For The Rest Of Our Life – Chapter 38

I wish to be with you

Xiao Wanqing’s uplifted profile and jawline, along with her tight and slender swan-like neck, frozen like a beautiful painting under the warm, dim light. For a few seconds, Lin Xian stared blankly at Xiao Wanqing, her mind in a daze, as if only a raging flame and a repeated echo of “Aunt Xiao, she likes women! She likes women!” remained.

Afterward, her rationality gradually returned, and her thoughts began to diverge…

Yes, thinking about it, many things seemed to make sense now…

Suddenly, she recalled the year when she was eleven, accompanying her mother to offer condolences. She inadvertently witnessed an argument behind the funeral parlor between Xiao Wanqing and a young woman who was clearly pregnant.

Years had passed, and Lin Xian couldn’t remember the woman’s specific features, but the painful sorrow on her face was etched in her memory. Because, as a young girl back then, she had never seen such a complex and sorrowful expression before.

The woman tightly grasped Xiao Wanqing’s delicate wrists, her eyes as red as rabbits, and her nose flushed. Choking with tears, she said to Xiao Wanqing, “It’s my fault.”

Xiao Wanqing, who should have been the most sorrowful person, seemed much calmer than her. Dressed in mourning attire, her figure was so slender that it seemed a gust of wind could blow her away. Despite her frail appearance, her posture was straight. She silently gazed at the woman in front of her, her pale face displaying an air of indifference. When the woman could no longer speak through her sobs, Xiao Wanqing slowly pulled away the woman’s hand clenching her wrist, asking her impassively, “Are you done speaking?”

“Go away. I don’t want to see you.” Her tone was calm and emotionless, so much so that Lin Xian thought Xiao Wanqing must be indifferent or even disgusted with the woman.

However, shortly after the woman helplessly turned away and left, Xiao Wanqing seemed to lose strength. She slowly and powerlessly crouched down. Clasping her hands around herself, she buried her head in her knees, crying in a restrained and mournful manner.

Witnessing this scene from the shadows, Lin Xian inexplicably felt a tingling sensation in her nose, tears streaming down her face.

For many years, Lin Xian occasionally recalled this incident, thinking it was probably a story of two women and an unfaithful man. But at this very moment, she suddenly realized…

As it turns out, the story, from beginning to end, only involved those two women…

She should have been overjoyed. If Aunt Xiao liked women, could she possibly harbor some expectations?

However, she couldn’t find it in herself to smile.

She just wanted to break through the layers of mist in time, return to Xiao Wanqing, who became an orphan overnight, return to Xiao Wanqing, who needed support but had nowhere to turn, return to Xiao Wanqing, who buried her head in crying but could only wipe away her tears and pretend nothing had happened, and hug her.

She wanted to hug her.

Why didn’t she step out and extend her arms to embrace her back then?

The initial joy was now overshadowed by heartache. Lin Xian gazed at Xiao Wanqing, who wore her usual gentle and smiling face. For a moment, her throat felt choked, and there seemed to be a thousand words she wanted to express. In the end, all she could murmur was, “Aunt Xiao…”

After finishing the contents of her glass, Xiao Wanqing glanced over the stunned crowd, her features soft and her smile warm. Standing up, she said, “You all continue to have fun. I’ll go make the final sweet soup for you to sober up.”

As the chairs were pulled apart, and the legs of the chairs were shifted, producing a “thud” against the floor, Tang Mo and Chen Zhi suddenly seemed to wake up as if from a deep dream. The two of them synchronized their movements, shaking their heads and rubbing their cheeks.

Tang Mo exclaimed, “Did I just learn something incredible!”

Lin Xian remained silent, watching Xiao Wanqing depart, biting her lip without uttering a word.

Shi Man grinned like a successful little fox that had just stolen something. With her hands supporting her chin, she fixed her gaze on Lin Xian, ignoring Tang Mo’s astonished inquiry. Instead, she asked, “Anyone else wants to continue this game?”

Chen Zhi and Tang Mo exchanged a glance, suddenly getting excited. “What’s going on? Is there more to drink? Who is it? Who is it?” In an instant, they even began to question their own orientations.

Except for the initial surprise when Shi Man proposed the challenge and raised her glass to finish it, Xia Zhijin had been deep in thought, her expression unreadable. Now, as she saw Chen Zhi and Tang Mo directing their suspicious gazes at her, she just calmly glanced back at them, distancing herself from the situation, “Did you forget? I didn’t participate in this game.”

Oh, right!

Everyone’s gaze instantly converged on Lin Xian.

Lin Xian lifted her eyes to look at Shi Man, who innocently blinked at her, wearing a knowingly ambiguous expression. Lin Xian chuckled softly, casually filled a glass with wine, and said, “It’s me.” Then, amidst everyone’s exclamations, she also downed the drink in one gulp.

Chen Zhi and Tang Mo were already startled by this consecutive coming out of the closet, adrenaline rushing. One on each side, Chen Zhi grabbed Shi Man, Tang Mo grabbed Lin Xian, and they bombarded them with questions in unison, “You’ve hidden it so well! Do you currently have a partner? Is there someone you like? Are they good-looking? Is it like those lily novels with a busty older sister? Or a cute loli?”

As Chen Zhi asked about having someone they liked, Shi Man’s gaze swept over Xia Zhijin. Xia Zhijin met her eyes for a moment and then casually looked away. Shi Man’s eyes slightly darkened, and she also averted her gaze. Turning back, she playfully responded to Chen Zhi, “Are we not playing Truth or Dare now?”

Chen Zhi and Tang Mo grumbled for a while but eventually spared them from further questioning.

After the initial excitement, Chen Zhi became more serious, hesitated for a moment, and finally tactfully advised, “Next time, when it comes to others, maybe you shouldn’t be so honest. Mo Mo and I are more accepting, but I’m afraid others might…”

Lin Xian nodded, lightly tapped Chen Zhi’s hand, and said with a smile, “Of course, we understand. It’s because it’s you two that we can feel at ease and be so open.”

Chen Zhi felt a warm sensation in her heart, moved by Lin Xian’s trust.

Tang Mo, still carefully recalling everything that had just happened, couldn’t help but think of Xiao Wanqing’s calm demeanor and extraordinary profile when she silently drank her cup in one gulp. Suddenly, she sighed and remarked, “Aunt Xiao is gay, huh? I feel like, if it’s someone like Aunt Xiao, I’d be willing to bend for her.”

Shi Man burst into laughter with a “puchi” sound. Lin Xian immediately raised an eyebrow, playfully showing her claws, and said bluntly, “You better walk away. What’s it got to do with you?”

Tang Mo, discontented, retorted, “Why wouldn’t it be my business? Come to think of it, I’ve never liked boys either. Who’s to say I might not like girls too?”

Lin Xian countered, “Then Aunt Xiao has nothing to do with you. Find someone else to bend for.”

Shi Man casually opened a beer, didn’t bother with a cup, took a sip from the can, and said with profound meaning, “Yeah, Mo Mo, don’t think too much. Even if there’s something real, it’s about someone else having the advantage of being close to the water’s edge to get the moon.”

Tang Mo, annoyed, said, “What’s with all of you and your implications!”

Chen Zhi added, “I think what they mean is probably that they don’t fancy you…” She shifted her gaze and changed the subject, saying, “Let’s continue playing the game.” She wanted to dig up more juicy details! Today was truly exhilarating. She refused to believe that she wouldn’t have the chance to ask Shi Man and Lin Xian if they currently had someone they liked.

They played for who knows how long until Lin Xian realized it had been a while since Xiao Wanqing went to the kitchen. Thinking of finishing the round of the game and finding Xiao Wanqing in the kitchen, the lights in the dining room suddenly went out.

“Ah…” Tang Mo, with a small courage, unprepared for this, reflexively screamed.

“Don’t be scared, it might be a circuit breaker,” Lin Xian quickly reassured her. She pushed back her chair, stood up, ready to go out and check on Xiao Wanqing.

However, as soon as she stood up and turned around, she saw at the entrance of the dining room, tiny, numerous candle lights flickering. Xiao Wanqing’s soft and beautiful face gradually became apparent in the firelight, gentle and charming.

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…” The voice that Lin Xian had once heard through the speaker of her phone in a foreign language, a voice that had captivated her, was now playing in her ears, real and clear.

It was Xiao Wanqing, holding a chocolate cake adorned with candles in her hands, lightly singing and smiling as she walked step by step towards Lin Xian.

Shi Man, Xia Zhijin, Chen Zhi, and Tang Mo quickly caught on, gently clapping their hands and joining in with Xiao Wanqing’s singing, collectively wishing, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”

“Xianxian, happy birthday.” Xiao Wanqing finally reached Lin Xian, standing in front of her.

Lin Xian looked up to meet Xiao Wanqing’s eyes, observing the gentle, watery gaze, and seeing a faint reflection of herself in those eyes.

She thought, if possible, she would willingly stay here for a long time…

“Aunt Xiao…” She was already so joyful that, besides repeatedly calling Xiao Wanqing, she didn’t know how to express the surging emotions about to overflow within her.

“Make a wish and blow out the candles.” Xiao Wanqing whispered.

Lin Xian gazed steadily at this remarkable woman in front of her. After a moment, she lowered her long lashes, closed her eyes, and clasped her hands together. In her heart, she sincerely made an adult wish at the age of eighteen.

“I wish to be with you.”

She opened her eyes and blew out the flickering candles. The dining room plunged into darkness once again. However, this time, no one panicked, and no one was afraid.

The darkness blurred everything, also concealing the fiery affection in Lin Xian’s eyes. In a soft and gentle voice, she asked Xiao Wanqing, “Aunt Xiao, do you think my wish will come true?”

Xiao Wanqing’s clear and pleasant voice, with a hint of a smile, answered her, “The answer is in the gift I gave you.”

The clever Chen Zhi, hearing this, quickly and deftly ran outside in the dark to help Lin Xian bring in the gift that Xiao Wanqing presented after her lecture.

During a break, Xiao Wanqing went forward, placed the cake on the dining table, and then walked to the side, slightly fumbling. Her fingers skillfully pressed a switch. Suddenly, it was as if the dark night had parted its clouds to reveal a myriad of stars. The room was ablaze with brilliance, shining like a galaxy.

It was a starry sky projection lamp…

Under the starry sky, amidst the surprised cheers of Chen Zhi and Tang Mo, Xiao Wanqing’s eyes softened, and she smiled as she looked at Lin Xian, saying, “Open it and take a look.”

Lin Xian couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her heart.

She unwrapped the exquisite packaging of the gift, and what gradually came into view were six big characters – “生活，如你所願” (Life, as you wish) — it was the newest commemorative edition of the classic book by the author Yu Yao, the one she liked so much. The book that she had complained about not being able to get a lecture ticket for.

She flipped open the cover, and on the title page was a personally handwritten message from Yu Yao, who was known for never signing autographs:

Lin Xian, happy birthday.

Everything will be as you wish.

Yu Yao.

She raised her gaze and saw Xiao Wanqing’s smiling eyes, even more brilliant and radiant than the starlight.

The author has something to say:

Lin Xian: Whine, whine, whine, you promised me! You can’t back out now.

Hahaha, games can be played like this, but not everyone has Shi Man’s courage—first kicking her own closet and then forcefully kicking other people’s closet.

Shi Man’s strategy is: no destruction, no creation.