MQSP - Chapter 96
Chapter 96
The warm, early spring sun spilled through the car window. The little fellow stretched lazily, arching her back.
Lin Yuqing, who was driving, glanced over at her with a doting smile and reached out to brush the tip of her nose.
"Mmm~" The little fellow tilted her head away, giving Lin Yuqing a mock-resentful glance before turning back to rest.
Lin Yuqing couldn't help but smile. The way the little fellow grumbled and squirmed when she was half-asleep was just too adorable.
Remembering they had gone to bed late last night, Lin Yuqing didn't tease her further. She then cast a guilty glance into the rearview mirror at Gu Xinran, who was resting with her eyes closed in the back seat.
After Fang Yi's reminder yesterday, Lin Yuqing had been on edge while they were "misbehaving" at night, terrified her mother-in-law would be peeking through the crack in the door. They ended up moving their activities to the bathroom. Afterward, she had even joked with Xiao Ye about how something so normal could feel so furtive, as if they were having a secret affair…
Today, there was a large-scale pride event in the central square of the commercial district. Fang Yi was eager to go and had coaxed the others to join the fun. After all, an event like this was a rare sight—it was practically a gay rights uprising! It would be a shame not to go and show some support.
Lin Yuqing wasn't keen on crowded places, but the little fellow was eager to see what it was all about, so she had to agree. It was also a good chance to get Xinran out and about, to help her reconnect with the modern world.
While waiting at a red light, her phone rang. Lin Yuqing quickly answered it.
"Hey, where are you guys?" It was Fang Yi.
Lin Yuqing glanced at the navigation. "Almost there. Another ten minutes."
"Okay, hurry up. We've been here for a while. It's so lively today!" Fang Yi's voice was brimming with excitement. As Lin Yuqing hung up, she felt a little puzzled. Why did it feel like the woman had suddenly become a teenager again?
Wait a minute, did she just say "we"? Did she mean her and Su Yu? Right, Su Yu was at her place yesterday. There was a good chance she never left. Well, that would explain her excitement. Tsk, I'll have to ask her about it when I see her and maybe exchange some notes.
"Auntie Lin, what are you thinking about? You have such a sleazy smile." The little fellow yawned and sat up a little straighter.
"Hmm? Hey, was I smiling?" Lin Yuqing quickly straightened her face.
"You were definitely up to no good." Xinran glanced at her in the rearview mirror. Seeing that lovesick expression on her face was irritating.
"Ahem." Lin Yuqing cleared her throat, sat up straight with her chest out, and adopted a solemn, emotionless expression as she diligently turned the steering wheel.
"So fake," Xinran added another jab.
"…" Lin Yuqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. People always say the more a mother-in-law looks at her son-in-law, the more she likes him. Why was it the opposite in her case?
They were still two streets away from their destination, but the road was already jammed with traffic.
After waiting in the car for a while, they realized the vehicle lanes were completely blocked and at a standstill. The sidewalks next to them, however, were bustling. Many same-sex couples walked hand-in-hand, weaving through the crowd.
"Has it already started?" Xiao Ye pressed her head against the window to look out, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This is already affecting regular traffic." Lin Yuqing also looked around. "Won't the traffic police break this up?"
Just as she said that, many drivers got out of their cars. Some even spontaneously joined the ranks of the pedestrians, leaving their cars parked right where they were.
As Lin Yuqing was observing the scene, someone knocked on her window. She turned to see it was Fang Yi.
"Come on, let's go have fun!" Fang Yi said excitedly.
"Just leave the car here??"
"Yeah, it's fine. Regular shoppers have been redirected to other mall entrances. These two streets are full of people attending the event. I heard the boss of this whole district is one of us, too."
Lin Yuqing was stunned for a moment. The gay community really was full of hidden depths.
She turned to look at Xiao Ye, who was already eagerly trying to help her put on a mask.
"You guys go have fun. I'll just watch from here," Xinran said.
The two exchanged a look, and Lin Yuqing didn't press the issue. After all, it was so crowded that if she lost sight of Xinran for a second, she might get lost. Besides, being surrounded by couples and forced to participate would probably make her uncomfortable.
"Okay, Mother, don't wander off. We'll just take a quick look and be right back," Baiye reminded her, still a little worried.
"Mm."
The two put on their masks, fully disguised, and got out of the car. Lin Yuqing immediately spotted Su Yu standing behind Fang Yi. The old fellow looked a little unnatural when she glanced over, which made Lin Yuqing's heart itch with curiosity. She was dying to know if Su Yu had conquered Fang Yi, or if Fang Yi had… done her.
The group followed the flow of people forward. A row of speakers lined the street, blasting energetic music. Many people moved to the rhythm, as if they were at a huge outdoor party.
Lin Yuqing sneakily tugged on Fang Yi's sleeve. "Did you two… you know?"
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Ah…" Fang Yi gave an embarrassed smile. "Yeah." She nodded, admitting it.
"She… you?"
"No way!" Fang Yi immediately retorted. "Of course I… hmm! Hehe~" The mere thought of it made Fang Yi break into a wicked grin. "Now I know why you have so little self-control."
Lin Yuqing snorted. It seemed Fang Yi was a wolf, too!
Baiye and Su Yu were walking behind them. Seeing the two with their heads together, whispering, made her very curious. "Director Su, what are they whispering about? Why do they have to be so secretive?"
Su Yu hadn't known at first, but just then, Lin Yuqing glanced back at her, the word "sleazy" practically written on her face. She instantly understood. Being asked by Xiao Ye on top of that made her old face flush red, and she wished she could find a hole to crawl into.
"This is adult business. Kids shouldn't get involved," she warned sternly.
Baiye pouted. Hmph, fine, don't tell me. I'll go ask Auntie Lin!
The group followed the crowd to the center of the square. A large number of people had gathered around the fountain, where a band was performing.
Just as they stopped, a cheer erupted from the surrounding crowd. Immediately after, those in pairs pulled their lovers close and kissed. The sight stunned the group. There were men and women in the crowd, all boldly kissing their same-sex partners. Here, no one would discriminate against them or see them as freaks. They could express their feelings freely, without a care in the world.
Deeply inspired, Lin Yuqing wrapped an arm around the little fellow's waist, pulling her into an embrace. Baiye naturally looped her arms around her neck, and the two gazed at each other sweetly.
Seeing this, Fang Yi felt an itch in her heart. She mimicked Lin Yuqing, wrapping an arm around Su Yu's waist to pull her close. But in her excitement, she used too much force and was nearly knocked over by Su Yu.
"What are you doing?" Su Yu grumbled, having nearly fallen over.
"An accident. You're a little heavy…" Fang Yi accidentally blurted out the truth. It was true, wasn't it? She'd seen how effortlessly Lin Yuqing had pulled Xiao Ye into her arms, yet when she tried, she was almost sent flying. What else could it be but her being too heavy?
"Say that to me one more time!" Su Yu rolled up her sleeves.
"Okay, okay! Look, everyone's kissing. Shouldn't we join in for the occasion?"
"You want to kiss me just for the occasion?!" Su Yu's eyes widened.
"Uh, that's not it. It's just… you… right…"
"Pfft… Auntie Fang is usually so eloquent. Why is she so clumsy right now?" Baiye and Lin Yuqing were slyly watching them, unable to hold back their laughter as they listened to them bicker.
"Who knows what she's so shy about, especially when they've already done everything there is to do."
"Hmm? What is there to do?"
"Uh, no, nothing." Lin Yuqing quickly shut her mouth. If she said it out loud, Su Yu's image in the little fellow's mind would be ruined!
"The two of them have already…?!"
"Shhh, I didn't say that. You're the one who guessed it."
After the kissing event, many people went on stage to share the stories of how they fell in love with their partners and the hardships they faced along the way, expressing gratitude that they never gave up. The group was deeply moved.
After listening for a while longer, Baiye suggested they go back to the car to check on her mother. She was still a little worried about leaving her alone. And so, the group left together.
They had been there for the better part of the day before finally heading home. On the way back, Xinran kept her head turned to the window, not saying a word. Baiye glanced at her in the rearview mirror and secretly tugged on Lin Yuqing's sleeve. Lin Yuqing looked back at her, and after a moment's thought, changed direction.
The car slowly pulled over to the side of the road. Lin Yuqing looked back at Xinran. Just as she thought, the woman was lost in her own world.
"Xinran, you go on in. We'll wait for you here."
"Hmm?" Gu Xinran finally came back to her senses. She was startled at first, then looked around carefully at their location. "This is…"
It was a cemetery!
The three of them got out of the car.
Baiye and Lin Yuqing watched in silence as Xinran slowly walked toward the tombstone.
A while ago, Lin Yuqing had arranged to have the tombstone refurbished and had Yilan's portrait added. She didn't change the names on the stone; it remained a joint grave for Xinran and Yilan. After all, the moment Yilan left, the Gu Xinran who had loved her so deeply had already gone with her.
Xinran stood before the tombstone for a long time, gazing blankly at the portrait on the stone. In the photo, Yilan was smiling faintly, a shallow dimple on her cheek. After so many years, her face was still etched in Xinran's heart, in her eyes, unchanged for even a moment.
"Today, I went with our daughter to a pride event. It was wonderful. When I saw them kissing, I missed you so much," Xinran said, then crouched down, pressing her forehead against Yilan's portrait on the tombstone.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself, and our daughter. I'm still in good health, so you might have to wait for me a little longer."
"In our next life, let's be a married couple again." With that, Xinran lifted her head and pressed a gentle kiss to the photograph, making a promise to her beloved wife for the next life.
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