Not a Couple

"Boss~~ I'd like a stir-fried rice noodle," Aunt Li said with a playful grin to the bald man behind the counter. "To go, please~"

The boss, who was busy tossing the noodles in the wok, shuddered slightly before replying, "Sure, how spicy?"

"Mmm, what do you think?"

"Uh… mild spice, beautiful?"

"Fine."

The boss swallowed hard and glanced up at Aunt Li and Bai Yuyou standing before him. The two women formed such a stark contrast—one like a demon, the other like an angel.

"Come, child, have a seat." Aunt Li led Bai Yuyou to a table. Staring at the girl's expressionless yet delicate face, she hummed and said, "Little Shuang is almost at the age for marriage."

Bai Yuyou lifted her beautiful eyes and murmured, "Mhm."

"Didn’t you say… you two were married?" Aunt Li covered her mouth, giggling.

Bai Yuyou immediately nodded. "We are married…"

"Ye Shuang said so…"

But then she hesitated, whispering, "But… a marriage is only for two."

"Chen Qin likes Ye Shuang… I also like Ye Shuang…"

"I don’t understand these things, but I want to stay with Ye Shuang forever…"

"I only want Ye Shuang…"

Aunt Li propped her chin on her hand, studying Bai Yuyou. Suddenly, she remembered a girl from years ago who had drunkenly mumbled those same words—I only want Ye Shuang—her face flushed red.

[Ugh, so annoying! What’s so great about that Zhao Mengyao? Why does Ye Shuang treat her like that, rushing to pick her up even when he had a fever? She acts like a princess without even being one…]

[If it were me, I’d never treat him like that. My precious, I wouldn’t let anyone else trample over him…]

[What does love even matter? I’m prettier and better anyway. Even if none of that counts, I just want Ye Shuang…]

[If I had one chance, I’d never let go…]

Looking at Bai Yuyou now, Aunt Li felt she understood Ye Shuang’s thoughts a little better. She spoke softly, "Baby Yuyou, you know, marriage isn’t just about liking someone."

"It involves love, responsibility, loyalty, and more." Aunt Li wiggled her slender fingers, painted with purple nail polish. "Right now, you don’t understand any of this. If Ye Shuang ever has to make a choice, you might not even be able to stand beside Chen Qin."

Bai Yuyou frowned. "Responsibility…"

"Exactly. And because of that responsibility, Ye Shuang can’t—and won’t—choose you while you’re still so naive." Aunt Li pinched Bai Yuyou’s cheek gently, smiling.

"Because you don’t understand, but he does."

"Be a good girl and listen to Auntie. You need to grow up quickly, learn what love really is. Otherwise, Ye Shuang might leave one day."

The moment she heard that Ye Shuang might leave, Bai Yuyou blurted out, "I… don’t want Ye Shuang to leave."

"Here’s your stir-fried noodles, beautiful. That’ll be 30," the boss called out. Aunt Li stood up, scanned the payment code, then winked at Bai Yuyou. "Let’s go, baby Yuyou."

"Okay…"

Following Aunt Li, who strode ahead in her stockings and high heels, Bai Yuyou quietly digested everything she had just heard.

……

"What took you so long?" Chen Hai grumbled when Aunt Li returned.

She sat down and placed the noodles on the table. "Ugh, then don’t eat it."

"Tch."

Just then, the burly boss—whose arms were tattooed with Hello Kitty—brought out a plate of skewers and added, "And a dozen oysters coming up."

"Got it."

Chen Hai poured Ye Shuang a cup of tea. "Alright, let’s start with some tea before the drinking begins. Tonight’s the real deal!"

Ye Shuang took the cup and sipped.

A few seconds later, he set it down, deadpan, then picked up a lighter from the table. With a whoosh, the entire cup burst into flames.

"What kind of flammable tea is this?!" Ye Shuang snapped.

"Hahahaha!"

As they ate skewers and shook dice cups, the group chatted casually about old times. With the alcohol loosening his tongue, Ye Shuang shared quite a bit—though the moment Zhao Mengyao’s name came up, he clammed up and changed the subject. Chen Hai and the others understood, smoothly moving past it.

They all knew—Zhao Mengyao had gone from being Ye Shuang’s white moonlight to his black moonlight, a forbidden topic, something he refused to speak of.

Ye Shuang couldn’t move on. He blamed himself for not realizing sooner, for not leaving Zhao Mengyao earlier, for not preventing his parents’ tragedy. He was that kind of man—one who shouldered all the blame, who always turned the fault inward.

If time could rewind, maybe Ye Shuang wouldn’t have pursued Zhao Mengyao at all. But there were no second chances. Regret had no antidote, and neither did lingering sorrow.

The only remedy was to steel oneself, brace for the worst, and act with no regrets.

After several rounds, Ye Shuang’s face was flushed red. Chen Hai, also tipsy, slurred, "Got any water?"

"Here." Ye Shuang handed him a clear glass.

Chen Hai took a big gulp—only to recoil, his face twisting as the liquid burned his throat. He flicked his lighter, and the "water" ignited into flames.

"Holy hell, is this pure alcohol?!"

"Hahaha!" Ye Shuang laughed heartily, satisfied with his revenge.

Among them, only Chen Hai’s wife and Aunt Li remained sober—not because they drank less, but because their tolerance was formidable. Especially Chen Hai’s wife, petite as she was, was a legendary drinker who had once outlasted an entire table.

The night deepened.

The open-air eatery buzzed with noise, the scent of charcoal and oil blending into the air, making the sky feel less dark.

It was about time to head home.

Aunt Li hailed a cab, while Chen Hai and the others called a designated driver to drop Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou off.

Worried about their safety, Chen Hai even escorted them all the way to the apartment’s underground garage, right to the elevator.

"Little Bai, hold onto Ye Shuang tight. Don’t let him fall."

"Okay…"

Once out of the car, Bai Yuyou wrapped her arms around Ye Shuang’s waist to steady him. She didn’t know what being drunk felt like, but she knew he needed her help now.

Back in the apartment, she guided him to the couch, where he collapsed without another word, only murmuring, "I’m sorry…"

Bai Yuyou didn’t know who the apology was for. She climbed onto the couch beside him, resting her head on his chest. The scent of alcohol filled her nose as she recalled Aunt Li’s words.

"Learn to love…"

"So… we’re not married…"