Chapter 33: Figure in the Moonlight

In the kitchen, Song Binbin obediently helped Mi Xia stoke the fire.

Mi Xia was busy chopping and washing, and while stir-frying, she secretly took out seasonings from her space. Luckily, Song Binbin was still young.

She wasn’t tall, sitting on a small stool tending the fire, unable to see what Mi Xia was doing.

Mi Xia prepared steamed fish, braised pork, steamed crab, Beijing-style shredded pork, four-joy meatballs soup, braised prawns, cold pig head meat, and cold jellyfish.

She also steamed rice. By the time everything was ready, it was already late afternoon. Mi Xia took out the remaining items from her backpack, added more, and tucked two large banknotes into the dishes in case of emergencies in her absence.

After tidying up, Mi Xia had Song Binbin serve the rice while she and Mo Haoyue carried the dishes to the table.

With Mo Haoyue joining them this time, Song Grandma, in addition to serving Mi Xia and Song Binbin, also served him.

Mo Haoyue looked somewhat helplessly at the mountain of food piled high in his bowl, obscuring the rice completely. Mi Xia almost choked on her food, suppressing laughter at Mo Haoyue’s expression.

Mi Xia chewed her food, struggling to stifle her laughter, while Mo Haoyue affectionately stroked her hair.

Song Grandma noticed their little interaction but remained silent. As an experienced person, she could easily see the affection between the two.

Only Song Binbin was eating seriously at the table, occasionally serving Song Grandma a dish.

Seeing the affection between Mi Xia and Mo Haoyue, Song Grandma couldn’t help but think of her late husband, who had passed away two years ago.

After the meal, Song Binbin obediently cleaned up the dishes, while Song Grandma called Mi Xia and Mo Haoyue into the room.

Song Grandma instructed Mo Haoyue to retrieve a jewelry box from under the bed. After retrieving it, Mo Haoyue handed it to Song Grandma.

Song Grandma took two jade pendants from the box’s hidden compartment. “Here,Xiao Xia, this one is for you.”

Song Grandma then took the other jade pendant and called Mo Haoyue over: “This one is for you. It’s a jade pendant split into two pieces; traditionally, the man gets the dragon and the woman the phoenix.”

“Today, I’m giving this jade pendant to both of you. Treasure it.”

Upon receiving it, Mi Xia sensed the jade pendant’s extraordinary quality; it felt warm to the touch, exquisite and translucent.

The dragon and phoenix jade pendant symbolized auspiciousness and a pure, unchanging love, representing a life shared together.

The phoenix’s unique and beautiful design represented Song Grandma’s approval of Mi Xia and Mo Haoyue’s relationship, and her blessings for them. However, the pendant was too precious for them to accept.

“Song Grandma, we can’t accept this,” Mi Xia said, offering the pendant back.

Mo Haoyue also reached out to return his pendant.

Song Grandma looked at them, sighing inwardly. They were such good children, unselfish and principled.

Song Grandma said, “Take them. I have no use for them if I don’t give them to you. If you’re worried about trouble, just find a place to discard them.”

Mi Xia understood that Song Grandma genuinely wanted to give them the pendants, so she accepted them graciously.

“Thank you, Song Grandma, we love them,” Mi Xia said playfully, putting her arm around Song Grandma.

Song Grandma lightly tapped Mi Xia’s forehead. “You little rascal.”

Mi Xia affectionately shook Song Grandma’s arm.

“Alright, it’s getting late. You should go home; you’ve been here all afternoon.”

“Okay, Song Grandma, we’ll come visit you again next time,” Mi Xia choked up.

She truly considered Song Grandma her own grandmother, and felt reluctant to leave.

“Go now, be careful on your way home,” Song Grandma advised.

“Okay, we’ll go now. Rest early,” Mo Haoyue said, taking Mi Xia’s hand and walking towards the door.

“Binbin, close the door and go to bed. Take care of yourself and Grandma,” Mi Xia instructed.

Song Binbin nodded obediently. Only after watching Song Binbin close the door did Mi Xia and Mo Haoyue start walking home.

It was already past 9 pm. The quiet road was deserted. The two walked slowly side-by-side.

“We’ve been gone all afternoon. I wonder if Xia Xia misses us,” Mi Xia said, seemingly to herself and Mo Haoyue.

Mo Haoyue: “The little one should be asleep by now. If you miss her, bring her to our room tonight.”

“Don’t bother. It’s uncomfortable to move her around while she’s asleep. Carry me; I don’t want to walk,” Mi Xia said coquettishly.

Mo Haoyue immediately crouched down. “Hop on.”

Mi Xia relaxed against Mo Haoyue’s back, closing her eyes contentedly.

Seeing Mi Xia silent, Mo Haoyue thought she had fallen asleep. He softened his steps, walking carefully.

In the moonlight, he looked at their shadows on the ground. His wife quietly rested on his back, like a cozy little cat.

His slightly bent posture protectively shielded Mi Xia, as if the woman on his back was his whole world.

When they arrived home, Mi Xia was still asleep. Zhang Hongxia had left the door open. Mo Haoyue gently placed Mi Xia on the bed.

He heated some water and washed her body. After cleaning up, he went to the yard and took a cold shower.

After returning to the room, Mo Haoyue warmed himself before slowly approaching Mi Xia.

Moonlight shone through the window, illuminating Mi Xia’s figure.

Mo Haoyue carefully examined his sleeping wife in the moonlight: her fluffy black hair set off her fair skin, her long eyelashes like two small fans.

Her cherry-red lips were slightly upturned. He wanted to kiss her.

Mo Haoyue didn’t fall asleep until much later, restless and unable to sleep.

The next morning, Mi Xia had already finished breakfast when Mo Haoyue finally woke up. His wife was simply too beautiful; he had been captivated.

Mi Xia: “Get up and wash up and eat. Your breakfast is on the table.”

“Okay, I know,” Mo Haoyue said sheepishly, turning over, getting dressed, and going out.

Mi Xia was dumbfounded. Why was her husband so unusual today? Waking up late was one thing, but his strange behavior after waking up was another.

Zhang Hongxia had made porridge, steamed buns, and brought out pickled salted duck eggs and pickles.

Mo Haoyue ate two bowls of porridge and three large steamed buns before stopping.

Mi Xia: “Let’s go back to the village today. I want to go to the mountains.”

Mo Haoyue considered. “We’ll definitely be seen by acquaintances if we go back to the village. I haven’t been home since I returned.”

“How about I go home first? I’ll come back early, and then we can go to the mountains together.”

Mi Xia had forgotten about Mojia Village. Mo Haoyue really needed to go home, and she didn’t want to cause him any trouble, so she decided to stay behind.

“Okay, you go back at noon, and I’ll wait for you at home.”

Mo Haoyue went to see Xia Xia before heading back to the village. Mi Xia didn’t check what he took, just gave him ten yuan and went to play with her daughter.