"Hey…" she said timidly, greeting them with a small smile.

  "What's up?" Qian Meng asked, surprised to randomly see this long-lost friend of hers there.

  "I wanted to stop by and see how the honeymoon went. I'm sorry it seems stalkerish and creepy that I pulled in at the same time as you guys." She sighed. "I asked my mother what time your flight lands and I guessed you would reach by now."

  There was an awkward tension between them, especially after they announced the marriage. It was impossible to get used to it. Even when thinking themselves as estranged friends, there was no pressure to act nicely. But now they were family.

  "Don't be absurd, Yize. You're my sister. You're welcome to come to our house any time you want," Mo Qingchen said smoothly.

  Yize's eyes widened at the statement. It was probably one of the very few affectionate words her brother had said to her in their whole lifetime. "Seriously?"

  She looked over at Qian Meng. "Your wife won't throw me out for being rude to her?" she asked sassily.

  Qian Meng smirked. "How can I do that to my little sister-in-law?"

  Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "I never thought I would see someone carry the bride over the threshold. Do people actually do this still?" she asked. But her question was only curious and not full of disgust.

  "I wanted to," Mo Qingchen said plainly. He really did carry Qian Meng over the threshold and then dropped her down to the floor. It was more like Qian Meng jumped out of his arm in mild embarrassment but all was okay.

  Mo Yize pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Right. I didn't want to bring champagne because it was too formal and awkward. So I brought you something I thought was a little more personal." This time, she almost had a genuine smile. One Qian Meng hadn't seen in years.

  "Okay…"

  Mo Yize fished into the grocery bag and pulled out the first item.

  "A batch of buttered rum cupcakes," she said happily, holding up a box from a bakery near their university. They had bought food from it almost on a daily basis. "And a year's supply of matcha for that monstrous drink you like." She held up a small container.

  "That's only one box," Qian Meng retorted.

  Mo Yize rolled her eyes. "This is the first box. I contacted a seller and asked them to send over a box every other week. I put their business card in the bag."

  Qian Meng nodded sagely. "In terms of food, these are my two favorite things," she said happily. She went over to Yize and took the items without reserve.

  "I thought you would be pleased," Yize shrugged.

  "Well, you can't beat cupcakes and matcha."

  "Exactly what I thought you would say."

  Mo Qingchen watched from the sideline in confusion. "Can someone explain what is happening here? Weren't the two of you at odds with one another? Why did you become chummy all of a sudden? I was not planning on going home to not make things awkward, but now it looks like my wife is being stolen from under my nose."

  He crossed his hands over his chest.

  "Brother, you wanted to use it as an excuse so that you didn't need to see dad," Mo Yize said without fear.

  Qian Meng looked over her shoulder. "Can you take the bags to the room?" she asked. She could sense that a long and awkward talk with Yize was looming. What it would be about, she had a faint idea.

  "You're being unbearably sweet. Why did you feel the need to bring me anything in the first place?" Qian Meng asked as she took the goodies into her arms. She slowly walked towards the kitchen and heard Yize follow.

  "Well… I uh…"

  As she trailed off, her eyes lingered on Mo Qingchen, who was still standing, not having taken the clue.

  The look his sister gave told him that she didn't want him there during the conversation. He finally took the hint.

  "I'll give you two some privacy," he said. "I'll start unloading the bags from the car."

  They remained silent as Mo Qingchen retrieved the first two bags and started wheeling them towards the bedroom.

  Once her brother was finally gone, Mo Yize spoke up. "I suppose it is a kind of bribe," she said.

  "A bribe for what?" Qian Meng asked.

  "Forgiveness?" Yize said timidly, biting her lip.

  "Forgiveness?" Qian Meng responded, raising her brow in confusion. "For what?"

  Mo Yize paused and then sighed. "I feel bad for how things turned out between us. I know I am responsible for that…"

  Qian Meng was even more confused. "Where did this come from all of a sudden? It's been years since we broke off our friendship. Why are you going back on your conviction?"

  "Well, I have been forced to go to therapy. It just seemed to me like I wasn't much of a friend to you during that time. After the wedding, I kind of realized it was unfair. I was selfish and put my insecurities on you. I was just mad that you had everything in the world and you were even taking my brother from me. I felt left out that the stupid guy liked you. It hurt my feelings that you didn't coax me at the time either…"

  Qian Meng chuckled. "Unfortunately, I don't have everything in the world. You must have realized my family is garbage at this point. Did that have something to do with this conversation?" she asked.

  Mo Yize shook her head. "Everyone's parents are garbage at this point. I just… I want to get along with you again. I didn't have a good reason to be mad at you. It hurt my feelings that you reacted and didn't just go along with what I wanted. I was angry that you were marrying my brother, but that is your business. I know you didn't owe me anything."