Your Wife? Mine! - Chapter 12

“Yay!”

Little Wutong erupted into cheers, acting for all the world like a bird finally released from its cage. She reached out, small hands urgently tugging at Shen Xi’s collar as she urged in a milky voice, “Auntie, Auntie! Let’s go build the tent right now!”

Faced with such pure, radiant enthusiasm, there was no way Shen Xi could find it in her heart to say no. She nodded with a smile, carefully setting Little Wutong back on her feet. Then, stooping to gather the tent components she had just unpacked, she strode out toward the backyard, which was currently bathed in the lingering glow of the setting sun.

The sun had already dipped below the horizon, leaving only a magnificent streak of orange-pink across the sky. Twilight descended like a veil of gauze, and the air grew thick with a tranquil, slightly melancholic blue hue.

In the center of the yard, upon a patch of soft green lawn, Shen Xi meticulously scouted for a level, slightly elevated spot where water wouldn’t collect. Once satisfied, she set to work.

Little Wutong and her faithful shadow, Occidens, immediately transformed into her most capable assistants, scurrying around Shen Xi’s feet. They excitedly helped her ferry the various poles, the rainfly, and the ground stakes.

Meng Xiyao didn’t approach. She remained standing some distance away under the eaves of the villa, her silhouette becoming blurred in the deepening dusk. She watched the two figures one tall, one small busy on the grass, accompanied by the dog with its happily wagging tail. Her gaze was deep and unreadable.

Shen Xi’s movements were brisk and practiced; she clearly had experience with this. Within half an hour, a compact, sturdy tent stood proudly in the middle of the lawn, looking like a white mushroom house that had sprouted overnight.

By now, the sky had been completely reclaimed by the ink of night, save for the warm glow of the porch lights that fended off a small patch of darkness. Shen Xi crawled into the dome tent, fumbled for a string of fairy lights, and draped them across the interior ceiling before flipping the switch.

With a soft click, countless warm yellow bulbs flickered to life. They looked like crushed stars, illuminating the tent’s interior with a cozy, brilliant light that rivaled the day as if a glowing dream had been tucked away inside.

“Whoa!” Little Wutong clapped her hands, letting out a string of gasps. Her dark, bright eyes reflected the glittering lights. “Stars! So many beautiful stars!”

Shen Xi poked her head out of the tent, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. “Pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s pretty! Super, super pretty!” Little Wutong nodded emphatically, not holding back her praise. “You’re the best, Auntie! Let’s play Monopoly! Right here in our star tent!”

Shen Xi was taken aback. “Right now?”

“Mm-hmm!” Little Wutong nodded vigorously. She spun around and called out toward the quiet figure under the porch, “Mommy come play Monopoly with us, okay?”

Meng Xiyao had always been indulgent with the child, especially when faced with her daughter’s expectant gaze. Without much hesitation, she replied softly, “Alright.”

She turned back into the house and emerged a moment later carrying the Monopoly cards and a folded game board. Under the cool, watery brilliance of the moonlight, she stepped onto the soft grass and moved through the hazy night mist, walking toward the tent that glowed with warm light.

Sitting at the entrance of the tent, Shen Xi watched Meng Xiyao approach through the ethereal night air and thin fog. Watching her elegant, composed stride, Shen Xi felt a sudden, dizzying sense of déjà vu.

It was as if she had been pulled back through the long corridors of time to her own distant childhood.

That year, she had just turned nine. Because of her bothersome pheromone allergy, she hadn’t been able to participate in the summer camping trip organized by her school. This meant she would be separated from Meng Xiyao for an entire half-month.

Young Shen Xi had been devastated, yet she refused to show it in front of others. She could only hide away in a corner of the backyard, clutching a small twig and drawing circles in the dirt over and over again, venting her feelings of grievance and longing.

It was on a night just like this one, also thick with a light evening mist, that a slender, teenage Meng Xiyao had appeared. Carrying a large parcel in her arms, she had stepped through the hazy fog, walking toward her one step at a time.

Reaching her side, Meng Xiyao had leaned down slightly, looking at the crouching Shen Xi. The girl’s voice had been as clear as a mountain spring, yet possessed a gentleness that could smooth over any crease. She had said: “Xiao Xi, let’s build a tent together.”

Just like now.

Shen Xi stared blankly at this familiar figure who had stepped across twelve years of time to approach her once more. Her vision blurred uncontrollably. A thick vapor rose in her eyes, and she felt a sadness so profound she was on the verge of tears.

Right then, the tiny figure beside her unable to contain herself any longer bolted from the tent like a nimble fawn. Accompanied by her equally excited dog, she let out a joyous cry and lunged toward Meng Xiyao.

Through a haze of tears, Shen Xi saw Meng Xiyao naturally bend down and open her arms, catching the lunging child with perfect precision and pulling her into a firm embrace. Then, she reached out to tenderly ruffle her daughter’s soft hair, her face lighting up with a gentle smile that was both heartbreakingly familiar and strangely foreign to Shen Xi.

That smile had once been the only light in Shen Xi’s bleak childhood. It was the secret longing she dared not speak of during her long adolescence, and the deepest ache as well as the warmest comfort in the heart of her dreams during her twelve years of wandering.

Watching that piercingly tender smile, Shen Xi felt as though her heart were being struck repeatedly by a blunt instrument. A dull, lingering pain washed over her, making it nearly impossible to breathe.

How did she dare…

How could she bear it…

To leave and never look back, to stay apart for twelve long years?

Shen Xi, you really have a heart of stone.