When eighteen-year-old Ye Wu looked at eighteen-year-old Song Shimiao, she always felt that everything about her was annoying.
When twenty-six-year-old Ye Wu looked at eighteen-year-old Song Shimiao, she always felt that everything about her was adorable and that she was genuinely so fun to tease. Why hadn’t she noticed that before? No, she probably had noticed, otherwise she wouldn’t have enjoyed teasing her so much.
Mindful of the fact that she wasn’t actually together with Song Shimiao yet, Ye Wu kept all her movements restrained and didn’t choose any overly intimate poses when they took pictures.
Even so, since it was a couple’s photoshoot, the distance between the two of them was still too close, making Song Shimiao feel rather self-conscious.
A trace of restlessness stirred in Song Shimiao’s heart. Clearly, it wasn’t like she had never taken photos with other people before, she could always be open and natural with others. But the moment she knew Ye Wu was her future wife… she felt completely at ease in her own skin, or rather, entirely awkward and ill at ease.
After taking the photos, Song Shimiao let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Standing off to the side, she watched Ye Wu communicate with the photographer. Realizing they might be talking for a while, Song Shimiao randomly found a place to sit down and stared blankly at the trees and grass not far away.
Then, she pulled out her phone.
Staring at the empty phone screen for a moment, Song Shimiao downloaded a vocabulary-memorization app and started learning words.
When Ye Wu returned and saw Song Shimiao memorizing vocabulary, she fell silent for a second and then let out a light laugh. Every time Song Shimiao needed to calm down, she would start memorizing words, a habit she still had at twenty-six, though she rarely needed to use it nowadays because Ye Wu usually found other ways to help her calm down.
Let’s go, Ye Wu said.
Mm, Song Shimiao snapped back to her senses, put her phone away, and followed right by Ye Wu’s side.
The two of them left the park and went to buy milk tea.
What do you guys usually do when you go shopping? Song Shimiao asked with a hint of curiosity. Do you just wander around aimlessly?
Isn’t shopping just wandering around aimlessly?
Song Shimiao: …
This left Song Shimiao with no room for argument.
If two people like each other, even wandering around aimlessly is a lot of fun, Ye Wu sighed, her tone half-true and half-joking. But right now, it seems like you really hate me… Ah, what a tough position for you.
Hearing this, Song Shimiao glanced sideways at Ye Wu, refusing to fall for it. She could tell the other person was talking nonsense just to tease her.
Though they were sworn enemies, Song Shimiao didn’t feel like her feelings for Ye Wu had reached the level of genuine hatred, at most, she found her a bit annoying.
However, thinking about the fact that you’ll be chasing me later makes me want to smile.
Hearing Ye Wu bring this up again, Song Shimiao’s face darkened: It definitely would have been you chasing me!
You even wrote me a love letter before. Want me to show it to you?
Song Shimiao’s eyes widened.
No way. If you memorize it, you might go back and rewrite it from memory, and that wouldn’t do.
Song Shimiao: …
I think there wasn’t one at all.
There is. Let me show you the cover. Ye Wu took out her phone and started scrolling through her photos.
Song Shimiao nervously looked at Ye Wu, took a large gulp of milk tea, and froze when she saw the phone handed out to her.
There were several envelopes, and on each one, three words were written: To Ye Wu, complete with little pink flowers drawn around them.
You should recognize your own handwriting, Ye Wu said with a smile.
Song Shimiao still stubbornly kept up a front: It’s just an envelope. Who knows what’s actually inside?
What kind of envelope needs to have flowers drawn on it? Ye Wu dragged out her tone playfully.
Maybe you drew them yourself, Song Shimiao analyzed with a completely straight face.
With a look of witty amusement, Ye Wu fell silent for a few seconds before breaking into a smile: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, I drew them myself.
Song Shimiao: …
Hearing Ye Wu’s laughter, Song Shimiao quickly walked ahead by a few steps, trying to create some distance, though Ye Wu followed closely behind.
She cast a sidelong glance at Ye Wu.
So annoying! Ye Wu!
Why are you still so childish even at twenty-six! Song Shimiao couldn’t understand.
Only childish people pretend to be mature. Ye Wu didn’t explicitly name names, but the look in her eyes made it clear who she was hinting at.
I am genuinely mature, not pretending to be mature, Song Shimiao emphasized.
I vaguely remember that at eighteen, you used to jump up and down. Is that mature? Is that mature? After saying this, Ye Wu gave Song Shimiao a profound, meaningful look. I saw right through your disguise just now. You’re obviously just feeling shy and awkward because I’m twenty-six now.
Song Shimiao: …
Looking at Song Shimiao’s stiff expression, Ye Wu gleefully reached out and pinched Song Shimiao’s cheek.
Just be like you always were. Why are you acting all stiff and reserved? Ye Wu said.
Startled by Ye Wu’s sudden move, Song Shimiao stared at her with wide eyes.
You, how can you just go around putting your hands on people!
Ye Wu stretched out both hands and pinched both sides of Song Shimiao’s face.
Song Shimiao stared into Ye Wu’s face. To be honest, she did feel a bit shy, but looking at a Ye Wu who was much more mature yet still so intimately familiar, she suddenly reached out and pinched Ye Wu’s cheek right back.
Passersby curiously glanced over at them. Delighted by the cheek-pinching, Ye Wu quickly withdrew her hands and swiftly batted away the hand still hanging onto her own face.
Song Shimiao took a deep breath.
Although she would bicker with Ye Wu in class, she generally didn’t do it out in public; after all, she cared about her reputation.
Never in her wildest dreams had she expected to be flustered into submission by Ye Wu right here.
Song Shimiao glanced at Ye Wu again, only to find that this person was smiling even more brightly than before.
Dinner wasn’t eaten outside; Ye Wu cooked it herself. Song Shimiao never expected that Ye Wu would actually know how to cook.
You’re not messing with me, are you? Song Shimiao asked seriously.
Ye Wu glanced at Song Shimiao and rolled her eyes unamused: You’re currently inhabiting my wife’s body. Do you really think I’d harm my own wife?
Song Shimiao: …
That logic made sense, indeed, but Song Shimiao couldn’t help feeling a bit strange as a blush crept up her cheeks.
What my wife’s body! Clearly it’s her own body!
Yet, if she were to retort like that, it would sound even stranger, so Song Shimiao chose to remain silent.
Having gained eight years of life experience, Ye Wu’s skin had also gotten much thicker. How on earth could she say things like that with such a straight face… it made Song Shimiao too embarrassed to even listen.
Help me peel some potatoes, Ye Wu said, assigning a task to Song Shimiao.
Carrying the basin, Song Shimiao turned and walked out. She couldn’t stay alone with Ye Wu any longer; the woman seized every single opportunity to tease her.
Thanks, oh!
That annoying person called out from behind. Hearing that lively tone, Song Shimiao knew her reaction had once again brought immense satisfaction to the other woman.
Song Shimiao: …
Song Shimiao inexplicably recalled the saying, The person who understands you best might just be your enemy, though the word enemy here definitely needed a pair of quotation marks.
She sat down at the table and carefully began peeling the potato slices, though her eyes kept drifting toward the kitchen from time to time.
Even though Song Shimiao had her doubts, watching Ye Wu’s brisk, practiced movements, she had to admit that the woman indeed seemed to know how to cook.
How are the dishes I make when I grow up? Song Shimiao asked out of curiosity.
You can cook, I suppose, but our areas of expertise are different.
Ye Wu brought the necessary kitchen prep items over to the table as well.
What kind of different areas of expertise could there be? Song Shimiao asked, puzzled.
I like to tinker with things that are edible. You like to tinker with things that have a high experimental value.
Song Shimiao: …
Song Shimiao fell silent and gave Ye Wu a serious, searching look.
Are you insulting me?
Yes, Ye Wu nodded.
Song Shimiao took a deep breath: I don’t think what I cook is that terrible…
When her parents weren’t home, Song Shimiao would occasionally whip up some food for herself.
It’s terrible, Ye Wu said without showing an ounce of mercy. Though judging from the future, you probably won’t listen to my advice, I still think it’s better to give up early on in a field you’re unsuited for.
Looking at a silent but clearly unconvinced Song Shimiao, Ye Wu suddenly understood why Song Shimiao had spent so many years tirelessly striving and failing in the kitchen.
Ye Wu: …
If I’d known, I wouldn’t have said anything.
Is this what they mean by lifting a stone only to drop it on one’s own feet?