So I knew that from then on, between her and me, nothing needed to be said. Two hearts understanding each other, like clouds and moon knowing each other, had already surpassed a thousand words and ten thousand languages.

  Once again, I drove into the familiar neighborhood and saw old houses, crowded streets, dirty ground, and neighbors sitting under trees to cool off. My heart was rippling with waves. How many times had I walked alone on this street, avoiding everyone's gaze, returning home, and sitting alone all night?

  "What is mom doing?" I asked.

  Wu Miao replied: "Mom, I'm busy stir-frying vegetables. And mom asked, is your girlfriend staying at home tonight?"

  I parked the car and glanced at Tan Jiao through the rearview mirror. She replied, "Whatever, I'll follow your brother's arrangement."

  This residential area is very old, it was the house allocated by my father's unit when he was still alive. Looking up, you can see the walls are mottled, the corridors are filled with miscellaneous objects, and small advertisements are plastered everywhere, sunlight shines obliquely on the red brick wall that has almost fallen out of sync with the times. When we arrived at the entrance of the unit, Wu Miao Xing rushed ahead, Tan Jiao and I followed behind.

  Wu Miao suddenly turned her head, looking at me with some concern. I immediately understood what she was worried about, fearing that Tan Jiao would look down on our family environment. I also looked at Tan Jiao.

  Tan Jiao's expression was particularly calm, so calm that it seemed a bit unnatural. The living environment here was worlds apart from the house she had bought for herself. When she saw me looking at her, her face turned slightly red and she whispered: "What are you looking at?"

  "Why is your face red?" I also asked in a low voice.

  She leaned in and said, "Can't I be nervous when meeting parents for the first time? Who doesn't have a first time?"

  Wu Miao burst out laughing. I also laughed, and I knew she wouldn't mind these things at all. For a moment, I really wanted to hold her in my arms and kiss her, but with Wu Miao around, I could only endure it. I kept looking down at her, and when she noticed my gaze, she secretly held my hand.

  The door opened and Mother stood at the entrance, with a warm and joyful smile all over her face. She even looked a bit nervous because she was about to see Tan Jiao. I walked up and hugged her.

  This night was warm and lively. It's been a long time since I've felt such warmth in my life.

  Mother is shy, Wu Miao has a hot personality. But when she came to my house, Tan Jiao's performance suddenly became different from before. Her speech became elegant and polite, her mouth was naturally sweet, but the way she looked at me was like a real lady. Therefore, mother liked her very much.

  I found it somewhat amusing and took advantage of when my mother wasn't paying attention, saying in a low voice: "Doesn't quite look like the girlfriend I know."

  She kicked me under the table, her smile unchanged on her face.

  After dinner, Mom insisted that Tan Jiao not wash the dishes and let her rest. Wu Miao seemed to be because I came back, wanting to show off, and also didn't want to be a light bulb, claiming to go into the room to read books, and disappeared too. Only I brought Tan Jiao to the balcony.

  At this time, dusk fell, and in fact, looking out from my home, there was no scenery at all. The low-rise buildings, the crowded old houses, were all over the place. I closed the balcony door, thinking they wouldn't come over for a while, and lit a cigarette. Tan Jiao leaned against me, gazing into the distance, as if she was looking at some beautiful scenery.

  "Your mom and sister are all doing well," she said.

  "I said: 'Thank you, Jiao Jiao.'"

  Thank you for walking into my life, my living.

  "What are you thanking me for?" she said, "I really hope they'll be fine from now on. They're your closest relatives."

  I put down the cigarette, held her head in place and started kissing her.