Chapter 47 - Aunt Xiao, this spot… feels perfect for a kiss, doesn’t it?

It was Friday on Christmas Eve, and Lin Xian only had classes for the first two periods that afternoon. After class, as usual, she headed to the choir practice room. Shi Man, who was waiting for Xia Zhijin to finish a brief student council meeting so they could go home together—and also curious to witness the amazing talent Chen Zhi and Tang Mo had praised so highly—decided to go with her.

This was the first time Shi Man had seen Lin Xian in such an entrancing, devoted state. Sitting behind a desk below the stage, she cupped her cheeks in both hands, gazing intently at Lin Xian’s slender fingers dancing across the accordion’s keys and buttons. She watched as Lin Xian’s delicate left arm pushed and pulled the bellows with elegance and rhythm, her expressions subtly changing with the melodious, flowing tune of the instrument. Her eyes gradually took on a dreamy, distant look...

At that birthday party where she first met Xiao Wanqing, Lin Xian had performed an accordion piece in front of everyone at her parents’ request. She couldn’t remember the song anymore. But she remembered that the gentle, beautiful woman had praised her that day.

When her mother wasn’t looking, she shyly whispered in that woman’s ear: “When I grow up and marry you, I’ll play for you every day.”

She’s surely forgotten by now…

Shi Man slowly closed her eyes, completely entranced by the music.

It wasn’t until the last note faded that she opened her eyes again. She clapped softly and teased with a small smile, “Lin Xian, not bad at all. Who knew you had this up your sleeve?”

Having finished her practice flawlessly, Lin Xian felt reassured about her performance that evening. She packed up her accordion, placed it back in its case, then walked over to Shi Man’s desk. Taking a sip of water, she winked smugly and asked, “Wasn’t it charming?”

Shi Man laughed at her shamelessness and playfully said, “Oh? And who are you trying to charm?”

Lin Xian swirled her water cup slightly and gave a sly wink but said nothing.

Shi Man blinked, thinking for a moment—then gasped in realization, “Auntie Xiao? Lin Xian, are you trying to seduce Auntie Xiao with your beauty?”

Something clicked in her mind, and she suddenly sat up straight with a jolt, “Wait! I get it now. It wasn’t exactly the same, but wasn’t that the theme from The Garden of Wordsyou just played?”

Leaning closer, she propped her chin with one hand, tilted her head, and gave Lin Xian a mischievous grin. “Lin Xian, were you confessing your feelings through the song?”

Lin Xian shook her head calmly. “Not yet. But yes, I did want to express my feelings through the music.”

She and Xiao Wanqing had grown close enough that the latter had begun letting her guard down—but it still wasn’t enough.

Xiao Wanqing had never imagined, never even considered, that someone so much younger, from such a different generation and status—like her, Lin Xian—might one day become a possible romantic partner.

In a way, she and Xiao Wanqing were not so different from Takao and Yukino.

Shi Man frowned slightly and offered a reminder: “But Lin Xian, are you sure Auntie Xiao will even recognize the song?”

Lin Xian smiled knowingly. “I’ve seen her collection at home—there are plenty of anime movie Blu-rays, including the Garden of Words limited edition. I’m pretty sure she’s watched it.”

Shi Man nodded. She was just about to say more when they heard two soft knocks at the door—Xia Zhijin was standing there, looking calm and poised.

Lin Xian turned and greeted her warmly. “Sister Zhijin, all done?”

In the next instant, Shi Man’s radiant smile bloomed like a flower. She pushed back her chair and bounced over to Xia Zhijin, planting a quick kiss on her cool, composed face as she cooed, “I’ve been waiting forever for you.”

Xia Zhijin’s expression shifted ever so slightly—not exactly delighted, but not displeased either.

Lin Xian blinked, stunned silent. What just happened?

Shi Man clung to Xia Zhijin’s arm, then turned toward Lin Xian with eyes full of gentle affection and openly introduced her, “Lin Xian, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Xia Zhijin.” “Huh?” Lin Xian blurted out in confusion, instinctively looking to Xia Zhijin for confirmation.

Xia Zhijin looked back calmly. Lin Xian couldn’t quite read her expression. After a moment, Xia Zhijin’s lips curved into a faint smile, and she nodded lightly.

On the way home, Lin Xian rode her little scooter, replaying Xia Zhijin’s look in her mind over and over. Something didn’t sit right.

Compared to Shi Man’s overflowing joy, wasn’t Xia Zhijin just a little too composed? A strange unease stirred in Lin Xian’s heart.

Back home, she dashed into the bathroom for a quick shower, dried her hair, and carefully dressed up. By the time Xiao Wanqing returned from work, Lin Xian was perfectly prepared.

Xiao Wanqing had changed out of her professional work attire into a long casual dress and a trench coat. With just a touch of makeup, she looked fresh and radiant, almost like she’d taken several years off. Lin Xian had also swapped her campus-style shirt and denim jacket for a turtleneck and a sharply tailored wool coat. Light makeup made her appear older, more mature.

Right before they left the house, they happened to meet in the living room. Their eyes met—and for a brief moment, both saw something dazzling in the other.

Two seconds of silence passed, then they both burst into laughter at the same time.

Lin Xian curved her lips into a smile, reached out and interlocked their fingers, looking up at Xiao Wanqing with a playful sweetness, “Come on, Auntie Xiao. Time for our date.”

Xiao Wanqing returned the gesture, gently squeezing her hand and replying with a soft smile, “Mm, let’s go.”

At Apollo Square, the festivities could be seen from far away—bright lights, dense crowds, and a buzzing atmosphere. Xiao Wanqing parked in the underground garage, then took the elevator up with Lin Xian. They arrived just before the central plaza.

Their timing seemed perfect. Just as they entered the square, a cheer rose from the crowd—something about artificial snow starting soon. People all around them began to rush forward.

Lin Xian’s heart stirred. She immediately tightened her grip on Xiao Wanqing’s hand and pulled her forward through the crowd with eager excitement, “Auntie Xiao, let’s hurry up and get to the front!”

Swept up in the festive atmosphere and Lin Xian’s joyful tone, Xiao Wanqing found herself smiling, inexplicably light-hearted. She matched Lin Xian’s pace, jogging as she responded, “Okay!”

Before they could even reach the center of the square, where a towering Christmas tree stood three stories high, a flurry of artificial snowflakes began to drift down from the sky in a sparkling shower.

Lin Xian came to a sudden stop. Her eyes shimmered with delight as she turned to Xiao Wanqing, grabbing her hand. They shared a look and smiled.

“Aunt Xiao, it’s snowing.”

“Mmm, it’s snowing.”

In Xiao Wanqing’s gentle eyes, Lin Xian saw a kind of happiness and fond affection that made her heart melt, again and again. Aunt Xiao was smiling like that—because of her, right?

Feeling the warmth of Xiao Wanqing’s hand in hers, she raised their interlocked fingers toward the sky, joyfully and eagerly welcoming the falling snowflakes. For a brief moment, it felt like the rest of the world faded into the background—everyone else blurred into extras. It was just the two of them, at the center of the frame. Lin Xian could almost see a scene years down the road, where she and Xiao Wanqing sat by the fire, reminiscing about the first snowfall they shared this year. And the memory would be nothing short of magical: under the giant Christmas tree lit with dazzling lights, snowflakes falling like feathers, covering them from head to toe, fingers still tightly intertwined...

But before she could finish imagining the rest of the scene, her daydream was interrupted by Xiao Wanqing.

Xiao Wanqing tilted her head up, her long hair cascading gracefully behind her. She frowned slightly and murmured, her voice filled with disbelief, “What… is this?”

Startled, Lin Xian looked up too, staring at the white flakes caught in her hand. After a couple of dazed seconds, her expression darkened. She forced out an awkward answer, “I think... it’s foam?”

“…”

The lovely fantasy evaporated.

Now paying closer attention, Lin Xian realized—what kind of "artificial snow" was this supposed to be? Could they have made it any faker?

Ugh, how frustrating!

She frowned, ready to complain, when suddenly, Xiao Wanqing tugged on her hand and started running, almost skipping, pulling Lin Xian along with her. This time, though, they ran away from the snowy center of the square.

Her heels clacked brightly against the pavement, the cheerful tap-tap echoing like a song. Lin Xian glanced at Xiao Wanqing running beside her—clumsily light-footed, slightly flustered—and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

They finally stopped beside the fountain at the edge of the square, breathless and panting.

People nearby glanced at them with puzzled expressions, but neither of them paid it any mind.

Lin Xian had already forgotten all about the disappointment of being tricked by the artificial snow. Still catching her breath, she looked at Xiao Wanqing, whose cheeks were now flushed a deep red—like someone had brushed on a perfect, bashful blush. With sparkling eyes full of warmth, she asked softly, “Aunt Xiao, why did we start running?”

Xiao Wanqing blinked, and in a rare moment of playful mischief, replied, “Just thought... maybe it would make you happy if we ran.” Right after saying that, she bit her lip—perhaps realizing she’d let something slip—and cleared her throat, trying to regain composure. She lightly patted the wool of Lin Xian’s coat, brushing off the foam clinging to her, and added, somewhat sheepishly, “I figured… it might be hard to clean off if it stuck to your clothes.”

She was thirty—a woman of gentle beauty and an effortlessly graceful air. Mature and composed, poised and elegant. Yet in that moment, Lin Xian saw something wildly out of sync with all that: a fleeting, innocent sincerity in Xiao Wanqing’s eyes, full of vulnerability and childlike charm.

She had to be some kind of enchantress.

Lin Xian couldn’t help herself. With her gaze fixed on her, she stepped closer.

Just then, the decorative lights around them lit up in unison, and music erupted. A sudden burst of water sprayed high from the fountain, sending a fine mist into the air, cool and refreshing.

Caught completely off guard, Xiao Wanqing instinctively took a startled step back—only to end up one step closer to Lin Xian.

Joyful Christmas music filled the square, while the majestic water jets rose and fell with synchronized grace. Passersby all stopped to admire the spectacle.

Xiao Wanqing quickly recovered from the surprise and, like everyone else, began watching the fountain show with a smile. But then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a couple standing directly across from them—locked in a passionate embrace, kissing boldly as if no one else existed. She looked away, only to see another couple beside them, clinging tightly together.

Awkwardly, Xiao Wanqing averted her gaze again, her interest in the fountain fading. She turned back, intending to say something to Lin Xian—only to realize just how close the girl had gotten.

Lin Xian was gazing at her softly, eyes alight with a dazzling smile. Under the shifting lights of the fountain, her youthful face glowed with breathtaking beauty and magnetic allure.

Xiao Wanqing stared, briefly stunned, as the girl stepped closer still. She narrowed her eyes slightly, smiling with the corners of her lips, and then, in a voice low, soft, and utterly enchanting, said: “Aunt Xiao, this spot… feels perfect for a kiss, doesn’t it?”

She leaned in. Her flawless face grew larger in Xiao Wanqing’s view, inch by inch.

Xiao Wanqing froze, her whole body stiffening in panic. She didn’t know what to do.