Chapter 18: A Couple by Any Other Name
The sun bathed the village in soft warmth as market day buzzed with liveliness. Su Yanyue had taken a rare half-day off, much to the surprise of the triplets, who immediately declared it a "family outing."
Yu Shiming, who hadn't technically agreed, found himself carrying two baskets and trailing after Su Yanyue while the three boys darted ahead, shouting about dumplings and sweet cakes.
"Is this how you imagined your life?" Yanyue asked dryly as he adjusted the basket of pickled radish on his hip.
Yu Shiming gave her a sidelong glance. "I thought I'd be dodging arrows, not being bossed around by toddlers."
"Ah," she smiled. "So this is an upgrade."
He didn't answer, but the corner of his mouth twitched.
As they passed the ribbon stall, Su Lin suddenly rushed over, waving two red strings. "Uncle, Auntie Yanyue! The lady said these are for couples! We should buy them!"
Yu Shiming raised an eyebrow. "Why would we need those?"
Su Zhi leaned in, whispering loudly, "Because people already think you're married."
A stall owner nearby overheard and chuckled. "Oh, everyone thinks that. The way you bicker and shop together? You two are clearly husband and wife."
Su Yanyue blinked, thrown off. "We are not—"
"Yet," the woman added with a wink.
Yu Shiming didn't correct her.
Su Rui, trying to be helpful, held up a third ribbon. "Do they sell one for each child too?"
By now, a small crowd had gathered, amused by the scene.
"They even have triplets?" someone said. "Truly blessed!"
Su Yanyue's face was warm. She turned to pay for the hairpins she'd picked up earlier, only for the vendor to smile knowingly and wrap them in red paper.
"Wishing you long years of harmony," the woman said, giving her a wink. "And another set of triplets!"
Yanyue nearly choked.
"Let's go," she muttered, grabbing the boys' hands and walking briskly toward the food stalls. Behind her, Yu Shiming followed calmly, thoroughly unfazed.
Later, as they sat under the shade of a willow tree, sharing fried pastries and cooled tea, Yanyue finally looked at him.
"You didn't deny it."
"Deny what?"
"That we're… together."
He took a sip of tea, eyes resting on the triplets tumbling through the grass.
"I don't see the point in denying something that doesn't bother me."
She froze, caught somewhere between flustered and speechless.
Was he teasing her?
Or…?
Yu Shiming set the tea down gently. "You've built a good life here. People like you. The boys love you. You're strong, skilled… beautiful."
Her breath caught slightly.
"You deserve someone who treats you with sincerity. And if the world assumes that someone is me…" He shrugged. "Let them."
Yanyue looked away, pretending to adjust Su Lin's collar.
"Your tongue's sharper than I expected," she muttered.
"Must be your influence."
The rest of the afternoon passed with laughter and sticky fingers, the kind of peace that settled softly over the heart without warning.
And though neither of them said anything more on the subject, as they walked home—Su Rui tugging at Yanyue's sleeve and Yu Shiming carrying Su Zhi who'd fallen asleep—any stranger passing by would've sworn they were a family.
A perfectly mismatched, fiercely bonded little family.