To Get Married - Chapter 59

Chapter 59

Lu Yudong had always been easy to coax; if someone treated her a little bit well, she was willing to respond with everything she had.

But with Manzhu, she could never help being a little more greedy.

Precisely because of this, the answer Manzhu gave her was a fatal tenderness, enough to make her fall completely.

Yudong lingered in Manzhu’s arms like a kitten for a long time, but before sleepiness could take over her mind, her stomach beat her to it with a loud, rumbling growl. She hadn’t eaten dinner today, having rushed home immediately after class and slept in a daze until now.

Hearing the sound from Yudong’s little belly, Manzhu helped her up and asked, “Hungry?”

Yudong nodded.

“Did you not eat this afternoon?” Manzhu asked again.

Yudong stuck out her tongue. “I forgot.”

Manzhu felt a surge of annoyance, yet she couldn’t bring herself to scold her. Glancing at the birthday cake, she stood up and said, “Eat a little cake to line your stomach first. I’ll go make you a bowl of noodles.”

Yudong nodded repeatedly, obediently pulling over a small stool to sit by the coffee table and eat cake.

It was past 3:00 AM when the kitchen lights flickered on. The sound of boiling water and rising steam wafted through the half-open kitchen door. After finishing two pieces of cake, Yudong stood up and looked out the window; the streetlights were still on, but pedestrians and vehicles were few and far between. This deep night felt silent, as if it belonged only to her and Manzhu.

Before long, Manzhu brought out a steaming bowl of saozi (minced meat) noodles, placing it before Yudong with a soft urge: “Eat quickly, so you can sleep once you’re full.”

Yudong smiled and picked up her chopsticks. “Eat then sleep, wake up then eat… won’t I turn into a pig?”

“I’d like you even if you were a little pig,” Manzhu said, giving Yudong a mock-angry glare. “It’s better than not eating and turning into a skinny little monkey.”

Hearing this, Yudong suddenly remembered how Manzhu used to say she was “small and meatless” a long time ago. Feeling a bit defiant, she rolled up her sleeve and patted her slender arm. “There’s meat! Not much, but it’s firm!”

“I know,” Manzhu laughed. “Just eat quickly before you starve.”

Yudong nodded and buried her head in her midnight dinner. Manzhu hadn’t cooked much—just a small handful of noodles—thinking that eating too much before bed would cause insomnia or stomach discomfort. They were ordinary thin noodles with toppings and chili sauce made by Gou Hongjie; the flavor was familiar and simple, yet Yudong finished every bit and even drank a few gulps of the soup, looking thoroughly satisfied.

After finishing the midnight snack, Manzhu ate some cake and sat with her on the sofa for a while to let the food digest. After washing up, they finally climbed into bed together.

They had shared a bed for many years, but this time, the atmosphere was undeniably different. They embraced each other on the narrow bed, so close their noses almost touched, able to clearly feel every heartbeat and breath from the other. Adjusting to the dim light, they stared at each other in the darkness with flushed ears and their own private thoughts, neither daring to make a further move.

Several thoughts flashed through Manzhu’s mind, but she ultimately did nothing. She loved the girl in her arms, and because of that love, every action was cautious, fearing she might cause even a shred of fear or discomfort. They had a long road ahead; there was no need to rush. Furthermore, while she knew how snakes mated, she had no idea where to begin with this human body, or how two women were supposed to take things further. For all her 2,600 years of cultivation, she was a blank slate in certain matters, so clean she didn’t know how to pick up the pen.

What she didn’t know was that Yudong, lying quiet and obedient in her arms, was thinking the exact same thing, so nervous she didn’t dare move. Before sleepiness finally pulled her eyelids shut, her mind never stopped racing.

Would Manzhu suddenly do something? How should I respond? Should I be scared, shy, or proactive? Should I take off my clothes? Or… should I take off Manzhu’s? This was their first night as a confirmed couple; the person she was most familiar with had suddenly changed roles, and the prospect of doing things they’d never done before felt too sudden.

Also, Manzhu’s nails are a bit long. If we really… would it hurt? Should I remind her to clip them? But if Manzhu doesn’t plan on doing anything, wouldn’t asking be too embarrassing?

The more Yudong thought, the more she felt unable to face anyone, so she closed her eyes in shame. In the silent night, her heart raced like a lost deer, thumping in sync with the ticking of the old clock. When Manzhu finally made no move, Yudong breathed a sigh of relief, yet felt a faint, lingering sense of disappointment. Eventually, wrapped in that warmest of embraces, she drifted off to sleep.

That night, Yudong had a dream.

She dreamed of a massive red python that coiled around her childhood self, loop after loop. Normally, she should have been terrified, but she wasn’t at all. Instead, she hugged it back—the way she would hug a happy Corgi—squeezing and pressing against it with all her might. The python was cool and soft, incredibly comfortable to touch. As she hugged it, she couldn’t help but rub her heated face against it, letting out little whimpers from her nose.

Manzhu had been sleeping soundly when the girl beside her suddenly pulled open her collar and started squeezing and rubbing against her. That fuzzy little head was tickling her collarbone, and Yudong would occasionally give her a “mwah” as if she’d found a precious treasure. Manzhu hesitated for a long time but couldn’t bear to wake her, letting Yudong have her way in the dream. Finally, Yudong settled down, and Manzhu was able to fall asleep in peace.

The next afternoon, when Yudong woke up, the washing machine in the bathroom was humming. Manzhu was sitting on the sofa watching TV, the volume turned even lower than the sound of the laundry. Yudong threw on her cotton pajamas over her blanket and sat up, rubbing her eyes. After a yawn, she noticed a cake box on the coffee table.

“The cake arrived so early?” she whispered.

“It’s 2:00 PM now,” Manzhu said. “It arrived half an hour ago.”

Yudong checked her phone. It was true; she had actually slept until past two. The room wasn’t quiet, yet she hadn’t woken up once. As she put her phone down, Manzhu was looking at her. “You slept well last night.”

Yudong nodded. “I didn’t hear a thing. My phone had a 12:00 alarm, but I didn’t hear that either.”

Manzhu smiled. “What were you dreaming about last night?”

“Huh?” Yudong looked blank. “Did I dream last night?” She had no memory of it.

“You definitely did,” Manzhu said. “You weren’t very well-behaved.”

Yudong grew nervous. “I… did I do something?”

Seeing Yudong’s reaction, Manzhu pondered for a moment before feigning dissatisfaction. “You were kicking the blankets last night. I didn’t sleep well because of the noise.”

“Ah!” Yudong felt a pang of guilt. She got up, put on her socks and trousers, and crept over to Manzhu. After a moment of hesitation, she boldly wrapped her arms around Manzhu’s neck, whispering coquettishly, “I didn’t kick you, did I? I’m sorry… I’m usually not like that. Maybe it’s because I ate before bed and was too full…”

Manzhu couldn’t help but laugh, shaking her head. “I’m teasing. You were in my arms sleeping like a log.”

Yudong breathed a sigh of relief, but she remained attached to Manzhu like a decorative pendant. After a few seconds of silence, she shifted forward so her body was flush against Manzhu’s, their eyes meeting.

Finally, she broke the silence, asking cautiously, “I’m having trouble telling dreams from reality. Is this… real? Was last night real?”

“Hmm?” Manzhu hugged her back, looking puzzled.

“Are we really together? Manzhu.”

“Of course.” Manzhu laughed and poked Yudong’s waist. The girl jumped back from the itchiness. “Does it feel real now?”

Yudong had been ticklish since she was a child. In the past, whenever they bathed together, even just the skin contact of scrubbing her back or lathering soap would make her squirm like a slippery little fish. Being teased like this now made Yudong blush; she bit her lip, stood up, and ran into the bathroom, closing the door tight.

Manzhu walked to the door and knocked. “Do you want noodles again for lunch? If not, we can go to the bar and have Uncle Gou cook for you.”

Yudong, having just finished using the toilet, was washing her hands and picking up her toothbrush. “I want Uncle Gou’s potato pancakes!”

“Then let’s take the cake over there.”

Yudong added, “And then let everyone watch us eat it?”

“That’s also an option.”

Yudong couldn’t help but laugh. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she hopped out of the bathroom and lunged behind Manzhu, who was straightening the bed, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Manzhu’s lips curled up. “Are you stuck to me today?”

Yudong buried her head in Manzhu’s long hair. After a few seconds of silence, she whispered, “I have a question.”

“Ask away. Do you need a permit for that?” Manzhu’s tone was full of doting.

“Are you going to tell everyone… that we’re together?” Yudong mumbled.

“What about you?” Manzhu turned around and held Yudong’s shoulders. “Do you want to tell them?”

Yudong swallowed hard, her eyes wandering around the room before she said with little confidence, “If you don’t mind, of course I’d prefer not to keep it a secret…”

“What do I have to mind? I’m only afraid you’ll care about what others think.” Manzhu ran her fingers through Yudong’s loose hair, gently rubbing the back of her head. “After all, in their eyes, I’m not a man, and I’m over a decade older than you…”

Before she could finish, Yudong wrapped her arms tightly around Manzhu’s waist.

“Then let’s tell everyone!” Yudong’s voice was firm and joyful. “Tell them we’re together. That way, no one will ever get ideas about you again!”

This girl—sometimes mature beyond her years, sometimes entirely childish—truly didn’t care about anything else besides the person in front of her.