Yu Wanrou walked down from upstairs in a gentle gait. When she met Yin Zhao-an's gaze in the living room, the two smiled at each other as a form of greeting.
"Since you're here, just stay here tonight, An-An," Yu Wanrou suggested as she stood before Tang Yu and Yin Zhao-an. Of the two girls, Tang Yu was at the same eye level as her, while Yin Zhao-an was a head taller than she was.
"Okay," Yin Zhao-an agreed.
Overhearing this, Tang Zhengyang jumped off the sofa and said, "Then, I'll go tidy up the guest room."
"No need," Yu Wanrou interrupted her husband. Then, she looked at the two children and said, "They're both girls, so it's fine if they sleep together. Right, An-An?"
Tang Zhengyang stood stiffly for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching. Then, he silently sat back on the sofa.
Meanwhile, Yin Zhao-an smiled and said, "I'm fine with anything."
Yu Wanrou nodded. Then, she turned around to head back upstairs, but on her way up, she turned to look at Tang Yu and said, "Come to my room for a moment, Little Yu. I have something to tell you."
Tang Yu knew that her mother wanted to talk to her about her relationship with Yin Zhao-an. Out of anxiety, she turned to look at Yin Zhao-an, but when she saw the look of assurance in Yin Zhao-an's eyes and felt the grip over her hand tightening a little, she suddenly felt that there was nothing to fear.
No matter what difficulties she might encounter, the person next to her would not easily let go of her hand. They could stand side by side and face the unknown challenges ahead of them together.
…
When Tang Yu stepped into her parents' bedroom, she saw that her mother was currently teasing the little baby in the crib, her mother's maternal aura becoming even more apparent than before.
"Come and take a look at Chen-Chen," Yu Wanrou beckoned at Tang Yu and patted the chair next to her.
The baby in the crib was chubby and had a pair of bright eyes that followed Tang Yu's movements, his soft little hands waving around as if trying to grab something.
Tang Yu tentatively extended a finger, which was quickly grabbed by the small hand. The hand felt soft and warm, and it did not feel weak at all. Even so, Tang Yu didn't dare to make any movements for fear of harming her little brother. Though, when she looked at the new life before her, she suddenly experienced a strange and indescribable feeling.
"Chen-Chen is an obedient baby, just like when you were little," Yu Wanrou said with a nostalgic expression. Then, while gently stroking the baby's tender cheek, she continued, "You were very shy when you were small, and you didn't dare to go anywhere. You would hide whenever you saw strangers. An-An was the first friend you made, and I am grateful for the protection she has given to you throughout your journey of growth.
"Although I was a bit surprised about An-An liking you, I'm not an obstinate parent. My job is to do translation work for foreign clients, so I have had many opportunities to see same-sex couples living happily.
"I am also aware of the situation within the country. Although it hasn't reached the point of discrimination, many people still find it difficult to accept this kind of love, and many couples have separated due to social pressure.
"You and An-An are very lucky. At the very least, your Aunt Wang and I aren't that kind of people. We respect your love and are willing to make concessions for you, but I also hope that you can show me the results of our concessions. Do you understand?"
"I understand. An-An and I will be happy forever," Tang Yu replied firmly.
"I hope so. An-An is a good child, and I hope you two will be happy together," Yu Wanrou said, smiling lovingly as she touched Tang Yu's cheek. "You are my child. No matter what, I will stand by your side."
Tang Yu held her mother's hand and felt her mother's warmth on her face, her eyes growing moist as she said, "Thank you, Mommy."
"You can go back now. An-An must be waiting for you anxiously," Yu Wanrou said as she retracted her hand. "As for your father, he knows little about these things, so it's normal for him to have difficulty accepting it. Don't be mad at him."
"I won't. I know Daddy wants the best for us," Tang Yu said with a smile.
After bidding farewell to her mother, Tang Yu returned to her room. By now, Yin Zhao-an had already finished washing up and neatly folded the clothes she had been wearing earlier, and she was currently sitting cross-legged on the bed.
For some reason, when the two met each other's eyes, they felt as if they had finally reunited after a long period of separation.
Smiling, Yin Zhao-an opened her arms to Tang Yu.
Without thinking, Tang Yu locked the door behind her and shuffled over Yin Zhao-an, hugging her tightly.
Affected by inertia, Yin Zhao-an fell backward with Tang Yu in her arms. Even so, Tang Yu refused to let go of her waist and continued to rub against her like a clingy kitten.
Worried that Tang Yu might catch a cold, Yin Zhao-an reversed their positions and pulled a blanket over them, making sure that Tang Yu was covered before continuing to indulge her childish actions.
"Was this the surprise you mentioned?" Tang Yu asked with her face buried in Yin Zhao-an's neck. Then, she took a deep breath of Yin Zhao-an's scent, smelling a faint hint of mint that originated from her shower gel.
"It's one of them. Honestly, I didn't expect to get Auntie's approval so easily. Also, my parents are okay with us," Yin Zhao-an answered while gently stroking Tang Yu's hair. Then, switching to holding Tang Yu's face with both hands, Yin Zhao-an looked into Tang Yu's eyes and continued, "From now on, we don't need to hide anymore. We are lovers who have received the blessings of our families."
Tang Yu stared in surprise at the person in front of her, feeling truly lucky to have been able to reincarnate. In this new life, not only was she able to get together with the person she loved, but the person in question also loved her back and was willing to shield her from all the storms of life, even if it meant risking her own life.
Tang Yu couldn't find any words to adequately express her feelings, so she leaned forward and kissed Yin Zhao-an's lips, using actions to convey her current emotions.
Afterward, Tang Yu heard a soft laugh coming from above her before feeling a tongue invade her mouth, the sudden invasion stimulating her senses and sending a shiver through her body.
However, this kiss did not last long, as Yin Zhao-an ended it before they got too passionate. Then, she rubbed her thumb across Tang Yu's rosy lips before suddenly switching to kissing Tang Yu's neck.
Tang Yu felt a slight pain from her neck, but the pain disappeared before she could even cry out.
Meanwhile, Yin Zhao-an gently caressed the place she had just kissed and joyfully said, "That's my stamp of ownership!"
Tang Yu blushed and shyly snuggled into Yin Zhao-an's arms. In a soft voice, she said, "Let's go to bed. You still have classes tomorrow."
Chuckling softly, Yin Zhao-an said, "Alright, let's go to sleep. Goodnight, my wife."
…
The atmosphere of the Lunar New Year this year was slightly different from usual as Yu Wanrou and Wang Zhen happily discussed their daughters' affairs, occasionally bursting into laughter as they chatted. Meanwhile, on the other side…
Tang Zhengyang quietly brewed a pot of tea and poured a cup for Yin Changcheng, the two men silently sipping tea in a corner.
The third year of high school was a critical time for students, so school holidays were drastically shortened. As a result, Yin Zhao-an only got to stay at home for a few days before returning to school to prepare for the final semester. Though, she didn't complain about it as her goal was to be with Tang Yu at every crucial stage of life, from wearing school uniforms to wedding dresses together.
…
Time passed by neither too quickly nor slowly. Thanks to her role as the voice of Ye Rumeng, Tang Yu successfully gained some popularity in the voice-acting industry.
During that same period, Wu Na's temperament changed drastically. No longer did she stay out late or wear heavy makeup. She also stopped skipping classes, behaving no differently than any other student. Though, exactly what caused these changes was unknown to everyone but herself.
…
On the eve of the college entrance examination, Tang Yu started providing psychological counseling to Yin Zhao-an. Having gone through the examination twice before, Tang Yu was immune to the stresses that came with participating in such important tests, but it was a different story for Yin Zhao-an. Although she doubted Yin Zhao-an would have trouble with the actual tests, some anxiety was unavoidable, and there was no saying whether this anxiety could lead to errors in judgment.
However, contrary to Tang Yu's expectations, Yin Zhao-an didn't seem nervous at all. While leaning against her bed's headboard, Yin Zhao-an flatly said, "What should I do? I'm so nervous. What if I miss a question?" Yet, as she was saying so, she was watching and taking screenshots of the two game characters on her laptop hugging a cute little baby in their arms…
…
Classes continued as usual in university, even as the college entrance examination was taking place. So, Tang Yu attended classes as usual, though none of the lecturers' words ever stayed in her mind for more than a second.
On the last day of the college entrance examination, Tang Yu woke up and got changed very early in the morning. Wang Feifei was still half-asleep and lying on the edge of her bed as she watched Tang Yu pacing around the dormitory wearing a French cornflower dress, occasionally stopping in front of the full-length mirror to check on the makeup she had applied with great difficulty.
After letting out a yawn, Wang Feifei lazily asked, "Are you going on a date, Tang Yu?"
At this time, Guo Yifan also got out of bed with messy hair. Then, when she saw how Tang Yu looked, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Sure enough, a woman in love will change how she looks for her beloved. Since when did you stop being single?"
As for Wu Na, who remained silent throughout this entire time, she lifted the curtains of her bed a little and looked at the shy and smiling Tang Yu in silence. Then, she quietly took a photo of Tang Yu with her phone, lowered her curtains, and erased her presence completely.
After making sure her appearance was flawless, Tang Yu turned to Guo Yifan and awkwardly said, "Um… If the lecturer is taking attendance today…"
Guo Yifan instantly understood what Tang Yu wanted to say, so she generously waved her hand and smiled, saying, "I get it, I get it. Leave everything to me. I can even take a video of tomorrow's basic lecture for you if you can't make it back today."
"Thank you!" Tang Yu smiled gratefully, her cute dimples paired showing on her innocent face.
Guo Yifan fell into a daze. Tang Yu would rarely smile like this, her smiles being polite and distant most of the time. This was the first time Guo Yifan had seen Tang Yu smiling so sweetly, and her heart nearly stopped because of the sight.
Meanwhile, Tang Yu picked up a small handbag and walked out of the room in a pair of short heels, her skirt swaying in the wind.