The sports event eliminated all club activities for the day.
With two minutes left before school let out, Jiutiao Meijie, killing time in the classroom, received a call from her mother.
"Sweetie, come keep me company tonight," Jiutiao’s mother’s voice was bright and cheerful.
"You don’t have work today, why not spend time with Mom?" After a slight pause, Jiutiao’s mother’s voice took on a more meaningful tone, "Is Mr. Dubian coming over to your place?"
Jiutiao Meijie looked at Dubian Che with an inquiring gaze.
It was a question asked with knowing the answer.
Telling Dubian Che ’I’m free tonight’ during the day was her way of inviting him over.
This wasn’t something one could call out directly, faced with Jiutiao Meijie’s look, Dubian Che nodded, indicating he wanted to go.
Embrace Meijie three times every day — this was a heartfelt declaration.
"He says he’s coming over to my place," Jiutiao Meijie told the person on the other end of the phone.
Laughter, tinged with mockery, came through the phone, "Then let Mr. Dubian come over too; I haven’t seen him in so long."
"He says he doesn’t want to see you," Jiutiao Meijie replied unhesitatingly.
"Really," Jiutiao Meijie said, her voice alight with a smile.
"Well then, I must see him to teach him how to respect his mother."
Dubian Che snatched the phone from Jiutiao Meijie’s hand.
"Mrs. Jiutiao, don’t listen to Meiji’s nonsense, I was indeed looking forward to visiting you."
"Really?" Jiutiao’s mother’s voice was enchanting.
"Really," Dubian Che assured.
"That’s good. I thought you’d forgotten about me, considering we spent such a joyful Christmas together."
"I might forget God, but I can’t forget you from that day at Christmas."
Jiutiao’s mother laughed like a young girl, a smile in her voice as she said,
"I don’t believe that; boys’ words are all lies."
"Absolutely true, how could I deceive you? Sweet talk is reserved only for Meiji, but for you, it’s nothing but heartfelt respect."
"All right, Mr. Dubian, you tell me, who’s prettier, Meiji or me?"
"What? Crepes? You want to eat crepes? Sure, I’ll bring them to you, so that settles it, see you soon, bye~"
After hanging up, Dubian Che handed the phone back to Jiutiao Meijie, shaking his head as though he didn’t want a next time, saying,
"I can’t stand your mother."
"You’re pretty good at fooling people," Jiutiao Meijie sneered, "do you always fool me ?"
"Just occasionally, I usually tell the truth the majority of the time."
"The majority?" Not taking her phone, Jiutiao Meijie reached out and twisted Dubian Che’s ear.
"Wait, not even occasionally? Ow, ow, I definitely won’t dare again in the future!"
"Not dare? I think even that is a line to fool me!"
"Meiji, you’re so clever! Hisss—"
After school, the pair headed to Jiutiao’s mother’s large estate.
As soon as they got out of the car, Jiutiao Meijie went straight for a shower, leaving Dubian Che no choice but to meet with Mrs. Jiutiao alone.
Passing through the winding wooden cloister, he saw Mrs. Jiutiao, clad as a gardener, in the garden.
He changed his shoes, left the cloister, and stepped onto the tidy path of the courtyard.
The courtyard seemed like a secret garden of trees and flowers, a sanctuary from the noise of Tokyo, with only birds singing in the trees.
These trees and flowers — Dubian Che recognized only the purple hydrangeas, roses, gardenias, and the lavender blossoming sunward with a pleasant fragrance.
And these were just a tiny corner of the garden.
Two maids following Mrs. Jiutiao bowed to Dubian Che as he approached.
Dubian Che nodded at them without a word and just stood there watching Mrs. Jiutiao plant saplings in the soil.
It was May, and at 4 p.m. the sky was still bright.
The scent that lingered at Dubian Che’s nose was refreshing, the fragrance of an unknown flower.
After finishing with the soil around the saplings, Mrs. Jiutiao stood up.
"Deep red roses from Germany," she said, turning her head towards Dubian Che.
"When will they bloom?" Dubian Che looked at the saplings.
"I’m planning on having them bloom in autumn."
Roses in late spring, early summer, supposedly blooming in autumn — Mrs. Jiutiao spoke with flavor, with a desire to command everything within.
Because of Jiutiao Meijie, Dubian Che no longer disliked this type of personality in women.
"Mr. Dubian, do you understand roses?" Mrs. Jiutiao reached her hand out, and a maid took the tools from her.
"I know nothing about flowers."
"Autumn roses are more fragrant and voluptuous, more graceful and poised than those of spring," she declared.
"Is that so? There’s not only a difference in varieties but seasons as well?" Dubian Che asked curiously.
Without answering his question, Mrs. Jiutiao, who had planted a field of deep red roses, still seemed full of energy.
"Do you prefer autumn roses or spring ones?" she asked.
"I haven’t paid attention to autumn roses. But if I were to choose, I like whatever’s in season, whether it’s vegetables or flowers."
"In season, eh? I remember, you and Lin share the same birthday, right?"
"Then I’ll say I like August flowers," Dubian Che changed his answer.
Now it was May, three months bigger than August.
Mrs. Jiutiao laughed, "June is nearly here; I was just reminded of your and Lin’s birthday, why would you go out of your way to clarify?"
"Did Meiji grow up here?" Dubian Che glanced around, changing the subject.
"When she was little, this was the secret garden where she and Lin played hide-and-seek and played house," Mrs. Jiutiao began walking down the path, with Dubian Che following a step behind.
The two maids trailed even further back.
"Look at this wisteria pergola," Mrs. Jiutiao said.
Dubian Che looked, the wisteria had withered, and long pods hung from the pergola.
"There used to be a swing here; Meiji and Lin once played rock-paper-scissors to decide who would push the swing. Meiji was unlucky, not winning a single time. When I came over, she was crying while pushing the swing," Mrs. Jiutiao reminisced.