Packing up their belongings, Song Shimiao and Ye Wu headed out together. The two of them were wearing matching dresses of the same color family, right down to their coordinated accessories. Standing side by side, anyone at a glance would immediately know they were a pair.
Shimiao had noticed earlier that their jewelry box contained many matching sets of accessories, making it obvious that the two of them frequently went out looking like this.
Shimiao looked down at herself, then glanced over at Ye Wu, feeling somewhat self-conscious.
Ye Wu quietly watched Shimiao, who was sneaking sideways glances at her. A trace of amusement flickered in Ye Wu’s eyes before she calmly looked away just as Shimiao turned back to catch her.
Naturally, Ye Wu drove them out. Shimiao specifically glanced at the car brand emblem and widened her eyes slightly.
Just how did you make this much money? Did you go rob a bank? Shimiao turned her head toward Ye Wu, her expression far more shocked than it had been when she first learned she was married to Ye Wu.
Neither of their families had started with much; while their backgrounds were reasonably decent, there certainly hadn’t been any major financial scaffolding or familial support. Relying purely on a regular salary, even with an annual income of a million, buying a house just a few years after graduation would be practically impossible.
Is that house we live in bought, or rented? Shimiao suddenly realized this crucial question.
Though the apartment she and Ye Wu shared wasn’t exceptionally massive, it was still significantly larger than Shimiao’s original home. By visual estimation, it had to be around 150 to 160 square meters, structured as a single apartment per floor.
Observing the surrounding neighborhood after driving out of the garage, Shimiao quickly assessed the district’s property values. Even though she was only a high school student, she was well aware that real estate in this area was anything but cheap.
Bought. Paid in full.
Shimiao gasped sharply. So, what on earth do we actually do for a living?
She felt a bubbling sense of happiness regarding her future wealth, paired with a lingering thread of unease.
Don’t ask too many questions. Leave a bit of anticipation for your own future; isn’t knowing that you’re definitely going to strike it rich enough?
But how do you know how long I’ll be staying here? I’m bound to find out what your job is anyway.
I write novels in my spare time and sold the copyright. As for the rest, I’m not telling you.
Shimiao: ……
Shimiao’s eyes widened.
Am I really not just being financially supported by you? Shimiao asked earnestly.
No, Ye Wu said, looking slightly exasperated. With how competitive and proud you are, don’t you know your own personality?
Although Ye Wu herself was quite competitive, when compared side-by-side, Shimiao was definitely the more driven of the two. Ye Wu had always felt that if Shimiao hadn’t constantly loved to provoke and challenge her, she might not have pushed herself nearly as hard; after all, most of the time she secretly just wanted to lie back and do nothing at all.
Shimiao let out a sigh of relief.
While a life of zero labor sounded exceptionally pleasant, if she genuinely had to rely on someone else to support her, Shimiao still wouldn’t have been able to stomach it.
Leaning against the car window, she looked out at the passing scenery. Eight years had passed, yet the streets hadn’t changed as much as she had imagined. It was a familiar city, just as warm and nostalgic as she remembered.
Even though she had time-traveled, the actual sensation of being displaced in time wasn’t overwhelmingly strong.
Of course, that was probably because the moment she opened her eyes, a familiar face was right beside her.
Ye Wu’s parents hadn’t moved; they still lived in their old residential compound. Originally, Shimiao’s family had lived right in the apartment building directly above Ye Wu’s. However, Shimiao’s parents had moved away a few years ago, a fact Shimiao was aware of because her family had purchased a new home when she turned eighteen.
Shimiao had visited Ye Wu’s home countless times during their childhood, and every single visit followed the exact same routine: first dictating Chinese vocabulary, then reciting English words, followed inevitably by grinding through test practice papers. It could practically be classified as a psychological shadow over her youth.
Thinking back on it now, Shimiao figured that a major reason she and Ye Wu had become lifelong frenemies stemmed right from this.
Every single time Ye Wu invited her over, she always claimed it was just to hang out and play. But once inside, Shimiao would invariably find herself dragged into studying together. Who on earth would willingly sign up for that?! Yet, Shimiao fell for it over and over again! Terrified of Ye Wu’s strict parents, she hadn’t even dared to run away.
For some inexplicable reason, whenever Ye Wu said something, Shimiao would just believe it.
Consequently, Shimiao didn’t dare to complain now either. If she started complaining, Ye Wu would definitely mercilessly mock her for it.
Ye Wu parked the car, and Shimiao stepped out, taking a deep, nervous breath.
Am I supposed to call your parents ‘Dad and Mom’ too? Shimiao asked.
Mhm. Ye Wu nodded.
Got it.
Are you really this nervous? Ye Wu asked with a smile.
Shimiao shot a sidelong glance at Ye Wu. I’ve always been terrified of coming to your house, as if you didn’t already know that.
You don’t have to write practice papers anymore, Ye Wu said leisurely.
Shimiao didn’t want to dignify that with a response. This person clearly knew the exact reason why she dreaded coming over as a kid, yet still invited her anyway!
Ye Wu! She was simply too wicked!
The two of them walked upstairs together. Ye Wu punched in the passcode and pulled Shimiao inside.
We’re back.
Hearing no one in the living room, Ye Wu casually called out to announce their arrival. She pulled two pairs of slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed one pair right in front of Shimiao.
Shimiao changed into the slippers and closely followed at Ye Wu’s side.
Who could have ever predicted that one day, Ye Wu would actually become her primary source of security?
Moments later, Ye Wu’s parents emerged from their bedroom.
Hello, Dad, Mom, Shimiao said, forcing her best polite smile.
Mhm. They offered a brief nod, their attitudes distinctly cold and aloof.
To be honest, Shimiao couldn’t really tell whether they were happy to see her or not, but she didn’t mind in the least. She preferred this over being cornered into a lengthy interrogation.
Ye Wu glanced at her parents, then led Shimiao straight into her old bedroom. Just hang out in my room for now. Play with my tablet first, and I’ll take you out to buy a brand-new phone this afternoon.
To prevent the younger Shimiao from snooping into the future, Ye Wu had directly confiscated twenty-six-year-old Shimiao’s phone, keeping her safely insulated.
The tablet Ye Wu handed her was strictly for entertainment, pre-loaded entirely with casual software and games.
Shimiao had briefly thought about looking up lottery numbers or similar hacks, but ultimately decided against it.
Even without winning the lottery, she and Ye Wu were already quite wealthy; there was simply no need to dig for shortcuts elsewhere.
Although she loved to go toe-to-toe and argue with Ye Wu, listening to her advice for once didn’t hurt.
She initially considered browsing through the photo gallery, but stopped herself mid-motion.
This was Ye Wu’s private tablet, and the photo gallery fell squarely under personal privacy. Snooping around felt inappropriate; even if the twenty-six-year-old versions of them were legally married, the current her was still just eighteen.
Thinking about it still felt rather surreal.
During quiet moments of bedtime overthinking in the past, she used to daydream about time travel. Now that it had actually happened to her, she honestly didn’t quite know what to do with herself.
Should she look up the college entrance examination papers for her specific year?
Nah. Her moral standards were relatively high, plus she genuinely hoped to rely on her own capability to score higher than Ye Wu. Winning through cheating held zero personal satisfaction.
Pondering for a moment, Shimiao instead searched for an anime series she had been following.
Oh! It was already fully completed!
Once she traveled back to her own era, she would officially be the person who knew the ending way before the author did. Haha.
What your uncle means is that we should just introduce you and little Song as friends. Your cousin’s husband’s family isn’t entirely able to accept
Before Ye’s father could finish his sentence, Ye Wu let out a cold laugh.
If you guys don’t welcome us, you can just say it directly; we can easily skip this family dinner entirely. What does my romantic life have to do with my cousin’s husband’s family? They sure like sticking their noses into things that are none of their business, Ye Wu said irritably. Usually, you’re always trying to harp on how well Shimiao and I get along, pushing us to constantly help out our extended relatives. But the moment something like this comes up, you start making cutting remarks behind our backs?
What? Are Song Shimiao and I supposed to be total doormats?
Ye Wu pulled an envelope out of her bag, the monetary gift intended for the banquet, and pulled out a five-hundred-yuan bill, slamming it onto the table.
The two of us won’t be attending. When Shimiao and I got married, their side only gave five hundred. This wedding gift money is being returned to them, unspent and intact.
Ye Wu! Ye Mother frowned deeply. Making a scene like this doesn’t look good for anyone.
Did they think about how things would look when they were running their mouths?
People are getting married after all.
So what if they’re getting married? Is getting married some kind of rare, high-and-mighty achievement? Is marriage such an incredible milestone? Tell them not to bother sending us an invitation card for their wedding either. Neither of us will go, and frankly, it’s best if we just stop interacting altogether from now on.
They are your elders! The relationship between you and her is something most people still can’t accept. You have no idea. Whenever people ask about your situation outside, I literally don’t even know what to say. I can’t sleep a single night in peace.
Enough! Ye Wu cut them off mid-sentence, casting a nervous glance toward the bedroom door, terrified that Shimiao might overhear. Lowering her voice, she hissed, She and I have been together for so many years, and we’ve been married for three. No matter what you guys say, we can’t break up, so save your breath and stop saying useless things that only ruin everyone’s mood.
If people ask you, just tell them the unvarnished truth. Both she and I are exceptionally successful and capable; there’s nowhere we don’t measure up!
With how much money the two of us earn, you guys could easily retire early and enjoy life. The only reason you’re making yourselves miserable is that you’re trapping yourselves in your own mental loops. Anyone else would kill to live a life this comfortable.
Also, you can say whatever you want to me, but don’t you dare utter nonsense in front of her, Ye Wu warned coldly. Shimiao and I are leaving now. You guys go on to your dinner yourselves.
Are you really not going? Ye Mother took a deep, frustrated breath.
Not going. You expect me to show up after getting my face slapped like that? I’m not out of my mind. If people ask about us there, just tell them straight.
Ye Wu knocked softly on the bedroom door. Opening it, she found Shimiao sitting primly on the sofa, hugging the tablet and watching her anime. It had been ages since she last saw Shimiao look this well-behaved.
Are we leaving now? Shimiao turned her head to look at Ye Wu.
We aren’t going to the family banquet anymore. Is there anything specific you want to eat? We can grab something outside, and I’ll take you shopping this afternoon.
Shimiao blinked. Although a smile lingered on Ye Wu’s face, Shimiao could still faintly sense from her expression that something unpleasant had just transpired.
Twenty-six-year-old Ye Wu, wearing a displeased expression, looked remarkably similar to her eighteen-year-old self, though Shimiao chose not to pry.
Ye Wu had told her to stay safely in the room, which meant there were certain things she preferred not to let Shimiao know. Even if Shimiao asked, the other person likely wouldn’t tell her anyway.
You pick the place. I have no clue what good food is around nowadays anyway, Shimiao said, clicking the tablet dark and stowing it away.
Alright, Ye Wu nodded.
Wait, isn’t it still way too early for lunch? Shimiao checked the time; it was only 9:30 AM.
Then we’ll just wander around outside for a bit first. We don’t have anything pressing to do today anyway.
Shimiao followed Ye Wu out of the bedroom, offering a stiff, polite greeting to Ye Wu’s parents. Despite trying her absolute best to appear poised and graceful, her hands still awkwardly hovered, unsure of where to place them.
She quickly changed into her shoes and followed Ye Wu out the door.
Have your parents really still not accepted us even after three years of marriage? Shimiao sighed softly.
Their capacity for acceptance really isn’t as good as yours.
Shimiao: ……