MTMIO Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Brightly Mixing the Night Moon, Gently Gathering on the Stream

Trendy street district with buildings all in retro red brick houses, neon lights reflecting the lushness of the summer solstice branches, stretching along the entire street.

The door of a shop named “Lost Deer” at the end of the street was pulled open.

Soothing classical music spread gently like silk in the slightly cool air, interspersed with a few greetings of “Hello, Sister Deer” and “Hello, Boss Deer.”

The tall young woman entering the door was wearing a beige openwork cardigan layered over a pair of cropped jeans, and was walking towards the shop manager Chen Feifei in white canvas shoes.

Nodding in response to the greetings along the way, her fluffy chestnut medium-length hair slipped from her shoulders, setting off her fair skin like creamy jade.

The new bartender grabbed a waiter and asked in a low voice, “Who is that beauty?”

“That’s Boss Deer!” the waiter replied, remembering that he was new. “Oh, you haven’t seen her yet. She’s the other owner of this shop, the kind who invests money but doesn’t do the work. But she comes to the shop to lend a hand when she’s free. She’s probably been busier this year, so she hasn’t been coming as much.”

The bartender heard this and took a few more glances.

Lu You had already sat on the rotating high stool in front of the bar. Noticing this, she glanced over.

Her clear, bright eyes sparkled, and in the blink of an eye, a layer of coldness like the morning mist settled over them.

She turned the chair around, propping her long legs on the ground.

“Busy person, why do you have time to come to the shop today?” Chen Feifei asked while skillfully mixing a drink. “Don’t you have to tune the piano for the children?”

Lu You is a freelance piano tuner, taking orders entirely based on her mood. But at the end of last year, the parent of a piano student was particularly satisfied with her and recommended her to everyone, filling up her schedule for these two months and keeping her busy as a top.

“The last order today happened to be nearby, so I came over to take a look.”

“Then help out while you’re here,” Chen Feifei said, placing the mixed drink on a tray and pushing it in front of her with a flattering smile.

“Refuse to work,” Lu You said, pushing the tray back with her right hand.

Chen Feifei pressed down on both sides of the tray: “I don’t want you to work! I’ve made some adjustments to the recipe you came up with at the beginning of the year and created a few special drinks. You can taste them.”

Lu You reached out to pick up the glass.

“Wait a minute! Wait until I’ve mixed them all for you,” Chen Feifei pointed outside the shop. “You can sit outside and taste them slowly. When passersby see you, they will definitely think, even a beauty is willing to sit outside in this hot weather, how good must this shop be?”

Lu You: “…Are you sure they won’t think I’m crazy?”

“Then they will also come into the shop to see if our shop is magical or the beauty is crazy,” Chen Feifei smiled like a villain. “With such a beautiful face, it would be a waste if I didn’t make good use of this ‘opportunity’.”

Lu You laughed: “Alright.”

She has the kind of appearance that has more fortitude and clarity than a pitiful little white flower, and less beauty and charm than a domineering flower of wealth.

Between her eyebrows and eyes is a unique freshness and personality, which is pleasing and never gets boring.

When they were in college, a film crew was filming at the school, and Chen Feifei dragged Lu You to be an extra. The producer took a fancy to Lu You at a glance, comparing her to a unique snow-colored fairy deer in the green fields and forests, and wanted to sign her as an artist.

But Lu You politely declined.

Thinking of this, Chen Feifei asked: “Hey, have you ever regretted rejecting that producer’s invitation?”

Lu You recalled: “No.”

“Really?” Chen Feifei was dubious. “It’s so good to be a star, glamorous, making money easily and effortlessly.”

Lu You propped up her face and looked at the beautiful and dreamy wine in the glass: “That’s all survivorship bias. The entertainment industry is too deep, and it’s difficult to get ahead without some family background and good luck. A little carelessness can lead to a ruined reputation.”

Chen Feifei: “Then why do you support your Tao Xin squeezing into it? It’s making you separated every day now.”

Tao Xin is Lu You’s girlfriend of more than two years, and also a singer-songwriter. Lu You invested money with Chen Feifei to open a clear bar, partly to give Tao Xin’s band a stage to perform.

After being a resident singer for half a year, the band disbanded. Tao Xin flew solo and became famous, and business activities came one after another. She flew all over the country, so the two of them got together less often.

Lu You: “That’s where her ambition lies. As a partner, I definitely have to support her. I can’t be a stumbling block on her dream path.”

Chen Feifei: “Tsk tsk tsk, which stop has her tour reached?”

Lu You: “Shui City this weekend.”

Chen Feifei: “Isn’t that next door? Are you going to listen?”

“She said she would sneak back to Nanquan tomorrow to give me tickets.” Lu You’s voice carried a hint of a smile.

“Oh my~” Chen Feifei teased, “I shouldn’t have asked that question to be abused.”

Lu You stood up and picked up the tray with four glasses of wine: “Okay, I’ll go outside to attract customers, I won’t abuse you anymore.”

ˉ

Lead-gray twilight, like a thick blanket soaked in water, pressed down on the city’s sky, and the wind brushed against the face was full of moisture.

Lu You put down the tray, turned on the mosquito repellent lamp, nestled in the moon chair, took pictures of the wine on the table, and posted them on Moments.

After exiting Moments, she saw a friend request notification.

Assuming it was a customer who came to consult about piano tuning, Lu You directly clicked accept.

Chu Xiao: [You are Lu You, right.]

Lu You raised her eyebrows.

When registering her household registration at birth, the staff carelessly typed “Yo” as “Single”. It was not changed until junior high school.

Now, only her grandma, Tao Xin, and her mixed-race childhood friend call her that.

YoYo: [May I ask who you are?]

The “typing…” on the chat window appeared and disappeared from time to time. Lu You looked at it for a while and curiously clicked into the other person’s Moments.

It was a girl who was keen on sharing her life. Her personal information was exposed a lot in the photos, copywriting, and location she posted.

A person from Hai City, a junior at Beicheng Art Institute, with extraordinary food, clothing, and utensils. Her usual dress is more elegant and mature, her hair is permed into curls, and her makeup is exquisite and beautiful.

Lu You propped her head with her right index finger and tapped her head. This girl’s appearance was unfamiliar. She didn’t know anyone from Hai City.

Beiyi is Tao Xin’s alma mater, could it be someone Tao Xin knows?

Just as she thought of this, Lu You saw Tao Xin’s like displayed prominently below a selfie with a somewhat familiar angle.

Lu You was stunned for a moment and continued to scroll down, her hand suddenly stopping.

Under the copywriting “It’s thundering and the power is out, I’m so scared, I wish you were by my side”, Tao Xin replied: Be good, don’t be afraid, [hug]

Chu Xiao @Taotao: I miss you so much when it rains

Taotao @Chu Xiao: Only miss me when it rains?

Lu You looked at this ambiguous conversation and slowly sat up straight.

Suspicion condensed into an invisible knife, hanging in her heart, and the complex emotions it evoked twisted her nerves.

Her hand quickly swiped across the screen and stopped on a group photo. The girl was taking a selfie, and Tao Xin was looking at her gently and lovingly behind her.

Two new message reminders popped up at the top. Lu You closed her eyes and switched back to the chat page.

Chu Xiao: [To you, I might be considered a mistress, right]

Chu Xiao: [Sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Before seeing her chat history with you, I didn’t know she had a partner and always mistakenly thought you were her sister.

It’s probably like when I asked her if she wanted to eat grapes when you called the other day, and she explained to you that I was her assistant. Every time she receives your call when she’s with me, she tells me that her sister is calling.]

This was a detail deliberately revealed to her.

Lu You’s breath caught.

Experiencing her parents’ divorce at a very young age led to her low sense of security, but she also knew that intimate relationships required giving each other space, so she never took the initiative to look at the other person’s phone.

Even when jealous, she had to first reflect on whether she was being overly sensitive and thinking too much.

As a result, at this moment, even though all the details matched, she still didn’t dare to fully believe it.

Lu You typed stiffly and asked: [How did you meet?]

Chu Xiao: [On September 27th last year, our school invited her to hold a concert for the school anniversary. I was one of the dancers. After the concert, she invited us to have supper and added us as friends.]

Almost in an instant, it evoked Lu You’s memories.

On the day the concert ended, Tao Xin didn’t answer her phone, but only replied to a WeChat message saying she was a little tired.

It was probably from that time that Tao Xin became a little indifferent to her.

In the gap of being lost in thought, Chu Xiao forwarded all of her chat history with Tao Xin.

The truth, in the most straightforward way, was almost cruelly laid out in front of Lu You.

Tao Xin, who said she was tired to her, chatted all night with Chu Xiao.

In the past six months, the two of them had been chatting every day, from recommending song lists to discussing TV series to sharing daily life.

Even on days when she was sick and went to bed early, they had voice calls.

The language and wording became more and more ambiguous and teasing.

They were like a pair of lovers who had already tacitly acknowledged their relationship, flirting and teasing each other.

The makeup photos that were said to be exclusive to the girlfriend also had a copy for Chu Xiao, and even got them earlier than her.

Chu Xiao had all the gifts that were given to her, and even had a bouquet of pink roses more than her.

She forgot to say “good morning” and “good night” to her, but never missed a day for Chu Xiao.

Lu You could correspond to many of the chat times. At that time, Tao Xin was doing something with her, and at what time did she divide her attention, and with what excuse did she reply to Chu Xiao’s message.

The suspended knife tip fell section by section with the conversations, stabbing into the most vulnerable place, and even breathing was faintly painful.

Even though it was a sweltering summer night, Lu You felt as if she was drenched in ice and snow, and the coldness went straight to her bones.

Chu Xiao: [The night before yesterday, she drank too much and confessed to me, treating me as a person named Jiaojiao. I only found out that she was nice to me just because I looked a bit like that person. Scum who look for substitutes when they can’t get what they want.]

The other end paused for a moment before sending another message.

Chu Xiao: [I originally wanted to find that Jiaojiao, but I knew that she also had you after reading the records. I don’t know if it’s your voice or personality that is similar to her sweetheart. In short, she doesn’t love me, and she doesn’t love you, she only loves that Jiaojiao.]

Chu Xiao: [I advise you to stop the loss in time.]

Lu You closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing.

Sourness kept pouring out from the cracked cracks, and the small wounds were torn bigger and bigger, more and more painful, her throat was dry, and a breath was stuck inside, as if it had become a solid, unable to go up or spit out.

She and Tao Xin had already come out of the closet, and the relationship that even both sides of the family knew had not been made public, because Tao Xin said she didn’t want her private life to be followed by outsiders.

She understood Tao Xin’s thoughts and respected her freedom.

She never thought that not wanting to be followed by outsiders would turn into letting outsiders join.

After a long time, Lu You opened her eyes, sent the screenshot of Chu Xiao’s Moments to Tao Xin, and blacklisted all of her social media accounts.

The screen silently locked into darkness, and the light in her eyes also dimmed.

Lu You sank back.

Thick clouds that seemed a bit oppressive revealed the sound of muffled thunder, resounding through the sky.

She turned her head to look at the night sky.

Two lightning bolts split across the sky, and the broken sky was like a sieve. In an instant, a torrential rain leaked down, falling everywhere with a crackling sound.

Moisture drilled into the crevices of her heart, from top to bottom, she was like a cracked piece of wood.

ˉ

The clock on the bar pointed to “nine”, the rain had stopped, Lu You was drinking outside, attracting many potential customers.

At half past nine, the resident singer arrived, and most of the seats in the store had been taken.

The resident singer was the guitarist of Tao Xin’s former band, chasing his dreams during the day and maintaining his livelihood at night.

He sang all of life into love.

Lu You listened to the singing that occasionally leaked out with the opening of the door, and suddenly remembered the evening when she first met Tao Xin.

She practiced clair de lune at home all afternoon, and the fast part in the middle always failed to achieve the feeling she wanted. The decadence and long-term fatigue made her play more and more wrong.

Despair enveloped her like a thick fog until the sound of a cello came from next door, like the wind in an empty valley blowing away the fog.

She pressed the piano keys, as if she felt an electric current rush through her fingertips.

Like breaking into Monet’s painting, the piano sound under her fingertips and the other party’s cello sound danced together on the moonlit water, the notes fluttering like clothes, and the ripples rippling in circles.

After playing, she gasped and froze in place for a long time.

When she remembered to run to the balcony, she saw Tao Xin in the next yard struggling to put away the cello.

At the age of fourteen, during the most painful days, she could hear the sound of a guitar every day, and she could see Tao Xin smiling up at her downstairs as soon as she opened the window and said, “The sun is very good today, Lu Youyou should be happy.”

She still remembers the sun behind her, warm and bright, softening the entire winter.

At the age of twenty, a group of friends played a card game, and Tao Xin drew a confession card, saying to her ambiguously: “When you were a child, I gave the neighbors a lot of fruit in order to let you practice the piano well. How are you going to compensate me?”

At that time, Lu You had already given up the piano and no longer believed in love, and replied indifferently: “I didn’t ask you to give it.”

She thought that after rejecting, Tao Xin would give up quickly like other suitors. But unexpectedly, no matter how far she pushed away, Tao Xin would come up again and again without giving up.

When she was a graduate student, there was a period of time when she was confused and anxious. In order to make her happy, Tao Xin took her to listen to bands singing almost every day.

All the band’s songs were created by Tao Xin, and one of them turned them from friends into lovers.

The song is called “Shi Ye”, taken from the Book of Songs “Xiaoya·Luming”.

How affectionate and sincere the lyrics were when I first listened to them, how ironic they are now.

People came and went on the street beside her, and suddenly a voice came: “Youyou.”

A soft, silky tone brushed gently across her ears, and even the simple two words could be called melodious.

Lu You regained her composure and looked up.

The woman in front of her looked like she had just come from some important occasion. Her white three-quarter-sleeved shirt and black suit pants looked slightly formal.

She had a head of naturally curly long hair that didn’t need to be permed to be obedient and beautiful, which made her face look more elegant and bright, but her expression was indifferent.

It reminds people of the phrase “lighting up cherries, shining on a trellis, roses as white as snow.”

It was Tao Xin’s non-blood-related sister, Yue Yunxi.

When she first met Tao Xin, Lu You heard her say that Yue Yunxi was the daughter of the mistress who took her mother’s place after her death. Lu You thought they were biological sisters.

Later, I heard the elders chatting and found out that Aunt Yue was Tao’s father’s first love. The two reunited half a year after Tao’s mother passed away and lived together without even getting a certificate.

And Yue Yunxi is Aunt Yue’s child with someone else.

“Sister Yunxi,” Lu You quickly greeted.

Yue Yunxi looked at the empty seat opposite her: “Is anyone sitting here?”

Lu You shook her head: “No.”

Yue Yunxi’s fair and white hand put down her tote bag, bent down and sat down, glanced at the empty wine glasses on the table and said, “Why are you drinking so much?”

Lu You explained: “Feifei has newly mixed a few cocktails, I’m helping her try the taste.”

Yue Yunxi nodded and didn’t say anything else.

Lu You was speechless for a while.

Although this sister is peaceful and gentle, she always gives her a sense of distance that is not close.

Perhaps it is caused by the different life trajectories under the age difference of four years.

When she was still cramming “5 Years of National College Entrance Examination, 3 Years of Simulation” in Nanquan Middle School, Yue Yunxi had already experienced foreign customs for two years.

At that time, they could only meet during winter and summer vacations. The life experience in foreign countries made Yue Yunxi more and more calm year by year. Lu You saw her as if she was seeing an elder.

Now that both of them are in Nanquan, the opportunity to contact each other has not changed much.

As an internationally renowned cellist, Yue Yunxi is often invited to cooperate in performances.

For example, a while ago, Lu You’s grandma was found to be ill by Yue Yunxi and sent to the hospital in time, so there was no danger. Lu You originally wanted to invite her to dinner when her grandma was discharged from the hospital, but before her grandma was discharged, Yue Yunxi went abroad first.

Lu You thought of a topic and asked: “When did Sister Yunxi come back?”

“This afternoon.”

Yue Yunxi’s gaze lightly swept over the phone she placed on the corner of the table and landed on the left hand she raised the tray.

A silver pinky ring was fastened on the raised little finger.

The red marks of the connected broken fingers surged out from under the silver wavy curves.

Like a red fish, it set off shocking waves.

Yue Yunxi closed her eyes, unable to bear to look more.

Lu You took out the menu that was pressed down and handed it over: “Thank you for sending grandma to the hospital before. Order whatever you want to drink and eat, it’s on me. In the future, when you come, I’ll pay for the food and drinks.”

Yue Yunxi took it and said: “You don’t have to be so polite.”

“Then I can’t be impolite.” Lu You rang the bell to call the waiter.

Yue Yunxi asked for a glass of alcohol-free Cinderella, and looked at Lu You and asked, “Is there anything you want to order?”

She paused, and added, “Other than wine.”

Lu You pouted: “No, I don’t have much appetite.”

Yue Yunxi thought for a while, turned her head and said to the waiter: “A small portion of vanilla ice cream balls, that’s all, thank you.”

Lu You: “Give me a portion of ice cream too.”

Yue Yunxi: “One portion is enough, it’s for you.”

Lu You looked at Yue Yunxi in surprise.

After the waiter collected the empty wine glasses and left, Yue Yunxi opened her mouth and said softly: “When you are in a bad mood, eating something sweet can make your heart a little sweeter.”

Lu You was even more surprised.

It was the second time that Yue Yunxi had seen through her.

The last time was during her grandma’s hospitalization. She had two consecutive operations and received two critical illness notices, and was told that even if the operation was successful, she could only live for five more years. Afraid that her grandma would worry too much, she pretended to be relaxed, and no one noticed that she was on the verge of collapse.

Only Yue Yunxi, however, saw through her at a glance.

She took care of her for a day so that she could rest, and before her grandma was discharged from the hospital, she recommended a more reliable and kind live-in nanny, which solved her biggest worry.

This time it was still so keen and delicate.

Lu You touched the tip of her nose and denied: “I’m in a pretty…”

She was already so unhappy that she couldn’t even say “good”.

The breath that was held in due to the pause in her voice was sighed out, and Lu You slumped her shoulders and asked: “How did you see it?”

No one else saw it.

The waiter brought the ice cream and wine, and they were placed in the middle of the small table.

Yue Yunxi pushed the ice cream towards her: “With my eyes.”

There was a hint of a cold joke, and Lu You raised the corners of her mouth very slightly: “If Sister Yunxi is in love, her partner must be very happy, observant and meticulous.”

Hearing her say that she had no appetite, she specially ordered a small portion of ice cream balls, which was still her favorite vanilla flavor.

Yue Yunxi looked at her deeply, lowered her head, and immersed her gaze and thoughts in the cup with ice cubes.

Lu You picked up a small spoon, dug a small piece of ice cream and put it in her mouth, it was cold and sweet.

The coldness can relieve irritability, but the sweetness still can’t cover the depression.

Yue Yunxi tentatively asked: “Are you unhappy because of grandma’s matter?”

Lu You drooped her head and shook her head, denying silently.

Yue Yunxi picked up the glass and took a small sip. Even with ice, it couldn’t dilute the sour taste.

She used this awe-inspiring sourness to wrap another guess and swallow it down.

Besides her grandma and Tao Xin, there was no one else who could affect Lu You’s emotions so much.

And she, as an outsider in their relationship, was inconvenient to ask more questions, and was afraid of listening to the details and becoming jealous, so she dared not ask again.

The small ice cream ball was quickly eaten, Lu You put down the spoon, raised her head, and saw Yue Yunxi opposite her picking up the glass and sipping.

Elegant and reserved, it had the sense of sight of a star shooting an advertisement.

It is said that beauty lies in the bones, not the skin. Yue Yunxi is a typical beauty in the bones. As the charm of maturity gradually increases, she becomes more and more refined and outstanding.

The temperament exuded by the whole person from the inside out is very similar to her name——

The bright moon mixes the night, and the gentle stream gathers on it.

Jiaojiao.

Lu You suddenly remembered Chu Xiao’s words.

Looking at Yue Yunxi in front of her again, she finally realized why Chu Xiao’s selfie taken by Tao Xin looked familiar.

That angle was three points similar to Yue Yunxi.

An absurd guess took root and sprouted in Lu You’s mind.

Then, she heard herself ask: “Sister Yunxi, what’s your nickname?”

Yue Yunxi seemed to be stunned and didn’t answer immediately.

Lu You: “Ayun? Xiaoxi? Xixi?”

Each time she guessed, Yue Yunxi’s slender eyelashes trembled slightly.

Lu You stared at Yue Yunxi, watching her red lips, moistened by the juice, open slightly.

A very light sigh scattered in the dull air.

Yue Yunxi’s fingertips rubbed against the wall of the cup, and the dim light fell into her eyes, her voice low and light: “Jiaojiao.”

Like walking on a high-altitude tightrope step by step, approaching the end, stepping on solid ground but suddenly staggering.

Lu You’s heart trembled suddenly.