The taste was cool and sweet, the depth of its saccharine layers refreshing and addictive.

  Yan Qingsi opened her mouth. She liked this kiss.

  Yue Tingfeng released his grip on Yan Qingsi. “I like this sort of feeding even better.”
……

  When they got back, Mrs. Yue saw the blistering redness on Yan Qingsi’s face and neck—as well as parts of skin that were sunburned—that refused to subside. “What did I tell you?” she huffed. “You should wear a cap and sunglasses. And did you not apply sunscreen? Look at your face! Doesn’t it hurt? Your skin will peel off soon. Come, come. I’ll give you repair cream.”


  Yue Tingfeng let go of Yan Qingsi. “Mom, we haven’t eaten yet. Can’t we have something first?”


  “Oh, okay. Go over to your auntie’s and bring the food back here. I’ll give her some repair cream. It won’t take long.”


  Yue Tingfeng was speechless.

  Fine. He always became a servant once he went back home.

  Mrs. Yue let Yan Qingsi wash her face before applying some cream. “I’ll have to put a few backup bottles of sunscreen in your purse next time.”


  “I’ll be more careful next time.”


  Mrs. Yue snorted. “I don’t trust you. I’ll give Mianmian a few bottles later so that you can use them whenever you like.”


  “Come on. I’ll be more careful next time.”


  “You’re too careless. Do you know how people would die to have a face like yours? The director of the aesthetic center I used to go to told me that so many people have been using your photo as reference lately. They want surgery to look like you!”


  “Really…… Then that means that this face does have some use.”


  “Of course.”


  Mrs. Yue quickly applied the cream all over the sunburnt spots on Yan Qingsi’s body, then escorted her down for lunch. Only then did she notice that the younger woman was barefooted, and her soles were plastered with band-aids. “What happened to your feet? Did you get blisters?”


  “Mmhmm. The shoes I wore today were uncomfortable.”


  “It’s probably because the shoes were of poor quality. Never mind. I’ll find a cobbler to specially craft a pair for you. They’ll use the softest sheepskin leather so that you won’t hurt your feet. They’ll be comfortable and stylish.” As Mrs. Yue said all that, she brought a pair of slippers for Yan Qingsi.

  Yan Qingsi hurriedly took the slippers and put them on. “Thank you, Auntie.”


  Mrs. Yue patted Yan Qingsi’s hand. “No need to thank me. We’re going to be family sooner or later.”


  At the dining table, Yue Tingfeng asked, “You don’t have work in the afternoon right?”


  “That’s right.”


  “Then you better rest properly at home. I’m going back to the office after lunch.”


  Yan Qingsi nodded her head. “Got it.”
……

  Yue Tingfeng did not go to his office when he left the house. Instead, he drove toward a lonely graveyard on the outskirts of the city.

  He surmised that You Yi would still be there.

  If he truly loved Mrs. Nie for all these years, then he would be completely shattered with the news of her death. He would not leave her grave so soon. If he did, it only proved that he did not love her that much.

  When he arrived, Yue Tingfeng saw You Yi’s car still parked there, as predicted.

  It was four in the afternoon. The sun was not as scalding as it was, but it still blazed hot.

  Yue Tingfeng got down with a bunch of baby’s breath in his hand, then he took out a bottle of water from the boot.

  From a distance, he saw a silhouette standing before Mrs. Nie’s tombstone.

  Yue Tingfeng felt the heat just by looking at him. It was impressive that he managed to endure being seared by the sun for this long; it was a testament to his sincerity in his feelings.

  Yue Tingfeng walked over and placed the bunch of baby’s breaths down. “Mom, I’m here,” he said. “I came here before this to pick Yan Qingsi up, so I didn’t manage to see you. Don’t blame me for that.”