As the dismissal bell rang, students left the classroom in groups, chattering and laughing as they went off to find food. Despite being a large class, it emptied out quickly. Soon, only a few students remained, scattered here and there.

  Although the semester had just begun, both boarders and day students had already formed their own cliques during the two weeks of military training. Lin Xian usually left school with Chen Zhi and Tang Mo at noon and after class. Even Shi Man, during the lunch break back then, had joined them. But she had made it clear from the start that once the semester officially started, she wouldn’t be walking with them anymore—her older sister would come for her instead.

  Now, Lin Xian and Tang Mo leaned against their desks, looking utterly bored while waiting for Chen Zhi to slowly pack up her things. Just then, Lin Xian noticed that Chen Zhi had frozen in place, her eyes fixated on something outside the window.

  Tang Mo, always the impatient one, waved a hand in front of her face and complained, “What are you spacing out for? At this rate, we’ve already missed a bus.”

  Chen Zhi finally snapped out of it. She jerked her chin toward the hallway outside, speaking in a hushed, excited tone. “I just saw a real beauty—look over there…”

  At that, both Lin Xian and Tang Mo turned around simultaneously to see for themselves.

  Sure enough, standing in the hallway was a tall girl with long black hair, elegant and composed. Her features were exquisite, cool, and distant, her gaze calm and aloof. At that moment, she was quietly peering into the classroom.

  “She’s the Student Council Office Director…” Tang Mo recognized her instantly.

  Meanwhile, poor Xia Zhijin… Lin Xian sighed to herself.

  Her gaze shifted to the front of the class, where Shi Man still sat unmoving at her desk. Lin Xian let out a small sigh. Shi Man had finally stopped crying by the time class began, but for the whole period, she’d remained gloomy and distracted. Lin Xian could feel it.

  Once Chen Zhi finished packing and the three of them were about to leave, Shi Man was the only one still in her seat. As Lin Xian passed by her, she said, “Manman, we’re heading off. See you tomorrow.” After a few steps, she turned to glance at Xia Zhijin, still standing quietly outside. Remembering her kindness for bringing the medicine, Lin Xian couldn’t help but add, “Your sister is waiting outside…”

  Without even looking up, Shi Man replied indifferently, her tone giving nothing away. “I know. Mm, see you tomorrow.”

  There wasn’t much more Lin Xian could say. She followed Chen Zhi and Tang Mo out. As they passed Xia Zhijin, Lin Xian gave her a polite nod. “Senior, I’m heading off.”

  Xia Zhijin’s expression was calm as she glanced down at Lin Xian, nodding slightly. “Goodbye,” she said softly—her voice cool and slow, like a breeze in the early evening.

  As they descended the stairs, Lin Xian couldn’t resist turning around for one last look. Xia Zhijin was still there, standing silently in place…

  When Lin Xian got home, Xiao Wanqing had already returned from work and was in the kitchen cooking.

  As soon as Lin Xian pushed the door open and heard the crackling sound of stir-frying, a warm joy inexplicably bloomed in her chest. She kicked off her shoes, tossed her bag onto the sofa, and bounded toward the kitchen, calling out gleefully, “Aunt Xiao, I’m home!”

  In the next moment, that graceful and delicate figure appeared before her eyes.

  Xiao Wanqing turned off the stove and looked back. The corners of her lips curved gently as she saw Lin Xian. Her tone held a touch of amused helplessness. “Already forgot this morning’s warning, huh? Why are you running again? What if you slip and fall?”

  Lin Xian naturally stepped up beside her and took over the pan and spatula, helping to dish out the food. Tilting her head to look at her, she grinned sweetly. “I won’t fall. Not with you here, Aunt Xiao.”

  Xiao Wanqing could only sigh, helpless. “You…” She took the empty pan and placed it in the sink, then said warmly, “Go wash your hands and get ready for dinner. You must be hungry.”

  Lin Xian obediently turned on the faucet to wash her hands. As she tilted her head, sneaking a glance at Xiao Wanqing—her head slightly bowed, serene and focused on cleaning the pan—Lin Xian’s heart stirred quietly.

  It hadn’t even been long since these days began, but somehow… it already felt like they had been living this way for a very long time. Long enough for her to grow used to it—used to Xiao Wanqing’s presence. Scientists say it takes twenty-one days to form a habit, but Lin Xian felt that it hadn’t even taken that long. She had already gotten used to this life with Xiao Wanqing. And she hoped—deep down—that it could stay this way forever. Just one turn, and she’d see that gentle, smiling face.

  Over dinner, as usual, Lin Xian shared her day with Xiao Wanqing, naturally bringing up the tense encounter between Shi Man and Xia Zhijin.

  Retelling the story helped her sort through the details in her head. After a sip of soup, she licked her lips and commented thoughtfully, “Those two sisters… don’t really seem like normal sisters, do they?”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Xiao Wanqing’s expression remained calm, but a subtle flicker crossed her gaze. She hesitated for a moment before replying, “Didn’t Shi Man say that Xia Zhijin wasn’t her sister?”

  Lin Xian’s voice rose in surprise. “Huh? Wasn’t that just anger talking? Like when you said, ‘Lin Xian, I’m never talking to you again’ that day…” As she spoke, she couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory, laughing so hard she nearly fell over.

  Xiao Wanqing paused as she was ladling more soup for Lin Xian. A soft blush rose to her cheeks, delicate and warm. She set the bowl down gently and asked with deliberate calm, “So… are you ticklish?”

  Lin Xian’s laughter faded a little. She looked up and nodded cautiously.

  A sly smile flickered in Xiao Wanqing’s eyes, her tone light and teasing. “Then… do you want to experience something very fun, very ticklish, very… irresistible?” She leaned in slightly, as if preparing to pounce.

  Lin Xian could feel danger radiating off her words. Her eyes widened in panic, and she quickly crossed her arms to shield her waist. “No, no! I’m sorry, Aunt Xiao! Please don’t!”

  Seeing her all flustered and panicked, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh, her heart bubbling with a rare, genuine joy. She straightened up and said warmly, “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you. Hurry and eat. After dinner, once you’ve had your shower, I’ll show you tomorrow night’s menu. You can see if I missed anything you want to eat.”

  Relieved, Lin Xian let out a long breath. “Everything you make is perfect, Aunt Xiao. I’ll eat whatever you cook. You don’t have to go to all that trouble.”

  But Xiao Wanqing just smiled, her dimples faint and lovely, her expression serious. “I do,” she said softly. “Even if you’re not a fan, I still bought a box of mooncakes. It wouldn’t feel like Mid-Autumn without them. This is your first holiday with us—and it’s Mid-Autumn Festival—it deserves to be celebrated, to be remembered. This is the first. But there will be a second, and a third…”

  What she didn’t tell Lin Xian was that this was the first holiday she’d carefully prepared for since her parents passed away.

  Her voice was warm and serene, filled with hope and longing, like soft fingers brushing gently over Lin Xian’s heart. Lin Xian met her eyes—and saw starlight shining in them. Her own gaze softened unconsciously. “Okay,” she whispered. “Let’s spend it together…”

  However, when Lin Xian came out of the shower and walked into the dimly lit living room, the moment she met Xiao Wanqing’s gaze again, she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination—but the starlight she thought she saw in Xiao Wanqing’s eyes earlier… seemed to have dimmed in lonely silence.

  Xiao Wanqing gave her a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened, and pointed to the already-opened mooncake gift box on the table, calling her over: “Come, have a taste of the mooncakes.”

  As she spoke, she began unwrapping the pastries, one by one.

  Still towel-drying her hair, Lin Xian walked over and sat down on the sofa beside her, slightly puzzled. “We're eating them now? What about tomorrow?”

  Xiao Wanqing didn’t pause her movements. At Lin Xian’s question, she simply smiled lightly and explained, “Your mom called just now while you were in the shower. She said your grandparents are coming over for Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow, so after school, she’ll pick you up directly.”

  She gently sliced a small piece of mooncake, speared it with a fork, and held it up to Lin Xian’s lips, her voice light and cheerful: “Try it. Guess what filling it is.”

  But Lin Xian couldn’t share in that cheer. Her eyes locked tightly on Xiao Wanqing’s face, and she opened her mouth almost mechanically to take a bite. A dull, stuffy ache filled her chest.

  Xiao Wanqing was smiling the same soft way she always did, but somehow, Lin Xian’s heart ached—bluntly, not sharply, not painfully even, just... a heavy, inexplicable discomfort that she couldn’t quite place.

  She clearly remembered the light in Xiao Wanqing’s eyes earlier, when she talked about spending the festival together.

  She had been looking forward to it—so much.

  Had she… always spent holidays like these—meant for family, meant for reunion—completely alone, ever since her parents passed away?

  Lin Xian quickly swallowed the mooncake without even tasting the filling. She blurted out, in a rush, “I’m not going back. I’ll stay here and spend the holiday with you.”

  She had promised. She was the one who gave her that hope.

  Xiao Wanqing froze for just a moment. Then slowly, a gentle smile bloomed at the corners of her lips. She reached out and tapped Lin Xian’s nose lightly, a half-chiding affection in her voice. “What silly things are you saying?”

  “This is your first time being away from home for so long. Your parents must miss you. Uncle Lin and Auntie Lin are coming just to see you, aren’t they? Has it been a while since you last saw them?”

  Lin Xian’s grandparents had spent most of their careers teaching at a university far from her parents’ home, so for years, the two generations had lived separately. Even after they retired, they had grown used to the peace and quiet of just the two of them. They never moved in together, and only saw Lin Zhan and his family on weekends or holidays when they drove out to visit.

  Hearing Xiao Wanqing mention “Uncle Lin and Auntie Lin,” Lin Xian suddenly felt a little dazed.

  All this time, although she had been politely calling Xiao Wanqing “Auntie Xiao,” deep down, she had never really seen her as a true elder—not someone from her mother’s generation, at least.

  But now… it hit her that there really was a generation between them.

  And for some reason, that realization made her feel all the more lost, all the more heavy-hearted.

  She looked up at Xiao Wanqing with a gaze full of quiet hope and an unspoken plea. “Auntie Xiao… why don’t you come home with me too? Let’s spend the holiday together, okay?”

  But Xiao Wanqing simply smiled faintly and shook her head with a teasing air. “No can do. Look at all the groceries we bought yesterday. If I don’t cook them tomorrow, they’ll go bad.”

  Lin Xian bit her lip. She wanted to say, We have a fridge. Food doesn’t spoil that fast.

  But the words spun around the tip of her tongue and never made it out. In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to push.

  She should’ve known.

  Xiao Wanqing had never wanted to return to that sorrowful part of the city. Over the years, even though Zhou Qin had invited her over many times to celebrate the holidays, Xiao Wanqing had always gently refused.

  Maybe it wasn’t just the memories that kept her away. Maybe it was also because she didn’t want to be reminded of her own loneliness—made all the more painful in the midst of other people’s laughter and family warmth.

  In the end, Lin Xian could only lower her head and stare at the mooncake with a missing corner, like it was her own heart, bitten open and hurting. Her voice trembled as she whispered, “I’m sorry…”

  Xiao Wanqing lowered her gaze, the smile on her lips tinged with a sadness too light to fully name. She reached out and gently ruffled the girl’s hair, sighing softly, “Silly girl… what are you apologizing for?”

  It’s me who’s in the wrong…

  Why did I let my guard down so easily? Why did I let myself hope for more?

  It wasn’t Lin Xian who gave me that hope—it was me who wished for it. So now, if I feel disappointed, if I feel hurt—how could she be the one to blame?

  The mistake was mine, for daring to believe… for being greedy enough to hope.