Qin Yunle bounded up the stairs, took a photo album from the study, and pointed at the photos of Qin Jin in his youth, "My dad was better looking than any boy in our class when he was young, not even my brother could compare."
Feng Mei glanced over and found him looking almost like Yunye. "I just realized your dad and Yunye look alike."
Qin Yunle: "They look alike now too. My mom says that my dad is the mature and steady type, while my brother is too green."
Li Qiao chuckled, "Okay, put it away."
Qin Yunle went back upstairs to put the album away. When she came back down, she asked Qin Yunye to take her to see a movie. After Qin Yunye agreed, she asked, "Jiayue, want to join us?"
"Sure."
Feng Mei: "I want to go too, Qingqing, are you coming?"
"I have college entrance exams in a few months, mom told me to go back home to study after giving the present so I can try to get into the university where my aunt teaches." Feng Qing left.
Li Qiao saw her out.
Qin Yunye took his sister and Jiayue outside, with Feng Mei also wanting to tag along.
Li Qiao reminded, "You must be home before nine o’clock in the evening, got it?"
"Got it."
"...."
......
Qin Yunye drove, with Feng Mei claiming the passenger seat first.
Qin Yunle and Jiayue chatted about clothes, calligraphy, and cosmetics in the backseat. Feng Mei rested her cheek on her hand, gazing at Qin Yunye: "Yunye, what do you think of me? Am I prettier than Jiayue?"
Qin Yunye: "Not by a long shot."
Jiayue sat behind the passenger seat, looking up to see the cold profile of the youth reflected in her sight; someone she had grown up with. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly when, but at some point, her feelings had changed from those of their younger years.
Every time she saw him, her heartbeat would quicken, and she would have all sorts of wild thoughts.
She even had some bizarre dreams where they were childhood sweethearts; he a noble family member, and she a merchant’s daughter. He was still called Qin Yunye, and she was still Shangguan Jiayue.
He, the Top Scholar, disregarded the objections about their social standing and asked for her hand in marriage.
With progressive parents, they married smoothly.
Every day, as the sky started to dawn, she would help him put on his red official robe.
By dawn, when he would return home, he would always bring her favorite pastries.
In an antique study, he would write, while she ground the ink beside him.
The two lived a life akin to that of deities in love.
One day, perhaps someone from the palace sent over some pastries, and after she ate them, she experienced stomach pain and gave birth prematurely, which led to her poisoning and death.
She turned into the tablet he held in his hand, which he carried for a lifetime.
He never remarried, and on every anniversary of her passing, he would place her favorite pastries in front of her memorial tablet.
He was an official of integrity, devoting his life to serving the people, only hoping to meet her again in the next life.
She did not know if these were her fantasies or if they had really existed before.
Feng Mei’s words brought her back to reality.
"But I’m much younger than Jiayue," said Feng Mei.
Qin Yunye: "You’re also much less mature than she is."
Jiayue and Yunle laughed at the tease.
Feng Mei: "....." Was that an insult? Annoyed, she turned her head to look out the window.
Last year, her mom had said that among the Qin family’s children...
They had to land one of the two brothers.
Qin Yunle would do whatever her parents arranged, never leaving home without her brothers or bodyguards, leaving her with hardly a chance to exchange additional words with him.
Only she had the opportunity to see the Qin brothers anytime.
But Yunyan had just gone abroad, and he was too fierce, always yelling at her.
Yunye was gentler, but he would only hang out with Jiayue.
He wouldn’t even give other girls the time of day.
Sigh.
Her mom’s mission was indeed a heavy one.
.......
They arrived at the cinema.
Feng Mei wanted to watch an art film.
Qin Yunle wanted to watch an animated movie, to which Feng Mei scoffed, "You’re months older than me and still want to watch cartoons, aren’t you being childish?"
"I like it."
Qin Yunye: "If you want to watch it, Jiayue and I will join you."
Qin Yunle picked out a film and Qin Yunye bought the tickets.
"Did you buy one for me, Yunye?"
"I don’t know your preference," said Qin Yunye, pulling out two hundred from his wallet, "Buy whatever you want to watch or eat."
Feng Mei grumbled, "I can’t stand your family, always revolving around Yunle."
"She’s my little sister. Should we revolve around you instead?" Qin Yunye said, leading Qin Yunle into the screening room.
Jiayue followed behind them.
Feng Mei stomped her foot, utterly frustrated.
Qin Yunye settled Qin Yunle in her seat, then made his way to sit next to Jiayue.
The cinema was not crowded with children, and the lights were dim.
Midway through the movie, Qin Yunye leaned close to Jiayue, "Do you like the movie?"
"It’s okay," Jiayue replied.