Chapter 65

“But as your Mom, I’ve already seen it all.” Xu Menglan’s tone was meaningful, and she even took out her phone, showing Xu Heran the screenshots she had prepared.

Prepared in advance!

Xu Heran looked at the photos on the phone in shock. A silver-haired girl was carrying another girl, her arm pressing against the girl’s thigh, and the originally fluffy white skirt flared out.

“Is this the little friend?” Xu Menglan asked excitedly.

“What?“

Xu Heran immediately showed an “I don’t understand what you’re saying” expression. She grabbed her mother’s phone and swiped through her album, seeing many photos of her and Xin Nuo. The photos even had watermarks, as her mother had saved them from forums like Weibo.

“You’re not sleeping well and instead sneaking looks at little girl’s photos!” Xu Heran’s heart thumped, using the questioning technique first.

Xu Menglan didn’t fall for it, smiling and saying, “Don’t feel guilty, Xu Zhuzhu.”

“Why should I feel guilty? Don’t follow those mommy fans online. They’re just acting on impulse, and who knows, they might even be younger than me.” Xu Heran educated her mother.

“Is that so?” Xu Menglan saw her blushing ears and her eyes grew even more amused. “I thought you really had an epiphany and were planning to bring a little friend home for Mom before Mu Mu.”

Xu Heran pouted, her face showing a hint of displeasure. She whispered, “But you’re the one who told me not to start dating early.”

“I told you not to date random people early!” Xu Menglan retorted, not taking the blame. She excitedly sat up, hugged Xu Heran’s shoulders, and happily continued, “Mom has asked Sister Cui about this little friend, Nuo Nuo, right? Sister Cui said that this young girl is not only good-looking and has a great personality, but also filial. The key point is that she’s captured the heart of a little pearl…”

Xu Heran’s eyebrows arched higher and higher, and she looked at her with an expression that said, “Can little pearl really listen to what you’re saying?” Yet, her ears perked up high.

The old mother of the little pearl felt both touched and amused. “Sister Cui said that Nuo Nuo’s words are more effective than what she says to you.”

“What’s the matter? I can be obedient too, you know.” Xu Heran muttered dissatisfied.

She crossed her arms and leaned back, trying to maintain a nonchalant expression. “Oh, come on, it’s all random stuff from the internet.” Meanwhile, a certain little pearl’s gaze kept darting toward Xu Menglan’s face, as if conveying a message. Their eyes finally met.

Xu Pearl: You understand what I mean, right?

I’m waiting here.

The little person inside Xu Menglan’s heart burst into laughter. She thought that Xu Heran’s constant denial with a touch of sneakiness was extremely cute. She truly was her precious daughter. So, she put on a pretended puzzled expression.

“Oh dear, that’s true too. I didn’t consider that,” Xu Menglan raised her left hand and covered her cheek, murmuring, “So, Little Pearl, you don’t like girls?”

Xu Heran: “!”

“I didn’t say I don’t like girls!” Xu Heran immediately retorted. “Gender equality!”

Is gender equality even relevant here?

Xu Menglan almost burst into laughter. She nodded, “I agree, you can like both boys and girls.”

She pondered for a moment and her tone turned a bit serious. “The key is, once you’re of age, you better bring someone back for me!”

Xu Heran: “?”

“I heard from your grandfather that his old friend’s family forced their child into marriage, and in the end, the child brought back a python! A python! That child immediately took a liking to cold-blooded reptiles that crawl around, enjoying these creatures with wild and beastly natures, capable of swallowing a person whole, a python thicker than a person’s waist. It scared the child’s grandmother so much that she chased after them to the hospital. The child said that if they wanted him to get married, he’d register with the python and have a wedding right away.” Xu Menglan said with a headache, “Nonsense, how could they force a child into something like this.”

Xu Heran widened her eyes.

Xu Menglan glanced at her expression and slowly sat up straight. “What does that ‘I’ve learned something new’ expression of yours mean?”

“How could it be! I don’t like reptiles!” Xu Heran said, “I like long-legged ones!”

“Two legs, the kind that can walk upright.”

Under Xu Menglan’s gaze, Xu Heran kept adding modifiers.

“Uh, not gorillas.”

“Nonsense!” Xu Menglan patted her back and chuckled, “Anyway, whoever you like, Mom supports you.”

Before Xu Heran could laugh happily, Xu Menglan continued, “Of course, this someone must have a good character, a good personality, not look too bad, preferably be positive, non-smoking, non-drinking, filial, polite, and also well-read—a girl works too.”

“When are you bringing this person back?” Xu Menglan asked with a smile.

The car entered a luxurious estate, stopped in front of the brightly lit main house, and Xu Heran quickly jumped out of the car, blushing as she said, “You’re so annoying!”

“Cheeky child, how dare you call Mom annoying.” Xu Menglan elegantly stepped out of the car and continued, “I think Nuo Nuo would be quite suitable. What do you think?”

“Should the wedding be Chinese-style or Western-style?”

Xu Heran: “…”

“Grandma!”

Xu Heran, red-faced, rushed into the room. “Grandma, Mom is bullying me!”

“Your daughter is bullying me!”

“Grand—”

“The little girl is still talking back to her mom.” Xu Menglan chuckled lightly, clapped her hands, and turned to her assistant. “Send the box of red pearls I received a few days ago to Zhuzhu, because it looks like her now.”

The assistant knew she was joking and could only laugh in response.

Less than twenty days until New Year’s, the entire Xu family gathered except for Xu Junran, who was in school for final exams.

Xu Heran charged into the room and saw a woman sitting on the sofa, not bothering to look up. Her steps came to a halt with a thud.

“Xu Jiamu, do CEOs like you get overtime pay?” Xu Heran asked with a mischievous grin. She leaned against the back of the sofa and looked at Xu Jiamu’s laptop. “It’s almost New Year’s, why haven’t you brought a partner back yet? You’re not young anymore, don’t you think about getting married?”

A certain Pearl began to act up.

“You should set a good example for your younger siblings!”

Xu Heran chattered on, propping herself against the back of the sofa, poking Xu Jiamu’s straight back with her fingers. “You’re still wearing a suit at home. Aren’t you tired?”

“Xu Heran.” Xu Jiamu’s voice turned cold. She lifted her hand, grabbing Xu Heran’s finger. “Should I chop it off?”

“Hehe.”

Xu Heran wasn’t afraid of her. She stuck her head out and pressed her face against Xu Jiamu’s, “Happy New Year, big sis!”

“Hmph.” Xu Jiamu released her hand, coldly glancing at her. Her voice was colder than her expression. “You won’t get a New Year’s gift from me.”

“No, don’t.” Xu Heran waved her hand and whispered, “So stingy, Xu Jiamu.”

Xu Jiamu’s expression remained unchanged. She turned around and looked at Xu Heran seriously.

“Xu Peier,” her voice was naturally cold, like melting snow, causing anyone listening to her to shiver involuntarily. “With your behavior, how did you manage to deceive that young girl?”

Xu Heran: “…”

“Well?” Xu Jiamu questioned her. “Her name is Xin Nuo, right? The one I’ve met before?”

Xu Heran: “…Ahem, Grandma!”

“Grandma, your precious granddaughter is back!”

Mrs. Diana smiled as she entered the living room, followed by a spirited old man in a sweater.

“Grandpa, you’re back too!”

Xu Heran rushed up and embraced her grandparents.

“Missed me a lot, huh?”

Mrs. Diana’s purple eyes were like blooming summer flowers. She held Xu Heran’s hand, her gentle gaze sweeping over her. She nodded in satisfaction at her now taller stature. “My dear Peier, you’ve truly grown up.”

“And that young girl, in Chinese, is it Nuo Nuo?” Mrs. Diana’s Mandarin was generally good, but the words “Nuo Nuo” were spoken clearly with rises and falls. “I’m quite eager to meet Peier’s rumored girlfriend.”

Xu Heran: “… What’s wrong with all of you?”

The little pearl felt like everyone at home had an agreement: the first thing they’d mention was how much they missed her, and then they’d immediately bring up Xin Nuo.

“Please keep your distance from Pearl’s love life!” Xu Heran shouted loudly.

Mrs. Diana’s tone grew even gentler. “When we will know, we will know.”

That was too philosophical.

Xu Heran shook her head in disbelief.

While Xu Heran enjoyed her time at home and occasionally got teased by everyone about her rumored girlfriend, back in China, SGS students finally got through their final exams and could enjoy their remaining time.

It was said that Jian Yueyin even released a single named 《I Don’t Want To》 expressing a resilient resistance against a constrained life.

“Are there things you simply do not want to do?” Jiang Qiong shouted in the group voice chat, “I don’t want to fail any subjects!”

“I would like Xu Pearl to be single for a year and a half in exchange for not failing this year! I will definitely study hard next year!”

Innocently sacrificed Xu Pearl: “???”

Xin Nuo chuckled softly, “Approved.”

“Has anyone considered how Pearl feels?” Xu Heran asked, “Pearl also has emotions, Pearl also has intentions, Pearl also wants to be cherished in the palm of someone’s hand!”

Laurel’s tone was cold, “The only one I’ll cherish in my palm is a cup of milk tea.”

Xu Heran asked her, “Laurel, which math book have you studied up to? Are you preparing for physics or chemistry? Can you recite history and politics like a rap, every word without a mistake?”

Laurel: “….”

Laurel shared the song 《I Don’t Want To》 Come listen together~

A group member with a “Ha” profile picture sent a voice message. Xu Heran clicked on it, and it was Haya laughing heartily.

“Come sing high notes with me, girl. I think you’re naturally gifted.” Xu Heran typed on the keyboard.

After a while, the group member with a “Heng” profile picture sent a nodding cat emoji.

Xu Heran almost spit out her juice.

“What’s this? What is this?” She burst into laughter and asked, “Who is this?!”

“Who is this?!”

Everyone copied, and Song Fenghua politely used a question mark.

“… Weining?”

“Weining, did Haya hack your account?”

Haya’s excitement came through the screen, “We are the ‘Heng Ha’ duo!”

Xu Heran: “…”

Things felt a bit awkward.

Her gaze landed on Xin Nuo’s profile picture, the same pearl photo she took before. A certain pearl immediately felt comfortable in her heart.

“What’s going on, Haya? How did you convince NingNing to use matching profile pictures? This is outrageous!”

“You pig!” Jiang Qiong chimed in.

“Heng”: “… It’s not matching profile pictures!”

“Don’t you guys find this cute?” Haya asked.

Xu Heran immediately said, “I don’t.”

Except for Haya, all six girls echoed with “I don’t.”

“Heng”: “… Really?”

“Haya, you said this profile picture is cute!” Lin Weining looked for the instigator.

Haya: “?”

“Good friends, I, Haya, have led a righteous and honorable life, with integrity as my principle. I’ve never offended any of you!” Haya declared loudly in the group chat, “Tell me honestly, do you find this cute in your hearts or not!”

Xu Heran yelled into the microphone, “Not cute!”

Passing by, Xu Jiamu looked at Xu Heran with confusion.

Lin Weining: “Wuwuwu…”

Lin Weining sent an emoji of a crying kitten, making everyone smile knowingly.

“Hey, Weining is really soft. She looks so easy to bully,” Jiang Qiong said, “You can’t let Haya lead you by the nose. Be brave and say no to evil forces!”

Evil forces: “???”

Lin Weining shouted loudly, “No!”

“But I still think it’s kind of cute, it reminds me of a TV drama from before,” Lin Weining was on her way to a shoot, sitting in the nanny car and chatting with everyone in the group chat, “Do you guys remember?”

Xu Heran immediately said, “I know, I know, it’s that song!”

“Heng, ha, heng, ha, who is it that brought you to me~” Xu Heran twisted and danced while saying it.

Xu Junran, passing by, furrowed his brows and shook his head repeatedly.

“Haha, I’m talking about ‘Heng Ha Er Jiang,’ but it’s all from the same TV drama,” Lin Weining explained.

“Alright, how about this? To showcase the unity and friendship among us Seven Immortal Maidens, let’s counter the ‘evil forces’ that secretly undermine our friendship! Why don’t we use matching profile pictures as sisters?” Jiang Qiong suggested, “In coordination with our respective support colors, what do you think?”

Haya: “You won’t get a gift from me this year.”

Jiang Qiong: “???”

Xu Heran: “Ah…”

Xin Nuo: “I’m fine with it ^v^”

Xu Heran: “…Well, then it’s fine.”

Laurel: “…”

Song Fenghua: “Sure.”

Jian Yueyin: “Okay.”

Lin Weining: “Sounds good.”

SGS’s nth online meeting successfully passed the profile picture plan. The important task of selecting profile pictures was handed to Xu Heran, as she had a well-known artist fan.

“Xu Pearl, do you know that the clips of you and Xin Nuo participating in 《Crazy Interpretation》 have gone viral? Witch x Evil Dragon, the duo of villains with filters, and then every movement of yours in slow motion. Wow, the atmosphere, every gaze and smile between you is so palpable! It really feels like being in love!” Jiang Qiong exclaimed immediately, “When are you getting married? I’m ready with 99.9 yuan!”

Xin Nuo: “??”

Xu Heran said in a low-key manner, “No rush, soon enough.”

Xin Nuo: “???”

Pretending not to see Xin Nuo’s question marks, Xu Heran opened Weibo and slowly tapped out a private message, “that could be a whole bowl of cute.”

“Bowl Mama, are you there?” Xu Heran sent a cute emoji, “Mama, are you available for work? Can I ask you to draw eight profile pictures for me?”

“Little Pearl Being Cute.jpg.”

“When did we have this kind of emoji?” Xu Heran said with confusion. After sending the message to Yu Wan, she clicked into Yu Wan’s profile. She hadn’t checked in for a few days, but Bowl Mama was highly productive. The images kept coming one after another: the White Dress Princess with a sideways smile, the White Dress Princess scratching the cat’s chin, the blue-purple-eyed cat with an evil smile, the cat with an open mouth looking fierce, the cat lifting the princess’s dress, the cat teasing the princess’s chin… She posted them in the order she watched the variety show, with these images below. The most recent ones on top were various combinations of Witch and Silver Dragon. The witch in a purple magic dress with a pointed hat held a test tube with flowing poison inside.

The silver dragon’s long hair cascaded, its silver wings spread behind, standing on a corner of a castle blooming with flowers, like a king guarding its territory.

Their gaze met, every meaningful moment delicately depicted and expanded upon by Yu Wan’s imagination. She even created a separate image, with the witch and evil dragon’s profiles side by side, their faces locked together, their golden and black eyes coldly staring beyond the screen.

“Wow~” Xu Heran exclaimed, starting to like Yu Wan’s posts.

After three minutes, Yu Wan still hadn’t replied, and Cui Qi’s call came in.

“Xu Heran, don’t randomly like posts from others! Yu Wan is your ultimate ship’s biggest fan, you shouldn’t stir up trouble!” Cui Qi’s voice was so loud that it made Xu Heran’s ears ache.

“Okay,” Xu Heran immediately said, “I just think Bowl Mama’s art looks nice.”

As Xu Menglan walked by, her eyebrow raised. What kind of mama?

“But you shouldn’t use your main account to like it!” Cui Qi exclaimed loudly.

“So should I undo it?” Xu Heran asked.

Cui Qi sighed, “You’ve already liked them. I saw the messages in the group. Explain to the fans when changing the profile pictures.”

“Okay!” Xu Heran said cheerfully, “Sure thing, Sister Cui!”

Another minute passed, and Yu Wan excitedly started chatting with Xu Heran.

“Pearl Pearl darling, mama is here to cause a ruckus!”

“You can draw, mama’s artistic skills are always ready for you. Are you asking mama to draw profile pictures for all eight of you? Any specific requests?” Yu Wan excitedly rolled up her sleeves, “I can do it all!”

Xu Heran quickly said, “Thank you, Bowl Mama! Please feel free to be creative!”

“Roar!”

After Yu Wan finished, she added somewhat excitedly and embarrassedly, “Um, can we exchange WeChat? I’m not a bad person! I’m good friends with Sister Tea. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her!”

Xu Heran had heard about Yu Wan from Ji Songyu and knew they were friends since high school. She quickly said, “Sure, thank you, Bowl Mama~”

“Hehe, just call me big sister.” Yu Wan sent a shy Little Pearl emoji.

Xu Heran quickly saved the emoji she sent and happily replied, “Thank you, Sister Bowl~”

That night, SGS fans noticed that the profile pictures of all eight girls had changed. Seven of them had cartoon avatars wearing ancient fairy attire, with big round eyes, super cute.

The clothes of the cartoon images, along with their respective support colors, matched their facial expressions to their personalities. Laurel had a blank expression, and her eyes resembled cute dead fish eyes. Jiang Qiong held a gold ingot in her hand, sporting a brilliant smile. There was even a puppy cub perched on her shoulder. Haya’s expression exuded confidence, with a bit more sparkle in the corners of her eyes. Jian Yueyin had a smiling and slightly mischievous look, with a little demon holding a fork behind her. Song Fenghua’s expression was cold and somewhat shy, her eyes glancing sideways. Lin Weining was the only one who smiled the softest, her face rosy.

Xin Nuo’s fairy expression was mild, a faint smile gracing her lips. She cradled a small pearl in her arms. And then there was Xu Heran…

“Hahaha!”

“It’s… Pearl.”

“We’ve said it countless times, seven fairies plus a pearl.”

“Friend, please note the measure word. It’s one pearl, dog head.”

“That’s right, that’s right. Using the wrong one can cause big problems!”

“However, hahaha!”

“Without a doubt, Bowl Mama is quite impressive. Whenever Bowl Mama decides to do something, you can’t miss it.

“Pearl is undeniably Bowl Mama’s cherished favorite. Anyone who witnesses this wouldn’t be wrong in thinking that Bowl Mama shows some bias. Oops, I won’t say any more, hahaha.”

Xu Heran stared at her profile picture, feeling frustrated.

A round, white pearl with smooth bangs falling over her forehead, her head adorned with an ancient fairy hairstyle, surrounded by floating colorful clouds and the ribbons of a fairy. Her eyes were a true reflection of her natural eye color, but…

Even if it’s true to life, it couldn’t conceal the fact that Yu Wan had drawn a round, chubby little pearl for Xu Heran!

This pearl was even wearing a fairy’s dress!

And she was holding a microphone!

What fairy holds a microphone!

“It’s our fairy at home.” Xin Nuo laughed with a smiley face in the group, comforting, “It really looks great.”

Jiang Qiong suppressed her laughter and typed, “Yes, yes, Bowl Mama is truly Xu Pearl’s super fan. She displays favoritism to the fullest. Our little pearl is so fortunate to receive 80% of Bowl Mama’s love.”

Xu Heran responded ominously, “Do you want this fortune? Would you like it?”

Haya immediately chimed in, “I sincerely suggest that Bowl Mama change Jiang Xiaoqiong’s profile picture to a woof-woof head. She needs a profile picture that matches her personality.”

“Hey!” Jiang Qiong protested loudly, “Someone’s seeking revenge! I’m reporting this!”

Haya quickly retorted, “We fairies never retaliate against dog woofs.”

Laughter and jovial comments filled the group, leaving only Xu Heran and Jiang Qiong holding hands, looking at each other with teary eyes.

“It looks really nice,” Xin Nuo consoled with a smile.

Xu Heran sent a pearl-wiping-tear emoji. Because of the profile picture Bowl Mama had drawn for her, she had cried for three minutes over at Yu Wan’s chat. After Yu Wan sent all the pearl emoji expressions she had drawn to Xu Heran, the “mother and child” relationship was mended.

“Really?” Xu Heran sounded forlorn.

“Really,” Xin Nuo affirmed.

Xu Heran quickly responded, “I feel like you’re not very sincere.”

“…How can I be sincere?” Xin Nuo asked, not understanding.

“Unless you give me a goodnight kiss!” Xu Heran exclaimed, “Then I’ll believe you’re being truthful!”

Xin Nuo responded calmly, “It’s okay, consider me lying to Pearl.”

Xu Heran wailed, “Waaah!”

“I cried so loudly!”

“Mhm,” Xin Nuo said, “I can’t hear, so you can cry even louder.”

Xu Heran, “…”

“You don’t love me anymore!” Little Pearl opened the emoji pack, expressing the distress of a bunch of little pearls. She threw out an angry expression. Xin Nuo picked it up, shook it, and added it to her own emoji collection.

“When did I start liking you?”

Xin Nuo sent this message, but after a while, there was no reply. She watched the chat as the other side was typing, but soon enough, the chat reverted to displaying the nickname, and Xu Heran didn’t send any new messages.

“…”

Is she angry?

Xin Nuo hesitated, her fingers resting on the keyboard. Suddenly, she felt a sense of panic. Her fingers slowly slid up the screen, reviewing her recent chat history with Xu Heran.

“…Seems like I went a bit too far,” Xin Nuo muttered, biting her lip, and her little bit of happiness in her heart immediately dissipated.

The girl shifted on the bed, pulling the pearl-shaped pillow beside her and pressing it against her body. Her fingers wandered over the keyboard.

“I’m sorry…”

Deleted.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

Deleted.

“What are you up to, Pearl? What time is it over there?”

Deleted.

“I still really like Little Pearl…”

Xin Nuo’s face blushed, and she quickly erased that line.

She typed and deleted repeatedly, but she never received a response from Xu Heran. The girl’s mood inexplicably became uneasy. She took a deep breath and picked up her phone.

Pearl Pearl Pearl: “I’m back! Mom asked me what to eat for dinner, so I came back late!”

“Waaah, you heartless woman! You once said you liked me, made oaths of love, but it turns out it was all a lie! My heart is hurt. No matter what, you owe me compensation! Just give yourself to me as compensation~”

Xu Heran lay on the couch, propping her legs up, humming a song. She noticed a voice message from Xin Nuo. Xin Nuo never sent voice messages. Curiosity tinted her blue-purple eyes.

Little Pearl raised her hand, her fingertip touching the screen.

Xin Nuo: “Mwah.”

Xu Heran heard it.

It was a very light kiss, landing on her ear and in her heart.

---

Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Sinensis
Proofreader: Ruu

Please support us on Ko-Fi.

---