Jiutiao's mother sat up straight and said with a beaming smile,

"Mr. Dubian, what were we talking about?"

"Are you asking me?"

"Hmm?" Jiutiao's mother tilted her head and looked at him, her demeanor and expressions indistinguishable from a high school girl's, yet with an added mature charm.

"Go on, tell us." Jiutiao Meijie remained composed.

"I'm curious too." Kiyono Lin said.

Dubian Che was about to speak when Jiutiao's mother leaned in again, carrying the scent of May roses.

Her flirtatious lips approached Dubian Che's ear, her wrinkle-free hand shielding the conversation.

Her eyes darted towards the other three, as if afraid they would eavesdrop.

"Don't tell anyone, okay? Although they know the purpose of the dinner, if it's said aloud, they wouldn't come."

After she finished, Dubian Che also leaned towards her ear.

"At the end of the month, Meiji and I are going on a trip, where do you suggest we go?"

Jiutiao's mother shrank her shoulders as if ticklish, cooing shyly.

Dubian Che wondered if the woman he first met, dressed in a splendid kimono, sitting dignified and noble at the head of the table, was a stand-in.

After their exchange, Dubian Che told the other three,

"Meiji and I are planning to go on a trip at the end of the month. Just now I was asking Jiutiao... mom where it's fun to go."

Jiutiao's mother glanced at Kiyono Lin, who could see through lies, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Mr. Dubian," her eyes brimming with mirth, "mom really likes you."

"Mom, I like you very much too."

"Lies," Kiyono Lin said as she dabbed the corner of her mouth with a white napkin.

"..." Dubian Che admitted, "Okay, I like Meiji."

"Really, Lin is such a killjoy." Jiutiao's mother didn't mind at all, "Mr. Dubian, it's okay, whatever you say, mama believes you."

'Better at lying than me!' Dubian Che sought help with a look towards his girlfriend.

"Mother," Jiutiao Meijie called out coldly.

"Alright, alright, Meiji is jealous." Jiutiao's mother at last ended the act.

"A trip, how nice," Kiyono's mother sighed, "speaking of which, I haven't gone out at all this year. How about this, let's go together?"

"Ah?" Dubian Che was stunned.

"Is that okay, Mr. Dubian?" Kiyono's mother leaned in and rested on Dubian Che's shoulder.

A light scent wound around him.

'Help·me·please.' Dubian Che looked desperately at Kiyono Lin.

Kiyono Lin took a sip of fresh orange juice and turned her gaze towards the rippling bay.

Dubian Che then looked towards Jiutiao's mother.

Jiutiao's mother looked at Kiyono Lin and then at her own daughter.

"How nice, all five of us will go together," she said with a smile.

"Then it's settled!" Kiyono's mother said decisively, clapping her hands together, "We two mothers will decide on the location and arrange the itinerary. You three kids focus on your studies."

Under the table, Jiutiao Meijie kicked Dubian Che hard.

On the way back, she crossed her legs, folded her arms, and asked Dubian Che,

"Why didn't you just refuse?"

"She's Kiyono's mother."

"What? You want to go to their house?" she scoffed.

"She's Kiyono's mother. I've only met her a few times, how could I refuse? If it were our mothers, I'd simply say 'No, Meiji and I need some alone time.' Do you get what I mean? The less familiar we are, the harder it is to refuse."

After saying that, Dubian Che complained,

"Your mother is the same, why did she agree?"

Jiutiao Meijie narrowed her eyes slightly, pondering something, then smiled again.

"Actually, it's fine. They can see how close we are on this trip."

It's supposed to be our anniversary, right?

Why did Dubian Che have the foreboding feeling of an inauspicious day?

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