"Not much," Jiutiao Meijie spoke casually and with ease, "just that you said something exactly like what my mother would say."
The pressure on his hand grew.
"Mother and son share a special bond, something you can't understand as a girlfriend right now," Dubian Che said, then turned his head to Mrs. Jiutiao, "Right, dear Mother?"
"Mother? Where is the Mother?" Jiutiao Zhenji looked around, "Where could Mother be?"
Dubian Che whispered to Jiutiao Meijie, "Your mom's gone crazy, really."
"Che-kun," Jiutiao Zhenji's radiant smile was ruthless as her hand twisted at Dubian Che's waist—truly like mother, like daughter.
In such an atmosphere, the three of them walked to the cultural center.
It was a courtyard enclosed by long pavilions, surrounded by lush trees, with white clouds and blue sky in the distance.
In the courtyard, a wedding was being held, with many onlookers.
At Meiji Shrine, weddings were naturally conducted in the "Divine wedding" style.
The bride was dressed in a white shiromuku, and the groom wore a full black kimono with a flat-striped pleated skirt, a white flower ball in the center of the chest, and a white fan in hand.
The shrine priest led the way at the front, followed by two shrine maidens in red and white attire.
The bride and groom walked behind the maidens, followed by a priest holding a red umbrella over the couple.
Behind the priest were family members from both sides, with the men in tailcoats or suits and the women in black or plain-colored kimonos.
"Should we also get married here in the future?" Dubian Che asked.
"Miss Manaka, can you return to your year of 19**?"
"Are you calling me old?"
"Then why won't you marry me..." Under her daughter's gloomy gaze, Jiutiao Zhenji smiled and changed her words, "Nevermind, just kidding."
'Release my arm already!' For Dubian Che, it wasn't enjoyment, it was torture.
"Let's go, let's look at the irises!" Jiutiao Meijie didn't get as angry as imagined, smiling as she led the two out of the courtyard.
After walking through the forest of ancient trees for a while, they arrived at a green lawn.
The rain from yesterday had evaporated clean after a morning of sunshine. At this time, on the fresh green lawn, families picnicked, children chased and played, and couples walked.
"Shall we sit and rest a while?" Jiutiao Zhenji suggested.
"Forget it, too many people here, let's walk on a bit further." Today it wasn't Mrs. Jiutiao, but Jiutiao Zhenji, so Dubian Che didn't entirely comply with her suggestion.
"I'm not tired, but my feet hurt." Jiutiao Zhenji said, "Will you carry me, Che-kun?"
"If you don't want to carry me, then let's rest a while, alright? I'm very gentle and understanding, you know."
"Mother, please, don't make it hard for him," Jiutiao Meijie said, her smile hiding her amusement, "Walking with me, and stumbling upon a crowd of lovers, he has already killed his yesterday-self in his heart."
Mrs. Jiutiao covered her mouth, laughing elegantly, "I did it on purpose. It was those kids over there, wasn't it?"
She pointed at a group of girls gathered under a camphor tree.
'Vicious old aunt from 19**!'
In the direction pointed out by Mrs. Jiutiao, there were Mayi Asuka, Xiaoquan Aonai, Akiko, Miyazaki Miyuki—these were the expected figures.
Additionally, the Wind Instrument Club Minister Ayane Kumi, along with her subordinates: Ichiki Aoi, Yuzao Haomei, Hanaoka Asako, Horikita Mai, Ushinishi Rika...
And finally, Kiyono Lin. Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel⟡fire.net
'Why are you here?' 'Do I need to explain?'—That was the silent exchange of looks between Dubian Che and Kiyono Lin before Jiutiao Zhenji mentioned resting.
"Go say hello, otherwise it would be too rude," Mrs. Jiutiao said cheerfully.
"Meijie?" Dubian Che listened to his girlfriend's suggestion.
Jiutiao Meijie snorted coldly, "Let's go have a look then."
"Meijie, make sure you act with the dignity of a legal wife," Mrs. Jiutiao reminded her, "By the way, remember: I am Meijie's older sister Manaka, a senior at Sacred Heart Girls' High School, member of the Kendo Department, and a fan of manga."
"You know about manga?" Dubian Che was a bit surprised.
"Che-kun," Mrs. Jiutiao laughed, "Just how old do you think I am in your heart?"
"When I was younger, I was also a girl chasing trends and loving shoujo manga. Remember that."
"Nothing, didn't say anything."
The trio, arm in arm, walked towards the group, who had already noticed them and showed various reactions.
Mayi Asuka's clear eyes fixed on Dubian Che, not even noticing the two beside him;
Xiaoquan Aonai shyly stood up, waiting for their approach;
Akiko and Miyazaki Miyuki stood behind her, as if to back her up;
The members of the Wind Instrument Club were just there for the excitement, with Horikita Mai cheerfully waving to Dubian Che.
Sitting with them, Kiyono Lin sipped tea with grace and calm—if it weren't for the supermarket brand large bottle of barley tea beside her, Dubian Che would've thought she was drinking some fine black tea.
Approaching them, Xiaoquan Aonai was the first to speak:
"Jiutiao, good afternoon."
Jiutiao Meijie looked her over for two seconds, then replied, "Good afternoon, Mr. Xiaoquan."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Xiaoquan," Mrs. Jiutiao repeated with a smile, curiously eyeing Xiaoquan Aonai.
"Ah, good afternoon!" Xiaoquan Aonai bowed, "And who might you be?"
"I'm Meijie's older sister, Jiutiao Zhenji, currently a high school senior."
"Nice to meet you, Miss Zhenji!"
The smile on Mrs. Jiutiao's face became a tiny bit more genuine.
Dubian Che glanced at the high school girl from 19**, then said to Xiaoquan Aonai, "Mr. Xiaoquan, did you all arrange to meet here?"
"Yes," Xiaoquan Aonai held back her affectionate gaze and tone, "Mayi and I were making cakes at home, Ichiki called and invited us to watch a game at Shengong Stadium. It starts at two in the afternoon, so we decided to have lunch here first, oh, and you should sit with us, we have desserts made by Mayi and me."