Auntie Wu Meets Liu Qianxiu
Mu Wan understood why Auntie Wu had asked that question.
Her mother had also become pregnant before marriage, and afterward she had spent many years raising her daughter alone.
Mu Wan could resemble her mother in every other way, but Auntie Wu did not want her to resemble her in that particular respect.
In truth, no matter what happened, Mu Wan knew she would never end up exactly like her mother. She had already discussed this with Lin Wei. Marriage and having children were simply things she allowed to happen naturally.
But she did not explain any of that.
Instead, she held her hand out in front of Auntie Wu and announced dramatically,
“Ta-da! He only proposed a few days ago. We can take things slowly.”
The ring on her finger was beautiful—antique, striking, and clearly extremely valuable. It suited Mu Wan perfectly.
Auntie Wu looked at the ring and finally relaxed. She immediately felt that perhaps she had been worrying too much. The young couple had their own pace.
Smiling, she said, “Since you're pregnant, go outside and rest. I'll cook.”
Mu Wan could not help much anyway. The kitchen was small, and staying there would only get in Auntie Wu's way.
She went into the living room and played with her phone for a while.
Then she heard a knock at the door.
Her expression immediately brightened.
She put down her phone and practically bounced over to open it.
The moment the door opened, Liu Qianxiu stood outside.
The cool air from the living room rushed past Mu Wan as she threw herself into his arms.
He caught her naturally.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, and he carried her inside while still holding her.
“Auntie Wu is cooking,” Mu Wan said, pointing toward the kitchen. “Dinner will be ready soon.”
Perhaps because she felt embarrassed, Auntie Wu did not come out even after hearing them enter.
Liu Qianxiu glanced toward the kitchen, then lowered his head and kissed the corner of Mu Wan's mouth.
“I'll go help.”
“All right.”
Since Auntie Wu was too shy to come out, Liu Qianxiu should at least go over and greet her.
Mu Wan released him and accompanied him to the kitchen.
Auntie Wu had heard the sounds from outside.
Even without seeing them, she could sense the sweetness between the young couple. Feeling slightly embarrassed, she had stayed in the kitchen.
She had not expected the two of them to appear together at the doorway moments later.
Auntie Wu had seen Liu Qianxiu once before, when he had gone to the Mu residence looking for Mu Wan.
But she had only seen him from a distance.
All she remembered was that he was tall and lean, with an aristocratic bearing that made it obvious he was no ordinary man.
Seeing him up close now, she had not expected him to be quite this handsome.
He looked almost like an immortal from a painting. His brows and eyes carried the misty tranquility of distant mountains. Standing there tall and slender, he seemed completely untouched by the ordinary smoke and warmth of everyday life.
“Auntie Wu, this is Liu Qianxiu. Liu Qianxiu, this is Auntie Wu.”
Mu Wan stood behind Liu Qianxiu with her arms around his shoulders, only her fluffy head peeking out as she introduced them.
Liu Qianxiu greeted Auntie Wu politely.
“Oh, oh.”
Auntie Wu answered twice in a fluster. Her hands were busy, and she smiled awkwardly.
“You two wait outside. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Before she had even finished speaking, Liu Qianxiu had already stepped into the kitchen.
His long, well-defined fingers rolled up his sleeves.
His voice was as cool and composed as his demeanor.
“Let me.”
With that, he took the lotus root from her hands.
There was still mud clinging to it.
Liu Qianxiu used a knife to clean the surface while rinsing it beneath running water. The lotus root gradually became pale and clean.
His own long fingers were just as fair, almost no less white than the lotus root itself.
Even while doing something so ordinary, he somehow remained untouched by the mundane.
Auntie Wu tried to take it back.
From outside the kitchen, Mu Wan laughed.
“It's fine. He knows how to cook. He makes all our meals at home.”
Liu Qianxiu raised his eyes toward her.
Mu Wan met his gaze.
She saw a faint light in his eyes.
Almost without thinking, she walked over, tugged lightly at the hem of his shirt, tilted her head, and asked,
“Right?”
“Mm.”
After washing the lotus root clean, Liu Qianxiu let her continue holding onto his clothes as he picked up the knife and began slicing it.
Their interaction was warm and sweet.
Love seemed to linger at the corners of both their eyes.
Watching them, Auntie Wu gradually relaxed.
Relief and happiness settled into her heart.
After dinner, Auntie Wu prepared to leave.
It was not dark yet, and she intended to take the bus home.
Mu Wan and Liu Qianxiu accompanied her downstairs.
Then Liu Qianxiu asked Uncle Li to drive her home.
Auntie Wu refused repeatedly.
In the end, Mu Wan personally guided her into the car, closed the door, and waved goodbye.
Uncle Li lowered the window.
Auntie Wu looked at the two people standing outside.
Her heart felt both happy and satisfied.
The car drove out of the neighborhood.
Mu Wan watched until it disappeared.
Darkness had begun settling over the sky.
Street vendors were setting up their stalls along the road, filling the neighborhood with the warm, lively atmosphere of ordinary life.
Liu Qianxiu seemed strangely out of place amid all that bustle.
Mu Wan walked over to him.
He took her hand.
His palm was slightly cool and dry.
“Let's go home,” Mu Wan said with a smile.
September nights were still hot and humid.
By the time they walked from the neighborhood entrance back to the apartment, a thin layer of sweat had formed on Mu Wan's skin.
Once they got home, she immediately took off her clothes and went into the bathroom.
After she finished showering, Liu Qianxiu took his things and went in as well.
Liu Qianxiu's apartment had some of Mu Wan's clothes.
Mu Wan's apartment now had some of his.
There was no proper place in her apartment for them to sit and read, so after showering, the two of them went to the bedroom early.
— To be continued in Part 2 —
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