But now that I think about it, since graduating from high school, Ming Yue always finds ways to stick around Musen or comes to the store to help.
Looking at it this way, perhaps this is a manifestation of her lack of security...
"An Nuannuan, someone from your high school?"
Mother Xu thought about the name but didn't have much of an impression.
"Yeah, she once came to eat with me on Snack Street, just never met you, she's the girl in the advertisement I shot who didn't show her face; you once complimented how cute she was eating, that's her."
Musen said with a chuckle.
Mother Xu also thought about it, recalling how her son had shot advertisements for the Snack Street shops, which featured a girl whose face was never shown.
Even without showing her face, her fair skin and the shiny lips as she ate made it clear she was a pretty girl in the making.
Mother Xu liked to watch the commercials her son shot, and had even asked who the cute little actress they hired was.
By this account, they have already been together for at least a half a year.
Emotions can develop between people in just a couple of months; many get married after just two or three months, so it's not uncommon for young people to spend half a year together continuously.
So Musen's decision definitely isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing; he's considered it seriously.
"Have you really thought it through?"
"Yeah, I've thought it through. I do like her, and my adolescence is passing by without even talking about love."
Musen said with a light laugh, eighteen years old, which was actually the last one or two years at the tail end of adolescence.
Mother Xu could tell from his tone the mood of her son.
They did not oppose the idea of him dating. In fact, for boys, it's beneficial to start dating a bit earlier.
All parents are : they protect their own family's "cabbage" without gaps and would rather have their own "boar" go out and plow someone else's garden every day.
"We won't oppose what you do, but you must talk this over properly with Ming Yue, don't let her be too heartbroken, there are some things... sigh, you should consider them more."
Mother Xu left some things unsaid.
But in matters of life, she still respects her son's choice.
After all, they can't accompany him forever—only the person he loves can be with Musen for a lifetime.
Musen hung up the phone.
Actually, inside, he felt a bit unsettled too.
Musen couldn't pinpoint his feelings for her now; he definitely couldn't say he didn't like her at all.
But Musen was also unable to discern whether his affection was for the pleasant memories of childhood sweethearts or for the familiarity of being spouses in a past life.
Friendship, love, kinship—the proportions of these feelings meant their relationship was complicated from the start.
But a result like their previous life's was surely the worst possible outcome for both of them.
If being together would only repeat past mistakes, it would be better to choose another path.
They could be childhood sweethearts or neighbors, perhaps even like family.
But as a couple, as husband and wife, they simply weren't suitable now.
Musen hoped she could live a better life, truly heal her own emotional wounds, and find her own way of living.
Similarly, he wanted to experience a genuine love affair for once and find his own life.
That way, it would be best for both of them.
Only...Musen often wondered if he got together with An Nuannuan.
Could Yao Mingyue really let him go?
If she couldn't let go, would she become another Professor Gao?
But if Yao Mingyue truly moved on and found another guy...
Musen exhaled a deep breath and suddenly felt an even heavier sense of melancholy.
Musen raised his hand to his forehead, smacking it slightly. What difference was there between these thoughts and being morbidly possessive?
Wanting the one in the bowl and longing for the one in the pot.
Even if he didn't eat, he also didn't want someone else to take it away.
Can one truly never change their spots?
Musen felt a pang of sadness; they say that fundamentally, spouses are of one kind.
He suddenly wondered if some of Yao Mingyue's issues were actually a reflection of aspects of his own personality?
Zhu Yulan called to say the license plate issue had been settled, asking him to come take a look.
When Musen arrived at the school gate, Zhu Yulan was already there.
"To trouble you, the owner Zhu, to come pick me up, I really feel embarrassed."
Musen greeted her with a grin, but he had already adeptly settled into her Ferrari.
"You're the one with the thickest skin."
Zhu Yulan huffed, but she didn't notice herself.
The reason she came to pick Musen up had changed from not wanting to waste time at first to now... wanting to waste time.
"What's that you're holding in your hand?"
Zhu Yulan noticed the bag he was carrying.
"I prepared a little something for the meeting, you can't go wrong with a gift."
Musen said with a smile.
If you're asking for a favor, you should always bring something.
Although to Zhu Yulan, a car plate number doesn't really count for much, Musen wanted to be clear.
Once he gave a gift, that favor would be considered repaid; otherwise, it would appear ungracious to let Zhu Yulan help without acknowledging the favor.
Zhu Yulan looked at him sideways for a bit before speaking sarcastically: "A gift can't offend, how come some people have never brought me a gift?"