My wishful thoughts

The things that stayed with you quietly

Chapter Ten

The morning came without urgency.

Just soft light slipping through the curtains, touching the room gently like it had nowhere else to go.

Simu woke up slowly.

Not because she was tired.

But because she didn't feel rushed to escape her thoughts anymore.

That was new.

She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

with her thoughts as a companion

The house being alive with

Dishes clinking and Footsteps brought her back to reality

And anut Meilu's voice, loud enough to fill the entire morning without permission.

"I swear that man was looking at me like I was a business opportunity AND a soulmate."

He Lifen didn't even look up.

"You say that about every man who buys fabric."

Simu smiled softly before sitting up.

But this time, she noticed something small.

The smile came easier.

And it stayed a little longer after.

Later That Day

She went out with Xiaoyu and Yuna.

The city felt brighter than usual.

Or maybe she was just noticing it more.

Xiaoyu walked ahead like she owned the street.

"I have officially decided today will be a memory-making day."

Yuna adjusted her bag calmly.

"You cannot schedule memories."

"I just did."

Simu laughed softly between them.

And for once, the sound didn't feel like she was escaping anything.

It felt like she was inside something.

They ate too much.

Argued about food choices.

Xiaoyu complained that happiness should come with discounts.

Yuna told her happiness is not a supermarket product.

Simu only laughed.

And somewhere in between their noise—

she realized she wasn't checking her phone.

Not once.

That realization passed quietly.

Almost unnoticed.

But it stayed.

At Home

Dinner smelled warm when she returned.

Familiar.

Safe.

Like something waiting for her, not demanding anything from her.

Her anut Meilu was already sat at the table.

He Lifen was serving food.

And before Simu could even sit down—

her mother spoke first.

"You missed something today."

Simu tilted her head.

"What happened?"

Zhang Meilu immediately straightened.

"I will tell this story myself."

"No," He Lifen said calmly.

"Yes," Zhang Meilu insisted.

Simu sat down slowly.

Something in her already knew this would not be normal.

"There was a man," her mother began, trying not to laugh.

"Very polite. Very… expressive."

"He was not expressive," Zhang Meilu corrected. "He was poetic."

Simu frowned slightly.

"…Poetic how?"

He Lifen continued:

"He came to buy fabric."

"Normal."

"Until he started talking."

Zhang Meilu leaned forward dramatically.

"He said: 'From the moment I saw you, I felt the stability of my future.'"

Simu froze.

"…Excuse me?"

"It gets worse," her mother said.

"He continued," Zhang Meilu added proudly, "'Your bargaining skills reflect emotional intelligence. I would like to explore this intelligence over dinner.'"

Simu covered her mouth immediately.

"What kind of romantic Excel spreadsheet is this?!"

The table erupted.

Even He Lifen laughed now.

"He then said," her mother continued, "'We could create long-term emotional and financial synergy.'"

Simu dropped her head onto the table.

"I'm going to disappear from embarrassment."

"He proposed synergy," Zhang Meilu said seriously. "Not love. Synergy."

Simu was laughing too hard now.

Her chest hurt.

Her eyes watered.

And for a moment, everything felt light again.

But beneath the laughter—

something warm settled quietly inside her.

Watching her mother laugh.

Watching her aunt perform the story like theater.

Watching home be home.

but sincerely her aunt was so pissed off , she has always been a picky bride , that's why she has been single all this years but she doesn't care

and thanks to budha that her family has been known for their beauty , though her anut is 45 years old but she looks beautiful as if she was 20 . watching her anut that has diverse character leans her head on her mom's shoulder as her mother teased her repeatedly, simu felt warm .

that feeling stayed longer than the joke.

That feeling stayed longer than the joke itself.

Later That Night

Everything slowed down.

The house grew quieter.

Dishes were washed.

Lights softened.

Simu went upstairs holding her towel.

"I'm showering."

"Don't sing too loudly," Zhang Meilu called.

"I always sing loudly," Simu replied amusingly.

And she did.

Warm water filled the bathroom.

Steam wrapped around her like a soft blanket.

Music played from her phone.

And she sang without thinking.

Without care.

Without hesitation.

🎶 "Falling You…" — Falling You

Her voice echoed lightly off the tiles.

Off-key.

Soft.

Alive.

"I fall… for you~"

She laughed mid-song.

"This song is too emotional for shampoo."

She rinsed her face.

Opened her eyes.

Reached for her phone.

A notification.

She paused.

Just for a second.

Water dripping.

Heart steady.

Li Xun had posted.

Li Xun

She opened it.

And there he was.

Simple photo.

But somehow—

too quiet to be ordinary.

He looked tired.

Not styled tired.

Real tired.

The kind that made his usual softness feel more fragile.

Simu stared longer than she expected.

Not because she was shocked.

But because her thoughts always did the same thing when she saw him:

Eat properly.

Then, softer this time—

she leaned slightly against the sink.

And muttered:

"…You really are unfair."

A small smile appeared.

Almost helpless.

"Karma really didn't balance us properly."

She paused.

Then added quietly:

"My little gummy bear."

The words made her freeze immediately.

She covered her face.

"Oh my God. Why did I say that OUT LOUD."

She laughed at herself.

Soft.

Embarrassed.

Warm.

Still, she typed.

Not thinking too long.

Just feeling.

Be safe always, my gummy bear.

Sent.

Silence.

Then she locked her phone.

Stood there for a second.

And continued her shower like nothing happened.

But her ears were slightly red.

Even she knew that.

Somewhere Far Away

Set lights.

Camera equipment.

Busy staff.

Another long filming night.

Li Xun finally checked his phone during a break.

He didn't expect anything.

He never did.

But then he saw it.

The comment.

Small.

Soft.

Strangely warm.

He read it once.

Then again.

Then paused.

Longer than he meant to.

"…Gummy bear?"

he repeated quietly.

Almost amused.

Almost confused.

Almost… comforted.

He leaned back slightly.

And for some reason—

the exhaustion in his shoulders felt lighter.

"She keeps saying strange things," he murmured.

Then, after a pause:

"…but it feels familiar now."

He stood up.

Walked back toward set.

A faint smile still there.

Not for cameras.

Not for anyone else.

Just his.

Back in Wenzhou

Simu walked downstairs later with snacks in her hand.

Her life completely normal again.

Her family still loud.

The world still ordinary.

But somewhere inside her chest—

something small had changed.

Not love.

Not fate.

Not destiny.

Just a quiet thread.

Between a girl who talks too much to herself…

and a man who smiles a little longer at strange comments.

And neither of them fully understood it yet.

But somehow—

it stayed.