“Huh!?” Did she just call me Jie? Why does it feel like she knows me? I was so stunned that I even forgot how humiliating my current state was and just stared at her.

She had the air and looks of a mature big sister type. Every little movement was calm and elegant.

“Zhiye, I’m really sorry. Ever since Youjie parted ways with you, he hasn’t interacted with any girls at all. So the moment he saw you, he went completely blank. It’s terribly rude of him, so please don’t mind it…”

Mom covered her right cheek with one hand like she was embarrassed and gave Zhiye a shy smile as she spoke.

“It’s fine… Auntie. If I can make Jie stare at me in a daze, that just proves I’m qualified to be his wife. If Jie ignored me and treated me coldly, that’s what would really hurt me and leave me not knowing what to do.”

“I knew I had good eyes. Zhiye really is my top pick for a daughter-in-law.”

Tears of excitement slid down my mother’s face.

“No… I still have a lot of shortcomings as a wife.”

Zhiye spoke very modestly. I just stood there watching them go back and forth. About this girl who suddenly popped up, I knew absolutely nothing. She seemed to know me, but I definitely didn’t know her. No matter how I searched my brain, I couldn’t find a single memory of her.

“So this time, just treat it as training to become a qualified wife.”

Mom threw her arm up and declared.

“Y-Yes… Mother…” Zhiye’s cheeks flushed as she answered with a smile.

I was trembling on the side. Hey, hey, hey, isn’t this moving a little too fast? This is way too ridiculous.

“Ahem…” I faked a cough, trying to get their attention.

“Youjie… how rude can you be? You see Zhiye and don’t even say hi, just stand there like an idiot? Sigh… how long has it been since this kid last talked to a girl…”

Mom’s face turned stern for a moment, then she sighed and pressed a hand to her forehead, like my situation was tragic or something.

“Okay, okay, there’s a limit to how long you can zone out. Say hello properly already!”

Seeing I still wasn’t reacting, Mom looked like she was about to blow up.

But what I said next made everyone on the scene metaphorically fall over.

“Who is this girl?”

“Eh!?” Mom let out a shocked sound.

“Who is this girl? I don’t know her,” I repeated.

“Youjie, did your brain break? It’s all my fault for always knocking you on the head as punishment.”

Mom spoke while blaming herself, eyes filling with tears as she gently stroked my head.

I grabbed her hand and pulled it off, then fixed the hair she’d messed up. Seriously, my hair’s not even dry yet, what are you messing it up for? It’s really annoying.

“My brain is not broken. I’m telling you, I really don’t know her. There’s absolutely no memory of her in my head.”

I snapped back, then turned to look at Zhiye again.

There was a trace of confusion on Zhiye’s face too.

“This is…” Mom also looked completely lost. She rested her chin on her hand and thought hard.

“That’s not strange at all. When Youjie and Zhiye first met, Youjie was only four. It’s normal he doesn’t remember.”

Dad finally revealed the answer to what had been bothering Mom and Zhiye.

“So that’s how it is… I really thought Youjie’s brain was broken.”

Mom let out a breath, sounding relieved.

“Jie really doesn’t remember?” Zhiye asked, sounding a little hurt.

“I don’t,” I said, shaking my head.

The girl in front of me, the one Mom called Zhiye—I had no impression of her whatsoever. Not her face, not her name, nothing at all.

I thought she’d be depressed by that. Instead, her face lit up with a bright smile.

“My name is Xia Zhiye. I was born on a quiet night with a sky full of stars. My family name is Xia, and by chance it was summer too, so they named me Xia Zhiye… I’m eighteen this year, two years older than Jie… I don’t know if Jie will mind that I’m a bit older than you, but I still have to say it—this humble girl looks forward to your kind guidance.”

Her voice was extremely humble as she introduced herself, and it made me feel strangely awkward, not sure how I was supposed to respond.

So I could only copy her tone and say,

“Same here… I look forward to your guidance.”