Part 185
She gently patted his back, as if comforting a dejected, whimpering young beast. Unexpectedly, he slumped directly onto her shoulder, his eyes half-closed, as if he was about to fall asleep.
The boy’s lively breath brushed against her neck, and Zoe Young felt a strange sensation rush up her spine. Her scalp tingled instantly, but she didn’t dare move, afraid of waking him.
She endured in silence for a long time before finally whispering softly in his ear, “Andrew Lane, Andrew Lane?”
Nights like this were just too gentle to resist.
Zoe Young & Andrew Lane extra story: “Actually, just now, I really was very angry.”
She knew he was asleep, so all these words seemed to be spoken to the quiet river and the giant beast on the shore.
She wondered if they would enter his dreams.
“I just didn’t want to admit it. Mm, I haven’t always had that expression since I was little, I’m just really good at pretending,” she said, and then started laughing at herself, “Mm, actually, I’m an actress.”
Zoe Young looked up at the hazy, reddish sky and sighed.
“Listening to what you said just now, I suddenly remembered things from my own childhood.
“Back then, I hadn’t started school yet, it must have been my fifth birthday. My mom promised to take me to the water park, I was so happy, but I didn’t eat breakfast properly, and when we were squeezed on the bus, I got heatstroke.
“My mom felt really sorry for me, so she told me she’d take me to KFC that night.
“At that time, KFC had just come to our city, and lots of kids thought going to KFC was super fun and something to brag about. But my family wasn’t well-off, I think you’ve heard about my dad and mom—well, I’ll tell you about that another time, if… if there’s ever a chance.
“So I never thought I’d finally get to go to KFC, I was so happy.
“But, in the morning, my mom told me to bring a little swimsuit, and I forgot. So I had no choice but to go into the water in just a little vest and shorts. Which led to, led to…”
Zoe Young paused, feeling her ears burning, and glanced uneasily at Andrew Lane.
The boy had his eyes closed, his lashes trembling slightly, his breathing long and even, as if he was sound asleep.
She continued with great difficulty.
“Which led to, when I went shopping with my mom later, even though I was wearing a dress, but, but… I wasn’t wearing any underwear.”
She seemed to feel the boy beside her move a little, and held her breath in fright, but then realized it was probably just her imagination.
Then she let out a long sigh of relief.
“Of course, my mom was helpless too, but since I was just a kid, it didn’t matter, and the dress wasn’t short anyway.
But when I walked down the street, I felt so, so embarrassed, every step I took I was worried, afraid someone would notice.”
Zoe Young paused, gently grabbing Andrew Lane’s right hand that was resting on her knee.
“You know, that feeling stayed with me for a long time. Now I finally understand, I actually really liked playing with you. It’s just that, being around you was like being surrounded by demon-revealing mirrors, and I didn’t dare get close. I was afraid of being found out, afraid you’d be like everyone else and wouldn’t dare talk to me anymore, so I just kept my distance and told you we were different.
“I used to think it was complicated, hard to explain. But really, it’s just that simple.
“It’s just that simple.”
Her voice grew so soft even she couldn’t hear it anymore, leaving only the faint sound of her breathing.
“So the first time you went to KFC, you weren’t wearing underwear?”
Zoe Young bristled and shoved Andrew Lane hard, jumping down from the railing.
Then she pointed at him, her finger trembling, unable to speak for a long time.
The boy sitting on the railing looked completely at ease, his smile bright, his eyes clear—there was no sign of drunkenness at all.
“I never lied to you, I never said I was asleep, you just thought I was drunk.”
He made a face and jumped down easily.
“So, how about it? Got tricked, huh?”
Zoe Young gnashed her teeth for a long time, unable to say anything, so she just turned and walked away.
The next second, she was pulled into a warm embrace.
On such a hot summer day, sweat sticking to their bodies, hugging really wasn’t ideal.
But why didn’t she struggle?
She didn’t understand.
Maybe it was because of the wild drumming of her heartbeat.
“Zoe, no lying. When I ask you something, you have to answer honestly, okay?”
There was a hint of uncertainty in the boy’s voice, trembling, hidden in the last syllable.
Zoe Young & Andrew Lane extra story: Zoe Young was in a daze.
“Okay.”
“Were you angry today?”
“…Yes.”
“When I ignored you, did you… feel a little unhappy?”
“…Oh.”
“When I invited you, even though you didn’t want to come, you still forced yourself to come?”
“…Yes. What exactly do you want to ask?”
Andrew Lane suddenly turned her around, looking seriously into her eyes.
“Let me tell you, actually, this is… this is… a sign that you kind of like me.”
He seemed to have finally said something really important, his hands unconsciously tightening, making Zoe Young’s shoulders ache.
Unexpectedly, Zoe Young just smiled.
Her eyes curved in a smile, and he thought of the fluffy little fox he’d seen in picture books as a child.
“Is that all? Why didn’t you just ask me directly? So many unnecessary words.”
Andrew Lane opened his mouth, but couldn’t say a word.
“You’re just, just…”
Then she suddenly stood still, and very seriously asked again.
“Zoe, you like Andrew Lane, don’t you?”
The girl across from him put her hands behind her back, just as serious.
“Mm.”
Imitating the earnest, determined look of a little boy on a snowy afternoon.
Just like back then.
The whole world silently broke out in a sweat.
Suddenly, they both looked away, Zoe Young quickly jumped aside, leaning on the railing pretending to look at the scenery.
“Zoe?”
“What?”
“I have one last question, can I ask?”
“…Go ahead.”
“The first time you went to KFC, what did you order?”
Zoe Young kicked him right in the butt.
After a fierce scuffle, she finally lowered her head, blushing deeply, and answered him shyly.
“I really don’t remember…”
She closed her eyes.
“I just remember, the chair was really cold.”
Andrew Lane was stunned, then burst out laughing.
Zoe Young walked slowly, occasionally turning her face to sneak a glance at the tall boy beside her.
High-spirited, bright and determined.
The hand holding hers so tightly, as if connecting her bloodline to another young life.
To hold your hand, and grow old together.
They only managed the first half.
Andrew Lane never made any promises. Zoe Young no longer said, we’ll be together forever.
Emperors may face coups, the fourth consort may be sent to the cold palace.
But it doesn’t matter, even with thousands of troops chasing behind, that year the fourth consort still took the emperor’s hand and ran forward without hesitation.
There are many years before they grow old, and in those years, there will be many changes, much happiness, and much sadness.
The last four words will be fulfilled one day.
They’re in no hurry.
(The End) I played the role of an all-powerful mother once, giving Zoe Young everything I missed and hoped for, including a beautiful, hopeful ending. I don’t know if this counts as making up for something.
But this isn’t an autobiography, I’m not her, neither of us are her.
But I wish all those reading this, all the daydreamers with a Mary Sue complex,
I wish you “everything goes better than you hope.”
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Postscript
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Postscript: All About Mary Sue
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Actually, this story started because a good friend studying at the Central Academy of Drama (maybe one of the prototypes for Mia Waters) asked me to help write a short script.
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