Slow to mature after marriage

As the first shooting star streaked across the night sky, Bo Ning sprang up from her sleeping mat, tilted her head back, cupped her hands to her mouth, and shouted to Bo Yan, "My wish is—to always have an endless amount of pocket money!"

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, her eyes fixed straight on Bo Yan's direction.

"Did you hear that, bro?! I made a wish upon a shooting star—to unfreeze my card! Right now! Immediately!"

Bo Yan leaned lazily against the tent, gently stroking Mu Siwan's waist with his arm around hers, without even looking up: "Wishes won't come true if you say them out loud, understand? Stupid."

Bo Ning wouldn't listen.

From childhood to adulthood, every wish she voiced would eventually be fulfilled by Bo Yan. No matter how much she complained, he'd still unlock her credit cards and increase her allowance. He'd never failed as a good older brother.

Bo Yan turned his head to look at Mu Siwan beside him.

One meteor after another streaked across the sky, their light briefly illuminating her profile before fading away.

"And you?" he asked. "What did you wish for?"

Mu Siwan looked up at the sky and shook her head.

When I was a kid, I watched meteor showers on TV and thought they were so romantic they seemed unreal. Now that I've seen them with my own eyes, they're just a few streaks of light that flash briefly and then disappear.

"I don't believe in that."

Bo Yan stared intently at her.

Not far away, Bo Ning suddenly jumped up with a scream: "Brother! I knew you'd unfreeze me! The text message came! I love you, brother!"

Mu Sigui watched from the side, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

He didn't understand why anyone could express their needs and love so confidently and loudly.

Bo Yan didn't even blink, his gaze remaining fixed on Mu Siwan's face.

"Making a wish upon a shooting star is useless." His voice lowered, carrying a hint of seriousness and certainty. "But making a wish upon me is useful."

Another shooting star streaked across the sky, its light falling between the two people.

"Mu Siwan, you can try talking to me. Is there anything you want?"

Mu Siwan looked up and pondered for a long time, but finally shook her head.

"I really don't want anything."

Her current life is the result of twenty-five years of hard work. Her work is fulfilling; her mentor guides her, Xiao Qin accompanies her, and she goes to the field, writes reports, and conducts assessments—every day is busy and peaceful. Back at Muyan Garden, she has Bo Yan and Grace, and occasionally shares a meal with Fan Qiqi and Ningning. Life flows like a gentle river, unhurried and steady. She doesn't need anything more.

The woman hugged her knees, resting her chin on them. Moonlight and the light of shooting stars alternated on her face, her eyebrows and eyes were serene, and her lips were pale, like an unfinished ink painting, softly and gently spread in the night.

Unlike Bo Ning, who always harbors a strong desire to explore many things in this world, Mu Siwan has always been a plant that doesn't need much sunlight to survive. She grows quietly, lives quietly, causing no trouble for anyone, and asking nothing of anyone.

For the first three years of his marriage to Mu Siwan, Bo Yan's contact with her was limited to picking her up for meals at Chengyuan on holidays. After the meal, he would drive her back to Muyan Garden. That hour and a half drive was their pitifully little time together. At that time, Mu Siwan gave him the impression of being quiet, obedient, and having strong boundaries, requiring little effort from him. And he was always quite satisfied with that.

But now, Bo Yan stared at Mu Siwan like this, feeling utterly helpless.

And heartache. A deep, overwhelming heartache.

There's nothing wrong with this kind of personality—if this plant, which doesn't crave sunlight, hadn't grown in such a dark environment.

"Do you want to find your biological parents?" Bo Yan suddenly asked her.

"Biological...parents?"

A hint of confusion flashed across Mu Siwan's eyes. This word was completely foreign to her.

It wasn't that she hadn't longed for it. But each time, that longing was suppressed by an even stronger fear.

What if she was actually a child they abandoned? What if they've long forgotten they ever had such a daughter? What if they've moved on with their lives and don't want to be disturbed?

Countless possibilities piled up into one single, certain answer: she doesn't need them. She doesn't need her biological parents.

Mu Siwan had told herself this answer for many years, so long that she thought she truly believed it. But now, she stared blankly into Bo Yan's eyes, like a ship without an anchor, her eyes churning with countless emotions, before finally shaking her head gently.

"I should... not want to."

Bo Yan stared at her, almost seeing through the confusion and fear in her eyes.

My heart is becoming increasingly bittersweet and tender.

The man leaned down, tucked the stray hairs from her temples behind her ears, and gently brushed his nose against hers.

Overwhelmed with emotion, he could only whisper, "My dear child, think about it."

-

For the next few days, Mu Siwan was restless at work.

In the blink of an eye, she felt the man's nose lightly brush against hers, a gentle yet firm touch that made her cheeks flush.

That seems a bit... too unfair.

She sat at her desk, raised her hand and patted her cheeks, trying to clear her mind.

Xiao Qin strolled over carrying a water cup, grinning as she pulled a beautifully packaged little box from behind her back: "Happy birthday, Master!"

"I found out by secretly looking at your ID card."

Mu Siwan was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening.

Today is Thursday.

It's also... Meng Wan's birthday.

Looking at Xiao Qin's sincere smile, she didn't refuse and took the box: "Thank you. But next time—"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Jiliang, who was passing by, interrupted him.

"Your master doesn't have the habit of celebrating birthdays, so don't send gifts next time." The old man glanced at Mu Siwan. "Xiaowan, come to my office."

Mu Siwan followed her inside.

Li Jiliang sat down in a chair, took off his reading glasses, and said casually, "Come over for dinner this Saturday. Your teacher's wife has been talking about you for a while now."

Mu Siwan nodded: "Okay."

She understood what her master meant. Ever since they learned that she didn't celebrate her birthday, the elderly couple would choose a day each year to invite her to their home for a meal, as a way of making up for it for her.

"Oh, right." Li Jiliang seemed to remember something, put his reading glasses on the table, looked up at her, and said, "Bring your husband along too. I want to see what that brat looks like."

Mu Siwan smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go ask him if he has time."

Back at her work desk, Mu Siwan picked up her phone and sent a message to Bo Yan.

[Mu Siwan]: My master asked if you're free to have dinner this Saturday.

After thinking for a moment, I added an emoji of a skull slowly peeking out.

She didn't get a reply right away. Mu Siwan didn't mind and buried herself in her work.

It wasn't until almost the end of the workday that Mu Siwan regained her composure and glanced at her phone. Bo Yan had already replied to her message half an hour earlier.

[Bo Yan]: Good.

[Bo Yan]: I had some things to take care of today, so I couldn't come pick you up. Can you go home by yourself?

Mu Siwan typed slowly: Okay.

The phone vibrated immediately after I sent it—from an unknown number.

Mu Siwan pressed the answer button.

The voice on the other end of the phone broke down, filled with sobs and anger; she was almost shouting:

"Mu Siwan! All I did was tell you not to steal my brother! Did you have to retaliate like this? Not only did you get your husband to ruin my birthday party, but you also beat my father so badly he ended up in the hospital! Did I owe you something in my past life?!"