Chapter Sixteen: The Secondary Couple

"Ah!" Leng Zheng sat up abruptly and glanced at the clock—it was already eight in the morning. She was panting, gazing out the window, suddenly feeling the sunlight almost blinding.

"Awake?" Chu Yuxiu entered holding a bowl of century egg and pork congee, setting it on the nightstand. She poured Leng Zheng a glass of lemon water and handed it to her. "There, it was only a dream, not reality. Take your time. By the way, you made plans with Tang Shiying and Song Cijin to come here and hang out today. They should be here soon, so hurry and get ready."

Leng Zheng steadied herself, nodded, and took the water, sipping from it.

"Alright, my dear Yuyu," Leng Zheng replied with a nod.

"Good. By the way, last night you..." Chu Yuxiu hesitated, uncertain how to continue.

Leng Zheng nodded, closed her eyes, and leaned back against the headboard. "It's fine, it doesn't matter anymore."

"Xiao Zheng..." Chu Yuxiu looked at Leng Zheng with concern.

"It really doesn't matter. Let me get ready. You should go out first," Leng Zheng declined further conversation.

"Okay." Chu Yuxiu, used to this by now, left the room.

...

"Zheng-jie!" Tang Shiying burst in energetically, running to Leng Zheng's side.

"Be careful, Yingbao," Song Cijin called out worriedly from behind.

Leng Zheng looked at the young couple before her and smiled. "There you go again, flaunting your affection in front of me. Every time you visit, you show off."

"Zheng-jie, don’t be like that!" Tang Shiying buried her face in Leng Zheng’s shoulder, her cheeks turning red as an apple.

Leng Zheng fondly patted Tang Shiying’s head, then looked at Song Cijin. "Tsk, look at your sweetheart—so adorable. How about leaving her here with me for a while?"

"Zheng-jie, don’t you know how thin-skinned she is? Yet you keep teasing her?" Song Cijin laughed, sitting down on the sofa, his gaze soft and affectionate as he watched Tang Shiying.

"Tsk tsk, the way you look at her, it’s as if your eyes could wring out water," Leng Zheng remarked, a sudden pang of envy in her tone.

Tang Shiying kept her face buried in Leng Zheng’s shoulder, saying nothing.

"Alright, come on. Let’s go do some voice acting," Leng Zheng glanced at the two of them, feeling a distinct—and somewhat bitter—emotion.

"Alright," Song Cijin nodded, his eyes never leaving Tang Shiying.

"Let’s go, Yingbao," Song Cijin scooped Tang Shiying into his arms, looking at her with infinite tenderness.

Tang Shiying nodded, nestling her head against Song Cijin’s chest.

...

Song Cijin: "It began with a flutter of the heart and ended with heartache. Perhaps only at thirteen months, thirty-two days, twenty-five hours, sixty-one minutes, and sixty-one seconds… could you ever… belong to me."

Tang Shiying: "But… there is no thirteenth month, no thirty-second day, no twenty-fifth hour, and certainly no sixty-one minutes and sixty-one seconds… so… you never truly belonged to me…"

Leng Zheng: "Wishing you a bright future is too insincere. I hope you’re forever surrounded by admirers, yet never find someone true. I want you to think of… my kindness… every day and night…"

"As you… wish…"

"A golden age needs beauty to adorn it; but in troubled times… beauty must atone for sins…"

Together: "The sun shines brilliantly on the human world, the wind brushes the treetops, and in that moment, they are still in their youth."

"May the heavens bestow blessings and all taboos be swept away."

Leng Zheng: "At sixteen or seventeen, sometimes you don’t even know what you’re holding on to. It’s easy to lose sight of the road ahead."

Tang Shiying, Song Cijin: "A heavy fog descends, and in secret, I hide my love for you where none can see; when the mist lifts, the world will know I love you."

...

Tang Shiying: "X equals the unknown, and you equal the one in my heart."

Song Cijin: "So, it means my future is uncertain, but I am certain… my heart belongs to you alone."

PS: Ah! The side couple makes their entrance, and this one is truly special—ice. They’re inspired by a real couple I know, though I’ve changed a few things. Originally, they were meant to have their own book, but because I couldn’t delete the first ten thousand words I posted elsewhere, I turned them into a side storyline. You could say they’re my two daughters and three children. I’ll write an extra for this couple. There will be another chapter soon—see you in a bit~