Dubian Che returned to the villa at three in the afternoon, carrying several bags of things.

The heavy mahjong table was still basking in the sun on the villa's terrace, but the players were nowhere to be seen.

In the yard, the hammock suspended between two chestnut trees swayed gently, with shadows of the leaves falling into it, and the person in the hammock was awake.

"Good thing it's not autumn," Dubian Che thought to himself.

Otherwise, along with the sunlight and the shade, there would be ripe chestnuts falling into it too, the kind with spiky shells.

"Good afternoon, Miss," he said.

"Good afternoon, Sir," Miss Kiyono's cool voice answered, as transparent and dazzling as the sun shining on ice.

And she herself was the same, like a block of ice basking in the sun.

Dubian Che walked up the steps and pushed open the door into the villa.

Only Mrs. Jiutiao was inside, watching television.

"Hasn't she woken up yet?" Dubian Che asked.

Usually, by this time, it was when everyone in the villa had just finished their afternoon nap.

"She should be up soon," Mrs. Jiutiao was saying as Mrs. Kiyono, scratching her neatly trimmed short hair, walked out of the room.

"Is Mr. Dubian back?" she greeted leisurely.

"Yeah," Dubian Che opened the refrigerator and put the groceries away, "I bought edamame, not sure if you like this kind of common side dish for drinks."

"Just need some cold tofu to be satisfied," Mrs. Jiutiao said, patting the sofa arm, already in a relaxed, tipsy posture.

"Mr. Dubian," Mrs. Kiyono said, "keep it simple for your first time—soft tofu with minced bonito and kombu soy sauce, and that's it."

"Me cook?" Dubian Che's motion of stuffing the yam into the refrigerator paused.

"Today, we did you a big favor," Mrs. Jiutiao said with a smile looking his way, "We suggested to Lin and Jiutiao Meijie to be with you, and we described to them what the future might look like."

"The future?" Dubian Che asked curiously.

"Like this year, family trips every year, eventually children to come, like Little Lian, isn't such a future nice?"

"It might be nice for the three of us, but they might not think so."

"I can tell, though they didn't say much, they both feel that such a future isn't unacceptable," Mrs. Jiutiao said, "And once it happens, the future of the Jiutiao Family and the Kiyono family will essentially be one, yet each can keep their own surname."

"The most important thing," Dubian Che looked at her, "is that maybe it will make those two reconcile?"

"Smart," said Mrs. Jiutiao, her slender fingers snapping crisply.

Dubian Che took the ingredients out of the refrigerator again.

With his cooking skills, preparing dinner for five starting at three would mean it would be just ready by mealtime.

"What's the matter?" Mrs. Kiyono propped her elbows on the counter and rested her chin on the back of her hand, "Mr. Dubian doesn't seem convinced?"

"What's the specific plan? We can't expect the two of them to reconcile on their own."

"How exactly to do it, of course, is up to you," Mrs. Jiutiao said, "With your level of charm, even we married women like you, so getting those two to fall in line for you shouldn't be a problem at all."

"I get it!" Dubian Che nodded as if enlightened, "That's the capitalist way, what's it called—'Only to make use of someone, one flatters them, claiming they are talented, turning anyone into a pawn.'"

Both ladies laughed together.

"A bit, but not entirely," Mrs. Kiyono winked at Dubian Che like a fashionable woman.

"What are you talking about?" Jiutiao Meijie stretched and came down from upstairs.

Before the ladies could reply, she asked Dubian Che, "When did you get back?"

"A while ago."

"He just got back before you came downstairs."

"Mrs. Jiutiao? How am I supposed to gain her favor like this?"

"I didn't expect you to come back in the afternoon; I thought you would stay out overnight," Mrs. Jiutiao said with a laugh, "That's commendable, truly commendable."

"Why would I do that?" Dubian Che said, "Whether now or in the future, as long as Meijie is at home, no matter how late, I'd have to come back."

"If one didn't know any better, they'd think you're so affectionate," Mrs. Kiyono taunted.

"...I'm a responsible scumbag." Having confessed, Dubian Che turned to Jiutiao Meijie, "I'm making dinner today, what do you want to eat? I'll make anything for you."

"The dinner is being made because we pushed for it, not because you wanted to cook for you."

"Mrs. Kiyono?!"

"Even if you three end up together, only two can sign the 'marriage certificate,'" Mrs. Kiyono said innocently, "I have to make sure my Lin's name appears on it."

"...You're thinking too far ahead. Meijie, come help me wash the vegetables... Or better yet, you cook? I'll be your sous chef; I'm really good at washing vegetables."

"Do I look like someone who knows how to cook?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as it's made by you, Meijie, I'll eat it all up without leaving a bite."

Before Jiutiao Meijie could refuse, Dubian Che grabbed an apron for her and tied a pretty bow around her slender waist.

"Mr. Dubian, don't be lazy, letting her cook might kill someone!" Mrs. Jiutiao said distrustfully of her own daughter.

"My Che," Jiutiao Meijie began rolling up her sleeves, revealing her snow-white wrists, "wash the vegetables."

"At your service, my head chef."

◇

The moment Mayi Asuka returned to the inn, she immediately laid down on the bed to sleep and recover her strength.

When she awoke, it was already dark, and Yuzao Haomei and her two friends were sitting on another lower bunk bed, chatting quietly.

"This photo looks so good, both the waterfall and the person are so clear, I'm going to post it on Instagram~"

"Look at this photo of Yun Chang Pond, the lake is perfectly symmetrical, it's so beautiful!"

"Kui, Haomei, can I post this group photo?"

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