Ye Wu! Song Shimiao looked at the little turtle that had just appeared on her textbook, grabbed the eraser in her hand, and hurled it across the aisle at Ye Wu.
Ye Wu calmly dodged out of the way. What are you doing? So jumpy.
You drew this? Song Shimiao gritted her teeth.
Isn’t it pretty? It’s a portrait I drew of you; it looks just like you. Ye Wu picked the eraser up off the floor, shook it slightly, and said, Say something nice.
Whatever. Song Shimiao pulled a large box of erasers out of her desk drawer, placed them on the table, flashed a thumbs-down at Ye Wu, and looked thoroughly smug. I was prepared, you know.
Well, give it to me then. I just happened to lose mine. Ye Wu tossed the eraser into her pencil case.
Song Shimiao clenched her fists and glared at Ye Wu, but to Ye Wu, this glare had zero destructive power.
Lost again? Her deskmate asked with a friendly, smiling tone.
Song Shimiao shot her a glance. Lost? Who lost? This is called me being kindhearted, gifting her an eraser.
The deskmate chuckled, her expression making it completely obvious that she didn’t believe a single word.
Song Shimiao cast a dissatisfied look at Ye Wu sitting right next to her.
How could such a malicious person possibly exist in this world?!
Song Shimiao and Ye Wu were the same age. They had grown up together, were neighbors, and classmates, staying in the same class all the way from kindergarten through high school.
Even though they grew up together, their relationship was abysmal; they could practically be described as being like fire and water. As for conflicts, there weren’t actually any major ones; it was probably just the simple fact that their astrological signs fundamentally clashed.
The first page of Song Shimiao’s diary when she was eight years old recorded her biggest wish at the time: Someday I’m going to invent a rocket and launch Ye Wu into outer space!
Right now, Song Shimiao didn’t allow herself to make such childish wishes anymore. Her current wish was to go to a university where Ye Wu wasn’t enrolled, staying as far away from Ye Wu as physically possible, the further, the better.
However, the adult Song Shimiao had failed to launch Ye Wu into space, nor had she managed to stay away from her. Instead, their relationship had grown even closer: they were sleeping in the exact same bed.
Song Shimiao stared blankly at Ye Wu beside her, completely frozen.
Wife? Why are you acting all spaced out like a little dummy? Ye Wu let out a yawn, leaned in close, wrapped her arms around her, kissed her on the cheek, and pinched her face.
Propping herself up on her elbows, Ye Wu sat up. Time to get up. Our parents told us to head back early.
Song Shimiao: ？？？
Listening to Ye Wu’s natural, affectionate tone, Song Shimiao didn’t reply. Instead, she looked around her surroundings.
Wasn’t she supposed to be sleeping in her dorm room? Where on earth was this?!
She sat up, turned her head, and saw a photo of herself and Ye Wu hanging on the wall, causing her to freeze instantly.
Even though she had never taken such photos in her life, she could still figure out that this was a wedding portrait.
Song Shimiao pinched her own arm, the sudden pain making her gasp softly.
She wasn’t dreaming.
This was real
Ye Wu calling her wife was real!
She and Ye Wu sleeping in the same bed was real!
She and Ye Wu taking wedding photos was also real!
A wedding portrait? She and Ye Wu actually got married?!
Song Shimiao! Ye Wu frowned as she looked at Song Shimiao’s back. I’ve been talking to you for ages. Why are you ignoring me?
Song Shimiao turned her head and stared directly at Ye Wu. Huh?
Ye Wu locked eyes with Song Shimiao, leaned down to peer straight into her eyes, and suddenly realized something.
Having known Song Shimiao for twenty-six years and been married to her for three, she knew Song Shimiao’s facial expressions and tone of voice way too well.
That look in your eyes Ye Wu lightly touched Song Shimiao’s face, stood up straight, and looked down at her. You seem terribly shocked. Why are you shocked? Did you not know we’re already married?
Song Shimiao looked at the mischievous smile slowly blooming on Ye Wu’s face, maintaining a slight sense of vigilance. She hadn’t expected the other girl to figure it out so easily.
Even though Ye Wu had competed with her for the top rank in their grade year after year, in Song Shimiao’s heart, Ye Wu was always a bit of a fool.
I genuinely didn’t know, Song Shimiao said, trying her best to maintain her composure while acting cool.
Song Shimiao didn’t try to hide it much, nor did she have any way to hide it.
Just now, Ye Wu had leaned over and planted a loud muwah right on her face. If she hadn’t told her that she had amnesia, who knew what other things Ye Wu might try to do next?
Who could accept sharing a blanket with the mortal enemy they had been trading snarky remarks with just last night?!
That detestable Ye Wu had drawn a turtle on her just yesterday!
Song Shimiao felt that the fact she hadn’t fainted on the spot right now already counted as a massive achievement.
So what’s the situation here? Ye Wu muttered thoughtfully, as if something had just clicked. Are you eighteen right now?
How did you know? Song Shimiao’s eyes widened. Are you actually that smart?
Even though the person standing right in front of her was the Ye Wu from many years into the future, perhaps because they had grown up together, Song Shimiao still found it completely second nature to hurl insults at her.
Because the moment you turned eighteen, you suddenly started chasing after me, Ye Wu said with a bright, beaming smile, watching with satisfaction as her expression completely fractured.
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
Song Shimiao clutched her head in her hands, completely unable to accept this reality.
After competing against Ye Wu for all those years, suddenly forcing herself to lower her head and chase after someone else would be far worse than taking her life, and the person she was chasing happened to be her arch-nemesis, no less.
Moreover, eighteen was precisely the age when a person’s pride and ego were at their absolute peak. To actually do something like that, she shuddered to think how Ye Wu would have mocked her for it.
Watching Song Shimiao’s reaction, Ye Wu burst out laughing.
Song Shimiao snapped out of it, looked at Ye Wu, and felt utterly baffled. Why are you still so childish even as an adult?
You’re way more childish than me, Ye Wu retorted snappily. Hurry up and get out of bed. Pack your things up, and while we’re packing, you and I can go over the current situation.
Ye Wu pulled a few items of clothing out of the closet and tossed them onto the bed. This year, both of us are twenty-six years old, and we’ve been married for three years. We registered our marriage overseas.
Three years? Song Shimiao’s eyes widened again.
Mmhmm, Ye Wu nodded. Speaking of which, our anniversary is coming up the month after next
Ye Wu was just about to tell Song Shimiao which anniversary it was, but the words caught in her throat and she swallowed them back down.
She decided it was probably better not to mention it just yet.
Our relationship and marriage were both pretty rough roads to walk down; our families had a massive reaction at first, and it’s only these past two years that they’ve finally accepted us being together, Ye Wu continued. So it might be a little awkward when we head back later?
Ye Wu paused for a moment to think before finding an adjective to describe it.
Song Shimiao fell silent for a few seconds. She wasn’t particularly surprised; both of their sets of parents were quite traditional. Furthermore, Ye Wu’s parents were both schoolteachers with identical severe expressions; Song Shimiao used to clam up the second she laid eyes on them when she was a kid.
Hearing Ye Wu say this, Song Shimiao couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
Were she and Ye Wu really that deeply in love?
Whose place are we going to? Song Shimiao looked up at Ye Wu. Earlier, Ye Wu had only said parents without specifying whose parents she meant.
We’ll stop by my family’s place first, and then head to the restaurant, Ye Wu clarified. So you can just talk less and let me do all the talking. We’ll aim to head back early.
What on earth are we going there for this time? Why do we even need to go to a restaurant? Song Shimiao asked curiously, looking away and instinctively turning around as Ye Wu started changing clothes without any fuss.
Since their high school days involved communal bathhouses and the two of them had even shared a dorm room, Song Shimiao wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with seeing Ye Wu change clothes. However, finding themselves coexisting alone in a private room now made her feel incredibly awkward.
Once again, Song Shimiao heard Ye Wu laughing.
She ground her teeth and quickly changed her own clothes as well. The outfit Ye Wu had picked out for her was a long dress with a wonderful texture. Before putting it on, Song Shimiao even checked the label; it was from a very expensive luxury brand.
Wow, did the adult version of me become this successful?
A wave of complacency and delight bloomed in Song Shimiao’s heart.
This trip is for my cousin’s engagement.
In that case, it sounds like there won’t be many places where we need to speak up. Song Shimiao let out a sigh of relief.
Not necessarily, though. There aren’t many relatives, just two tables for the engagement party, but the wedding itself will have a lot more people. So you probably shouldn’t hold out hope for a peaceful meal.
Song Shimiao:
The breath of relief Song Shimiao had just let out was instantly pulled right back in.
No need to be too nervous. Aren’t I right here? Ye Wu said calmly.
Song Shimiao didn’t say anything. Looking down, she noticed the platinum ring on her hand. She gave it a couple of twists before getting curious and pulling it off, sure enough, the initials of her and Ye Wu’s names were engraved on the inside.
She silently slipped it back on, then gave her thigh a hard pinch, soundlessly gasping from the sudden sting.
Ouch, that really hurt.
It definitely wasn’t a dream.
Go wash up, Ye Wu patted the top of Song Shimiao’s head. After you come out, I’ll help you put on some light makeup. Every time we go to these kinds of functions, tons of people stare at us. If our appearance looks even a little bit tired, they’ll definitely start gossiping behind our backs.
Normally, if Ye Wu had patted her head, Song Shimiao would have immediately grabbed Ye Wu’s head and patted it right back. But right now, her brain was in such a state of chaos that she didn’t even react in time.
Good grief, it sounds like we’re heading into a warzone, Song Shimiao muttered as she walked into the bathroom, only to find that Ye Wu had already placed a brand-new toothbrush right next to the sink.
Can’t be helped, Ye Wu said, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. Among all our relatives, we make the most money, live the best lives, and are the most rebellious ones. Naturally, some people love to zero in on our mistakes just to make things unpleasant for us.
As she squeezed her toothpaste, a sudden realization hit Song Shimiao. Wait, do I have a job? Oh right, I have a job.
Horrified, Song Shimiao stared at Ye Wu. I’m still just a high school student right now! How am I supposed to have a job?!
She wasn’t particularly worried about not being able to go back, since Ye Wu’s attitude made it clear that she would definitely take her back.
However, things like working a real job were genuinely beyond her capabilities!
And once I go back, college entrance exams will be right around the corner! Song Shimiao drew in another sharp breath. If our souls swapped places, does the future me even remember any of the high school curriculum? Will my monthly exam scores end up dead last in the entire school?!
Normally, Song Shimiao was a fairly confident person, but at this moment, she harbored some serious doubts about her twenty-six-year-old self.
Don’t worry, you and I got accepted into the same university.
Song Shimiao:
Song Shimiao suddenly remembered that right before arriving here, she had explicitly wished never to attend the same university as Ye Wu. Though considering they were already married to each other now, that detail didn’t even seem all that strange anymore.
You don’t need to worry about the work situation either. You just recently resigned, Ye Wu continued.
Why did I resign? Song Shimiao asked with a puzzled expression. Didn’t you just say we make a lot of money? Don’t tell me I’m living off of you right now!
Anyway, you resigned. I don’t feel like telling you the specific reason. As for information about the future, you should know as little as possible. If you know too much, what are you going to do if you subconsciously try to change it?
Even though Song Shimiao was burning with curiosity, hearing Ye Wu put it that way made her drop the line of questioning.