Chapter8

  Where is suitable for a birthday date?

  The lawn on campus is too hot, the cafeteria has too many people, the cinema is too noisy, the library is too boring, and walking around the mall is something only girls would do...

  Yin Tangyao thought for a long time and finally dialed Xiaomi's phone on Friday night.

  "Come to my home tomorrow."

  "Your home?"

  "Okay, I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon."

  "But..."

  “……？”

  "...Xiaomi's mind flashed back to his mother's cold and stern gaze, and he scratched his hair hesitantly.

  "What's wrong?"

  "......that......will your mother be at home?"

  A moment of silence.

  "Huh?" How come I suddenly can't hear his voice?

  "No." From young to old, every year on his birthday, his mother would not be at home. Yin Tao closed his eyes and said in a nonchalant tone, "Tomorrow it's just you and me. What do you want to eat? I'll get Auntie to prepare it."

  "Oh." Xiao Mi let out a breath, "No need, let me make it for you, okay?"

  "I'm not eating something that doesn't taste good."

  "Don't worry, it's definitely going to be delicious! You can start looking forward to it from tonight!" She smiled triumphantly.

  "Really?" He also burst out laughing.

  "Of course!"

  But is this really something that will definitely taste good?

  Yin Tang stared blankly at the bowl in front of him.

  Thin noodles as thin as dragon beard, with a poached egg on top, the soup is very clear, floating with some green scallions and a few pieces of green coriander.

  "What is this?" She rushed into the kitchen with a bag of things, busied herself for half an hour, not allowing him to sneak a peek. After working up a sweat and panting heavily, she finally carefully placed in front of him on the dining table... was it really just this? He had thought it would be a sumptuous feast.

  "It's Long Life Noodles."

  "Long life noodles?" He picked up a strand with his chopsticks and looked up at her, "I like eating rice."

  "Please! On birthdays, you have to eat longevity noodles, it's a custom. Look, the noodles are long and represent a long life, you'll definitely be a longevity star!"

  "I see others eating birthday cake." Yin Tangyao felt a bit sulky. Although he had never celebrated his own birthday, he had seen others celebrate theirs.

  Oh no! I forgot the cake!

  She covered her mouth, rolled her eyes and chuckled: "Birthday cake can't compare to longevity noodles. As long as you pay, the cake shop will sell you a ready-made cake, but longevity noodles require someone who loves you to cook them for you."

  "Really?" His heart was suddenly struck, and the scallions on the noodle soup seemed like a light boat floating in spring water.

  "Of course! And I practiced several times at Aunt Cheng's place last night, this bowl of noodles will definitely be delicious, you try it quickly!"

  Yin Tangyao picked up the noodles and put them in his mouth.

  "How is it?" Xiaomi looked at him with a face full of expectation, "It's delicious, right? This is dragon beard noodles, the noodles are as thin as dragon whiskers, but they won't be too soft and have no bite. Have another sip of the soup..."

  He took a sip of soup.

  "Very light, right? Only added a little salt and a little sesame oil, won't overpower the natural flavor of the noodles. The steamed egg with preserved egg is also delicious..."

  He took a bite of the steamed egg with preserved egg and pork.

  "For a delicious steamed egg, it can't be too old or too young. The best is when you take a bite and there's just a little bit of runny yolk, which then solidifies on the tip of your tongue. Finally, you savor the scallions..."

  Scallions? He furrowed his brow, why would he want to taste scallions for no reason?

  "Are scallions green, right?" Xiao Mi smiled with her eyes curved upwards. "You know, scallions are the hardest to make. If the fire is too big, they get burnt; if the fire is too small, the scallions won't release their fragrance. So my level of making scallions is actually very good now."

  Yoon Tae-oh finished a big bowl of longevity noodles.

  He raised his head.

  Xiaomi looked at him expectantly, with countless stars twinkling in her eyes. "Do you like it? Does it taste good?"

  He didn't speak, with an unusual expression in his eyes, and the diamond on his nose also shone with an unusual light.

  "What? Is it really that bad?" she asked anxiously. Ah, was she too stupid, had she practiced hard for a long time and still not good enough?

  "I want another bowl."

  "Huh?"

  "No, two bowls!"

  "Huh?" Xiao Mi's eyes widened.

  "Idiot! How can one bowl of such delicious noodles be enough?! " Yin Tangyao glared at her, but the childish smile on his lips betrayed the joy in his heart. "And you have to sit down and eat with me too."

  "Delicious! Wow!" Xiao Mi jumped up happily, hugging his head and rubbing it hard, "Haha haha haha, you said the things I made are delicious, you really said they're delicious..."

  Bang!

  Yin Tangyao struggled out of her magic claws and backhanded her with a blast: "Hey, you're laughing too exaggeratedly, my ears are almost deafened by your laughter."

  Xiaomi didn't feel any pain at all, she was still smiling foolishly, hehe, and then suddenly tears started flowing down her face.

  Her tears spread across her face.

  Sparkling tears.

  Tears like crystal clear stardust spreading out.

  Yin Tang Yao was flustered, it was the first time he saw Xiao Mi cry, no matter how she scolded her before, she never cried. His heart ached, and he hastily hugged her, trying to wipe away her tears, but found that her tears were getting more and more, cold and crystal clear tears gushing out like they would drown him at any moment.

  "Don't cry, what's wrong, did I say something wrong?"

  He clumsily and hastily wiped away her tears, repeatedly shouting:

  "The noodles are really delicious, I've never had such a good-tasting noodle before. It's so delicious that for the rest of my life, I don't want to eat anything else, just your noodles! Xiaomi..."

  Xiaomi took a deep breath.

  She wiped away her tears.

  She burst into laughter, her eyes were a little red from crying but still shone like the moon: "I'm just too happy."

  Yin Tang Yao fixed his gaze on her, his heart taking a long time to recover from the intense pain. He growled in anger:

  "Good grief! You nearly scared me to death!"

  It was already an hour after both of them finished eating noodles. Yoon Tae-oh and Sae-mi sat down on the sofa in the living room downstairs with full stomachs.

  The clock on the wall points to 1:20.

  It's just time for a nap. Xiaomi yawned, feeling sleepy, and if she were in the dormitory at this moment, she would definitely be lying on her bed asleep.

  "Don't sleep!"

  Yin Tang Yao pushed her forward, and she slumped down onto the sofa armrest, saying viciously.

  "I'm so sleepy," she rubbed her eyes and yawned, "aren't you sleepy? You sleep more than I do."

  Yin Tangyao stretched out his hand.

  She smiled in surprise: "Ah, you're saying I can sleep on your hand?" Pinching it, his hand wasn't too soft or too hard, and indeed made a suitable pillow.

  "Bang!"

  He ferociously shook off her fumbling hands and then slapped his palm in front of her face again.

  "Huh?" She was stunned.

  "Give it to me."

  "What?"

  "Dummy, give it to me quickly!"

  "...She opened her eyes wide with terror like a girl in a cartoon who encounters a strange uncle, grasping the clothes on her chest tightly, "What bad thing do you want to do?"

  Yin Tangyao was about to explode with anger and roared:

  "My birthday present!"

  How hateful, she's clearly pretending! She came with a big mysterious bag, must be gifts for him, but it's been delayed until now and he still doesn't know about it, making him anxious, how hateful!

  "Haha," Xiao Mi laughed with her head thrown back, "You're just like a little kid."

  Knock!

  Knock!!

  Knock!!!

  He struck her head three times in a row with force.

  "Are you teasing me?" Yin Tangyao gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Lately, you've been enjoying teasing me more and more."

  "Yes." She smiled brightly, "Birthday gifts should make a grand entrance with everyone's anticipation, it's no fun if you just take it out directly."

  "Hurry up and give it to me!"

  "Ding ding ding ding ding"

  Xiaomi happily hummed along with the accompaniment, and from behind her back, she pulled out a big box tied with a big satin bow.

  She handed him the gift box with a smile and said:

  "Happy birthday to you."

  Yin Tangyao originally wanted to try hard not to smile, so as not to let her know how much he was looking forward to this gift. From young to old, this is the first birthday gift he has ever received. But when he realized it himself, he had already smiled until his mouth was almost curved to his ears.

  He opened the box.

  Inside lies a pure white shirt, made of cotton fabric, with a crisp and clean white color, featuring delicate subtle patterns that exude a warm and elegant flavor.

  …………

  ……

  "Guess quickly!" She put the gift behind her back and giggled as she ordered him to guess what birthday present she had given him this year.

  "It's a white shirt." He said with a smile.

  "Ah?" She froze, then angrily punched him with her fist. "How hateful! Bad guy! Why did you have to guess the white shirt? Can't you guess something else? I can also give you chocolate, gloves, jelly... why did you have to guess the white shirt?!"

  He grasped her fist, his eyes full of sparkling smile: "Because since you were fifteen years old, the birthday gift you sent me every year is a white shirt."

  She was stunned.

  Huh, seems like it.

  "But just because it was that way before, doesn't mean it's the same this year!" She pouted, "The previous guess doesn't count, let's start again!" After saying that, she smiled slyly and crawled onto the sofa next to him, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him, "Xiao Yu, guess what birthday present I got for you?"

  "Cough, is it chocolate?" He exaggeratedly pretended to be deep in thought.

  "No." She shook her head.

  "Jelly?"

  "No, it is." She shook her head triumphantly.

  "Ah, I see, it must be gloves."

  "Also, no, it is." She let out a loud sigh and shook her head sympathetically, "You're really stupid, aren't you? Of course, good grades on the exam must be because of cheating, right? Can't you really guess what the gift is?"

  He rubbed his nose and smiled slyly. Indeed, it was very silly, how could a flat gift box that size possibly be jelly or anything else?

  "Hmm, can't guess."

  "Hahaha," she laughed excitedly, "do you want to know what's inside?"

  "I want."

  "How many do you want?"

  "I really want to."

  "Alright! Considering it's your birthday today, I'll be merciful and spare your curiosity. Here, take this gift box!" She handed it to him with a smile, "Am I good or what?"

  "Hehe, you're really great."

  "Come and see the gift." She looked at him expectantly as he opened the gift box with his slender fingers, holding her breath. "Do you like it?"

  There is a white shirt inside.

  "This white shirt is really beautiful, isn't it? It has wooden buttons and looks very delicate. The white color isn't too dazzling either. When I saw it in the store, I thought that if you wore it, you would look extremely charming and good-looking!" She let out a satisfied sigh.

  He smiled, his fingers lightly touching the white shirt, then put it down, hugged her, and gently said on her head: "Thank you, I like it very much, it's a really good-looking shirt."

  "Tomorrow, did you know?" She nestled in his arms, and lovingly said to him like a little cat.

  "Huh?"

  "You're the most suitable person in the world to wear a white shirt! Not a single flaw, pure white, perfect. When you wear a white shirt, even if it's just an ordinary one, you'll look as beautiful as an angel." She scratched her hair, saying with a puzzled expression, "Actually, sometimes I also find it strange, since it's impossible for someone to be completely flawless in this world... but why are you so perfect that there isn't even the slightest imperfection?"

  "Fool." He smiled.

  "Hey! You dare scold me!" She raised her fist and hit him.

  He kissed the top of her head, her short hair soft and fluffy all the way to his heart, "Fool, that's because you like me, because you like me, so you can't see the flaws on me."

  "Is that so?" She thought for a moment, jumped up and stared at him with wide eyes, "Then in your eyes, am I also perfect without any flaws?"

  He smiled and shook his head: "No, you have a basketful of shortcomings."

  Fists and feet flew out like a stormy rain.

  She gritted her teeth and hit him with all her might: "Stinky bastard! Bad bastard! You don't like me anymore, do you? I'll beat you to death! Beat you to death!"

  "You have many, many shortcomings - lazy, arbitrary, don't like reading books, lack patience in doing things, and are prone to violence... And sometimes you're unreasonable to the point of making people dizzy," he said with a gentle smile, sighing. "But even so, I still like you, Xiao Mi."

  She was stunned by what she heard.

  Her heart "thumped" and suddenly her face turned a little red, she snuggled back into his arms, her fingers clutching at his white shirt, softly saying: "Okay, it's so corny."

  Two people sit quietly together.

  The atmosphere is quiet as if flowing with the fragrance of spring flowers.

  "From now on, I'll give you a white shirt every year, okay?" She smiled slyly, "I'll keep giving them to you until you become an old man with white hair, and even then, you'll still wear white shirts, making all the old ladies jealous of me having such a charming old partner."

  "Good."

  "And we're keeping all these white shirts. Although they're all white shirts, each one is different, who knows, maybe one day we can collect them into a White Shirt Museum, haha, maybe they'll become family heirlooms!"

  "Good."

  "Don't think that giving a white shirt as a birthday gift is easy and lazy!" She glared at him, "I have to walk around many stores to find the best-looking white shirt, it's hard work too."

  "Yes, I understand." He chuckled lightly.

  "What are you laughing at? Are you dissatisfied with something?" She glared at him fiercely.

  "I just wanted..."

  “……？”

  "Can you give me one more gift next year?"

  "What? What do you want?"

  "It seems like we have to eat longevity noodles on birthdays..." He rubbed his nose awkwardly, "Uh..."

  "Who told you nonsense? Birthday cake is enough, who still eats longevity noodles so old-fashioned!"

  "But..."

  "Alright, alright, I'll take you to the noodle shop tonight."

  "I want to eat something you made with your own hands."

  "What! Are you kidding me?" she exclaimed, "I don't cook!" From young to old, whenever they were together, all the meals were cooked by him, and she didn't know how to cook at all.

  He smiled: "It doesn't matter if it's not delicious. Xiao Mi, I suddenly really want to eat the longevity noodles you made."

  "How could you! No!" she protested firmly.

  "Xiaomi..."

  "Tomorrow..." she said coquettishly, "Xiaomi loves the rice, dishes and noodles that you make. Your culinary skills are the best in the world! Every time I eat the meals you personally prepare for me, I feel so happy... Xiaomi will never cook for her whole life, Xiaomi wants you to pamper her for her whole life..."

  He smiled helplessly.

  "Is it good or what~~~ Xiaomi is very lazy and naughty, but Xiao Mi still spoils Xiaomi a lot, then Xiaomi will feel so happy and blissful~~~ Xiao Mi~~~"

  "Good." He smiled and patted her head, "Xiaomi is the laziest person in the world, but I still like Xiaomi the most."

  She sat up happily and gave him a big kiss on the cheek: "That birthday gift is just enough with a white shirt!"

  "Good."

  "Wow! Tomorrow is really the best person under the sky!" She exclaimed excitedly.

  ……

  …………

  The clock on the living room wall is ticking quietly.

  Yin Tangyao took out the white shirt from the gift box and asked curiously, "Why is it a white shirt?" He rarely wore dress shirts and thought T-shirts were more comfortable and casual.

  "You will be the most handsome person in the world when you wear a white shirt." Xiaomi smiled and said to him.

  "Really?"

  "Mmm!" She nodded vigorously, her eyes shining brightly as she gazed at him, "Why don't you put it on and try it?"

  Yin Tang Yao hesitated for a moment, stood up, and put on the white shirt over his black tight-fitting T-shirt. His ash-blonde short hair was messy but stood upright in a handsome manner, with sparkling diamonds on the bridge of his nose, and his lips curled into a bright smile, like a child who had just changed into new clothes during the Spring Festival.

  "Does it look good?"

  Xiaomi stared blankly at him.

  "Doesn't look good?" Seeing her suddenly like a mute, and there was no dressing mirror in the living room, he couldn't help but feel a little tense.

  She continued to stare at him blankly, as if she hadn't heard a word he was saying.

  "How detestable!" Yin Tang Yao angrily wanted to take off his vest, even if it didn't look good, he shouldn't have made such an expression!

  "Beautiful..."

  Her voice was as soft as a sigh.

  "......?" His hand froze in mid-air as he took off his shirt.

  "It's really beautiful," she smiled contentedly, her eyes curved like a crescent moon. "You look lovely in it, just like an angel."

  "Are you trying to fool me?!" He said fiercely, he wouldn't be so easily deceived, her expression was so strange just now.

  She jumped up and rushed in front of him, excitedly saying to him: "From now on, can you wear a white shirt every day? It really looks great!"

  "No," he muttered.

  "What? Why?" She grabbed his arm and shook it, pleading, "Wear a white shirt, how great would that look, so good-looking it takes your breath away."

  "It's uncomfortable wearing a dress shirt." Honestly, who has T-shirts that are casual.

  "You'll get used to it and feel comfortable," she tugged at his arm, pleading with him, "Put it on, put it on, please."

  "Really looks that good?" He raised an eyebrow and asked with a pleased expression.

  "I swear!" Xiao Mi raised her right palm and said solemnly, "No matter what you become, you are the best-looking person in white shirts in the world!"

  "Alright, got it." Yin Tangyao glared at her left hand still on his arm, "Hurry up and remove your hand, you've wrinkled my shirt!"

  "Oh."

  Xiaomi awkwardly stuck out her tongue and quickly withdrew her hand.

  He sat back on the sofa, took off his undershirt, and painfully smoothed out the places where she had grasped with her hands, oh dear, there were some fine wrinkles.

  "Hey! What's with using so much force?!" He yelled at her irritably, "What if the clothes get wrinkled?!"

  She jumped in fright and said with a shiver: "What's the big deal, just hang up."

  "What's the big deal?! This is my birthday present! It's the first birthday present I've ever received! How can...". He suddenly shut his mouth, his lips pursed tightly.

  The living room suddenly became very quiet.

  Yin Tangyao stopped talking and fell silent, his fingers unconsciously tracing light patterns on the white shirt.

  "Hello."

  Xiaomi leaned in close under his head to sneak a peek at his face.

  His face stinks.

  "Is this your first birthday gift ever?" she asked curiously, "Why? You really never celebrated birthdays before?"

  He remained silent.

  "Ah, right! You didn't tell me it's your birthday today either. I just happened to find out. Hmm, is it because you're shy and don't want to tell others what day your birthday is on, so nobody celebrated with you? Hehe." She stuck out her tongue, having known Yin Tao Yue for a long time, she was well aware that beneath his aloof exterior lay a heart as simple and awkward as a child's.

  "Get out!" he muttered, his hand tightening on the white shirt.

  That doesn't make sense either. Even if others didn't know, his mother should have known his birthday. Xiao Mi looked at Yin Tao with a puzzled expression, as if he had just been punched in the face.

  "Tell me, okay?"

  She grasped his hand and said with her head tilted.

  "None of your business!" He angrily brushed her hand away.

  "How can it not be my business?" She stared at him without blinking, "You suddenly became so sad, you've been sad for a long time, right? You said you never celebrated your birthday, so maybe from the day you knew about birthdays, you started being sad?"

  Yin Tang pressed his lips tightly together.

  She held his hand again and waited quietly for him.

  Finally——

  His pale lips said: "On the day I was born, my father passed away."

  Xiaomi's eyes widened suddenly.

  "My mother had just given birth, and my father came in to hold me. I heard that he was still happily holding me and smiling at me, but suddenly he suffered a heart attack and died suddenly in the hospital delivery room."

  She was so shocked that she couldn't say a word.

  "So, you see, my birthday is also Father's memorial day. What's there to celebrate?"

  "Your father... was it because of heart disease?"

  "Yes."

  "I've heard that heart disease is more likely to occur when one's emotions are stirred up," she said softly.

  “……”

  "So, your father must have been very excited and happy when he saw you were born, he loved you so much that the thought of your happiness would be unbearable for him."

  "He died because of me!"

  Yin Tangyao roared with anger, his loud voice echoing in the living room.

  "But that's all because he loved you too much. If only he could have loved you a little less, if only he hadn't been so eager for your arrival... But you were born of his love and expectation."

  She grasped his hand and bit her lip:

  "I'm sorry, I'm too stupid and don't know how to comfort you. If it were me, I would be very sad too, and if someone comforted me like that, I would be very angry."

  The living room was silent.

  The clock ticks away quietly.

  "Will he hate me?" Yoon Tae-oh took a deep breath.

  "Your father?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "No," she shook her head, "he loved you, and even in heaven, he still loves you."

  "But my mother hates me." From young to old, his mother had never celebrated his birthday. When he was a child, every time it was his birthday, he would hear his mother secretly crying in her room. Later on, his mother would go out every year on this day and he couldn't hear her sobbing anymore, but when she came back, he always noticed that the corners of her eyes were red.

  Mother?

  Xiaomi remembered the mother he saw that day. She was elegant and dignified, with a hint of sadness in her eyes. She didn't let herself be with Yin Tangyao, and there was a tone of self-doubt and disdain in her voice.

  "She loves you." Xiao Mi smiled. What else could make a mother go on the defensive like a porcupine towards someone with unclear intentions approaching her son, if not love?

  "No, she hates me for causing Father's death..." Yin Tangyao said painfully.

  "She loved your father, and she loves you too." Xīao Mǐ said softly to him, "Your father is no longer in this world, so now she only has you left. You are her only relative, the only one by her side. So... you must love and take care of your mother doubly, including the share that belongs to your father, all together."

  Yin Tang Yao gazed at her intently.

  She smiled at him.

  In the intertwined gaze, a strange emotion seemed to be extracted from the branches and bloomed into flowers.

  Goodbye.

  Yin Tangyao and Xiaomi were suddenly awakened by a certain feeling. They both turned their heads to look towards the door at the same time.

  Yin Zhao Man stood there with a key in her hand.

  She had been standing there for a long time, and neither of them noticed each other.

  Study room.

  Yin Zhaoman sat behind the large and luxurious desk, in a crimson armchair. She wore a black dress, her eyes were slightly red, and the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were more pronounced than when he had seen her last time. She looked at Xiao Mi standing in front of the desk, her voice seemingly devoid of any emotion:

  "I told you, don't get close to Yawo."

  Xiaomi stared blankly at her, knowing about Yin Tao's father's situation, and when she saw her again, her heart suddenly felt a sour and aching pain.

  Yin Zhaoman frowned: "Why aren't you speaking?"

  "Sorry."

  Xiaomi suddenly bit her lip and bowed deeply to her.

  This sudden movement startled Yin Zhaoman, she straightened her body slightly, and a flash of something appeared in the bottom of her eyes before returning to its usual coldness.

  "What do you want to do?"

  "Did I worry you?" Xiao Mi scratched her hair and said with embarrassment, "Sorry, I apologize to you."

  Yin Zhaoman said coldly: "No matter how hard you try, you can't move me, so give up."

  "I originally thought you were like those selfish mothers in comics and TV shows, who think that girls from unsuitable family backgrounds are all ill-intentioned. I thought you were like that, so I felt a bit disappointed."

  Yin Zhaoman stared at her, his eyes icy cold.

  Xiaomi smiled: "Now I know I was wrong, so please forgive me."

  "You're not wrong." Yin Zhaomans was completely unmoved, her voice as calm as a straight line. "I really think that you, this girl with an unknown background, are approaching Yao for his wealth and have ulterior motives."

  "Oh...I see."

  Xiaomi was frozen by her icy tone, stunned for a moment, then hastily lowered her head to rummage through her bag, and soon she found an envelope and placed it on the desk in front of Yin Zhaoman.

  "Here you go."

  Yin Zhaoman opened the envelope and pulled out a paper with signature and red seal. She took a look, suddenly raised her head, and the misty eyes flashed with dark light.

  Xiaomi smiled, her eyes clear and transparent: "Can you be at ease with this? If not, you can specify a notary public or lawyer or any method you think is suitable. If I swear to you that I won't covet your property and you still can't believe me, then please use the law to make you believe me."

  "You..."

  Xiaomi stood quietly in front of the desk, wearing a white skirt, with short hair and a slender figure, but with a strong and unyielding spirit.

  The afternoon sunlight shines through the window screen and comes in, Yin Zhaoman hesitates to hold tightly the notarized document that guarantees that nothing of the Yin family's property will be taken away.

  "When did you go to the notary office?"

  "The day after you came to see me."

  "Do you think that just because I have it, I'll let you get close to Yāo?"

  "I originally thought so," Xiaomi said with a bitter smile, "but now I dare not think that way."

  "Why?"

  "I originally thought you were afraid that I would be greedy for your property, now I know that the property is not what you care about, what you care about is your son."

  Yin Zhaoman sneered: "Want to sweet-talk me again? This is only the second time you've seen me, how much can you possibly know about me?"

  "I understand." Xiao Mi caught her words, looking at her, "I understand the feeling of when someone you love is gone and can never come back no matter what, but you can never forget him forever."

  Yin Zhaoman suddenly gripped the armrest of her chair tightly.

  "If that kind of pain I couldn't even bear for a year, painful to the point where I'd rather die than endure it, painful to the point where I wish I had never existed in this world. If I couldn't even bear it for a year," Xiao Mi forced a smile, her lips trembling slightly, "then how can you live like that for twenty-some years? Is it not because of love for Yin Tao, then what is it?"

  Yin Zhaoman closed her eyes.

  "I thought you had forgotten about Yoon Tae-oh's father, but I just found out that today is the most difficult day for you every year. You didn't want to make Yoon Tae-oh sad, so you went out, and I saw tears in your eyes. If you can't forget someone you loved for over 20 years, how could it be just because of property that you dislike me? So I'm very sorry."

  Xiaomi bowed deeply to her again:

  "Did I appear beside Yoon Tae-oh and make you worry? Sorry."

  Yin Zhaoman had been silent for a long time.

  The summer breeze gently blows the window curtains.

  White window screens, like a piece of morning mist.

  "Why be with Yao?" Yun Zhao Man asked in a low voice.

  "Because I want to give him happiness." Xiao Mi looked straight into her eyes, her gaze as clear and transparent as a stream, "I want to give him the most, most happiness, let him become the happiest person in the world."

  It's the hottest time of summer vacation every year, the sun is scorching the earth, the cicadas on the trees are chirping non-stop, the electric fan is turned to the maximum wind speed, but all that blows over is hot air. The dormitory is like a steamer, with hot air rising and it's as if the millet is being steamed into human meat buns. Heat isn't the hardest thing to bear, humidity is even more terrifying, it's as if the water vapor is stuck on your skin, sticky and unable to breathe. I've long heard that Shengyu's summer is terrible, but I didn't expect it to be so terrible.

  Xiaomi was left with only the energy to lie on the rattan mat and gasp for air, having just taken her third cool shower of the morning in the bathroom twenty minutes ago, but the heat and sweat had already mercilessly surrounded her once again.

  So when the dormitory door was knocked, she rubbed her face in distress, really not wanting to leave the poor electric fan. Although the electric fan couldn't make her very cool, without it she would almost faint from heat.

  "Hey! Open the door!"

  It's Yoon Tae-oh's voice.

  Xiaomi's eyes widened, and she hastily put on her skirt with seven hands and eight feet. My god, how did he get into the girls' dormitory building! Even if it was summer vacation and the dormitory building was basically empty, he couldn't just swagger in like that! Ah, fortunately, she wasn't wearing a cool outfit when she ran to open the door.

  "Hurry up! Open the door quickly! What are you doing, dawdling around? I'm going to suffocate!" Yin Tangyao yelled impatiently outside the door.

  "Here comes! Here comes!"

  Xiaomi rushed to the door and opened it with a swoop.

  "Huh, what's with you today..."

  She was halfway through her words when she suddenly opened her eyes wide, staring at the three men behind Yin Tangyao in disbelief. The three men were wearing blue uniforms with "Haier" written on them. At the entrance of the dormitory, there were several large cardboard boxes on the ground, with "air conditioner" written on them.

  Yin Tang walked straight in and looked around her dormitory, raised his arm and pointed to the wall opposite her desk, saying to the installers behind him:

  "Pack up to this place."

  The installers nodded and began opening cartons, taking out drill bits and other installation tools.

  "What do you want to do?"

  Xiaomi stared blankly at him, that... he wouldn't say they're going to install air conditioning in the dormitory, would he?!

  "Get an air conditioner installed for you, stupid!"

  Yin Tangyao grabbed the electric fan on the table and blew it desperately at his head, his back and face were all sweaty. How annoying, why is it so hot today? The weather forecast said it was 39 degrees, but it should be over 40 degrees.

  "For what? Why install air conditioning?"

  She is still in shock.

  "Dummy, aren't you hot?" Yin Tangyao glared at her.

  "It's hot..."

  Ah, he reminded her, hot to death, hot to death, she hurriedly squeezed beside him and also put her head in front of the electric fan. Whoosh, just a few minutes later, the sweat on her body was like it had just been fished out of water.

  Yin Tangyao smiled complacently: "That's right, so I have to help you install air conditioning, otherwise you'll get hotter and dumber."

  Stupid or what, Xiao Mi scratched his hair: "Are you crazy? How can we install air conditioning in the dorm?!?"

  "Why can't I?"

  "I've never seen anyone install an air conditioner before."

  "Why can't I pretend when others don't?" Yin Tangyao said with a completely nonchalant expression.

  Xiaomi was speechless for a moment, staring at him foolishly. She shook her head desperately, "What about Cheng Auntie? How could she let you come up?"

  "She's not here."

  "What?! She felt dizzy, no way, this kid's luck was so good."

  "What are you doing?"

  Just then, Cheng Auntie's voice sounded outside the dormitory. Xiaomi hurried out and saw her holding several large bunches of keys, probably just after patrolling upstairs. Cheng Auntie frowned at those construction workers and asked: "Who let you in? What are you doing here?"

  "Hello Auntie!" Xiao Mi hastily explained the situation to her and then said apologetically, "Sorry, I'll get him to leave quickly."

  "Oh, I see."

  Cheng Ayi couldn't help but laugh, and looked at Yin Tangyao with a kind gaze. She had heard the girls talk about him before, saying that he was a very overbearing and hateful guy. But would such a guy run out to buy an air conditioner in this sweltering heat just because he was worried about his girlfriend?

  "Anyway, I'm going to install air conditioning here, and you can't stop me!" Yin Tangyao said stubbornly.

  "Each dormitory has limited electricity, at most can only bring a thermos to boil water, if the current is too large it will keep tripping." Aunt Cheng told him.

  "I know that soon the power company people will come to modify the circuit. And I am responsible for the electricity bill."

  "What?!" Xiao Mi's eyes widened in shock.

  Cheng Auntie also said: "Installing air conditioning will also damage the dormitory walls."

  "In the future, I will be responsible for repairing the walls." Yin Tangyao said nonchalantly, "What else?"

  "Also, you need to get the consent of your dormitory classmates."

  "Her consent?"

  Yin Tang glared at Xiao Mi with a fierce and sinister gaze.

  "If you dare disagree, watch out or I'll knock your brains out!"

  A few hours later.

  The air conditioner hung quietly on the dormitory wall, blowing cool wind silently, without any sound. The quality of this air conditioner seems to be really good.

  So cool!

  Xiaomi tidied up the dormitory, stood under the air conditioner, closed her eyes, blew cool wind, and all the sweat on her body disappeared. Ah, a refreshing world, a beautiful world...

  Yin Tangyao hugged her from behind, his chin resting on top of her head:

  "It won't be hot anymore, right?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "Hey! Is this all you can say? How annoying!" He said dejectedly.

  Xiaomi smiled slyly, gently grasping the hands that were crossed over her waist: "You're so fierce, you know? Who threatens others to install air conditioning like that?" Her forehead was still throbbing with pain from his knock.

  "You fool, if I didn't threaten you, you wouldn't agree." Her hand was so soft and light, he couldn't help but kiss the top of her fluffy head.

  "Thank you, I will pay for the air conditioner..."

  "Air conditioning is not free!"

  "Huh?"

  "You have to make noodles for me often from now on, did you hear that?!" Yin Tangyao still wanted to pretend to be fierce, but his tone was strangely gentle.

  "Oh, okay." Xiao Mi's heart warmed up, she wanted to turn her head to look at him, but he tightly hugged her and held her head in place, not letting her see his slightly red face.

  After a while.

  "Also, tomorrow I'll introduce a friend to you, so dress up nicely."

  "Your friend?"

  "Uh, he's been my best friend since childhood."

  "What kind of person is he?"

  "Dummy, you'll know when you see it!" Yin Tangyao rapped her on the head.

  "Oh." Xiao Mi rubbed the spot where he was hit, feeling depressed and thinking that his friend might also be fierce like him.

  PS: Thank you for the angel's long review with tears flowing~~~Dear~~~

  Also, PS: The finale of "Rainy Night Starlight" is now on sale, congratulations to diddl and dingding! The cover looks great too. It includes a side story I wrote about Ming Ruo, which is about Xiao Xi and Bing (not the one titled "The Little Witch's Finishing Move"). The content is relatively short. Diddl and Dingding did an excellent job:)

  P.S. Recently many friends seem to be having exams soon, no matter what kind of exam you're facing, you must work hard and review, review, and review again!! Come on!!!

  Hug "I'm just like this"~~~

  ：）

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