"Sleeping in on the very first day," Mrs. Jiutiao said to Jiutiao Meijie as she emerged from the bedroom.

Jiutiao Meijie had her long hair down, yawning, still in her long-sleeved pajamas.

Between the strands of her black hair, her crystal-clear skin seemed even more porcelain.

"Good morning, Meiji," Little Lian said, like an alarm clock going off, her focus still on mastering the sausages with her fork and knife.

"Mm," Jiutiao Meijie lazily responded, walking over to sit at the dining table.

Dubian Che took out bread from the basket for her, and then poured her some milk.

Freshly bought bread, paired with their favorite coffee, tea, or milk, along with some grilled sausages and salad, that was their first breakfast in Karuizawa.

"Did you go out together in the morning?" Jiutiao Meijie asked as she took the bread, simultaneously inquiring from Dubian Che.

"Mm."

"What did you do?"

"Jogging, buying bread, browsing the bookstore," Dubian Che said, his eyes on Little Lian who was chasing the sausage around under her fork and knife.

"Didn't hide in the woods to do something you'd have to apologize for to God and Meiji?" Mrs. Jiutiao snatched Little Lian's fork and knife expertly spearing the sausage.

"Oh—" Little Lian admired the skewered sausage with reverence.

"Meiji, you must get up tomorrow and come with me," Dubian Che said.

"I'm resting for the next three days," Kiyono Lin said.

Her soft cherry blossom-colored lips took a bite of fluffy French toast before continuing, "If I finish the book, I'll get up early on days when it's not my morning to be in charge."

Jiutiao Meijie put down the bread and started eating Dubian Che's salad with a fork and knife.

Her eyes showed a contemplative expression, as if she was considering how to retaliate or whether she should get up early in the morning.

"I'll make another one," Dubian Che said, pushing some salad toward her.

"No need, I'll just have a few bites," Jiutiao Meijie replied.

As she continued to eat, her eyes returned to normal, yet she didn't respond to Kiyono Lin, making one wonder if her earlier expression was simply due to not being fully awake.

"Che, I'd also like to go and buy bread with you," said Little Lian, alternating between her fork and knife on the sausage and her glass of milk.

"Little Lian's bike is too slow, wait at home for Brother Che to come back," Mrs. Kiyono said, wiping the milk froth from her upper lip with a napkin.

"How can I go faster?" Little Lian asked.

"Remove the training wheels," Dubian Che said, tearing off a small piece of bread to put in his mouth. "I'll teach you this morning."

As soon as they finished their meal, Little Lian wheeled her children's bike out.

Around her slender neck hung the cellphone Jiutiao Meijie had given her yesterday — to be safe, Jiutiao Meijie instructed her to always carry it, remember to charge it every night, and Little Lian had kept it all in mind.

Dubian Che found some tools and helped her remove the training wheels.

Supporting the bike, he let Little Lian ride forward, ready to catch her if she was about to fall, repeating the procedure over and over.

By noon, Little Lian had successfully learned to ride the bike.

Just then, someone called the villa; it was a carefree woman's voice, inviting the two ladies to come out and play.

"Shall we go? It's just at the villa on 'Water Wheel Road'," Mrs. Jiutiao said, looking at the three youths and the happy child cycling.

"To talk about jewelry, whose child is getting married, who is getting divorced, how to combat aging?" Jiutiao Meijie said with no interest whatsoever.

"What an awful thing to say," Mrs. Jiutiao chided with a glance at her daughter.

After mentioning that all six would go to the horse track the next day, the two ladies went hand in hand to socialize with the neighbors.

Dubian Che glanced over at Kiyono Lin across from him.

On the villa's terrace, the wicker chair, the crisp air, the sunshine streaming through the trees—she was looking at the book she bought that morning.

Neither Jiutiao Zhenji nor Kiyono Youko had particularly asked her to join.

Such gatherings were not meant for someone who could see through lies.

'Not just these gatherings, but New Year's, any social gathering... Because of lies, she had no friends,' Dubian Che thought as he watched the sunshine filtering through the leaves.

In Japanese, there is a special term, "木漏れ日" (sunshine through the trees), referring to the sunlight that sprinkles down through the gaps between the branches and leaves.

Dubian Che sat back in the wicker chair, legs propped up.

His fingers casually tapping on his thigh, he sang:

"'All who come are guests, relying solely on their mouths. Greeting with smiles when they meet, but soon they dismiss the thought. Once the guest leaves, the tea turns cold. What does it matter, to lie or not to lie?'"

Amidst the crisp sounds of birds, a Beijing opera melody lingered with clear pronunciation and enduring resonance.

Kiyono Lin lifted her eyes from the book, her gaze towards him held a hint of laughter.

Dubian Che seemed carefree, as if singing on a whim.

"'This woman is out of the ordinary, her demeanor neither subservient nor arrogant, her expression neither gloomy nor sunny...'" Jiutiao Meijie joined in with a smile, also singing in Chinese.

Dubian Che could no longer maintain his nonchalance, feeling the awkwardness of being caught in a dishonest moment.

He hadn't expected Jiutiao Meijie to actually understand Beijing opera; was this the use of her brilliant intellect?

Jiutiao Meijie continued singing, and at the tail end, with a flick of her orchid finger landed on Dubian Che's nose while singing with a meaningful and beautiful voice:

"'This straw man is merely a wall against the wind.'

Kiyono Lin couldn't help but laugh, looking very charming.

"Do we match?" Jiutiao Meijie asked with her chin on Dubian Che's shoulder, smiling mischievously at her.

Under the lush shade and brilliant sunlight, a handsome and clean young man was paired with a delicate and enchanting young girl.

Kiyono Lin reined in her smile, hummed noncommittally, and went back to her book.

Jiutiao Meijie withdrew her gaze from her and smiled playfully at Dubian Che.

"..." Dubian Che.

"Still claim to be an average person, what Island Country high school student understands Beijing opera? And can even find an opera piece that expresses what's in her heart?"

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