Still Have This Side – Chapter 71

by Little Panda

Today’s aunties are quite different.

They now have girlfriends.

Their girlfriends are exactly the kind of people they like.

Is there anything better than this in the world? No, there isn’t.

They got back into the car, ready to pick up Qiu Zimin from school.

When they arrived at the entrance of Fengyi Elementary School, the dismissal bell hadn’t rung yet. Only the occasional laughter from children in PE class could be heard from the school.

The small vendors around had already set up early. Some parents were waiting at the gate, while others were browsing snacks at the stalls, creating a peaceful scene.

Qiu Baiyu said, “Let’s go get something to eat. I haven’t had starch sausage in a long time.”

Yi Wanyue looked at her.

Qiu Baiyu smiled and said, “I’m happy today, so I want to indulge a bit.”

Yi Wanyue couldn’t help but smile too.

How could she not be happy? The person she cared for was right by her side, and from now on, they would be together as lovers.

Just thinking about it made her incredibly happy.

She openly embraced Qiu Baiyu’s waist and said, “I’m so happy too.”

She was happy because they could talk freely, without needing to constantly use the shield.

She was happy because her lover was Qiu Baiyu.

She was happy because the weather today was beautiful.

Everything in the world became radiant and brilliant in the instant Qiu Baiyu responded to her.

“But I need to ask the doctor first.”

“?”

“She said you can eat it only when she says you can eat it.”

Yi Wanyue spoke with utmost seriousness. Seeing her like this, Qiu Baiyu couldn’t help but laugh: “Do we need to be so strict?”

“We do.”

Yi Wanyue had already taken out her phone to message the doctor, asking if they had time.

“Your health is the most important.”

Hearing this, Qiu Baiyu had no more objections.

Her Wanyue always kept her in mind, wishing for her safety and health.

“Alright, I’ll do as you say,” she said in an utterly doting tone.

Five minutes later, the two of them stood at the school gate eating starch sausages, waiting for the child while they ate.

Qiu Baiyu remembered something and spoke up: “You mentioned Jiang Shen’s company earlier. What’s going on with his company?”

The ways of heaven are cyclical, has that good-for-nothing crazy guy finally received his punishment?

Yi Wanyue took a bite of the starch sausage covered in ketchup and salad dressing.

“His company is about to be acquired.”

“?”

“By my family’s company.”

“???”

Yi Wanyue’s eyes curved into a smile: “It’s my sister’s doing.”

Yi Aiyun had never liked Jiang Shen.

Not only because he was arrogant and disrespectful, but also because he managed to own the best company despite neglecting his proper duties.

He didn’t take his work seriously, his eyes full of romantic affairs. Why should someone like him have a company that keeps getting better and better?

Why should their Yi family have to form a marriage alliance with someone like him and become his support?

Even though her sister was the female lead, she still worked hard for her dreams, never slacking in her piano practice. Why should the male lead be able to do nothing?

Just because he’s the male lead, the child of fortune?

She was clearly more hardworking and serious, managing the family business to be flourishing day by day. Yet in the original plot, after the two families’ marriage alliance, only Jiang Shen’s company soared, while the Yi family became merely a passing symbol.

She wasn’t resigned to this. She wouldn’t allow it.

She was determined to challenge this child of fortune.

Jiang Shen had the male lead’s halo, but her sister had one too. Yi Wanyue’s good fortune could even be used for their Yi family’s benefit.

She wanted to see if, under equal fortunate circumstances, a man who neglects his proper duties could remain undefeated forever.

Now the answer had appeared.

This arrogant, conceited man who couldn’t understand human speech had lost.

She successfully swallowed up this business, and the Yi family’s commercial territory expanded once again.

At the same time, she also solved the problem of an annoying suitor for her sister, which couldn’t be better.

Returning to reality from her thoughts, Yi Wanyue looked up at the sky and said, “My sister has always been a person with lofty ambitions since childhood, ambitious and clever, truly having a great business mind.”

She recalled the days of studying at home with her sister, and how she herself could never seem to learn.

Compared to her sister, she always seemed rather slow.

The person beside her suddenly leaned closer, gently touching her head with theirs: “Our Wanyue is also very smart, with great artistic talent.”

“You sisters each have your own strengths, both of you are impressive.”

She keenly caught the momentary subtle melancholy in Yi Wanyue.

So she was here, telling her: You’re also great, you’re both great.

Hearing this, Yi Wanyue’s lips curved into a smile, radiant and moving: “Yes, we’re both impressive.”

Everyone has their own strengths, there’s no need for comparison.

No matter how they change, they will always be each other’s family and will love each other forever.

“Our Baiyu is also great,” she said, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Qiu Baiyu, “Our Baiyu has done amazingly well to persist in protecting Xiaomin until today.”

Never admitting defeat, never compromising, never hurting any kind person.

This is the Qiu Baiyu she likes, gentle yet strong.

Meeting her is her good fortune.

“Saving Xiaomin is also saving my younger self,” Qiu Baiyu said.

Qiu Zimin was the first person she met in this world, her first friend who wasn’t a peer, and also a mirror that made her confront her childhood life.

The same lack of parental love.

The same experience of being bullied at school.

The same cautiousness, timidness and insecurity.

If their childhoods were the same, why couldn’t their futures be the same?

She could have her grandmother’s love, and Qiu Zimin could have her love.

She could be confident and strong, and Qiu Zimin could be confident and strong too.

Being a supporting character in someone else’s story is meaningless. They should live their own lives, be the protagonists of their own stories — let all those lousy plot lines go to hell!

“Oh right, when you said earlier that Jiang Shen was busy, were you referring to this?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me directly at that time?”

“Because I wanted to wait until the dust had settled before telling you.”

“That makes sense, it’s better to be cautious.”

Announcing in advance creates expectations. If something unexpected happens in the meantime, unfulfilled expectations turn into disappointment.

Yi Wanyue smiled and put her arm around her waist.

“Yes, it’s better to be cautious. So from today on, I should call you, girlfriend~”

Hearing her call herself that, Qiu Baiyu felt sweetness in her heart, as if a flower had bloomed, its sweet nectar overflowing her heart.

Today is truly a good day.

“Whatever my Wanyue says goes.”

“Then… can we make it public on my friend circle in the next few days?”

“Hm?”

“I want others to see, especially certain people.”

“Who?”

“Those men who’ve been pursuing me.”

Qiu Baiyu couldn’t help but laugh: “Is this considered showing off our love right in front of them?”

Yi Wanyue smiled gently: “It does count.”

“But they brought this upon themselves.”

It was they who first ignored her rejections.

It was they who believed their deep affection, as long as they put in effort, could move her, regardless of whether she accepted or not.

Since that’s the case, why should she be polite?

They turned a deaf ear to her rejections when she was single. Now that she has a girlfriend, she wants to see how they’ll continue their deep affection.

Qiu Baiyu had no objections.

However, she had one question.

“Your mother and sister… will they be able to accept this?”

She herself had no family concerns, but Yi Wanyue was different.

Although Yi Huayu and Yi Aiyun were open-minded about the system issue, it didn’t mean they were open-minded about everything.

Now that their family’s child has bent (a colloquial term for being gay), what if her mother and sister couldn’t accept it?

But Yi Wanyue smiled calmly: “Don’t worry.”

“My sister said you’re a very good person.”

Qiu Baiyu: “?”

She was stunned for a moment: “Your sister said? Your sister already knows?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Yi Wanyue started to smile.

That was the sister with whom she could talk about anything.

Tonight, the three of them ate dinner out.

Because the two adults were very happy, feeling that today was a day worth celebrating.

Although Qiu Zimin didn’t understand why, she still got into the car with great joy and excitement.

The table was filled with dishes they all loved.

Qiu Zimin ate happily.

She said she was hungry and wanted to eat an extra bowl of rice today.

Then, as usual, she would chat with her aunties about her life at school – the happy times, the unhappy times, the ordinary days, and the days full of surprises. Every day was different.

Most importantly, no one was bullying her anymore.

“Auntie, our school is having a performance soon, and I volunteered to play the piano,” she said.

Qiu Baiyu used her chopsticks to put some of Zimin’s favorite food into her bowl, and nodded approvingly upon hearing this: “Very good.”

Yi Wanyue said with a beaming smile: “Then you’ll need to practice piano with auntie soon, okay?”

Qiu Zimin nodded, saying “mm-hmm” repeatedly.

The two adults couldn’t help but feel gratified as they looked at her.

The once timid and shy child who didn’t dare express herself had now transformed and grown up.

She’s now willing to embrace the world, unafraid to showcase herself proactively, confident and cheerful every day – it’s truly wonderful.

“Eat more, practicing piano is hard work.”

Qiu Baiyu turned and used her chopsticks to put more meat in Qiu Zimin’s bowl.

Then, she did the same for Yi Wanyue.

“Auntie Wanyue also needs to practice piano, so Auntie Wanyue should eat more too.”

Yi Wanyue agreed with a smile, extending her chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for her as well, but instead of putting it in her bowl, she openly brought it to her lips.

“Our Auntie Baiyu should eat more too.”

Her gaze was tender and affectionate.

Qiu Baiyu found it hard to refuse and very naturally opened her mouth to take a bite.

Yi Wanyue’s desire to feed instantly surged up again, and she began actively and enthusiastically feeding her.

Openly and very naturally.

“Try some of this dish, it’s delicious.”

“You should eat some eggs too, you need to replenish your protein.”

“This meat is also tasty, eat more, it’s good for your health.”

Qiu Zimin sat in her own seat, watching wide-eyed as Auntie Wanyue kept feeding Auntie Baiyu, almost turning her into a big hamster.

She saw Qiu Baiyu raise her hand to block Yi Wanyue’s, using a silent gesture to signal her to slow down.

Then she saw Yi Wanyue obediently withdraw her hand, while Qiu Baiyu slowly and deliberately chewed what was in her mouth, followed by a sip of soup. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. She moved the soup bowl in front of Yi Wanyue, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and excitedly brought it to Yi Wanyue’s lips, saying: “This soup is delicious, you must try it.”

Yi Wanyue didn’t stand on ceremony, drinking from the spoon Qiu Baiyu offered. She even helped tuck Qiu Baiyu’s hair behind her ear and affectionately stroked her face.

Qiu Zimin just sat there holding her chopsticks, watching them.

It was strange.

Her aunties were very different today.

At least, they had never been like this in front of her before.

But she had seen situations like this on TV—

“Auntie,” she said.

Holding her chopsticks and looking at the two of them, her voice innocent and childlike.

“Are you two dating now?”