly.
"Hmm..."
Caught off guard, Xu Shiyue let out a syllable from the corner of her lips.
Her cool voice seemed to have melted in the sun, revealing a touch of coquettishness.
Lu Shizhen paused slightly upon hearing the sound, then her kiss on Xu Shiyue's lips became even gentler.
It felt like comfort, like compensation, but more like the calm before a deliberate act.
It's true that I want to kiss Xu Shiyue, and it's also true that I want to get back at her in a little way.
Lu Shizhen's kisses were devoid of grand gestures, gentle as clouds, yet containing flashes of lightning within those clouds, always deliberately biting Xu Shiyue mischievously the very next second she was engrossed in the moment.
Her actions were inconsistent and malicious, yet people were drawn to her gentleness afterward.
The hand that had been lying across the tree fell down, found Xu Shiyue's arm, and climbed up her back, catching her just before her back collapsed, so that she could be more immersed in the kiss.
Sunlight streamed through Xu Shiyue's slightly open eyes, and in her line of sight, Lu Shizhen was kissing her earnestly.
All she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat, and the incessant chirping of cicadas only amplified the rising temperature. This summer scene, unlike anything she had ever witnessed, made her realize that she couldn't possibly be dreaming.
The blazing sunlight seemed to dispel the last gloom in her heart, and Xu Shiyue leaned forward slightly to return Lu Shizhen's kiss.
It's so good that it's not a dream.
When the two returned home, the sun was no longer so strong, and the rose vines clinging to the courtyard wall looked much better than in the morning.
As Xu Shiyue drove the car into the yard, Lu Shizhen saw a familiar figure in the distance directing someone to do something on the lawn.
Summer seemed to suit her even better. Her thick, curly hair was neatly and casually swept to one side, revealing Cheng Meiyan's bright and delicate face. The dress she wore, draped with a cardigan, swayed with her brisk movements.
As the car pulled in, Cheng Meiyan noticed Xu Shiyue and Lu Shizhen had returned, and raised her arm to wave to them: "Hey! My darling daughters!"
Cheng Meiyan was still as enthusiastic and flamboyant as ever, so energetic that Lu Shizhen felt as if she were aging in reverse.
It was their first meeting after so long, so Lu Shizhen was still a little reserved and awkwardly called out, "Mom."
Cheng Meiyan, however, was much more open-minded. She walked over and hugged her tightly, radiating enthusiasm: "My darling, welcome back."
It was this enthusiasm that made Lu Shizhen more accepting of the love from her family that she had never received before.
Her face, slightly flushed from the sun, rested comfortably on Cheng Meiyan's shoulder, and she said obediently, "Thank you, Mom."
"No need to thank me." Cheng Meiyan's voice was tinged with pride, and her eyes glanced at Lu Shize sitting in the pavilion as if by accident. "Zhenzhen, Mom is still very good, isn't she? She can recognize her own daughter at a glance."
Lu Shizhen knew what Cheng Meiyan was referring to, and nodded, saying, "Of course, Mom is much more capable than my brother."
Lu Shizhen's voice wasn't very loud, but it was precisely heard by Lu Shize, who was looking at his phone nearby.
Just as he was about to come over and explain, looking frustrated, a staff member who was fiddling with something in the yard interrupted: "Madam, it's all set up."
Cheng Meiyan nodded upon hearing this and immediately called out to the people in the pavilion, "Aze and Xiao En are here."
Lu Shizhen was a little confused by Cheng Meiyan's attitude: "Mom, what's going on here..."
Sung Mi-yeon pointed to the camera that the staff had already picked up and said, "Let's take a family photo."
“We haven’t taken a family photo since your dad passed away.” Cheng Meiyan said casually as she sat down in the center and patted the chair next to her. “Come on, you sit here, Xiao En sit here, Shi Yue stand behind Zhen Zhen, and A Ze stand behind Mom.”
Meow~
Just as Cheng Meiyan was giving instructions, Qiuqiu came over with Yuanzi.
A dog and a cat stared intently at Cheng Meiyan with their big, watery eyes, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Cheng Meiyan's heart melted at the sight of him. She quickly slapped her leg and said regretfully, "Look, I forgot about the two little ones."
Then she beckoned to Qiuqiu and said, "Come here, come into Grandma's arms."
How could Qiuqiu refuse the beautiful woman's gesture? She nimbly jumped onto Cheng Meiyan's lap and nuzzled her affectionately.
Yuanzi wagged its tail and came to Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue's side, cleverly finding a place for itself between them.
Suddenly, the space that was just right for the shot became crowded, but this also added a lot of dynamism to it.
The photographer loved this human touch in the composition, and raised his camera to everyone, saying, "Everyone look at the camera, even the cats and dogs, 3, 2, 1—"
The shutter clicked several times, and everyone's smiles looked beautiful in every photo. Even Lu Shize, who usually had a cold expression, curled the corners of his lips in one of the photos, which pleased Cheng Meiyan greatly. She kept praising him as she looked at the photos.
Just as everyone was admiring the photos, Lu Shizhen walked up to the photographer and said, "Excuse me, could you take one more picture?"
"Of course, Miss Lu." The cameraman quite liked this family, so he readily agreed. "How would you like to film?"
Lu Shizhen turned her head and glanced at the osmanthus tree not far away, as well as the people and animals under the tree. Then she said mysteriously, "Follow me and press the shutter when I make a peace sign."
The photographer probably guessed what kind of photos Lu Shizhen wanted to take, and nodded: "Okay."
Although it's not yet the season for osmanthus to bloom, a few small white flowers have already sprouted on the osmanthus tree.
As she was helping Yuanzi brush the petals that had fallen on her head, she heard a long, distant call: "October—!!"
The eager, precocious fragrance wafted through the air on the breeze, filling Xu Shiyue's nostrils.
A summer breeze swept by, carrying away a few more pure white petals. Her vision was filled with the person running towards her.
The camera followed the girl closely.
Those cool eyes were completely devoid of their usual composure and elegance; instead, they held a look of surprise as if they had anticipated something.
Lu Shizhen leaned to the side, making a peace sign next to Xu Shiyue, and smiled happily.
The repeated pressing of the shutter turned what should have been a still image into a moving picture, frame by frame.
In the next shot, Xu Shiyue's surprised expression turned into helplessness and tenderness.
Then she linked arms with Lu Shizhen and smiled at the camera for the first time.
It has a rich, osmanthus-like aroma.
A tiny, pure white flower can stain a person's shoulders.
Yuanzi ran into the camera with Qiuqiu in her mouth, and Lu Shizhen and Xu Shiyue were smiling the whole time.
This is their family photo; nothing in this world can separate them.
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