One Life, One Incarnation, Beautiful Bones

37

A very peaceful, simple lunch.

The scene of Zhousheng Chen and Shi Yi sitting together, side by side as they quietly ate, was very harmonious, and even Mother, who still had considerable murmurs of complaint, had to admit that they were very fitting for one another. Before they left, Shi Yi's parents pulled him back to have a conversation.

Essentially, her parents would ask questions and he would answer them one by one, entirely conducting himself in a manner of saying what knew and speaking without any reserve.

Her mother's [paternal] aunt had once been a lady of wealthy background in olden day Shanghai, and having witnessed this, Mother naturally used it as a model to speculate about Zhousheng Chen's mother. Probingly, she asked whether he had grown up under the care of a nanny and his mother had not really looked after him. Zhousheng Chen did not deny this. Shi Yi's mother smiled in what could be considered relief. As Shi Yi was leaving, her mother told her softly, "I'm guessing his mother was the young miss of one of those rich families in the past. People and children from those types of families are not approachable, and they will have a bit of a temper, too."

Even though it was not quite accurate, there were similarities.

Shi Yi promised that she would carefully try to get along with his mother.

Her parents' home was approximately a thirty-minute drive away from where she lived.

Stopping before an intersection, they got off the car and walked side by side, following the street toward her community compound. Recalling the dialogue earlier with her parents, she pretended to casually ask, "When you were a kid, you didn't grow up under your mom's care?"

"Yes, but also not quite." Zhousheng Chen chuckled, "Why did you wait so long to ask?"

Her bluff exposed, she pursed her lips and reflected for a moment before saying, "I was scared if I asked you outright, you would get mad..."

"It was more or less like what your parents are thinking. My mother did not personally raise her own children. Myself and my younger brother and sister were all raised by other people, and moreover, each of us had a different nanny."

With an "oh," she commented, "No wonder I get the sense that you and your brother... aren't very close."

He did not deny this. "Indeed, we are not well-acquainted with one another. I moved away from home very early, and it was only when he was about to be married that we started having somewhat more contact with each other."

While she was speaking, two small teddy bear poodles darted over, running circles around her before suddenly breaking out into loud barking.

Zhousheng Chen swiftly reached out and pulled her into his arms to shield her. It was only until after the dog owner had dashed up, stopped the dogs with a loud scolding, and hurriedly apologized to them did Zhousheng Chen finally relax. Initially, she had been shocked, but she had not really been afraid. Rather, it was Zhousheng Chen's protective behavior that caused her to be somewhat surprised.

He squeezed her hand. Their palms were both a little sweaty.

She had broken out in a cold sweat because she had been frightened by the dogs, and his reason was because he was worried for her.

"I'm not that scared of dogs," Shi Yi protested softly when he loosened his embrace around her.

She seemed to hear him give an "mm" in reply. After a brief pause, he said, "I was scared."

"Huh?" Shi Yi turned her eyes to him.

His manner was very calm as he looked at her, and after several seconds passed, he suddenly smiled and stroked her ponytail with his hand. "Scared they would bite you."