Keep My First Kiss Safe For Me - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Every year on her birthday, Fan Yue would meet with her mother. No matter how busy she was, Yu Ya would always clear her schedule for the day to accompany her daughter. When Fan Yue was little, she would take her to amusement parks and treat her to delicious food; as she grew older, she preferred buying her clothes, shoes, and bags.

This time, Yu Ya picked her up and brought her home. As the elevator doors opened, she held Fan Yue’s hand and said in high spirits, “Yue’er, Mom is going to personally prepare a birthday meal for you today. How about Western food?”

Western food? Did that mean Charles was there too? Since their first meeting with her mother’s new boyfriend, they had met twice more. Each time, Fan Yue felt uneasy; she wasn’t particularly keen on seeing him.

Feeling her daughter’s footsteps falter, Yu Ya looked back. Fan Yue snapped out of it, put on a smile, and nodded. “Okay.”

As Yu Ya pressed her finger to the scanner, Fan Yue couldn’t help but ask, “Is Charles here?”

The door opened. Yu Ya pushed it in and answered, “No, he went back to France recently. But he heard it’s your birthday today and prepared a gift for you.”

Hearing that Charles wasn’t there, Fan Yue let out a slow sigh of relief and followed her inside. This was a high-end complex built along the lake. Yu Ya had told her she could come over whenever she wanted, but Fan Yue had only visited a few times.

Yu Ya got her a pair of house slippers, and the mother and daughter sat down on the leather sofa. She handed Fan Yue a beautiful gift box and said, “This is my gift to you. Open it and see.”

Peeling back the exquisite wrapping paper, she found the latest model of a smartphone. Her mother had always been generous with her, and Fan Yue didn’t refuse. However, there was only one gift she truly cherished: once, while on a business trip to Yunnan, Yu Ya had spotted a bracelet with a moon pendant at a roadside jewelry stall and bought it for her. Fan Yue had worn it on her wrist ever since she was a child.

“Do you like it?” Yu Ya asked, holding her hand.

Fan Yue nodded. “I love it.”

Yu Ya then brought out a smaller, delicate box. “This is Charles’s gift to you.”

Fan Yue opened it to find a bottle of pink perfume. She closed the lid and said to Yu Ya, “Tell him thank you for me.”

After talking for a while longer, Yu Ya glanced at the time and stood up to head to the kitchen. She picked up the remote from the coffee table and gave it to Fan Yue. “I’m going to prepare lunch. Watch some TV for a bit.”

Switching on the TV, Fan Yue randomly clicked on a trending family drama on the homepage, but her eyes weren’t on the screen. she took a careful look around the room. The apartment was decorated with great taste and hadn’t changed much since her last visit, yet she noticed differences. There was a pair of men’s house slippers by the door, a men’s coat hanging on the foyer rack, and on the glass cabinet, several photos of Yu Ya and Charles had been added next to the pictures of the mother and daughter…

So, they were living together.

This was the life of an adult; she shouldn’t—and didn’t want to—interfere, yet she couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Fan Yue rose from the sofa and pushed open the glass door to the kitchen. Yu Ya was wearing an apron, staring intently at a steak in the frying pan. The words stuck in Fan Yue’s throat were swallowed back down.

Yu Ya’s cooking skills were mediocre at best, and she rarely cooked in the past. However, the lunch she prepared today was quite a spread: steak, pasta, toast, and roasted wings filled the table. She poured a glass of red wine for Fan Yue and invited her, “Give it a taste.”

Fan Yue took the glass, swirled it, and took a sip, immediately pouting. Seeing her expression, Yu Ya laughed. “Not used to it? Charles recommended this. You’ll grow to like it after a few more sips, though you’re still too young to drink much.”

She pushed the plate with the steak toward Fan Yue, looking at her expectantly. “Quick, try it. See if Mom’s skills have improved?”

Fan Yue cut a small piece of steak and tasted it, nodding. “It’s quite good.” Yu Ya insisted she try a bit of everything, but Fan Yue’s palate had become picky after being fed by Xie Yanyan these past few days. She put down her knife and fork after eating only a little.

Once lunch was over, Fan Yue reached for the plates but was stopped by Yu Ya. “I’ll clean up. Go to the room and rest for a while.”

Fan Yue shook her head. “I’m not sleepy. I’ll go check out the study.”

“Go ahead.” Yu Ya carried the dishes into the kitchen.

The study was where Yu Ya worked from home. Fan Yue wasn’t interested in the bookshelves full of books; she loved the large bay window that overlooked the lake. Taking off her shoes, she curled up on the window seat and gazed out. The winter sun spilled gently onto the lake, creating countless sparkling points of light.

After a while, Yu Ya brought in two cups of coffee and joined her on the window seat to look at the scenery. Fan Yue took a small sip of the coffee, but her mouth still felt bitter.

The room fell silent. Yu Ya watched her daughter quietly, reaching out to stroke her soft hair. She asked softly, “Yue’er, do you not like Charles?”

Fan Yue kept her eyelashes lowered and didn’t reply. Yu Ya wrapped both arms around her daughter, pulling her into an embrace. Fan Yue buried her head in the soft texture of her mother’s cashmere sweater and shook her head wordlessly.

“I know you haven’t accepted him yet. Charles is a very good man—witty, humorous, and very romantic. Most importantly, he makes me feel relaxed. I used to think I would keep spinning like a top forever, but he made me want to slow down and enjoy life.”

Yu Ya looked at Fan Yue and asked in a low voice, “Yue’er, can I be with him?”

You’re already together, so why would you need my permission? Fan Yue thought to herself.

Her mother had finally found someone who made her believe in love again, and she was naturally happy for her. However, the unease in her heart grew stronger by the day. She was afraid Yu Ya would go abroad with Charles. They didn’t see each other often, but they could see each other at any time; she could see Yu Ya whenever she missed her. But what if her mother moved overseas? How much of their bond as mother and daughter would remain?

Fan Yue looked at Yu Ya and asked what was truly on her mind: “Will you go live abroad with him?”

Realizing this was what Fan Yue was worried about, Yu Ya cupped Fan Yue’s face. Seeing the anxiety in her daughter’s eyes, she laughed and pinched her small, rounded nose. “Don’t worry about that. Charles and I have discussed it; we will live here. I won’t leave you.”

This promise was like the breeze blowing across the lake outside, sending ripples through Fan Yue’s heart. Yu Ya’s thumb brushed against her reddened eyelids and continued, “Charles used to prefer a life without ties, but after meeting me, he wanted to settle down here.”

After all the twists and turns, both her father and mother had found the right people.

“Happy birthday, Yue’er,” Yu Ya hugged her and sighed softly. “My daughter has grown up so much. I hope you can always be a carefree girl, surrounded by love.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Fan Yue hugged her back.

Upon hearing that Fan Shicheng and the others were stuck in Sanya and couldn’t make it back, Yu Ya invited her to stay the night, but Fan Yue insisted on going back.

Because she wasn’t alone; there was someone else at home.

By the time Yu Ya drove her to the family residential compound, it was pitch black. Fan Yue jogged all the way, her footsteps thumping up the stairs. Just as she stepped onto the last stair, the door opened. Xie Yanyan was standing behind it.

Panting and exhaling puffs of white air, Fan Yue slipped into the house. She kicked off her shoes, removed her pink scarf, hung it on the rack, and asked, “How did you know it was me?”

Xie Yanyan didn’t answer. She stared into Fan Yue’s eyes for a few seconds before speaking: “Have you been crying?”

Fan Yue quickly looked down, refusing to admit it. “No, just got something in my eye.”

Xie Yanyan pinched her chin, forcing Fan Yue to look up. She turned her face away and said, “It’s nothing. Who cries on their birthday?”

Seeing that she seemed alright, Xie Yanyan released her chin. Fan Yue instinctively grabbed her arm and said in a soft, sweet voice, “I’m hungry.”

“Who stays hungry on their birthday?” Xie Yanyan let herself be pulled into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“My mom made Western food for lunch; it wasn’t filling.” Fan Yue let go and peeked into the fridge. “Just a bowl of noodles will do.”

Xie Yanyan took out several ingredients, rinsed the greens under the tap, and beat an egg. Midway, she opened a jar of pickled radishes made by Xie Rong, picked up a piece, and gave it to Fan Yue. Fan Yue took it into her mouth; it was cold, sour, and very refreshing.

A bowl of noodles was soon ready, packed with meat, egg, and vegetables. Xie Yanyan placed it on the dining table in front of her and said, “Your longevity noodles.”

“Thanks.” Fan Yue immediately picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a large, slurping bite.

After the noodles, Fan Yue sat on the sofa playing with the small perfume bottle. Xie Yanyan sat down at the other end. Noticing the new phone lying beside her, she asked, “Why didn’t you put the SIM card in?”

“I won’t. If the teacher confiscates it at school, it’s not worth the loss.” As she spoke, Fan Yue suddenly picked up the bottle and sprayed it at her several times. The scent, a blend of floral and fruity notes, landed on Xie Yanyan’s loose long hair. Xie Yanyan turned and glared at her. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing, just letting you try it out.” Fan Yue leaned in to take a sniff.

“Why don’t you try it?”

Fan Yue shook her head. “Wearing this is too ‘womanly’.”

Xie Yanyan swept a glance over her and said, “You aren’t very ‘womanly’.”

Fan Yue didn’t catch it at first, but when she realized Xie Yanyan was staring at her chest, she became indignant. “Who are you calling not womanly!”

Seeing her huffy expression, Xie Yanyan smiled and reached out her hand.

“What?” Fan Yue asked crossly.

“Birthday gift.” Xie Yanyan opened her palm, revealing a red string bracelet.

Fan Yue was a bit surprised. She took the red string and looked at it closely. The weaving of this handmade red string was very unique and quite pretty.

“Take it off.” Xie Yanyan pointed to the bracelet on Fan Yue’s wrist—the one with the moon pendant. It was also a red string, but because she had worn it for so long, it was old and frayed.

Fan Yue raised her hand. Xie Yanyan pulled it toward her, untied the old string, took off the silver moon, and attached it to the small loop reserved on the new red string before tying it back onto her wrist.

Who gives a red string as a birthday gift? Fan Yue felt something was strange but couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

Maybe she just saw that my old string was too worn out! She raised her wrist and shook it. It fit perfectly, and with the new string, the bracelet looked brand new. She actually liked it quite a bit.

Her eyes curved into beautiful crescents as she smiled at Xie Yanyan. “Thank you.”

…

Fan Shicheng and the others returned on the evening of the sixth day of the New Year. Seeing that the two sisters had gotten along peacefully for so many days—and were both looking healthy and well-rested—the couple felt very relieved.

Fan Xinghang finally got to eat his long-awaited birthday cake. Licking the cream, he said to Fan Yue, “Yue’er-jie, congrats on getting another year older.”

“Three days without a beating and you’re back at it,” Fan Yue muttered. Before the little chubby boy could even get his seat warm, he was chased around and given a thrashing by his big sister. He shouted as he ran, “I was wrong! I wish you eternal youth and immortality!”

The house finally returned to its usual chaotic, lively state.