"Crying while pushing the swing?" Dubian Che was first taken aback, then couldn't help but laugh, "I really want to see Meiji from that time, she must have been very cute."

"My daughter, of course, is cute," said Jiutiao's mother.

"My girlfriend, definitely cute," echoed Dubian Che.

"Mr. Dubian," Jiutiao's mother turned her head, "if I had been born twenty years later, I might have fallen in love with you too."

"It makes no difference to me, they are both daughters-in-law of the Jiutiao family. Please continue telling me about Meiji's childhood, I want to know more."

"See that patch of purple alfalfa?"

It was practically a small hill covered with green grass dotted with light purple blossoms.

"Purple alfalfa? I thought they were pea shoots."

"They do look similar," Jiutiao's mother said with a smile, "Meiji and Lin used to run around here like crazy, Lin was frail, always getting left behind by Meiji."

"Strength from swinging?" Dubian Che laughed.

"Ha ha ha," Jiutiao's mother laughed uncontrollably, "Mr. Dubian, you are so good at sweet-talking girls, no wonder Meiji loves you so much."

"We love each other deeply. Kiyono Lin was always getting left behind, what happened after that?"

"Unable to catch up, Lin would just cry, and they'd end up having a big fight. Before leaving, Lin would throw a tantrum and declare she'd never come back, but the next day, they were both out catching butterflies together again."

"All with Kiyono Lin?" asked Dubian Che.

Upon hearing this question, the smile faded from Jiutiao's mother's face.

"Their childhood was only happy during the times they were together. Whether crying while pushing the swing or being left behind, they always made up."

As she spoke, she paused and turned to Dubian Che,

"Kiyono's mother asked you for help, to get Lin to... give up her insistence on not lying, and I totally agree with that. If she can give that up, maybe she and Meiji could become friends again. Meiji has already sacrificed so much for this family, she shouldn't be without friends."

"I'm already trying to get them to become friends again, but I won't do anything superfluous."

"Superfluous?" asked Jiutiao's mother.

"Like deliberately arranging for them to hang out together or leave them alone together. I hope to let things develop naturally, respecting their own wishes. If it works out, it works out; if not, so be it."

"I understand your point of view, but that way, there will be no progress at all. Kiyono's mother and I got them into the same school, and we've had them play together during holidays, to no avail so far."

"If there are no results, then there are no results."

Dubian Che's nonchalant reply took Jiutiao's mother by surprise; she was stunned for a moment, then smiled again.

"I really shouldn't underestimate you, Mr. Dubian."

"Isn't capability a good thing? After all, I am the son-in-law of the Jiutiao family."

"What are you two doing over there?" Jiutiao Meiji's voice came from the direction of the house.

The two of them looked over and saw her standing on the veranda, dressed in loose home clothes, looking like a newlywed wife.

"Let's go back, your daughter is getting jealous."

"She does get quite jealous."

"I'm going to tattle."

"Please spare me."

Dubian Che and Jiutiao's mother changed their shoes and stepped onto the veranda.

"What were you talking about?" Jiutiao Meiji asked Dubian Che.

"If I were born twenty years later, Mr. Dubian was planning to marry me," Jiutiao's mother replied.

Jiutiao Meiji looked at Dubian Che.

"I refused," said Dubian Che, "I told your mother, 'Even if you were born twenty years later, I would still marry your sister Meiji.'"

"How annoying, do I look younger than Meiji?" Jiutiao's mother cupped her face with her hands, as if feeling for the lively elasticity of her skin.

"You would be, let's see... twelve years old now?"

"That's way too young," giggled Jiutiao's mother, "Ah well, after a good time planting flowers and having a laugh, I'm off to take a bath."

Jiutiao Meiji watched her mother leave, her gaze then shifted to Dubian Che, "What did you two talk about?"

"About your childhood," Dubian Che drew her into his arms.

Jiutiao Meiji had just taken a bath; her fair skin glowed with a faint blush, reminiscent of the roses in the garden, and her eyes held a hint of scorn and aloofness, enchanting to behold.

"What specifically?" she asked nonchalantly.

Dubian Che had yet to take a bath, and he had been in a ball game earlier that day. Jiutiao Meiji sniffed but couldn't smell any sweat.

"You said you kept losing at rock-paper-scissors and cried at the swing."

"Any thoughts?"

"Kiyono Lin is so heartless, utterly without compassion. How about revenge next Monday? Rock-paper-scissors again, and for every loss, one lap around the track."

"You'll run for me."

"They won't agree to that, will they?"

"Are you going to school tomorrow?"

"Wind Instrument Club business."

On the veranda, the two of them wrapped in each other's embrace.

Dubian Che whispered in Jiutiao Meiji's ear, while she lazily leaned against him, both looking out at the twilight sky.

After dinner, Dubian Che took a bath, using Jiutiao Meiji's bathroom.

Immersion in the bath, surrounded by lingering traces of Jiutiao Meiji, brought him a profound sense of relaxation.

Stepping out in a thin, soft, expensive yukata, he walked along the illuminated corridor.

In the courtyard garden, barely lit by the scattered lights, moved delicate figures: it was Jiutiao Meiji and her mother.

Dubian Che simply stood in the gallery, watching them and the night sky.

The moon was bright, cotton-like white clouds drifting slowly, and the breeze held an early May chill.

Jiutiao's mother and Jiutiao Meiji returned with a bunch of cut branches.

"You're still playing with flowers at this age?" Dubian Che teased.

"Ikebana, do you know it?" Jiutiao Meiji handed all the branches for him to carry.

"A country bumpkin wouldn't understand, teach me, sister."

Jiutiao's mother was initially looking at the branches in her hands, but upon hearing Dubian Che's words, she looked up at the two of them.

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