MTMIO Chapter 41
by VolareAs the small car drove away, the beam of light was quickly diluted into a faint haze by the night, and the field of vision fell into dimness again. Only the feeling lingered with a residual heat.
It should represent the “it” of porcelain, but the word that immediately surfaced in Lu You’s mind was her…
Like a moment ago, the fish food scattered lightly and slowly from this person’s fingertips, stirring up a ripple that splashed into the boundless beauty of the night.
And she was like a fish swaying in the center of the ripples, unconsciously biting the bait, and responding softly, “Okay.”
After a while, Lu You turned towards the direction where her Vespa was parked, took two steps, then suddenly stopped and looked back.
Yue Yunxi was still standing there, looking at her, naturally meeting her gaze, and asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Lu You lowered her long eyelashes slightly, avoiding eye contact, and asked, “What if it breaks?”
“Then you have to compensate me with another little deer.” Yue Yunxi’s voice contained a very faint smile.
Making the words sound like a joke.
And also like, something with hidden meaning.
Sensing the two layers of meaning, Lu You suddenly felt panic, and the inferiority buried in her heart overflowed uncontrollably.
Her eyelashes drooped even lower, and her voice was even softer, “Then I still won’t help you carry it, I can’t afford to compensate you with a complete little deer.”
Just as I can’t give you a perfect version of myself to match you.
Yue Yunxi was stunned, moved her lips, wanting to say something.
Chen Feifei bounced over at this moment, hugged Lu You’s arm, “Deer Boss, your employees are howling in the group, saying they’re so busy they’re crying, what do you say, want to go help?”
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Yue Yunxi look down at her phone that had lit up, turn her back to them to answer the call, and vaguely heard a “Mom.”
Lu You absentmindedly responded to Chen Feifei with an “Mm.”
“Perfect, this godforsaken place is so hard to get a taxi, I’ll take your little scooter over,” Chen Feifei asked, “Do you have an extra helmet?”
Only then did Lu You come back to her senses, took out a half-helmet from under the seat and handed it to Chen Feifei, took out her phone and said, “I’ll tell Grandma.”
Taking advantage of the time she was on the phone, she looked in Yue Yunxi’s direction again, and Yue Yunxi was still on the phone.
People are sometimes so strange, clearly it’s the most real thought in their heart, she’s just timid, inferior, instinctively avoids it, but once it’s spoken, just seeing Yue Yunxi’s long eyelashes tremble slightly, makes her feel regret.
The call was connected, Lu You greeted her grandma, and after hanging up, she almost opened the rear wheel lock, sat on the scooter, and put on her helmet at an extremely slow speed.
Chen Feifei straddled the back seat of the scooter, put on her helmet, patted her shoulder and said, “I’m OK, let’s go.”
Just then, Yue Yunxi finished her call, moved the phone away from her ear, turned around and looked over. Her gaze, still carrying a hint of coldness, swept over Chen Feifei’s hand on Lu You’s shoulder, turned gently, and landed on Lu You’s face, and only then did her gaze warm up a bit.
Lu You let out a slow breath, she actually wanted to pretend to be natural and say “Forget it, I’ll still help you carry it,” but maybe out of face, or maybe because Chen Feifei was there, what came out of her mouth was a farewell, “We’re leaving first.”
Yue Yunxi just nodded.
Lu You felt a strange feeling of being tugged at in her heart, and added, “You… also be careful on the way back.”
Yue Yunxi smiled and said “Okay,” without saying anything more, nor looking at them again, and turned to walk in the direction of her car.
Lu You’s gaze fell on the rearview mirror.
Watching the half-step distance that had been imprinted in her mind not long ago, suddenly lengthen to tens of meters.
–
Because of Yue Shao’s phone call saying she had dreamed about old things, Yue Yunxi went back to Lanwan Garden.
Parking the car on the side of the road opposite the courtyard gate, Yue Yunxi got out of the car, habitually glanced at the house next door. Lu You hadn’t come back, the old lady was probably asleep, and there were no lights on in the house.
The darkness that seeped out from the second-floor glass window was even thicker than the night.
She rang the doorbell, and the auntie at home opened the door. The TV volume was very loud, and Yue Yunxi recognized that it was playing an old, brainless idol drama, which Yue Shao would flip out to watch whenever there was a drama shortage. She didn’t know how many times she’d watched it.
In the living room, Yue Shao was sitting back in the massage chair, holding her phone up.
Yue Yunxi walked over, picked up the remote control from the coffee table, and turned down the volume of the TV.
“Eh? Why are you back?” Yue Shao lowered her hand and said in surprise.
“I came back to see you,” Yue Yunxi sat down on the half of the sofa closer to her. “Is your headache better?”
“It’s better,” Yue Shao turned her head to look at her, “Stay the night with Mom? Your room was just cleaned today.”
Yue Yunxi didn’t agree or refuse, and instead asked, “Really don’t need to see a psychologist?”
As long as Yue Shao dreamed about the old things in Xicheng, she would definitely have a headache when she woke up. She had seen both Chinese and Western doctors, and had taken a pile of medicine, but it hadn’t improved at all. Yue Yunxi always believed that this was a mental illness.
“No need, it’s not like I dream about those things every day. I’m living such a good life now, the frequency is already getting lower and lower.”
The massage ended, and the chair slowly returned to its upright position. Yue Shao leaned over towards Yue Yunxi’s side, “But Tao Tao, I’m really worried. Yesterday, her variety show started airing, did you watch it?”
“No,” Yue Yunxi’s tone was very indifferent.
“It’s good that you didn’t watch it, I got so angry watching it. Several people were doing that kind of small group bullying and isolating her, it even made it to the trending searches, the netizens couldn’t stand it, especially those few little girls.” Yue Shao suddenly thought of something, paused for a moment, and raised her voice, “Hiss— I saw in the fan group that her girlfriend of two years broke up with her, the girlfriend of two years, is that Lu You, what’s going on? Weren’t they doing so well before…”
Yue Yunxi’s eyebrows twitched, and she didn’t say anything.
“You don’t know either, eh, never mind, seeing her little assistant saying something about Tao Tao chasing after her wife, it’s probably just a small spat.”
Yue Yunxi remained silent, feeling a little annoyed. She turned around, picked up the water glass that the auntie had just handed over from the coffee table, and took a couple of sips of water.
“Lu You too, Tao Tao is at such a crucial time, why make a fuss at this time? When you have time, pay more attention to Tao Tao, ah, she’s the most attached to you.”
The bottom of the glass hit the glass coffee table, making a crisp sound.
Yue Yunxi got up and said, “I’m going back, you should rest early.”
It was too sudden, and Yue Shao was stunned. By the time Yue Yunxi was about to reach the entryway, she reacted and hurriedly chased after her, saying, “What’s wrong? We were talking so well, why do you suddenly want to leave?”
Yue Yunxi pursed her lips and didn’t speak, changing her shoes.
“Didn’t we agree to stay the night?”
What came back to her was still silence.
Yue Shao called out unhappily, “Jiaojiao!”
Only then did Yue Yunxi turn around and look at her, saying, “I don’t want to live here, this is your home, not mine.”
Yue Shao opened her mouth.
“From the moment I came in until now, have you cared about me at all? I’ve always wanted to ask you, Tao Xin and I, who is your daughter?”
“Of course it’s you,” Yue Shao laughed, “How old are you, still getting jealous?”
Yue Yunxi laughed angrily, wrapped in a heavy sigh, to the point that her shoulder line noticeably slumped down.
Only then did Yue Shao realize that something was wrong.
The Yue Yunxi in front of her clearly wasn’t crying. In fact, she hadn’t cried much since she was little, because she was very sensible and didn’t want to worry her mother, so even if she was bullied, she would switch to a calm look the second she got home.
So those light amber pupils would always have a misty moisture when she was particularly sad.
Even more uncomfortable than crying.
Yue Yunxi opened the door and walked out. Before closing the door with her backhand, she turned back to look at Yue Shao, “If your headache is really bad, take some painkillers, I asked Sister Li to get two more boxes a few days ago.”
Yue Shao’s mouth was slightly open, her throat choked up, not knowing what to say, nor knowing what she should say.
The door was closed, with a click, cutting off everything.
Yue Yunxi stared at the ground in front of her that had become damp at some point, stood there blankly for a moment, before taking a step and walking out of the yard.
Sitting in the car, she smoothed her curled long hair, leaned back wearily against the back of the seat, her gaze falling on the outside of the car window, and suddenly recalled the first time she had an argument with Yue Shao.
At that time, she was still in junior high school, the school had built dormitories, and she wanted to live in the dorm, but Yue Shao didn’t agree.
Standing in the entryway of the Tao family, she couldn’t say in front of Uncle Tao that she wasn’t used to living here. Without good communication, no one could understand anyone, and just a few words evolved into an argument.
She didn’t like arguing, and didn’t want to stay in such a depressing environment, so she turned her head and went out the door, regardless of the rain outside, without even taking an umbrella.
Opening the yard door, she turned her head and ran into Lu You playing in the puddles at the door.
The door of the Tao family wasn’t closed, and Yue Shao was very angry, standing at the door muttering that she was making a fuss about living in the dorm, and was really getting more and more unruly.
Lu You had very good hearing, her lively black eyes turned left and right, met her eyes, and immediately stuffed the umbrella with a deer head carved at the end of the long handle into her hand.
After giving the umbrella, she turned her head and ran back into the house. Perhaps she was too anxious, she sprained her foot and fell to the ground.
Yue Yunxi was just about to go help her up when Yue Shao took the umbrella over, just in time to see this scene, and squatted down to help Lu You up even faster.
During that time, Tao Xin often slandered her for bullying people at home, because she had a bastard of a father, and compared to listening to her describe the actual situation, Yue Shao seemed to believe in the inheritance of genes more, so every time, she would only listen to Tao Xin’s side of the story and convict her.
That time was no exception, glancing at the umbrella in her hand, Yue Shao began to accuse her, “There’s an umbrella at home, why are you taking your sister’s? Why are you taking your anger out on your sister?”
How familiar the reprimand, she should be used to it, but she would still be saddened by it.
Lu You grimaced in pain, but didn’t forget to explain for her, “I fell because I was walking too fast, it has nothing to do with Sister Yunxi.”
Carefully rubbing her butt, Lu You said in an even sweeter voice, “Auntie Yue is so pretty and kind, just promise Sister Yunxi to let her live at school.”
Then, Yue Yunxi saw Lu You lean close to Yue Shao’s ear.
Her voice was too soft, and she couldn’t hear the content.
She only saw Yue Shao’s thick long eyelashes flutter twice, Lu You’s small hands clenching her pants, her cherry lips opening and closing, her childish voice drowned out by the sound of rain, and after she finished speaking, she grinned and smiled.
The little girl’s smile was very beautiful, her eyes like curved little crescent moons.
After that, Yue Shao agreed to her request to live in the dorm.
And that umbrella that shielded her from a storm, she forgot, no, she couldn’t bear to return.
Long after, Yue Yunxi thought of this and asked Yue Shao to find out what Lu You had said at that time.
She said, “I know why Sister Yunxi wants to live at school.”
She said, “Staying in a home where you don’t feel like you belong is uncomfortable, because that’s how I am…”
Her thoughts came back, and Yue Yunxi raised her eyes.
That crescent moon seemed to be on the window, actually in the sky.
So close, yet so far.
So far that it was out of reach.
–
Taking advantage of Zhong Shuyun’s break from touring these days, Lu You took a flight to Xicheng, and booked the same guesthouse, the same small courtyard.
Before leaving, Chen Feifei asked her about it, and after finding out, she was first shocked, “You’re still staying in such a big courtyard alone, aren’t you afraid!”
Then she teased, “Oh, you’re bold, extravagant! So extravagant!”
Finally, she suddenly realized, “You, wouldn’t it be—”
Lu You didn’t give Chen Feifei a chance to say it, “Wouldn’t it be what? It’s because I’m familiar with that bed, which can effectively avoid disrupting the hard-won routine because I can’t get used to the bed.”
She spoke seriously, and didn’t touch her nose.
Chen Feifei closed her eyes and replied repeatedly, “Okay, okay, okay.”
Not seeing her, Lu You raised her hand, and her fingertip lightly rubbed her nose.
So, only she knew in her heart that this set of words was just a temporary self-hypnosis.
On the first day she arrived, Lu You went to the pottery shop and asked the shop assistant for bubble wrap to wrap Grandma’s ceramic jar layer upon layer.
Putting it in a specially prepared down bag, she glanced at a white porcelain deer on the shelf as she was about to leave. Lu You turned her steps and went over to take a look. The word “Yue” was written on the card next to it.
The shop assistant had a good memory and said to her, “This is your friend’s.”
“Did she contact you to mail it away?” Lu You asked.
The shop assistant shook his head, “Not yet.”
Lu You hesitated for a while and said, “Then I’ll help her take it away.”
“That’s fine too, but you have to register.” The shop assistant brought the registration book and pen over for her to sign, still a little worried and said, “You should tell your friend too?”
The pen tip paused slightly on the paper, Lu You “Mm”ed, and after signing, took out her phone and sent a text message to Yue Yunxi’s phone number in front of the shop assistant: [I took that little deer for you]
Yue Yunxi replied quickly: [Okay.]
After no more than two or three seconds, she sent another one: [It doesn’t matter if that little deer breaks.]
Lu You: “…”
Then she turned her head and smiled at the shop assistant, “Please get me some more bubble wrap.”
The shop assistant saw the reply, smiled along, and readily took a big roll over.
In the end, the palm-sized little deer was wrapped inside and out with seven or eight layers of bubble wrap, and rolled into a ball.
By the time she got back to the guesthouse, it was already dark.
Lu You planned to go back tomorrow. After washing up and coming out of the shower smelling nice, she took out the little deer doll from her bag, hugged it, and lay down on the bed. Just as she was about to check the high-speed rail ticket for tomorrow, a WeChat message popped up on the screen, sent by Chen Feifei.
Chen Feifei: [Hi beauty, what are you doing!]
YoYo: [Looking at the high-speed rail ticket for tomorrow, wondering when to get up, and what time I can get to the high-speed rail station.]
Chen Feifei: [You’re coming back tomorrow, aren’t you going to look around anymore?]
Lu You switched back and forth between the two apps: [Look around at what?]
Chen Feifei: [Go to that tree hole shop and fish out a bottle!]
YoYo: [I forgot if you didn’t say so]
Chen Feifei: [[Wicked smile]]
YoYo: [But is it not good to look at the secrets by fishing out bottles?]
Chen Feifei: [What’s not good about it? The shop’s board for fishing out bottles for money is so big, if they didn’t want people to see it, they wouldn’t have written it.]
YoYo: [Seems very reasonable]
Chen Feifei: [Be confident! Remove the “seems.”]
Chen Feifei: [Go fish, go fish, if you fish out Grandma’s, you can untie Grandma’s knot~ Remember to share other people’s gossip if you fish it out~]
Lu You raised her eyebrows, too lazy to type, and sent a voice message over, “What if I fish out Yun Zhu’s?”
After a long time, Chen Feifei replied: [Send it to me, thank you.]
Lu You laughed for a while, changed her posture, and lazily pressed the voice message and asked, “What color is Yun Zhu’s letter paper?”
Chen Feifei: [Light blue, very light blue.]
Lu You: “Okay, I remember, I’ll go fish it out for you tomorrow.”
Chen Feifei: [Heart]
Lu You pondered for a moment, feeling that she could also go to the old town street to stroll around again tomorrow, so she booked a high-speed rail ticket for the day after tomorrow.
After booking, she thought for no reason that Yue Yunxi also used light blue letter paper.